#g1a2chapter2

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Kaye threw her arms around her oldest daughter’s shoulders.

“Who would have known our first wolf would be so obsessed with teeth?”

Astrid laughed, leaning into her mother’s embrace. “I did. Remember how she bit me the very first time I held her? Bragan never did that!”

Everyone took a seat.

And Wren started speaking.

“Brace yourself, he loves telling that story.” Rory whispered quietly enough for him not to hear.

Isi’s curiosity took over.

First, he checked with his wife: “You want to-?” But she was already shaking her head, the ghost giving her a wink when she looked over at him.

So the wolf started:

“As you probably already know, Kaye dated Rory in their late teens. That was her first introduction to the world of the occult. And when Marven, her best friend, convinced Rory to give her the werewolf cure, she went back to being human. Except she now knew where she belonged.”

He went on for a while, telling the story.

How she’d found out everything she could about vampires with the help of her bestie. Ended up in a crypt one night, faced with Aymerik, who was clearly a human using magic. They fell in love fast. Hard.

But Aymerik’s unsanctioned use of magic took him away.

Wren paused for a few seconds, pointedly looking at Rory:

“K. came to Wolfgang and me, desperate for a way to reach out to Aymerik… Long story short, I helped.”

“Of course you did.” Isi smiled.

“He found his way back to her. But as a temporary ghost.” Rory added and Kaye made a confirmation sound.

Isi couldn’t help thinking of the few minutes she’d spent dead. How she’d seen Jak, back then. Could she have pulled him out?

Aymerik seemed to read her mood and moved the story on: “Thankfully, Rory hung out with some… interesting people at the time.”

Isi felt her partner straighten up.

Something had changed. But there wasn’t time to analyse it as Wren picked back up.

“At the time, Kaye was pregnant with Astrid. And she didn’t want to risk the baby getting hurt in any kind of magic ritual she could do to tie Rik to the living world. So I did it instead.”

Kaye got up, looking ready for the story to be over.

“I’d only known her for a few months. Her ghost husband for even less than that. But I knew it in my soul. It was right.”

Without reason, the space between Rory and Isi grew again.

Yet, the story continued, Kaye whispering: “I almost lost you both that night…”

Wren hummed “Okay kiddos, time for bed!”

Astrid and Bragan each took a sibling away, their ghost dad telling them they’d be right up to kiss them goodnight. Wren twirled Kaye on herself, looking proud as he said:

“Shortly after we managed to tie Rik to this plane, Kaye was finally accepted in the caster ranks. She’s now working liaison.”

Too quickly, Rory was up. “Which is why I took it seriously when you called. What’s up?”

Wren sat next to Isi. “We have so little info so far… All I can say is there’s something about a cult. And I’ve found the trail of one of your wolves.”

Isi opened her mouth but Rory beat her to it: “Can’t be.”

“I was surprised too” Wren pushed, sure of himself.

Isidora was thrown a year in the past. Wondering who could be lying. It felt wrong. So wrong to suspect her best friends. Her family.

Rory’s voice dropped:“Is it him?”

A sigh. “Yeah. His scent’s changed since I last saw your brother but… Jake’s here.”

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“I’m home!” Kaye’s voice was loud and clear above the noise they’d been greeted with when walking into the big house.

Everyone continued what they were doing, mostly unfazed.

“Put your brother down and go be a teenager, Astrid, please.” The man in front of the stove said.

“MOOOM!! Look at me!”

“Don’t you have a phone you should be obsessing over?” From the other side of the room, the ghostly shape of a man stood over a child doing his homework.

Kaye extended her arms to be given the youngest child: “Hand him over, baby.”

Isi felt her heart fill up at the ease with which everything flowed.

The familiarity quickly extended to Rory as the man walked away from the stove, dropping everything he was doing to fist bump her.

“You never visit anymore, too busy fighting crime day-and-night?” he joked before turning to Isi: “And romancing my favourite music composer?”

A thrill went through her.

Being known for her most recent work was simply one of the best feelings in the world.

He extended his arms: “Welcome to the Nickerson household. We’re so happy to have you Isidora. I’m Wren. You already met Kaye. Our ghost husband is Aymerik. The gremlins are Deven, Charlene, Bragan and Astrid.”

“Our youngest, Edith, is upstairs. Already asleep, thankfully.” He finished, a grin on his face.

Rory huffed: “Thought I heard you’d had a fifth one! Didn't you say you were done after Dev?”

“Can’t help it when they’re that cute, pal.” Wren shrugged.

“Do you want me to show you to your bedroom straight away so you can escape the chaos until dinner?” Their host asked, her baby stretching to try to reach Isidora.

“Up to you” Rory threw over her shoulder as she bent down: “You don’t remember me, do you Char?”

Isi’s decision was easily made.

“No need.”

Evening came faster than expected, the younger kids eating first, covering the floors in all sorts of food and fluids.

The family dinner was the perfect end to the day.

Until Isidora made the mistake of asking how a spellcaster, a werewolf and a ghost had ended up with a family like this.

