Beastars – Into the Spotlight
Bonus Chapter – Juno´s Perfect Rexmas (Part 2)
(Christmas Special by Dekra & RedLiteAlexi)
POV Juno
A small gleam of light entered the tiny squints of my eyes. I reflexively turned away and started to wake up. My tightly shut eyes loosed and then open. Letting out a yawn, I looked around the little bedroom I was in. I recognized that I was inside of my parent's guest room. It felt a little weird to sleep in my childhood home anywhere but my bedroom. I leaned up and looked at my surroundings.
My parents had bought a little guest crib which was placed alongside the bed. I felt a little conflicted about them doing that. On one hand it was nice that we didn't have to worry about bringing any of our own stuff. But I guess I felt bad about them spending money on me when I had Legoshi. With his role as a Beastar, money wasn't really an issue for us. I rolled over and my feet landed out and onto the floor.
The mattress was nice and soft and I was able to get the much needed rest I get. I looked over at the empty side of the bed.
"Legoshi decided to go the whole day without going to bed. I guess he decided to get the double dose of my parents out of the way." I thought to myself.
Slowly, I stood up and stretched my body. On the floor in front of me was my discarded outfit. I leaned over and wrapped my hand around the blouse. I stopped myself as I did. "Maybe now that I was home and out of the public eye, I could dress for comfort."
I went to my suitcase and removed a pair of black leggings. I slipped them on over my legs and bum. I looked for appropriate top wear. One somewhat unexpected side effect of my post pregnancy was the size by which my breast increased. I knew it happened to some degree but I wasn't prepared to shoot up almost a full cup size in 2 months. Coupled with having to frequently remove said breast to feed my son, my selections were a little slim.
I settled on a big pink and stretchy sweater. This wouldn't do much in masking my recent growth but would be comfy and easy to feed in. I pulled it over my head and excited the room. Once I was in the hallway, I heard a sound of voices and clatter coming from the kitchen. I moved towards it and the closer I got, I realized the sound of voices were coming from a tv. I entered the room and saw my great grandmother sitting in a little rocking chair. The elder wolf was perched in front of a small television, placed on the counter top.
I walked closer to her and smiled. Her eyes squinted as if she was asleep. I knew she wasn't though, as her gaze turned to me as I entered the room. She leaned forward and had rather bad posture. Her once golden brown fur had turned to a light grey and white in patches. She still had the thick fluffy ears that many on my mom's side inherited. As I looked at the old wolf, I noticed for the first time how similar we actually looked. She said nothing as I got closer to her.
"Hello gran!" I said as I leaned in and kissed her head. The elder wolf's face curled up into a smile and her tail gave a few small shakes against her side.
"You know she loves attention; you should visit more…" a voice called from over my shoulder. I turned around to see my mother standing behind the kitchen island. I internally sighed at her comment and smiled.
"I definitely need to" I said. My mother loosened her face.
"Forgive me, I'm really happy you're here…" she sighed and smiled. I loosened up as well. My mom was sweet but I would never put it past her to twist the knife a little. "…you have a good nap?" She asked as peeled potatoes for the enormous dinner she was surely making.
"Yeah, I really needed it" I said with a yawn. "Where is everyone else?" I asked looking around.
She brought down her blade and cleaved a potato in two. "I think dad and Legoshi are somewhere together. I suppose trying to get that male bonding time I've heard so much about."
My mind flashed back to high school. The revelation that my lovely wolf had experimented with his roommate sexually.
"I wonder if that technically counted as male bonding time?" I thought to myself. It was certainly hot, whatever it was. l stifled a little giggle.
Mom looked at me and smiled as well. "What's so funny?" She asked as she diced up vegetables.
I thought of anything else to say. "Haha oh nothing, Legoshi was just telling me that he was nervous about impressing dad…" Mom giggled and smiled.
"Well your father has been nervous about the same time. I think he just wants Legoshi to think he's cool" she said while beginning to dice up celery.
"I've been trying to convince him that dad is like the most mellow and easy going wolf on earth. It's you that he should really be afraid of." I joked.
Mom looked at me with a cocked eyebrow and smirk. "I'll…take that as a compliment."
"Haha I didn't mean it like that!" I giggled. My mom's face turned into a mighty smirk. She looked back down at her vegetables.
"I mean you're not wrong." She said with glee. I joined beside her and giggled.
"Need any help?" I asked.
"I suppose if you're not too busy you could boil some eggs for the deviled eggs…" She smirked.
"Oh yummy! I haven't had your delicious deviled eggs in so long!" I said with warm excitement.
"You like my eggs, I thought they made your tummy hurt?" She giggled. I went to the fridge and pulled out a carton.
"Mom, I'm a grown woman. I'm more than capable of dealing with a little stomach ache."
I put a few of them into a pot. "You don't have to worry about me."
She grinned and laughed. "I'm not worried about you, I'm worried about Legoshi. He has to sleep in the same room as you."
I turned red and gasped. "Oh my god Mora!" I yelled. She cackled lightly and hugged my side.
"He waited on me hand and foot during my pregnancy so he'll survive… probably." I giggled and suddenly my mind jumped. "Uh where is Leon!?" I asked, trying to remain calm. I was annoyed how my concern for my baby seemed to go from zero to a hundred in an instant." My mother looked up and pointed.
"Oh he's in the little baby rocker by Dealia." I moved over to my great grandmother. Her tired eyes glided over to me as I looked on the other side of her. I knelt down and saw my little pup laying in a tiny blue bassinet. He was snuggled up in his blanket and he held his eyes tightly closed. I felt a sigh of relief as I assured he was okay.
"You alright?" My mother called over to me. I relaxed and looked up at the older wolf. Dealia looked down at me and Leon with the same little smile she flashed me earlier. I smiled back and stood up. I gave her hand a little squeeze before returning to my mother.
