Enlightening Bloom(48)
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He’s carrying me down the stairs when the sound of snarls causes him to start running, not an easy feat with me in his arms, but he still manages. He comes to a halt in what I’m guessing was once a living room, but is now a smashed up mess. He places me on my feet, keeping his arm around my waist to keep me upright. Tucker and Bonnie are standing there, as well, and just like us they’re watching the fight in shock.
Two wolves with similar blonde coats are attacking each other like their lives depend on it. I can’t tell where one ends and the other begins because they’re so tangled together; biting, clawing, killing. I feel the need to stop them so I take a step away from Pike, planning on doing exactly that. Tucker reaches out and grabs my arm stopping me, though. He shakes his head. “She’s got to do this.”
“She?” I ask out loud as my head swings back to the fight in front of us. The two wolves move in just the right way, and I see flashes of emerald and amber eyes. Rose and Kyran. I fall to my knees, my hands flying to my mouth in shock. I can’t say or do anything other than sit there and watch the carnage unravel before me. Pike kneels to put his arms around me. He may be saying comforting words, but I can’t hear them. All I can see or hear is the sounds of the wolves in front of me. The wolves who are part of me. My mother. My half-brother. I thought neither wanted me. She abandoned me so long ago. He wants me dead. Yet, here she is killing him. Killing my brother…for me. I don’t want her to make that sacrifice. No-one should have to, but as I’m on the verge of saying those very words aloud she sinks her teeth into his throat, taking his life.
I sit there un-moving with tears streaming down my face. She limps her wound covered body to me and collapses with her head in my lap. My head falls to her neck. My hands run over the bloody fur of her coat. And I feel as she takes her last breath.
Chapter 31 – Pike
The funeral had a countless amount of guests, but that was to be expected when dealing with the deaths of two beloved pack members. Yes, two. Rose who succumbed to her wounds from fighting Kyran. Then Grady who’s heart gave out at the loss of his mate. The graveside service finished an hour ago with people having long since left to go to the wake. Tucker left about half an hour ago himself, dragging Killian and Bonnie with him. I think he sensed Bloom needed this time alone at their mother’s grave.
I’m standing back giving her the space she needs right now, even though I want nothing more than to hold her and make everything right. But I can’t do that. This isn’t something I can kiss away. This is something she’ll have to work through without me. So I stand there quietly, giving her this time.
After what could be minutes or even hours she bends and lays the bouquet of red roses on top of the headstone that holds Rose’s and Grady’s names. She stands smoothing out the skirt of her black dress and turns to me. I instantly circle her in my arms and kiss the top of her head. She begins sobbing, and around the tears I hear her whisper. “She died for me and I never told her I loved her.”
Running one hand up her back and into her hair I try to soothe her. “She didn’t have to hear those words, Darlin’. She was your mom, she loved you, and doing what she did was the best way she could find to show you that. It’s not the way any of us wanted her life to end, but we can’t change that. All we can do now is make sure she is remembered.”
Gripping the cross around her neck she whispers her promise. “She will be.”
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Ten Years Later
Pike
Standing on the back deck, catching the sun rising over the tree line, I watch her move out of the woods. Her blonde coat’s dusty from her run but it takes nothing from the beauty that is Bloom in her wolf form. It’s been ten years since she shifted for the first time and ever since, this has become our morning ritual. She gets up before me and runs, greeting the sun in her wolf form on our pack’s land. Some mornings I join her, but most I give her this time to herself. Because, more often than not, she uses this time to visit her mother’s grave. She comes across the yard, up onto the porch, and right to me. She rubs against my pajama clad legs once, and then steps back. I hold her robe open as she shifts. As soon as the white cotton is tied securely at her waist she throws her arms around my neck and kisses me.
“Morning, Tennessee.” She whispers against my lips as she pulls back.
“Mornin’, Darlin’. Did you have a good run?”
“Perfect. It’s so peaceful out there.”
Right on cue the back door slides open and two arms encircle our waists. I look down at the honey colored hair of my baby girl just as she looks up at me with eyes that match my own and smiles. “Mommy’s back! Now can we have breakfast?”