Chapter 3 - Warming up

Lunaya.

Once the door slammed close behind Maya and Trinny, I looked at Alyse and she let out a long, slow breath. I smiled and crouched down in front of the fire and held out my hands. There’s a stack of logs next to it, so we’ll be good till morning. Alyse dropped her bag and plopped down on one of the beds. I stood again and turned in a slow circle, examining the hut. On the shelf above the fireplace is a large bowl and what looks like two water jugs. At the end of each bed was a small wooden chest, that must be where the towels and blankets are. By the door is an empty bucket, why would we need a bucket? Ooooh, I get it. I let out a small chuckle as I sat down on the bed opposite Alyse. She looked at me and tilted her head. I smiled and shook my head at her. She’ll figure it out eventually.

“Come on, let’s get out of these cold wet clothes”. I stood up and held my hand out for her. I pulled her up and left her to undress. Unzipping my jacket, I pulled it off and hung it over the back of one of the chairs and continued with the rest of my clothes. Alyse took off her boots and socks and hung her jacket on the other chair. I checked the jugs on the shelf and they were filled with water. The large bowl had a handle and hook attached to it. I looked back at the fireplace and there are hooks to hang the bowl above the flames. Excellent, hot water. I filled the bowl and placed it in the fireplace to heat up. I turned to Alyse and she had one of the blankets wrapped around her body as she watched me. I checked the chests at the end of the bed and indeed found the towels and blankets.

After a few minutes I wrapped a towel around my hand and pulled the hot bowl from the fire and placed it at Alyse’s feet. I dipped in the towel to soak it and begun to gently wipe the dirt from Alyse’s legs. I slowly moved my way to her arms, chest and neck. Her eyes bore into the top of my head as I washed her down, not once did she pull away or refuse me. I got to her face and rinsed the clothe again before continuing. I wiped the warm water over her cheek and forehead. As the dirt disappeared, her smooth pale skin started to show through. Small wrinkles were forming at the corners of her eyes, but other than that, she looked exactly the same as the day she found me.

“You didn’t have to do that” she mumbled quietly.

“I wanted to, I like taking care of you”.

I picked up the pile of clothes and spread them out on the bed. I handed Alyse a pair of sweatpants, a singlet top, a sweater like top and a big fluffy jumper, and a pair of socks.

“Put these on before you get too cold” I said as I placed them in her lap. I quickly washed myself down before pulling on a pair of cotton pants, a t-shirt and a zip up jacket.

Once we were washed and changed the cold didn’t feel so intense anymore. I looked at the two single beds and then glanced at Alyse. This is the first time in a long time that we will be sleeping in an actual bed. I want to lay with her and hold her close, but I also want to let her get a good night’s sleep.

“What’s on your mind?” Alyse asked as she stood in front of me putting her hands on my hips.

“I was thinking about moving the beds together so that I can hold you while you sleep” I brushed a strand of hair from her face and tucked it behind her ear.

“I would love that” she smiled reaching up to offer my lips a soft kiss.

“You sure you don’t just want to sleep comfortably tonight?”

“I am always comfortable with you Nae. And besides, it’s been so long since we have shared a bed” she smiled sweetly at me and my heart fluttered.

I stared into her piercing green eyes and cupped her cheeks. What could I have possibly done to deserve this beauty? I gently kissed her waiting lips and pressed my forehead against hers. All these years together and I am still head over heels for this woman.

“I love you” I whispered softly. Alyse snaked her arms around my back and pulled herself into me tighter, resting her head in the crook of my neck.

“And I you” she said into my skin. After a minute of embracing each other I heard her yawn, the sound drawing a yawn from me as well.

“Let’s go to bed” I said, placing a kiss on her forehead.

I let her go and stepped between the two beds. Grabbing the wooden frame of the bed, I dragged it across the mat and pushed it up next to the other one. I fanned the two blankets out over the now joined beds and gestured for Alyse to hop in. She crawled in and pulled the blanket up to her chin. I decided to place another log on the fire, save me from having to wake up in a few hours to do it then. I then slid into the bed beside Alyse and pulled her into my body. She immediately wrapped her arms and legs around me and our bodies entwined like two slow climbing vines. Her soft warm cheek pressed against mine, gave me an instant feeling of calmness and safety. Within minutes Alyse’s soft slow breathing told me she was asleep.

I hope the storm breaks soon. Alyse may be strong and fast but she doesn’t handle the cold quite like a full Were can. I can’t bear to see her sick again, I thought she was going to die the last time. But then again, the longer the storm holds on, the longer we can stay here for. I just hope the Alpha can see enough reason to let us stay, or at least let us continue on with our lives. Alyse being a half-breed has always been a dangerous thing to announce, but this is our last chance at a pack and it had to be told. I feel somewhat good about our chances. Something about this Alpha and the way that she studied us, it gave me a little hope.

I breathed out deeply, an issue for tomorrow, I guess. I closed my eyes and in no time, I slipped off into my own slumber.