AZURA
Skyla sighs and nods.
“Yeah, well, the Moon Goddess has a crazy mind. I wonder what she’s up to… I’m dealing, though. So, how are you adapting here?” She asks, changing the subject.
“Great, Leo’s friends and the pack are really welcoming. You know…” I begin, my heart beating as I’m not sure if I should mention it… “Leo… he’s dying.” Both girls look at me, shock clear on their faces as Skyla sits up, her eyes blazing that deep plum colour once again.
“What do you mean? Can Mama not fix him?” I shake my head.
“Kia can’t heal what’s gone.”
“Yeah… but there has to be a solution. I…” Kataleya whispers, shaking her head worriedly.
“There is. I can heal him.” I sit up as both girls look at me questioningly.
“What do you mean?” Skyla asks as Malevolent jumps into her lap, purring. She strokes her, watching me intently. I take a deep breath.
“I have the moon fire, too… or as Dante put it, I am the heart of fire,” I explain, closing my eyes as I summon my powers forth, raising my hand. I hear Kataleya gasp as I open my eyes, feeling Skyla’s aura swirling around her as they stare at my hand, where I’m holding a shimmering flame-like glow of silver and gold intertwined.
“That’s…. incredible. But… how are you doing that? You seem to have more control over it than Mama and Uncle,” Skyla breathes in awe as Kataleya nods.
“I don’t know, maybe mine isn't as intense as theirs. I realised that emotion helps or having to act on the spur of the moment. I was talking to Kia, and she told me you don’t learn these things, that they’ll come to me. I hope so because there’s no guidebook on how exactly it works or how I’ll heal Leo.”
“So, you can heal though?” Kataleya asks.
“Well… I can heal all, whatever that means, but only on a full moon when the moon is at its peak. So, I guess that’s twelve times a year for a short period of time. That’s what Leo and I are certain of, according to the clue Dante gave us,” I explain.
Kataleya’s chest is rising heavily, and due to her ability where you can’t really sense her presence, I can’t hear her heartbeat, but if I could, I’m sure it would be racing, and I have a good idea of what’s going through her mind.
“You can heal anything?” She asks softly.
“Aside from death, I think. Leo’s body has begun shutting down, so I think I can regenerate what has already shut down... or something,” I explain. She nods slowly, but the cup that she holds is trembling slightly, and she slowly places it on the floor, clenching her fists.
Kataleya has been studying advanced bionic engineering, trying to create a limb that could adapt to a shift and manipulate into a shape suitable for wolf form. I’m certain Leo could also help her with that… and if she ever needed me to help her, I would. I don’t mention him, but I know he’ll always remain on her mind. After all, she still wears his picture around her neck to this day.
“So… tomorrow, are you ready to break necks?” Skyla asks, glancing at her sister with hidden concern.
“There’s only one man’s attention I want tomorrow,” I reply, and she groans.
“Damn, you’re in love. I don’t know if I should think it’s sweet or if I should gag. I mean, it’s obvious you two have each other’s tongue down your throat twenty-four-seven.” She shudders.
“Hey, in my defence, we’ve had a lot going on, so no, I don’t get to have his tongue or… you know, down my throat as much as I would want.”
“Azura!” Kataleya pouts, blushing profusely. “I wish Song was here!”
“Ah, yeah, the two virgins. But Song is not innocent.” Sky snickers, “So, I know Leo’s my cousin, but since we didn’t really grow up around him, tell me, is he big? I mean, he probably is. Apparently, Rossis are meant to be well endowed.”
“And how do you know that?” Kat whines, not happy with the direction of the conversation.
“Really?” Skyla asks sceptically as she cuddles her cat. “Everyone knows.” She shrugs, and I smirk.
“I don’t want to picture Rossi's bits! Yucky!”
“Well… they ain’t wrong. At all…” I admit, bursting out into laughter with Skyla as Kataleya sinks to the ground, covering her face in embarrassment.
