SIX!!.... FULL MOON BONFIRE

“We are tossed by the winds of fate. Once we end where they blow us, we make of ourselves that we will.”

Smart man, Neill, but it isn't easy now, is it? 

I mused, turning over the page of the book I was reading, mentally applauding Nora Roberts for being such a great wordsmith.

And I have to say that Margaret Mary was definitely my spirit animal.

I remained in my room, lost in the book, when the distant sound of laughter and footsteps reached my ears. 

A groan slipped from my lips. 

Oh well, there goes peace and quiet. At least, It was good while it lasted. 

The echoes of their return grew louder, and I closed the book, getting up from my chair. Knowing the family I lived with, they were bound to disturb me very soon.

And Truly, a soft knock came on my door just a few minutes later.

 I walked over and opened the door to see Damon standing there looking as ravishing as always. 

Dark hair, slightly tousled, fell over his eyes. He was dressed casually in a white tank top that clung to his form.

My gaze involuntarily drifted downward, momentarily captivated by his bulging biceps. 

A faint flush colored my cheeks. 

Quit staring at him, Hannah!

I quickly lifted my gaze to meet his eyes and rolled my eyes when his lips curved into a playful smile. The jackass knew he was hot. Too bad that I could not hide the effect he had on me. Nor that of his brothers. 

“Hey Hannah, did I interrupt something?” He said, his voice low and warm. 

I cleared my throat, trying to shake off his hold on me, regaining my composure. “No, not at all. What's up?”

Damon's eyes fell beneath my neck, then riveted back to hold mine, and he took a step closer. I held my breath, trying not to breathe him in. 

“Just wanted to inform you that we are back. Ma’am Elena wanted me to come and get you. She's downstairs.”

“Alright, I'll be down shortly,” I replied, waiting for him to leave, so I could close the damn door. 

The Lycan, however, took his sweet time. 

He nodded, his gaze lingering on me. A shiver of self-consciousness ran down my spine when I noticed his stare was back on my chest, I glanced down at it. 

Ah, shit! 

My white crop top was a bit see-through and quite exposing. Quite was an understatement. The flimsy material barely ended above my belly button, revealing a strip of skin that wasn't covered by my jean bum shorts. 

I blushed in embarrassment. My nipples, shameless as they were, hardened and poked through the top, begging for his attention. 

“Cold?” Damon asked, his tone innocent but his expression suggesting otherwise. 

I averted my gaze, cheeks on fire with mortification. “I didn't realize it would be so transparent,” 

Hell, I hadn't thought at all. I had just opened the door like a fool, and here I was, exposed for him to see.

Not that I didn't like his eyes on me. I watched them darken, and he chuckled softly, voice laced with amusement. “Don't worry, Hannah.”

“It's kind of hard not to,” I mumbled. 

“What if I swear to behave?” He teased, stepping closer until my nipples were millimeters away from his chest. The air around us thickened and I sighed softly. 

“Swear?” I repeated like an idiot. 

“Yes, Hannah,” he replied, cupping my jaw gently. “Perhaps I shouldn't make promises I cannot keep. You're too damn captivating,”

“Oh,” I panted, the feel of his rough hands on my face stirred illicit feelings in my lower belly. 

His eyes turned gold, and I knew he could smell it. My arousal. Fuck, I wanted those hands away from my face and much more pleasurable. Like my aching nipples. 

Bad idea, Hannah. Bad fucking idea. 

I rolled my eyes and stepped away from him, shrugging nonchalantly while my heart pounded crazily in my chest. 

“Tell my mum I will be down in a few minutes,” I stated, keeping my face in a calm mask. 

“Okay,” he replied, his eyes evidently disappointed. “Hurry then, We are waiting for you downstairs,” 

I heaved a sigh of relief when he left, slammed the door behind me and raced to my closet to pick a dress, out of the few, mum had given me a while back.

After adjusting the flower dress in the mirror, I raced out of the room, down the stairs, into the living room. 

When I stepped into the living room, my eyes met Alexandro’s eyes. His presence sent a jolt of panic through me, and my steps faltered. 

I cleared my throat, struggling to regain my composure, before stepping forward. 

Boxes, bags, and various items were scattered across the floor of the living room. A chaos that left me both intrigued and bewildered. 