"Sorry… I guess I was worried…" I said with a little embarrassment. She snickered under her breath.
"I assure you I'm more than capable of taking care of a baby" my mother said with a little snark. I rolled my eyes out of her sight.
"I saw the crib in the other room. It's really nice but you didn't have to spend money on those things…" I said.
"It's no problem Juno, we got them cheap online. Besides we never know when you all will drop by and it's nice to be prepared. Just do me a favor and bring him by more often so it was worth the price" Mom said with her own little devilish grin. I looked back at my sleeping pup.
"I hope he wasn't too much trouble…" I said as I turned up the burner for the eggs.
"Well compared to when you were his age, he's as calm as can be. He's just been sleeping and so peaceful" Mora said gleaming.
I wanted to sigh.
"I love you mom, but please stuff it." I thought to myself.
Leon was probably so manageable because I slaved over taking care of that pup the entire previous night.
"Uh Huh…" Is all that came from my mouth. I hope she felt dumb.
Mom shifted, she obviously was going to try and let up before things escalated too much.
"You have a really beautiful family" She gleamed. I sighed and blushed creeped over my face. I was so relieved to move on. "Thank you mom, I'm really happy to be here."
"Can you get me a pot for these vegetable peeling?" She asked.
"Making stock?" I asked as I went for a cabinet.
"Mhmm" She said as she gathered the scraps.
"I really missed all your delicious meals. I know it's cliche but I really think my mom is the best chef in the world." I smiled and handed her the large aluminum pot.
"I hope you're eating well in the big city." She placed the peelings inside and added some other ingredients.
"Well I cook some good meals but they don't compare to your cooking." I blushed as I watched her.
My mom giggled. "Years of practice, I burnt plenty of meals when I was your age. When your dad was in medical school, our first apartment constantly smelled like burned rice."
"Well one nice thing about our home is we have all these delicious restaurants nearby that deliver" I said.
Mora said nothing but nodded as she set the pot on a burner. I knew another round of snark was on its way.
"You'd be amazed how much you can save if you make more meals at home as compared to ordering takeout" She said.
"Well with Legoshi's title as Beastar he's compensated extremely generously. We actually could eat out every night if we wanted to." I nervously giggled. Mom went to dice up an onion. I stood back as the strong odor hit my nostrils.
"So I guess I have some questions about Legoshi's job." She said nonchalantly.
"Of course you do Mora." I thought to myself.
"Oh like what?" I said with a painfully worn smile.
"So is his job...safe?" She asked. I took a deep breath and answered.
"Not always, I know that sounds quite concerning but it's his duty and he takes it very seriously. Legoshi is very capable of protecting himself and he's smart enough to be careful with his life."
Through the turmoils of our relationship, I realized this first and foremost. My mom nodded.
"I understand, I am glad he takes his work seriously. Do you ever think he struggles with his commitments between his work and his family?" She asked.
I was slightly annoyed that my mom was asking me these questions like I had never thought about them before.
"When I first told him that I was pregnant, he told me about how much it meant to him that he was an active father and involved in our family. He's even taken extra care to make sure that I'm cared for outside of my role as a mother."
I grinned to myself. "Whatcha think of that Mora?" I thought devilishly.
She nodded again. "Well that's certainly very sweet. I'm happy that my daughter can have someone who thinks about that sort of thing."
"Legoshi has had his own difficult past with his family. His own father was out of the picture and his mother passed away when he was just a child. I think he really wants to be the guardian for Leon, what his grandfather was to him..." I said.
My mother had no quippy comment for that. She just smiled and blushed.
"You know Juno, Leon looks a lot like your grandfather. With his eyes and fluffy grey fur." My mother looked very overjoyed as she thought about him. My grandfather Sven, father of Mora and the son of Dealia, was a larger than life figure. Very charming and loving man. He raised my mother as a single father and was her own personal hero. He was a common fixture of my early life as he lived an hour away and loved to come and fish from the lake.
My grandfather was a great storyteller and could light up a room with his tales from childhood or little scary stories he made up. He was also the pride of my great grandmother who also admired her son deeply. Sadly, he became ill and passed away very suddenly around this time of year nearly a decade ago. Even with the many years since, his death weighed heavy on my mother and great grandmother. For Dealia, the loss was very difficult to handle and her mind started to lose her faculties not long after.
"He'd be so happy to see you with your son…" My mother said, tearing up a little. I was starting to tear up as well. "I wish Leon could have known him, he would have learned so much from him." I wiped my eyes along with my mother.
I giggled. "Damn…onions!" She giggled and looked at me again.
"Juno, do you care about yourself outside of your role as a mother." She asked, a little nervous. I was caught off guard for the question.
"What do you mean?"
My mother turned to me and held my hands.
"I think you'll be a good mother and a great partner. My father was a great parent, he gave so much and never demanded anything for himself. He truly was a selfless person. He was always devoted to his family and made that his mission in life." She smiled.
I nodded and looked over at my baby as he started to move slightly.
"I guess when you're a child you don't notice these things. If I had one wish, it's that my father could have gotten more time to pursue his self-interest. He could do anything he set his mind to. I think you and him are a lot alike in that way."
I was silent and confused. My mother's words seemed like they should be pointed but I didn't really feel any malice towards me.
"I know you understand that your role as a mother comes first…but I hope you still consider yourself important. I know it sounds ironic coming from a housewife but I really do enjoy the life I live. I really found fulfillment in the duty of a caretaker. And if I didn't, I would try and include things in my life that did. I understand it's hard to qualify because your partner has such a unique role in society but I hope you don't feel like you have to give up your dreams for him."
"I…" I went blank on my thought process. I just said nothing. What was happening? What was she saying?
