Chapter 359 Chapter 359
Konner waited until Terah had taken in the size of the large common room. To most, it would look more like a cafeteria with long bench tables and many seats around it. There were only thirteen, he glanced to Terah, fourteen members of the clan, but when the room had been built, he’d made sure it was large enough to hold three times that number if needed. Someday, he reminded himself, he would see that all the chairs in this area were filled with his own kind.
Terah went over and opened one of the double fridges, then gave him a happy look. “So much food.”
“We eat together at least once a day.” He shrugged, “discuss businesses and things.”
“I don’t know how to cook.” She stated with a look of shame on her face.
“That’s fine, a few of us don’t do very well either, but there are other things that can be done to share the workload.” He turned when the door to his aunt’s living quarters opened. Aunt Alviva Flores moved down the hallway, her cane tapping the floor with each step she took. She didn’t need a cane to walk but decided at her age she could use any accessories she liked. Personally, he thought she used it because liked to threaten the boys with it when they stepped out of line. They didn’t know that she would never strike them, regardless of what they did. Alviva valued life too much to ever threaten it. Especially young members of their kind that she hoped would slowly rebuild their numbers.
The entire clan knew this was their mission now, but no one, except for his aunt spoke of it. Repopulating a clan was heartbreaking, to say the least. The expectations with each new member they found meant silent prayers that they were someone’s mate and in turn, would have a chance of bringing new life to the clan.
He watched his aunt assess Terah as she approached her. Turning, he watched Terah look over at him and give him a hesitant look. He held out his hand to her and was pleased she came over and put her hand in his. He knew that she didn’t know the protocol, as he was sure his aunt did, but he still meant to show her a proper greeting for an alpha.
“Auntie.” He bowed his head down and left it there for a few moments. “It is my pleasure to introduce Terah Matthews to you.” He looked at Terah and couldn’t help feeling a moment of pride when she bowed her head politely to her new Alpha.
“Everyone calls me Aunt Al or Alvie, child.” Alviva smiled at her, her green eyes sparkling with a look that Konner hadn’t seen in nine years, not since he’d brought Reeves home.
“Auntie Al.” Terah’s voice shook with a nervous vibration. “I love your braid.”
His aunt smiled wide at that and lifted the long braid that was greyer than brown now. It hung past her waist. “I get one of the girls to help me with it now.” She smiled, “lest my arms go to sleep trying to work all this hair into it.”
“It’s lovely.” Terah smiled down at her. “I can help you with it if you like sometimes.”
“I would love that, child.” She inhaled a deep breath, her eyes moving down the length of Terah. “It does my heart good to see you well and free.”
Terah nodded, “I thought I was the only female of my kind left.” she admitted.
“You have seen men of our clan?”
Terah nodded, “not for some time, but yes a few.”
His aunt moved just her eyes to look up at him. She didn’t need to speak the words; he knew exactly what she wanted from him. “I’ll find them.” He said in a quiet tone.
“I know you will, nephew.” Nodding, she turned back to Terah, “while everyone is here meeting you, I’m going to go sneak in a quiet swim.” She smiled. “I will see you at dinner, child, I look forward to getting to know you.”
“Thank you for letting me come here,” Terah said quickly.
His aunt stopped and nodded, “this is your home, and will be the home for all our people when we’ve found them.” With that, she turned and walked back toward the door.
Terah watched her go and didn’t speak until she’d gone in and closed the door. “Is she all right?” She glanced at him quickly, “I don’t see that her legs aren’t working well.”
Konner smirked, “she can probably still outswim all of us, but walking on land does bother her joints now.”
“She is in charge? And is a female.” There was a spark of something in her eyes.
“With the water clan, our Alpha’s are always female, Terah. Always.” He smirked when he saw the surprise on her face. Some other time, he’d explain the reasons why, but for now, he’d let her feel empowered knowing that females were not caged and used for amusement in the real world
“Are other clans like that?”
He shook his head, “no, at least I don’t think there are clans that are specifically male or female leaders.”
“Our kind is special.” She said quietly and then turned and looked at the door when it opened.
Konner went over and caught up Kole as he raced across the floor. He was six and had endless energy. Kole giggled put his hands-on Konner’s head and messed up his hair.
“You’re back.”
Konner grinned, “yes I am, and I think you gained ten pounds while I was gone.”
“Mom says I eat too much.”
Konner leaned down and set him on the floor, holding the child still by his shoulders, so his back was against his legs. “I want you to meet Terah.”
Kole looked up at her. “Hi.”
Terah dropped down to her knees in front of him. “What’s your name?”
“Kole.”
She smiled at him, “hi, Kole. Let me guess how old you are,” Konner was surprised to see the stress melt right from her expression as she made an exaggerated face and tapped her finger against her jaw. “Seven.”
Kole shook his head. “Six.”
“Six? Are you sure? You’re really big for being six.”
Kole grinned and nodded. “Do you have kids?”
Terah shook her head, “no. There were some boys where I was staying though. You’re as big as one of them, Indy and he was eight.” She gave him a wide-eyed look.
“I’m going to be big like my daddy,” Kole told her.
“Yeah? How big is your daddy?” She turned when Kole pointed to Auburn. Terah smiled at the boy, “that’s really big. I think I’ll meet him now, okay?”
Kole nodded and then took her hand as she stood up and tugged on it to go over to where Auburn and Olanna stood.
“This is Terah.” He told them like he had known her all his life.
Terah offered a brief smile to both. “Hello.”
Olanna gave her one of those brilliant smiles, “I’m Olanna, and this,” she motioned to her mate standing tall beside her, “is Auburn.” Auburn inclined his head, a watchful look in his eyes. “And our daughter Nakisa.”
Terah turned to look at Kole’s sister, and the smile was genuine and real this time, “hello, Nakisa.” Reaching toward her, she touched the tips of Kisa’s long wavy hair, “I think you are close to changing into what we really are.” She removed her hand away from her, “I would like to do your hair with the flowing flowers and songs of the sea, as my mother did for me on that day—” she gave Olanna a hesitant look, “if you want.”
Konner straightened, his gaze meeting Auburn’s briefly, both were old enough to remember the rituals that their clans used to perform, but it hadn’t happened in years. Terah was from an old clan deeply rooted in their traditions. Konner glanced toward the door, hoping Reeves got here soon, so he could ask about the records.
Nakisa nodded and looked to her mother, “I’d like that,” Olanna nodded, “please.” She smiled at Terah.
Terah’s smile brightened again, “we will plan that.” Putting her hand to her mouth, she turned and gave Konner a quick look and he saw the emotion in her eyes. He didn’t know if they were happy tears forming or something more, so he went over to her quickly, so he was close in case she needed him.