Loving My Mate

Moving?

Waking up this morning is completely different from any other morning.  Sounds are clearer, smells are stronger, and my sight is keener.  My senses are almost overloaded until I feel arms tighten around me, and everything immediately becomes a relaxing calm. 

“What was that?” I whisper out.  Harrison nuzzles into my neck, not even fully awake.  “That’s the mate bond with an alpha.  It increases your wolf abilities to match my own.”  He says its nonchalantly, as if it happened all the time.  It doesn’t.  “Oh wow….” 

I can also feel something inside my chest.  something I haven’t felt in a long time.  I turn into his arms and giggle when he looks at me. 

“What is it?” he says with an amused face. 

“It’s nothing.”  I lean in to hug him and he embraces me back.  “I’m just happy to have this feeling back.”  He leans back to look at me questioningly. “I feel like my heart is whole again.”   He smiles and flips me on my back and nestles his body comfortably into mine as he supports himself on his elbows by my face.  He kisses my forehead.  “You deserve all the happiness.”  He kisses my left cheek. “All the love.”  My right cheek.  “All the comfort.”  My nose.  “All the peace.”  And finally he kisses my lips.  “And you make me feel whole Brigh.”  I smile and kiss him back.

I’ve tried 3 times to get out of bed, but Harrison’s unsated ass keeps dragging me back to bed.  Finally, his stomach growls as loud as he does, and I can finally get up and make us something to eat.  I tell him to go take a shower as I cook up some chicken sandwiches.  While I prepare the ingredients my phone starts ringing.

“Hello?” 

Am I speaking with Brighton Campbell? 

“Yes, this is she.” 

Oh great! This is Stacey Forester from the Stanton Art college.  We discussed the possibility of you joining our conference this year? 

“Oh yes! Hi Stacey, was there an issue with my application?” 

Oh no dear.  I was actually calling to say congratulations!  You have been accepted to join as a teacher and demonstrator! 

Oh wow!  I walk to sit on the couch to gather my breath.  I’ve been waiting for such an opportunity!  But what about Harrison? 

You there Brighton? 

“Sorry, yes, I’m here.  If I may ask, if everything is successful, what would be the result after the conference?” 

Well if you get offers, which I know you will, you will be asked to tour around the country in different states throughout the year, performing demonstrations and holding gallery showings as an individual, not as part of a faction.  It will give your name huge credibility in the art world!  This is not an opportunity to take lightly, so what do you say?

 Its everything I could have dreamed of to have such an opportunity.  When I was finally recovering from the grief of my parents death, I promised myself not to let it go in vain, which is the reason I started doing art again.  The day I hung my paintings in the counseling center was a reminder that they supported my art, and wouldn’t want me to waste away without it.  I knew I had to try for them.  “I accept Stacey.” 

Wonderful!!  The conference is in a month and a half, enough time to get your affairs in order.  I will call you in a couple of days with the details of the trip and the itinerary of your daily schedule!

“Thank you so much, have a good day.”

I hang up the phone with a heavy heart.  As much as I want this, I have Harrison to think of as well now.  And I don’t know how I can spend a month without him.  And if this becomes a permanent fixture in my life, that would mean a lot a travel away from home. 

Harrison clears his voice from behind me.  I turn around and seem him fresh out of the shower with just a towel wrapped around his waist.  I would be all hot and bothered if it wasn’t for the look on his face.  “How much of that did you hear?” 

He shrugs his shoulders.  “All of it,” he says softy.  I get up and go to hug him, and he sways me back and forth lovingly.  “You got this Brigh…. we got this.”

HARRISON POV

After lunch, Brighton decides to come to the pack house with me to tell mom and dad the news of her getting the job.  I’m truly happy for her, but I know she’s worried.  I’m not happy about her being away for a month either, but I can’t discourage her any more than she’s already doing to herself.  She needs this.  She told me how she got back up on her feet with the promise she made to her parents, and I would never take that away. 

