Interstellar

As the days grew shorter, Nova found herself slowing down. After returning from the river, she round herself exhusted and made straight for the guest suite at the Alpha’s quarters. Before laying down she opened the windows and pinned back the curtains, a warm ray of sunshine cascading across the bed. She curled up beneath her knit blankets, closed her eyes against the light, and basked in the warmth as she nodded off to sleep.

Small cries rang out and Nova rose from bed. She softly walked across the room to find her cub in a hand-carved bassinet. She lifted the child to her chest and slowly rocked side to side, soothing the young one’s cries. Nova left her room to find Stella and Leon sharing breakfast. Stella gave her a warm smile, but Leon rose to his feet and met her halfway. he placed a hand on the cub’s back, rubbing gentle circles before kissing the baby’s soft black curls.

“He tooks more like you every day, Mama.”

Nova smiled and looked down at her son, every feature matching her own except the dark gray rings circling his golden eyes. “He’s got a bit of his dad in there somewhere.”

Leon led Nova to the table and offered up his seat. She cradled the cub against her chest with one arm while using the other to pick at Leon’s plate. She was hungry, but the eggs and elk sausage were far from appealing. Leon immediately padded to the kitchen to prepare a cup of tea, bringing her the drink with a couple slices of jam on toast. He happily watched her face light up at the sweet treat before her.

“Did you have any plans today, love?” Stella asked, her warm gaze locking on Nova’s.

Nova finished a bite of toast before answering, “Not particularly. I thought we might go foraging, Ali and I. Maybe spend a little time by the river. The sound of water always calms him down.”

Nova awoke to find Leon curled up behind her, an arm draped across her waist, face buried in her hair. As she stirred his grip on her waist tightened, pulling her closer to him.

“What were you dreaming about? I thought I heard my name.” He buried his face further in her hair until he found her neck, kissing the skin above her shirt collar.

Her face flushed and she shook her head, cautious not to overshare. “It wasn’t much of anything. You made me breakfast while Stella and I were chatting.”

He paused for a few seconds before asking, “Who is Ali?”

“I, uh-” Nova froze. She was nervous to share. She’d had similar dreams in the past, always when she was feeling baby-crazy and trying to conceive. She hadn’t even accepted his offer and was already dreaming of having his child. How mixed are those signals?

Leon felt her stiffen and knew he’d touched on a sensitive topic. Had Ali been her ex-fiancé? A sibling, a lost cub? He withdrew from her and gently guided her face to look at him, his palm coarse against her chin, “It’s okay, I’m sorry I asked.” He pressed his lips to hers, brief but sweet. “You can tell me when you’re ready.”

“I still just need to figure some things out,” she relaxed and turned to bury his face in the crook of his neck, breathing in his scent. He loosely wrapped his arms around her, nearly hypnotized by the rhythm of her breath against him.

Nova’s indecision had remained the same despite the growing attraction she felt toward Leon. She had felt their emotional connection grow and, despite her gut telling her this is where she belonged, her mind still fought against it. She was supposed to find another bear, but she enjoyed sharing this wolf’s bed. She was supposed to raise her cubs alone, but she wanted to help raise his. She was supposed to fend for herself and live independently, but she wanted her Alphas’ community.

Her Alphas. Nova laughed against Leon’s neck, her breath warm on his skin. Maybe she was ready to join the pack.

“What is it?”

“I think I just realized my own self-sabotage.”