Moonchild

Nineteen

Just because I didn't bite him doesn't mean that I'm suddenly ready for dinner when 5 o'clock finally rolls around.
It also didn't explain my reaction earlier.
I was so excited over my newest accomplishment of not only letting someone touch me around food but letting Lukas actually feed me that I had kissed him hard and fast before either one of us even knew what was happening.

My first kiss and I dropped it over vegetables.

When people start showing up my face is still a vibrant shade of tomato red and I can't look Lukas or Cricket in the eye. Cricket hadn't made a big deal out of it in front of Lukas, but he knows that it was my first kiss, even if Lukas didn't, and I'd be sure to get an earful later.

Lukas tries to make small talk while he cuddles me and keeps us tucked away in a corner on the porch while everyone else is congregating around the smokers and laughing, talking, but I can't focus enough on his words as everyone else's scents start making their way to my nose, along with each random food item that shows up.

Being one big extended family. It's nice to watch and great in theory. But my pack had been like that to each other too. It didn't mean that they accepted me any more than they did. It didn't mean they didn't do what they did.

Is that why I'm shaking?
...
Lukas
...

At first, the rest of the pack doesn't notice Aurie seeing as how he's molded himself into my second skin, face so far into my neck I almost have to tip my head back.

He really was freaked out at the thought of meeting the pack. 

It was almost enough to make me forget about what happened in the kitchen. Almost.

It was quick, but oh so soft when his lips touched mine... and he had kissed me.

We both jump at a screech coming in our direction and I peel my eyes away from the curve of his slender back to find several of the younger females of our pack heading in our direction, bring with them the eyes of everyone else.

I can practically see the lightbulbs go off as they realize that there is a whole other person in my lap and Aurie trembles harder.

It's ok, its Cricket's fan club. I push through our link, surprised to find it barely blocked off in his fear.

They manage to make it in front of us, eyes gleaming led by...Maya... I think her name is. The group had made it their mission to support their cousin as much as possible and normally glued themselves to him to pester him questions about D.A and his burgeoning dance career, meaning I never normally interact with her, especially seeing as she's only 14.  It isn't that she wasn't important. Every member of the pack is. It's just our paths that that doesn't usually cross except for Sundays.  She and her friends asked permission to go to every D.A. show when they were in the area.

"Is it him, Alpha Lukas? Cricket posted a pic of you on insta and tagged him in it! Is it really R.E.? And he's your mate?!!" She demands in a way that only a 14-year-old can. Meaning an octave dog can barely hear.

Aurie squeaks and tries to burrow further into my chest.

I purse my lips and give a curt nod and she and her friends are at it again with the screaming. 

At this point, everyone else that's arrived starts approaching and I can feel Aurie's tears start to splash against my shirt. He's terrified.

They just want to see you. No one will get any closer, okay? I push into his mind, along with through the pack link as well so everyone is on the same page.

He nods and slowly unfurls himself from my chest, hesitant to pull his face away from my neck.

I give him a squeeze and give my arms enough slack for him to turn sideways and let everyone see him.
...
Aurie
....

You would think I'd be used to the stares by now. The murmurs.

But this time it's different. No one is growling or snarling...instead, they're smiling. Eyes are kind instead of harsh, even if they are a bit hesitant.

The girls that are upfront are just teenagers, the ones who called me by my stage name. And they look so fucking excited to see me and I'm hiding in Lukas's lap.

I brush my fingertips against Lukas's arm in a request to get up and he releases me immediately so I can stand.

...
Lukas
....

Aurie climbs out of my lap and it acts as a cue for Cricket's fan club to let off another round of squealing as they realize it really is him. It still comes as a shock to me that he actually is someone out in the world. That he's actually an idol in training and in the public eye. That he has fans.

He takes a moment to compose himself and then walks off the porch with a big smile as he approaches the girls.  He's being so brave.

That is until Cricket plugs his phone into the main speaker of the system he had lugged out here and music started to pour over all of us.

Cricket really does go above and beyond for his best friend and knew exactly what to do to force him to relax.

You can see the tension physically leaving Aurie's body as he concentrates on the beat and his inner Idol comes out, all white teeth and easy charm as he wins over the pack without even realizing it.

I watch as he gives the girls each their own individual hug and tries to keep my jealousy in check.

He smiles and laughs as he chats with all of them, not hesitating to sign anything pushed into his hands.

He generally shies away from the touches of older pack members but embraces the ones that are clearly fans of his. I hadn't even realized anyone in the pack knew who he was. I hadn't even considered the possibility, even with him splashed all over Cricket's Instagram. Not that I scrolled through it for 3 hours last night staring at him or anything.

It takes a moment, but then I realize that I can see him tapping his foot in time with the beat of each song to keep himself steady. A coping mechanism? An adorable one.