Warriors of blue moon

Chapter 5, part two - Blossoming romances

It was Wednesday and my second date with Heath, I was sat at my Vanity table getting ready as I had Dakota on loudspeaker from my phone asking me what I might do on our second date, but I was adamant nothing was going to happen, he'd get his peck on the cheek maybe some hand holding and that’s it, I was a virgin and apart from kissing, I hadn’t done anything else with a guy and that’s how I wanted it to remain until I met my destined or chosen mate.

I was wearing a tight black dress that showed just a little bit of cleavage, black stilettos and my hair curled. I said goodbye to Dakota and made my way downstairs.

"Oh hey Lanny.. where the hell you off to looking all glammed up?" Sam called out to me as he came out of the kitchen

"I’m going on a date, Sam with that Heath guy I told you about!"

"oh..right..yea.. I remember, just you've not mentioned him since I thought he was kind of out of the picture"

"Nope actually this is my second date with him and so far he seems nice"

"ok well.. just be careful ok, you know make sure you don’t do anything rash"

I chuckled "Sam, seriously? I like this guy but I’m not going to rush into anything" not when someone else still has my heart I thought.

"Ok, well have fun I guess and be safe"

"Thank you and I will"

The door knocked and I opened it to see a very dashing Heath in a tight grey suit and white shirt. "Hey little stunner" he complimented me as he gave me a peck on the cheek, I smiled and gave him one in return..

"you’re looking rather handsome tonight Heath, where are we off to?"

"Well, there’s this little place just outside the village that has THE BEST Lamb.. do you like lamb"?

"uhh I love Lamb.. sounds great"

He held my hand as he led me to his car opening the door and closing it behind me before he got in. We pulled up to the restaurant that was a huge white roman styled building with four white pillars on the outside, it had roses cascading down part of the wall and as we walked in I couldn’t help but marvel at how beautiful it was.

The centre of the celling was risen higher in a glass shaped dome with twinkling lights decorating it, the place was huge and a large chandelier hung from each side of the lower part of the ceiling, all the tables were covered in pristine white cloth with a small glass bowl in the centre filled with water and lit tealight candles floating on the water. It all looked romantic and very posh and I felt even more eager to see how good the food was.

We ordered our drinks and the Lamb and already I could feel how hungry my stomach was feeling after another long morning of training and work this afternoon. Heath gave me a cheeky grin after the waiter had left..

"What?" I asked him

He shook his head "nothing just… I’ve actually been looking forward to this all week, I actually wanted to see you sooner but I’ve been swamped with work and had to do a bit of travelling back and forth".

"Travelling? where to?"

"ah nowhere important just had to see some family… well my uncle to be exact"

"Oh, your father and other family.. they don’t live here?"

"uh no actually, they live further down south, a few hours away, I got a flight there and back cause otherwise its a few days drive"

"oh so you live here and so does your Gran? anyone else here with you?"

"uh my best mate Trey, I’ve known him for twenty years now so he’s practically a brother so we moved here together a few months ago and were both close to Gran, we were always the ones that stayed with her and took care of her when my gramp died, my father tried but he’s away a lot so we knew it was best she came with us"

"ohh well that’s sweet, she has two big men looking after her, must make her feel safe, and very loved"

"well she deserves to be looked after"

" I can tell you love her you always have a nice smile on your face when you talk about her"

I had my chin resting on my knuckles while my other hand rested on the table which he then took and placed my hand in his, I wanted to smile at the action but I bit my bottom lip to stop myself.

"Well she’s done all the raising, even for Tre, his parents weren’t exactly around for him so he was at my house all the time he even had his own bedroom, he lived with us really, my dad loves him too always treats him like a son, which is good for Tre."

"Wow so you’re just like brothers then?”

"yea he’s the man, best man I know apart from my dad"

"So you travelled to see your uncle.. you two must be close"

"um actually no I don’t know him all that well but he’s got no kids of his own and recently he’s wanted to get to know me, my dad has been visiting him too so all three of us had some time together when I visited which turned out to be pretty cool actually"

"Hmm that’s nice Heath, I’m glad you have such a loving dad"

"so, tell me more about your family, you all close?" he let go of my hand as our food arrived after waiting which felt like forever and I couldn’t wait to dig in

"yes were all very close, my mum and dad are really cool, my dad trains with me a lot and is always showing me new tactics and showing me how to use all sorts of different weapons. My two little twin sisters are adorable and cheeky, they’re going to be tough as nails when they’re older.

I’m mostly close to my brother Sam, we did everything together as kids and even now we still hang out a lot, he’s great, I’m lucky to have him as a brother.. in fact, he and my best Friend are going to have their first date this weekend"

"Wow.. won’t that be a bit weird.. your brother and best mate?"

