Enlightening Bloom (14 page)

Chapter 31 – Pike

              The funeral had a countless amount of guests, but that was to be expected when dealing with the deaths of two beloved pack members. Yes, two. Rose who succumbed to her wounds from fighting Kyran. Then Grady who’s heart gave out at the loss of his mate. The graveside service finished an hour ago with people having long since left to go to the wake. Tucker left about half an hour ago himself, dragging Killian and Bonnie with him. I think he sensed Bloom needed this time alone at their mother’s grave.              

              I’m standing back giving her the space she needs right now, even though I want nothing more than to hold her and make everything right. But I can’t do that. This isn’t something I can kiss away. This is something she’ll have to work through without me. So I stand there quietly, giving her this time.

After what could be minutes or even hours she bends and lays the bouquet of red roses on top of the headstone that holds Rose’s and Grady’s names. She stands smoothing out the skirt of her black dress and turns to me. I instantly circle her in my arms and kiss the top of her head. She begins sobbing, and around the tears I hear her whisper. “She died for me and I never told her I loved her.”

Running one hand up her back and into her hair I try to soothe her. “She didn’t have to hear those words, Darlin’. She was your mom, she loved you, and doing what she did was the best way she could find to show you that. It’s not the way any of us wanted her life to end, but we can’t change that. All we can do now is make sure she is remembered.”

Gripping the cross around her neck she whispers her promise. “She will be.”

****************************

Ten Years Later

Pike

              Standing on the back deck, catching the sun rising over the tree line, I watch her move out of the woods. Her blonde coat’s dusty from her run but it takes nothing from the beauty that is Bloom in her wolf form. It’s been ten years since she shifted for the first time and ever since, this has become our morning ritual. She gets up before me and runs, greeting the sun in her wolf form on our pack’s land. Some mornings I join her, but most I give her this time to herself. Because, more often than not, she uses this time to visit her mother’s grave. She comes across the yard, up onto the porch, and right to me. She rubs against my pajama clad legs once, and then steps back. I hold her robe open as she shifts. As soon as the white cotton is tied securely at her waist she throws her arms around my neck and kisses me.

              “Morning, Tennessee.” She whispers against my lips as she pulls back.

              “Mornin’, Darlin’. Did you have a good run?”

              “Perfect. It’s so peaceful out there.”

              Right on cue the back door slides open and two arms encircle our waists. I look down at the honey colored hair of my baby girl just as she looks up at me with eyes that match my own and smiles. “Mommy’s back! Now can we have breakfast?”

              “French toast?” I ask, running my hand over the top of her head. She nods, vigorously, and takes off back inside, running so fast on her boot covered feet that her braided hair flies out behind her. The silly girl is probably already up in our suite pulling out all the ingredients.

              I sneak one more kiss from Bloom, and then pulling away I tell her. “Get dressed so you can meet us in the kitchen.”

****************************

Bonnie

"Bonnie-bean, I mean it! Tell me what's in that duffle bag!" Tucker growls, his frustration with my secret clear. Not that I really mind. He doesn't scare me one tiny bit. The man may look like a giant, but I know he's nothing but a cuddly little wolf.

"Stop calling me cuddly and little!"

"Stop reading my thoughts!"

"I'm your mate. I don't have to!"

The door to the suite opens. I ignore whoever it is as I go into a stare down with my stubborn mate. "What's wrong?" I hear Bloom's little girl ask in her sing-song voice.

My boys push past us to get into the room as one of them responds. "Nothing new."

The other pipes up. "They're just doing that weird arguing thing."

I look away from my staring competition to protest. "We're not arguing."

The twins look at each other, and then back at me before they say in unison. "Yes, you are."

"We're talking. Like adults." I try to explain, as I pull the duffle bag a little further up my arm.

"You're arguing." Grayson responds, instantly. He's my little know-it-all. He knows why the grass is green (Because it contains a pigment known as chlorophyll. At least, that's what he told me.), and all kinds of other little facts that a normal six year old wouldn't know. It's just one of the things that makes my boy special. But right now with his know-it-all eyes staring me down, like his daddy, I'm not really appreciating that gift. I have to remind myself that I'm the adult here so I won't stick my tongue out at him.

"They're sooo arguing." Grady pipes in. He is Grayson's twin, and older by five minutes. Something he never lets his brother forget. My boys are identical in their looks with their daddy's hair and eyes, and my smile. But they couldn't be more different. Grayson's all about what he can learn from the world around him. Grady's all about what he can do with the world around him. He's always running, climbing, digging. Just yesterday, I caught him out back with a spoon trying to tunnel to China. He wasn't happy when his brother informed him it was impossible. I can't be certain, but my guess is he hasn't given up on the idea. Okay, so he may have inherited some stubbornness from me as well.

"Don't argue with your, Mom." Tucker warns them. They roll their eyes as they turn to Rose. In a hushed voice, that he knows we can still hear, Grayson tells her. "They were arguing."

Grady adds, in his own not so hushed voice. "But it's not the bad kind of arguing."

