“Zia Lumina!” Gianna bounds speedily towards the main gates a radiant broad smile upon her face, bubbling laughter erupting from the pit of her belly as she regards me.
“Gia.” I chuckle kneeling upon the earth, my arms wide open for her to sink into. Her supple flesh collides with mine whilst she nestles into my chest inhaling my scent.
“I missed you.” She whispers as I fondly pat her back, I feel as though I am reuniting with my daughter. The first pup I forged a motherly attachment with.
“I’ve missed you more,” I murmur whilst she glares playfully at my words while shaking her head in denial.
“No, I did more than you did.” She battles back laying her hands on her hips narrowing her eyes at me.
“I think I did most.” I boop her tiny nose as she giggles jumping on her feet, she cannot control the excitement she holds for our arrival.
“Non ti sono mancato, Gianna?” Deimos’s sonorous voice pierces through our bubble as he strives to hold onto an unsettled Kal who demands to be let down.
*(Did you not miss me, Gianna?)*
“I did not, Zio.” She peers up at him ridiculing him with her dishonesty.
“Then I shall leave.” Deimos turns around swiftly pretending as though her words have upset him as she shrieks and dashes forward. She wraps her arms around his right leg hugging him gazing up with a shimmer in her eyes.
“I was merely playing. Anche tu mi sei mancato.” She smiles widely revealing to him her set of teeth with the self-esteem of their growth.
*(I missed you too.)*
Faint growls blare from Kal’s chest as he shifts from his comfortable position to stare down at her with dislike, his lips pulled back greens sharply narrowed at her he declares, “My papa.” We had noticed this before Kal does not like it if Deimos associates with other pups for he is profoundly possessive of his father.
“Kal, be nice.” I reprimand as he directs his attention to me.
“No.” He states blatantly moving in his father’s arms to bind his limbs around his neck laying his head upon his shoulder, his way of showing whom Deimos belongs to.
“Is this Kal?” Gianna questions softly circling Deimos like a predator to acquire a precise look at our pup. She had anticipated for three years to meet him. When we notified her that we would be bringing him with us she was very enthusiastic.
“Yes, Gia. This is our male, Kal.” I utter as our male attempts to hide his face from her prying eyes. He finds her bothersome.
“Gio!” Deimos hollers abruptly as I startle and turn to heed the male who nears us. My eyes broaden with astonishment as I examine his being from head to toe. How can a male transition this much in a matter of three years? No, this is not the same modest wolf I saw last time for this is a fully grown Alpha male.
He grew to become more towering over me and has filled out in all the appropriate places. Muscles protrude wildly beneath his skintight shirt, eyes observant and sharper. Viens are surprisingly prominent as they make their way from the tips of his wrists up to his bulging biceps.
Each step he takes forward exhibits confidence and purpose. His spine firm and head high he walks with pride of these lands, unlike the male who was suffocating in loss and panic like the last time I saw him.
“I think you are mistaken, this is not our Gio,” I lean my flesh towards Deimos to mutter with awe in his ear.
“It is our Gio, my female.”
“B-But look at him.” I gawk at the male who saunters with intimidation possessing a mild look of affection in his striking orbs.
“He has merely trained, that is all. He has matured Lumina.” My male speaks with the contentment of Gio, he did always fear the young Alpha would be swept by the unyielding currents of the loss he and his sister faced. But it seems to me as though he has risen above the relentless waves.
“Zio. Zia.” He greets us with a delicate smile and a terse dip.
*(Uncle. Aunt.)*
“Gio.” I beam up at him whilst Deimos smiles clemently at the male. “How have you been?”
“Quite occupied, actually. I have not one but two females I am responsible for.” He jokes as I comb behind him seeking to locate her only to find males standing in reverence.
“Where is she? Where are all your females?” I ask frowning or this is uncanny, I thought they would be here to welcome us.
“They are with Ira. Is this Kal?” He exercises a step forward with inquisitiveness and he takes a quick peek at my belly too, his happiness for us consuming him but my male ceases our surging conversation.