"I just want you to know that your range of possibilities is not confined to a Beastar's shadow." She said, still holding my hands.
"Mom… I appreciate what you're trying to say. But I'm happy with the way things are right now. I've been plenty busy with my own business. I know I've told you I've been dancing for a large theater company in the city. That was something I earned on my own merits and I am good at." I replied, admittedly more reflexive than I intended.
She nodded. "Well I certainly hope you are living happy and to your fullest potential." She smiled, to which I weakly smiled back.
My mind was racing but to where, I couldn't properly say. My mother released my hand and looked back at the pot.
"You know, if the boys are having their private guy time, we could have some fun too..." she smiled, "I figure since it's Rexmas Eve, maybe a few mimosas are in order."
She smirked and got two decorative glasses from a cabinet. My smile turned wider and I nodded happily. Mom went to the pantry to get champagne and I went to the fridge to grab orange juice. I returned and my mom started working on uncorking the bottle. I waited in anticipation for the cork to fly out.
"POP!" filled the room as the cork was sent flying through the air. The loud sound disturbed my little bundle of joy. Leon began to pout and whine as he suddenly awoke. Mom poured me some champagne in a glass and offered it to me.
"Ugh, let me go take care of him, he's probably hungry." I stopped. "Sorry mom I shouldn't drink if I'm right about to feed him."
She sighed but smiled.
"Juno, you're very responsible." She poured the orange juice into the alcohol. "We'll still have plenty of mimosas for dinner." She smiled and took a sip.
"Hmm okay maybe just a sip." I smirked. Mom handed me the glass and I tasted the sweet sugar of the juice and the subtle stiffness of the alcohol. "Oh my, I can't wait for dinner." I said cheerfully.
"Well it's only about 2 hours away. I got the big stuff mostly done and these sides will be knocked out in no time" Mom said taking the glass and setting it back on the counter. She leaned in and hugged me. I smiled and hugged the plump sides of the wolf. "Thanks for being here."
I smiled warmly as we embraced. From the bassinet, Leon let out a shrill little cry. I snapped up and saw Dealia's smile fade as she covered her ears. "Oh shit!" I said as I broke the hug and rushed over to the rocker.
"I'm gonna take him back to the guest room…" I said as I scooped up the crying pup. Mom waved to Leon as we passed and soon I was back in the bed. I felt his clothes and discovered he was wet.
I reached for my diaper bag next to our luggage and got to work. I stripped off his onesie and diaper, discarding the latter. Soon he was clean and a lot more amicable. I raised my sweater and offered my breast to the pup. "I hope you enjoy this, it cost me a delicious mimosa." I snickered as his mouth attached to my nipple. I exhaled as the room became full of sucking sounds.
I thought back to what mom said. Was this the life I envisioned in my childhood? Thinking back to my time at Cherryton, a lot of it involved falling in love with Legoshi and that was the primary focus of my years there. While I did enjoy many things and had my own accomplishments in drama club and being the valedictorian for my year, I really did spend a lot of time pursuing that wolf on his rise to a Beastar.
I wonder what 8th grade me would have thought about that. Before going to Cherryton, I saw it as an opportunity to achieve my goals of grandeur. 15-year old me wouldn't have wanted to have a family with a Beastar, she would have wanted to be the Beastar. I lingered on that thought for a while as the little pup suckled. I yawned again, though my mind was full, my body was incredibly comfortable. Leon stopped sucking and yawned as well.
"Oh you precious thing, you really are going to sleep the day away." I smiled and carefully raised him up and cradled him in my armpit. Making sure his face wasn't covered, I cozied up to the warm little wolf. I looked down at my fluffy little baby and kissed his head.
"I think I could fall asleep too." I smiled as my eyes became heavy. Another moment and I was gone.
POV Legoshi
"Haha, really? Na, no way Vince. You're not pulling that off." I told the older wolf across the pool table.
"I gotta finish in style son, you just watch" He responded in a cheerful tone as he added some more chalk to the tip of his cue stick. After he won our first table he offered to make it a best of three on the bet, and by some miracle I managed to beat him on the second one. I suspected he was just going easy on me to make it interesting, but I was fine with that really. I was actually having a great time with him. We played as he told me the stories of his younger years while also going through more of that delicious cocktail he prepared. It had been three glasses each so far, and I could definitely start to feel the effects. But I still felt fine really, it had really helped jolly up the mood between the two of us.
Now in the last game Vincent was down to his last two balls while I still had four to go, and he said he wanted to finish them both in one shot.
"I will have to see it to believe it Vince. If you miss the shot it could cost you that bet you know?" I said with a grin.
"Perhaps. But that just makes it more interesting…" he said while smiling and leaned over the table to line up his shot. He focused his gaze from the cue ball to the other two he was aiming for at the other end of the table. He would have to get the angle just perfect to have the cue ball bounce from the first target to the other, and hit them at the correct spot so they both entered into the corner pocket closest to them. It was certainly one of the hardest plays I had ever seen tried. Vincent took a deep breath, and took the shot, He didn't go full force with it, but used just enough for the cue ball to strike both of its targets one after the other, and each of them rolled perfectly into a pocket.
"Oh come on! No way!" I blurted out as Vincent stood up and took a short bow.
"Thank you, thank you, you're a wonderful audience" he said right before he burst into a laugh and I couldn't help but do the same.
Just then the door to the room opened and Mora walked in as we were coming out of our fit of laughter. "I figured I would find you both here. Glad to see you're enjoying yourselves." She said as she crossed her arms and smiled at us.
"Mora dear! Yes we've had a great evening so far!" Vincent answered.
Mora then glanced toward the half emptied bottle of bourbon Vincent had left on the bar counter. "Perhaps a little too much enjoyment eh?" She said with a glanced back and Vincent with a coy expression.
