10. Gifts

ten

Gifts

*FLORA*

E lden and Regis take me deep into the forest to our favorite place. It’s far away from our very own Silver Lake, where everyone likes to hang out. It’s our own little secret spot, just for us. This part of the forest is not as thick but still provides a lot of shadow, with a small stream threading over tiny rocks and ending in the tiniest pond I’ve ever seen. It’s deep, and the water is ice cold and clear, with moss-covered rocks around it.

Regis waits for me to crawl off his back and for me to cuddle him, before he shifts back and Elden takes back the reins. I watch him stretch his muscles, noticing that he has really bulked up a lot recently. His training has paid off. I would take him any way… thin, thick, muscular or with a belly. I couldn’t care less, but I know he works hard to remain fit for his pack, and I’m so happy his effort pays off.

Elden turns his head, smiling at me before he jumps into the water. I swiftly undress too, and follow him, jumping right into his arms. I don’t mind being naked with him. Maybe I should feel ashamed, but I don’t. I love these little intimate moments between us, and that this is a version of Elden only I will ever see.

His strong hands brush over my back, pulling me closer. I wrap my legs around his middle and let him pull me into a kiss. It feels amazing to feel his skin against my body. When things start to get more heated though, I feel him drawing back, a smirk curling his lips, and then, just like the jerk he is sometimes, he grabs me and dives down into the cold depth of the water.

I squeal when he leaps up with me, again. “You idiot,” I laugh, wiping the water off my face. I push him playfully and swim away from his arms. “If only your pack knew that their future alpha is such a childish brat.”

“Did you just call me a brat?” he chuckles.

“I did,” I grin, splashing water in his direction. With a growl, he launches at me, making me laugh even more.

We mess around with each other for a while, until I find myself clinging to him again. “I…”

I love him so much that sometimes my heart hurts. There are days I look at him and just want to grab his face and tell him how much I love him over and over again.

But I can’t be the first to say it.

“I think you are going to be an amazing alpha.”

“Where did that come from?” he asks.

“I just wanted to tell you,” I say.

“Do you truly believe it?” he asks.

I’m surprised. I didn’t think this is something he was insecure about. “Elden, you for sure know that you will be amazing?”

“I don’t know,” he admits, while wrapping me up in his arms. We keep floating around the water for a while. “I don’t want to be like my dad.”

“You are nothing like your father,” I say with insistence.

“Dad became alpha through his marriage with Mom,” he explains. “At least, that’s what Geneva told me.”

“And you will become alpha-”

“Because I am his son.”

“Initially, yes, but you aren’t just his son,” I say. “You are talented and kind and fair. You will be everything he wasn’t.”

“I’m scared I will have inherited behavioral patterns from him,” he admits. “I’ve read somewhere that children might become their parents at one point.”

“That’s not a firm rule,” I say. “I know for a fact you are different.”

“How come?”

“Because you listen to me,” I say. “You defend me. You never look down on me, even when I say something silly, and you take me seriously. You take Jace seriously and are always there for him when he needs you. You are a good friend and a good boyfriend. That’s why I know you will also be a good alpha one day, and a good father.”

“And if I am not?”

“Then, I’m here to kick your ass,” I say with confidence.

He chuckles, kissing me softly. “Then, there is nothing that can go wrong.”

When the wind picks up and brushes over us, I feel a shiver going through my body.

“You are cold,” Elden says. “Let’s get out of here and warm up in the sun.”

I let him carry me out of the water before jumping down and grabbing my bag. I always carry one around to stuff Elden’s clothes in for when he shifts, and to have some snacks and a blanket. I spread the blanket over the grass before lying down on my back. Elden follows suit and stretches next to me.

“Did she visit you again?” Elden asks all of a sudden.

I know instantly who he is talking about. The woman who keeps visiting me in my dreams. She did so when I was little. The first time I saw, or rather heard, her was when I comforted Elden right after he saw his mom jump out of the window. From then on, she visited occasionally, but now her visits are getting more and more frequent. “She did, just yesterday,” I admit.

“What does that mean?” he asks. “I mean, her appearing in your dreams.”

“I don’t know. She just pops up in my dream and we talk. She is nice, though.” I open my eyes, seeing how the beings of light circle Elden and me. Their form is a lot clearer to me now than it was only a couple of years ago. They have little wings attached to their body of light. They don’t seem to have a distinctive form, though, at least nothing I know of. And while they don’t have a body in our world, they do have a consciousness.

One of them flutters around me now. Flora, it chirps. She will tell you everything soon.

Do you know who she is? I ask them.

Yes, we know. We are with you because of her. She sent us to you.

That’s new. I’ve always wondered where they came from. I’ve asked Grandma, but she didn’t know either, and it certainly doesn’t help digging for answers when no one can see them but me. Who is she? I ask.

We can’t tell you, not yet. But your birthday will come soon. The light flutters around my hair now. And then, you will have all the answers.

I have been so preoccupied with them that I didn’t pay much attention to Elden. Only when he groans, do I finally snap out of it, turning my head to him. He is grimacing in pain, and he has his palm pressed against his forehead.

“Elden,” I blurt out, sitting up abruptly. “Your head? Again?”

He just nods, groaning in pain.

“Okay, okay,” I rummage in my bag for anything that could help, before grabbing my shirt and running to the lake to dip it into the cold water. I run back to my boyfriend-slash-future mate, pressing the cold wet piece of clothing against his forehead.

