Fated Mate

Peaceful Days

The morning sun streamed through Emily's window, bright and golden. She stretched out lazily, her face was already smiling when she opened her eyes. Three weeks had elapsed since coming back from Eleanor's, and life had taken on a pace that was so normal, it made her feel as if she were in a waking dream.

She stood up and went to dress, fastening her hair as she walked out to the training courses. It had been a daily routine for her - practice in the morning before the territory was fully awakened.

The clearing was abandoned, silent save for the meadowsweets, which whispered in the air.

Emily found her center, exhaling into that now-familiar heat at her core.

She held her hand up and called the flames, a small controlled fire that twirled on the tip of her finger. She trains molding it, growing bigger, smaller, breaking it down with her two hands. With every passing day, she gained better control, and even more confidence.

"You're getting better," Victor said from behind her.

Emily didn't blink-she was used to him barging in for surprise visits. She put out the flames and faced him. "Victor. You're up early."

The border patrol finished an hour ago." He came closer, and looked at her with his critical eye. "I'm impressed by your control. " You couldn't conceal your fire without an emotional trigger. Now it looks effortless."

"It's not," Emily said. "I still have to focus. But it's becoming more second nature."

Victor nodded approvingly. "Arthur told me that you want to begin teaching the pack members at a younger age. Have you given that more thought?"

Emily had been thinking about little else. "I want to but I don't know if I'm ready. What if I'm not able to help them? What if my method doesn't work for everyone?"

"You'll never know unless you try." "Besides, you don't realize how much your story resonates. Many of our younger wolves struggle with control, with the need to belong, to be told like they are that they don't fit. You've got a better understanding of that than a lot of people do."

"Possible," Emily whispered. "I guess so."

"Start small. One or two students." Victor's features relaxed somewhat. "Sara has been pestering me about it. She wants to learn from you."

Nervous though she was, Emily smiled. "Sara would make a good first student. She's patient and enthusiastic."

"Well, talk to her. See what happens". Victor turned to leave and then paused. "Emily? For what it's worth I think you're going to be a really great teacher. You have something that most of us don't-you remember what it's like to be powerless. That empathy matters."

As Victor vanished among the trees, Emily felt a warmth that had nothing to do with her fire powers. To be believed by someone like Victor-someone who wouldn't give that to just anyone-that meant... it meant more to her than she could put into words.

-

The practice on the mornings was already a given, but the afternoons had become the best part of Emily's day.

Today she was in the kitchens with Sarah preparing the evening meal. The elderly woman had softened considerably towards Emily, instructing her recipes and methods with gruff affection.

"No no," Sarah said as she gently corrected Emily's knife handling. "Smaller bits, they cook more evenly."

Emily changed the way she was cutting and Sarah grunted her approval. "You're getting it. Two, three more months, and you'll be half-way competent."

Coming from Sarah this was high praise. Emily turned her smile away.

Sara bounced into the kitchen, as energetic as ever. "Emily! I've been looking for you. Can we talk?"

"Let her finish what she's working on first," Sarah said sternly, but there was no real bite to it.

"I can take a break," Emily declared as she dried her hands. She went after Sara out in the hall, the young omega practically shaking with excitement.

"Victor told me you want to teach! To help wolves learn control!" Sara's words rushed out in a jumbled mess. "Can I be your first student? Please? I've been meditating the way you were talking about at dinner, but I don't think I'm doing it right, and my wolf is so chaotic sometime, and I really think your methods could help-"

"Sara," Emily interrupted gently, laughing. "Breathe."

Sara grinned sheepishly. "Sorry. I get excited."

"I noticed." Emily's face turned more stern. "I would love to have the opportunity to work with you. But I want you to know-I'm not an expert. I still have a lot to learn. This would be us figuring things out together."

"Simply perfect," Sara said with a look of sincerity. "Sometimes the best teachers are the ones who know what it's like to be a student."

Victor's earlier words echoed in Emily's smile. "Ok then. We start tomorrow. Early in the morning before the territory gets busy."

Sara squealed and threw her arms around Emily in an unrestrained hug. "Thank you! You won't regret this!"

Emily had the jitters as well as butterflies when Sara bolted in the direction of, no doubt, inform everyone that would listen. This was unfamiliar ground-being someone people looked to, being relied upon to lead instead of merely trying to keep her head above water.

