3. As tender as a dandelion
1411 Words
“Group B, you’re in charge of helping with the housing situation. Group F, report to Johnson immediately. Group C, get ready to take over from Group A by the lake.”
Nadia watched as her brother Jonah yelled at multiple groups from their pack. Though the White Pines Pack was the smallest of the Californian Packs, it had always been known for its discipline and tactical ingenuity, something the situation truly needed. The shift in allegiances had meant that the entirety of the White Pines Pack had had to relocate as quickly as possible. Breaking the ties with the Black Pines Pack meant giving up on their lands since they would have been slaughtered from all directions had they stayed, especially since word was that the Grey Pines Pack had found a partner in the Black Pines Pack after their separation. Nadia had felt guilty at first since she had been the catalyst of this entire ordeal, but then she had remembered why she had done what she had done, and the guilt had vanished.
Nadia felt a warmth spread through her body as an arm snaked around her waist. She let out a small moan as she leaned back into the intoxicating scent of Nathan.
“How’s it going?”
His voice was deep and full of care as he almost whispered into her ear. Nadia shrugged a bit.
“It’s going fine. Jonah is supervising the different groups into their positions, Natalie is in charge of making sure everyone gets a place to sleep, and my father and Alex are off checking the outskirts and the defence opportunities surrounding us with some of the people from the Lake Maroon Pack and the Green River Pack.”
Nathan’s arm pulled her closer as his mouth drew nearer to her ear.
“And your younger siblings?”
Nadia smiled as she turned her head slightly.
“They’re getting settled into their quarters.”
A soft groan escaped Nathan’s mouth as he gently moved Nadia to face him. His lips tenderly grazed hers to begin with, but the kiss soon became more passionate. Nadia could feel all the knots in her body untie slowly as she melted in his arms.
“Ahem.”
Nadia quickly turned to look at her oldest brother. Alex was watching them with crossed arms and a serious frown. A flush of blood soon warmed Nadia’s cheeks as she took a step away from Nathan.
“Watch it, Dugrey. We may have buried the hatchet, but that’s my baby sister. Better keep the PDA’s PG.”
Nadia could feel her cheeks getting even warmer as her eyes widened.
“Alex!”
Alex directed his eyes towards Nadia as he raised an eyebrow. However, a light chuckle was soon heard and Nadia felt a quick peck on her cheek.
“It’s okay, he’s right. I should restrain myself when we’re in public.”
Nathan leaned very close to Nadia as he followed up with a whisper.
“... in private, however…”
“I can hear you!”
Alex had gone back to his harsh looking face as he stared daggers towards Nathan. Nathan just laughed a bit as he started to walk away.
“You couldn’t, but you could probably guess it. Not to worry, Harlow, I’m leaving. I’ll see you later.”
Nathan turned to give Nadia a wink before he walked away. She couldn’t help smiling to herself and it wasn’t until he was gone that she realised that Alex still stood close to her with a grim expression. Nadia rolled her eyes as she crossed her arms as well.
“Oh, will you drop it already? Even dad has come to terms with it, why can’t you?”
“You do know that you once pooped yourself in front of him, right?”
Nadia rolled her eyes once more as she started to back away from Alex.
“I know, you’ve told me. The fact that I don’t remember it kind of says a lot about how old I was at the given time.”
Alex clenched his jaw a bit but he didn’t comment further. He soon started to follow her.
“How are you feeling? Do you feel more energized today?”
Nadia stopped and took in a deep breath before she smiled and nodded.
“I do. I just feel bad that I couldn’t be there yesterday when we sent off the dead.”
The twenty-four hours after the attack had been a blur. Nadia could barely recall what had happened during the fight. She remembered how she and her task force had run towards the lake with the goal of making the shield that, hopefully, would send away the wolf-like creatures. She could recall how she had seen glimpses of fighting wolves as they ran, but Anders had constantly made her run as Nathan had shielded her away from any fighting. She remembered how she had felt the dread and the hopelessness in her body all the way to the lake and that she had lost all faith in herself. However, as she had arrived it had felt as if she was transformed as the fighting around her started to dim down. She knew it hadn’t, she was just that focused. The last thing she truly remembered was Anders giving her reassuring look before she uttered the words that she had been training for weeks beforehand. As if it had been second nature to her, a light erupted from skin as she felt an explosion go through her body. But after that she remembered very little. She could faintly recall speaking to some doctors, her family, and Nathan, but that was it. It wasn’t until she had woken up this morning that she actually felt like a person again.
Alex stepped close to her as his face donned a friendlier look than he had on when he saw her with Nathan.
“Nadi, you saved everyone else in this place. I think they can overlook the fact that you had to regain your strength while we laid the dead to rest.”
Nadia shrugged a bit as she looked at her feet.
“I just feel so weak compared to you guys. It’s like living in a forest surrounded by trees that can stand the toughest of weathers and I’m just a frail flower hoping to find shelter from your presence.”
Nadia looked up as she heard her brother huff a laugh.
“If you’re a flower then you’re definitely the kind that would break through concrete. You may not believe in yourself all the time, but I have complete faith in you and so does everyone else.”
Though she wasn’t completely convinced, Nadia couldn’t help smiling. A tear made its way down her cheek as she leaped forward to hug her brother.
“I love you, Alex.”
She felt Alex hug her back as he started to rock her a bit on the spot.
“I love you too, Kiddo.”
Nadia relished in the hug as she once again started to forget all the evil that had come into their lives in a short span of time. However, her peace was soon interrupted as she heard someone speak behind her.
“Ms. Harlow, your presence is requested at the office building, Luna’s orders. You too, Mr. Harlow.”
Nadia looked up to find the dark skinned man, Kendrick, standing not far away. Though Kendrick had always been cordial towards her and everyone she knew, the man intimidated her. He was a living proof of how mechanical the pack members of the Lake Maroon Pack could feel.
She sighed and nodded to Kendrick. He returned the nod before he turned away. Nadia could feel her face fall as the darkness once more began to make itself apparent.
“I’ll be right here to shelter you. Always.”
Nadia looked up to see Alex give her a reassuring smile. She smiled back before they both made their way to the office building.
- Writer
