The Alpha's Daughter

XII

Since he had no night shift, Linus remembered going to sleep fairly early. Yet, the wolf found himself in a quaint cottage. He could tell a full moon ruled the sky. It’s called tugged at his skin. As a born shifter, he was no slave to the moon the way made shifters were, but the moon’s voice still called to him. He easily resisted the pull. His interest was the door left ajar, it filtered pale moonlight into the otherwise darkened hall. Linus continued through the faintly familiar cottage until he reached the door. He hesitated for a moment. He felt as though everything would be out of his control once he crossed the threshold. But the impulse to continue was stronger than the moon’s song. He pushed the door and went in. Linus immediately recognised this room, but now his feet moved of their own accord.

Why this memory?

His feet touched the soft, wool carpet as he crossed the space to the bed that was positioned under the opened glass windows. Emma slept peacefully. Her form tangled in the cream covers, blonde hair splayed out on the pillows. Linus climbed onto the bed, the mattress dipped under his weight, and Emma groaned.

The Alpha looked at the figure hovering over her. “Lin?” Linus bit his lip to contain the shiver that zinged up his spine. Her voice was low, with a slight rasp from sleep. Emma patted the space next to her. “lay down.”

He obliged, lowering himself next to her. Linus didn’t join her under the covers. He rested his head on his arm as he continued to study her. Emma noticed and pushed the covers away so she could snuggle up to him. Now exposed, the moon’s light bathed her pale skin and hair. Was the person before him a shifter or some celestial being?

Emma realized his unusual silence. She pulled away so she could meet his eyes, a soft smile on her lips. Lidded eyes focused on him, “is something wrong?”

Yes.

“No”, he heard himself whisper, “just go back to sleep.”

“Okay”, she yawned. “You should get some sleep too”, her words slurred as she fell prey to sleep again.

Linus didn’t answer at first. His free hand moved to her ear. It lingered there for a breath before it travelled a little lower. The wolf rubbed soothing circles in that spot behind her ear. Emma hummed appreciatively, but opened her eyes to give him a watered-down glare.

“I will”, he conceded with a smile. She continued to stare. Linus closed his eyes and leaned in closer, “sleeping now.”

He heard her huff and stifled his laugh. A few minutes passed and Linus opened his eyes again. Beside him, Emma breathed deeply and evenly. The wolf relived letting his hand fall from Emma’s neck, hesitantly inching towards her sides. Linus shuffled closer. He hugged her to himself, his arm resting on her hip. Emma hummed as he rubbed soothing circles into her lower back.

Just this once, he’d allow himself to embrace her in this way.

Linus took a deep breath of her comforting orange and honey tinged scent. A wish rose in his heart. He didn’t have the strength to smother it. He kissed her forehead and let his lips linger there. He shifted the arm under his head and raised it slightly. His nose traced from her temple to her cheek to her neck. Linus let his lips trace the line of her jaw, dipping under to nuzzle at her scent glands.

Re-watching this was painful. He wanted to smack his past self. Yell at him to move away quickly but the past could not be changed.

He leaned back, preparing to go back to his room when he saw it; it was like a faint light erupted from Emma’s neck where he’d scented her. The light became stronger and began dancing, creating an intricate pattern before disappearing the way it appeared.

His eyes snapped open.

The familiar ceiling of his current home stared back at him. Linus covered his face and groaned. After a moment or two like that, he pushed his chocolate locks out of his face, letting his hand rest in his hair as the cogs in his brain continued to turn.

That was three years ago. Why did he suddenly remember it now?

Linus blew out a sigh and rolled towards his nightstand to retrieve his phone, sleep lost to him. Seven minutes to four in the morning. Emma probably has an off night, Linus didn’t question it. He finally checked out the mobile game Maríu has been obsessed with. He had the space and the time. Why not?

Exactly fifteen minutes passed before he picked up her scent. Soft knocks on his door came immediately after. “Lin?” the Alpha’s low call was further muffled by the door.

Linus rolled out of bed and opened the door. “Good morning Luna.” He only needed a second to study her. His Alpha was in tights and an oversized jacket. “Didn’t sleep well?”

She smiled sheepishly. “It worked for a couple hours.”

He pulled a jacket off the wall hanger and smiled at her, “let’s go for a walk.”

