Interstellar
15

The room went quiet after Nova’s comment. She hadn’t specifically said she was ready, but Leon read it the nuance clearly. He quickly brought her in for a ravenous kiss, exploring her mouth when she gasped at his touch. He released her and took in her breathless, hazy expression before rolling out of bed. “Take your things upstairs. This isn’t your room anymore. I will replace Stella.” He left as quickly as he’d jumped up, leaving Nova blinking in confusion.

She slowly got up, still processing the last few minutes. A small pit of fear grew within her chest, tugging her heart in multiple directions. Leon had thought she was ready to be claimed, but she still hadn’t verbalized anything. She felt a step closer to making it, but the quiet, relentless nagging in her back of her mind continued to tell her “right pack, wrong mate”. Nova had been happier in this little wolf village than she’d ever been before and she hoped remaining her was the right choice. It had to be the right choice.

Leon found Stella next door with her mother and their younger pups. The women were sitting on the front porch, sipping glasses of berry wine as the pups played out some fantasy battle. Salem had a toddler on his back, running circles around the others, hollering about being a dragon and burning the castle to the ground. Leon scooped the young pup of Salem’s back, kissed the boy on his forehead, and set him inside “the castle”. Leon then turned back to his son, “You can’t burn anything if a bigger dragon comes to get you first,” before chasing after Salem.

“What’s gotten into that man today?” Mina watched Leon lazily chase his son toward the tree line before grabbing the boy and tossing Salem onto his back.

“Who knows,” Stella said coyly, taking a long sip of wine to disguise a grin. She could only assume Leon had gotten good news, and wht other news would there be besides Nova’s acceptance? Stella knew her mother was aware of the “affair”, but Mina was not aware of Stella’s involvement. Orat least had never mentioned it when gossiping with the other crones.

“I think it’s that bear he’s been seeing. I noticed when he marked her.” (”Of course you did, mother.”) “And he’s been slacking a bit. You’ve noticed, I’m sure.” (”Yes.”) “So what does this mean for you? I’m not about to uproot my life, and yours, and your pups, because he can’t keep his dick to himself. Is he planning the ritual?”

Stella signed and finished her glass o wine. “Yes, we are.”

Mina’s eyes widened slightly, wrinkling her forehead in surprise. “I see.”

Leon returned to the house and knelt, allowing Salem to jump to the ground and run back to his siblings. “Good evening, ladies.” He approached Stella and leaned forward to kiss her, Nova’s earthy scent heavy on his skin. He turned to Mina, “Will you watch the pups until dinner? I need to talk to Stella.”

“Certainly,” Mina gave him an incredulous look. “I’ll send them home in an hour.”

Leon nodded and grabbed Stella’s hand, leading her back to their home. Once inside he grabbed her by the waist, pulling her small body against his. “She’s ready.” He lifted his mate into the air, her legs wrapping around his hips. He leaned forward to rest his forehead against hers, their lips mere inches apart. “Are you?”

A small pang of sadness settled in Stella’s abdomen, but she smiled in spite of it. She was happy Nova had accepted, and she was ready to bring the young woman into their family. Stella had grown close with Nova, emotionally and physically, but there were too many questions for Stella to match Leon’s joy. She did not doubt Leon’s love for her. he had always made time for her, had always been involved with their pups, always provided more than she could ask for. But this was new territory, something they had no experience with. Would her claim with him be weakened once he claimed Nova? Would it be removed entirely? Best case scenario, would nothing change? Goddess only knows.

“I’m ready, love. You should gather the rites while mom still has the pups. When will it happen?”

“Tonight. I’ll prepare a spot by the river and return for you both tonight.”

“Both? I assumed you two would-”

Leon cut her off with a kiss, “No. If we do this, we do it together. She asked for you, anyway, she said she wants both her mates to claim her.” Leon heavily embellished his earlier conversation with Nova, but he knew Stella needed the boost. Earlier he saw sadness flicker in her eyes, casting a shadow across her face. He knew she feared their connection would weaken, but Leon was confident claiming Nova would only amplify his love for both. Once he was complete, he knew he would be a better man, a better mate, a better Alpha. Her expression relaxed and he closed the gap between them, capturing her mouth in a slow, sensual kiss.