The Whispers and The Wolf

Thirteen

I was entranced by the book in my hands. It was full of the most stunning artwork I’d ever laid eyes on, the most enchanting images adorned the pages. It felt somewhat… familiar. Like the faintest of memories. “I am losing my marbles…” I muttered, sitting the book beside me and laying my head in my hands.

What a day. I couldn’t comprehend how quickly my whole life had changed. My penchant for fantasy novels and “weird kid” tendencies was bound to catch up with me. Make me go mad. But I wasn’t mad. This was real. I was the soulmate of a hunky Scottish werewolf. I scoffed. Then chuckled. Then laughed. The most I had laughed in a long time. It wasn’t from happiness or humour, it was from disbelief. Wiping my eyes I stood and made my way to the kitchen, reaching into the fridge and pouring myself a glass of wine. Grabbing some cheese and grapes from the fridge as well, I picked away at the food just standing in the kitchen. Soaking in the silence. The normality. I knew everything was about to change. I finished my glass of wine and put my dishes in the sink then headed up stairs to get changed.

I changed into pink silk pjs, shorts and a cami. I lay in bed, scrolling through my phone when I heard the tapping on my window. I looked over the balcony and saw him. In shorts and a white tshirt that I couldn’t imagine could get much tighter. His eyes wild until they settled on me. He waited patiently, watching my every step as I made my way down the stairs to the patio door to let him in. There was no fear, no anger. Just pure curiosity. I slid the door open for him but he didn’t move an inch, just watched my expression trying to judge my mood, I guess.

“Conlan…” he visibly relaxed at the sound of his name on my lips. “Are you coming in?” He still looked hesistant until he clocked the book on the couch. Raising my eyebrow at him, he smirked and entered through the door. Closing it behind him, I followed him to the book that was sitting on the couch. He picked it up, running his fingers over the front, just as I had done.

“This is our story. How it all began for us.” He couldn’t meet my eyes. “I’m not sorry you’ve been thrown into this Autumn. This is how it’s been for centuries.”

“Please,” I raised my hand up to stop him. “Please stop speaking in riddles. I understand the story. It’s not my story. I have one story and I’m living it right now.”

Conlan gently sat the book down on the coffee table and within a few steps he was infront of me, touching my cheek with his hand. For such a huge man, he was so gentle. Tiny, exhilarating shocks covered my skin and I leaned into his touch.

“Our souls have always been together, Mo Leannan. Ye feel it, I know ye do.”

“What does that mean, Conlan? Mo Leh-nan?” I feel like this was an easy question to start with. I had so many, it was overwhelming.

“My sweetheart. I’ve known you in every life time wee birdie, and you me. Here.” He placed one hand on his heart and the other on mine. A stray tear fell from my eye and he brushed it away with his finger.

“This is too much, I don’t know where to begin…” more tears. I didn’t know why I was crying. I had never felt so many emotions at once and it felt like the only way to let them out.

He pulled me by the hands backwards, sitting on the couch and pulling me into his lap so that I was straddling his enormous thighs.

“I’m here for ye when ye do know.” He confirmed. “I’ve been waiting for ye, Autumn. I promise to show ye patience. This is our fate.”

Those damn Whispers knew everything. Everything was falling into place, going to Their plan. I was torn between the sheer madness of it all and having blind faith in the Whispers. They’ve been with me for as long as I can remember and They’ve never steered me wrong. Blind faith it is then.

I placed my hands flat on his broad chest, feeling his breaths. In and out. In and out. I reached up and put both my hands on his cheeks, his beard tickling my hands ever so slightly as his hands rested on my hips.

“I have never felt like this before. I’m not scared of what you are, Conlan. But I’m scared of these feelings, scared I’m going to lose them. Lose you.” I couldn’t stop the words as the tumbled off of my lips. I rushed the words out, feeling the need to tell him every feeling I had. I wanted to make him understand what was going on in my head. I wanted to know what was going on in his.

“You’ll never lose me, Mo Leannan.” My hands moved to the back of his neck and I felt compelled to kiss him. A light brush of my lips on his gave him the green light to take control. Pressing my petite frame against his massive one, he kissed me gently. Passionately. Dare I even say, lovingly. In this moment, this was all I needed. Fireworks exploded throughout my body.

He pulled my hair out of its bun and entangled his fingers in it, his other hand on the base of my back, never letting me go. He only broke the kiss to trail more tiny kisses down my jaw to my neck. I moaned softly next to his ear and he tensed. I could feel it underneath me, his hardness evidence of his desire for me. He inhaled deeply and let out a guttural growl. “Coffee. And cinnamon. Delicious.” He whispered into my ear. I wiggled down further into his lap causing a gasp from him, I began to follow his lead and kiss all over his face and neck. He held me in place and I froze. Here we go again…

“Don’t get angry… I don’t want to hurt ye, wee birdie. It’s not the time.”

“And you get to decide that, do you?” I rolled my eyes and Conlan exhaled, his face turned to stone. He was one smart comment away from losing his s**t. “Be patient with me” I smirked.

His icy expression melted to one of amusement. “Ye aren’t going to make this easy for me, are ye?” He ran his thumb over my lips, laying a kiss on my forehead.

“I mean it. I don’t get to decide when is the right time either.” He said, bringing us back to the conversation.

“Well who does?” I said lightheartedly, fully immersed in this madness.

He looked in my eyes, dead serious and said “The Moon does.”