Finding Truth Behind Legends
by Wizardtho
Chapter 50:
When I wake on Saturday morning, I’m surprisingly calm. Taha is still sleeping behind me, his body molding to mine and his left hand resting under my breasts.
I look down at his hand and my heart fills with love. The new tattoo on his ring finger is perfect. Now, with or without our rings, we have claimed each other in both human and supernatural ways.
I gently run my finger across my name, then remember the minor freak-out I had last night.
Zander was starting my tattoo, and I was checking things off my internal list, trying to figure out what still needed to be done before the ceremony.
After a minute, I realized something and cried out, “Jesus, Fuck!”
Zander stopped and looked at me in alarm, but I shook my head, “No, sorry. Not you, Zander. Taha, we don’t have someone to perform the ceremony! How in the hell are we supposed to make it legal for the state if we don’t have anyone to perform the ceremony?!”
He laughed out loud, then came to squat down near me. He kissed my lips lightly twice, then promised me, “It’s all been taken care of, Little Coyote. Ahanu has offered to marry us. Anyone here will be able to sign as our witnesses, and Greg is a notary. After the ceremony, all we have to do is fill out the paper. Our witnesses will sign, Greg will notarize, and it will be legal to the state. We will receive an official license in the mail.”
I let out a breath in relief, then shook my head, “Here I was, thinking I botched the whole thing.”
He chuckled, gave me another sweet kiss, then assured me, “You’ve botched nothing. Ahanu will be here soon to go over how the ceremony will work, and all will be fine. You will have my name and my ring on your finger just after sunset tomorrow, of that I promise you.”
I feel a kiss on the back of my shoulder as Taha hums. I find that I’m still caressing my name on Taha’s ring finger. I smile as I whisper, “Good morning, my sexy wolf.”
He hums into my shoulder, “Good morning. Have you been out of bed? I smell food.”
I shake my head, “I only woke a few minutes ago. The girls said something about me staying out of the kitchen this morning, so I think they took over.”
I look out the glass door and realize with a chuckle, “It’s not even sunrise yet. We’d better go see just how much of a mess they’ve made.”
When Taha and I leave our bedroom about 10 minutes later, we see around 15 people scattered around the tables, already eating and talking quietly. Taha stops to talk to one of the coyotes, so I make my way to the living room, where I find little Kai in his Spongebob pj’s, sleeping on the couch. He looks so peaceful. I kiss his little cheek, then turn and make my way to the kitchen.
Though it’s hectic in here -the girls are a flurry of motion- they each have their own station, and things seem to be running smoothly. I smile, noting that there really isn’t much of a mess, then say from the doorway, “Good morning, everyone.”
Lily grins, “Here’s our bride. Just in time. The water for tea will be ready in just a minute. Angie’s got french toast waiting for you and Taha in the warming oven, and Melody’s just finishing your bowls of fruit. Go have a seat and we’ll bring it all out to you. I meant what I said about you staying out of the kitchen this morning. You’ve barely left this room in the last 3 days.”
I chuckle and raise my hands in surrender, taking 2 steps back from the doorway, “Yes, Ma’am. As you wish. I’ll see if the picnic tables are free.”
The day progresses, and before I know it, it’s nearly 3:30. Taha comes to me, asking if I’d like to go for a mid-afternoon hunt with him, as the time slot for our evening hunt will be occupied with our celebration. I smile widely, “Absolutely.”
Lily smiles and promises from beside me, “I have this. There aren’t that many more cupcakes to add the flowers to. Be back here no later than 6:30. Please and thank you. And don’t go to the picnic island. No peeking allowed!”
We both chuckle out a promise as we dash out the door. I’m ready to let loose and run for a bit, so I shift on the fly before I even hit the middle of the backyard. I hear a squeal and a little clap from Kai, then see Dad grinning as he offers from his place on the grass playing with toy trucks, “Go on you two. I’ll get the scraps. Go, or you’ll be late getting back.”
Taha quickly shifts, gives a yip to my dad and Kai, then runs to catch up to me. I can sense the twins somewhere overhead, and hear Chayton offering in my mind as I hit the trees, ‘We’ll be your eyes in the sky. Going up the mountain?’
Taha replies, ‘Yes. We are taking an early hunt since we have the festivities tonight.’
I can’t help but add, ‘If you happen to spot anything really big, let me know. I feel unusually hungry all of the sudden.’
Taha eyes me worriedly, ‘Isabella?’
I shake my head as I feel his concern and curiosity, ‘I have no clue why, but it just hit me. I don’t feel like my energy is low, though. I’ve been really careful about that. Plus, you would feel it if something were wrong with me.’
We make it halfway up the mountain before I hear Jeremy through the mind link, ‘Yes! Bella, there’s a massive grizzly bear… you should catch his scent just up around the bend.’
As soon as I round the bend, the scent of the grizzly hits me like a wrecking ball, and I can’t help but let out a long growl. It’s so intense, so mouthwatering, that my entire frame momentarily vibrates with need. Taha notices, offering reassuringly, ‘You are well protected, Bella. Let your instincts take over, and have your fill.’
I do just that, hunting the bear on instinct alone.