"oh no not at all, the only thing I worry about is him hurting her, I know she wouldn’t ever hold it against me or anything if he did I just don’t want it to be my brother that causes her any hurt, but they’re adults they can date if they want and wherever it goes is up to them.. in fact I think they suit each other perfectly"

"well then lets cheers to them" he smiled, we raised our glasses and clinked them together as he toasts "here’s to your brother and best mate hopefully having a very happy future together". I smiled at his toast and sipped my drink.

We talked more... a lot more for the rest of the evening and on the car ride home we had the music loud both singing along. I felt more comfortable with him already and just as much as the first date... I really enjoyed tonight, if maybe a bit more and a part of me wanted to kiss him already.

He walked me to my door while holding my hand and I don’t think I’ll never get used to how tiny my hands feel in his giant ones. I usually feel tough but considering my small stature with him holding my hand like this I felt tiny and vulnerable. I turned to face him as he looked in my eyes and gave me a smile "I've had a great time Lelanna, you know, your wonderful...I hope you know that"

I smiled widely as I blushed "Thankyou" I said, suddenly feeling shy again, "I’ve had a great time too, Heath thank you for such a lovely evening"

"You’re welcome" he said as he leaned down and gave me a long soft peck on my cheek, I felt heat rising through my body as his tall body hovered over my short one. When he pulled back, I cupped my hand round the nape of his neck and drew him back down toward me and gave him a kiss on the bottom of his cheek just next to his lips, letting my kiss linger for a little while before pulling away and taking my hand from his neck.

I turned and opened the door "goodnight, Heath" I smiled

"Goodnight Lelanna......WAIT...Lelanna will you go out with me again?"

My smile grew even wider "of course Heath, most evenings I’m available"

"Great, Can I see you this weekend?..I’m free Saturday, I can pick you up at 2 in the afternoon?.. that’s if your free?"

"Yes I’m free, definitely, I can’t wait".

"Great" he smiled at me and slowly moving backwards he gave me a wink "goodnight stunner"

"Goodnight". I shut the door with the biggest smile and I felt like a giddy schoolgirl with a crush.. then it dawned on me apart from Layton no other guy has actually made me feel giddy.. or feel much of anything for that matter.. huh maybe I’m finally moving on or maybe having this distance from Layton will turn out to be a good thing for me, if I can’t see him or speak to him then I can’t hope for anything. But in my head I could hear and feel that my wolf was missing Layton, after all his wolf was a friend to her like Layton was a friend to me.

As I got to the Palace gardens, Florence was sitting in a large white egg shaped wicker chair at a large glass table planting flower seeds into colourful plant pots. She looked radiant as always in her long white and blue summer dress. She looked up from her flower pot and her smile grew wide as she saw me walking into the orangery..

"Lelanna" she exclaimed excitedly "It’s so good to see you, I loved your last visit" she stood up to embrace me and gave me a peck on the cheek, I hugged her tightly

"I missed you already Florence, I loved it too" I smiled as we both pulled out of the hug and sat in the white chairs.

"So tell me Lelanna, how are things with you?" she asked as she poured us a pink fruit drink and handed one to me.

"Well training is going really well, but I have to work even harder now as we don’t have long left, so it’s exhausting but so worth it.. I just really want and need to pass"

"Oh you will, I know you will, Sam’s told me your doing extra training with your Father, that must be fun. .from what my father tells me, Mr Vanderwood was his best guard and warrior my parents always felt safe under his watch, he's extremely skilled apparently"

I felt a surge of pride for my dear old dad "Yes, he is skilled so I’m lucky I get to learn from him and from Galeb. Galeb’s son is very skilled too and he’s always giving us pointers and helping us to improve"

"Well, I’m glad to hear it, it’s reassuring to know that when me and Layton take over the kingdom for my parents that we'll have excellent and fierce guards, it’s a relief to know we'll be in safe hands"

"Well even now you have no need to worry, I’d slice anyone from head to toe that tried to come near you" I said with a serious look which caused her to laugh

"Ohh Lelanna, I am very sure that’s true, and I’d hate to think of the poor person that would come up against you"

I grinned and patted her hand "Anyway Layton’s an excellent fighter so you have him watching over you as well” I reminded her “Now, enough of my training, how are you? how is it all going with taking on the kingdom duties?"

"Well I know Layton and Sam are purposely going easy on me which is rather frustrating, I mean I am capable of doing the work, I wish they wouldn’t treat me like a fragile child, I want to do my bit Lelanna, I want to be useful and put my mark on the Kingdom"

"I know Flo but I guess they just worry about you, they don’t want things to be too much for you"

"But I don’t like it, all everyone does is treat me like a piece of tiny little China, and I know why but I’m not as fragile anymore and I don’t like being treated like I’m too weak or too soft to be taken seriously, and like my view doesn’t matter, what I say doesn’t matter, my voice won’t be as important as Layton’s or even close to it, because as it is Lelanna I feel as though...."