Something cold usually helps, but this time it doesn’t seem to soothe his pain.

“It just doesn’t stop,” he groans, holding his head between both of his hands. “It’s just so much,” he pants.

“Okay,” I say, trying to calm my own panic. What am I going to do? What am I going to do?

“Something forces itself into my mind,” he blurts out.

Touch him, one being of light flutters around me.

What? And that’s supposed to help?

You are his mate, aren’t you?

I sit closer to Elden, before grabbing his head between my hands and leaning my forehead against his. He is my mate; my mate! I love him! “I’m here,” I say quietly. “I love you.”

I feel the light fluttering around me first, before branching out towards Elden, engulfing him in their warmth. Is this what I can do? I ask.

One of the things you can do, one of the beings answers. We are yours. To protect you and follow you, at your command.

Elden’s breath calms down and I can feel him relax against my touch. “The headache’s gone,” he mutters. “Whatever you did, thank you.”

“Did you talk with Samuel about it?” I ask him.

“No, but with Geneva,” he says. “She said it’s my gift coming through. If only I knew what it was and what it asks of me. If only I understood what’s going on.”

“We’ll figure it out,” I promise. “It’s probably an amazing, kickass gift once it awakens and will be the coolest thing ever!”

“You and your never-ending optimism,” he says, amused.

“Well, someone in this relationship has to be the optimist,” I grin.

“True.” He takes my hand, looking flustered all of a sudden. “I love you too, just in case that wasn’t obvious.”

“Grandma,” I yell while storming into our cottage. I don’t find her in the living room or the kitchen. “Grandma?” I mutter, anxiety filling me every time I don’t know where she is.

“I am here, sweetheart,” her voice reaches me from the upper floor. I hurry upstairs and peek into her bedroom.

“I’m sorry,” I say. “You were sleeping?”

“I just felt a bit tired.” She turns to the side and smiles at me. “Your grandma isn’t the youngest anymore, you know?”

“But you are young at heart,” I say. “And only as old as you feel you are.”

“What kind of fool said that?” she chuckles, while making space for me on the bed.

“You,” I giggle.

I lie down next to her, eyeing the ceiling and still reeling in the aftermath of my afternoon with Elden.

“You smell like the forest,” she says. “And like water.”

“Elden and Regis took me on a run,” I say, turning to the side and facing Grandma. “We went swimming.”

She smiles. “I assume you had a lovely afternoon?”

“He said he loves me,” I say, barely able to stop the big grin from spreading on my face. I sit up, brushing my hair off my face and squeal. “Grandma, he loves me!”

“Of course, he does!” She smiles happily and sits up as well. “I know the way he looks at you. Isn’t it beautiful to know he loves you, before the mate bond kicks in fully? These feelings are true and real.”

“I know,” I beam.

“I’m so glad he turned into such a good young man,” she says.

“He was worried about turning into his father,” I admit. “I told him it’s silly.”

“It is silly. He is nothing like Caelum. I feel comfortable when you are with him because I know he will always treat you right. Unlike Caelum with Carolina, I know he will be there for you and cherish you, even when I…” her voice trails off, and I don’t know what she wanted to say. A smile curls her lips now. “He is the best mate I could have wished for my beautiful, kind, gifted granddaughter.”

My chest warms at her words and, also, whenever I think about my future with Elden. To distract myself, I jump out of bed. “How about I make dinner tonight?” I offer. “You can take a break.”

“But I want you to focus on school and have some free time, too,” she argues.

“I did have free time. I spent it with Elden, and tomorrow is a public holiday,” I say. “Plus, Elden helps me and Jace study. There are only a few exams left and then we can graduate.” I bend down to kiss grandma’s forehead. “I want to make dinner for us. It’s fun for me, but only if you won’t complain when it’s a mess.”

“I will happily eat anything you cook,” Grandma reassures me. “Thank you, my angel.”

“Grandma,” I start before I leave her room. “Today, the beings of light told me that the woman sent them to me and that they listen to my command.”

She nods. “I thought as much.”

“Do you know who this woman is? The one from my dreams?”

“I have an idea,” she admits. “But I’m not sure.”

“You know Mom, don’t you?” I ask all of a sudden. My question surprises me. I have no idea why I suddenly thought about Mom.

“I wouldn’t say I know her,” she says.

“But have you met her?”

“Just once,” she admits. She gestures with her hand for me to come closer and takes my hand. “Flora, trust me, everything will make sense eventually. But, rest assured that your mom loves you.”

I tilt my head. “Sometimes when I feel sad or when something bad happens, I feel something warm inside me. And I wonder if that’s her. My bond to her.”

“I think it is,” Grandma says. “And with the light the woman from your dreams sent to you, they made sure you are always protected.”

“Alright,” I clap my hands. “It’s only two months until I’m eighteen and will know everything. Right.” I nod. “First, we have Elden’s birthday to plan, and then mine. Then I will get all my answers, and I will mate with Elden and have him mark me.”

Grandma looks at me, amused. “You have it all planned out, haven’t you?”

“Of course,” I beam, before hurrying to the kitchen. I’m not a great cook, but Grandma and Elden always pretend to like what I cook for them. It’s fun to see them eat what I made. I’m going for beef with mushrooms and mashed potatoes today. Grandma loves anything with potatoes, and Elden loves beef. So it’s a win-win.