The Prophecy Of The Wolves I - The Beginning
~ Chapter Five ~

Liliana and Cayden drove for an hour before getting to the border of Darkmoon’s territory. Two wolves came out of the trees with a shirtless man standing between them. “State your business,” the man said.

Liliana rolled her eyes as she stuck her head out of the window. “It’s just me, Tyler,” she gestured to Cayden in the driver’s seat. “This is my mate. Ryan gave us permission to come over and pick up my things from the pack house,” she explained with a small smile.

Tyler raised an eyebrow. He was one of the older wolves who had known her parents before they passed away. “Little Liliana finally found her beloved mate, huh?” He asked with a smile.

Liliana giggled as she nodded. “Yes. So are you going to let us through?” She asked before sticking her tongue out at him.

Tyler chuckled and shook his head as he glanced at the two wolves. “We’re good guys. Back to patrol.”

Tyler waved them through and let them pass by.

“Who was that?” Cayden asked as he drove up to the pack house.

Liliana smiled as she grabbed her bag. “That was Tyler. He was friends with my parents before they passed away. He checks in on me from time to time,” she shrugged before jumping out of the SUV.

As they walked into the pack house, Cayden wrapped his arm around her shoulders. As they walked inside, Evelyn laughed. “Well, now look at this. You look like a true luna,” Evelyn said as she walked up to Liliana.

Liliana blushed as she looked down. “I don’t know, Evelyn.”

Evelyn shushed her and pulled her into a hug. “You’ll be amazing,” she said as she pulled away slightly.

Liliana gave her a small smile. “Oh, before I forget,” she pulled away and dug into her bag. She grabbed the herb that she had been looking for in the forest. “I found that herb that I was telling you about earlier today,” she said as she held it up. “Just boil it to make tea and drink it about half an hour before you go to bed. It should help you sleep more.”

Evelyn grinned in gratitude. “Oh, thank you so much, Liliana.”

Liliana hugged her. “I hope this helps. I know it’s been difficult for you.”

Evelyn shook her head with a small smile. “Always thinking about others’ well-being.”

Liliana shrugged. “Of course. It’s not just that, though,” Liliana gently took Evelyn’s empty hand in hers. “You’ve been a mother to me since my parents passed away. I don’t know what I would do without you. So I will do everything I can to help and take care of you,” she rubbed her belly gently. “Plus, this little one will need you just as much as I did. So we must ensure he gets all the time with you that he can.”

Evelyn smiled with tears in her eyes. “I know that I didn’t give birth to you, but you will always be a daughter to me. I will always be here for you.”

Liliana smiled as she hugged Evelyn, being careful of her pregnant belly. Once they pulled away, Evelyn cleared her throat. Ryan walked into the room at the same time. He frowned when he saw the tears in his beloved’s eyes. “What happened? What’s going on?” He demanded as he walked up to her and wrapped his arms around her waist.

Evelyn giggled as she leaned into him. “Just emotional talk, my love,” she looked at Liliana. “So, do you want to introduce us to that gentleman with you?”

Liliana’s eyes went wide as she blushed. “Oh, I’m so sorry,” she took a step back and leaned into Cayden as he wrapped his arms around her waist. “This is my beloved mate, Cayden,” she said happily. Then, she pointed at Evelyn and Ryan. “This is Evelyn and Ryan. They’re the alpha and luna of this pack and my adoptive parents.”

Cayden took a step forward and held a hand for them to shake. “It’s a pleasure to meet you guys,” he said as he shook hands with Ryan and Evelyn.

Ryan folded his arms over his chest as he studied Cayden. “How about we take this to the sitting room?” He asked as he turned to Evelyn. “You need to sit down and rest, my love,” he said softly.

Liliana quickly walked up to Evelyn and wrapped an arm around her waist to help her walk. “I’ve got her, Ryan,” Liliana said as they walked into the sitting room.

Liliana helped Evelyn get comfortable in front of the fireplace that was always on during the wintertime. “Do you still have to keep your feet elevated?” Liliana asked Evelyn as she bit her lip.

Evelyn nodded. “Sharon says it helps with the swelling.”

