Dawn Discovered

Claire scoffed, " I never said it was." She'd never seen her mother so filled with smiles, almost giddy with girl talk and excitement. Her dad had never seemed so content and relaxed. Now she knew why. They were in love, thankfully, with each other, all over again. "I'm happy for the both of you. You're not going to start a second family are you?"

Dena chuckled and handed GT back to his mother. "Oh no. I'm leaving the baby business up to you. By the way, he's got a little something in his diaper for you." She tugged playfully on Claire's blonde ponytail as she left her to change the baby.

"Gee mom, you don't have to rush off. GT isn't picky about who changes his diapers." Her mother's laughter echoed down the hall.

Claire mussed that her dad must have done the majority of her diaper changes when she was a baby. Her mother always seemed to bow out gracefully when GT needed one. She'd hold him all day until he had a poo or a wee-wee and then she was strictly hands off. Claire shrugged and laid GT on the changing table. "Oh well, I guess it's just us two." She pulled the tabs off the diaper and pulled it open. "Whew! You's a stinky baby!" She cooed at GT as he giggled and kicked his feet gleefully.

There were so many things her mom hadn't told her about raising a baby. She'd learned the hard way to keep his little dinky covered as she changed diapers. As a nurse, she supposed some things should be self-explanatory. But, not everything was as transparent as it seemed. She cleansed GT's baby butt and creamed and diapered him up. Snapping his onsie back into place. Picking him up, she walked the floors of her suite. He liked the rocking motions of her body and was quickly asleep. Another little trick her mother had never told her about. And after a bout of sleepless nights, she'd learned the hard way.

She stared out the window and waved at her parents. They walked hand in hand as Grant saw them to their car. Grant. She smiled as he winked up at her and closed her mother into the passenger side. It was so hard, looking at him now and comparing him to the man she'd met not that long ago. He was at peace here, with her, their son, and his huge family. She was happy too. Maybe, she had a little too much of her mother in her. She'd never imagined a life beyond her career. She lived and breathed nursing the way her mom did real estate. But, now, thanks to Grant and the bundle in her arms. She had a life beyond the frantic pace of the hospital. And apparently, her mom had found something other than real estate and appraisals to give her life meaning too.

Her parents together again, Claire grinned at the thought. When they'd split up and her mom packed their things and ushered her out the front door, it'd been the only thing she'd daydreamed about. And now it was real. Claire could care less if her parents had a wedding ceremony or signed some stupid piece of paper to make it legal. None of that mattered to her. They were together. Husband and wife. Boyfriend and girlfriend. Whatever they were. The together part was the only thing that mattered.

She kissed GT on the top of his fuzzy head and put him in his crib for a nap. Her baby boy was beautiful. And she wasn't just saying that because she was his mom. Her son was truly a beautiful baby. But, of course with Grant's good looks, how could GT be anything except for the handsomest baby boy in the whole world. More than that, her son was a miracle worker. He'd done the impossible and somehow, in all his baby cuteness, gotten her parents back together again.

Grant slid up behind his wife and wrapped his arms around her waist, hugging her close against him. He loved to watch her with their son. And these days, he spent a lot of time looking at the two of them together when neither one of them knew he was looking. Claire was a natural in everything she did, a nurturer to the very core of who she was. She breathed a spark of life into everything she encountered. She'd brought him back from the brink of his own stupidity and self-destruction. He'd been on a fast road to nowhere. And then, she'd come along and all of the sudden, his life had the meaning he'd been searching for.

His groin tightened from the brush of her curvy butt against the fly of his jeans. They didn't get many peaceful, quiet moments alone anymore. The activity of the house went on all around them. GT slept in his crib. And with the bedroom door closed and locked. This was about as alone as it got. He was all about making baby number two. They hadn't discussed it. Claire still didn't believe the few extra pounds of baby weight she'd gained made her even more beautiful than before.

She was fixated on squeezing into a pair of teeny-tiny jeans in a size she hadn't been able to fit into before she got pregnant. Grant didn't pretend to understand her thought process. He didn't argue the small stuff. Like the salads and the portions not large enough to feed a toddler she insisted were more than enough food. She frowned at every stretch mark and flaw she thought she saw in her figure. He saw nothing of the sort. He saw beauty and courage in the perfection of her curves.

