Under the Blood Moon

A Late Dinner

Scarlet

A late dinner had been set up in the cosy dining room downstairs, Mum and Andy were sat with piled plates chatting to Jane and Dom when Stefan and I appeared at the doorway.

Jane dashes towards us, ushering us into two empty seats at the table as Dom sets down filled dishes in front of us, urging us to tuck in. He winks at Stefan stating “you need the energy” before he drops back into his seat and restarts the conversation with mum.

I feel the blush in my cheeks slowly fade as I tuck into the delicious meal. “Jane, you are an amazing cook!” I exclaim between bites. She giggles and points at Dom. “I don’t go near the kitchen, that’s Dom’s domain!”

The blush reappears “Sorry Dom!” I try to hide behind my hands.

“Don’t be silly,” he laughs “I take any compliment about my food the way it’s meant!”

Stefan explains that his aunt and uncle met when Dom was working with his father at their restaurant. The day they met caused havoc as the Sous Chef simply disappeared mid shift after Jane had wandered in with her sister to check on the kitchen staff.

“Mum didn’t stop laughing for a week after Dad threatened to go after Dom with a cleaver if he didn’t get his arse back into the kitchen!”

It was Jane’s turn to blush now, her eyes flutter at her huge husband as he laughs at the memory. “Yeah” he exclaims “your dad is not to be messed with mid-service!” he grins broadly at Jane “Mind you I wasn’t a pushover when he was trying to force me away from my new mate!” She blows a gentle kiss across the table.

Dinner continues with gentle conversation about restaurant services and family jokes. The smile across mum’s face never falters throughout the meal. I am so happy that she is comfortable and happy with these people.

Andy is fascinated by the wolf side of things and peppers the conversation with seemingly random questions about the change, strengths, and pack life.

I start to think that the only member of my family that has been truly shocked by the last few days is me!

After the meal is over, mum and Jane tidy the table before we all separate to head off to bed.

Stefan

After a long day with some serious highlights, I am beyond happy to be sat at dinner at my favourite aunt’s table. Having my beautiful mate at my side sends this happiness into dangerously euphoric regions.

Dom’s food is always the best, which if I ever told my father I might get immediately disinherited. There’s something seriously comforting about his simple rustic dishes. I wonder how Jane isn’t three times the size, especially when he delivers an apple crumble and custard to the table.

Scarlet is sweet and compliments Jane on the food, earning her a snort of laughter as she explains that she is forbidden from entering Dom’s kitchen. We reminisce a little about Uncle Dom’s time as Dad’s sous chef. Anne joins in with her own stories of life in a busy kitchen. The way the two families are fitting together so comfortably fills me with hope for the future.

When the conversation turns to a little about life in the pack, Andy’s eyes light up and he joins in excitedly. “What’s the pack like?” He asks.

I take a quick peak at Anne to make sure she doesn’t mind me answering and she nods gently at me. Her eyes a little sad but accepting of the conversation.

“Well” I begin “we’re not like the big packs in America, so the stuff you’ve seen in movies is not all that correct for us” I chuckle remembering Scarlet’s questions relating to sparkly vampires.

“There are about 40 families in total in our pack, 10 live on the family estate and work together on the family businesses, so farming, the restaurants, admin for the overall management of the larger business. The other 30 families are spread out a little with Jane and Dom being the furthest away right now.” I pause to take a drink and check I’m not boring the kiddo. “There are other packs here, so where we aren’t completely aligned there is some cross over with relatives in most of them.” I nod to Scarlet, “The cousin you met yesterday is part of a Scottish pack, my uncle moved to live there when he met his mate at a summer party.” She blushes slightly at the memory of the meeting.

“We have regular parties and events across the country to let the packs mix and meet each other and there’s generally a fair bit of moving around after them as the younger generations find their mates and move to be with them.” Andy grins widely at the thought of the parties and most likely the thought of meeting hot girls.

