Wen smiles and drops my hand to move in front of her and say, "I like to survey the area first, just to make sure there's no predators nearby. It’s uncommon for them to be out this early, but I'd much rather be safe than sorry."
"Oh, I didn't even think," she mumbles, head lowered as if she's ashamed.
"It took me a while to get used to the caution you had to use for everything out here. Straf was always safe enough that I didn't need to look over my shoulder constantly. Moving out here, away from the rest, meant I had to essentially relearn an all-new way of life. Even in the garden, I need to be aware of my surroundings."
The moment Wen steps beyond the treeline, I lean in to whisper in Lyra's ear. "And besides, Wen's alpha instincts are always in charge. Sometimes it's a little… much."
"I can hear you," is his amused response, though he doesn't look back.
I smile sweetly, making Lyra giggle again. "I know."
Wen doesn't go far, not wanting us out of his sight. It's fewer than five clicks later when he gives us the clear and Lyra and I step onto the sand. I kick off my sandals and allow my toes to sink into the cool grainy texture. She follows my lead and giggles, looking happier than I've ever seen her.
I drop Lyra's hand and move to lay the blanket hanging over my shoulder onto the sand, but Wen beats me to it. He places the bag of drinks and snacks on one end and drops onto the blanket next.
"Is it safe for me to go in?"
I glance up and see her looking at the water inches from her feet as Wen replies, "It is, but we do drink from the lake on occasion."
Lyra makes a face and steps back, which makes me and Wen laugh. I drop down onto the blanket and lean into my mate. He wraps his arm around me, and I can't help but sigh with contentment. Everything just seems perfect right now. There's a light breeze, the sun is shining, and the lake is glistening. The gentle sound of the tiny waves lapping against the sand and rocks is so peaceful.
It's utterly perfect.
"We clean it before consuming it," Wen says, amusement clear in his tone.
Lyra grimaces and sits down beside me on the blanket. "There's no need for me to dip my feet into our drinking water."
I laugh. "There are much worse things in this water than our feet, I'm sure."
Her look of horror is priceless and makes us laugh again. After a moment, she joins in. The silence that follows is easy and pleasant as we all enjoy the sounds of nature, reveling in one another’s company. Eventually, though, I get to my feet and wordlessly invite Lyra to join me at the water’s edge.
She's clearly hesitant, and it's made more obvious when she asks, "Is it safe? I mean, are there any creatures we need to worry about in there?"
I step into the lake and gently pull her in with me until the water is up to her knees.
"It's deep, and there are creatures below, but…" She starts to panic, and I rush through my explanation. "…Wen built a fence about twenty feet out, so it’s safe for swimming and fishing. Our mate is out here nearly every week checking on the fencing and making repairs, if needed. We're safe, Lyra, I promise."
"Sorry, I just—"
I cut her off with a shake of my head. "You don't owe anyone an apology. This is a whole new world for you, and it will take time for you to be comfortable here. We accept that and understand it. We will reassure you as often as you need to feel safe. Unlike me and Wen, who've had thirty-five-plus years here, you've had less a mere lunar cycle, most of which you slept through. You're fine, I promise."
"Thank you."
Her smile is infectious, and we spend the next thirty or so clicks playing in the water, splashing each other and laughing. Wen keeps guard with a smile on his face, unable to look away from us for long.
Toward the end of that time, I feel that telltale pressure in my chest telling me I need to slow down. I know what it means and what's coming, but still I don't stop. Lyra deserves this time to relax and have fun, and I don't want to ruin that.
As the time passes to forty clicks, Wen's smile turns to a frown and his brown eyes narrow at me. I take that as my cue to sit down, and Lyra follows me out of the water. Both of us are soaked, but it was well worth it.
When she drops next to me, her scent hits me and I pause. It's changed, though I can't tell exactly how. With her being so new to the allagi virus, it's hard to say what other alterations she'll face before it's over.
Actually, now that I'm thinking about it, the last step in the mutation was her scales, and she already has those. I wonder if her being asleep for the lunar cycle sped the allagi mutation along, because if I remember correctly, it took a couple months for the scale patterns to surface on us when we first arrived.
"I think it's time we head back to the den, omegas."
Neither Lyra nor I complain, and we go to stand. I wobble and nearly topple over, but Wen catches me. His frown is fierce as he scoops me into his arms. I open my mouth to protest, but one look from my mate is all it takes to silence my objection.
Lyra frets, clearly worried, and I try to reassure her. "I'm fine. I just need rest."