Chapter 25: Chapter 25

Once I served the soup to the Luna, I realized my wolf has not been let out in a while. I walked to the front porch, with Noah in tow. I turned to him and said, "I think, I'm going to let my wolf go for a run. She hasn't really since we've gotten here. Is that okay?"

Noah's furrowed brows nodded. I smile and continued to walk down and close to the woods.

"We will not be passing the boarder though." He said firmly.

"That's okay."

It was freezing. The snow was getting thicker and thicker, by the minute. But I felt my wolf become a little more excited about being let out. I went to go behind a tree to take my clothes off. I glanced over my shoulder and saw Noah's back to me. How respectful of him.

Once I was completely bare, I took a deep breath and started to feel my bones reforming, my body reconstructing. Once I was fully wolf I stepped out into the open and see Noah still standing there with his back to me.

I made a small sound that made him turn around. He looked at me up and down. I felt kind of embarrassed even though I was in my wolf form. I mean...my wolf Nina isn't that impressive is she?

Ummm...excuse me? It seems that I am doing way better off than you thank you very much.

I rolled my eyes. I could mind link Noah. I wasn't a part of the pack. So instead I motioned towards him with my head, hoping he will take notice of what I was trying to say. He tilted his head and looked down at himself. He then looked back at me when he realised what I meant

"I'm not shifting."

I tilt my head in question.

He looked away and says, "I don't like shifting when it's close to the full moon."

I didn't question him further. But I still internally wondered why? I understand that it can make a wolf a little more...wolf, but it's nothing serious. Why would he have a problem with it.

I ended up running around the forest for a while. It felt good to be in my wolf again. It made me feel a little more clear headed and whole again.

Noah would follow behind me running. Even though he is in human form, he is still inhumanly fast. Actually one of the fastest I've seen.

After a while my legs started to get a little sore, so before heading back, I found a beautiful area to rest.

There were trees everywhere with flowers on them. Their were petals of pale colours everywhere. There were flowers blooming from the ground. Flowers draping off of vines from above. These must be winter flowers. It looked beautiful. I had decided tht I wanted to shift back into human form to behold this beautiful area. It was totally breathtaking. I hid behind a tree, shifted back into human form and put in my clothes. I stepped out and saw Noah standing there. His shoulders, slouched. His head hung low. My brows furrowed in concern. What's wrong with Noah?

I stepped beside him and saw that he was looking at something with a pained expression. I look down and frown when I only saw little pale purple flowers.

"This is where my wife is buried. She didn't want a tombstone. She was obsessed with flowers you see...so instead of getting a tombstone, I planted flowers over her."

My eyes widen. I understood now. He must not come here a lot. I took a step closer to him and he didn't seem to mind at all.

"It's beautiful. I think she would have liked it a lot."

Noah stayed silent for a while. He just stood there, looking at the purple flowers. I looked down at our hands. His are just hanging there. I know it was bold of me, but I felt like it was something that he needed. I took his hand in mine and held tight. I expected him to pull away, but instead, he tightened his hold on my hand. I could feel the energy between us. The sparks and electricity that came.

"Do you believe in the after life Noah?" I asked.

He just shrugged his shoulders.

"I think there is. I think your wife is in a place of peace, where she can look at you and your son and smile and experience the memories you guys will make."

I could see his chest rising and falling fast. His eyes focusing intensely on the flowers. Even though he wasn't facing me, I knew he was listening. "I told you." Noah mumbled.

"What do you mean?" I asked.

He angled his head slightly towards me, but still held his gaze on the flowers, "I told you of how my wife died."

I nodded my head, "You did, when you were wounded. I didn't think you'd remember."

"And if I didn't remember, would you have told me that you knew."

I shook my head, "No...I wouldn't."

Noah turns his head, fully to me and looked at me straight in the eye. "Why?"

I felt sad when I looked into his eyes. He had so much pain and torment inside of him...and I would like nothing else than to take all of that away.

"Because I wouldn't want to remind you of the darkness that comes with the loss of someone you love."

He clenches his jaw and his nostrils flare slightly with his heavy breathing. He now turns his whole body towards me. He takes a step closer, "But that isn't the case now is it? The fact is that you know and I remember every single word I said to you."

My eyes widen. He remembers. Noah took a step forward. I stood still and didn't make a move.

"What did I say to you after that Mia."

I shook my head, "I-I can't remember."

"Yes you can," Noah bent his head down slightly. He was so close to me now, one tiny move and we would be touching, "Now say it."

"You said," I whispered, "You said that somehow, I chase all the bad away...I chase the pain, torture and grief and leave nothing but good."

He leaned in slightly more. our foreheads touched. He looked at me straight in the eyes then says, "And every word was true."

My eyes widen at his confession. I looked down at his lips, they were so close to me. I looked back up and my breath hitched. His eyes were fully glowing in a electric blue.

"You're eyes," I whispered. Noah's eyes instantly widen and he steps away. He turns around and snarls and growls.

"Noah?" I called hesitantly.

He turned back around, and to my disappointment, he was his cold self again. His chest rising and falling fast. He looked up at the sky and then looked ahead, "We should go, it's getting dark."

I felt anger build inside myself. I am sick of this. "When are you going to make up your damn mind Noah."

He froze in place. He slowly turned around and looked at me, "What'd you say to me?" he growled.

I took a step towards him, "I said, when are you going to make up your damn mind. I am sick and tired of tip toeing around you. Wondering if you really want me or not."