Everyone headed to the sitting room. Bragan pulling Isidora forward, Astrid sighing in the back.

“What’s so funny?” Isi asked as Charlene giggled again.

The toddler had been playing with her chin. “I think your howls are tiny.”

“Really?”

“Yes! And mine are BIG. I’ve got all my fangs now, can you see?”

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They didn’t know whether to laugh or cry when they got to the desert town and the rain started.

“Thought it was supposed to be the sunniest town on the continent?” Isi lifted an eyebrow under Rory’s umbrella.

“They’ll probably say we brought the bad weather with us.” Rory shook her head.

From their first step in town, worry had slowly taken over her expression. Lunch didn’t seem to help either. As the server took their plates away, Isidora squeezed her hand, silent support.

“Thank you.” Rory breathed out.

“For what?” Isi asked, genuinely baffled.

“I just don’t know if I’d deal with all these parameters well, if our situations were reversed.”

Rory kissed the top of her hand. Gentle. As if she was expecting her to pull away any second. Isidora felt her heart ache.

“At least you know what you’re in for this time, not like when I took you to see Marv.”

Isi repressed a shudder at the memory. They’d been separated at the time… She tried to joke.

“And no one can be as scary as Marven, right?”

Rory dropped her head. “Yeah… I’m not actually worried about you being scared, more about-” She stopped talking, a nonchalant mask quickly slipping on as the closest double doors opened. “There she is.”

A beautiful woman, scents of eucalyptus and magic surrounding her, smiled at them.

“Here I am!”

“Long time no see, Oaklow. I see a lot has changed.” The woman said, her voice just a little higher than before.

“You could say that!” Rory answered too fast.

Was she… nervous?

Isi wasn’t used to that. She searched for something to say. “So what’s going on in this town?”

The woman paused, taking her time to examine Isi. She looked perplexed for a few seconds, but didn’t let it last.

“Right on to business! Isidora, right?”

Rory interjected, finally introducing the two women to each other: “Oh, yeah. K, this is my partner, Isi. And this is Kaye. My ex.”

“Not the only ex who called, but the only one who got an answer!” A voice reached them all the way from the bar.

Everyone turned to the redhead who was now flipping Rory off.

“Don’t mind her, she likes strong first impressions.” Kaye commented, looking unimpressed.

“But then, I hear from my bestie Marven that you do too, Isidora?”

The tone wasn’t cheeky, but curious. Testing the waters, it seemed. So she gave Kaye her absolute biggest smile.

“We warmed up to each other eventually. Once she stopped insulting Rory.”

Kaye’s laugh was infectious. “Oh, I like you!”

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The next morning found Isidora floating in the pool as Rory came back from her early jog.

“You found the water.”

“It’s in my veins, cherry.” Isi smiled without opening her eyes. “Just like it’s in yours to keep in shape. Always thought it was a you thing, but it might be universal for wolves!”

After a minute of Rory staring at her in silence, Isi couldn’t help but tease:

“You could get in, you know. I saw another swimsuit in the drawer that’s labelled ‘free for all’…”

Rory didn’t move.

“Or you could get in without one.”

She swirled around, ready to beckon her partner into the water.

“But that would imply me taking off my new favourite shirt?” Rory fake whined.

Isi held her stare for a few seconds.

Now that Rory and Koroosh got along, they also shared a common passion: finding old merch of The Pied Moth and buying it second hand.

“Maybe I could get in with it?” The alpha teased.

Isidora kept her movements slow as she swam to the edge and sat on the side of the pool.

“Do what you want. But if you get in with your sweaty shirt, I’m getting out.” She tried to keep her face serious, knowing very well she wouldn’t pass on an opportunity to swim with her lover.

“I’ll change.”

Isi smiled at the win. “Good.”

Before being on her way to the dresser, Rory demanded: “But you’ll need to remind me to get out in time for my tattoo appointment.”

“Mmmh.” Isi didn’t promise anything, she knew the glowing red eyes would appeal to her and she didn’t mind being a little late.

Rory put her legs in first, giving her wolf time to get used to the water. Isidora asked as they waited:

“So you’ve still not told me where we’re going after? What’s derailed our road trip first?”

“First?” The alpha smirked.

Isi rose to kiss her. “Let’s face it, nothing we ever do is straight forward.”

“We don’t like straight.”

“No we don’t.” Isi laughed as she left Rory’s embrace, swimming away. She could see the glow in Rory’s eyes, knew the wolf was placated now. “And you didn’t answer my question.”

She disappeared in the water, using her scales as they’d been designed: a camouflage device.

Only to reappear right behind her lover and wrap around her.

“I could force you to tell me, you know?”

Rory gave her a small gasp. “How do you intend on doing that, dove? You have some superpower I don’t know about yet?”

Isi beamed. “No, you know all the important things about me.”

The silence that followed was short, but it told Isidora enough. As always, now, she decided not to push.

And when Rory turned to look her in the eye, she reached to bring them back into each other’s arms.

“We’re going to the Ridge.”

