Chapter 53
Chapter Fifty-Three
Siobhan
The omega gardening club all said they were busy this morning, so I let myself sleep in, although I didn’t sleep as well on my own as what I have been whenever Aury or one of my alphas spends the night.
I woke up to Bunny making biscuits on my feet, then meowing and rubbing her cheek against my face when she saw I was awake.
Cute little stinker. I take my time drying my hair and then peruse my closet for a comfy but cute outfit for the day.
I decide on a billowy rust colored skirt, a lace-up corduroy halter top in a gorgeous emerald green color, and an oversized cream sweater with flowers embroidered along the sleeves. My favorite thing about this outfit? No bra needed.
I grin and slip it on right before a knock sounds on the door. I check my doorbell camera to see Aury, but he doesn’t come in like I’ve told them all to. I frown and walk out to the entryway, swinging the door open to let him in.
“Good morning, Moonbeam,” Aury says, bowing to me and then holding out one hand. He gives me a quick perusal, so fast I almost miss it. “May I have the pleasure of taking you on a morning stroll?”
Uhm. What?
I stare at him, and he grins. I narrow my eyes, boring my gaze into his. Is that a mischievous grin? What is he hiding? I lean to the side to peer around him, but no one else is here and there’s nothing else amiss.
Bunny meows behind me, and I tug Aury inside so I can close the door.
“What’s going on?” I say, crossing my arms.
Aury huffs and slumps against the door. “I wanted to take you out on a morning walk. This might be the last nice weather we get for the year. Do you not want to? We can stay here, or—”
“No,” I say, “no. I’d love to take a walk.”
I snag a pair of ankle boots from the hallway closet and sit on the entryway bench to lace them up. Aury bends down to scoop up Bunny, showering her in kisses and pets, then he lets her leap back down to the floor when I’m ready to go.
He takes my hand in his and swings them between us as we walk.
I’m still a little baffled by his buoyant mood, but it’s lifting my spirits too, so I don’t say anything and decide to enjoy it.
We’re barely out of sight of my house when I see someone standing next to the sidewalk, not moving.
Unease threads through me, but when we get closer, I recognize the straight posture, petite but curvy form, and dark brown hair of my friend.
“Wren? What are you doing? Are you okay?”
She doesn’t answer, simply holds out a small bundle of flowers to me. Only when I take them does she smile, and it’s possibly the biggest one I’ve ever seen from her. I blink in surprise. “What’s going on?”
Wren just grins and gives me a nod to look down at the flowers. Then she takes a step back so we can continue walking.
I look down to see a notecard tied to the bundle of stems.
These native wildflowers are a symbol of freedom.
Aster for devotion. Liatris for joy. Western Sunflower for hope. Verbena for enchantment.
I take in the cluster of yellow, purple, and blue wildflowers in my hand, then look over at Aury in question. He pinches his lips shut, but squeezes my other hand and tugs me forward.
“Okayyyyyy,” I mutter, allowing him to pull me back into a walk. We turn the corner, and there’s another figure standing in the same position Wren was. I dart a look at Aury from the corner of my eye, but he gives nothing away, strolling along as casual as can be.
When we get closer, I can see it’s Claire. She has a soft smile on her face and is also holding a small bundle of flowers. She passes them to me as soon as I’m close enough, then steps back, not saying a word.
I stop walking and stare at her, then look at Aury.
Neither of them speak, so I don’t either.
I roll my lips between my teeth to stop myself from launching at one of them and demanding answers.
Claire flicks her gaze down to the flowers, then looks back up at me, and I remember the tag on the last one.
When I spin them around, this one has a note, too.
These flowers are a symbol of the gift you are to the world.
Large Dandelion for granted wishes. Nasturtium for a small but fierce warrior. Ranunculus for magical beings.
My throat tightens, and I read the first line again. The gift I am to the world?
Aury squeezes my hand again, and I tighten my hold on him, feeling like my weight in the world is suddenly shifting.
Claire rubs my shoulder, and Aury nudges closer to my other side.
I’m not alone, and I think maybe that’s the scary part now.
I’m so used to doing everything for myself, being on my own, that having this support and being seen in such a way…
Magical beings… is that me? Are they saying I’m the magical being? The granted wish?
The nasturtiums are bright pops of orange, yellow, and red, while the ranunculus are equally vibrate shades of pink, white, and yellow, creating a colorful display around the soft white of the dandelion in the center.
The dandelion is one that has already gone to seed, and the puff of white is as big as my fist. It’s tempting, and I almost want to blow on it, make my biggest wish of all time and hope it comes true. But…
What if it already is?
I shake my head and Aury gives me a gentle pull to keep walking.
I follow him, my steps more uncertain now as my mind whirls.
My eyes are vigilant, darting up and down each driveway, and soon enough another figure comes into view.
This one has bright purple hair, so I can tell from a distance who it is.
Sage holds another bundle of flowers and she’s vibrating in place as she stands on her toes waiting for me.
I can’t help but smile, and I glance to the side to see Brooks in his work truck across the street, his eyes locked on her.
Sage holds out the flowers, this one an even more colorful explosion of blooms than the last.
I take it without question, and she immediately covers her mouth with both hands. I narrow my eyes at her, wondering if I could get answers out of her. If anyone was going to cave, it would be—
She darts away before I can decide, slipping into the front seat of Brooks’ truck and waving to me. I sigh and look down at the note with this bundle. Aury gently takes the other two from me so I can flip it over to read it.
These flowers are a symbol of what we see in you.
Gladiolus for strength. Violet for spiritual and psychic energy. Zinnia for magnificence.
My eyes tear up this time and I hold my breath, willing them away so I can read the note again.
Then again. Aury drops a kiss on my hair, not rushing me, just reminding me he’s there with me.
I lean into his warmth, glad for his easy presence.
He wraps an arm around me and breathes deep, a quiet reminder, so I do the same, following his lead for a few breaths until I feel centered again.
This bouquet is wild, with tall sprays of every color shooting out in different directions.
The colorful zinnias are interspersed with the smaller sprigs of violets to fill in the open space between the stalks of gladiolus.
I suck in one more deep breath, then straighten my spine and snag Aury’s hand in mine.
I’m the one to pull us forward this time, increasing our pace so I can either get home and demand answers, or get to the next step and hope for more clarity in the next note.
As I suspected might be the case, my final best friend, Bea, stands at the last corner on our route around the block. I shake my head at them, and they shrug with a warm smile, then hold the final bouquet out to me. I take it, and they pull me into a quick hug, then step back off the sidewalk.
I pass the previous bouquet off to Aury and quickly flip the note to read this one.
These flowers are a symbol of what we hope to provide for you.
Poppy for rest. Cosmos for stability and security. Rose for true love.
“Goddess,” I breathe, covering my mouth with my free hand. I look up at Aury, tears lining my lashes again. “True love?” I whisper.
Aury nods, then swipes a thumb beneath my eye, catching my tears before they can fall. He leans close, and whispers against my lips. “True love, Moonbeam.”
I swallow hard and borrow his strength for a moment, then sniffle back my tears.
“What am I going to find when we get back home, Aury?” I say, my voice wobbling with emotion.
Aury smiles. It’s such a gentle, knowing, loving fucking smile that my heart cracks right down the middle.
“Aury,” I beg. “I need you to tell me.”
“You’re going to find Hayden, and a vase of water. They’ll have a note for you.”
I shake my head, eyes wide, pleading for more.
“Aury,” I whisper.
“Moonbeam,” he says. “Siobhan, my love. You’ve got this. And we’ve got you.”