Grub and Gardening

Lilac

Lilac was perched on Kyril’s lap, relishing a warm strip of mutton.

The dining hall bustled with servers and guests enjoying their evening. It was a completely different atmosphere from when she’d first eaten there a few weeks earlier.

She mused on how scared she had been to meet a dozen new faces, and now she was eating in front of a few hundred.

It was small progress, but it made her confident she could someday become the Luna her mate expected and her pack deserved.

The twin faes, Sapphire and Crystal, sat on the opposite side of the table and were chatting excitedly about the coming of the new season.

They had taken on stewardship of the pack house gardens and were debating which types of trees and flowers to plant in the plots that had been left fallow during the winter.

Alex, Michael, and Jon were also present and carrying on an intense conversation with their Alpha regarding the pack’s financial status.

She tried to keep up with the numerous discussions happening around her, but Lilac ended up overwhelmed and lost in the chatter.

“...maybe you could help, Luna?”

The mention of Lilac’s title had her scanning the table to see who had called upon her. Her eyes met with Crystal’s, who was excitingly fluttering her wings.

“I’m sorry, I missed the first part. Help with what?” Lilac asked softly, giving her full attention to the gleeful fae.

“Preparing the garden, of course,” she chirped. “My sister and I are going to head over to the greenhouse after supper while there’s still some light.”

~Gardening?~

Lilac had never planted anything in her life.

The mere thought of doing it wrong and accidentally killing something immediately began to weigh on her, but she knew she couldn’t keep using little worries like these as an excuse to venture outside of her comfort zone.

“So, will you come with us?” Sapphire chimed in.

“Um...” Lilac hesitantly looked up at Kyril, not knowing how she should answer.

“If you want to go, then go,” he encouraged, having taken an interest in the conversation.

“In that case, I would love to join you.” She nodded with a small smile.

The fairies squealed in delight and continued on with their horticultural conversation.

~Maybe they want to be my friend?~ she pondered.

She had never cared to create a friendship with anyone before, but her position was different now. Perhaps having a friend wasn’t such a bad idea.

Lilac turned back to Kyril as he picked up a sausage link and held it to her lips. She gladly accepted it, staring into his eyes as it disappeared into her mouth.

When he reached for a link of his own, she grabbed it from his hand and stuffed it into her mouth.

A mischievous smile made its way onto her face as she stuck her tongue out at him.

She couldn’t have imagined taking such a bold action a week ago, but her comfort with her mate had continued to grow since their run, and his continual teasing in the bedroom made her feel like she needed to get even.

After the last course of the evening, Lilac looked down at her slightly protruding belly, round and swollen from everything she had just eaten.

“I think I ate ~too~ much,” she sighed out sleepily.

She laid her head against his chest and breathed in, relishing his scent. In his hold, she felt content.

A small voice interrupted her repose as Crystal tried to gain her attention. “Luna, Sapphire and I are going to the garden now. Would you still like to come along?”

“Oh, yes. Of course,” she mumbled, gathering herself.

Kyril helped her off his lap before standing with her.

“I won’t be far if you need anything,” he reassured.

The twins smiled brightly at her. Sapphire took Lilac’s hand and eagerly tugged her in the direction of the greenhouse.

“Be gentle with our Luna, mate,” Michael reminded her from his spot at the table. In response, Sapphire loosened her grip and slowed her pace.

“Oops,” the fairy nervously giggled. “I’m so sorry, Luna. Sometimes I let my emotions take over and I forget that not everyone is as fleet-footed as we faes.”

“It’s quite all right,” replied Lilac, who still felt very full. “I appreciate your enthusiasm.”

Sapphire fluttered her wings at the compliment and began regaling Lilac with all the decisions she and Crystal had made over dinner.

***

“Here is where we should plant anemones... oh, and over there we can plant hyacinths and crocuses!” Crystal clasped her hands together in delight.

“We did hyacinths last year,” Sapphire countered. “Why not tulips or poppies?”

“Because everyone loved my hyacinths, that’s why,” replied Crystal, sticking up her nose.

“I know, why don’t we let our Luna decide,” said Sapphire. “Would you like to plant anything special, Luna?”

“I really appreciate you including me,” Lilac replied.

The sisters exchanged a knowing look and giggled.

“We want to make sure you feel welcome,” said Crystal. “We remember what it felt like to be nervous and alone in the pack.”

“Everyone except our mates rejected us when we first came here seeking shelter,” added Sapphire. “To werewolves, faes are physically and mentally weak, which makes us useless in their eyes. That feeling of isolation is what drove us to invest ourselves so thoroughly into managing the garden.”

“The pack eventually warmed to us,” said Crystal, smiling, “but our passion for plants remained. And even though we know you won’t be shunned like we were, we know how hard it is to make friends.”

Lilac appreciated their gesture, since it was difficult for her to form new relationships.

“I think… Lilac began, “I think I want to plant a lilac tree. My father loves them, and it will remind me of home.”

Though Lilac was able to communicate with her family, she still missed their presence. It pained her that the last memory of them together was one of sadness and anger.

She missed her father’s dumb jokes, her mother’s counsel, and her brother’s teasing. A hug from them was all she craved at this very moment.

“We should plant the lilacs in the center of the garden so people will know how important they are,” Sapphire suggested.

Lilac knew Sapphire was hoping to cheer her up. She nodded in appreciation. “That’s kind of you both. Thank you.”

“Come, we should retire for the evening. The sun is starting to set,” Crystal yawned.

The three women locked up the greenhouse and slowly made their way back to the pack headquarters.

Rambunctiously, Sapphire flicked one of her sister’s wings and laughed as a flurry of blue dust sprinkled off of it, shimmering brilliantly in the evening light.

Crystal dodged her sister’s second attack and gave chase as Sapphire flew off down the path, laughing.

Lilac was so engrossed with the twins that she didn’t catch the scent of the stranger who was creeping up behind her until she heard the crunch of someone else’s footstep on the gravel.

She spun around, but before she could scream, a large, grimy hand wrapped around her throat and lifted her off the ground.

She kicked her legs, trying to get her hooded assailant to release her, but he didn’t seem to register her feet slamming into his ribs. Instead, he only tightened his grip on her neck.

She felt her head becoming light and knew that she had to shift if she was going to have any chance of escaping.

She strained to free her wolf, as she knew her face had begun to turn blue.

The bones in her extremities began to crack, and her nails stretched into sharp claws, but the rest of her refused to phase. This was as good as it would get.

With her last moments of consciousness, she sank her claws into her attacker’s arm, tearing at his flesh with whatever strength she could muster.

The stranger let out a hiss and threw her to the ground.

Free from his hold, Lilac managed to force out a desperate scream. She saw the two fairies look back at her and shriek in horror.

Her assaulter yanked Lilac up by her hair and dragged her toward the forest, away from Crystal and Sapphire, who were now raising the alarm.

“Kyril!” she shrieked into the night as she kicked and turned, trying to loosen herself from her attacker’s grip.

Crystal took to the sky, speeding toward the pack house, while Sapphire raced through the air toward Lilac.

Even though the fae was powerless to stop the hooded stranger, Lilac knew Sapphire could at least keep track of where he was taking her.

A ferocious howl pierced the air as their Alpha bounded from the shadows, phasing into his Lycan as he ran toward her.

He moved with a speed unlike anything Lilac had ever seen. Leaping off his hind legs and onto all fours, he barreled toward Lilac and her captor.

His fangs were out, and his nails gripped the dirt as he flung himself forward, letting out another deep growl.

The hooded figure turned back to see the Alpha closing in on him. Flinging Lilac over his shoulder, he tore off into the shadows of the forest.