Finding Truth Behind Legends
by Wizardtho
Chapter 44:
The next morning, I wake to Taha kissing the back of my shoulder. He hums softly, then whispers, “When do you need to start preparing breakfast? I have to admit, I’m as eager as Nova and Avory to taste this sauce of yours.”
I chuckle softly as I roll to face him, “That’s right. You were still in your wolf form healing when it was made last. I want to make a big pot of the apple sauce and a mountain of pancakes, so any of our temporary residents can get in on the breakfast action. That means...”
I peek over Taha to see the time on the side table clock, then groan, “That means, my sexy wolf, that we need to dress and go start. You can help me peel and cut all those apples in the kitchen.”
When we reach the kitchen, I see a couple of our shifter females laughing with Leah around the kitchen island. All of them are drinking tea, even though the coffee pot is full and hot. The sight makes me smile.
I’m too curious, though, so I ask as I pull cups down for myself and Taha, “Morning, ladies. Do you mind if I ask why you prefer the tea?”
Skye and Willow smile at Leah, then at me, before Willow says, “We were just talking about this, actually. The general conclusion seems to be that it has a soothing taste and smell, which helps us center ourselves for the day. A moment of calm before the storm that is our lives.”
I think for a second before nodding, offering, “I have to admit, Clearwater is the calmest I’ve seen her, and she’s been drinking my tea for a few days now.”
Leah playfully snaps her teeth at me as I bump hips with her, then she hugs me around the waist, saying, “Even with all the commotion, it helps that your house is so calm… the pack is calm when I’m phased in. There’s no instant tension.”
I look at her sadly, knowing that this has been an issue since she first phased. She shakes her head, promising, “This time away has helped… a lot… so don’t give me that look, Swan. I’m not innocent in that whole situation, and I realize that. I was so hurt by Sam that anytime I was linked in, I purposely made it hell for everyone. I was a nasty bitch, and I have a ton to apologize for when I go back… but this time away also let me see that imprinting doesn’t take your choices, as I thought. Hell, Taha’s bone-deep instinct wouldn’t even let him shift after he imprinted, because you weren’t ready. He protected you from the imprint, so you could find yourself and be whole… ready to make the choice to be with him. If imprinting took your choices, he wouldn’t have been able to resist phasing at the first chance.”
I hug her tightly, then whisper in her ear, “You’ve done a lot of thinking while here. It looks good on you, you know… this new enlightenment you’ve found. I’m glad being here is helping you.”
She pats my hip, lets me go, then playfully grouches, “Quit it, before your mushy starts leaking all over me. I’ll have to kick your ass then, and I don’t think your mate would appreciate that. Plus, I can’t cook your breakfast, which would make everyone cranky.”
I chuckle, “That’s because you never wanted to stay in the kitchen long enough to learn, Miss Restless Wolf. Well, we’re changing that this morning. Since I’m making breakfast for over 20 people, you get to help me.”
I pull a peeler from the drawer for her, then pull out 4 more when the other girls say they will help. I set Taha up with the knife and cutting board, and as we finish peeling and coring, he dices them up before placing them in the pot.
By the time the first peek of the sun is making its way over the horizon, the entire house smells of apple pie from the sauce. I can hear as our sleeping shifters wake to the smells, as each time I hear a hungry hum or an, “Oh, yum. Food.”
It’s also then that Nova and Avory appear from out of nowhere. Nova groans from over my shoulder as I stir the pot, “Jesus, Bella. That smells incredible. I could smell it before we even reached the driveway.”
I chuckle and grab 2 tasting spoons, then hand them to him. I can’t help but laugh as their eyes practically pop out of their heads as they each take a taste, then Avory moans, “This is totally worth waking up at ‘oh hell no thirty’ to be here at sunrise.”
I have to smack Nova’s hand since he is too busy trying to sneak another spoonful with Taha. “Oh, no you don’t. If you 2 don’t let me finish, no one will be eating. I still have a mountain of pancakes to make, so go relax for a few minutes.”
Taha manages to quickly get another small taste, then grins at me triumphantly before pecking my cheek and disappearing. I laugh and shake my head as I start pulling out the ingredients for the pancakes.
Brad, Hudson, Lily, Zander, and Kai all show up at points during breakfast. All that arrive have happily full bellies by the time they finish their food and stand from the tables.
Lily let me know, in no uncertain terms, that I am on Kai duty this morning. My little buddy apparently woke up on the way home last night, and proceeded to talk to his parents for over an hour about how he was supposed to get to play with me before they left.
