Crimson Mist ✔️

36: I can fight!

Waking up to the sound of the bullfinches on a winter morning is one of my favorite things. There weren't many bullfinches in Dalen, and there wasn't as much snow either. The small amount of snow we had was always gray and black from exhaust and traffic, and reminded me more of those cold, icy drinks with fruity flavors in texture.

I carefully sneak out of Jeremy's warm embrace, hearing a low growl from him as I escape his hold. I kiss his arm to reassure him that I'm going willingly, and walk up to one of the windows.

It's icy around the edges, and the temperature in the room is so cold, I regret getting up immediately. I reach for Jeremy's jacket on the wall and wrap it around myself as I look out towards the forest on the other side of the road.

The red and black birds are flying around the top of the trees. They look very content with life, just as I am right now. The only thing I wish was different was that we didn't have to risk our lives to get our home back, now that I've finally found the people I belong with. It feels unnecessary to potentially lose a life, or more, just to get another roof over our heads. Uno and Gail were more than happy to let us stay in their guest houses indefinitely.

Now that I think of it, how are we supposed to start rebuilding a whole village with the ground frozen, and with a meter and a half of snow on top of it?

Why the hell are we doing this now? Shouldn't we wait until it's warmer?

I bite my lip and turn around as I hear Jeremy shift a little, underneath the warm covers.

"Why are you standing there in the cold?" he asks groggily.

He rubs his eyes, and looks at me as his eyes slowly adjust to being open, with the morning sun coming through the windows.

"I was just thinking," I answer.

I pull his jacket off of me, hang it up on the wall again, and walk over to the bed. He holds the duvet open for me so I can slide back in, and he wraps it around me gently, along with his arms. He breathes in my scent as his nose is buried in my hair, and he exhales happily as I lean my head  against his chest.

"About?" he prompts.

"About it being winter, and if we're going to build houses and everything, we'll need some very powerful tools to go through the frozen ground," I say, as my fingers trace patterns on his hand that's placed on my stomach.

Then I let out a sigh, and shake my head, as if I'm shaking away the topic, and I close my eyes to sleep for another hour or so.

"Dad tried to talk to Tristan about that," Jeremy says. His voice is still a bit groggy and hoarse, but I have to admit I like it. "It's nothing we can do, really. Alpha Lyell, as he prefers, wants to do it now, and make a home for you, so you can be like a real family or something. He's opened up a bit to dad in their discussions, but I don't know too much."

He sighs too, and pulls me closer, like I'm a stuffed animal or something.

"Maybe he wants to impress Ina if she ever comes up here," I mutter, and bite my lip a little.

I stare at the ceiling, and listen to his peaceful breaths.

"Who?" he asks, barely awake now, I think.

"No one," I answer, and kiss his chest. "Go back to sleep."

He's already asleep again before I get to tell him to, and it makes me smile a little. I might have dropped the ball by mentioning Ina, I don't know if anyone else knows about Tristan's mate or not.  With any luck, Jeremy won't even remember the name when we wake up later.