The Howling Heart's Forgiveness

Chapter 129

Moving around the kitchen, a smile on my face, I watch the bedroom door to see when Brynlee will wake. Last night had been a blast seeing Tristan and Michael again but I had been worried when Brynlee had gone off with Ashton and Quest alone. I waited patiently beside my god-brother while counting down the minutes until Brynlee would return to my side.

When she did come back out, she had a worried air about her but brushed it off when I asked. Of course, Quest stood beside her, his eyes scanning the crowd like a watchdog. I knew these two bonded as friends and felt happy to know he was keeping my Mate safe when I was not around, but the way he refused to budge and talk with other wolves worried me even more.

“Rune, is that pancakes I smell?” Brynlee calls out as she exits the bedroom rubbing her eyes with the back of her hand. She looks so tired yet adorable and I can’t help but move to her side and pull my Mate in for a hug.

“Yes. I just finished making apple cinnamon pancakes.” I answer with a chuckle, kissing the top of her head.

“How did you know I was craving them?” She asks in disbelief, her eyes wide with happiness.

“Because you woke me up two hours ago telling me you were craving them before you passed out immediately after.” I answer with a chuckle. She looks away sheepishly, embarrassment on her face and I find myself once again thinking how lucky I am. I almost lost this incredible woman and now she is here in my arms.

“Let's go get you some food. You told me you had something to discuss with me last night.” I suggest, pulling away from Brynlee and taking her hand. I lead her to the small table in the corner where the morning light filters in through the window, surrounding Brynlee and giving her this ethereal glow.

Suddenly my mind shifts and the scene before me changes. Brynlee is no longer sitting in front of the window in the cottage, but instead, she sits on the front porch of the house she grew up in. A little pup is in her arms, smiling up at Brynlee with a toothy grin. Her blonde hair is pulled into pigtails on either side of her head and her grey eyes so much like mine sparkly in the morning light.

“Rune.” Brynlee on the porch calls out to me. I reach for her only to feel like I am falling.

“Rune.” My eyes refocus and Brynlee is back to sitting at the small table in the cottage looking at me with a worried gaze. The pup in her arms is gone, but I know for sure who that pup is.

“A girl.” I state with a grin, looking down at Brynlee’s stomach which is slowly starting to bump out.

“What?” Brynlee asks, taking my hand in hers.

“Our pup is a girl.” I state, falling to my knees to kiss her small bump.

“It’s too early to tell.” Brynlee laughs out, running her free hand through my hair as I rest my head on her lap, breathing in her cinnamon-sugar scent.

“She is a girl, Brynlee.” I state once more with conviction.

“I saw it. Saw her in your lap. She will have your hair and my eyes.” I continue, looking up at my Mate who stares at me with wide eyes.

“You saw it? You had a vision like –”

“Like my mother, yes” I confirm laughing.

“Aspen Talia Sterling. Our daughter.” Brynlee whispers, shocking me.

“You’re giving her my last name?” I ask, confused. I thought we would take her name. Remove the Sterling name from the world for good.

“I mean, we are Mated, so it’s only fair I take your last name eventually.” Brynlee answers with a shrug. I open my mouth to protest, but her stomach growls before any words come out. Shaking my head, I decide to shelf this discussion for later and stand to my feet. The food is already placed on the table with plates and cutlery set at our seats. All I needed to grab was tea for Brynlee and coffee for me.

“We need to talk to Jett about your sudden vision. See if this is a one-off occurrence or if it is something that you inherited from your mother that was suppressed for some reason.” Brynlee says as she loads pancakes onto her plate, ignoring the syrup in favour of adding chopped caramelized apples onto the pancakes.

“That’s a good idea. Jett would know more about this vision stuff.” I agree, placing the mug of chamomile tea in front of Brynlee before taking my seat. The smell of the pancakes mixes with Brynlee’s scent, her bright blue eyes solely focused on the food in front of her. I decide to let her eat in silence and let her relax and enjoy the moment before we need to discuss whatever it is that Brynlee wants to talk about.

This seems to be a good idea as it seems my Mate has lost all sense of anything else with the food taking her entire focus. I take a picture of her on my phone, a soft smile on my lips as I save the image as my lock screen before diffing into my own food.

Half an hour later, the pancakes are gone and breakfast is done. I begin the clear the table while Brynlee fiddles with her empty tea mug. Knowing her for all my life, I know this quirk of hers means she has something on her mind that she wants to discuss with me. She just doesn’t know how to say it.

“What did Ashton and Quest want with you last night?” I ask as I return to my seat deciding I need to start this conversation or Brynlee will be playing with this cup until we need to leave for the training facility. Brynlee stops fiddling with her mug and lets out a long sigh. I can see how reluctant she is to talk but know that if this conversation wasn’t important, she wouldn’t be so hesitant.

“Ashton and Quest want to join Pine Moon when we take it back.” She blurts out. Shocked, I lean back in my seat, running a hand through my hair.

“What?” I ask, blinking a couple of times.

“Why?” I can’t seem to wrap my head around why Ashton and Quest would want to leave Crescent Phoenix. On why they would leave behind the friends they have here for a Pack that will be going through the turmoil of restructuring when Brynlee and I take it over.

“Because they lost their families when Onix Moon attacked Crescent Phoenix back when this Pack was called Golden Fang.” Brynlee answers with a sad smile, turning to look out the window.

“They are orphans like me and feel like moving to a new Pack that could use help the way Asteria and I helped Crescent Phoenix would be best for them.” She continues, her eyes welling with tears. Getting up from my chair, I make my way to Brynlee’s side and wrap my arms around her.

“What did you tell them?” I ask, running my fingers through her blonde locks and feeling Brynlee settle down in my embrace.

“That I would talk to you. If we agree they can come, then they have to break the news to Asteria and Gale.” She answers with a small smile, her head resting against my stomach. She takes deep, even breaths, breathing in my scent, and for a moment I wish we could stay like this. That there was no imminent war or a Pack to take back. That we could just stay in our cottage away from the world for the day and curl up in bed wrapped up in each other’s arms. But a knock at our door causes a small growl of annoyance to escape my throat.

Reality is cruel. If we want peace and quiet, we need to fight for it.

“Tell them yes.” I state, pulling back and placing a finger under Brynlee’s chin, tilting it slightly so that she is looking up at me.

“Tell Ashton and Quest they can come with us.”

“And Devlyn too?” Brynlee asks making me chuckle.

“Of course. He is Ashton’s Mate after all.” I agree. Brynlee smiles taking my hand in hers and pressing a kiss to it. The tingles from the Mate Bond make me grin until another hurried knock at the door reminds me we have some unwanted guests interrupting our day.

With a sigh, I release Brynlee and walk to the door, opening it to find a very angry Caspian standing there.

“Quincy beat Devlyn.” He says before I can greet him. Without thinking, I race out the door, Brynlee calling out to me but I am already too far away to respond.