Moon flower

Chapter 3. Gathering.

Waking through the dripping woods, we strode over logs and through puddles. Being wolves we didn’t mind if we got dirty, it was kind of a prerequisite for being able to turn into an animal. After feeling mud squelch between your paws and cake itself into your fur, a little mud on your shoes was really no big deal. We spent the time chatting about nothing much, pack gossip, how she was adjusting to her new life as a mate, what Callum was up, and of course as it always did with Becca, the topic got onto my love life. Or lack of one.

“I just don’t understand why your saving yourself for you mate babes, I get that you want it to be this pure thing, and it is absolutely amazing by the way, but don’t be so naïve to think that you mate will have saved himself for you. You know guys have urges they find harder to suppress.” Her voice was gentle as she spoke the words, like she was breaking bad news to me. I knew they were true. Both male and female wolves have high s*x drives and once you turn at 18, for males especially, they can become difficult to control. Most men had s*x long before they met their mates and I knew that when, or indeed if, I met mine he would have already been intimate with another.

Staring down at my grubby shoes I said, “I know that Bec, it just doesn’t feel right, the idea of me having s*x with someone that isn’t my mate... It feels dirty.” I looked up at her and gave her a sheepish grin,

“no offence.” Becca had never felt the same way I did when it came to s*x and relationships, and had been in a string of heated romances before she met Callum. She winked at me and said,

“None taken babes, I just want you to experience life before you are tied down to one person. Having a mate is great, it really is, but I’m glad I wasn’t a virgin when I met Callum, he certainly wasn’t!” We both laughed at her last comment, by all accounts Callum had been a bit of a player before meeting Becca, that was one of the reasons he chose to live with her on our pack grounds instead of his own.

“Look, all I’m saying is, if a nice, hot guy wants to get involved with you don’t immediately dismiss the idea. Who knows what fun you could have!” She winked at me again as I felt the blush creeping up my neck and onto my cheeks. Moon mother give me strength this girl was a bad influence! Looking at my best friend I shrugged and said

“I’ll think about it okay? Just please let’s talk about something other that my non existent s*x life!” Becca just laughed as I said that, finding my embarrassment funny I’m sure. “Okay no problem… have you seen any of the guests for the gathering tonight? Oh gods babes some of them are drop dead gorgeous!” I gasped at her, surprised at

her words given that she had a mate.

“What babes, a girl can look!” She giggled, and I couldn’t help but giggle back with her.

The morning turned to the afternoon as we wandered through the forest, walking from one field and clearing to another gathering the wild flowers as we went. The flowers were going to be one of the gifts that Alpha Rikard was going to give to the visiting pack. The traditional exchange of gifts was that each pack would exchange something abundant within their own territory, monetarily value did not come into consideration. I bouquet of our flowers would be a fair exchange for a girt of anything, no offence was taken or received as the exchange was more seen as a metaphorical exchanging of a part of the land. Something from yours, given to theirs. It can be a little confusing at times, such as the time when a bushel of our apples was exchanged for a bar of golf with another pack, but as I said, the monetary value of the gift is unimportant. This time however I had something wonderful in mind. The basket was full of beautiful multicoloured blooms already but I thought there was room for just one more.

As we neared the moon flower clearing I felt nervous. I didn’t know what had happened last night and I knew I would have to tell Becca about it if it happened again. I stopped at the entrance to the glade, in the same spot I had been standing last night, but I felt nothing. Hesitantly I stepped out into the open and looked around

“Okay, why are you acting so weird?” Becca said with a hit of concern in her voice. “We’ve been walking round these woods all day and you’ve been acting as if you own them, and now suddenly you’re all nervous? I can smell it on you babe.” She was right, I’m sure I would seem nervous even to a human right now, I had no chance of hiding it from a wolf.

“It’s nothing Bec, I just had a weird experience here last night that’s all.” I muttered not wanting to meet Becca’s gaze.

“Spill it.” There was a humorous tone to her voice, but I could tell she was puzzled at my apparent trepidation.

“I came out here last night as I couldn’t sleep and I was feeling weird, and when I got here I sort of got all tingly and…” my voice trailed off in embarrassment, not wanting to continue saying something that I knew was so foolish.

“And? There is obviously more.” Becca stated, stating me straight in the eyes.

“All of a sudden this amazing smell hit me, it was like nothing I had ever smelt before, then it was just gone. I probably imagined the whole thing. It’s stupid. Please let’s just forget I mentioned anything Bec.” I looked at her and on her face was an expression I couldn’t understand. A thoughtful look in her eyes and a slight smile playing at the corners of her lips. Just when I thought she was going to squeeze me for me information she simply said

“Okay.”

I looked at her in surprise, it wasn’t like her to drop something, especially if it was something I had been keeping from her. I couldn’t help but feel there was something she wasn’t saying, but I let it slip. I didn’t want to draw any more attention to myself and my strange experience. I nodded at her a thank you and left her holding the flower basket as I walked towards my moon flowers. Looking around the plant I found what I was looking for, a small seedling growing beside the more established ones, using my hands, I carefully dug around the seedling, making sure to not damage the roots. Once I had a substantial amount of dirt around the base of my plant I gently lifted it, roots, dirt and all from the ground. Holding it in my cupped hands like a baby bird I delicately walked over to where Becca was standing, gingerly placing the seedling in the basket before taking it from her hands. This was in my eyes precious cargo, and I trusted no one but myself to carry it. Becca understood and handed the basket over wordlessly.