“Isn’t that where Maura lives?” Isi asked.

Rory’s ex had called the house a couple of times, but it had been mostly ignored, apart from the time Adelyn had picked up.

“Yes. But it was another friend of mine who called yesterday. About the same issue.”

Isi closed the gap between them. “Then we’ll check it out.”

She felt Rory relax in the kiss.

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As they showered, getting ready for the night, she fell back into the thought spiral she’d been in all day on the road.

There were three words she really wanted to say.

Her partner’s soft gaze didn’t help in keeping them in, either.

So as they reached the bed, Isi murmured: “Can I tell you something?”

“Of course darling.”

Isi tried her best not to overthink it. Didn’t wait.

“There’s something that’s been burning my lips. I really want to tell you. I’m sure you know already. But I’ve been hesitant to say it because…” There, she hesitated. “Well… Because I can tell you’re not going to say it back.”

Rory lowered her head, slowly. Closed her eyes. Her jaw tightened, leaving no doubt.

Isi was right.

And yet, she whispered back: “I still need a little time. But I don’t want you to have to censor yourself.”

“I can just continue waiting, if that’s better for you?” Isi’s voice faltered.

Rory seemed about to accept, to drown them in kisses like she usually did when Isi got too close to saying it.

Yet she stilled.

Shook her head just so slightly. And waited.

So Isi finally let the words out.

“I love you, Rory Oaklow.”

Instantly, their mouth consumed each other.

The intensity was just ramping up, their limbs tangled, their breaths in sync. Hearts aligned.

When they parted, Isi had only a second to start to feel self-conscious before Rory cupped her cheek.

“You don’t remember, do you? You said it when we were falling, when Padma had us in a dream vision…”

Isi let the laugh of disbelief come out. All this stress, for her to find out she’d already said it?

“Are you sure?”

Rory chuckled, too. “Yeah, I wouldn’t ever forget that. But your foot did touch the forgetting water, so that must be why you did?”

“The Lethe…” Isi remembered their dream.

“It hits different when I’m awake though.” Rory confessed, voice low.

Isi’s eyes found hers. Her tone had an ounce of fear as she asked: “It does?”

“It feels more… full. More honest.” There was a long pause, during which they both simply stared at each other. “And it makes me want to say it back.”

This time, it was Isidora that drowned her in a kiss.

It wasn’t the same as saying it, but it was pretty damn close. And the butterflies in her stomach didn’t need anything more either.

This kiss was just as deep as the previous one, but filled with gratefulness rather than need.

Half laying on Rory, Isi couldn’t help laughing again, as she realised the weight of this matter had left her shoulders.

Rory’s eyes had a little malice in them as she said, slowly: “I just absolutely love it when you laugh, angel.”

The echo to their first time together was clear.

So Isi answered the exact same thing she’d said back then: “I bet you'll like it even more when I moan.”

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Riding was easy.

Silent, yet loud.

Restricted to the road, while offering the greatest sights.

Both contemplative and freeing.

Night started creeping up on them and Rory stopped in front of a seemingly abandoned mechanic shop, pulled one of the metal doors up to take the bike in and gestured for Isi to take her helmet off.

“We’re stopping here for the night!”

She kissed her, looking so delighted. And Isi paused.

“We’re to sleep here? Maybe we should have taken your truck after all, we could have slept in the back…” She started to ramble.

Rory slid her arms around her. “Not up here, there’s a basement! Perfectly suitable, with a bed and everything.”

“Of course, underground again…”

“Don’t worry, any and all spiders in here have been exterminated. I had someone come in last week to check.” Rory explained as their climbed down the steps.

And, despite the idea Isi had formed in her mind, the basement revealed itself quite hospitable, actually.

“Wow!”

“How do you always end up surprising me, Cherry?” Isi slotted her hand in Rory’s, arm around hers. And the alpha turned to her.

“Well, in this case, my d- Kristopher is the one impressing you because this is part of his auto repair business, which he used as a front for his… other activities.”

“There’s one thing we can say about the wolves, they’re always great at hiding!”

Rory’s phone rang and she apologised, telling Isidora to make herself at home, she’d be right back.

So Isi inspected her surroundings, wondering if there would be anything in the fridge to make some dinner.

Rory came back and, had she owned a tail, it would have been between her legs. She didn’t meet Isi’s eyes as she said:

“So, slight change of plans…”

“Mmmh” Isi waited to hear more to react.

“I can still go to my tattoo appointment tomorrow. But, we have to make a detour before we head up north.”

“Pack matter?”

“Wolves matter.” Rory admitted.

“Here I thought we were supposed to leave work behind during this trip, try to disconnect completely!”

This time, the alpha met her amused gaze. “I promise not to touch a single screwdriver or hammer!”

Isi laughed. “Not the job I was referring to!”

The change in itinerary didn’t bother Isi. She’d made plans to be off from work for far longer than their trip was supposed to take anyhow. She knew all too well how travelling could bring upon some unplanned adventures.

Yet she still took the apology kiss she was given. Happily.