Escaping Wildfire
Chapter 2: Family

Gema

I woke up early the next morning to get ready. We were having a big family breakfast with just the ranked families before we sent the boys off for training. I wanted to make sure I looked my best for Noah, so I put on a cute sundress and curled my hair.

"Gema" I heard my mother call through my door. "Ya estás lista? (Are you ready?)"

I opened the door, "Si, Mami. I'm ready."

"What are you all dressed up for?" My brother walked by and flicked my hair.

"It's just a dress." I rolled my eyes and shoved him.

"Basta, parecen niños chiquitos! (Stop, you're acting like children!)" My mother fussed. Now, let's go, your father's already waiting for us upstairs.

We were having breakfast on the Alpha floor as they had a large dining table where we'd gather for holidays and special meals. I walked in and hugged my dad, "Buenos días, Papi." Then I went around greeting everyone else. Most of our pack was of Mexican descent, so hugs and kisses were expected all around. When I got to Noah, I hugged him quickly, but he held onto my hand and gave me a knowing look. "What, no kiss for me?" He barely whispered, so no one else would hear. My eyes widened, but before I could answer my best friend and Jordan's sister pulled me away.

"Your hair looks awesome today! Are we still on for shopping this afternoon? I was wanting to go to that new makeup place, and maybe get a mani-pedi. What do you think?"

"Yeah, sounds great." Jasmine was a year younger than me, but we'd grown up together and easily bonded over our shared lives. She was really more like a sister to me.

"I still need to replace something to wear for your birthday party. I was thinking something red or maybe even orange."

"Yeah, but I'm sure you'd look good in any color." She had beautiful caramel skin and long brown curls. In looks, she took more after her mom than her dad, but all three siblings were a good mix of their Black mom and Hispanic dad.

"Come on, sit by me." She grabbed my arm and led me over to the table. Noah followed us and took the chair to my right. Everyone else trickled into their seats and we started passing around the food.

"Are you two as excited as Jordan is about this training?" Luna Christina asked.

"Yes." My brother spoke up first. "I've heard Harvest Moon has some of the best security and tech of all the packs. I'm hoping they'll teach us about that as part of the training, help us bring some of their ideas back home." Jordan nodded in agreement.

"That sounds good." Alpha Henry cuts in. "Us old guys aren't as tech-savvy as you young ones, so maybe the three of you can bring our pack into the 21st century." He smiled and patted Jordan's shoulder.

Alpha Henry and Luna Christina were the best leaders. They always made everyone feel welcomed and protected. They made me proud to be a member of Cobalt Falls. They were also amazing parents. Jordan and his sisters were lucky to have them.

"Alpha Kedrick is soon to join the Shifter Counsel, so I hope we'll get to meet him. They told us he'd be in and out a lot due to his council training." Noah added to the conversation.

Harvest Moon was the largest and strongest pack in the area, and Alpha Kedrick was set to become the youngest council member in their history. The Shifter Council was set up a few decades ago as part of an agreement between bears, wolves, and foxes to help keep fighting down between the different groups as well as help keep our secret safe from humans. In recent years, they had tried to get some cat shifters on the council, but cats tended to keep to themselves.

I looked around at our group. Noah and Cristian were still talking about Alpha Kedrick with Alpha and Luna, and my parents seemed engrossed in their conversation with Noah's parents, Annette and Rodrigo. Noah's ten-year-old brothers, Felix and Miles, were, as usual, bugging Jade, Jordan's 13-year-old sister. Meals with all of us were always chaotic, but I loved it. We were family, and things were perfect, especially with Noah here beside me.

I suddenly felt a warm hand on my thigh. I looked over at Noah and smiled. I placed my hand on top of his, and he leaned in and whispered, "Meet me out back after this, I want to give you a proper goodbye before we leave."

I softly nodded, hoping no one was paying attention to us. I looked down at my plate to hide my blush.

"How about you Noah? Are you hoping to meet your mate at Harvest Moon like Jordan is?" I hadn't realized they'd changed the topic, so Luna Christina's question caught me off guard.

Noah coughed and took a drink of his water. It seems the question caught him off guard too. Before Noah could answer, his mom cut in, "Oh, but we have two lovely girls right here, maybe one of them will turn out to be his mate. Right, Noah?" Annette, or Annie as we all called her, made a show of turning to me as she smiled and winked.

"Si! That would be perfect, then Gema could stay in our pack and we could be grandparents together." My mom agreed and she and Annie started planning the details of our future mating ceremony before Noah and I could get a word in edgewise. I secretly didn't mind though because I wanted the same, except Noah and I would be planning the details when the time came, not our mothers.

Noah

Gema looked so pretty today, and I was having a hard time not staring at her. I wanted to kiss her so badly. As soon as she walked in, Cosmo was already on me to sneak her out back and give her a real goodbye. Cosmo kept flashing me memories of us together last night, and I was having a hard time concentrating on the conversation. I was busy staring at Gema when Jordan patted me on the back. "It's time man, let's go get our stuff in the car."

