Swimming with me, ah-ooh, ooh

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"𝕃𝔼𝔸𝕍𝔼 it to Jacob to find a way through Sam's gag order," Emily said with a soft laugh, her eyes glinting with amusement. Bella, still holding her untouched muffin, looked at Emily with a hint of confusion. "He didn't say anything to me." Embry, ever the show-off, smirked as he chimed in, "That's a wolf thing. Alpha's orders get obeyed whether we want them to or not. And check it out. We can hear each other's thoughts." He said this with a hint of pride, as if it were a superpower.

Rain looked at Bella, imagining what it would be like to hear her sister's thoughts. But as she considered the endless stream of worries and emotions, she quickly realized it would probably give her a massive headache. Jared's voice broke through her thoughts, exclaiming with a teasing tone, "Would you shut up? These are trade secrets! Damn it. This chick runs with vampires." He gestured to Bella, his tone a mix of humour and exasperation.

"You can't really run with vampires," Bella responded, a small smile playing on her lips.

Emily chuckled, turning to Jared with a look, while Bella continued, "'Cause they're fast." Jared, never one to back down, shot back with a grin, "Yeah? Well, we're faster. Probably even faster than the little mermaid here." He nodded toward Rain, who raised an eyebrow and smirked.

"Maybe, but certainly not in the water," Rain retorted with a playful glint in her eye.

Emily laughed once more, joined by Embry, while Jared flashed a smile at Rain before turning back to Bella. "Freaked out yet?" he asked, his tone half-joking, half-serious. Bella looked down for a moment, gathering her thoughts. "You're not the first monsters I've met," she said quietly, her voice tinged with a mix of acceptance and resignation. She glanced at Rain for a brief second. Their attention was quickly drawn to the door as Sam walked in, his presence commanding yet warm. "Jake's right. You're good with weird," he said to Bella, his voice carrying a hint of approval. He then turned to Rain, nodding at her in greeting before he made his way to Emily.

"Hey," he murmured, his voice softening as he pulled Emily closer, their connection palpable. He kissed her with a tenderness that made Emily giggle with joy. Sam, not content with just one kiss, began planting kisses all over her face, causing Emily to laugh even more.

Rain watched the scene unfold with a sense of awe, her heartwarming at the sight of their love. Bella, on the other hand, watched with a mix of sadness and longing, the sight of such open affection stirring feelings she hadn't fully acknowledged. Just then, Jacob, Paul, and Erian walked in, their laughter filling the room. Jacob playfully pushed Paul, who was grinning widely. Paul walked over to the table, his eyes landing on Bella with a smirk. "Sorry," he said, though his tone suggested he wasn't entirely remorseful. He then turned to Rain, his expression shifting to one of mock formality. "Well, isn't it the famous siren? Welcome to our humble home," he said, adopting a posh accent that made Rain chuckle.

"Why, thank you, good sir," Rain replied in the same accent, matching his playful tone.

Paul grinned and nodded to his brother, a silent exchange of camaraderie, before turning back to the table. He grabbed a muffin and started eating, his earlier tension now replaced with a relaxed demeanour. Across the room, Jared handed a very smug Embry some money, clearly having lost a bet.

Erian, caught off guard by the lively energy in the room, misjudged a step and stumbled slightly as he entered. Rain couldn't help but laugh, her soft giggles drawing Erian's attention. He looked up at her with a sheepish grin, his cheeks tinged with embarrassment.

"Are you always this graceful?" Rain teased gently, stepping forward to help steady him.

"Only when I'm trying to impress someone," Erian replied with a playful smirk, though his eyes held a genuine warmth. Rain shook her head with a smile, her laughter lingering in the air as she placed a reassuring hand on his arm, guiding him toward the table.

As they sat down, Erian's initial clumsiness seemed to dissipate, replaced by a sense of ease as he began talking with Rain. The room buzzed with light-hearted chatter, the sound of forks clinking against plates, and the occasional burst of laughter. It was a scene filled with warmth, and Rain couldn't help but feel a comforting sense of family here, among these people who were quickly becoming more than just acquaintances.

Erian looked at her and introduced himself with a warm smile. "I'm Erian, Erian Lahote."