They headed for the usual beaten path. Linus stayed a beat behind her. The walk was quiet. He changed that when he was sure they were far enough from the prying ears of the house and any wondering scouts who were on duty.

“What’s bothering you Em?”

“Nothing really”, Emma rubbed her neck as she kept her eyes on the trail. Linus did his best to school his expression, it was the exact spot he had dreamed about. She slowed her pace and bumped their shoulders together. “It’s been a while since it’s been just us”, she smiled up at him.

Linus matched her smile. “You’re not telling me everything”, he hummed.

Her smile immediately disappeared into a pout, “how do you always do that?”

“I’ve lived with you long enough, Luna”, he dragged the title.

“Cut that out”, she smacked his arm, “you know I don’t like when you say it.”

Linus arched a brow then smirked, “how about Alpha?”

“I will swat that smirk off your face”, she threatened.

“She didn’t deny it”, his smirk inched further. “And what exactly are you skirting around?”

“Oh that”, she blew out a sigh, “a small team and I will leave for a settlement.”

“Another mission”, Linus hummed, “when?”

“Two weeks from now.”

Emma’s brows furrowed and she kept her eyes on the ground. He slowed his pace but Emma continued forward. So she was worried about something. The wolf stayed behind until Emma came too and looked back at him quizzically. Assuming she was moving too fast the Alpha moved back to him

Emma squeaked when Linus lifted her off her feet. Her surprise soon turned to laughter, “you’re the only ones who dare to do this.”

“You like it”, he chuckled. Then Linus set her on her feet but he didn’t let her go. He pulled her into a hug. “Stop worrying”, he murmured into her hair, “everything will work out.”

Her hands hovered by his side for a second. Emma wrapped her arms around his middle and snuggled into his embrace. She took a deep breath as she closed her eyes. “Thank you”, she whispered in his chest.

“No need for that.”

Emma felt the rumble of his low laughter against her cheek. She took another breath. Others say he has no scent but Emma knew the truth. Linus was the rich smell of dark chocolate with the slight bitterness of black coffee. Was it a coincidence he smelled like her comfort food? Emma laughed to herself.

Linus felt her giggles. He loosened his hold a bit and looked down at her, “what’s so funny?”

“Nothing”, she sang. Emma looked up to meet his eyes. “Oh”, she just remembered, “Emilio says she can leave the guest room but it’s confined to the family wing.”

Linus wrinkled his brow then smoothed his expression again, “understood.”

Emma sighed and leaned into him again. Linus tighten his hold and watched the woman in his arms, his eyes lingered on her neck. He would’ve wished to stay like that forever if it wasn’t for the itch in his gums. Linus released her and stepped away.

“Let’s keep walking”, he said casually. As casually as he could with his canines protruding that is.

“Okay”, she agreed after a beat of silence.

Emma didn’t seem to suspect him and they continued their walk. She kept pace with him, Linus didn’t mind. He hadn’t realised how much they had stalled till they came to the clearing. The sky was already beautiful shades of pink and blue. Emma ran out into the clearing, the crisp morning air whipped her hair to and fro.

The sight of it brought him back to a windy Saturday.

It was as though his memories began to overlap. He could see Emma in front of the metal clothing lines. He had been helping her since the Alpha suspected rain. The day’s ponytail was rushed and messy, not the perfect slick back for kindergarten. A particularly strong gust yanked the scrunchie out of Emma’s hair. He was quick to retrieve it but when he faced her again Linus stopped functioning. The wind tossed strands that glinted like rays of light on a crystal stream. When the wind passed it fell neatly in place, not a strand gone astray. It was his first time seeing it at its full length, resting right above the curve of her behind the ends naturally curling inwards.

He swallowed, trying to stamp out the unfamiliar warmth that pooled on the inside. He handed her the scrunchie and resumed picking up the laundry. “I like your hair down”, Linus commented offhandedly. Emma who was mid-way into tying her hair stopped. He noticed and gave her his attention again, she looked at the elastic intently before rolling it on her wrist. Linus arched a brow, “aren’t you going to band your hair?”

“Why?” she gave the linen her attention again but wore a small smile, “You said you liked it.”

He felt like he’d have a heart attack. That was the first time he’d looked at Emma as a woman and since that day that’s all he could do.

“Lin!” Emma waved him over with a big grin. He obliged her and stepped out into the clearing

It would be a lie if he said it didn’t feel like she was killing him.