Though the bear is gigantic, and it tastes even better than it smells, my hunger is still spiking in waves once I’m done burying the stripped carcass. I end up taking down a large elk.
I’m nearly finished with my second course when my mate leaves my side. I relax when I see he’s just taking down an elk. Surprisingly, instead of tearing into it, he presents the elk to me, thinking through the link, ‘Feed, my love. Your hunger is not sated yet.’
The shock of seeing him place his kill in front of me must be evident because Taha lets out a wolfy chuckle as he presses his muzzle against my cheek in a kiss. After a second of looking at him, he nudges the neck of the elk toward me again, thinking, ‘This is one of the few things I can do to take care of your needs. Please sate your hunger.’
I stand from the stripped elk, rub my side along Taha’s as I send him my love, then settle in front of the meal he’s caught me. Though Zander asks if I’m okay through the link, and I can hear Taha answering for me, I can’t really concentrate on their conversation while digging into my meal.
When we finally return to the house, I’m surprised Lily doesn’t grouch at me for being late. Instead, she tells me to say goodbye my mate, because it’s time for me to get pampered. There’s something she’s not saying aloud, though, I can see it in her eyes.
I rub my muzzle against Taha's, telling him I’ll meet him on the picnic island near sundown. He responds with a hum of, 'Sundown can’t come soon enough.'
Zander drags him away with a chuckle in one direction, as Lily drags me toward the master bedroom. When we finally have the door closed behind us, I half expect her to ask why we were 30 minutes late getting back, but still, she says nothing. She only guides me into the bathroom, where a full tub of hot water is waiting.
Lily smiles, then points to the tub, “Shift. Relax. Soak. I’ve already had Zander take Taha’s shirt to our place, and Avory is going there before coming here. The guys are getting ready there, including Kai. I don’t know when he decided we were sisters, but I hope you don’t mind him calling you Auntie Bella. If it bothers you…”
Once I'm on 2 legs again, I gasp slightly, then take hold of both Lily’s shoulders. “No… I love it, honestly. I feel like he’s my nephew… like you’re my sister. Lily, I’ve found such an amazing family in all of you since moving here. When your beautiful little boy called me his Auntie the first time yesterday, it made my entire day.”
My lack of clothing doesn't bother her. She hugs me tightly, a huge smile lighting her face, then she sounds a bit choked up as she promises, “You are, you know. In just this short amount of time, you’ve become as much of a sister to me as Angie, Sinopa, and Melody have. Now seriously, before you make me ruin my mascara, get in the tub. I have to go check the crock pots and make sure Malachi and Theo have the smoker under control.”
When I wake on Saturday morning, I’m surprisingly calm. Taha is still sleeping behind me, his body molding to mine and his left hand resting under my breasts.
I look down at his hand and my heart fills with love. The new tattoo on his ring finger is perfect. Now, with or without our rings, we have claimed each other in both human and supernatural ways.
I gently run my finger across my name, then remember the minor freak-out I had last night.
Zander was starting my tattoo, and I was checking things off my internal list, trying to figure out what still needed to be done before the ceremony.
After a minute, I realized something and cried out, “Jesus, Fuck!”
Zander stopped and looked at me in alarm, but I shook my head, “No, sorry. Not you, Zander. Taha, we don’t have someone to perform the ceremony! How in the hell are we supposed to make it legal for the state if we don’t have anyone to perform the ceremony?!”
He laughed out loud, then came to squat down near me. He kissed my lips lightly twice, then promised me, “It’s all been taken care of, Little Coyote. Ahanu has offered to marry us. Anyone here will be able to sign as our witnesses, and Greg is a notary. After the ceremony, all we have to do is fill out the paper. Our witnesses will sign, Greg will notarize, and it will be legal to the state. We will receive an official license in the mail.”
I let out a breath in relief, then shook my head, “Here I was, thinking I botched the whole thing.”
He chuckled, gave me another sweet kiss, then assured me, “You’ve botched nothing. Ahanu will be here soon to go over how the ceremony will work, and all will be fine. You will have my name and my ring on your finger just after sunset tomorrow, of that I promise you.”
I feel a kiss on the back of my shoulder as Taha hums. I find that I’m still caressing my name on Taha’s ring finger. I smile as I whisper, “Good morning, my sexy wolf.”
He hums into my shoulder, “Good morning. Have you been out of bed? I smell food.”
I shake my head, “I only woke a few minutes ago. The girls said something about me staying out of the kitchen this morning, so I think they took over.”
I look out the glass door and realize with a chuckle, “It’s not even sunrise yet. We’d better go see just how much of a mess they’ve made.”
When Taha and I leave our bedroom about 10 minutes later, we see around 15 people scattered around the tables, already eating and talking quietly. Taha stops to talk to one of the coyotes, so I make my way to the living room, where I find little Kai in his Spongebob pj’s, sleeping on the couch. He looks so peaceful. I kiss his little cheek, then turn and make my way to the kitchen.
Though it’s hectic in here -the girls are a flurry of motion- they each have their own station, and things seem to be running smoothly. I smile, noting that there really isn’t much of a mess, then say from the doorway, “Good morning, everyone.”
