The Wolf and The Blossom

Chapter 9

Anne

The day was cut short by the storm that rolled in. I worked with Ahyoka and some of the other women in the tribe, mending rips or making pillows for the children. It's nice not to feel so alone anymore, but with each day I miss Waya more.

I even started having dreams...

Scoffing, I shake my head my head and settle into the abundance of pillows I have created while he is away.

Thunder rumbles outside, making the earth tremble and the water beside me ripple. The rain slams against the roof, howling and screaming for a way in. Wind rustles the wattle and making it groan, but it holds. I become bored with my novel and instead ready myself for bed.

As I walk to the furs, the door swings open with a bang, causing me to jump and my heart to stutter. Lightening lights the sky illuminating the intruder. Only it's not an intruder. I know those broad shoulders, the long hair, the toned body and that exquisite face covered in shadow.

My breath is stolen as he prowls towards me, every bit the wolf he is. The hunter. The warrior. His steps are steady and purposeful until he is a hands breadth from me. Eyes wild as they rove me, my body, causing my core to pool and toes to curl.

Without a thought his hands grip my hips and he pushes me up against the wall, pressing himself into me, letting my body cushion his hardness. I gasp and immediately his mouth is on mine. Hands rove, skin crushes together, bodies move of their own accord. Our mouths are like fighters, battling for dominance. Waya yanks off my chest wrap, palming my chest, callouses scraping sensitive areas. This is real. He is here. Sweet heaven above he is so warm A rugged sound escapes me and I fumble with his breeches until we finally tumble onto the furs.

Sparks zip through my veins and heat melts me from the inside out. Our bodies learn everything about one another, our hearts nestled together. I've missed him. He was almost killed then he had to leave, when anything could have happened. Pressure builds, builds, builds and just when I think I can't take anymore...

I shatter dragging Waya down with me.

We collapse onto the furs and he lays on his back, pulling me against him, our faces inches apart. Our breaths come out heavy and I let myself look at his face.

"So, I'm back," he whispers, smirking.

Giggling, I smack his arm. "I see." I trace my fingers over his face and he takes my hand, kissing each of my fingers.

"I missed you, Anne. I thought about you everyday, then when we discovered the white man's camp I was worried, but Onacona wouldn't let me come back." he sighs and shakes his head. "I should have come back."

I rub my nose against his, squeezing his hand and nestling into his warmth. "It's okay, nothing happened." I stroke his hair back. "How did the hunt go?"

Waya lets my hand go and presses his palms flat against my back, pressing me fully against him. "We were lucky. Four deer, ten rabbits and other varieties of small creatures." His amber eyes stay connected with mine.

I lean in an press my lips against his, kissing his top and bottom lip, following his lead as he sucks my bottom lip between his and adds pressure. He pushes my hair over my shoulder and cups the back of my neck.

For hours after the storm we lay lazily in the furs idly touching one another and kissing. I'm happy he is home and with me. I didn't realize how much I missed him or my growing feelings until I saw him in the threshold. I didn't realize my feelings were love until he kissed me and I knew there was no other place for me to be than at his side.

The connection between us isn't just here because we are bound in matrimony. It's love. Love that developed while we played in the river, when we learned each others language, the late nights we were up talking about out lives.

I love him.

-~-

Three days after Waya and the men have come home we still can't keep our hands off each other. He finds reasons to have his arm around me or kisses me when no one is looking and more than once he has taken me into the woods to ravish me. However today won't be as happy as the others,

It is his brothers birthday.

An hour ago he disappeared into the woods and I wanted to give him sometime before I go to follow him.

When I find him, he stands in our spot by the river, holding a small wood figurine. His dark head is dipped to his bare chest, shoulders curved inwards. He isn't the man he was just last night, he's a man mourning his brother.

Silently, I pad over to his defeated form. His amber eyes meet mine and I'm reminded of the sadness I carry from being seperated from my sister. I slide my arms around his torso, resting my cheek upon his hot flesh. His arms close around me and squeeze.

For the longest time we just hold onto one another, and I lean up to kiss his cheek, hoping my love can express the words I can't say.

I pull back and look down at the wooden figurine. "Sequoyah and I made these all the time. They were supposed to be gifts or things to express love. He carved a sun to propose to Ahyoka. then he made one for all of his children once they were born," he explains.

I smile and take his figurine and examine the wolf. The craftsmanship is impeccable with exquisite detail and beautiful reality. "What does it represent, besides your name?" I look up at Waya and trace the individual details of the figurine.

"Wolves are a symbol of guardianship, loyalty and spirit. It was to represent a symbol to remind me to trust in my heart and mind, that I have control over my own life. He made it when our parents died."

I press the wolf back into his palm and kiss his lips softly. "You make your brother proud."

He wraps me in his arms and we watch the otters play in the water until dark where we head back to out wattle, hand in hand.

Memories of my own sister burn my mind. Her shrieking laugh, fun attitude, adventurous spirit. Despite the mess that is my family, I miss her. We were all each other had...

Who does she have now? Where did they even go?

"Waya?" I ask.

He looks over at me, opening the door. "Yes?"

I chew on my lip nervously. "Did you happen to see my family run from our house? Do you know if they're safe?"

Waya fidgets, an unusual behavior for him. "Yes, everyone who survived from your village left on a boat the next day." he leans over to peck my temple.

"My sister is safe?"

He nods and holds me tight. "She is safe, don't worry."

My heart uncoils. As long as Mary looks after Elizabeth, she'll be okay.

Thank heavens.

Despite the reassurance, a foreboding still follows me into sleep.