My Lycan Mate of Suicide Forest

Selah became thoughtful and pulled out a chair to sit as well.

"The crow could be many things, but let me give you an example of what comes to my mind," she said.

"Each of us is like a vessel of sorts. A beautiful, living vessel entangled with the universe—with all of matter… and when we die, when we pass on… our souls disperse into something similar to a cloud of stardust. Not literally, understand," Selah dipped her head and looked at August through her dark lashes. "It is imagery for a kind of scattering that occurs between dimensions—outward and inward—in all directions."

August nodded. She didn't know why she was nodding, because what was being said was going way over her head. Perhaps she was just nodding so Selah would continue. Seeing August's acknowledgment, Selah did just that.

"Okay, so in line with that imagery… those countless particles of soul dust return to mingle with all the other beautiful particles of passing souls in the universe until the pulse of a new life beckons them," Selah paused, watching to see if August appeared to be following. August's eyes were wide, but she listened on.

"When that happens, these particles of soul dust unite once again not unlike a magnificent bird, maybe in a new configuration—soaring through space and time and matter, through the dimensions of the universe we cannot see with our eyes—until they alight on that new life. Your crow is likely a kind of physical manifestation of this."

Selah's explanation wound around the thoughts running through August's mind, and she found herself envisioning it—dazzling, golden birds soaring on their massive wings through starlight to their next bright vessel.

"So the crow is a guide of some kind? A soul? The soul of my child? Or the soul of another?" August asked, her eyebrows pinched deeply together.

"I don't know for sure. I just imagine that its wings soar between worlds rather than only within our own," Selah replied.

August buried her face in her hands, trying to will it all to sink in. The bird imagery was poetic, but it wasn't exactly helpful. These weren't straight answers that she was being given, and she wanted the straight answers. She wanted everything to be made simple and easy.

The thing that Selah was very straightforward about was that August was pregnant. But what would that mean for her and Graeme and everyone else at this point in time?

"Is Luna okay?" Sage touched her arm and asked in his wordless way.

August uncovered her face to look at the young boy with a reassuring smile. "Yes, Sage. I'm okay." She looked back at Selah and extended her arm across the table to take the girl's hand. "Thank you for telling me."

Selah nodded.

"How long before… before my mate knows?" August asked.

"If you don't tell him first, he will… sense it. Likely soon. Maybe a week? Maybe two?" she replied.

"Okay," August nodded as she rose from her chair.

"There's one more thing," Selah said quickly as she rose, too.

August wasn't sure she wanted to hear it. What else could there be? She watched Selah expectantly without asking to know what it was.

"I have to go off pack land for an extended period of time for the council. Normally I wouldn't be too concerned about leaving Sage, but now that he has used his abilities, I'm afraid he is at risk of being found out. He hasn't used them for so long for that reason, but now…" Selah worried her bottom lip as she looked down at her brother. "While I'm gone, do you think…"

"He can stay with us, of course," August nodded. "We will make sure he is safe."

"Really?" Selah's face spread into a wide grin.

"Of course. We are staying at Graeme's childhood home. Do you know where that is?" August asked.

Both Selah and Sage nodded that they did.

"We are just picking up a few more things and then heading back there for the rest of the night, I believe. When were you leaving?"

"I have to leave tonight," Selah replied.

"Okay. Do you want to just bring him by before you do? I'll make sure we have the room set up for him and everything. It will be fun," August gave Sage a reassuring smile and squeezed his shoulder. "Do you like pizza?"

Sage nodded his head again.

"Graeme makes the best homemade pizza, but maybe you and I can help him this time," August winked.

"Alpha makes pizza?" Sage said softly with wide eyes for August to giggle in response.

"Yeah, believe it or not I am not a cook. Maybe I should learn now that he is going to be a bit busier, huh?" she chuckled. "Okay, we will see you tonight, buddy. I can't wait."

"Thank you so much Luna August," Selah replied before pulling August into a hug.

"No problem at all, Selah. Be safe on your trip," she said and then watched as the brother and sister walked down the steps.

Before she followed them out, August sat down at the kitchen table for a moment alone to let the news that Selah gave her sink in. She groaned into her hands.

What was she going to do? She couldn't even imagine how she would tell Graeme. He was sorting things out at the council and dealing with the massive task before him of bringing this pack back under Alpha leadership. There were just too many things going on right now to worry him about a pregnancy on top of everything.

Who even knew if Selah was right. A blooming tree? That was hardly compelling evidence. Maybe the best thing to do would be to just ignore this news—pretend she didn't even hear it. She may not be pregnant. If she ignored it, who knows… maybe it would just go away. There was so much else to focus on right now.

"Yep. That's what I'm going to do," she whispered to herself and stood from the table.

Out on the deck, a crow tilted its head her way and gave a few clucks before soaring down to wait for her by the Jeep.

******

I can't believe how great PS votes are going! Within one day, we made it to 80 PS votes, so we just need a bit more and then to maintain it over the course of a week, starting today (Sun is the first day of the WN week when PS votes go back to 0). I think we can do it by the end of Jan! LMSF is ranked in the 300s right now, so we're getting there! Thank you so much for voting for our lycan and his mate! <3