Caged In

Floating Flowers

Avalena

 I have always loved the way the water in the river looks so calm and black, and today, with the flowers on top, it looks like they are just floating with nothing under. It is such a beautiful sight to see. The moon goddess has really blessed us with so much, and I love the fact that I can see the beauty in little things like water and flowers. There are tea-light candles on the edge of the river which make everything just glow. We are sitting off to the side, surrounded by pack members who are spending time with family and friends and are enjoying a snack or pastry, just enjoying being here and present. People take pictures of the river and of each other standing by the river, and everyone hangs out in the same spot, having our own conversations and in our own worlds. I feel so blessed to be able to live here and enjoy this life.

My parents arrive, and I know that we have to talk to them. I am not sure how they will take the news right away. I know that they expect certain things from me. I am young, and they want the best for me, and accepting Cage and his child means big changes for me. Hopefully they are accepting of my choices. Mom will worry about what the pack will think about their Luna not being the mother to the Alpha's child, but surely they will learn to understand and accept them too, right? Most people here already know Cage, and they know he is a good person, and he comes from a great, loving family. Everyone here and at DarkMoon loves Cali, Rae, Cage and James Thomas. This doesn't mean I am not scared of everyone's reactions. My pack is important to me. I want the people I lead to trust me and the choices I make.

They wave at some pack members, and stop to chat with others. Everyone loves my parents, and I just hope when I take over, they will give my mate and I the same love and respect. "So, what have you been up to? You now know most of my drama, and I haven't seen you in so long. Since, well, you know the Rae thing. I feel like I just arrived to clear my head, and now we have been thrown together quickly. We don't really know anything about each other now," Cage tells me. He is right. Although I already knew he would become a firefighter, that's all I know. We kind of distanced from each other some time back. I remember that becoming a firefighter is all he talked about growing up. He and Rae Rae always told us that their dad was a superhero. I chuckle. "I remember one day Cooper and I came home after a visit to the farm really upset. We confronted dad about why you and Rae Rae had a superhero as a dad, and we didn't," I confess. He bursts out laughing and everything inside of me tingles. His laugh is contagious, and it beats his worried look any day. I hope to always be able to hear him laugh and see him smile. He looks more handsome when he is happy. "I think dad loves the fact that we always tell people a superhero lives in our home," he says. I mean, he saves lives. Can't get more superhero than that. James Thomas is a really cool guy and great dad to those two. My dad is great as well. He is perfect in my eyes.I think back on his question though. "Well, I have been getting ready to take over the pack, but I am also taking some classes. You know that my mother is a doctor, and I am exploring that as well. I love helping people any way I can. My mother also has me in Luna training," I tell him. "What is that?" he asks "Well, that is a special training I have to take in order to take over the pack once my mother steps down, but we can talk more about that later. Here come my parents," I say quickly. They both have huge smiles on their faces.

"So," mom says as she looks from me to Cage, then back. "So, I already told him, but we have something to tell you guys," mom smiles and waves her hand for me to continue, but Cage stops me. "I think it would be best for me to speak to you two alone, as it has to do with me and nothing to do with Avalena. I want to keep her away from this as much as possible," Cage says, but that is not fair. If I am accepting him with his child, won't I be a part of the child's life? Is there something I am not understanding here? Why can't I be here for the conversation? Maybe he doesn't want us around his baby? My wolf says, and my heart drops to the floor. That is a possibility. Dad gives me a look, but nods. "Don't worry, this is for the best. I just want to be a man and be honest with them. I don't want you in the middle of anything. I promise to protect you from it all," he tells me. Luckily, my friend Jennifer and her sister, who is a human, but was adopted by her parents, walk towards me. Stephanie is a friend of Rae's, so I am friendly with her as well as with Jenny, but she has rubbed me the wrong way before. "I will be with my friend then," I say, waking away.

"Hey girl, so Cage is your mate. Congratulations, I guess," Jennifer says as Stephanie whistles. "I have always thought Rae's older brother was hot, but he never looked my way," she says. I glare at her. Does Rae know her bestie has eyes for her brother? "He's a human though. Are you sure you want to go there? You are young, an Alpha female, and every Alpha would take you as their mate in a heart beat. You could merge any pack you want and get so many things from rich Alpha daddies. You will be settling, and downgrading bad," Jennny tells me. "He is my mate, and the moon goddess makes no mistakes," I say sure of myself. "Well, good luck with him. His ex-girlfriend Lucy is smoking hot. She is crazy, but people look past it, because she is a bombshell. I heard that they recently broke up, but she has dumped him before, and he always goes crawling back to her. No-one could ever resist her charm. They say she has him wrapped around her finger," Stephanie says with a smirk on her face. My wolf growls. I know she is trying to get under my skin. don't know what Rae sees in her. This girl has always been a b!tch and rude. I have seen her degrade Rae before. She is a hater. "Well, things change. He says he is over her, so we will see where things go," I don't want to tell them he is having a baby if they are already judging him this hard. "I don't think the pack will accept him," Jenny tells me, but when I look around, I see him surrounded by pack members. Everyone looks happy and excited to speak with him. Mom and dad are now off talking to the side with Mama Lenny, and Zeus. I do not like the look on dad's face, but the pack members look accepting, or is that just what I am hoping? I look up and send a silent prayer to the moon goddess. "Please guide me in this next chapter of my life. Show me the way. I know that you mated me to Cage for a reason. Help us get through all of this and navigate it with intelligence and patience. Please show me the correct way so I can lead my people." I look at the brightest star in the sky and smile. When I look over at Cage, he is watching me with a huge smile on his face, but behind the smile, I see concerned eyes.