"Oh don't give me that look now…" he responded in a playful tone, "…I know you already started with the mimosas in the kitchen so you're as guilty as me."
"Alright fair enough, you got me there." She said while lifting her arms in defeat. "Anyway, dinner is ready so why don't you go wake up Juno and then meet us at the table Legoshi."
"Sure." I responded. "But actually, there is something important I'd like to talk about, with both of you." I told her as she was about to turn around and leave the room. She stopped in her tracks and looked at me with a curious expression. "Oookay then, I'm all ears Legoshi." She said, crossing her arms again.
"Same here" Vincent added.
"Alright, umm, where to begin." I said while taking a deep breath and leaving my cue stick against the table. "…I know I haven't been very close with both of you in the past, even after Leon was born. And I really do apologize for that. But I hope you can believe me when I say that your daughter is the best thing that has ever happened to me. Having Leon has made me realize many things about myself, about what I want for the future and what are my priorities. My family is my priority. Both Juno and Leon. I love them both more than I can put into words. And so, it would mean the world to me if you would give me your blessing, to…marry your daughter."
I had been so nervous thinking about this moment ever since I knew we would be visiting them, but I knew I had to do it, and the time I had spent with Vincent had helped me a lot to work up the courage to say what I needed to say.
They both stood in silence for a moment and exchanged a glance I couldn't decipher. Mora was the first to speak up again.
"Legoshi, I want my daughter to be happy, and live her life to the fullest. I wish I could have gotten to know you better on a personal level, but if there is one thing I'm certain of is that Juno loves you, and is happiest with you. I will trust her judgement, and therefore, I will trust you as well. You have my blessing, but do not, let me down." She said in quite a serious tone while looking me straight in the eyes.
I bowed my head slightly as I responded. "Thank you."
Vincent was quick to follow. "I think you already know how I feel Legoshi. I believe in you, and so I have no reservations in giving you my blessing as well." He said with a smile on his face.
I felt as if a huge weight had been lifted off my shoulders, the fear that lurked in the back of my mind was gone, replaced with the joy and happiness of knowing I could start my path into the future in the right way. "Thank you, both of you. I promise I will not let you down." I told them.
"I know you won't son." Vincent added, before switching to a more casual tone. "So, how about you go get sleeping beauty for dinner while I clean up the table."
"Haha, Alright will do, see ya at the dinner table then…" I answered and then walked out the room behind Mora.
I crossed the house again and opened the door to the guest room where Juno was sleeping. When I came in I noticed she had fallen asleep with Leon in her arms and had changed her clothes. I came to her side of the bed and glanced down at the two of them. The sun had already set, and the dim glow of moonlight shone through the window, illuminating them as they slept. They looked so peaceful. I wished I could've left them there to sleep, but alas that was not the case, I brought my hand up and traced the soft fur on Juno´s cheek.
"Juno, wake up…" I whispered. She slowly shifted and opened her eyes. I smiled at her and she did the same. "Dinner is ready, your parents are waiting for us." I told her.
She yawned and sat up slowly. I gestured for her to let me hold Leon and she passed him over. He still slept soundly as I turned around and walked over to the crib, gently placing him down in its soft mattress.
"How long was I asleep?" She said in a low voice as she stretched out.
"A few hours at most. It's about nine I think..." I answered as I turned to face her again.
"And you spent that all with my parents? Haha, wow, how'd it go?" She said with a coy smile.
"Mostly with your dad, but yes. And it was great. I wish I had done it sooner to be honest." I responded.
"See? I told you, you didn't need to be worried. Now let me wash up and let's get going." She said as she stood up and walked to the bathroom.
I chuckled. "Alright I will be waiting for you outside then."
I walked out of the room and waited a few minutes by the door as I heard the water from the sink running in the bathroom. It stopped and soon after Juno came out of the room. I looked at her closely. The sleep had certainly done her good, she looked as beautiful as ever in my eyes, and I could help but pull her into a kiss right then and there. She was surprised at first, but she quickly returned the gesture. I held her close for what ended up being quite the long kiss. She had certainly not lost that fire I had grown to love within her.
We eventually separated again and she looked me in the eyes with that coy smile I had gotten so used to. "And to what do I owe that treat?" She said.
"Oh you know, just being the most beautiful wolf in the world..." I told her.
She smiled and gave me one more quick kiss. "Come on handsome, can't keep my parents waiting. But this isn't over, I will hold you to your word from earlier."
I chuckled, "Sounds good to me" I told her as I put an arm over her shoulders and we walked down the hallway to the dinning-area beside the living room.
When we turned the corner at the end of the corridor I saw the large table had already been set and was full of what I could only describe as a feast fit for a king. Various bowls of salads, mashed potatoes, an apple pie, and as a centerpiece was a large glass tray full of lobster tails neatly arranged along the sides. Mora and Vincent were waiting by their chairs and I saw another elderly she-wolf sitting at the table. I figured that must be Juno's great grandma.
"There you are! We were beginning to wonder if you two had actually fallen asleep or something…" Vince said in a sarcastic but playful tone.
"Sorry for the delay. We uh, had to get Leon back to sleep..." I told him with an innocent smile as we walked up to the table.
"Sure sure, no worries son" He responded.
"Daaad, come on!" Juno told him with a slightly annoyed tone.
"Alright princess. So before we begin, Legoshi would you do the honors?" Vincent said as he lifted a champagne bottle from the table.
"Uhh, sure, I'd love to." I responded as I let go of Juno and walked around the table and Vincent handed me the bottle. The wrapping has already been removed so I simply held the bottle with one hand and worked the cork loose with the other. Then I slowly pressed it up until it blew off with a loud pop and flew across the room.