“How about we all head inside first?” Deimos queries as I laugh awkwardly. Indeed we are so curious about the other that we have merely stood by the gates the entire time.
“Of course, please come inside. Prendi i loro bagagli, Mario.” Gio nods towards another wolf who quickly heeds to his command clutching our suitcases to carry inside his home.
*(Take their luggage, Mario.)*
Because we are merely staying for a few days, Deimos requested Gio that we sojourn in his home instead of the villa we tarried in three years ago. We wished for Kal to get accustomed to these wolves for we decided we shall come to visit frequently.
Whilst we follow them inside, Kal fusses in his father’s arms asking to be transferred to me. I quickly pay heed to his wishes taking him from Deimos settling him over my right hip as he perches comfortably taking in his new surroundings with eagerness.
I am relieved he feels better now for he thoroughly detested the flight here, screeching with discomfort and distress at the top of his lungs. Deimos and I struggled to pacify him but nothing worked.
I tried wandering up and down the aisle swaying him, singing him a lullaby and Deimos attempted the same after me but he still refused to calm. I presume it was the air pressure, it may have irritated his ears. We understood for it was his first time flying after all.
Whilst we enter the living room Deimos instantly slumps down upon the sofa tiredness overwhelming him. We both hadn’t slept even for a minute for the entirety of the journey.
“The house looks different,” Deimos states reviewing the new changes of the house. I had felt the difference as well, it looks more luminous and welcoming.
“Ira. She wanted the house to feel more homely so I let her do as she wished.” Gio says whilst casually whilst taking a seat opposite his uncle.
“I understand. Lumina craved to decorate the castle’s walls with our pictures and I did not complain.”
“That is quite surprising coming from you.” Gio teases.
“I simply did not wish to be punished.” Deimos shrugs skittishly, a smirk on his face as he converses with the male who seems as though he has lived through a similar situation.
Disregarding the males so they can spend time among themselves, I carry Kal towards the kitchen assuming that is where the females might be gathered. I had missed the wolves I befriended here and I cannot wait to meet Gio’s moon blessed.
I hadn’t foreseen that he would discover her so suddenly, it came as a surprise to me. But the goddess always brings forth mates at the right time as she sees fit.
I wish to observe if she is a good female, not just to stand by Gio’s side but to be the mother Gianna does not possess. Peeping into the kitchen has me find a cordial aura followed by a chattering commotion, all the females are indeed present here. What could be the occasion that such a preparation is transpiring?
“Luna Lumina!” Mia is the first to notice me her eyes widening in surprise as she leaps forward speedily hauling me into a warm hug.
“Hello, Mia.” I titter whilst Kal sniffs intensely striving to identify her foreign scent. As soon as the other females overheard her words they come hastening towards me encircling my being within their sphere of warmth each coming forward to place their forehead upon mine in greeting.
“The future heir.” Mia gasps scrutinising my male with bewilderment. He is quite enticing to the eyes for his features are a mix of Deimos and me. Many wolves stare at his beauty dumbfounded as though they have witnessed the goddess, it is a common reaction to him.
“And another on the way. You are truly blessed, Luna Lumina.” Another female whispers from my side, her globes glistening with delightfulness as she gently peeks at my inflated belly.
“This is Kal. He is three.” I state as the females benignantly coo at him some trying to touch his flesh as the little one recoils and nestles into my neck hiding his face from them. They wish to pamper him and play with him but my male always seems suspicious of every wolf he meets. It takes time for him to warm up.
Others lay their hands on my belly attempting to sense the little one who sleeps within. This pup barely gives me any difficulties compared to how draining Kal was during the first few months of my pregnancy.
“Kal is adorable, Luna. We are always boastful that you become pregnant on our lands, it is a blessing for us.” Mia utters as my cheeks burn with a wildness to her unhesitant words. Goddess, if they only knew I had also lost my virtue on their lands.
“Come you must meet Luna Ira.” She captures my hand as the circle of females stretches allotting us space to stroll through. Yet before we could take a step their Luna already stands in front of us donning an apron her eager eyes eventually settling upon me.