The Magic of the Full Moon

Chapter 2

Amelia, Logan, and Everly were in the living room enjoying their chips as they watched a comedy they had all wanted to see for a while. They were about halfway through the movie when Logan picked up the remote and paused it.

"Hey!" Everly protested.

"Chill. I just want Lia to answer a question. Lia, are you really going to turn down being Alpha of the Dark Moon Pack?" Logan asked Amelia.

"Yeah, I am," Amelia answered as she gave a potato chip to Blueberry on the back of the couch behind her.

"Why?" Everly asked.

"Because it isn't home," Amelia answered with a sigh. "If Mom and Nick had been mates and I was raised in that pack, I would take over as Alpha. But that's not the way it happened. Damian and I have talked about this a lot. He will be much better at running that pack than I would ever be. He is fifteen now, so it isn't like it will be decades before Nick can step down, only three more years from what he had planned."

"You don't give yourself enough credit, Lia. I have watched you out-strategize Dad, Nick, Uncle Jake, and Uncle Eric more times than I can count. I think you could be an amazing Alpha with your eyes closed," Logan said.

"Then maybe I will just stay here and overthrow Uncle Jake," Amelia grinned, trying not to laugh.

Everly giggled, "Liam might not like that since he is Jake and Amber's oldest child and the future Alpha of the Obsidian Pack."

"Honestly, I have no desire to lead a Pack or Clan. I don't mind helping out now and then, but I don't like doing it. I would be completely miserable if I were to take over anywhere and do it all the time," Amelia said as she picked at a chip.

"So…, you know what you don't want to do. But what do you want to do?" Everly asked.

"That's a good question. I wouldn't mind working at Emery Tech in one of the more creative divisions, but I would love to do something with my art. Unfortunately, I doubt I could make enough to live on, so that is probably out of the question," Amelia said.

"Maybe you should talk to Mom and Cousin Rose. They have both done really well with their art and might be able to help you," Everly told her.

"Yeah, I've thought about that. I just…" Amelia sighed and continued. "I don't want it to look like I am getting any favors because of who I am."

"I get that, but they might be able to tell you who to talk to or how to go about being noticed by the right people. They both entered a lot of contests when they started out, and look at what they've won. They're both known worldwide because of it, and it has nothing to do with the Emery name. I mean, Mom kept her maiden name for a reason. Have you talked to Mom about maybe adding some of your paintings and drawings to her website to help you be seen and then branch off on your own?" Logan said.

"No. But that is a good idea. I'll think about it. I mean, I'm turning eighteen, and I still have a couple of months of high school left, so there isn't a rush. It isn't like I have to plan every aspect of my entire life right now," Amelia said. "Now, let's finish the movie."

Logan picked up the remote and pushed the play button as he snickered, "As you command Alpha."

-

Tyson and Olivia were snuggled together on the sofa in their bedroom. They had opted to watch a documentary on weather that focused on thunderstorms. They both had a soft spot for storms and loved to watch them as long as there was no threat. On top of that, to Tyson, Olivia smelled like a thunderstorm and lightning. Their mating marks even looked like lightning bolts that delicately branched through their skin, with Tyson's being black from the ink of his tattoos while Olivia's was silvery white.

Tyson scooped some of his extra hot salsa onto a chip and held it out, offering it to Olivia.

"Oh no," Olivia said, shaking her head. "If I eat that, I will be breathing fire, and the last time I checked, it is a bad thing when that happens to werewolves."

"No, you wouldn't," Tyson grinned. "I will bring you your favorite ice cream and spoon-feed you to help put out the fire if you want some salsa."

"As much as I appreciate that offer, if I have salsa and chips, it will be the mildest one in the pantry. I know there are at least a couple of jars in there because Lucy knows and takes pity on me. I will stick with my boring potato chips and have ice cream later at the party."

"You're worried about Lia, aren't you? I can feel it."

"Not really about her. I'm worried for her," Olivia answered. "Lia loves her art. She is amazingly talented. I don't think she understands how good she is because, like most artists, she is her own worst credit. I want her to be able to focus on it and see how good she is. When I was her age, I was allowed to focus on doing what I loved without the pressure she has. Really, my biggest concern is Nick's parents and what they might do."

"Try not to worry, my love. We will have plenty of family members in attendance to handle those two if needed. Kevin has volunteered to take care of them personally if they mess anything up. He said, and I quote, 'If those two mongrels mess with my favorite little cousin's birthday party, I will end them where they stand,' and I believe him."