Claire arched her neck and sighed heavily as Grant kissed a path down her spine. He had the ability to make her forget her flawed body and transform her into something wild, beautiful, and exotic with just a brush of his fingertips and whisper of his breath over her skin. She nibbled her bottom lip against the onslaught of arousal and the wicked sensation of his hands on her body. Grant was a believer that nature would do what she would do. He didn't believe in taking precautions to prevent another baby. But, then again, he wasn't the one who had to pack around the extra pounds afterwards.

Did she want another baby so soon? Two babies in diapers at the same time? Shouldn't they wait until GT was a toddler before they tried again? They hadn't discussed the possibility. But, then again, they didn't get a lot of time for intimacy. Not with GT's every two-hour feeding schedule and diaper changes. "Grant," she whispered.

"Claire," Grant exhaled the word into the shell of her ear. Just the sound of his name on her lips made him hard and eager. But, of course, around her, he was always good to go.

"Do you want another baby?" Claire asked hesitantly.

"Do you?"

She stared down at GT, sleeping so peacefully and contentedly in his crib. His angelic face brought tears of happiness to her eyes. No baby had ever been so loved or so cherished. She'd almost died to bring him into the world. In the end, her death would have been worth the sacrifice. Would she do it again? Without hesitation, she answered her own question and Grant's. "Yes."

He loved this woman. More than his own life. More than his Pack. He loved this woman and the baby sleeping in the crib. He grinned against the soft curves of her neck. His arms gripped her tighter in an embrace. Her answer lingered in the narrow gap of space between them, dancing on his lips.

They'd gotten lucky this time. She'd survived the pregnancy and given birth to a healthy baby boy. And with her answer she was willing to risk her life again to bring another child into the world. Call him a fool. Hunter sure as hell would. But, his thoughts were in line with hers. He dropped to his knees, crouching at her feet. Staring up at her through worshipful eyes filled with wonder at the courage his woman possessed. He lifted the hem of her blouse and pressed a soft kiss to her belly. Stroking the curves she despised. He nodded and gave their lives over to the grace of fate. "Me too."

























Chapter 26

Daniel popped the clutch and let the truck roll down the steep drive. He could get caught and if he did, his ass was grass. But, if he could get Gina out of here and away from his dad, if he could stop his dad before it was too late, he'd happily bear any punishment his pack could think of to inflict on him. He coasted the truck out to the end of the lane and turned the key. The engine roared to life and the first part of his plan was in motion.

Oh yeah, no doubt, when his dad came to his senses, he'd have hell to pay. But, Gina, if his plan worked, would be gone. The engine idled as he pulled up behind his dad's four-wheel drive. Really, what was the worst his dad could do to him? Take away his video games for a month? Make him spend the rest of his life doing meaningless and menial chores? Spank him? Not likely. Once she was gone, his punishment was inconsequential. He'd have his dad back for good.

Daniel saw Gina through the window. Pacing worriedly. Maybe, convincing her to leave would be easier than he thought. He snatched his worn canvas backpack out of the passenger side and gently shut the door. She stood in the doorway watching him approach. "Hi Gina, I stopped by to bring a few things I thought Dad might want." He smiled warmly and tried his best to be friendly to her. Yes, he'd get farther with her if he played the role of the 'good son' to his father and 'concerned confidant' to her.

"Sorry, you shouldn't come in. Your dad's got the flu. I wouldn't want you to catch it." Gina stepped onto the porch in her stocking feet and pulled the door closed behind her. Hunter had been sleeping peacefully for hours and she didn't want him disturbed, by anyone. Not even one of his kids. She stood blocking the door.

"Oh, really? Is he ok?" Daniel asked, feigning concern. Careful, don't over play the part. He cautioned himself. He slid the backpack off his shoulder and onto the ground at his feet. "I don't remember anyone in our family ever getting the flu."

Gina nodded in agreement with Daniel's concern. "I can't help but worry."

"Huh, maybe I should go see him."

"I don't want to wake your dad."

"I drove all the way out here though," Daniel pouted. He sighed and picked up the backpack. His eyes glinted as if an idea had just come to him. "Maybe, we could get to know each other better."

"That'd be nice," Gina agreed. She glanced over her shoulder at the closed door. Hunter was a light sleeper. They couldn't sit on the front porch and talk. He'd hear them. And he slept so peacefully. If he woke up, he might never get back to sleep.