Lily grins, “Here’s our bride. Just in time. The water for tea will be ready in just a minute. Angie’s got french toast waiting for you and Taha in the warming oven, and Melody’s just finishing your bowls of fruit. Go have a seat and we’ll bring it all out to you. I meant what I said about you staying out of the kitchen this morning. You’ve barely left this room in the last 3 days.”
I chuckle and raise my hands in surrender, taking 2 steps back from the doorway, “Yes, Ma’am. As you wish. I’ll see if the picnic tables are free.”
The day progresses, and before I know it, it’s nearly 3:30. Taha comes to me, asking if I’d like to go for a mid-afternoon hunt with him, as the time slot for our evening hunt will be occupied with our celebration. I smile widely, “Absolutely.”
Lily smiles and promises from beside me, “I have this. There aren’t that many more cupcakes to add the flowers to. Be back here no later than 6:30. Please and thank you. And don’t go to the picnic island. No peeking allowed!”
We both chuckle out a promise as we dash out the door. I’m ready to let loose and run for a bit, so I shift on the fly before I even hit the middle of the backyard. I hear a squeal and a little clap from Kai, then see Dad grinning as he offers from his place on the grass playing with toy trucks, “Go on you two. I’ll get the scraps. Go, or you’ll be late getting back.”
Taha quickly shifts, gives a yip to my dad and Kai, then runs to catch up to me. I can sense the twins somewhere overhead, and hear Chayton offering in my mind as I hit the trees, ‘We’ll be your eyes in the sky. Going up the mountain?’
Taha replies, ‘Yes. We are taking an early hunt since we have the festivities tonight.’
I can’t help but add, ‘If you happen to spot anything really big, let me know. I feel unusually hungry all of the sudden.’
Taha eyes me worriedly, ‘Isabella?’
I shake my head as I feel his concern and curiosity, ‘I have no clue why, but it just hit me. I don’t feel like my energy is low, though. I’ve been really careful about that. Plus, you would feel it if something were wrong with me.’
We make it halfway up the mountain before I hear Jeremy through the mind link, ‘Yes! Bella, there’s a massive grizzly bear… you should catch his scent just up around the bend.’
As soon as I round the bend, the scent of the grizzly hits me like a wrecking ball, and I can’t help but let out a long growl. It’s so intense, so mouthwatering, that my entire frame momentarily vibrates with need. Taha notices, offering reassuringly, ‘You are well protected, Bella. Let your instincts take over, and have your fill.’
I do just that, hunting the bear on instinct alone.
Though the bear is gigantic, and it tastes even better than it smells, my hunger is still spiking in waves once I’m done burying the stripped carcass. I end up taking down a large elk.
I’m nearly finished with my second course when my mate leaves my side. I relax when I see he’s just taking down an elk. Surprisingly, instead of tearing into it, he presents the elk to me, thinking through the link, ‘Feed, my love. Your hunger is not sated yet.’
The shock of seeing him place his kill in front of me must be evident because Taha lets out a wolfy chuckle as he presses his muzzle against my cheek in a kiss. After a second of looking at him, he nudges the neck of the elk toward me again, thinking, ‘This is one of the few things I can do to take care of your needs. Please sate your hunger.’
I stand from the stripped elk, rub my side along Taha’s as I send him my love, then settle in front of the meal he’s caught me. Though Zander asks if I’m okay through the link, and I can hear Taha answering for me, I can’t really concentrate on their conversation while digging into my meal.
When we finally return to the house, I’m surprised Lily doesn’t grouch at me for being late. Instead, she tells me to say goodbye my mate, because it’s time for me to get pampered. There’s something she’s not saying aloud, though, I can see it in her eyes.
I rub my muzzle against Taha's, telling him I’ll meet him on the picnic island near sundown. He responds with a hum of, 'Sundown can’t come soon enough.'
Zander drags him away with a chuckle in one direction, as Lily drags me toward the master bedroom. When we finally have the door closed behind us, I half expect her to ask why we were 30 minutes late getting back, but still, she says nothing. She only guides me into the bathroom, where a full tub of hot water is waiting.
Lily smiles, then points to the tub, “Shift. Relax. Soak. I’ve already had Zander take Taha’s shirt to our place, and Avory is going there before coming here. The guys are getting ready there, including Kai. I don’t know when he decided we were sisters, but I hope you don’t mind him calling you Auntie Bella. If it bothers you…”
Once I'm on 2 legs again, I gasp slightly, then take hold of both Lily’s shoulders. “No… I love it, honestly. I feel like he’s my nephew… like you’re my sister. Lily, I’ve found such an amazing family in all of you since moving here. When your beautiful little boy called me his Auntie the first time yesterday, it made my entire day.”
My lack of clothing doesn't bother her. She hugs me tightly, a huge smile lighting her face, then she sounds a bit choked up as she promises, “You are, you know. In just this short amount of time, you’ve become as much of a sister to me as Angie, Sinopa, and Melody have. Now seriously, before you make me ruin my mascara, get in the tub. I have to go check the crock pots and make sure Malachi and Theo have the smoker under control.”