Moonchild

Forty One

Turning back down the long driveway to the farmhouse offers more relief than it probably should and the guilt of it eats away at the pit of my stomach. The day had turned itself around. Not by much, but there had been a visible loss of tension in my beautiful mate's attitude as he bravely faced the rest of his booking.

The day had gone off without any further hitches other than my shock at the sheer force of fanfare that was prepared to greet us as we left the parking garage. Apparently more people had seen the tweets and posts on insta and gathered outside the market in an effort to see him after being too late to make it into the boutique before they had to start turning people away, shouting and screaming at us as we left through the front entrance this time to avoid stressing my Princess out in the elevator. So many hands had reached out to touch us, straining and grabbing, so desperate to latch on to anything they could manage to get a hold of in an effort to be closer to him. To have a piece of him to cherish forever. I have to give the Angel's props for managing to keep us safe in the midst of the pulsating throng of overly excited teens and young adults eager to tear him to shreds with the sheer force of their love and it honestly was surreal. Over the shoulder to shoulder angel shield surrounding us as we made our way to the vans I caught glimpses of different LGBT flags, and when I had pointed them out to Aurie he had smiled big and waved hard enough to make those sections of the crowd surge forward and threaten to crush us just as we slipped into the shelter of the parking garage only to be followed by the mass of overly excited writhing bodies.

Trying not to hit anyone with the vans proved a challenge trying to leave, but eventually, all of the young fans had relented, screaming out in adoration as we drove away, Aurie shaking his head with an almost hidden adorable smile working it's way to his tired lips.

Honestly, I'm glad the day is over even though it was amazing to see Aurie in his element. To see him work the crowd and the cameras, charm rolling off him in waves as he tried on pair after pair of designer sneakers and posing with each of them and making polite conversation with the fans as they qued up to get their sneakers signed.

My wolf had gone crazy, pacing back and forth within the confines of my mind while I fought to keep myself in check and not growl every time my hands reached out to tried and touch him. He had managed to keep everyone in check mostly by himself, being cheeky and charming as he evaded their grabby hands with laughter and endearing bits of humor. After being allowed his mini-meltdown in the bathroom and getting some of the stress off of his chest he had seemed able to breathe easier. He had relaxed just a little more, leaning into me whenever an affectionate effeminate nickname wound its way past my lips.

Today was a learning experience, and as I help my petite love out of the car I can't help but be grateful for the insight into both depths of his world. The shiny one full of fan chants and an angel guard 8 strong...and the sensitive one filled with anguished hidden tears and turmoil over feeling uncomfortable in his own skin, something no one should ever have to deal with.

It feels like every day I learn a little more just how strong my mate is, and not just his ability to withstand pain and overcome physical obstacles.

...
Aurie
....

Lukas barely lets my feet hit the crunchy gravel of the driveway before he scoops me up at the knee and spins us both until I giggle and have to clench my eyes shut, vape pen clutched securely in my hand. Lukas had been nice enough to sit in the middle seat much to Ben's need to adjust his mirrors, and I had gotten to sit next to the window with it rolled mostly down. It was high enough to hide most of my face with it's blacked out tint, but down enough for the wind to whip my hair in the same patterns as the tendrils of smoke seeping from my lips as I pulled hit after hit from the thoughtful gift Lukas had given me earlier this afternoon. There are no worries of surprise pictures on the narrow and winding mountain roads so I had been allowed to puff away to my heart's content, happier than I had been all day after we both agreed that we would rather go home and snuggle than continue to shop when everything was over.

My mate had gotten more affectionate in the car, his hand rubbing it's way up and down my inner thigh after wedging its way there, his lips pressing quick kisses to my cheek and temple at every turn. The way he repeatedly nuzzled into my hair to scent me had bursts of happiness popping in his chest and radiating into mine the entire ride home. It's more comforting than anything else and had made me thankful for Ben's lead foot. 

The extra affection continues as he nuzzles me before striding up to the heavy ornately carved front door and shoving it open with my help only to stop short, the image of Cricket and Sunshine elbows deep in their own respective family-size bags of Doritos laughing with their mouths full greeting us as they congregate outside of the door I know is Jack's office, the smell of weed clinging to them.

....
Lukas
....

"You brought my baby back!" Mom squeals as she zeros in on Aurie who immediately shies into me, hiding his perfect face in my shoulder when she bounces into his personal space, cooing at his timidness towards her. I have to nearly step on her toes to get her to back up, why she has to be the obstinant one after smoking I'll never know.

It doesn't take much to convince her and Baby Bug to take it easy and rest on the couch for a while, Aurie never leaving my arms as we herd them in front of the television before turning on a sitcom and escaping up the stairs as soon as I can. Today is still my day off, and Jack can hide in his office all he wants. He's still on babysitting duty if they need something and they all know it.

I'd been extremely clear when we had come into range for us to reconnect to the pack link. Aurie and I would be spending the rest of the day locked away, him relaxing in my arms as soon as we get the uncomfortable but necessary conversation out of the way.