Liliana let out a small laugh as the boys walked into the room. “It does. Plus, it’s a lot more comfortable for the baby. Takes pressure off of the belly,” she explained.

Evelyn smiled in adoration as she watched Liliana fix a long pillow on the table in front of her. She carefully helped Evelyn lift her feet onto the pile of pillows and set some extra pillows behind her back. “How’s that?” Liliana questioned as she stood in front of her.

Evelyn smiled. “That’s perfect, darling. Thank you.”

Liliana blew her a kiss before going to sit next to Cayden. Before she could fully sit down, he grabbed her and pulled her onto his lap. She giggled as she snuggled into him. “I have to say,” Evelyn said as she leaned into Ryan. “You two are just the cutest together.”

Liliana blushed. “Thank you,” she said softly.

“How long do you need to get your things together?” Cayden asked her softly.

Liliana shrugged as she looked at him. “Not long. I keep everything in boxes and whatnot to stay organized, so I don’t have to pack too many things away.”

Cayden pressed a kiss to her temple. “Do you need any help?” He questioned as he pressed his forehead to hers.

Liliana smiled brightly. “I don’t necessarily need help, but I would love it if you came with me,” she whispered.

Cayden chuckled and stood up with her in his arms. “Let’s go then.”

Liliana giggled. “You can put me down, love.”

Cayden groaned but set her on her feet in front of him. Liliana turned to look at Ryan and Evelyn. “We won’t take long.”

Evelyn laughed. “If you say so, darling.”

Liliana stuck her tongue out before grabbing Cayden’s hand and pulling him upstairs to her room.

“Your room is the attic?” Cayden questioned as they walked into her room.

Liliana shrugged with a smile. “Ryan and Evelyn said I could have any room I wanted in the pack house. I chose the attic because of the space and the fact that I wouldn’t have people above me making a bunch of noise while trying to concentrate on one of my many projects.”

Cayden chuckled as he looked around. “That makes sense. This attic is pretty big.”

Liliana grinned as she quickly pulled an empty suitcase out of her closet. She laid it open on her bed before going to her closet and pulling her clothes out. She neatly folded them as she put them in her suitcase. It didn’t take her long to get all of her clothes and shoes out of the closet. “You don’t have a lot of clothes, do you, little dove?” Cayden asked from where he sat on the bed.

Liliana shrugged. “I don’t like asking Ryan and Evelyn for more than I need to. I have enough clothes. It doesn’t bother me,” she said simply as she pulled open a drawer with her underclothes.

Cayden frowned as he watched Liliana. “Well, that’s going to change,” he said in determination. “I promised you the entire universe, which I will give you. Including an entirely new wardrobe to go along with what you already have.”

Liliana gave him a bright smile. “Thank you, love,” she said as she threw her underclothes into the suitcase.

Liliana made sure all her drawers were empty before she zipped up her suitcase. “Alright,” she muttered. She went to her closet again and started pulling out boxes of her art supplies. That included anything for the many crafts that she liked to make and all of her drawing supplies.

“Wow, dove. What’s in all of those boxes?” Cayden asked curiously.

Liliana giggled. “It’s all of my art supplies. Everything for my crafts and all of my drawing supplies. I’ve been collecting these for years.”

Cayden chuckled as he looked at the stack of boxes she had piled by the door. “I can see that.”

Liliana grinned as she grabbed the bracelet she had made with her parents’ ashes once she was old enough. “What’s that?” Cayden asked as he walked up behind her and wrapped his arms around her waist.

Liliana sighed as she leaned into him. “It’s a bracelet that I made for my parents once I was old enough,” she held it up so he could see the ash-infused gems, along with other normal gems. “I made the gems myself. I even took some of their ashes and made these two gems,” she pointed to the two gemstones that were in the shape of her parents’ wolves. “These represent my parents in wolf form. The other gems are representations of what they liked to do and what not,” she exhaled as she put it on her wrist. “My mom also gave me her necklace before everything happened,” she gently caressed the necklace around her neck. It was a beautiful work of art. It was an infinity symbol with angel wings spread wide and a glittering heart between the spread wings. “My father gave it to my mom for their first anniversary all those years ago. As far back as I could remember, she always had it on,” she sniffled as she laid her head against his chest with her eyes closed.