"Nicely done." Vincent complemented after an enthusiastic applause from him, Mora and Juno. I simply chuckled a bit and smiled as I handed him the bottle and he proceeded to fill up the five champagne glasses on the table. Once he finished we all took a glass.
"A toast then, to a happy Rexmas and to family" Vincent said with a raised glass. "To family" We all responded and touched glasses before each taking a sip of the bubbly golden liquid.
"Wow, you sure do have good taste Vince, this is great" I told him.
"Special occasions require special treats. But I'm starving, let's dig in!" He said as he pulled out a seat. We all followed and took our own seats around the table.
"Wow, did you make all this yourself Mora?" I said as I sat down.
"Oh yes she did, she's an absolute genius in the kitchen!" Vincent said enthusiastically. "I'd be lost without her actually…" he said to me in a whisper.
"Oh come on Vincent you aren't that bad yourself." Mora added as she took her first bite.
I chuckled before taking a bite of the lobster tail.
"This is delicious Mora, thank you!" I told her after swallowing.
"My pleasure Legoshi." She answered.
"You know Juno, I'm surprised you didn't put on more weight with such a good cook at home…" I told her in a teasing tone.
"Legoshi!" She answered in surprise.
"Oh she tried." Mora added.
"Mom!" Juno yelled in outrage, causing us all to burst out laughing.
POV Juno
Dinner was very nice overall. It was the first time Legoshi ate with my parents but I was surprised at how well he had gotten along with them. Even my mother seemed relaxed and cheerful around him. What must have happened in those few hours I was asleep I wondered. But I was very thankful in the end. We had great conversation and the food was delicious, as I would expect from my mom really. We had just finished the pie for dessert and I felt so full.
"Thank you for the dinner mom, it was amazing!" I told her.
"Your welcome Juno!" She answered warmly.
"So, how about we pick up the table and then get to opening some presents?" Dad added.
We all nodded and proceeded to pick up the plates, bowls and trays and took them to the kitchen. Afterwards we went over to the living room and my dad with help from Legoshi picked up the four presents under the tree and put them on the coffee table we were sitting around.
"Alright, guests first, those are for you two!" Vincent said pointing at the two closest to us before sitting down on his armchair. Legoshi and I each took the one with our name on the tag and started tearing off the wrapping. He finished opening his first, revealing the box of a brand new cocktail shaker.
Dad spoke up. "That one is from me, Legoshi. I know you said you don't drink much but I think you saw that there is nothing like a good homemade beverage. That's the same type of shaker I use and I can show you some easy recipes to take back home."
"Sounds like fun Vince, thank you" he answered.
I had just finished opening mine and it was two identical picture frames. They were very nice with a silver lining and a full moon etched into the top of the frame. One had a picture of me with my parents from when I was younger, and the other was left empty.
"And that one is from me dear" said my mom. "I want you to never forget that as your parents we will always be there to help you if you need it, even if you are no longer our little princess. But I also want you to move forward in your life and start making new memories that I know you'll cherish for years to come."
"Aw, thank you mom. I love them, and of course I will never forget about you!" I told her in a loving voice. And set the frames beside me. "Now it's your turn guys, I hope you like our gifts too." I said to my parents.
"Alright, let's have a look here..." Said my dad. They each took their gifts and started opening the wrapping. Dad finished his first.
"Hey, these are my favorite brand!" Dad exclaimed as he saw the box of cigars Legoshi had gotten for him.
"Juno told me you liked them, though I didn't expect a doctor to enjoy these if I'm honest." He told him with a chuckle.
"Oh Mora hates when I smoke one, but in moderation it's not that bad. I've seen others get to almost a hundred years old and still smoke these. Thanks." Dad answered while my mom simply shook her head and finished opening hers.
"Oh, is this a necklace?" She said. "It's a locket mom, you have to open it…" I told her.
She opened the box and pulled it out resting it against her palm. It was a silver locket in the shape of a stylized wolf head, which I had a special picture of me and my mom put inside. She opened it and a warm smile appeared on her face.
"I know you worry about me mom, but I want you to know that I will always be your daughter, and I love you very much!" I told her.
"I love it Juno. Thank you both for the gifts, they were very thoughtful of you" Mom told us.
"Hold on though." Legoshi said as he turned to look at me. "There is one more, very special gift, I have for Juno." He finished with a loving look on his eyes.
"What?" I told him playfully as he stood up and took me by the hand to follow him until we were in front of the fireplace. I didn't know what was up with him at first, but when I saw him reach into his pocket and pull out a small black velvet box I felt my heart almost stop.
"No this can't be, was he really..." I thought to myself.
It was a scene I could only remember from my wildest dreams, but it was actually happening now. I brought up my hands to cover my mouth and I could feel tears of joy start to well up in my eyes as he dropped to one knee. He looked at me with the warmest gaze I had ever seen on his face and opened the box. Inside its white interior was probably the most beautiful ring I had seen in my life. Two silver wolf heads with tiny diamonds in their eyes were intertwined in a circle around a perfectly cut amethyst gemstone matching the color of my eyes. The flames from the fire reflected off the stone in a dazzling display of purple light.
"Juno, would you make me the happiest wolf in this world, and be my wife."
He had said it, the words I had always dreamed of hearing for the past few years. I was overwhelmed with joy, and there was no doubt in my mind what my answer would be.
"Yes, of course I will!" I said as I threw myself into his arms and brought him into a passionate kiss, though almost making him fall over onto his back. But he caught me in a hug before standing up and spinning us around on the spot. Everything felt so wonderful right now, I just couldn't remember feeling this much happiness before in my life. I could hear the clapping of my parents in the background as Legoshi put me down again and we finally broke off the kiss and I turned to look at my parents.
"Wait, you two are ok with this?" I asked them in surprise.
"Of course we are!" Vincent said loudly.