His eyes instantly turned black, he looked angry, he stormed right up to me. I instantly regreted saying anything. Ugh Mia! Why do you always have out bursts like this.

"Don't ever talk to me like that again, Mia."

I swallowed and nodded my head. He then turned around storming off back to the pack house. I followed him. I groaned internally. I should have just kept my mouth shut. I probably ruined all of the progress that I've made with him. I have chased him for a while, hoping to find a glimmer of the old Noah from the cottage...and I have here and there, but that's not enough. This time I am not going to let him do anything. I's his turn to chase me.

***

I was in the forest and it was snowing. Kids were playing around everywhere. They asked me to go play in the snow with them, so I did. I laughed at the games we were playing. One of the kids decided they wanted to slide down the snowy hill. So we got a big cooking tray from one of the big ovens. The kids took turns sliding down the hill, laughing.

"You take a turn sliding after me, MIa!" said Kieth. He jumped on the tray and slid down the hill. One of the kids brought it back up for me. I nervously sat on it. I haven't done this in years. I looked down the steep hill and saw the other little children and Kieth waiting for me.

I push myself to slide down the hill. It was amazing. The cold wind, rushing through my hair, my heart beating fast from the adrenaline. It was like I was a kid again. This was great. When I came to a stop. I laughed as I got up. I brushed the snow off of me.

"That was amaz-" But I stopped mid sentence. All of the kids weren't looking at me. They were looking at the forest, tree line...with faces of pure terror. I frowned and looked in the same direction. Rogues were appearing. I gasped. As soon as I saw them I turned to the kids and yelled, "Run!"

They all screamed and ran. But Kieth was still standing there frozen. He was so scared he could not even process what I just said. One of the rogues came running towards him with their teeth bare.

When I saw Kieth in such a vulnurable and dangerous position, I felt like my heart was being ripped out. It was like I was seeing my own pup being attacked. I ran as fast as I could. I saw the rogue leap into the air. And so did I. I shifted mid-air and tackled the the rogue.

I growled at Kieth to run. He snapped out of it and screamed, he turned and ran. "Papa!" I yelled out.

I turned back to the rogue. I was caught off guard, the rogue leaped unto me. The last thing I saw was it's sharp teeth...then everything went black.

I opened my eyes and whimpered in disappointment. I was back in the place of darkness and loneliness. I felt my tears fill my eyes to the brim. Will I always come back here? I looked around and just see black as far as the eye could see. I collapsed onto the black ground and pulled my knees up to my chest and cried. I rocked back and forth crying. No matter how good my life may seem...I will always revert back to being the lonely female rogue, living in a tiny cottage in the woods. I cried my heart out. I cried out from all of the pain. But suddenly I heard something. A voice. I recognized it. It was the voice that sang to me. I raised my head and listened. It was singing to me again. The voice gave me comfort and peace. I closed my eyes and listened. It seemed that in this place of darkness, that voice was my escape, my safe haven. So I just laid there and listened.

I gasped awake. I looked around me and made sure I was still in my room. I collapsed back unto the bed and groaned. This was my third nightmare tonight. What is wrong with me! I turn to my side and saw that I hadn't closed my curtains. I looked outside and saw that it was snowing. Snow was so gentle and pure. It had a purpose to freeze then to fall unto the ground. Me? I have no purpose. After I help the Luna give birth...I will be leaving and I will be alone again. That is what happens in every dream. No matter what happens, I will always end up being alone.

I looked at the time, my eyes widen. It was 3 AM. I was having a nap at around 7:30 before dinner, but I must have been in a pretty deep sleep. I groaned in disppointment when I realised that I missed my 10 PM appointment int he rose library. My fingers felt fidgety again. I sigh. I got out of bed and put on my nightgown. I am going to play no matter what.

I walked to the rose library and was surprised to see Noah still there. He was on the leather couch, reading his book. I just stood there. Has he been here this whole time, waiting for me?

"You're late." He said still looking at the book. I just stood there. shocked. I didn't know what to think. He's been here since 10. That is five hours. He's been here waiting for five hours...surely not...right?

He finally raised his head from the book and looked at me, "Well are you going to stand there, or do you want to play the piano."

I couldn't help, but smile. I liked how he expects me to be here when he is here. I like how we have set our own routine and no matter what happened during the day, we would always stick to it.

I went to the piano and began to play and he resumes his reading. We always do this for at least one hour. It was a short one hour, but it was beautiful every time.

I let my fingers dance across the keys, making different sounds and different tunes. It was amazing. I looked at Noah, and see that he wasn't reading anymore. He had his eyes closed and his brows furrowed. He was listening...like actually listening. I continued to play my music for a little while longer. and just like every other night, I always play the song that he thought I didn't know. I always played that last. I close the piano and stand up. I turn and see Noah. I felt my heart melt. He was lying down on the couch witht he book on his stomach. I saw his chest rising and falling evenly. He's asleep. I felt some how even more connected to him. My music lulled him to sleep. I took the book from him. I closed it and laid it on the side table. I looked around to find a blanket, but there was none. I sighed.

I looked down at him and decided to take my warm nightgown off. I slid it over his body. He instantly took the blanket it in his sleep and raised it to his nose. He dragged in a long breath and saw how his body instantly sagged in calmness. I smiled, so I really do effect him. I was about to leave, but then turned back around. I leaned down and softly pressed my lips on his forehead.

"Good Night Noah."