Renaissance

Episode 19

*AUTRY’S POV*

I opened my eyes to a bright light beam entering my eyes. I looked to my right over my arm, she was resting her head on it. Her gorgeous silky hair scattered around my shoulder and some of it tickled my cheeks. I buried my nose in them and inhaled the intoxicating scent of my love. After our dream-like night, I felt like a feather. All my worries and my unease left. I closed my eyes. We are a lucky bastard! Godric sighed in my mind. I know! I answered him with all my honesty. She was smart as hell, angelic in beauty, a natural s*x-god in bed AND, to top it all, she had the purest heart! And she loved me! If I was not blessed, I couldn’t imagine who was!

I had never heard of such a wolf. Considering all the ones in our pack. Even my mother was not this perfect. Everyone had their flaws, including me. But she was just-.. I heard her stirring beside me, causing my train of thought stop. She completely turned herself towards me, hugging me with her arm and leg. Without opening her eyes, she muttered:

“What thought is causing you to be this content?” with a husky voice from sleep. I smiled and kissed her forehead.

“Good morning gorgeous!” I said.

“Good morning!” she said, still not fully awake. “You woke me up with your happiness. Did the boys tell you any good news?” she asked.

“No, love, I was just thinking to myself about how lucky I was to have you in my arms.” I said. She blushed instantly. After everything she did to me last night, I couldn’t believe she was blushing to as little as these words. “I was spot-on with that pet name…” I thought out loud “You ARE a Goddess! In many ways.”

Her eyes were now open, devouring me, “Why, I am now fully awake, thank you!” she said. Oh my, she started moving out of my arms.

“Where do you think you’re going?” I asked, I was disappointed.

“Well, I need to check the time, collect some stuff for our visit to your parents’. And, I have last-minute lessons with Damon and Ken.” she said matter-of-factly. Earning a pout from me. “And, you!” she said, looking at me knowingly “you need to wrap all the information we dug up, and prepare a concrete presentation for your father! We have less than 24 hours to finish up all the preparations, you know!” and she was younger than me, for Goddess’s sake!

“Can’t we have a half hour to chill in each other's arms?” I whined.

“No, because I am terrified and when I am terrified, I tend to make myself busy.” she said, “You should try it, too, it works wonders!” having already collected her bathrobe and about to pass the door to the bathroom, she was looking at me from above her shoulder.

“I never had a chance, did I?” I said, defeated against her reasoning, yet again.

“You realize that just now?” she said with an amused voice. Causing me to growl. But I did as she said and started to get out of the bed myself, to get ready for the day.

*KEN’S POV*

I watched as our future Luna stretched her arms and legs in the chair next to me. I smiled internally at her ease. “And with that, I think we are ready for now, for your first visit to Nero, future Luna.” I said, wrapping-up our last lesson before the visit.

“I don’t know Ken, I am very nervous. What if some situation arises and I make a fool out of myself!” She shared her worry with me.

“Please do not be, future Luna, Alpha Autry will never let anything harmful or dangerous happen to you, you will also have Damon and myself.” I tried to reassure her, which wouldn’t be counted as one of my strengths. I was sure people around me, especially Damon, thought that I was a heartless bastard. Although that was not true, it was a fact that I was very pragmatic indeed. She smiled at me tiredly.

“I appreciate your try, Ken. I am glad that I have you three by my side.” she was saying these kinds of things with so much ease, startling me so much.

“Thank you, future Luna!” I bowed my head curtly. Now, I think dinner must be ready.” I linked to Autry Alpha, is dinner ready yet? I asked.

Yes, Ken. Come on, we’re waiting for you two. he answered.

“Please let me…” I said, offering my arm to my future Luna. She looked ashamed.

“Come on Ken, I can walk to the next door unattended.” she said, clearly troubled by my courtesy.

“Luna, you must get used to our ‘antics’. This will be what your usual daily-life looks like in a very short future, I foresee.” I said. “Besides, I don’t want Alpha Autry to behead me before even having the chance to discover who my mate is.” I said, trying to joke. But due to my nature, my jokes were usually perceived as threats.

“Okay, okay!” she said, defeated, taking my arm.

“Thank you, Luna.”

“I told you to call me Cece.”

“No can do, Luna.”

“Why do you have to be so stuck-up?” she uttered under her breath, but I pretended not to hear that. So we went next door to get some food.

*AUTRY’S POV*

I watched as Cece walked in through the door Ken kept open for her. Smiled, as I held a chair for her to sit in.

“You really don’t have to!” she protested, as always.

“Well, dear, you know you need to get used to it.” I said. She huffed, but sat down anyway.

“Mmmm the food sure looks yummy!” she said, and as if on cue, her stomach growled audibly. All of us giggled. “Oh, shut up!” she said and started digging in. We followed her example.

After some small talk, and a lot of eating, we were ready to leave. I was nervous. But very excited at the same time.

Ken was driving and Damon was seated next to him in the passenger seat of the sedan. While Cece and I were in the back seat. Cece was resting her head on my shoulder. Not quite asleep, not quite awake. I mindlessly caressed her hair, looking out the window to the passing trees. I had no idea how Alpha would react to what we had to tell him. I knew he wouldn’t like it… although, as Cece said, it didn’t change the fact that there was a huge problem we needed to take care of, even though we hated to admit it.

In reality, I have been considering for the last few days whether I should let Cece give the presentation about the fraud to my father. But each time, I made myself give it up, because he might think I just had her memorize all of it.

I relaxed my back a little. Didn’t realize Cece was already asleep. The guys were having some small talk, regarding everyday assignments, and I found no harm in getting some sleep, myself. The road would take at least five hours before we entered the pack territory.