"As though what?" I asked putting my hand on hers to encourage her to speak.

"Well as though the kingdom is already forgetting about me, they forget the Alpha and Luna have a daughter, all they think about is Layton the soon to be Alpha, but not little Florence who’s too weak and little to be of any use"

I held her hand tightly as she started to look downhearted "Well, if that’s how you feel then change it.. it won’t be better overnight but it will gradually."

"Change it how?"

"Speak up Florence.. don’t let them treat you or make you feel that way, if you want to be heard then speak up, be firm, be serious and don’t take any s**t"

She laughed at that last bit "Yes perhaps your right Lelanna I do need to be tougher for myself and not let them make my decisions for me" she said smiling with determination, we both giggled, and we started to plant the seeds in the flower pots together as we carried on talking.

I told her about Sam and Dakota's soon to be date and I told her about Heath. She told me that the pack doctors were visiting next week to do some medical checks and meetings to decide if she could start venturing out of the Palace, see more people and eventually lead more of an independent life away from all the nurses and housemaids that constantly check on her.

We talked all afternoon when I looked at my phone to see it was time I had to leave for Dakotas, we hugged each other goodbye and i'd promised to see her again the following week. I quickly rushed through the palace hall and got out the doors as fast as I could in hopes that I wouldn’t bump into Layton. I hopped on my bike and rode straight to Dakotas, to see her nervously waiting at the door as I arrived.

"I’m so nervous, I’m so nervous" She rambled as she poured us a glass of wine each then we headed up to her room so she could finish getting ready.

"Calm down D, it’s just Sam!"

"Uh I know.. It’s f*****g Sam Vanderwood, Lelanna, like I never thought the day would come when I’d be going on a date with him"

"Just pleeeeassee be yourself D, don’t bat your eyelashes at him or overdo the compliments, just treat tonight as if your both just at a party and casually chatting like you normally do when you see him, your always so calm and collected and funny so just be all that tonight.. ok?"

she let out a long breath "ok, ok, I promise I’ll relax and just be myself"

"Good, cause if you do that then I know he won’t be able to resist you, cause you my girl are the best" I told her as I clinked my glass with hers

We finished her hair and makeup then put her outfit on, I felt so happy for her but even more so for Sam cause I know he'll take one look at her tonight and will be hooked, she looked stunning. I checked my phone to see it was 5.50pm. "D I’m going to leave now cause he’ll be picking you up in ten minutes but I’ll go down the side streets so he doesn’t drive past me on the road and spot me”.

"Ok" she smiled.

We hugged and I pulled away just about to leave her bedroom before taking one last look "Your beautiful D, and My brother is very lucky to get to go out on a date with you tonight"! I reassured her

I quickly left her house and cycled home through the side streets. I got home to my mum and Dad asking me to watch a film with them and the twins. I quickly got changed into my pyjamas and we sat on the floor in front of the large tv with tons of different foods in the middle of us like a little picnic in the house, we put blankets around our shoulders and scoffed our faces as watched the film huddled together. When the film had finished I tucked Lily and Daisy into bed then snuggled in my own bed and sent Dakota a quick text telling her I wanted to hear all about the date, before I set it back down and fell asleep.

I spent all day with the girls at the beach as we lounged in our bikinis on the loungers as the blue waves rolled against the sand, we didn’t have long left of summer so we decided to get together before we missed the chance. We all spoke of all the things we had been doing since we saw each other last which was almost three weeks ago and we had so much to catch up on. Maisie had been on a trip with the accounting firm she works for and had been telling us that she’s working hard for a promotion to account management that will mean the better pay and as Jay proposed to her, she’s been wanting to save money for their engagement party and of course their ceremony.

Lola had saved hard so her and her two sisters could move from their parents’ house into their own three bedroom apartment on the high street, just outside of the village. She had also decided to stay on longer at university to further her education in Fashion Design. Lola made a lot of her own clothes or would add her own style to items she bought, people always complimented her on her outfits, she had great style and an eye for creativity, she was great at what she did and we all knew she'd be successful in the fashion industry.

Of course, we were all eager to hear Dakotas news about her first date with Sam, she had texted me Saturday morning telling me how great it went, but now we were all here together it was more fun to bask in the details together.

"We just couldn’t stop laughing" she'd keep saying "the eye contact was there the whole time"... "He was such a gentleman"... "It was even better than I thought it would be" she literally could not take her smile off of her face not that I was surprised because since their date I had noticed Sam was constantly grinning from ear to ear all the time too.

