Pure Moonlight (closed)

[KieranSoares]

"You've made sacrifices your entire life to keep Ruben safe and happy, and to hide his wolf blood for my sake..." Kreston murmured, taking her hand and kissing it. But he would leave the decision to her and not push her either way. He'd always been so, never taking control like most human men would of their own families. He drew her in close and laid his head against her own. "I love you..."

 

[heartofcourage]

"And I love you, Kres." Selena murmured, pressing her forehead tightly against his own. "No matter how frustrated and angry you might make me sometimes, I'll always love you."

She kissed him then, sighing at the contact. She would have never guessed that she would have found a man like Kreston to fill that aching void in her life. When she had run from home, it was to escape her father's long reach and find peace that she'd been without since she was a child. Kreston was nothing like her father and perhaps that's why they got along so well.

 

[KieranSoares]

Kreston smiled softly, and then he glanced down at Ruben in his arms. "And... if you'd like... we can see about maybe having a bigger family. Seeing as it'll be so much safer..." He met her eyes. He'd always known she wanted more children, and he had too. Perhaps they finally would with such a huge weight off their shoulders.

 

[heartofcourage]

Selena was quiet for a long moment as Kreston put to words what she wanted so badly. After watching her brothers and their families expanding, she felt a little bit of jealousy and hurt that her own would never do that. Ruben was a happy child, but he was growing too fast for her liking.

"Are you sure that's something you want?" Selena said softly, not wanting to get her hopes up. "I mean, that's a big step and you weren't there a whole lot of Ruben."

 

[KieranSoares]

"I know I wasn't... and that's something I can never make up for or go back and fix... but I think that now it's a possibility, and something I know we both want... I'd be more than willing if you are. And as for all I never learned to do... I hoped you could teach me with another little one."

 

[heartofcourage]

"You really, really want that?" Selena asked, needing to be certain that he wanted what he was talking about.

 

[KieranSoares]

"I do," he nodded. Despite his softness, he was resolute. He'd always known what he wanted. The issue had been dealing with the danger in his way and whether or not to risk doing what he wanted anyway, despite all that threatened him. Usually, he erred on the side of caution for the sake of Selena's heart.

 

[heartofcourage]

Selena couldn't help the smile that came to her lips as he affirmed what he wanted. She leaned in and kissed her mate, knowing that all of her dreams were so close to coming true.

 

[KieranSoares]

Kreston felt a sense of joy overcome him at the sight of her smile and her sweet kiss. He took her hands and muttered, "Let's go... let Ruben sleep." Walking at her side, they made their way to Selena's childhood bedroom across the hall. It'd long since been made into a guest room with a larger bed, but Selena's desk and her books and bookshelf and a few other things were still there that she hadn't taken away with her when she'd fled.

 

[heartofcourage]

Selena had never been completely forward with Kreston about her childhood. He knew it had been unhappy and she never referred to her father. It was a part of her that she didn't like to bring up. Brogan had rid the keep of all images of her father and his brutality. She had taken a lot of time to get rid of the memory of his vicious personality.

"It makes me smile to think that my Ma kept my things as they were in this little room." She said softly.

 

[KieranSoares]

Kreston had some idea of the cruelty of Old Tamblin, and he knew that the only trace left of him in the keep was his claymore which Brogan had won in the duel that resulted in Tamblin's death. The blade hung above the great hall hearth, a symbol of Brogan's claim to the throne, and a symbol of the Ghis family as it had a history longer than the black reign of Tamblin and his father. These days, Brogan stated that it was a symbol of his resolution and his family's pledge to never again allow tyranny to fall upon Inverness Clan's land and estates.

Kreston entered slowly, glancing across all her old belongings. He noticed on her bookshelf many volumes he recognized, most about the nature and traditions of the non-human peoples of the world. "I didn't know you were ever interested in such things."

 

[heartofcourage]

"Of course I was." Selena said softly as she started to undress, pulling out a fresh nightgown. "One of my Ma's dearest friends from childhood was a were. When I was born, she would send Ma books and toys for me. When she would visit, she would take me into the forest and teach me about the different plants and trees that surrounded out property."