"The truck is comfortable." He grinned widely and gave her his best teenage boy shrug. She was buying his act. "C'mon, let's talk for a few minutes. I brought you a few things too."

"I... ok. Let me get my shoes." Gina didn't know much about the minds of teenage boys. She was reluctant to leave Hunter's side for a second. But, she also didn't want to turn away Daniel and his offering of friendship. She feared that if she did so, she'd never get a second chance with him. She darted inside of the cabin and slid her feet into her tennis shoes. Daniel was already in the truck, seated behind the wheel. Jogging across the yard, she climbed in to sit in the passenger seat.

Gina scowled at his choice of music. He guessed heavy metal wasn't for everyone. Daniel turned down the radio. "Better?"

Gina nodded. Glancing worriedly at the cabin she tried to put her apprehension out of her mind. Daniel was friendlier than she'd ever seen him. In fact, he was too friendly. She didn't want to not get along with Hunter's kids. But, what little she knew of Daniel did not lend itself to friendliness. "Much, thank you."

Daniel reached into his backpack and pulled out a couple of bottles of pop. He handed one to Gina and twisted the cap on the other, slamming down half the bottle in one gulp. Gina took the pop from him and held it in her hands. Sweat from the bottle rolled down her fingers. He knew about her aversion to bottled water. But, he didn't think a bottle of pop would set her off. She was skittish and nervous. Fingering the cap on the bottle, but she never opened it to take a drink. He needed her off balance. Smiling and faking such earnestness it made his teeth ache, he shifted in his seat and turned to face her. Wrapping one arm casually around the steering wheel and tapping his fingers. "So, are you and my dad pretty serious?"

Gina's eyes narrowed. "Are you even old enough to drive?" She asked deflecting his intrusive question. She saw so much of Hunter in the boy that it frightened her. He had his dad's no-nonsense direct approach and Hunter's serious nature. Hunter and she planned to gather the kids up and tell them about the wedding they hadn't gotten around to planning yet.

Daniel shrugged, "As long as I don't get caught, I am." His grin was playful and mischievous. Conveying, what he hoped was camaraderie. He ran his hand along the steering wheel's cool, hard, smooth, surface. "I don't know how to tell you this. I know my dad wouldn't want me to. But, now that you're practically one of the family, you should know our secrets."

"Secrets?" Gina turned in her seat to face Daniel.

"Yeah. Haven't you ever wondered what happens to our wolves when we're not in wolf form?"

"Ah, I guess I didn't give it much thought."

"Outsiders usually don't." He scooted closer to Gina and leaned in close. "Our wolves serve a sacred purpose. The wolf and the man are two separate entities sharing the same space. When the man isn't in wolf form, his wolf is the trusted guardian of the spirit world. We protect the border between the living and the dead. Keep all the things that go bump in the night where they belong, out of this plane of existence. When the wolf takes over the man's body, that's where the man goes, to that shadowy plane. Not to guard it, but to draw strength and vitality from it. The spirit world gives us our energy, our life force, our power, and our longevity. Without it, we're nothing more than you."

"You mean human." Gina's mind reeled as she sifted through what Daniel was telling her. She tried to remember the last time she'd seen Hunter shift. Could that be what was making Hunter sick? That he hadn't shifted? "What happens when someone like your dad doesn't shift?" Her voice was small and shaky. Deep inside she already knew the answer.

"A person could die." Finally, she was catching on. Daniel could tell deep down Gina didn't trust him. Smart woman. He hated close talkers. The kind of people who had to stand on top of you and breathe down your neck just to say 'hi' drove him nuts. But, he scooted as close as the console between them would allow. He wasn't big like his dad or Tristen. But, he had a good twenty pounds and six inches on Gina. Big enough to intimidate and send her scooting across the seat till her butt was wedged against the closed door. "Gina, dad doesn't have the flu. He wants to go human because of you."

"Why would he want that?"

"Because, if he doesn't, he could outlive you by centuries. Can you imagine? What it must be like to bear the pain of watching someone you love age and die when you're strong, young, and healthy. Watch death snatch that person from you and bear the pain of the loss, not for decades, but for centuries?" Gina's bottom lip wavered in doubt. Nope, she hadn't stopped to consider any of these things. For a smart woman she was awfully dumb. Maybe, she was just that selfish that she didn't care. He leaned even closer, the console digging into his hip.