-

Arthur, however, was given the evenings, though his Alpha duties frequently held him prisoner well into the night. Emily caught him in his study this evening, buried under mounds of letters and maps of territory.

"You have to eat," she told him as she placed the plate of food she had fetched from the kitchens.

Arthur looked up, and his weary face instantly lit. "Have I told you today that you're a blessing?"

"Not since this morning," taunted Emily as she walked around to the back of his chair and started working his tight shoulders. "What's got you so busy?"

"Silver Ridge Pack trade agreements." Marcus is at last coming around to a formal alliance, but he drives a hard bargain." Arthur leaned into her touch with a grateful sigh. "How was your day?"

"Good. Tomorrow I start teaching Sara. Nothing but basics - meditation, emotional awareness."

"That is wonderful." Arthur grabbed her hand and spun her into his lap. "You'll be amazing at it."

Emily rested back into him, relaxed in a way that still felt miraculous. "I'm nervous."

"You wouldn't be you if you weren't." Arthur pressed a kiss to her temple. "But nervousness means you care about doing it right. That's what makes you a good teacher."

Emily and Arthur sat in a comfortable silence for a few moments before Emily spoke once more. "Is everything alright? With the territory, I mean. You've been looking a little more stressed recently."

Arthur paused, and Emily could feel her stomach clenching. "There have been reports. More vampire movements near our borders. Nothing direct, sufficient to cause concern none the less."

"Theodore," Emily whispered.

"Probably. We don't have any proof, but the timing is suspicious." Arthur's arms drew her closer. "I've increased patrols, beefed up our defenses. "We're prepared."

"Always," whispered Emily.

-

Later, they strolled across the land under the light of the moon, Arthur's hand warm in hers. These moments of peace snatched away at intervals had grown precious-brief ambulations where they could simply be Emily and Arthur, and not Luna-in-training and Alpha.

"Do you ever think about the future?" Emily asked. "What do you want it to look like?"

Arthur was quiet for a moment. "I wonder about it all the time. We lead together here. I want to see packs united, territories at peace. I see..."

He hesitated and then spoke softly, "I see children. Our children growing up in a world that is safer than what we got."

Emily's breath caught. They weren't going to talk about this - about a forever future, about family. "You want that? With me?"

"Emily." Arthur stopped walking and turned full-face to her. "I want everything with you. I know it's soon, I know we're still figuring things out, but yes. I want a life with you. I'm talking about a real life, not just surviving but thriving."

Tears pricked Emily's eyes. "I want that too. I never thought I could have it, never let myself dream it, but with you..." She was smiling through her tears. "With you, I see it all too clearly."

Arthur kissed her again, tender and full of promise. And we will build it. Together.

As they continued their walk, Emily leaned into Arthur's side, her heart full in a way she'd never experienced.

But for now, in this moment, she had peace. She had love. She had a home and a reason for being and people who wanted her.

She had all she'd never had the courage to dream of.

-

The next morning Emily woke before dawn to discover Sara already at the training grounds, practically bouncing with anticipation.

"You're early," Emily said, amused.

"I couldn't sleep! I'm too excited!" Sara grinned. "Where do we start?"

Emily sat down on the ground and motioned for Sara to sit beside her. "We begin with the toughest part. Being still."

Sara's enthusiasm dimmed somewhat. "That's it? Just... sitting?"

"Just sitting," said Emily, thinking of how frustrated she'd been with Eleanor's approach. "Your wolf is wild, because your emotions are wild. You need to know yourself, before you are able to lead your wolf."

Sara looked doubtful but nodded. "Okay. I trust you."

Those three words - I trust you - settled something in Emily's chest. Somebody trusted her. Not in spite of her past, but maybe because of it. Because she'd walked through darkness and come out on the other side.

"Close your eyes," Emily said softly. "Concentrate on your breathing. And Sara? This isn't going to be easy. But I guarantee you, it'll be worth it."

In spite of Sara's attempts to close her eyes and find stillness, Emily found herself overwhelmed by a sense of rightness. This was her path - not just learning how to control her own power but how to help other people find their way as well.

The sun was coming up over Woodland Territory, turning the sky a bright pinkish golden color. Emily could hear the pack off in the distance beginning to move, starting a new day.

And for the first time in her young life, Emily wasn't scared about what the day would bring. She was ready for it.

No matter what happened next, she would meet it with strength and love and the rock-solid certainty that at last, at last, she was going to belong.