Rain returned the smile and extended her hand. "I'm Rain, Rain Swan. It's lovely to meet you, Erian." As their hands met, Erian noticed a thoughtful expression cross her face. Leaning in slightly, he spoke with a gentle sincerity in his voice. "You look like you're at home here," he observed softly. Rain met his gaze, her eyes sparkling. "I think I might be," she admitted, her voice filled with a quiet happiness.

Erian smiled, his heart warming at her words. "I'm glad," he replied, a gentle sincerity in his tone.

The two shared a lingering look, a silent understanding passing between them as they sat surrounded by the warmth of this newfound family, feeling closer to each other than ever.

As Rain and Erian settled at the table, the lively chatter around them seemed to fade into the background as they focused on each other.

"So, Rain," Erian began, his voice gentle but curious, "what's it like being a siren? I mean, it sounds both fascinating and a bit... daunting."

Rain chuckled softly, her eyes lighting up as she considered his question. "It has its moments," she replied with a smile. "The water always feels like home to me, but there's a lot more to being a siren than people realize. It's not just about the allure or the voice. It's about understanding the ocean and its moods. And sometimes, it can be lonely, being different."

Erian nodded, his expression thoughtful. "I can imagine. I guess I know a bit about feeling different. Being part of the pack... it comes with its own set of challenges. But I wouldn't trade it for anything. There's a bond there, a connection that's hard to explain."

Rain tilted her head slightly, intrigued. "What's it like, hearing each other's thoughts? It must be... intense."

Erian grinned, a hint of mischief in his eyes. "It can be. There's no hiding anything, that's for sure. But it also means we're never really alone. Even when we argue or fight, we're always connected. It's a weird mix of frustrating and comforting."

Rain smiled at that, finding the idea both strange and oddly endearing. "Sounds like a family," she said softly, glancing around the table where the others were still deep in conversation. "A really close family."

Erian followed her gaze and nodded. "Yeah, it is. And it looks like you're becoming part of it, too," he added, his tone warm. Rain looked back at him, a soft blush coloring her cheeks. "I'd like that," she admitted quietly, her voice sincere. "It's been a while since I've felt like I belong somewhere."

Erian's eyes softened as he watched her, feeling a connection growing between them. "Well, you definitely belong here, Rain," he said gently. "And I'm glad you're here."

Rain smiled at his words, her heart warming at the sincerity in his voice. "Thanks, Erian. That means a lot."

For a moment, they simply looked at each other, the bond between them deepening in the comfortable silence. Then, as if realizing they'd been lost in their conversation, Rain chuckled and broke the quiet.

"So, what's your favourite thing to do when you're not, you know, being a wolf?" she asked playfully.

Erian laughed, the sound low and warm. "Honestly? I'm a bit of a bookworm and I like to build things. Also, looking out the ocean." he admitted with a grin. " Rain's eyes lit up with interest. "Really? I wouldn't have pegged you for a bookworm. What kind of books do you like and what do you build?"

"Anything with a bit of adventure," Erian replied, leaning in slightly as their conversation flowed easily. "But I have a soft spot for fantasy—dragons, magic, all that kind of stuff. I guess it's the wolf in me, always drawn to stories of the wild. Oh, and I'm building a house near the ocean." Rain smiled widely, finding herself even more intrigued by him. "I love fantasy, too. There's something about those worlds that just feels... limitless."

Erian nodded in agreement, his eyes bright with excitement. "Exactly! It's like anything is possible, and you can just escape into that world for a while."

Rain giggled softly, feeling a growing connection with him. "We'll have to trade book recommendations sometime," she suggested, her tone light but genuinely interested.

Erian grinned back at her, his heart skipping a beat at the idea. "I'd like that," he said, his voice full of warmth.

As they continued to talk, sharing their favorite stories and finding common ground, the world around them seemed to blur, leaving just the two of them in their own little bubble. Rain felt a sense of ease and contentment she hadn't felt in a long time, and she could tell that Erian felt the same.

The more they talked, the more Rain felt like she was uncovering different layers of Erian, and she found herself wanting to know more. There was something undeniably special about the way their conversation flowed, and as the evening went on, Rain couldn't help but feel that this was the start of something new and wonderful.

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By: SilverMist707

I hope you all enjoy this chapter and I can't wait to write more with Rain and Erian, if you have any ideas please do not hesitate. <3