"We want you to be happy Juno." Mora added. "And of course Legoshi already talked it through with us while you were asleep." She said with a smile.
"Aww, you had it all planned out didn't you" I said to Legoshi while passing a hand through the fur on his cheek.
"I wouldn't go so far as to call it a plan, but yes something like that." He said with a smile before I pulled him in for another quick kiss.
"Here, let me…" He said after we broke off and he brought up the box again. He took out the ring and put the box back in his pocket. He then took my left hand and slid the ring on as my parents started clapping again.
His gaze met mine again, his eyes full of a caring warmth and happiness. I couldn't get enough of him anymore and went in to kiss him again. I wrapped my arms around his neck and he did the same around my waist, holding me close to him. In fact, I probably got a bit carried away as we then heard some loud forced coughing coming from my mom in the background and quickly separated.
"Hehe, sorry" I told them as we let go of each other.
"Alright then it looks like we have more to celebrate tonight, I'm sure there's another bottle of champagne somewhere in the kitchen..." Dad said as he started walking out of the living
room. "I have soooo much to tell you Legoshi about the worst decision you've ever made" he added.
"Dad!" "Vincent!" My mom and I said in unison.
"Oh come on I'm just kidding!" He answered from the kitchen, causing Legoshi to chuckle beside me.
The rest of the evening was very pleasant, despite my dad's antics and grandma Dealia leaving for her room soon after dinner. We finished another bottle of champagne, as well as some mimosas my mom brought from the kitchen, and made conversation on a bunch of topics. Mostly related to what the future might hold for us, the idea that there would be a wedding not too long in the future, and my parents own experience going through all that. It seemed a bit overwhelming at first, but it just made me so happy to know that I would get to spend the rest of my life with the handsome wolf who had meant the world to me for so long. I spent most of the time snuggled up to him, breathing in his wonderful earthy scent. After an hour or so we decided to call it a day and said our farewells for the night, with promises to do some winter activities outside tomorrow. We had just started walking to our room when I heard my dad's voice behind us again.
"Hey Legoshi save it for the honeymoon will ya? We'd like to get a good night's sleep here."
I slammed my hand into my face in embarrassment. Legoshi only chuckled as we kept walking and I could hear my mom punching my dad in the shoulder.
"Oww, I'm just messing with them. No need to get aggressive, yes?"
And she punched him again but this time with a giggle.
POV Legoshi
I opened the door to our room and followed Juno in, closing it behind us. As soon as I did so Juno turned around and jumped into my arms again, fusing our mouths together in a searing kiss. I wasn´t complaining though, far from it. I wrapped my arms around her back and she did the same with her legs around my waist. I walked us over to the bed and pinned her under me against the mattress. Only then did we broke off the kiss.
"Are you sure about this? Leon is still sleeping and we don't want to annoy your parents..." I told her in a low voice.
"Oh no, you're not getting out of this that easily. We just need to keep it down, and I told you I would hold you to your word from earlier." She answered while looking me straight in the eyes. She had a lust filled gaze, the kind I hadn't seen in her for quite a while, and I knew I wanted this too.
"As you wish then" I said, bringing our mouths together again.
-Hot engaged wolf couple smut ensues, coming very soon in a separate chapter on Dekra´s account -
POV Juno
I promptly attempted to leave the room with my son in hand. The little pup continued to whimper silently. It was like a bomb was about to detonate in my hands. While he had currently held back the most potent of his shrieking, that could change in an instant. Leon wiggled in my arms and I hurried my step. I wasn't sure why I was rushing into another room of the house. I guess I just wanted to get him away from Legoshi. I felt so bad for that wolf. He had done so much for me and the little pup today. I knew he was incredibly tired and yet he never showed it. My legs were rubber, still weak from the voracious fucking that I had just lovingly received.
If the current situation wasn't so dire, I might have taken a moment to revel in the salaciousness of my recent activities. Marching throughout the home of my parents, wearing nothing but a bathroom robe, basking in the final moments of post coital pleasure. The fact that just a few moments earlier I was having sex made my current task all the more difficult.
Leon let out his loudest squeal and I clenched up nervously. I looked around and was half expecting all the doors of the other residents to burst open. Nothing ever came of it however. I jostled him in my arms, trying to calm him of his distress. He breathed heavy and continued to let out his little cries. I thought back to my mother making comments of how easy he was to handle in the day. Little did she know, the nighttime was when his more incorrigible behavior occurred.
"Leon it's okay, it's okay baby boy." I whispered into the noisy little pup's ear. He squirmed in my arms and I kept on gently bouncing him in my arms. He let out another raucous yelp into the house. I cringed again, it would only be a matter of time before one of his sounds would awaken my parents or grandmother. I gritted my teeth and groaned.
"What to do, what to do?" I asked myself under my breath. My mind thought back to how I typically dealt with Leon while at home. We had a nice little balcony that came off from our bedroom. Past the soundproof windows we could hear the hustle and bustle of night traffic and trains moving through the city. My son had seemed to find comfort in the city's background noise. While there wasn't going to be any comparable sounds outside of the secluded home, perhaps the nighttime atmosphere would calm the unruly pup.
As quickly and quietly as possible, I walked into the living room as my baby cried. He was getting louder, I would have to make my move quick. Upon the couch was a large thick blanket. I snatched it in my free hand and draped it over my shoulder. Moving to the kitchen, my hand gripped the handle of the rear sliding glass door. I flipped the small switch to unlock it and began to pull it open. A frigid blast of cold winter air moved in against me. Even with my fur, the chill of the mountain lake made small goosebumps rise on my skin.
"Damn, I hope this isn't a terrible idea." I said as I looked at my small pup. He shivered slightly and tucked his head into my chest. From the door frame, I saw my breath in front of my face. Thick and billowing like smoke. I took a deep inhale and covered our bodies with the thick cloth. I stepped through the threshold of the door and into the white frozen world.