Grayson takes over again, this time with his nose scrunched in disgust. "Yeah, it's not bad. Just nasty." He leans closer to her, apparently wanting to keep what comes next a secret. "It always ends in them kissing."

"Eww!" Rose squeals. She looks over at Tucker and myself as she shakes her head. Her own face scrunched in disgust like my boys. The look only lasts for a second though, because she catches sight of the duffle. She points at the bag and asks. "What's in the bag, Aunt Bonnie?"

"Guns!"

"Bonnie!" Tucker rumbles.

"Do I get to shoot?" She asks, ignoring her mean Uncle Tucker's outburst.

"No." Pike answers, coming up behind his daughter.

I ignore his answer as I smile down at my niece and tell her. "Of course." Then I continue to ignore him as he throws up his hands, grumbling about nobody listening to the Alpha, because I'm too busy taking in the glorious smile plastered on his little girl's face. She is so her mother's daughter.

****************************

Bloom

             
I walk into the kitchen, fresh from the shower, my hair braided down my back like normal, and my boots on my feet. Pike already has breakfast done and our table is filled with the people I love. I take the seat between Pike and our little girl. I lean over to kiss him, and then turn to kiss the top of our little girl’s head as I ask. “What are your plans today, my little Rose?”

              She looks up from her breakfast, and with syrup covered lips smiles. “Aunt Bonnie’s teaching us how to shoot her guns!”

              My eyes fly to my best friend, who laughs at the worried look I give her as she goes about pouring more juice for her twin boys. “I don’t know why you’re giving me that look. It’s not my fault Rose is a tomboy like her mother. I know I sure as heck tried my best to get her in dresses and bows from the time you popped her out, but having your DNA she was destined for jeans and boots.”

              I watch Rose’s nose wrinkle up at the mention of dresses and it causes me to laugh. She is mine through and through. I twerk her braid to get her attention. “How about after the guns I take you fishing?”

              Her face lights up as she nods her head. “Can Daddy go too?”

              I return her smile. “Only as long as he baits his own hook this time.”

              She laughs at the memory and looks at Pike. “Will you?”

              He scrunches up his face in mock disgust, causing her to giggle. “Fine, Daddy. I’ll bait your line for you.”

              “Thanks, baby girl.”

              It’s not long before the plates are empty and the kids are ready to go outside and play. I watch the three cousins as they slip back into their shoes. They’re on the verge of pushing Bonnie and Tucker out the front door when Killian walks in. He rubs the twins’ chocolate covered hair affectionately, and then like he always does with his niece he picks her up and hugs her. She squeals as she throws her arms around her uncle, peppering kisses on his jaw. My little girl loves her family, every one of them, but from the time she was a baby she’s connected with her Uncle Killian the most.

              “How’s my flower today?” He asks not putting her down.

              She starts rattling off her plans for the day and he smiles, taking every word in. He never interrupts her, he just lets her be her talkative five year old self. But this time she stops midsentence and looks at him with her eyes full of happiness. Placing her little hand to his cheek she smiles brightly as she tells him. “Uncle Killian, you don’t have to be sad no more.”

              Killian’s chuckles uncomfortably as he replies. “I’m not sad, my flower.”

              Rose’s face scrunches up as she puckers her lips. “Yes, you are. I can feel it in here.” She points to her belly. The adults in the room gasp in shock, myself included. It’s too early for her gifts to kick in. But my little girl ignores us all because in this moment she has eyes only for her Uncle. She leans in close so their faces are almost touching and tells him. “You’re going to find her.”

              “Find who?” Killian asks.

              She lays her hand over his chest and whispers. “The one who can fix your heart.”

              Killian turns shocked eyes to me and asks. “Is she saying what I think she is?”

              I smile at Rose, who is still beaming at her favorite Uncle’s scared face, and reply. “Well, she is mine.”

              He puts her down and asks all flustered. “And what’s
that
supposed to mean?”

              Tucker clasps him on the shoulder and with a laugh says. “I think it means you better get prepared. You’re getting a mate, little brother.”

The End

It took me way too long to get this book into my reader’s hands, and for that I am sorry. This will be the last “Bloom Daniels” book, but it won’t be the last time you see these characters. As you probably guessed from the ending Killian will be getting his story told in a spin-off series, as will some of the other Masterson Pack wolves. But I will not promise you when this will happen. I did that last time, it didn’t work out, and I hated putting you off. So no release dates will be given out until I know the exact date the story will be in your hands.

Thank you for your continued support of my books. I truly appreciate each and every one of my readers.

Happy Reading!

Michelle Turner

About the author:

Michelle is a native Ohioan who now finds herself in the mountain state of West Virginia. She lives with her husband, son, and three spoiled rotten dogs. When she isn't spending time with her family you can find her with her nose stuck in a book or her head in the clouds as she dreams up new adventures for her characters.

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Also by Michelle Turner:

Reviving Bloom – Available Now

Promised – Available Now

Strip Me Free – Available Now