Leo’s sexy, shirtless state comes to my mind, and my heart skips a beat. I miss him being here by my side. Yeah, I’m crazy in love. I’m about to mind-link him when I realise my walls are down. I so hope he didn’t hear all that! Oh, Goddess!
“Do men talk about women the way women do?” I muse.
“I think they do, but maybe not about their mates in so much detail, as they are possessive as hell.” Skyla shrugs as she picks up her mug and drinks her hot chocolate. “But men are dumb.”
“Not all men,” Kataleya corrects.
“The majority,” Sky disagrees.
I place my mug down, snuggling under the covers next to Corrado. We carry on talking for a while, discussing our dresses for tomorrow. Winona had picked out several for me, and I had picked the one I liked best. It would be a lie if I said I wasn’t nervous. Becoming Luna is a big deal, and I want to look perfect.
Soon, Kataleya gets up and gets into bed next to Skyla as we continue to talk about everything from how stuff is at the academy to the drama there, the latest of who’s dating who. The school year will be over in a couple of months, and then next year is their final. This… eating chocolate, laughing, just chatting… I really needed it.
“Thanks for coming, girls… I appreciate it,” I say softly as sleep begins to overcome me.
“Anytime…” I hear Kataleya murmur, and I look over to see Skyla is fast asleep already, Malevolent curled up in front of her, fast asleep as well.
Goodnight, baby, I say through the link. Realising Leo has his walls up, I push through, and it isn’t hard to do. I wonder if he’d had those walls up because I just can’t keep mine up…
Night, beautiful, get some rest… because you know what you promised me tomorrow night. You won’t be sleeping, his sexy voice promises in my head. Those words make my eyes snap open, all traces of sleep gone.
Yeah… I remember… I reply, slamming my walls up.
“Sky!” I hiss. I get out of bed as Kataleya looks at me sleepily. “Sleep.” I wink at her before crouching next to Skyla and prodding her forehead. She frowns as her eyes snap open, her blazing plum eyes glowing as she bares her fangs at me.
“What?” She growls.
“Easy there, Little Miss Lycan. I need you to help me with something,” I whisper. She frowns, her eyes returning to green as she cocks a brow.
“Oh? What is it?” She asks sharply.
A smirk crosses my lips as I begin telling her what I need, and I see the devilish smirk crossing her face before she nods.
“Oh, my dear blue-eyed darling, leave this to me.”
-----
It‘s the following morning, and, to say the least, I’m excited. Everyone is coming today, and I just got a text from Raven saying they’re setting off soon.
Kataleya is currently in the shower, and I have just left the bedroom, feeling starved, and not for food, but for my man. I push the bedroom door open slowly, only to stop in my tracks. Where I was expecting him to be asleep, he isn’t; instead, I spot him standing there in his boxers, freshly showered, with his phone in hand. His wet brown locks fall in front of his forehead. Oh, fuck, this man is sex on legs.
“Hey…” I reply as his gaze flickers up. “Missed me?”
“I’m not so sure. Maybe I enjoyed being able to sleep without being worried that I might get castrated in my sleep,” he teases with a cocky smirk. I stop midway, giving him a dirty look. Ass.
“Same,” I retort, stalking towards the bathroom. “I came to shower.”
“Same? Never knew you had a dick.”
I can see his smirk growing, and I’m barely halfway to the bathroom when he grabs my arm, spinning me into his arms.
“I thought you didn’t miss me?” I growl as his arms wrap around my waist from behind, and he kisses my neck.
“I never said I didn’t miss you, I just said I slept bett-” I elbow him, making him snicker as I pull away. He grips my face as I smack his chest, that sexy smirk not fading. “You know I fucking missed you without me having to say it.” His voice is low and husky, making my stomach flutter.
“Still, you could at least admit it.”
“How about I show you?”
He doesn’t wait for a response, his lips crashing against mine in one incredibly hot kiss that makes my pussy clench. Our hands are all over one another. Leo pins me to the floor, and just when he’s about to lift me up, I remember what day it is and push him back.
“No. Got to wait until tonight, handsome,” I say breathlessly in between kissing him.
