Growing Up With My Mate

17. The Morning After

Brighton pov

I wake up and see the colors of dusk through the window.  I have a headache from hell as I start to sit up.  But something is not right.  I look down at the blanket covering my lower half, and a white silk robe that I’m wearing, pretty much all the way undone because I don’t sleep gracefully.  I’m still confused and then I look up.  I see the navy comforter I’m sitting on, the nightstand with a water, dirty clothes on the floor, and ……….. holy s**t.  I’m in Harris’ room.  And I’m naked. 

I jolt out of the bed, on wobbly legs no doubt, and try to comprehend how I ended up here and in this way.  Holding a hand to my achy head, I recount the events of last night.  Party, food, b***h Clara, feeling dizzy, Harris stripping, clovers…… omg holy s**t, I shifted last night!  I can’t believe it.  It was way too soon.  I begin to hyperventilate, realizing I’m sitting in the middle of his room, when a knock comes at the door. 

A woman enters and I realized it’s the luna.  “Oh honey!” She rushes to me and sits next to me.

“Are you alright, still in pain?” 

I gather my thoughts, and do a mental check of my body.  “I just feel really tired, and my head hurts a lot.  Did I cause a lot of problems last night Luna?”

“Call me Maggie, dear.  You had no control over last night and it wasn’t a problem.  Are you sure you’re feeling okay?”  She helps me stand up and I go to drink some water. 

“I’m okay I promise.” 

“That’s good. I came to check on you and I’m happy your awake.  Why don’t you take a shower and join us for breakfast? Your parents are here too, they’ve been worried all night.”

My parents… goddess, so embarrassing! Hey Mr. and Mrs. Campbell.  Your daughter shifted 3 months too early and ended up sleeping in the alpha’s son’s bed naked.  She ushers me to the bathroom and shows me where the towels are and leaves me to do my business.  Harris’s shower.  Could I be more pathetic than to swoon?  I quickly get out of my thoughts and let the hot water do its magic on my aching body.  When I step out, my robe is no longer in the bathroom.  I could’ve sworn I put it on the counter.  I wrap the towel around me and step out into his bedroom.  And right in front of me, staring with his golden, honey brown eyes, is none other than Harris. Kill me now.

“HARRIS!”

“Jesus Brighton! I’m so sorry!”

We both turn around, not looking at each other.  I’m pretty sure I’m red as a tomato.  After a minute of agonizing silence later, Harris breaks the silence. “I-I brought your clothes that your parents brought.  Mom said you were still sleeping….”

“Nope..... I’m fully awake and you mom told me to take a quick shower before breakfast.”

“Of course, she did,” he says under his breath. After another minute of silence, “Are you okay?”

Realizing he was talking about my shift, I answer honestly “I don’t know,” I whispered, “It hurt a lot- felt like a never-ending fire, and I’m scared because something might be wrong with me.  It was too soon.”  I didn’t realize I was crying until Harris turned me around and embraced me in a comforting hug.  I clutched onto his shirt and hugged him back, needing the closeness.

“I know it wasn’t supposed to happen like that Brigh, but nothing is wrong with you.  Your wolf was perfectly normal, just came out earlier than expected.”  He leans back and looks into to my eyes, and brushes a tear from my cheek.  “And guess what?  You were the perfect shade of chocolate brown like you wanted.”

He was smiling and after realizing what he just said, I began beaming.  “Really?! That the best news I’ve heard in the last 24hrs!”  I reached up to hug him and he hugged me back, both of our faces nuzzling each others necks.  I definitely enjoy this moment, until realizing I was just in a towel.  I cleared my throat.  

“Um, Harris…”

 “yea?”

“Could you possibly go downstairs and let me change?” 

He quickly released me and before he turned around, I could’ve sworn his face was pink.  Laughing at each other silently, he finally walked out the door. 

