I know. I know it's going to take time for Drew to become his whole self again. Parker is right, I don't know him the way I need to, but we don't have time for me to get to know him. We don't have time for me to let go of all the hurt. For right now, it has to be enough that our Goddess put us together for a reason. I have to trust that she made the right choice because I don't have the time or energy required to wait for Drew to put himself back together or take time to get to know him after he figures it out. We've spent too many years trying to fight this pull and everything's a mess because of it. We are responsible for the future of our packs. Generations of fighting and outright war are on hold because of us. I can be patient with him and myself because we will have years together.
“I know,” I say, meaning it. “We'll figure it out as we go. I have to trust that he's not a horrible person, right?”
“He really isn't, Genie. Drew loves his people. He would do anything for them. He'll be a good mate. You'll see.”
I sigh. I know Parker didn't mean for that to sting but it did. Drew would do anything, including me, for his people. But, really, I'm no better. I'm willing to let him claim me and accept my role as Luna for both packs without even knowing what his favorite food or color is because I also love my people and would do anything for them. “What's his favorite color?”
“What?”
“His favorite color. I know you know what it is.”
“Pink.”
I blink. “Pink?”
“Pastel fucking pink. Since he was a kid.”
That might be the most interesting thing about him as it stands. “What is his favorite food?”
Parker rubs his eyebrow and starts to push his fingers into his hair again but stops. “You could ask him.”
“I could,” I agree. “But I'm asking you. You know more about him than anyone.”
“What's your favorite food?” he counters.
“I don't have one,” I answer. “I'll eat almost anything. It's all the same. I don't like strawberries, though.”
“How do you not like strawberries?” Drew asks, coming back into the room. “And I like all shades of pink, but the light one reminds me of my grandmother. My favorite food is stuffed peppers. His is his mom's spaghetti casserole.”
“I don't like the seeds,” I tell him.
“What about blackberries?” he asks. “They have seeds.”
I forgot about blackberry seeds. “I like the taste of blackberries, but not the seeds. I like black raspberries better.”
“I thought black raspberries were blackberries until I was to old to not know that,” Parker says. “I don't like those big seeds, either.”
“The seeds are the best part,” Drew argues. “They pop when you bite them. It's good.”
“I'll stick with seedless jam,” I say, smiling. This is the first actual conversation we've ever had.
Drew sits down on the other side of me and all three of us just sit there for a while letting things settle. I don't feel very much like talking. I don't feel like listening or thinking, either. I want to justbe. Just for a while. But Drew is apparently a talker.
“Thank you for watching over him,” he says, breaking the silence. “I know that was hard.”
I shrug. “Not really. Those jerks shouldn't have come after something of ours.”
The pen drops, almost like a bell, and we all feel it. Even if it was only verbal, I claimed Parker and I meant it without noticing. Not only did I claim Parker, I used the wordours. I created anusthat is separate from everything else in the word with just those words.
“You're going to be a perfect Luna,” Drew says, turning to look at me. “Our pack is going to be strong.”
I know it will be. There are going to be challenges, especially once Drew and I take over completely, but there always are and we will deal with them as they come.
“So, you're just going to dive in head first?” Parker asks. “Just fuck it, no claiming ceremony, nothing. Just... do it?”
I look at Drew and what I see in his eyes is enough. “I think so.”
“I want a ceremony,” Drew announces. “I want a do-over. At the next Summit. I want to host. I want everyone there.”
