Chapter 31 - Longing

Author POV - 

Daisy woke up to the sound of giggles and a smile stretched across her face before she was even fully awake. Sitting up Daisy was able to see a smattering of blonde hair peeking over the sofa that was a part of the room Carly had given her yesterday. After it had become clear to them both that none of the ranked members of the Forest Haven pack were going to be able to meet with her, Carly, Jamie and Daisy had spent the afternoon exploring while Daisy explained the situation back home to Carly. Carly may not have been a wolf, but her understanding of pack laws and traditions gave Daisy some insight into what needed to be done within Twin Lakes to help them heal and grow after the destruction Ace had wrought upon them all. Spending time with Jamie had been no hardship either, his cheeky smile and inquisitive nature had had Daisy in love with him within minutes. 

Now, waking to the sound of an innocent child's giggles, Daisy realised how badly she wanted pups of her own and yearning for her mate and all they could have together exploded in her chest as she slipped out of bed and crept towards the hiding boy.

"Raaa!" she jumped over the top of the sofa and landed inches from Jamie with a shout. Screaming he tried to run but Daisy already had him in her clutches and his screeched of laughter could be heard throughout the pack house as she tickled him mercilessly. 

"Jamie!" Carly scolded loudly when Daisy entered the dining hall carrying the wriggling bundle, "I told you not to disturb Daisy, I told you she would be down for breakfast soon, I'm so sorry Daisy, he slipped away from me while I was helping in the kitchens."

"It's no problem, he's adorable and I love spending time with him," Daisy's heart clenches a little as she thinks of the pups she could have with her mate, if only she could find him, but she doesn't let it show on her face, instead she buries her face in Jamie's belly and blows raspberries until the boy can't breathe for laughing.

"Let me take the monster," Carly says stretching her arms our for him and adding her own tickles to the mix whilst taking him from Daisy.

"I really don't mind," Daisy let Jamie slip from her arms into the arms of his mother, watching them wistfully.

":I know," Carly assures her, "But you have others things to be thinking of today," after a slight pause, Carly continues, "I want to introduce you to Jessica, she remembers when it happened." She didn't need to expand on her 'it', Daisy knew that she was referring to the coup that occurred here, similar to that of the one Ace had been trying to achieve before Sven had managed to escape with Cassie and the others.

"Ok, are you sure she won't mind talking about it? I know some of our pack will never want to speak of it again after all they have been through," Daisy wanted to know what had happened, but she had no intention of causing harm to those who witnessed and survived the trauma. If nobody was willing to speak of their experiences then she would talk to those who know parts of the story and piece it together from there.

"She's tough, she wants to talk about it, well maybe 'wants to' is a bit strong, but she wants to help, she hopes that what she has to say could possibly help others to move past this. She is a lovely woman and she just wants to help, in anyway she can." Carly assures Daisy.

"Well, in that case I will be grateful for anything she is willing to share. Like her, all I want is to be able to help my pack heal." Daisy makes a mental note to be appropriately grateful in Jessica's presence.

"And," Carly interrupts Daisy's thoughts to add, "Nick should be able to spare some time for you this morning, he was very sorry that he wasn't able to meet you yesterday and he is looking forward to meeting you, he is in his office now, working on clearing some time for you." 

"I understand he is busy, if he doesn't have time, I can wait, I don't want to be away from Twin Lakes for too long, but equally, I don't want to leave, it is lovely here, so beautiful," Daisy had never felt so drawn to land as she did while she was here, the urge to stop and enjoy the air, the views, the people, was almost overwhelming, and Jamie, well Jamie was special, she could just tell, and because of this, she didn't want to leave just yet, maybe ever, though she knew she had to return to Twin Lakes, and soon if they had any hope of getting through this.

 Thinking about Twin Lakes, Daisy's mind went to her brother, she had not heard from him again yesterday and with no news this morning a prickle of worry grew in her belly. 

Thoughts of her brother wiped out all the feelings she had just been experiencing regarding staying at Forest Haven, like a spell had been lifted and seeing clearly again she was able to better read her own emotions. She wasn't sure what it was about this place, but from the moment she had arrived inside Forest Haven lands, her emotions had been swinging like a pendulum, from longing, to belonging, to yearning, to worry, to comfort and a variety of other emotions, they seemed stronger somehow. Daisy knew she had always wanted her mate and pups, she understood that the situation at home would have caused her anxiety even if she was present, but all of her emotions seemed to be more somehow, more deeply felt, more exaggerated, just more.

"I need to check in at home," Daisy whispered stepping away from the dining tables and leaving Carly and Jamie, whilst simultaneously pulling her phone out of her pocket. Shaking herself in the hopes of staving off the haze of emotions that she keeps experiencing, she stepped out of the dining hall and made her way back to her room while dialling her brother's number. 

The phone rings until it cuts out and Daisy tries again. When Dave doesn't answer for the second time she sends him a quick message asking him to call her as soon as he can, worry crawling up her spine. 

Instead of joining everyone in the dining hall again, Daisy decides that she needs a minute to process everything she has been feeling and steps out into the sunshine and fresh air, deciding that a walk around the pack house will give her a chance to organise her thoughts so that she is ready to face Alpha Nick when he is available. She needs to make sure she speaks openly to him and gets as much information as she can, in case her brother has not been successful.