Jonathan’s POV
“I love you, Anna” I said after we marked each other.
We finally marked each other. After weeks of sitting by her while she was in her coma, then a week of us fighting, a few days of us being together, a couple of days of her being kidnapped, a few more days of her without emotions, a whole night filled with her sobs, now we marked each other. After almost two months filled with ups and downs, we drove past a bumpy road. We started the mating process. I’m hers and she’s mine.
Anna gently pressed her lips to mine. It was such a small kiss, but more amazing than any kiss I shared with another girl. Her soft lips heated mine as the familiar firey feeling erupted in my stomach. A feeling that I only felt with my mate.
“I love you, too” Anna whispered as our foreheads rested on each other.
“Huh?” I asked, acting like I didn’t hear her.
“I love you” she whispered again.
“Babe, I have no idea what your saying” I said feigning confusion.
She shifted her body so her mouth was right next to my ear. Her breath blew against my earlobe as she whispered. “I. Love. You”
I leaned back so we were face-to-face. I ran my hands up and down her sides while staring into her gorgeous blue-gray eyes. My gaze flickered down to her lips, and I saw her eyes do the same. I quickly pulled her into a kiss and our lips moved in sync.
“I love you” I mumbled against her lips. She smiled into the kiss before pulling away. I kept my hands on her waist and held her against me, enjoying the feeling of her heat close to my body.
“Jonathan” Anna said softly. “I really have to talk to Ford”
I frowned. “Can we do that tomorrow?” I asked. “Let me hold you, just for today” I said before lightly kissing her mark.
Anna shivered and turned her head to quickly peck my lips. “Just for today, but tomorrow I’m talking to Ford” I nodded and rested my head in her neck while inhaling her vanilla scent. “I’m hungry” Anna stated while her stomach growled.
I chuckled and she lightly hit my chest. “Let’s go eat” I said while pulling us off the bed.
I wrapped my arm around her shoulders as we walked to the kitchen. Alyssa was at the dining table pouring Ford a bowl of cereal as Claire was loudly crying in her high chair. Alyssa groaned and ran a hand through her tangled hair.
“Alyssa” Anna said as she walked towards the Luna. “Get some rest”
“I can’t. Claire and Ford need to eat, then take baths, then I have to finish planning the coronation ceremony. Elliot wants to have a romantic dinner today, so I have to find a sitter. And I’m completely exhausted!” Alyssa shouted frustrated, then started bawling.
Was this normal? She was just shouting, now she’s crying. I hope not all women are like this, that would just be too much. What if Anna’s like that? I would literally go crazy. “I can hear your thoughts Jonathan” Anna snapped though the mind-link. Needless to say, I quickly blocked my thoughts from her.
“Just rest until dinner. I’ll take care of Claire and Ford. The coronation can wait a few days. Just go home” Anna said softly.
“But you can’t do it alone. These kids are a handful” Alyssa said while motioning towards the crying baby and Ford, who just spilled his whole bowl of cereal.
“I’ll help” I said while picking Claire up from her high chair. She started moving around until she stuck her thumb in her mouth and her crying stopped.
“See, Alyssa. We’ll be fine. Go home” Anna said.
Alyssa reluctantly nodded. “Call me if anything- and I mean anything- goes wrong” she said before leaving the castle.
Anna picked up the empty bowl and put it in the sink before cleaning up the cereal. Ford watched her with a frown on his face. I put Claire back in her high chair so I could get Ford more cereal.
Before I made it a foot away from her, Claire started wailing and screaming. I quickly picked her up and started bouncing. Her cries slowly died down, and were non-existent when Anna finished cleaning the spilled food.
“You’re pretty good with her” Anna said while leaning against the counter. I shrugged and smiled when I saw that Claire was staring at me with her big light-brown eyes. I made my way to the fridge and took out the milk. I held Claire with one hand while I started pouring the milk into her sippy-cup.
