章 21: Chapter Twenty-One
"How formal was this again?" Venus called from the large closet. Her head was draped with the colorful fabrics hanging from their hangers, searching for that one piece she knew she had stashed away somewhere in case of emergency.
"He didn't say." Serena sighed from the bed. She was still in her pajamas and reading that romance novel. She thumbed the soft edges of the pages and bit her lip. Why was romance so easy in the books but so tricky to understand in real life?" She sighed and tossed the book aside. "He just gave me a flower and said to meet him for dinner."
"What flower?" Venus popped her head out of the shirts and jackets.
"This one." Serena pointed a thumb toward the nightstand. The zinnia was still sitting in its glass vase where Atlas had left it the day before. Venus raised her brows, nodded, and turned back to the closet.
"I wonder where he got that one. That doesn't grow around here. Or at least I haven't seen one."
Serena frowned and turned toward the glass vase. The flower was still in bloom even from its' lack of sunlight and fresh water.
A few bright colors flashed before Serena's eyes and into her face. The soft fabric dropped onto her lap, and a thick fur jacket flew into her face. She jerked her head back to dodge the jacket but hit it hard against the headboard. As Serena rubbed her head, she glared at Venus, who just shrugged and closed the closet doors.
"Wear these and hurry it up. You've got 10 minutes till you're supposed to meet him."
"Why do you do this!" Serena jumped from the bed and stripped herself of her pajamas.
"Get your own clothes next time." Venus teased with a wave of her hand as she exited the room. "Have fun tonight!"
A pillow flew at the closed door. Serena was hopping about, trying to fit into the pants that Venus had left for her. Her face was flushed, and her hands unsteady as she tossed on the fur, cropped jacket. Her waist was exposed, and no matter how much she tugged, the shirt and jacket wouldn't budge.
"Give me something better next time..." She muttered under her breath as she exited her room and made her way slowly down the stairs. Her head was on a swivel, looking for other pack members who hadn't quite made it to their rooms or the woods for their evening runs yet.
At the foot of the stair was a long mirror. She stood before it, glanced about, and then back at her slender frame. Venus was always good when it came to fashion, but this. This was something that Serena would never have picked out for herself. The silky smooth fur was a soft cream against the white skin-tight shirt. Its fluffy ruffles poofed around her neck and bunched down her biceps. Serena pulled the fur tightly around her chest and snuggled her face into the collar. Her ripped pants looked as those Venus had probably shifted in them more than once but were beyond comfortable, they were made to be lived in.
A soft ahem sounded from the office doorway on her left.
She flipped toward the sound, eyes wide. Atlas leaned against the doorway, staring intently at the nervous woman before him, and eyeing the fur jacket and her flowing curls closely.
"Ready?" He asked as he stood up and stretched.
Serena nodded and dipped her head down. Atlas shrugged and sauntered toward a small nook off of the living room. It was full of wide windows looking off toward the meadow and creek. Probably beautiful on a clear night and early morning. Two table settings and a small arrangement of zinnias, dahlias, and a few green ferns were set on the table fixed in the center of the room. A miniature cart with various foods stood in a corner next to a love seat filled with cushions and pillows. Candles dotted the table, cart, and shelves of all varying heights and colors. As she stepped into the doorway, Serena's mouth began to water at the smell of the fresh food.
"Have a seat." Atlas pulled a chair out and gestured to Serena to sit in it. She shook her head, breaking her awe of the room, and sat in the chair. Atlas pushed her in and took his place opposite.
The warm candles provided light as well as the setting sun, casting the two in a soft glow.
"Did you do this?" Serena muttered after a long silence.
Atlas hesitated and fiddled with a stray hair.
"Yes, I did. Is it too much?" He muttered, avoiding her gaze, as he fixed the silverware and the napkins.
Serena reached out and set her hand on his, stopping his fretting. He looked up, eyes fearful and vulnerable in their nervousness.
"It's beautiful." She smiled and squeezed his hand before placing her hand back on her lap. "No one's ever done this for me." She dipped her head and picked at the hem of the jacket.
"By the moon goddess, I would do it again," Atlas spoke softly, barely inaudible, as he studied her expression.
Serena looked at him, and another smile tugged at the corner of her lips before fading away like the last glimpse of a setting sun.
"Let's eat," Atlas said as he turned to the trays beside him.
The two ate in comfortable silence for a while, savoring the meat, vegetables, and rolls.
"This is delicious. Thank you for asking me to dinner." Serena said as she finished off her plate.
Atlas swallowed hard and nodded.
"You're welcome." He scraped his fork against the glass plate. He glanced up at Serena, who was staring intently at his plate and fork. "Did you want me to get you something?" He asked, gesturing to the trays of food.
"Oh no." She waved her hand and reclined into the chair. "I do just have a question." She began after another long scrape. "Why did you invite me to dinner? I thought you had meetings with the Elders for the next month."
Atlas took a long sip of water.
"I just wanted to get to know you a bit more and tell you whatever you wanted to know about the pack." He traced the rim of the glass with his finger as he spoke, avoiding her searching eyes.
"Okay... So you'll answer any of my questions about the pack." Serena crossed her arms across her chest and eyed Atlas' hands.
"That's correct." He nodded and took another sip of water.
"Okay. Perfect. I have many questions." Serena began, looking about the room. She turned back to Atlas, a fire in her eyes. "I thought you guys were supposed to be more... violent? How else do I put that." She scratched her arm and looked at her plate.
Atlas chuckled and leaned forward onto the table.