Olivia gave him a skeptical look and said, "Be warned that if they do try something and Nick does not stand up for Lia, I will be going after him because it will make him just as bad as his parents. Raine has already promised to shift and take a chunk out of him. And I can safely say you will not want to watch if Raine goes after the part she wants to go for."

"He would deserve it if he is not man enough to defend our daughter against his parents." Tyson smiled at her, "Do you have any idea how hot it is when you and Raine are protective and aggressive like that?"

"You think so, huh?"

"Yes, I do," Tyson answered, leaning in and kissing her. "You are my little wolf, and you and Raine are both my mates. I love you so much." As they kissed, he felt it change. Olivia took control and became more needy and possessive of his lips. When he pulled back, staring back at him instead of Olivia's gray eyes, he saw the bright blue eyes of her wolf, Raine. "Hello, Raine. So you want to join in the fun, too?"

"I do," Raine answered in her gravelly voice.

"Good, but only after I love Olivia. You like things rougher and more aggressive than she does. I don't want to make her uncomfortable because I have been with you first, and my beast is still on the surface," Tyson said between the kisses he gave her neck.

Still in control of Olivia's body, Raine cupped Tyson's face in her hands and gazed into his eyes. "We love you more than you can ever know, my perfect mate. Thank you for loving us the way you do," Rain whispered before she kissed him passionately. Tyson could feel it change as they kissed, knowing that Raine had relinquished control back to Olivia.

"Welcome back, my love," Tyson whispered against Olivia's lips.

Olivia giggled, "Nice to see that you and my wolf have worked out what to do with my body."

"If you don't want us to…," Tyson began before Olivia cut him off by placing her finger on his lips and smiling.

"We share a body. Raine likes things that I don't, and I like things that bore her. You love us both enough to understand that and respect us both. I want you to make us both happy, and you do, deliriously so. Now, my dragon, take me to bed and have your way with me."

Tyson scooped her up bridal style and carried her to the bed. As he lay her down, he lowered himself on top of her, he let a low growl rumble through his chest. He gazed into her gray eyes and whispered, "I love you, my little wolf."

-

Nick and Emma had joined Lucy in the kitchen to prepare the massive buffet-style breakfast for the family. As soon as the pair had entered the kitchen, Lucy had assigned them their tasks, and they had gone to work. Nick was happy to follow her instructions as he had for nearly two decades.

Years ago, he discovered that being in the kitchen, cooking for those he loved, was his happy place. It had been his self-appointed therapy while he was recovering from being poisoned by magic and mistreating Olivia and all those who protected her after she became pregnant with Amelia. How he treated so many still bothered him, and he was eternally grateful he was forgiven for his actions. Even with that and the many years that had passed, he still felt like he needed to make amends.

"Are you alright, Nick?" Lucy softly asked him as she placed her hand on his shoulder.

"I was thinking about the first time I helped you cook and why I was here. I was remembering what I did to everyone," Nick replied as he felt his eyes and nose begin to sting with unshed tears.

Emma came to him and wrapped her arms around her mate's waist. "Nick, sweetie, no one blames you for what happened after Carson poisoned you. When we all learned the truth, the only thing anyone was upset about was what happened when Olivia told you she was pregnant with Amelia. Even then, after you thought about it for a few days, you saw you were wrong and were going to apologize and take care of both of them, but Carson poisoned you before you could. No one holds a grudge against you for the things you could not control."

"I know," Nick admitted as he hugged Emma tightly and inhaled her scent to help calm himself.

"Look at it like this, Nick," Lucy said. "If you had immediately taken Olivia as your chosen mate when she told you she was pregnant, what would have happened the first time she and Tyson met at Dark Moon Industries? They would have known they were destined mates. Would she have stayed and been unhappy, or would she have left to be with Tyson, leaving you heartbroken? If things had not happened the way they had, the three of you would have either been unhappy, or it would have destroyed your friendships. You also would not have found your destined mate by coming here. You and Emma have been good for each other, and look at your beautiful families. Four parents and five children between you, and you all love each other and could not be closer."

Nick smiled, "Lucy, you have always had a way of putting things into perspective."

"I know," Lucy grinned. "Now, quit borrowing worries and get back to work. We have hungry dragons and wolves to feed."