I heard sobbing, but it wasn’t coming from Claire. Me and Anna’s heads both snapped toward Ford who was rubbing his eyes as more tears streamed down his face.
“Hey, squirt” Anna said softly. “What’s wrong?”
“I-I’m s-sorr-y” Ford stuttered. Anna wrapped her arms around his small body and gently ran her hand on his back to calm him down.
“Why are you sorry?” Anna asked after Ford stopped crying.
“I didn’t help when the big guys took you” Ford said quietly before dropping to the floor and wrapping his arms around Anna’s legs. “I’m sorry. I tried to help. Please stop being mad” Ford begged.
Anna frowned and picked up her little brother. “I’m not mad. I had a bad day yesterday. I shouldn’t have yelled”
I felt her guilt and sadness wash over me. I decided to distract myself by making food. I handed Claire her cup and started pulling out the ingredients for pancakes. Anna was whispering, so I wouldn’t be able to hear her. I wasn’t trying to listen.
I put Claire down on the counter and she watched as I started making the mix. I was almost down sifting all the dry ingredients when Anna wrapped her arms around my waist. “Watcha making?” she chirped.
“Food”
“What kind of food?”
“The edible kind”
“What kind of edible food?”
“The kind that I’m making”
“You’re a jerk” Anna huffed before stomping away.7
I chuckled at her childishness. “You’re not getting any pancakes then!” I shouted. I heard her footsteps stop before they increased in sound when she walked towards me.
“That’s blackmail” Anna muttered while standing in front of Claire. I rolled my eyes as Anna started making weird faces in attempt to make Claire laugh. Anna completely failed at trying to make Claire laugh. The baby started frowning, then wailed.
Anna’s eyes went wide before she backed away from the child. “I didn’t do it” she said.
I dropped the strainer in the sink and picked up Claire. After rocking her around for a while, she stuck her thumb in her mouth and stopped crying. Anna started cracking eggs into the bowl for the pancake mix. My mind drifted off to when we would have kids.
Our pups would be strong and gorgeous. They would protect each other. I’ll watch the kids while Anna would cook. We would all go to the park. Claire and Ford would spoil the kids with clothes and food and money. Thomas will claim that he’s the ‘best uncle in the whole wide world.
“You sound like a girl” Anna said, interrupting my thoughts.
I groaned. “Stay out of my mind”
Anna giggled and poured some batter onto the pan. I continued to play with Claire while Anna cooked. When all the pancakes were cooked, we ate a late breakfast with Claire and Ford.
*****
Annabelle’s POV
Its been a week since me and Jonathan started the mating process. I still haven’t talked to Ford. I procrastinate a lot. When he was crying in the kitchen, I assured him that I wasn’t mad at him, nor were our parents. I still haven’t told him that they’re gone. I’m not sure how to tell him. I have to tell him soon, cause their funeral is in five days. There’s no right way to tell him. Any way that I say it will hurt him.
I had a pep talk with myself and decided that I needed to stop procrastinating. I’m telling him today, before my meeting with the Council. And I’m not backing out.
This past week was filled with me and Jonathan hanging out while we babysat. Alyssa was planning the coronation which is tomorrow, so she left Claire with us. For some reason, that little girl does not like me. She only likes Jona, she can’t say his full name, so she just calls him ‘Jona.’ I think she just got in the habit because that’s what Ford calls him.
“Babe” Jonathan said softly. “You need to eat”
For the past few days, after my little pep talk, I haven’t been eating much. Kelly said that its because of stress. Which is weird because most people eat when they’re stressed out, but food makes me feel sick.
Speaking of Kelly. Her and Ariana have been inseparable for the past week. Except when Thomas demands personal time with his mate. We still haven’t figured out that message though. Kelly talked to the Moon Goddess, who said ‘its not time yet.’ So we stopped trying to find out who ‘he’ is and how he ‘imbalances life.’ Its like one big riddle that only the Moon Goddess knows!
I shook my head. “I feel like I’m gonna throw up” I groaned.