 As I descend downstairs towards the kitchen, I can hear my parents talking with the Alpha.  “We should’ve known something was off when she appeared sick, but she kept saying she was fine,” my dad says, sounding so sad.

“And she’s been so upset for the past few weeks, I can’t believe we didn’t see the signs.” My mom sounds more frustrated than sad.  It’s making me feel worse about the whole situation.  

“It wasn’t your fault.  Her birthday isn’t for another few months. It was impossible to predict,” the luna chimes in.

“The elders are coming later in the week.  We’ll bring this matter up them at that time,” the alpha states.   “You can come in Brighton.”  I flinch, knowing the alpha just caught me snooping.  I walk around the corner and see my parents and the alpha and luna at the same table.  My mom abruptly gets up and embraces me in one of the tightest hugs I’ve ever had.

“Oh my poor baby, I know you were terrified. I’m so sorry!” she says through her sniffles.  I feel my dad’s arms go around me and my mom, his silent compassion bringing me comfort.  When we finally let go, I see that Harris has put breakfast on the table, joining his parents.  We all take a seat and the adults begin talking- how I was feeling, me and Harris being in school, moms baby food business, and Harrisons upcoming graduation. 

“By the way John, how’s that old shed holding up?  I know you refused a loan from me last year- any updates?” The alpha states. 

When my parent’s bills became stable, dad bought the acre of land behind our house.  It had an abandoned barn on it and he told me one day he would renovate it to be my art studio.  We go in there every now and then to keep it cleaned, but there’s just too much to be done to get it to where it needs to be.  “Ah you know I don’t accept charity Alpha, and I’m steering clear of loans for the rest of my life.”

“Nonsense, it’s my alpha duty to support my pack- come on.”

“I’ll have to respectfully decline sir.”

“Seems like I know where Brighton gets her frugalness from…” Harrison says on a chuckle, earning a glare from his mother.  I stay emotionless because it’s true.  My father takes a deep sigh and looks at me.

“Yes, I’m afraid that’s my fault.  She didn’t get to have everything she deserved growing up.”  My mother took my dad’s hand as a show of support.  He looks to Harrison. “Be lucky your parents are who they are.  Mine dropped me off on the street when I was three years old.  I knew I was a wolf, but being that young, I didn’t know where to turn to.  As I got older, I just accepted my life as a lone wolf.  I kept under the radar, stealing money for food and transport, sleeping in boxes.  When I turned 18, I was working multiple jobs here and there, then I met this fine woman.  Her family did not accept me, and she didn’t care- she chose me.  So, we left.  Months later we found out we were having young Brighton over here, and I made a lot of mistakes, borrowing money to set up a life for my family, not understanding the consequences.  So, when people started collecting, we’ve been scrapping ever since.”

I keep my head down, too embarrassed to look at him and his parents, and to make my embarrassment hole deeper, dad keeps talking. “Brighton hid from us one day, and witnessed a conversation between me and a loan shark, and ever since she won’t take any more than she needs.  When we try to get her things, she either blows up at us or becomes extremely depressed.  Things have gotten a lot better since we moved into your territory Alpha, and with mine and my wife’s business, we are on steady ground, but I just can’t get it through her thick skull about it.” He says the last part in full humor but I just feel like slinking down to the floor.  My plate of scrambled eggs have never looked so interesting.  The table stays in silence.

           “Shopping!” The luna yells, startling me.  I think we all have confused faces on.  “Brighton, you and your mom are going shopping with me today!  I can get us all new outfits.” Me and my parents share horrified faces and rush to refuse her offer.  “Tut-tut-tut No! Brighton has been through a very traumatic ordeal and as the pack luna, my purpose is to soothe pack member and assure their safety.  So, we are doing this, even if I have to get my husband to give alpha orders on you,” she says as she points to us.  The woman is actually serious.  The alpha and Harris look very apologetic but her husband shrugs like it’s an everyday occurrence.  Retail therapy?  Sounds like it’ll be more traumatizing.