The chill was instant but I kept walking forward. We stood on my parents' deck that overlooked the large body of the water. The surface of the lake looked placid and nearly stagnant. I spotted a deck chair and quickly sat down, carefully tucking the thick blanket under me. I curled into a ball in the chair and held my baby close to me. As I finally wrapped the blanket around our bodies, I felt warm. I sighed in relief as my baby stopped shivering. Leon looked out into the cold grey skies of the night. His little breaths caused miniscule wisps of fog to appear. The landscape was beyond beautiful. It was one of my favorite parts about my home.
The view of the lake before the majesty of the mountain. Though it was night, there was a surprising amount of light reflecting off the water and snow. I looked down at my son and I could see his little eyes transfixed on the shining celestial body in the sky. Perched just above the lake and mountain was the radiant moon. It looked very large and was slightly waning, nevertheless it poured a powerful glow over the both of us.
It occurred to me that this was probably the brightest moon that he had ever seen. Outside of the obstruction of the city, he was getting to see the moon in all its glory. I looked at it as well as it beamed down on us. All wolves could feel the energy that came from the moon. It was a unique magic that connected our kind. Staring into its luminous presence could supposedly bring you in sync with the spirits of every wolf that had passed on.
In my earliest memories, I could visibly remember long nights on this very same porch. Whether it was with my mom, dad or grandfather, we all felt the wonderful touch of the beautiful pale light. I smiled and thought about the day. I was happy to be here at this moment with everyone. I had eaten a delicious meal. I got to catch up with my family whom I really did miss. I also make new memories with my very own family. The little pup that made me whole and the tall wolf that stole my heart. Conversations that made me think, moments of beauty that took my breath away, and maybe an amazing dicking that was seriously deserved.
I giggled and blushed to myself as we otherwise sat in silence. Leon had settled down as he was captivated by the moon. I felt extremely vindicated by my quick thinking. He let out a little yawn and he closed his eyes. I heard his breathing slow down as the tiny pup once again fell into a slumber. Leaning forward, I kissed his little head. I took one more longing look at the brightness of the moon and got up.
I used the excess blanket to cradle my pup as I brought him back into the house, passing through the door and quickly closing it behind me to stop the cold air from entering the house. I wiggled and shivered slightly as my body started to warm up again. A yawn escaped me and my mouth felt dry, so I thought about making a little cup of tea.
I laid Leon down on the couch as he slept, but just then I heard a little sigh from over my shoulder. I instantly whipped around to face the source of the sound. A figure sat, not moving in a small rocking chair. My eyes began to adjust to the dark and soon I could see clearly.
"Grandma Dealia? What are you doing up so late?" I asked with a whispered voice. She looked up and smiled. With her snout, she gestured to the moon glowing from a window. I smiled and looked back at her. "I'm gonna get some tea, I'll bring you a cup."
She smiled lightly and delicately nodded. I was somewhat surprised by the level of cognition she was displaying. I went to the kitchen and filled the electric kettle with water. A minute later I returned holding two mugs of hot green tea.
I sat in front of my grandmother like a child and handed her the mug. She smiled and accepted it, taking a sip. I smiled as well and sipped. She lowered her mug and leaned into me. She leaned in close to me and brought herself closer to my face. From this close, our resemblance seemed almost uncanny. I felt her snout graze my own. I was frozen solid as she touched me. She leaned back and her mouth quivered.
"Juno…" she said slowly. I was shocked, aside from a few grunts and sounds, I hadn't heard my great grandmother speak since I was 13.
"Yeah gram?" I smiled a little. She slowly brought a hand to my cheek. She opened her mouth again and I waited in suspense.
"You're… beautiful." She said to me in a sweet tone. I smiled and hugged her gently. She let me touch her but she became suddenly serious. "But beauty will fade." I was taken back as she smirked. She ran her hand over her wrinkles and dull colored fur.
"The mind will fade too…" she let out a little giggle. I didn't know how to respond so I joined with her. She looked like she was holding back sadness in her smile. "And the ones you love… fade too…" she kept rubbing my cheek. I felt a sudden pain in my heart as well but I said nothing to interrupt her.
"My friends, my parents, my husband and even my son are gone. Yet I still remain, my life still not having run its course." She said rather coldly. I was starting to feel terrible for her, I didn't want her to slip into those painful memories.
"Dealia, you don't have to think about that stuff." I said nearly pleading with the old wolf.
"Juno listen, my life...is not over. And I still have time to share my thoughts." She said with a grin. I felt bad but another part wondered if this would be the last time I would get to see her this coherent. I had to be respectful.
"Okay, gran I'll listen" I said. Dealia smiled and took my hand.
"I can't always… speak or I find myself...unable to think. Sometimes I can go into my mind where all I have are my memories. They make me happy. Because my mind is weak, but my memories are strong enough that I cannot lose them. They keep my mind... together. Perhaps one day, you'll be as old as me. Maybe the world that you lived in will be gone…and you'll be a relic. A stranger in a new world that has passed you by." She said, struggling a little but definitely becoming more and more polished as she spoke.
I felt a tear fall from my face. She wiped it from my face and smiled. "If that happens, you will have to keep the memories from that forgotten world. And when you look back upon them. You need to make sure they are worth holding on too. That you can look at them and not let them be clouded by regrets and wishes that they were different."
"Yeah…" I stuttered out with difficulty. She giggled and gestured to my tea. I picked it up and sipped another gulp. The room felt like it was spinning. I thought about standing up but I suddenly wasn't sure if I would have been able to stand up. I looked back at my great grandmother and I noticed that in the glow of the moonlight, her brown colored fur seemed more vibrant.