“You had like two bites! Claire ate more than you!” Jonathan exclaimed.
“But my tummy hurts” I whined.
“You have to eat. This is like crazy unhealthy, and you’re scaring me. Just eat please” Jonathan begged.
I sighed and stuffed another french fry in my mouth. Jonathan gave me a look, so I stuffed two more fries in my mouth. He pointed at the hot dog. I looked at him and pouted. Jonathan shook his head. “Eat”
I sniffled and took a bite of the hot dog. “You’re a mean mate” I grumbled after I swallowed the food.
Jonathan sighed. “I’m not mean. I’m just worried about you” he said while pushing my hair out of my face.
“I’m just stressed out” I said while pushing back tears that wanted to fall out. I took a deep breath and continued to talk. “I have to tell my six year old brother that he’s never seeing our parents ever again. I’m officially becoming Queen of all werewolves. My parents’ funeral is in five days. And don’t even get me started about the Council”
“Its all gonna work out fine” Jonathan assured me. “You don’t have to worry about all that”
I shook my head and wiped away the traitorous tears that rolled down my cheeks. “I’m 18, Jonathan. I’m not supposed to be in charge of a six year old kid. My life wasn’t supposed to turn out like this. I’m not read to be going to my parents’ funeral. I’m not ready for to be Queen. I’m not ready to take care of Ford alone. I’m not ready to face the Council. I’m- I just… I can’t do this” I buried my face in my hands as I started sobbing.
“Anna, look at me” Jonathan demanded. I slowly moved my hands away from my face and just looked down. Jonathan sighed and lifted up my chin so I was staring into his eyes.
“You are Annabelle Marie Burke. You survived the pain I put you through, a coma, a psycho kidnapper, your wolf almost dying twice, and an idiotic mate. You came back from turning off your emotions. The past two months, you been through more than anyone I know; and you’re still here. You are so strong. You can do anything” Jonathan stated.
I took deep breaths and wiped the rest of my tears. “You’re gonna be there right?” I asked. Jonathan quickly nodded his head. “Thank you” I whispered.
Jonathan smiled and kissed my forehead. “You ready to talk to Ford?”
I reluctantly nodded my head and we stood up. We walked into Ford’s room and saw him on his bed stacking lego blocks. “Hey, squirt” I said while approaching his bed.
“Hey Anna. Hi Jona” Ford greeted us.
I sucked in a large breath and sat on his bed. “I wanted to talk to you about something” I said softly. Ford nodded and pushed his legos to the edge of his bed.
“Remember how Aunt Alyssa said that Mommy and Daddy went on vacation?” I asked.
“Yeah. Are they coming back now?” Ford chirped. Jonathan grabbed my hand and gave it a squeeze. I shook my head to answer Ford’s question. His smiled quickly turned into a frown.
“Mommy and Daddy told you about the Moon Goddess right?” I questioned.
Ford nodded. “She picks our mates and watches over the werewolves” he said.
“Yeah, she does. Mommy and Daddy got hurt, so they are going to stay with the Moon Goddess now” I said softly.
“When are they coming home?” Ford asked quietly.
“They’re gonna live with the Moon Goddess. They can’t come home anymore” I said while barely being able to hold back my tears.
Ford had tears trailing down his cheeks. “Will they visit?”
I bit my lip while shaking my head. “We can’t see them anymore. But they’re watching us” I said while pointing at the ceiling. “They will watch over us just like the Moon Goddess. And they’ll always be with us. Here, and here” I said while pointing at his head, then his heart.
“B-But I want to s-see them. I m-miss them” Ford hiccuped.
“I know. I miss them too. But they’re happy. They’re with the Moon Goddess” I said while tears started rolling down my face.
“M-mommy and Daddy are happy?” he asked. I nodded. Ford sniffled and wiped his face. He took deep breaths before hugging my waist. “If Mommy and Daddy are happy, we should be happy too” he whispered.
A few more tears slipped out of my eyes before I gently kissed Ford’s head.