Cayden held her tightly. “I’m sorry that you had to lose them at such a young age, little dove,” he said softly.

Liliana sighed as she opened her eyes. “It’s okay. It sucked when it happened, but I’ll always have Evelyn and Ryan. They’re like another set of parents to me. I don’t know what I would have done without them,” she scoffed. “I still don’t know what I would do without them.”

Cayden smiled. “I’m glad that you had them in your life.”

“Me too,” Liliana said softly.

Liliana pulled away after a couple of minutes. “Alright. Let’s get all of these boxes down to the SUV. It’s already late, and I’m getting hungry.”

Cayden chuckled. “My little dove has spoken then. Let’s get her some food,” he said teasingly.

Liliana grinned as she grabbed her suitcase. She started pulling it outside when he stopped her. “Um. What are you doing, little dove?” Cayden asked in confusion as he watched her roll her suitcase to the doorway.

Liliana frowned as she looked at her suitcase. “Um. Helping you take everything down to the SUV.”

Cayden scoffed as he walked over to her and took the suitcase out of her hands. “Oh no, little dove. You will sit with Evelyn downstairs while Ryan and I get your things loaded into the SUV.”

Liliana raised an eyebrow. “I think I’m capable of carrying some boxes downstairs and to the SUV,” she said with her hands on her hips.

Cayden chuckled as he pulled her into his arms. “Now, I never said that you weren’t capable, my dove,” he said as he leaned forward to whisper in her ear. “However, this is one of the many things that I can do to take care of you,” he pulled back a bit to place his forehead against hers. “So get that cute little behind of yours downstairs and send Ryan up here to help me. Then we can grab some food on the way home.”

Liliana blushed as a bright grin stretched across her face. “Okay, love.”

Cayden chuckled as Liliana kissed his cheek before rushing downstairs. A couple of minutes later, Ryan walked into the room. “I take it you’re why Liliana’s blushing downstairs while Evelyn tries to interrogate her.”

Cayden shrugged. “It’s so easy to tease her,” he chuckled. “Anyway. I figured we could get this done quicker if the two of us were doing it. My little dove is hungry, so the quicker it’s done, the quicker I can get her some food.”

Ryan let out a loud laugh. “Little Liliana is always hungry,” he said as he shook his head. Ryan grabbed a couple of boxes before looking at Cayden over the boxes. “A little tip for you, Cayden,” he said as he stepped toward the hallway. “Give her plenty of sweets and make sure that she always has food, and she’ll be the happiest woman alive.”

Cayden laughed. “Thanks for the tip, Ryan.”

After that, they quickly got all of Liliana’s things loaded into the SUV. “Alright, dove. Time to go,” Cayden said as he pressed a kiss to her temple.

Liliana smiled. “Let me just say goodbye to Evelyn, and we’re good to go. She was too comfortable to get off the couch.”

Ryan laughed. “She’ll be there until I carry her home,” he said playfully and loud enough for Evelyn to hear him.

“I heard that,” Evelyn shouted from her seat on the couch.

Liliana giggled as she walked inside. “Okay, Evelyn. We’re leaving now. I promise to stay in touch and to come to visit.”

Evelyn smiled. “I know you will, honey. I’m happy for you.”

Liliana pressed a kiss to Evelyn’s forehead. “I’ll call you tomorrow, Evelyn. Make sure you try to make that herb tea before you go to bed tonight,” she said softly.

Evelyn had that same smile on her face. “Thanks again for that, Liliana. I hope that it works.”

“Me too, Evelyn,” Liliana gave her a gentle hug before rushing outside to her beloved and Ryan. “Okay, Ryan. She’s all yours,” Liliana said with a smile.

Ryan pulled her into a hug. “You make sure to stay safe, little one. Stay in touch.”

“Of course, Ryan,” she said as she hugged him tightly.

Ryan kissed her forehead before gently nudging her towards Cayden. “Go on now, little one.”

Liliana blew him another kiss as Cayden held the door to the SUV open for her. Liliana climbed inside and smiled as she watched Cayden enter the driver’s side.

Cayden started the SUV and started driving them home.