"If you were looking back on this very moment. What would you think of the life you lived?" Dealia said as she stood up above me. She straightened her back and smiled down at me. I tried to look out the window for the moon but I could not see it. It was as if the world went black.
"What's happening...to?" I couldn't find my words for life. I looked upwards to Dealia. When I looked up I couldn't believe my eyes. Standing above me, where my great grandmother once stood was…myself. Words failed me, it was the same reddish-brown fur and soft fluffy ears. The seemingly identical figure looked upon me. She smiled and I could see her glistening teeth. A quick shiver of fear rushed through my body. Although soon, my attention was drawn from her fangs to her eyes. Pools of amethysts shined brightly in the darkness. She opened her mouth again.
"So Juno, you have regrets. What do you want to change?" She asked with a friendly but serious expression. My mind couldn't process the events that were unfolding before me.
"I...I don't know!" I shouted. The youthful clone that once was my grandmother placed a soft hand upon my shoulder.
"Well I hope you figure that out for yourself." She leaned down and kissed my forehead. "Before it's too late." She said. The wolf turned and walked into the darkness of the night. My mouth was agape. I couldn't string my words let alone my thoughts together in any meaningful way. I shook and I felt a wetness in my hands. I was shocked and looked down and released I was still holding the mug of tea. My hands that clung to the ceramic cup looked aged and my soft fur was replaced by dull and coarse fur.
"What the hell is going on!" I tried to scream but I doubt it came out like that. I thought I could make out something on the surface of the tea. I shook it slightly as I brought it closer and closer to my face. I looked over the liquid and saw my face. But it wasn't my face. Not the way I knew it, not the way that I had seen it on my doppelgänger. In the reflection of the tea, I saw the face of an old she-wolf. My brown fur faded to gray and my snout was wrinkled. I wanted to shout but my voice felt so weak. A new terror came over me as I looked into my eyes. My once beautiful purple eyes had been replaced with muddled and cataract ridden orbs.
"Oh my god!" I screamed as the mug fell from my hands. I followed it with my eyes as it fell to the ground. I closed my eyes and the events of the day flooded through my mind. The train ride through the winter countryside, the conversions with my parents that I desperately missed, my childhood home, my Legoshi and our son. The mug collided with the hardwood floor and exploded into a flurry of stone shards.
"Agghhh!" I shot up from my bed. I was hyperventilating and had a cold sweat. I looked around and saw the small familiar enclosure of my bunk. I looked at the wall, a news article on the school's prior production of Adler, a little photo of her alongside her boyfriend, and a calendar. My head hurt and my vision was still a little blurry. I looked at the calendar and saw that Rexmas was still about a week away.
"It...was just a dream?"
I put my hand to my face and felt my sweat dampened fur. "Oh god! It felt so real!" I shouted. My body felt over-stimulated and I was trying to calm down.
I suddenly remembered my roommates. I poked my head out of the curtains. I saw a dark empty room with empty bunks. I suddenly remembered that all the girls were elsewhere. At home with family or away with their romantic partners. Yet on this cold winter night, I slept alone.
I picked up my phone and turned on the screen. I looked at the time and saw that it was nearly four o'clock in the morning. I also noticed that I hadn't received any calls or messages from my Legoshi. My ears sank as I opened up our message chat. I saw that the three messages I sent over the course of yesterday hadn't even been opened. I went to call him. I hit the button and brought the phone to my ear.
My heart pounded as the sharp sound of a dialer rang.
"Please, let me just hear your voice. Don't leave me alone right now. I miss you and just want to know you're okay." I thought to myself.
The phone rang three more times before triggering the automatic message system. The phone in my hand suddenly weighed a hundred pounds and I let it fall to the bed. I slumped over onto my side, feeling the shroud of defeat cover my body. A long wet tear slid down my snout to the blanket.
I had a lot to think about. I immediately wished I was home. I really missed my parents and if the hour had not been so late, I probably would have called them then and there. I suppose the dream had served more as an idealized version of the future. I put my face in the pillow.
"Was that naive?" I wondered. "Was it really possible that one day, that could be my life? That Legoshi would walk through that door with me for Rexmas…"
We had been dating for several weeks but I'm not sure we even once broached the topic of having children. Aside from the time he asked me in a panic whether or not I was on birth control.
I also hadn't thought about my grandfather in quite some time, I wonder what he would have thought about Legoshi. Though he had passed many years ago, his absence was still heavily felt in me. I still believed that Legoshi was a good man but as I compared him to my own father and the memories of my grandfather, they were glaringly different.
The bed was soaked in perspiration. I was tempted to crawl into another girl's bed but I didn't want to muck up their sheets as well. I laid in my damp bed and pulled the blanket up over me and closed my eyes. The last part of my dream rang clearly in my head.
"Do I have regrets? What would I change?" I groaned as I thought about that question. I felt myself curling into a ball, wrapping my arms around my legs and squeezing.
Eventually the world went dark again and I found sleep in the solitude of my bed.
Hello, Dekra here, and thank you so much for reading this special chapter! Both Alexy and I wrote about half each, both contributing with our own ideas to the concept I had come up with almost a month ago. So credit where its due!
I also want to say that I have written this chapter as a "proof of concept" for the future series I plan on starting on my own account. If you enjoyed this and like the idea of seeing Legoshi and Juno form a family and adult life together, let me know in the comments!
Chapter 18 will come very soon, and just as you might expect, it will get a little messy. Life can be hard and unfair sometimes.
I think Dekra and RedLiteAlexi would really appreciate it if you showed them some love for their hard work. I´m really proud of hosting them here. Go check out what else they do, it´s absolutely worth it.
Or say hi on Discord and have a good time with us! Just add me (Furrwolf#8163) as a friend and I´ll personally escort you to the server! ;)
See you soon for more, have good time!
~furr