"A wolf only mates once in his lifetime. His bond with his chosen is for life. My dad got lucky after he lost my mom. He found you." Daniel reached over and squeezed Gina's cool fingers with his palm. Smiling bitterly at the shocked expression on her face.

"I don't want him to die. I.... I don't want this for him. Why didn't he tell me?"

Daniel dug the blade into her heart a little deeper. "Because, he knew you'd try to stop him. There isn't anything a wolf won't do for his mate. There isn't anything my dad wouldn't do for you. He'd die for you."

"Will he?"

"Maybe," Daniel answered pensively. He drew a deep breath, hating himself just a little for what he was doing to her and to his dad. "But, I respect his sacrifice. So does Mouse. She's young, but she understands. He's chosen you. If he survives the transition into human, you two will have the rest of your natural lives together. We'll still have our dad and we'll have our new mother. Not for as long as we'd like, though. But, a few decades, will have to be enough." He stared down at his hands and refused to meet her eyes. He'd hooked her and reeled her in. He could smell her emotions flooding the interior of the truck. Glancing up, he noticed the tears welling in the corners of her eyes. Yeah, he was a shit. But, as long as he accomplished what he'd set out to accomplish. What did it matter? He could live with himself. And his dad would live a hell of a lot longer without her.

"Is it too late? What can I do? I can't let him give up his life for me. A few decades of love won't justify what he's giving up in exchange." Gina sniffled and held back her tears. How could Hunter think to do such a thing without talking to her first? She loved him. She loved him for everything that he was and that included loving his wolf too. She hadn't thought that he had an alternative, any other way to be. But, now that she knew. She couldn't let him go through with his plan.

"I understand." Daniel played his part, adding what he thought was just the right amount of drama. "I feel the same way. But, what can we do? There's only one option. I didn't want to bring it up. My brother has such strong affection for you. Mouse has become so attached to you. I have too, just sitting here talking to you has really made me feel so much closer to you."

"What's my option?" Gina's heart melted at Daniel's gentle confession of attachment. Hunter's kids had accepted her as a mother. Something she hadn't expected to happen so soon, if ever.

"As much as it will hurt him and as much as it will hurt us, you have to leave." Daniel stretched across the console, reaching down into passenger side floorboard. Fishing through his backpack. Faking a sniffle and working up a tear, he made his act more believable. "I didn't want to do this. But, I'm as desperate to save my dad as you are." He pulled out an envelope.

"In here is a plane ticket. If you simply go to the city, he'll come for you. So will Tristen. They'll try to convince you to come back. And as much as I want that too, I realize that this has to be done. Go away. Someplace warm and sunny, try to forget us. In a few months, once my dad has had some time. You can come back to the city. Start over. I know that things won't be the same without you here. And it will be hard for all of us. But, there's no other way. As long as you stay here, he won't change his mind. We don't have much time left. In a matter of days, he'll be past the point of no return. His wolf will be gone forever."

Gina flipped through the contents of the envelope. "You thought of everything." The ticket was a two-way ticket. Open departure date and open return date. Daniel had included directions to a luxury condo that sat right on the beach and a confirmation number for a three month paid stay. She thumbed through the stack of bills, counting them. There was more than enough to keep her going for three months and beyond.

Scowling she studied the driver's license and passport Daniel included in the packet. The picture was hers. The name was not. Gina Smith. "What's this about?"

"My dad will try to track you down. He'll do anything. Say anything to get you to come home. If you use your real name, he'll find you. It's far too easy to locate someone, if you know where and how to look. You can't use your real name. You can't pay by credit card. Once things have cooled off, then you can go back to being you."

"How do you know this will work?" She asked. Flashing the driver's license in his face before tucking it into the envelope with the money, plane tickets, and conformation numbers. "You're just a kid." Just the brush of her fingertips across the money made her feel cheap. As if Daniel were trying to buy her off. Her gaze wavered between the envelope clutched in her fist and his sad expression. She hadn't meant to hurt his feelings by calling him a kid. It was so obvious he was doing what he was doing to save his dad. If she had the same chance, not that she didn't love her adoptive parents, but if she could go back and save her real parents, wouldn't she do anything, say anything to save them?