“Why the fuck do we need to?” He murmurs against my lips. “Don’t give me that bullshit about making the night special. I can fuck you twenty-four-seven and still want to fuck you as bad.” My heart thumps, to my dismay, my cheeks burning at his words. His raw emotions that show he isn’t lying are so intense, and I suddenly feel breathless under his intense gaze.
“Everything you do… you do deeply…” I murmur, running my finger over his plush lips. He cocks a brow.
“Yeah, like fucking you.”
I smirk, “Yeah, that, too…” Being the recipient of Leo’s love… I’m lucky. “Well, I should go. Eric is going to be here super soon, and I have to feed this baby. Plus, Raven said they are all on the way. Ready to meet your mate’s father?”
“And brother, I presume?” Leo remarks as I pull away. I bite my lip, suppressing a smile.
“Yeah… good luck. My brother is a cute little puppy until he’s pissed… then, Goddess forbid, even I don’t want to be around him.” I shudder as I enter the bathroom, leaving the door slightly ajar so we can talk as I strip.
“And why is Eric coming?”
“Oh, he texted last night asking when I wanted to see him. Remember, I called him over?”
“Yeah, what for?” Leo asks as he pushes the door open, leaning against it with his arms crossed just as I switch the shower on. I turn my back on him, giving him a good view of my ass. I can feel his eyes burning into me.
“You’ll see,” I reply with a secretive wink over my shoulder, but he’s far too busy staring at my behind. Well, he can’t touch, but I guess I’ll let him enjoy the view.
-----
Eric looks up at Skyla and me nervously as he sits at the table.
“Umm, are you sure you want to do this?” He asks, looking at the shaving foam and the razor I’m holding.
“Yes, your beard is actually pretty ridiculous,” Skyla adds bluntly, making Kataleya gasp from the other side of the room.
“Sky… be nice,” she whispers. She is Kia’s daughter through and through, with some added angel dust. Marcel is seated at the table, watching us, clearly amused. Leo, Corrado, and Winona are out, and it’s time I fixed this man up.
“Thank you?” Eric says with uncertainty, looking up at Skyla. She smirks, tapping his cheek.
“Trust me, you will be exactly my type when she’s done with you.” If that was meant to comfort the poor guy, it sure doesn’t seem to work as his heart thuds, watching me nervously.
“Umm, Luna, have you ever shaved a beard before?” He asks.
“Sure!” I lie.
“Really?” He looks even more unsure.
“Beard or vagina, there’s no difference. You’ll be fine,” Skyla says, making Marcel chuckle.
“Not that I’ve done that in a while,” I mutter. Laser is so much better. I tilt my head. “You’re a werewolf, Eric, a nick here or there will be fine.”
“Yeah, besides, the texture of your beard is weird. Your hair looks incredible, though, I guess you take care of that. If you can’t offer your beard the same attention, scrap it,” Skyla remarks dismissively as Malevolent circles Eric’s feet.
I nod my agreement as I get to work, not giving the guy a chance to protest as he looks at Marcel for help, but Marcel simply stays sitting at the table right next to us, working away but offering no help. I find it a little strange that he’s at the table since he usually works in his office or bedroom, but maybe he just wants to spend time with his nieces. Ten minutes later, I’m done, and Eric wipes the remnants of the foam from his face as I hold up a mirror.
“Voila!”
Damn, he looks so different. Gone is the innocent teddy bear, replaced by a handsome man with a chiselled jaw and a sharp look to him. Eric’s eyes flash for a second, making a sliver of confusion flit through me. That is not the reaction I was expecting from him. Is he upset? Well, it’s too late to bring it back now. He turns to me and smiles, and, to be honest, it’s so weird because he looks so different.
“Thank you, Luna. Although I do miss my beard, for your ceremony, I’m glad I will look as smart as you want me to.”
“Thanks. Sky, we’re done!” I call as she walks back into the room, having gone to feed Malevolent. Skyla smirks as she looks down at Eric.
“Well, well, well, looks like we had a wolf hiding in a sheep’s skin.”