I can’t help but chuckle slightly, then promise, “I’ll gladly take time for him this morning, Lily. Just let me have 30 minutes with Avory for our special project. After that, as long as one of the others can do the tiling in both this bath and the cabin bath, I can spend the rest of the morning with him.”
Nova says as he walks into the room again, “That job, Miss Swan, is apparently mine. I’ve tiled for Kimbal several times, which is why Taha asked if I could spare a few hours today. Just tell me how you wanted the accent tile done, and you can enjoy a fun-filled morning.”
Once I take Nova up to the bathroom, I explain that I want the accent tile on the floor of the shower, on the seat of the bench, and making 2 horizontal stripes on all 3 walls where the niches are located. Everything else from bottom to top is the white subway tile. He nods and says he’ll let me know if he has any questions, so I return downstairs to Lily, Kai, and Avory.
Avory tells me he can get accurate measurements without me changing out of the fitted tank and shorts I’m wearing, so I make sure Taha is busy outside before I stand in the center of the living room. For the next 25 minutes, I move how and when Avory says so. I don’t understand half of what he’s noted on the pad he keeps writing on, but he’s quite pleased when he tells me, “Thank you, Lovey. I have everything I need to make sure very little to no alterations will be needed. Oh, and here is the sample I said I’d bring.”
He pulls a palm-sized square of blush pink fabric from his pocket. I place it up next to my skin, then sigh happily, “Avory, this is perfect… and so soft.”
Lily adds, “That color looks amazing with your skin tone, Bella.” I give her a smile and nod as I agree.
It’s only a few minutes later that I whisper in Kai’s ear, “Would you like to go outside and play? I’m going to go to my room to turn into my coyote, but you’ll have to open my porch door for me, so my coyote can come outside to play.”
His eyes light up before he looks to his mom, who is smiling widely, “Well, hurry up now. You were promised time to play with Miss Bella. Let’s go outside and around to the porch, so she has time to shift.” Kai quickly takes Lily’s hand, and after Avory pockets the pad of paper and swatch, he happily follows them outside.
Before I know it, the morning is gone, and I’ve happily spent the time talking to the patrolling shifters through the mind link as I play with my alpha’s cub. It’s made my morning perfect… and made Kai happy beyond reason.
Today has been simple… as easy as breathing. It won’t always be this way, though, and my mind is constantly scanning the thoughts of the patrolling shifters for signs of the threat we face.
The next morning, I wake to Taha kissing the back of my shoulder. He hums softly, then whispers, “When do you need to start preparing breakfast? I have to admit, I’m as eager as Nova and Avory to taste this sauce of yours.”
I chuckle softly as I roll to face him, “That’s right. You were still in your wolf form healing when it was made last. I want to make a big pot of the apple sauce and a mountain of pancakes, so any of our temporary residents can get in on the breakfast action. That means...”
I peek over Taha to see the time on the side table clock, then groan, “That means, my sexy wolf, that we need to dress and go start. You can help me peel and cut all those apples in the kitchen.”
When we reach the kitchen, I see a couple of our shifter females laughing with Leah around the kitchen island. All of them are drinking tea, even though the coffee pot is full and hot. The sight makes me smile.
I’m too curious, though, so I ask as I pull cups down for myself and Taha, “Morning, ladies. Do you mind if I ask why you prefer the tea?”
Skye and Willow smile at Leah, then at me, before Willow says, “We were just talking about this, actually. The general conclusion seems to be that it has a soothing taste and smell, which helps us center ourselves for the day. A moment of calm before the storm that is our lives.”
I think for a second before nodding, offering, “I have to admit, Clearwater is the calmest I’ve seen her, and she’s been drinking my tea for a few days now.”
Leah playfully snaps her teeth at me as I bump hips with her, then she hugs me around the waist, saying, “Even with all the commotion, it helps that your house is so calm… the pack is calm when I’m phased in. There’s no instant tension.”
I look at her sadly, knowing that this has been an issue since she first phased. She shakes her head, promising, “This time away has helped… a lot… so don’t give me that look, Swan. I’m not innocent in that whole situation, and I realize that. I was so hurt by Sam that anytime I was linked in, I purposely made it hell for everyone. I was a nasty bitch, and I have a ton to apologize for when I go back… but this time away also let me see that imprinting doesn’t take your choices, as I thought. Hell, Taha’s bone-deep instinct wouldn’t even let him shift after he imprinted, because you weren’t ready. He protected you from the imprint, so you could find yourself and be whole… ready to make the choice to be with him. If imprinting took your choices, he wouldn’t have been able to resist phasing at the first chance.”