I stood up, and looked at Gema, hoping she'd know to follow. I had already put my bags in the car before breakfast as I knew I'd want extra time with Gem. I rushed down the stairs and out the back door to the pack house. As soon as I saw Gem step out, I pulled her against the wall and kissed her hard. She wrapped her arms around my neck and melted right into me. Our tongues tangled together and my dick was already hard against my jeans. I slipped my hand under Gem's dress, angrabbed her ass, and pushed her against me so that she could feel exactly what she did to me.

"Mother f'er! Again!" I heard Jordan yell and quickly pulled away from kissing Gema, but I kept her close to help hide my boner. "The fuck, man! At least you're wearing a shirt this time. Neo's threatening to take over and give you an Alpha command just so he doesn't have to see you with your hands all over Gem's ass and your tongue down her throat again. It's like watching you make out with my sister.

Gema giggled, and I looked over at the sound. She always looked so beautiful when she laughed. She looked up at me with her deep brown eyes, and for a moment I got lost in them.

"I'm still here!" Jordan reminded us as she shook his head frustrated. "The family and pack are waiting out front to see us off." Jordan pointed at Noah, "Remember, I know nothing about you two. Cristian is gonna flip when he smells you two all over each other, and I want nothing to do with Ax's wrath." With that Jordan walked back inside.

Ax was Cristian's wolf, and he had a bit of an angry streak. I'd have to talk with Cristian about me and Gem soon, I was serious about being with her, and even an angry brother wouldn't stop me.

"He's right, we won't have time to go upstairs and change. I guess I didn't think things through. Are you okay with them replaceing out about us, or should we come up with an explanation of why we smell like each other? I could give you my shirt, say your dress ripped, and I was helping you cover up?" I suggested.

She reached up and kissed me softly. "While I wouldn't mind you losing the shirt, I like smelling like you, and I'm sure our families already know something is up. Our mothers practically planned our whole lives together at breakfast."

"Yeah, they did." I chuckled and pulled her closer to me. "I'm gonna miss you Gem." I leaned my forehead on hers and breathed her in. "How are you feeling…are you okay from last night?" I asked sheepishly.

"I'm still a little sore, but I kind of like it. I like knowing it's because of you." She spoke in a soft voice and kissed me. I could smell her arousal, and it made my dick stir in my pants. "Damn, Gem, I really wish I could take you up to my room and fuck you right now." I started kissing again and made my way down her neck.

"I wish you could, too." She gasped as I sucked on her neck. "Mmm, Noah…we should stop now, before I hike up my dress and let you take me right here."

"Fuck, Gem, I love the sound of that, but with our luck, Jordan would walk in on us right in the middle of it." We both laughed, and with that, the moment was broken between us.

"I guess it's time for you to go now."

She grabbed my hand and started to walk away, but I pulled her in for one last kiss before I left. I wanted to have her taste on my lips for as long as possible.

I pulled away reluctantly but kept her in my arms. "I'll call you as often as possible."

"Okay," She said, still breathless from our last kiss. I'll miss you." We hugged tightly one last time before heading back inside and out the front.

Jordan and Cristian were already waiting by the car getting hugs from their parents. Gema went over with her parents as my family came over to me.

"Noah." My dad shook my hand and hugged me, then stepped aside to make room for my mom. "Call me every day." She said as she hugged me tightly, her eyes already starting to water.

"It's only six weeks, Ma."

"I know, but you're all grown up now." She wiped at her eyes.

My dad put his arm around her shoulder for comfort. "I'm proud of you, son. You'll be ready to take over in no time. I'm sure you'll be the best Gamma this pack's ever seen."

"Thanks, Dad."

"We love you, Mijo." My mother fussed over me again. "And don't come back with a mate, yours is right here in this pack. You just have to wait for her birthday next month."

"Come on, Ma." I rolled my eyes embarrassed.

"Ya, dejalo. (Leave him alone, already). My dad told her as they walked me over to the car.

Gema

My parents had just finished saying their goodbyes to my brother when I got to them. He turned towards me and gave me a big hug, picking me up and swinging me around before setting me back down. He'd done that since we were little, and it wouldn't be a hug from him without it.

"I'll miss you, baby sis." He stepped back and narrowed his eyes at me before glancing at Noah.

"I'll miss you, too. Learn lots of stuff, and have fun at training okay?" I stepped away from him as Jordan and Noah walked up.

"Wait, let me get a picture before you go!" Luna rushed up with her phone and had the guys stand together with Jordan in the middle. They got in the vehicle, with Jordan in the back and my brother driving, and we all waved as they headed out.

Jasmine walked up beside me and bumped my shoulder. "Giiirl, tell me that is not a hickey on your neck." She whispered so only I would hear.

"What?" I reached up to cover my neck."

"Oh my Goddess, it is!" She whisper yelled. "Is it from Noah? It's from Noah, right? You have his scent all over you! Tell me everything."

"Come on girls, let's head back inside," Luna called out to us.

"I'll tell you everything later."

Jasmine squealed, and I widened my eyes at her to keep quiet. I walked back upstairs with everyone hoping my hair would cover my neck. I knew my brother had suspected something by the way he looked at me and Noah. Noah told me he'd be fine, but I just hoped Cristian and Ax would be fine with everything, too.