赤裸裸的滑稽故事

Caleb had laughed.

“You surprised me with a wedding,” he said, placing his hand on her cheek and leaning in to steal a soft kiss. “The least I could do was surprise you with a honeymoon.”

“But–” Ashleigh began to protest, but Caleb kissed her into silence.

Axel let out a soft growl to voice his irritation at the display.

Caleb pulled away from Ashleigh and sighed in Axel’s general direction.

“I don’t understand,” Ashleigh said, “you said we couldn’t go anywhere, the treehouse, remember? Our own little world?”

Caleb took her hand and smiled.

“Anywhere we are, we can make it into our own little world,” he whispered.

“Oh please,” Axel rolled his eyes.

Caleb growled softly. Axel returned the growl.

“Boys!” Corrine growled, hushing them both.

“Seriously, Caleb,” Ashleigh said. “I want to spend this time with you, but with everything that’s happening with the small packs and Autumn… how can we even consider this?”

“Autumn is staying quiet, even more so in the past week. At the moment, the situation with the small packs is more about research and investigation,” Caleb said, glancing back at Axel, he added. “Jonas and Axel have offered to run the investigation. So, for right now, we can take the time for ourselves.”_.

Ashleigh tilted her head to look at Axel who avoided her gaze.

“You… helped to arrange this?” she asked with a gentle smile.

Axel sighed.

“There is a war coming, soon enough there won’t be time for celebration and happiness. So, regardless of my opinion. If this,” Axel said, glancing at Caleb, “is what you want, you should be allowed the chance to cherish it. You never know how long you will have together.”

Ashleigh ran to her brother, wrapping him in an emotional embrace. Axel attempted to stay aloof, but in the end, he hugged her and kissed her head softly.

“Thank you,” she whispered.

“You deserve to be happy, Ashleigh,” he whispered.

“So do you,” she replied.

Axel swallowed and pulled away with a reserved smile.

Ashleigh wondered at his reaction, but her attention was called back by Corrine.

“There will be time to give your appreciation on your return, dear,” she smiled. “For now, go and enjoy this rare opportunity.”

Ashleigh turned back to Caleb, he offered his hand and a roguish grin. She laughed and took his hand happily. The two said their goodbyes and left within the hour.

***

Galen and Bell had hung around for another hour before leaving to enjoy their limited time together. Galen would only be in Winter for a few more days.

Wyatt and Corrine announced their own plans to take a trip.

Wyatt had promised Corrine some time away from the pack now that he was no longer Alpha. They would only be gone for a week, but it was the longest time they had spent alone together in close to twenty years.

“It was kind of you to help Caleb surprise Ashleigh with the trip,” Corrine said as she entered the kitchen.

Axel looked up from the refrigerator at his mother. He grabbed the bottle of orange juice and moved to the counter where his empty glass waited.

“I didn’t do much,” he sighed, pouring his glass.

“You did something.”

Axel shrugged and put the juice back.

Corrine moved closer, leaning back against the counter beside him, looking up at him expectantly.

Axel drank from his glass, then glanced at her.

“Was there something else you wanted to say?” he asked.

“I was just wondering how long you were going to wait,” she said.

“For what?” he asked, taking another drink.

“To tell me about your mate.”

Axel froze, swallowing a painful gulp of far too much liquid. He tried to remain calm, to control his reaction.

“What are you talking about?” Axel said, setting down his glass and crossing his arms.

Corrine chuckled.

“Do you really think I can’t tell?” she said. “Your entire demeanor has changed, you are more confident, calmer. Your power has, at minimum, doubled, and even before your father lost his right to Alpha you had received the Goddess’ full blessing. That, my love, is only possible once you have met your Luna.”

Axel swallowed and turned away.

“And marked her,” Corrine added, reaching up to move aside the long hair draped at his shoulders. Revealing the almost completely healed mark.

Axel took a deep breath and let it out slowly. He pulled away from her hand and turned his head so that his hair fell back over the mark.

He stared down at the floor.

“Does dad know?” Axel asked.

“Yes,” Corrine replied. “We both knew something had changed in you, he assumed that it had to do with his broken oath. That the goddess had already given you full authority as Alpha. But, the power you displayed at the judgment… it was… more.”

Axel nodded. He knew he felt more assertive and confident in his abilities and decisions. But he didn’t realize it was because of Alice.

“So, why isn’t he here?” Axel asked. “Shouldn’t he been lecturing me on how I have failed to hold up our most honored tradition, how it proves my lacking as Alpha?”

Corrine sighed and let out a chuckle.

“He isn’t here, for exactly that reason,” she said.

“Of course,” Axel sighed.

“No, Axel,” Corrine said. “I mean, he isn’t here because he knew that you would think that.”

Axel looked at her.

“He knew you would assume that he would be angry, disappointed, or generally unhappy with you.”

“Can you blame me?” Axel sighed.

“I don’t blame you, darling, and neither does he,” Corrine replied, moving in front of Axel, she placed her hands on his shoulders. “Your father has made a lot of mistakes with you and Ashleigh, and he knows it.”

Axel swallowed.

“I know that becoming Alpha did not come around in a way that you wanted or expected. It was thrust on you before you were ready, and your father knows that too,” she said. “But, Axel, honey, no one doubts your ability to be Alpha.”

Axel looked up into her eyes.

“Ashleigh and your father made this decision without your consent, but he agreed to her plan because he already knew you would be great.”

“It didn’t seem like it,” Axel said quietly.

“Well, something that all three of you struggle with is telling people how you feel, how you actually feel,” Corrine sighed. “This isn’t just on him.”

Axel furrowed his brows.

“You and Ashleigh are just as guilty as he is for the faults in your relationship,” she continued. “Neither of you ever told him how you really felt. I understand that you were doing what you thought was right. Playing the role that was expected of you. But so was your father.”

He clenched his jaw, listening to her words carefully.

“But, none of you were ever told to play those roles. No one told you to protect others by holding in your feelings or lying about them. No one asked you to struggle alone,” she said. “It’s not your fault. It’s not his fault. It’s life. Relationships and emotions are difficult and do not come with an instruction manual.”

Axel thought about what she said. She was right. He reached out and pulled her into a hug.

“Thank you,” he whispered. “You are the best of us.”

“I know,” she laughed.