I hug her tightly, then whisper in her ear, “You’ve done a lot of thinking while here. It looks good on you, you know… this new enlightenment you’ve found. I’m glad being here is helping you.”
She pats my hip, lets me go, then playfully grouches, “Quit it, before your mushy starts leaking all over me. I’ll have to kick your ass then, and I don’t think your mate would appreciate that. Plus, I can’t cook your breakfast, which would make everyone cranky.”
I chuckle, “That’s because you never wanted to stay in the kitchen long enough to learn, Miss Restless Wolf. Well, we’re changing that this morning. Since I’m making breakfast for over 20 people, you get to help me.”
I pull a peeler from the drawer for her, then pull out 4 more when the other girls say they will help. I set Taha up with the knife and cutting board, and as we finish peeling and coring, he dices them up before placing them in the pot.
By the time the first peek of the sun is making its way over the horizon, the entire house smells of apple pie from the sauce. I can hear as our sleeping shifters wake to the smells, as each time I hear a hungry hum or an, “Oh, yum. Food.”
It’s also then that Nova and Avory appear from out of nowhere. Nova groans from over my shoulder as I stir the pot, “Jesus, Bella. That smells incredible. I could smell it before we even reached the driveway.”
I chuckle and grab 2 tasting spoons, then hand them to him. I can’t help but laugh as their eyes practically pop out of their heads as they each take a taste, then Avory moans, “This is totally worth waking up at ‘oh hell no thirty’ to be here at sunrise.”
I have to smack Nova’s hand since he is too busy trying to sneak another spoonful with Taha. “Oh, no you don’t. If you 2 don’t let me finish, no one will be eating. I still have a mountain of pancakes to make, so go relax for a few minutes.”
Taha manages to quickly get another small taste, then grins at me triumphantly before pecking my cheek and disappearing. I laugh and shake my head as I start pulling out the ingredients for the pancakes.
Brad, Hudson, Lily, Zander, and Kai all show up at points during breakfast. All that arrive have happily full bellies by the time they finish their food and stand from the tables.
Lily let me know, in no uncertain terms, that I am on Kai duty this morning. My little buddy apparently woke up on the way home last night, and proceeded to talk to his parents for over an hour about how he was supposed to get to play with me before they left.
I can’t help but chuckle slightly, then promise, “I’ll gladly take time for him this morning, Lily. Just let me have 30 minutes with Avory for our special project. After that, as long as one of the others can do the tiling in both this bath and the cabin bath, I can spend the rest of the morning with him.”
Nova says as he walks into the room again, “That job, Miss Swan, is apparently mine. I’ve tiled for Kimbal several times, which is why Taha asked if I could spare a few hours today. Just tell me how you wanted the accent tile done, and you can enjoy a fun-filled morning.”
Once I take Nova up to the bathroom, I explain that I want the accent tile on the floor of the shower, on the seat of the bench, and making 2 horizontal stripes on all 3 walls where the niches are located. Everything else from bottom to top is the white subway tile. He nods and says he’ll let me know if he has any questions, so I return downstairs to Lily, Kai, and Avory.
Avory tells me he can get accurate measurements without me changing out of the fitted tank and shorts I’m wearing, so I make sure Taha is busy outside before I stand in the center of the living room. For the next 25 minutes, I move how and when Avory says so. I don’t understand half of what he’s noted on the pad he keeps writing on, but he’s quite pleased when he tells me, “Thank you, Lovey. I have everything I need to make sure very little to no alterations will be needed. Oh, and here is the sample I said I’d bring.”
He pulls a palm-sized square of blush pink fabric from his pocket. I place it up next to my skin, then sigh happily, “Avory, this is perfect… and so soft.”
Lily adds, “That color looks amazing with your skin tone, Bella.” I give her a smile and nod as I agree.
It’s only a few minutes later that I whisper in Kai’s ear, “Would you like to go outside and play? I’m going to go to my room to turn into my coyote, but you’ll have to open my porch door for me, so my coyote can come outside to play.”
His eyes light up before he looks to his mom, who is smiling widely, “Well, hurry up now. You were promised time to play with Miss Bella. Let’s go outside and around to the porch, so she has time to shift.” Kai quickly takes Lily’s hand, and after Avory pockets the pad of paper and swatch, he happily follows them outside.
Before I know it, the morning is gone, and I’ve happily spent the time talking to the patrolling shifters through the mind link as I play with my alpha’s cub. It’s made my morning perfect… and made Kai happy beyond reason.
Today has been simple… as easy as breathing. It won’t always be this way, though, and my mind is constantly scanning the thoughts of the patrolling shifters for signs of the threat we face.