"Her name was Selma." Selena said as she pulled the gown over her head, finally turning to face Kreston. "She died of a sickness when I was eight."

 

[KieranSoares]

"... Not Selma Daxa?" Kreston asked in surprise. Indeed that had been her name. Kreston chuckled, "I remember her. She was from the Gi'ai tribe on the coast outside Aberdeen. She used to visit the Golin when I was a boy. She taught me and several others all we know about healing herbs. She was known across Scotland and England to the tribes as a master healer. We'd all send for her to train our healers and teach the warriors basic herbs and medicine."

 

[heartofcourage]

"Selma was a dear." Selena said softly, sitting on the edge of the bed with a long, tired sigh. "She was the bright spot in my Ma's life for a long time. When she died, I think a little piece of Ma went with her. Well, until she met Vincenzo, of course."

 

[KieranSoares]

"She was a lovely lady..." Kreston nodded as he laid aside his tunic and vest he'd worn that day. He looked over to Selena and gave her a gentle smile, coming to lay her on her stomach across the bed. He crawled up over her and his sure hands began to rub and caress her back and shoulders soothingly. He'd once done the same for her every day while she was pregnant with Ruben and sitting in his lap as they simply spent time doing nothing.

 

[heartofcourage]

Selena let out a pleased coo as Kreston lay her across the bed and started to rub her shoulders and back. She forgot how loving Kreston could be, especially when it came to her. He was the man that introduced her to romance and showed her just how beautiful the world could be. She would be eternally grateful to him for that.

 

[KieranSoares]

Kreston was all too glad to treat her to the relaxing massage, as it always did his heart wonders to see her relaxing. His expert hands worked out deep knots that were years old, until he smoothed his hands down her back and was satisfied that she was relaxed. Then, he laid down at her side with one arm still resting across her lower back. "How's that, love?" He asked quietly.

 

[heartofcourage]

"Perfect." Selena murmured sleepily, her eyes closed and her head turned towards Kreston as he rested on the bed beside her. "Absolutely perfect."

 

[KieranSoares]

"Good," he whispered with a glad smile, and from there he was silent to let her sleep. He had never felt so hopeful for his future with her, nor so sure that Ruben would make it through his transformation just fine.

That next morning, Selena would wake without Preston's arm around her, but that was because he'd turned onto his stomach so that his son could cuddle up to him. Ruben lay dozing on top of Kreston now, and Kreston was awake, stroking his fingers through the boy's hair. It had been getting long, but Kreston had insisted it not be cut because his fur would reflect the cut when he changed. He hadn't expected it to be a whole month longer of a wait.

 

[heartofcourage]

"He always snuck into my bed before the morning came when he was little. I think he thought I never noticed, but I was always awake when I heard his door opening." Selena whispered softly, smiling at Kreston as he shared that moment with their son.

 

[KieranSoares]

"Quiet as he tried to be, I heard him too this morning," Kreston whispered so not to wake Ruben. He brushed the boy's hair back and kissed his forehead before falling motionless with a smile on his face and his arm laying across Ruben's back. "Soon he'll be too big for this. Once he changes, he'll be growing so fast..."

 

[heartofcourage]

"Sadly children have to grow, even if I don't want him to get any bigger." Selena said softly as Kreston was talking about how much he was going to grow. "But with our next child I expect you to be there every step of the way."

 

[KieranSoares]

"I wouldn't miss it for the world, Selena." Kreston turned his head towards her, scooting over slowly to kiss her without waking Ruben. "Besides... you're too beautiful to stay away from."

At that, Ruben couldn't help giggling and letting on that he was awake, and Kreston sat up, locking Ruben in his arms. "Little sneak," he chuckled as Ruben squirmed.

 

[heartofcourage]

Selena grinned as she heard Ruben suddenly start laughing. It was little family moments like this that she had wished they had more of. Sadly, they were quickly coming to an end with Ruben. He would grow, have his own family, and hopefully share those traditions with his family.

 

[KieranSoares]

Soon Ruben scampered off to go see his aunts and uncles, leaving Kreston to sit at the edge of the bed with a smile, watching him go. The pride in his eyes was unmistakable. His son was going to be a fine man, and everything seemed to have finally fallen into place after a hard road a decade long.