“Not all Lycans choose to live in packs but they are quite rare. Mostly we prefer to live together or at least where there is a flow of our own kind to keep us company, like this place. Jane and Dom live between 3 packs, meaning that there are always visitors to keep them busy and they are pretty much in the middle of our pack and the pack Jane’s family live in.”

“So, why did Dad move us so far away?” Andy asks. Knowing there really isn’t an answer we can give right now, the conversation lulls for a moment before Scarlet replies “We’ll find out soon kiddo?”, her hand roughing his hair. They look at each other briefly before Andy smiles sadly, nodding at his sister’s reassurance. “So…” he looks up sheepishly “can someone tell me about how I will actually become a wolf?”

Dom chuckles at the youngster’s curiosity and we launch into a discussion about how these things happen, our own first experiences, the trouble we got into in our younger years. Scarlet glares at me when I mention chicken coops. By the end of the chat, we have all laughed heartily and are filled to the brim with good food. As Andy starts to fight the yawns threatening to split his face, Anne announces that it may be time to call it a night as we have another long day ahead. We all agree, although sad to split up the party, a long couple of days are catching up on us quickly.

Anne and Jane busy themselves clearing the table as we all prepare for bed.

Scarlet

Closing the bedroom door behind me, I rest my back against the cold wood for a moment, Stefan turns to see me, eyes closed. breathing deeply. “Everything OK Red?” he asks, reaching across to stroke the line of my jaw.

“mmhmm” I murmur “it’s just been a lot.”

He pulls me into an enveloping hug. “You’re handling everything wonderfully” he whispers before capturing my lips with his own.

We fall into bed and spend a little too much time enjoying each other before falling into a deep sleep.

The next morning, I wake to the sound of bird song in the surrounding trees and stretch my limbs across the pillow soft bed. I am startled to find the room empty.

Jumping up into a sitting position, I immediately start to scan the room to find any clue as to where Stefan might be, only to find a tiny note on the pillow next to my own.

“Gone to help Dom in the garage, come down for breakfast when you wake up. S x”

The note smells like him, and I catch myself bringing it up to my lips. I will never get over how quickly this man has overtaken my thoughts, and I never want to get over how he takes over my body. I know that wolves don’t purr, but the thought of his face buried beneath my thighs makes me want to.

After a quick shower, I get dressed and head down to a cacophony of voices in the kitchen. Mum is making pancakes while Jane gathers a variety of toppings. Andy yelps as Mum slaps his hand away from the stack of cooked fluffy American-style pancakes to her right.

“Morning” I announce.

“Hey sleepy head” mum grins at me. “Sit, we have breakfast ready, Andy go call in Dom and Stefan.” She has never seemed this calm and content in our little farmhouse. Maybe this return is something she has needed all along.

The two women bring out plate after plate of breakfast foods, slowly filling the dining table.

“Mum!” I exclaim “You never make breakfast, this looks amazing.”

She grins again, “It’s nice to have the time to do it” she turns to Jane “these 2 are far too used to leftovers for breakfast. I’ve lost whole lasagnes to the pair of them!”

Jane chuckles “I can’t believe how well you managed after George went missing!” she pats mum on the shoulder “A few mismatched meals are nothing to be ashamed of.”

The pair sit down as the boys walk in chattering noisily before joining them at the table. “Mmm, could get used to this!” Dom rumbles, ruffling his wife’s hair as he walks past.

Jane rolls her eyes before ordering us all to tuck in.

Breakfast is just as joyful as the last night’s meal and the group are truly sad to split after its completion. Stefan regretfully declares that we have to get on the way, his parents are expecting them, and he would be in their bad books if he delays their arrival any longer.

Jane and Mum exchange phone numbers and fervently agree to catch up really soon. Dom hugs me with his bear-like strength before telling Stefan to look after me ‘or else!’.

The three men throw our overnight bags into the boot of the car before we all head off.

The car is filled with conversation as the discussion turns to Stefan’s parents. He tells us with genuine pride about his life in the pack, his father’s restaurants, and the other businesses in the area, all run by wolves.

Nerves start to tick in my mind the closer we get to the pack house. What if his parents don’t like me?