Interstellar
11

Nova did not sleep that night. She laid awake, deep in thought trying to make a life altering decision. Selfishly, she wanted to stay, spending her days being passed between the Alphas and fulfilling her every fantasy. But then she would consider the consequences, mostly self-imposed, and it would bring her to tears. No one had ever shown her such passion, such quick and blind acceptance, such immediate adoration. No one had ever wanted all of her in this way, wanting even the parts of her she wished never existed. It was an impossible concept to try and comprehend, made worse by her confusion regarding her feelings for them. She understood Leon, she accepted his actions, but could she handle his possessiveness? Or would every rough touch or hard tone throw her back into the thralls of her past?

Nova watched the sun rise through her windows. She had hoped for clarify, but none had come, leaving her deeper in indecision. She heard the pups stirring across the house, playful giggles mixed with the scampering of tiny feet. Soon Laken leapt onto Nova’s bed, her small body hardly dipping the mattress.

“Can we take the pups outside? Mom and dad are still sleeping, so can you come out with us?”

Nova forced a smile and sat up, nodding her head. “Let me get dressed first. Do you guys want breakfast?”

“Salem’s grabbing snacks for the little pups. Let’s go, let’s go!”

Nova watched the young girl lead back to the floor and dash out of the room, certainly of to round up the younger kids. She threw on a pair of denim shorts and one of Leon’s henley shirts. It was snug but comfortable, and his scent lingering on the fabric had a surprisingly calming effect on her rattled mind. It reminded her of their run, the first time he had reignited that fire within her. Nova then entered the kitchen to replace Salem tossing flasks of water into a small basket already spilling over with snacks. He struggled to lift it from the counter and Nova reached out a helping hand. Salem gladly accepted before running outside. Nova followed him and sat on the front porch, watching the older kids rile the pups into gentle wrestling matches.

She divided her attention between the pups and the group of wolves conditioning in the clearing, led by Cohen in Leon’s absence. She wondered how they ever got any sleep or found time to eat between the early morning calisthenics, mid-day patrols, and sparring late into the evening.

The day grew brighter has Nova tended to the pups. She couldn’t pinpoint exactly when it happened, but spending the morning passing out snacks, kissing scraped knees, and rocking two toddlers to sleep on the front porch had solidified her desire to stay. This was that she wanted, even if the pups weren’t her by blood, even if she never got a cub of her own. Her feelings for the Alphas were still unclear, but she had absolute love for these kids. She could figure out the rest in time, but for the first time in years Nova’s heart felt full. She could not bear to feel that emptiness again.