Chapter 151

Almara’s Pov

We’re about to dock at Azaela National Park. It’s noon, the sun is shining bright, giving Arthur a warm glow to his skin. We stand at the front of the boat with Arthur’s arm looped around my waist and Grace seated on my hip. I can’t believe how big she’s gotten over the last few months.

We stand united soaking in the ethereal beauty of nature. The air is crisp and cool, and the only thing taller than the trees that line the permitter of the water are the mountains in the distance.

The beauty would be less shocking, if Arthur and I didn’t spend so much time in our cabin- though I’m not complaining. Maybe Grace will have a sibling soon.

“Have you ever gone camping?” Arthur asks.

I think back to the one time I did with my parents. We stayed close to our house, my parents were afraid of straying too far, but it was beautiful. It was a local park and my father taught me how to sneak on prey and my mother how to clean whatever it was that we caught.

The trip ended with my father getting a pretty deep splinter in his paw and that essentially ended any future camping trips. Still, I look on that memory with fondness.

“Once.” I tell Arthur with a smile crossing my face. “Nothing like this, though.”

“Well, we’re going to have a lot of fun.” He says and pulls me in closer. As we dock, Grace flaps her arms and makes excited cooing noises. I’m glad we brought her here while she’s young so she can begin to identify with her wolf instincts early. Nothing less would be expected of a baby born into an Alpha pack.

With the boat anchored, we make our descend.

As soon as our feet touch with wild grass, Grace is pulling away from me eager to get down. “She really likes it here.” I say surprised not just by her determination, but her strength. I set her down and watch as she begins to roll in the grass. I can’t help but laugh. “She’s such a pup.”

“She might even come into her wolf version here.” Arthur says. I raise an eyebrow.

“No way, that doesn’t usually happen until thirteen, ten the earliest.” I point out. Still, Arthur doesn’t look convinced. He crouches down next to his daughter and toys a piece of grass in front of her. Just as Grace reaches for the blade, Arthur moves it just out of reach.

At first Grace looks like she might cry, but then determination settles on her face and she stretches as far as her limbs will take her while wiggling her rump to get closer. “I don’t know. She’s pretty advanced as it is.” Arthur says.

Technically pups accelerate in their growth at a faster rate than humans because of the wolf gene. Pups usually begin their hunting skills at six months, whereas human babies nurse until at least a year. Grace is going on five months, but she definitely seems older than that.

Maybe I just don’t want her to grow up. “See look.” Arthur says pulling my attention back to the present. I look as Grace lifts her nose to the air and sniffs. “She smells something.” Arthur says, turning his own nose. As soon as he says it, the smell hits me too. Fish.

Arthur and I exchange glances and I know we’re both instantly thinking the same thing. “Go ahead.” I tell him and nod my head towards the water. “I’ll stay here with are growing-up-too-fast baby.” I say. Arthur chuckles and then let’s out a howl.

Grace watches him utterly captivated by her fathers’ commanding vocals. She tries to imitate him but what comes out is a slew of o’s. Arthur gives her a smile and then dashes off to the water. I watch him run full speed, not even slowing down as he hits the water.

The muscles in his body grow larger by the passing seconds and instantly he dives under only to come up seconds later, barely giving the water time to still. As he emerges through the surface, he has his teeth sunken into the flapping body of a salmon.

I clap and cheer him on and he makes his way back shore. He’s breathing heavier, but more from the thrill rather than exhaustion. “Man, that feels good.” He says and shakes the water from his body. “You want to give it a try?”

Lily is practically running in circles at just the thought. I nod in agreement and rise tot my feet. “Ma. . . ma. . .ma” Grace says and I instantly fall back to the ground.

“Her first words!” I exclaim. I scoop Grace into my hands and hold her out so I can see her face. I can’t imagine how crazy I must look to her, but all she does is smile and repeats, “Ma..ma”. I kiss her repeatedly.

“That’s right! Mama!” I never imagined how exciting this moment would be, I can barely contain it. I let out a howl myself and a few birds flock from their trees. Arthur laughs and rubs a hand over Grace’s back.

“Can you say dada?” He asks with pleading eyes.

“Mama.” Grace says with a big smile. I laugh.

“She’ll get there.” I say as Arthur’s mouth hangs open. “Okay, I’m going to go get us another fish.” I say with this rush of excitement through me. I hand Grace to Arthur who continues trying to get her to say ‘dada’.

I take off running. My feet hitting the ground at a speed I haven’t gone in years. Before I know it the ground turns to water a droplets splash up against my legs. Claws shoot from my fingers and I rip through the waters’ surface and open my jaw to snatch a fish.

Unfortunately, the only thing in my mouth is a big gulp of water. I come up coughing and spitting. What the heck? I turn back slightly embarrassed and see Arthur spreading his arms out wise as if to ask what happened. I shrug back saying I don’t know.

I turn back around and look down at the water. There’s a lot of movement from all the activity, so it’s hard to see anything moving beneath the surface. I decide to give the water a moment to still before trying to track another fish. One thing my father taught me was patience.

Though, it’s not long before the waters are back to sloshing and causing ripples. I hear movement behind me and turn to see Arthur has joined me. I want to be mad at him for leaving Grace, but I can’t. Not when he looks at good as he does.

He’s half-turned. His muscles are enlarged and water is rolling down the muscular crevices of his body, his hair is wet and wild, his forest green eyes are glowing, and his hands are sporting claws that are nothing less than powerful and strong. “I’m going to teach you how to get a fish.” He says.

“Okay.” Is all I can manage to say. I’m able to break my eyes away from him for a moment and see Grace is laying on her back entertaining herself with the wilderness around her.

“She’s fine. Now, focus.” Arthur says and I listen like the fated mate that I am. “Wait for the waters to still, and as they do that you do also. Don’t move anything except your eyes to watch for any movement just below the surface.” Arthur says fixating his gaze below the water.

“Anticipate the movement of the fish, and just when you think all is steady back in nature,” Arthur raises his arm ion the air, “Break it.” With that he strikes his arm down and instantly pulls back up a floundering fish in his grip.

“Let’s move to another spot and you try again.” Arthur says, smiling broadly at his work well done. While I’m impressed, I’m even more determined to show Arthur I’m worthy of being a proper Luna and can catch a fish.

We swim back to shore, Arthur lazily floating on his back and be doggie paddling alongside of him. My eyes going back and forth between him and our daughter. “Why aren’t you worried about her?” I ask.

Arthur brings his arms crossed behind his head. “It’s not that I’m not worried about her well-being, but I know she’s fine here. Wolves rule this land. There’s nothing here that could hurt her.”

Maybe Arthur has a point. No one else is here but us and the dock crew. She can’t even crawl yet, there’s really is nothing in harms way. Then why do I have this mother instinctual feeling that something bad is going to happen?

I try to ignore it, maybe it’s just from all the stress of the previous months but I need to let that go. All that is in the past and we came out stronger for it. I can’t let worry ruin my vacation.