“What the hell is going on?” I blurted out, 

My mother turned to face me, smiling. “Hannah, darling, we're preparing for the monthly full moon bonfire,” 

I blinked, “Full moon bonfire?”

That was a thing?

Alex stepped forward, a warm smile on his face. “Yes, it's a tradition here in the mansion,” he elaborated. "Every month, on the night of the full moon, we gather around a bonfire in the backyard to celebrate, connect, with other Lycans around.”

Well, that's new. 

“I… I've never heard of this before,”

My mother stepped closer, placing a hand on my arm. “It's a beautiful and meaningful tradition, Hannah,” she said. “ I have only experienced it once and trust me it is beautiful. The Lycans have a special way of bonding and, well, they find their mates under the full moon. It's all so romantic.”

And filled with bull shit, too. I didn't tell her that though, she looked so excited about it, I would rather not break that spirit. 

“Oh, that is very…interesting,” I murmured.

“It is, isn't it? We are hoping the triplets will be lucky enough to find theirs this month.”

“Hardy har har, ma’am Elena,” Damian said, “Not going to happen.”

“You are just scared of being tied down, you man-whore,” Mum shot back, and he grinned.

“And I am damned proud of it,”

“Disgusting,” Mum scoffed, curling her lips in distaste. 

“The whole thing is beautiful,” I murmured. 

Might as well give it a try, right. Besides, it was probably the best thing that I had heard here.

Ever since I turned for the first time, I had never had the liberty to interact with other wolves or run free like others. 

I was always limited to the cage in my two-room apartment and that was not the least comfortable.

Living with humans, you couldn't just turn and start running around.

“It is,” Alex said, “The next full moon is in two days, and well, we are delighted to have you here with us. We will celebrate this month’s bonfire as a complete family, and that is beautiful."

Mum smiled and leaned over to kiss his cheeks.

“It is beautiful, isn’t it? We are so blessed,” She said, and bent down to resume tearing open the boxes.

“We wanted to make sure everything was ready well in advance.”

Despite my initial skepticism, there was something alluring about the idea of coming together under the moonlight, of embracing a tradition that had been a part of their lives for so long. 

It sounded exciting and I had never been part of that before.

“How do you manage your wolf staying in Chicago?” Damon asked.

“Well, I just have to turn once in a month, and I am fine. I have a little cage in my room that I use to lock myself up to prevent any sort of damage,”

I explained, and they all stopped midair, their eyes wide in shock, and horror.

“The fuck? That is so horrible,” Damian exclaimed. “You have no right treating your wolf like that.”

“Hannah, that is like a prison. Your wolf belongs to the wild. She needs to be free. How can you…Oh, dear moon goddess,”

“Well, you gotta adapt to fit into your surroundings. A girl’s gotta do what a girl’s gotta do,” I responded casually with a shrug, like it was not a big deal.

“Well, you had a choice. You could have chosen to not… I don’t know, live among humans?” Damian said, and I threw him a glare.

“Let her be Damian,” Mum cut in, thankfully because I was about to lose my temper, “Hannah has her reasons.”

Damian scoffed and turned away.

The only person who had not said a word to me was Dean. Instead, he was sitting in a corner, focused on unwrapping small boxes of whatever packages they were.

Awkward.

"So, yeah…this is for you, Hannah,” Mum said, handing me a huge bag.

I raised my brow, curiously taking the bag from her.

“We decided to do a little shopping for you, dear. Since you do not have any clothes with you.”

“Oh, thank you so much, mum. How did you know my size?”

“Well I didn’t. Dean is very observant. I just hope he is right, though.”

I threw him a glance, but he was still concentrated on the boxes, his face hard.

“Well, thank you.”

“Of course. I am just happy that you are here with us, dear.”

“Let’s get to work, please,” Alexandro ordered.

I set down the bag and bent down to unbox the nearest package.

As the preparations for the upcoming full moon bonfire continued around me, a pang of nostalgia tugged at my heart.

When was the last time I was involved in a social gathering like this? Ten years? Eight? It was all back then. When life was innocent. When I was happy. 

You can be happy again, Hannah, my mind quipped and I sighed. 

I fully intend to be.