I actually think Sam likes her as much as she likes him.. not that I’ll tell her that.. not yet it’s too early for me to get her hopes up like that just in case I am wrong and it doesn’t last for long.

I know Sam obviously likes her but he’s also a guy, and he’s a guy I’ve never seen in a relationship cause he’s never wanted one so I don’t know for sure yet if he wants this to go further or not, if he just wants to casually date her for a little while or if he already likes her enough to hope it'll blossom into something serious and as much as I’ve just wanted to ask him, I also don’t want to be involved in their business. But I do love how much happier they both seem to be.

They asked about Heath and although I wasn’t grinning ear to ear like Dakota, I did feel happy as I talked about him and told them that we are going out again and what will now be our fifth date. I still wasn’t sure how I felt about him, I was definitely attracted to him that’s for sure, he was gorgeous, he made me laugh and so far, he’s been good to me on all of our dates.

After we had cooled off in the sea for some time It was nearing into evening time when we got out and decided to pack our things and head home. Just as we were walking through the village and parted ways, I was lost in my own little world mulling over thoughts as I slowly walked home when I heard a male voice call my name "Lelanna!!"

I looked up and smiled to see it was Liam "Liam" I beamed "we haven’t caught up in a while, as soon as trainings done you just disappear! how are you?"

"uh well actually, Uhh I have some news" he said as he ran his hand through his brown hair.

"Ok well go on tell me!"

"Well I was visiting some family a couple of weeks ago and some of us went to this party and well...I found my mate!" he gave me an awkward smile, "I just come back from viewing a house cause she’s going to come here and live with me"

"OH WOW” I squealed as I gave him a hug "I’m so happy for you Liam"

"Really?" he said as I pulled back from our hug.

"Of course! why?"

"I just.. I don’t know.. I guess I’m still in shock it all feels a bit surreal, like Bam my mate came along and everything’s changed.. but in an amazing way, ya know".

I gave him a smile and nodded "Yes Liam although I haven’t been in your shoes, I can imagine it must feel wonderful".

"It does.. and thankyou Lelanna, I know I can count on you and the girls to make her feel welcome, she won’t know anyone here so it’s all going to be a big change for her, I’m just damn lucky she’s willing to move"

"Yes you are, so just make sure your there every step of the way" I said as I patted his arm.. "But I know you will you’re a good guy Liam and I’m glad you’ve found happiness"

"Well I better go I promised her I’d call her as soon as I got home and let her know what the place was like"

"Ok well congratulations Liam" We had one last quick hug as we said goodbye and started to walk our opposite ways..

"LIAM" I called as I quickly turned back round to face him, seeing him turn his gaze to me..

"YEA" he shouted back

"WHATS HER NAME?"

"DANIELLE"

"GREAT I'LL BE SURE TO REMEMBER" I gave him a nod and we both waved goodbye.

I got home to my mum coming out of the kitchen looking happier than usual

Mum "OH honey your home and just in time" she smiled at me

Lelanna “Just in time for what?”

Mum “Well we can all have dinner together, Sam’s home tonight, so quickly, come on, I was just about to dish up”

Dad "Good evening little warrior, you look like you’ve been under the sun all day"

Lelanna "well I kind of have been Dad" I chuckled "me and the girls spent the afternoon at the beach"

Mum "Oh how lovely"

I joined everyone at the table and sat down as we all started to dig into our food

Lelanna "So Lily, Daisy, would you like me to come with you and mum this weekend to get your outfits for your recital next week?

Lily/Daisy "YES" they both squealed.

Mum "oh honey that would be nice, were going Saturday afternoon we can go for some lunch then get their outfits if you like"

Lelanna "sounds perfect mum"

Dad "So Samuel how have things been at the Palace? are things starting to get easier, you and Layton must be more knowledgeable on the kingdom duties now"

Sam "Yea dad it’s getting there, the office hours are long but hopefully things will level out once we start officially taking over on certain things. Florence is sharing a lot of the load now which has helped a great deal"

Mum "oh that poor girl, you must take it easy on her, you know"

Lelanna "um actually Mum that’s the opposite of what she wants... she’s a lot tougher than people think she is"

Mum "Is she"?

Lelanna "Mum she’s my age, she’s not a little girl anymore, she’s very capable, she’s a young woman who wants to be taken seriously, and so she should"

Sam "Oh yea me and Layton got that alright after she gave us a bollocking for not letting her be more involved"

I smirked a little at that, quietly glad at the fact that she took charge after our little chat.

After dinner I headed up to bed wanting to get an early night tonight ready for the brutal training this week.