"This clan will get 'violent'-as you put it-if something provokes us. But we are often a neutral party in most things. Except for rogues. Every pack has its own no-tolerance policy on those. My father and his father loved bloodshed and unnecessary inner fighting, I aim to change that and many in this pack back me up."
"Interesting. Rogues. What are those?" Serena propped her elbows and the arms of the chair and cupped her head in her hands.
Atlas smiled as he cut a corner off his steak.
"Those are werewolves that have no pack. That would be through the death of their pack, banishment, failing to meet their pack's standards, or betrayal. There are many reasons. It all depends on the pack and its rules. In the end, they're savages that have no rules or respect for the rules that we live by,"
Serena sighed and pursed her lips tightly.
"Some of the pack, such as yourself just now, have mentioned the moon goddess. What is that? Why is she important?"
Atlas placed his utensils down and wiped his mouth. He stood and extended a hand toward Serena. She gazed up at him, wide-eyed, and confused by his abandoning his meal.
"That is a lot to unpack in this tiny room. Why don't we take a walk?"
"Oh. Okay." She slipped her hand into his and rose. The two exited the house and made their way toward the woods. Atlas leading, and Serena behind him, tightly holding his calloused hand.
It was a quiet night. Most wolves were in their houses with their families, preparing for the new moon. Those that weren't with their families were scouting out the territory and protecting the pack from rogues and other attacks. As Atlas and Serena made their way deeper into the forest, the comforting glow of the pack grew fainter and fainter. Enclosing the two in a dark, close atmosphere. A lone wolf howled in the distance. It was a mournful howl. One that signaled to be left alone to all creatures of the forest.
Serena shuffled closer to Atlas and pressed tightly against his arm. He pulled her closer and slowed his pace.
The last of the crickets sang their song as the cold weather and autumn nights fell. The forest was empty for the first time since Serena had arrived in the pack.
"The moon goddess is known to most as Selene. She was kind but shy, often keeping to herself in her lonely place in the sky. She was given the job of keeping the world ever-changing while remaining secluded. But one day, someone caught her eye. Endymion. He was an attractive young man who had, in truth, made a deal with Zeus to sleep for all eternity in exchange for leaving Olympus and the other gods and goddesses alone."
Serena huffed.
"I can understand that." She smiled, and Atlas gave a soft smile in return.
"I can too. But this was a sleep some believe that Selene cast upon him so that she would be the only one to see his beauty. From there, the obsession grew."
Atlas pushed aside a low pine bough and led her through the opening. The needles tugged at her hair and Atlas pulled a lock free without her noticing before returning to her side.
"But where do the werewolves come in?" She ducked her head and gripped Atlas's hand tightly.
"I'm getting to that." He grasped her hand tightly, pulling her closer to his side, and continued, "Werewolves began as a punishment for our ancestors. Lycaon was punished by Zeus because he sinned by eating the remains of a sacrificed boy."
"Disgusting. I can see why it is a punishment." Serena huffed, snuggling into the fur pelt.
Atlas grimaced as she finished but continued.
"Zeus was enraged, to say the least, and turned Lycaon and his sons into wolves. That is the beginning of what we know to be Lycanthropy."
"Werewolves, okay. What does the moon have to do with werewolves then?" Serena asked as she stepped over a small murky brook.
"Very little, actually. It is believed, by some, that Lycaon was enchanted by Selene and her beauty that he would go mad on the full moon as she was at her brightest and most beautiful then."
Serena nodded and looked up at the sky. It was dark. Very few stars could be seen through the thick pine boughs and fall leaves that clung to their tree for dear life. Serena felt a sudden pull from Atlas and she stiffened.
Atlas lifted Serena in his arms and trudged through a large muddy puddle. The disgusting odor of decaying leaves and pinecones filled the air as they made their way through the patch of soggy soil. Atlas continued,
"Selene had her heart set on Endymion, so she had to get Lycaon off her case. She gave Lycaon a mate. Another person or werewolf would be their other half. A pull from deep in their souls that would guide them together by any means. It is a blessing and a curse. A blessing because we are happy for a lifetime, and Selene gets her Endymion, but a curse in we may lose that mate at any time and be empty for the rest of our lives."
"How does that work though?"
"What do you mean?" Atlas set her down on the rocks and wiped his boots on the grass before they continued their walk.
"How would you know that you lost your mate?"
"Well, you feel it. I've never experienced it, but my father did when my mother died. I know Venus told you about that. He was vacant for the rest of his life. There was nothing that he could do to make himself feel whole again, and his children were never able to fill that void either."
Atlas released Serena's hand and strode a few paces ahead of her toward a group of branches.
"I'm sorry," Serena said as she fiddled with her hands.
Atlas turned around and cupped her hands in his, warming them. His scent filled the air between them and Serena's body began to relax as Atlas' face did.
"You have nothing to be sorry for. It's not your fault. I am telling you this because I want to and I want to be open with you about myself. You are my..." Atlas trailed off.
"I'm your mate like from the story," Serena finished as she reached a hand up and turned his face toward hers. Her emerald eyes were intense but soft. A small curl tugged at the edges of her pink lips. A few stray strands of her hair flitted in the fall breeze. A brightly colored leaf drifted down and landed gently in her hair. Atlas lifted the leaf and held it between them, as a barrier. She smiled and took the leaf, spinning it between her fingers. She was beautiful and everything that Atlas never knew he wanted. A flush crept up his face. "And you are mine..." She murmured softly to the leaf.
"Yeah..." Atlas gazed longly into her eyes for a long moment. Wishing that the moment would be as long as Endymions sleep. "I wanted to show you this." Atlas dropped her hand with one last squeeze and moved away the boughs.
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