Reclaiming Her Heart

Chapter 46 - Rich

Jadea

It was a beautiful, sunny day. Spring was hanging in the air. It was warmer. The sun shining brightly against the snow-covered clearing—

"Jesus, it's blinding out here. Everything's sparkling, like the skin of a killer." Blade grumbled, squinting his eyes against the brightness.

Briar and I burst into laughter at the reference. "But it's so beautiful!" I cried in hysterics.

"Can you hold still!" he commanded, lifting the pen from my back so as not to mess up the art he was so carefully drawing onto my skin. "You're about as bad as a tired toddler who's doing everything they can not to sleep."

"Those are strong words, my dude!" I jested, shooting a glare over my shoulder. "If I'm going to be compared to a toddler, I'll make sure to include the whining and unreasonable bouts of fits, crying, screaming and laughing at any little thing."

Blade pursed his lips, knowing he'd messed up. As he was contemplating his life's choices, Briar plopped a crown of baby's breath on my head. She'd packed a bouquet of the flowers in her pack. She was such an innocent and sweet soul. My heart fairly melted as I settled back down onto the thick comforter spread out on the porch. While I was lying comfortably on my stomach, face tucked into my arms, Briar was leaning into my side. Derrick sprawled out on the other half of the comforter, his hand resting on Briar's thigh, her legs resting over his lap. Blade sat cross-legged on my other side, intensely focused on the picture he was drawing along my spine.

Throughout the years, I'd asked Blade to draw fake tattoos on me for shows and other events. Sometimes, during lazy days—much like today—he would randomly draw pictures on my skin. It was a comfort thing. An activity which allowed him to be close. While so many of them were beautiful, and would have made awesome tattoos, I could never bring myself to sit through a session. As ridiculous as it was, I hated needles.

"You got over it once," he grumbled, his fingers tracing the shoulder where the tattoo of Adam's paw print should have been.

"Don't tell me your jelly," I guffawed.

His pinched expression bellied his quick, "No."

I giggled, shaking my head in amusement, tucking my face back into the crook of my arm. A little while later, Briar started humming a soft tune. It sounded like a lullaby. Derrick joined her, their soothing voices curling through my mind. In the warmth of the day, my heart swelled, so glad to be surrounded by so much love.

My eyes fluttered closed.

One moment, Briar and Derrick's voices melted together like chocolate and honey, as Blade's steady strokes tickled my skin. In the next moment, everything was quiet.

Dragging my mind out of the haze of sleep, I felt Briar's back curled into me. Her head resting on Derrick's bicep, his large hand resting on my upper back, their limbs a tangled mess while they dozed. Blade's face was pressed against my shoulder, one arm hanging lazily across my lower back as he snuggled me.

Just beyond our comfortable huddle, Caden rocked in one of the porch chairs. His gaze intent on mine. Within their depths, I saw tendrils of envy. "I hope you know how rich you are." His whisper was not one of resentment. Only a longing for a relationship close to what I shared with my pack. "I hate admitting this: I've always been a bit envious of your relationship with your pack. You've definitely picked some good ones, Jay. And, you've done a phenomenal job leading them."

His compliment warmed and healed my heart in ways I didn't know I needed. "How is it going with the Draconian pack?" I asked conversationally. We hadn't really talked much about our lives outside of our little dynamic yet.

"Well... Lonely," he sighed. "Some are opening up. But, they still tip toe around me a lot since I'm the alpha. They know they can come to me with anything and I won't overreact."

"But...?"

"They don't really interact with me beyond solving problems. I don't get invited to participate in the little things, the fun events, or just small everyday activities."

"Have you spoken to Landon or Marta about this? They could drop hints to the others to include you." Being an alpha of a larger clan meant you couldn't always be everywhere or in the know about every little thing. A lot of times, the smaller, fun activities Caden felt he was missing out on were overshadowed by larger clan issues. However, it was those little interactions that would ultimately solidify his bond with his pack mates. It was important for him, and his pack, to be included.

"No. And I know I need to," he begrudgingly added.

"They'll get there. Besides, you've given them a better life already. And, it has given you purpose. You look better. There's a peace and wholeness to your soul that was missing for a long time. They are slowly healing you too."

"Yes. They most definitely are," he grinned warmly, his gaze distant as if he were thinking about his pack. I left him to his thoughts and settled back down, enjoying the time with mine.

A while later, they stirred. Blade was up first. When he realized I was awake, he beamed down at me, pulling out his phone so he could show me the picture of the intricate, colored drawing along my back. It was huge! Running the full length of my spine. It was of a multi-colored snake, done in hues of purples, greens and blues. It was tangled around an intricate knife. Then, scattered within the spaces and whirls of the snake were roses. Right underneath, and worked into the whole picture by connecting dots, loops and stars were differing phases of the moon done in a V formation, following the natural curve of the bottom of the design.

It was the best one he'd done so far for me. "Wow," I breathed, sitting up and reaching for the phone so I could admire it. "This is gorgeous. You outdid yourself on this one, Blade." My lopsided grin met his.

Blush colored his cheeks as he rubbed his hand on the back of his neck at the compliment. "Thanks."

"Now, knowing you, this is symbolic. Tell me about it."

Like an excited child, he jumped in, "So, the snake in many cultures, represents transformation and rebirth since they shed their skin. A metaphor for evolution, growth and new beginnings. It is also associated with intelligence, perception, and hidden strength or power. The dagger represents overcoming adversity. The roses: the duality of danger and beauty. The moons are just an added touch since they're symbolic to us wolves." He shrugged, trying to downplay the significance of this tattoo.

All of this played into different parts of my life. In how I had to shed many skins over the course of my life. I'd had many rebirths over the years. Adversity was an old friend. One I was well acquainted with. And the duality of danger and beauty went hand in hand for us immortals. More so for me, since I possessed a specific power most considered extremely dangerous.

I knew I was going to have to make this one official. There was no way I couldn't. Not after everything I'd been through and faced in my most recent history.

With tears in my eyes, I launched myself into his arms, telling him how much I loved it.

Right in the middle of all this, Agamemnon sauntered up the stairs and paused when he saw the completed artwork decorating my skin. "That's some mad art," he murmured, bending over to peer closer at it. "If you want to make it official, I am a tattoo artist. All my supplies are at the stronghold."

"Thank you, Agamemnon." I would have to speak with Adam tonight when he returned. Maybe I could convince him to take me to the stronghold tomorrow for an unofficial date. Just the two of us.

While my pack mates started talking and jesting, roping Caden into their banter, I stood up and nonchalantly walked over to the mound of snow piled in the far corner of the porch. Picking up a large handful, I molded it into a ball and launched it blindly behind me towards the crew. I knew it would hit someone.

I heard the snowball burst. Silence fell over them as they comprehended what happened. During this brief moment, I peeked over my shoulder and saw Blade's face and hair were peppered with snow.

With a roar of challenge, Blade was in motion. The others hot on his heels as they jumped over the railing or lunged for the nearest piles of snow. Shrieking in laughter, I grabbed two more handfuls of the powder and launched it towards the closest bodies. Throwing haphazardly and blindly.

The joy and blissful high from our play filled my heart to the brim. Within my mind and soul, I could feel some of the cracks filling, healing.

I knew I would be alright, as long as I had my motley crew with me.