When were we’re about half way back to my home it was late afternoon, the light was yellow around us and illuminated the leaves around us like golden coins. Out of nowhere Becca asked me what I was wearing to the gathering tonight. I thought this odd as she knew I wasn’t one for dressing up much and she knew me better than to assume I would go in anything more than just a simple dress. When I told here this she shook her head excessively.

“No no no, a simple dress will just not do tonight, I’ll call Callum and get him to bring my stuff over, we’ll get ready together!” Before I had the chance to object Becca’s eyes went glassy and I knew she was mind linking with her mate. I just sighed and excepted my fate. I had a feeling she wouldn’t leg it go, and I suppose it would make a nice evening to hang with Becca a little more, I really had missed her.

I had just gotten out the shower when I heard a knock on the door.

“It’s Callum! I’ll get it babes, you just concentrate of untangling that mess on your head!” Becca yelled all this at me while catapulting herself down the stairs. I smiled at myself in the mirror, I loved how she could inject humour into anything she said. I got to work on my hair and it was half brushed when Becca barged her way into the bathroom. I turned, unsurprised at her lack of regard for my personal space.

“Where’s Callum?” I asked her.

“I told him to meet us there, tonight is a girls night babes, we don’t need any guys here…yet!” She gave me a dramatic saucy wink with that last part, and I burst into laughter. Honestly this girl was a a terror, I didn’t know how Callum felt with her. Becca grabbed my arm and dragged me over to the bed taking the brush from my hands and sitting behind me to brush out the rest of my hair. It was so nice to be doing this again with her. It had been too long since we’d had a girls night and it appeared that Becca was going all out. Noticing a bottle and mugs sat on my side table I nodded my head towards it and asked,

“What’s that? You know I don’t drink much Bec.” Choosing to ignore the second half of my sentence she replied,

“Oh that’s just a bottle of something special I’ve been saving that I asked Callum to bring with my stuff. By the way it’s a disgrace that you do not own a single wine glass. It won’t taste the same being drunk out of a coffee mug!” I just shook my head and smiled, I knew there was no convincing her and it had been ages since I’d last had a drink. I sighed theatrically and reached for the bottle. The words Elderflower wine were printed in a delicate font on the label.

I smiled, Becca knew this was my favourite, and it was touching that she had thought to bring some. I opened the bottle and filled the two mugs she had laid out, passing one over my head to her behind me. I took a sip of the delicate drink and smiled. It was lovely, very refreshing and slightly bubbly. I felt the side of Becca’s face press into mine as she wrapped her arms around me and squeezed me tight.

“No matter what happens or wherever you go you’re always going to be my best friend.” She muttered through my hair. It was an odd thing to say, it’s not like I was planning on going anywhere.

“You too Bec.” I whispered back to her, feeling a little like she was saying goodbye to me. There was that feeling in my stomach again, that tugging, and the feeling, paired with her words were making me nervous. I was realised from Becca’s arms and she went back to brushing out my hair, taking her time. Like a mother brushing her daughters before the first day of school. Next she did my makeup. A silver grey smokey eyeshadow that made my blue eyes pop, a little mascara and liner, and a natural dusky pink lip.

Looking at myself in the bedroom mirror, I couldn’t quite believe how nice I looked. I never wore make up as I found it too much hassle and had never perfected putting it on properly. But looking at myself I smiled.

“I look pretty!” I stated happy admiring Becca’s handiwork, turning my head this way and that.

“No babes, you look gorgeous. I didn’t have to do much really, you always look beautiful even without makeup, I’m jealous of you.” I was taken aback by Becca’s words, how could she be jealous of me? She was so pretty and cute that she didn’t even have to try. I blushed at her words, looking down at my hand that were folded in my lap.

“Thank you Bec.” I said shyly not quite knowing what to say to her at that moment. She just smiled back at me with a glint in her eye that I didn’t recognise.

“Right, I’ve brought you one of my dresses to wear, and before you make a fuss you will not be leaving here without it on! It’s going to look amazing on you babes!” I sighed as I turned to the bag she had gestured to, unzipping it I gasped at what I saw. It was beautiful, forest green with a cinched waist, and floaty skirts that would end just above the knee. It was low cut but modestly so, not too revealing but revealing enough. Covering it all was an intricate vine pattern, in a slightly lighter shade of green. It was absolutely stunning.

“Bec…it’s gorgeous.” I breathed.

“I’ve never seen you wear this before!” I turned to her to see she had a small smile on her face.

“That’s because I haven’t worn it before. I brought it but it never seemed like the right occasion to wear it so now I’m giving it to you.” She smiled at me warmly and I ran over to her and kissed her cheek.

“Oh thank you so much it’s just wonderful!” I exclaimed happily, I had never been this excited over a dress before!

“You don’t think it’s a bit much do you? I mean these gatherings aren’t usually that formal, I don’t want to look overdressed.” Shyness suddenly came over me and I didn’t know where to look. I didn’t usually make this much effort with how I looked and truthfully, I thought I’d look foolish. Becca smiled and dramatically sighed at me,

“Just put the f*****g dress on babes.”