The canteen is full of warriors who just got done with their morning training, and I see my mom and dad in there as well.  Brighton veers off towards my parents as I ask the trainers how things went this morning.  Two large hands slam on my shoulders from behind me.  “Well look who showed up after training camp… not very becoming of a future alpha.”  Mark starts laughing from behind me. 

I turn around and smirk at him.  “Dad gave me the weekend off.” 

His face falls “What? That’s not fair!  And you didn’t tell me when we went out last night?!”  I chuckle at his childish pout.  “And miss on this face?” I say in a child's voice, squeezing his cheek. 

Before he can swat my hand off, my mother starts screaming across the room.  We turn around and see her smashing Brighton into her arms.  She must be really happy for Brighton.  I start laughing, but then I see my dad standing there awkwardly and Brighton beet red.  Then my mother flips her hair to show off my mark on her neck.  I puff out my chest with pride, no matter how embarrassed she is.  I loved everything that happened last night, and now she’s officially mine. 

“Well, that’s one way to introduce your luna,” Marks says laughing.  I elbow him in the gut and make my way towards my family.  Mom is still shrieking and laughing.  When she sees me, she screams again, hugging me.  

“Ahhhh!  My boy finally mated! I’m so happy!” I let my mother go and go to hug Brighton.  She immediately shields her face into my shoulder.  Who knew my mom would be so excited about me having s*x?

_____________________________

We all go up to the alpha/beta apartments and hang out in the living room.  “Oh and 3 kids would be perfect Brighton!  Just imagine, two boys and one girl to spoil!”  Brighton tries her best to keep her smile in place, but we are both overwhelmed with my mother’s antics.   

“Maggie, let the kids’ breath for a second.  We didn’t have Harrison for a few years… let them enjoy their time.”   

My mom actually pouts, but goes to the kitchen to make tea.  “As much as I appreciate your full support on us birthing kids mom, Brighton actually came to tell you some other news.”  I place my hand on her knee for support, and she clears out her throat.  “I got accepted to the conference.” 

“That’s wonderful sweetheart,” my dad praises as mom rushes from the kitchen to embrace her.  “Oh! I knew it!  That’s great!”  We start discussing Brighton’s plans to get prepared for her trip and when she’s leaving.

“A month and a half huh? Well that should be plenty of time to get you moved in.”  I nod my head agreeing with my mom. 

“Moved in?  Why would I be moving?” 

I turn my head quickly to look at her, and she genuinely looks confused.

“Well, you’ll be Luna, Brighton, so it’s naturally assumed that you would live here in the apartments,” I stated clearly. 

She looks taken back.  “But what about my home?”

“What about it?” I said defensively. I clearly said the wrong thing based off of Brighton’s glare she’s sending me right now.

My dad clears his throat.  “Um, we’re going to go back downstairs and leave you two to discuss matters.  Come on Maggie.”  My mom is reluctant to go, but starts walking towards the stairs after my dad.  When they leave the room, Brighton releases an exhaled breath.  “I don’t want to live here Harrison.” 

“Why not?  I’m your mate- your Alpha mate.  We’re supposed to live together…. Here.” 

“And I do want to live together, but just not…. here.  There’s no personality to this place, and anyone can come and go as they please.  And not to mention all of the girls you use to have in your room back in the day… no matter how many years have passed.  I just wouldn’t be comfortable.” 

I take her hands into mine.  “Brighton, every alpha and luna, and the betas and their families have lived here since this house was built!  It’s tradition.  If you want personality, we can decorate how you want it.  And we can change my room to another suite- it’s not a big deal!” 

She slumps her shoulders in defeat.  I don’t like arguing about something so small as this, but I don’t see the big deal.  “Can we talk about this later Harris?  I’m tired, and with the news of the conference, I don’t want to discuss living arrangements.  I need to go work on a project anyways.”  She takes her hands out of mine and gets up.  “Talk to you later?” 

She didn’t mention anything about a project earlier, so I know it’s just a defense.  “I’ll see you later, not just talk, okay?” 

She nods her head and comes to give me a hug.  I kiss her forehead, and she leaves.