Dawn Redeemed

"Things seem to be going well," Drew said, eying the harried pack master contemplatively. He rose from behind the desk and walked over to the liquor cabinet. Randomly selecting a crystal decanter from the shelves, he poured a small measure into a glass and handed it to Nash. "I never really developed a taste for the stuff myself," he said as he watched Nash take a fortifying gulp of the amber liquid.

"Do you think this will work?" Nash asked, gritting his teeth from the burn of the whiskey as it rolled down his throat.

"The pack is a bit...rough. But, they'll follow Torr wherever he leads them," Drew answered. Sighing he eased his long body onto the couch and rubbed his temples. Tala, his wife was more adept to this type of situation than he and while she worked to win the skittish pack over he'd made a hasty retreat to the calm of the study. "Sometimes, I can understand why my brother chose not to share his secret."

Nash settled on the edge of the desk and studied his leader pensively. "Do you regret that you inherited us?"

"Of course not. What is done is done. I only hope to unite us as one."

"One big happy family."

"Yes, one big happy family." Drew untied the leather straps that held the tightly rolled parchment closed and scooted them aside. The scroll was stiff and curled at the edges as he unrolled it on the desk. His fingers traced over the branches of the family tree. So many people, so many lives, yet, they all stemmed from a single source, his brother. Torr's pack filled in the missing pieces. The Lost Children had finally come home.



Chapter 92

Erica stumbled over the uneven ground. Tripping on yet another unseen root as Torr dragged her into the woods by her arm. "I don't see what we're doing out here," she huffed. In her head, she imagined all sorts of scary scenarios. What if she really had happened onto some secret big enough to get her killed? The woods were remote enough. No one would hear her scream. And the trees were dense enough that if Torr did a thorough job, no one would ever find her body.

A bead of sweat trickled down Erica's spine, making her skin goose pimple. "Torr stop!" She twisted her wrist in his grip fruitlessly. His fingers were strong as iron manacles around her flesh. Her heels sank into the soft layer of loam on the forest floor. Sandals weren't good for hiking. Pine needles, dried leaves, a thick, layer of dust, and god knew what else was wedged between the sole of her foot and the sole of her sandal.

Huffing, Torr reluctantly stopped and gave Erica a few minutes to catch her breath before he continued deeper on the path. If his heart weren't so burdened by the weight of what he had to share, the moment would have been almost comical. Erica balanced precariously on one foot, brushing debris from between her toes. He could do what he needed to do right here and now. But, not if he ever hoped to talk to her or see his daughter again. What he had to show her was going to need more finesse than the gory freak show that was his transformation. His pack was out here, close. He could sense their energy teasing at the hairs on his arms. He'd let them do the talking for him.

Indignantly, Erica slid her semi-clean foot back into her sandal. "I know you've been hiding something from me." She planted her hands on her hips and glared up at him. "I saw the marks on your neck." Her eyes narrowed as he self consciously rubbed the spot where the bite had been. The skin was perfect, without so much as a scratch or a bruise. "What happened to you last night? I think if a man shows up naked at my window in the middle of the night I have a right to know why. Something strange is going on and I want to know what it is."

Torr dropped his hand from his neck and shoved it deep into the pocket of his jeans. "You have a right to know."

"Damn straight I do," Erica said triumphantly. "Torr, I know about the vampires. And I know that you know about them too. What I don't know is why you let one of them snack on you. Torr, how are you involved with them?"

Torr sucked in a breath, his voice shook as he spoke. "You know about them?"

"Of course," Erica stammered. "The vampires are, so far, the most normal thing I've seen around here. There's something else." She bit her lip as she thought about how to phrase what she was going to say next. "I know that Nash is a hell of a lot older than he looks." She nodded at the shocked expression on his face. Her fingers were bunched into fists and her nails dug into her palms. "I've got proof."

"What proof?" Torr sputtered. He'd hoped to keep Nash and his family out of this for now, until Erica had time to digest what he was about to tell her.

"Handwriting samples." Erica jutted her chin out in defiance. "Nash has changed his name over the years. But, he can't change his signature. And what about Hunter and Grant? Torr, they don't look any older than I am. They were born in nineteen forty two. If they had been born then they'd be in their sixties by now." Erica unclenched her fists and stomped through the underbrush following Torr deeper into the woods. "Explain Kacie to me. One minute she's a size six, the next, she's pregnant and big as a house." She grabbed the hem of Torr's t-shirt and pulled him to a stop. "You have to tell me the truth."

"You're imagining things," Torr retorted.

"No, I'm not. Look, I can keep a secret. Do you think so little of me that you don't trust me? Even if I did want to tell someone, who'd believe me?"

"Probably nobody."

"Exactly. Torr, whatever it is that you're involved with. No matter how deeply you're in. I can handle it. Just tell me."

"I'm trying to, Erica. It's just a lot harder that I thought it would be to tell you."

"Why?"

"Because...I don't want to lose you." Torr turned his attention to the trail. Erica followed clumsily behind him. The pack was close. He felt the ripple of their combined energies tickle the hairs on the back of his neck. He hoped that she'd try to understand. That somehow she'd be able to look past what he was and see who he was instead.

Erica's brows furrowed in confusion. Narrowly, she avoided tripping over an unseen tree root and falling head first into Torr's back. If she wasn't nervous and curious before. His statement certainly made her that way now. What could he be hiding that would be bad enough to make him worry about losing her? She couldn't imagine anything that would be so horrible that they couldn't at the very least be friends. But, then again, she'd been wrong before.

Fallon sat on a wide, flat rock and yanked off her shoes and socks. Carefully, she tucked the socks inside the end of her shoes and sat them to the side of the rock. The cold creek water was every bit as wonderful as she imagined it. Tiny minnows danced around her toes as she stepped away from the bank and waded into the water up to her knees. She was cautious of the slippery rocks embedded in the soft sandy bottom. If she fell and got wet, her mom would know where she'd been and she'd get in big, big trouble. A leaf floated past her, carried by the slow current like an empty boat on down the stream.

The day was so hot and the water was so wonderfully cool. Beams of sunlight shone through the thick canopy of trees way above her head and glittered on the water. Fallon giggled and splashed a dragonfly fluttering its wings on a nearby branch resting on the bank. The brush lining the water's edge rustled as a big wolf, taller than her, emerged, regarded her with an intense, knowing gaze, and dipped his long gray tipped muzzle to drink from the stream. She stood absolutely still awestruck by the wolf's beauty and size. "Hello." Somehow, she understood not to be afraid. The wolf was like her dad and someday, what she'd grow up to be.

Fallon eased back to her rock and scrambled to the shore. Her eyes were pinned on the magnificent creature watching her curiously as she hurriedly pulled on her socks and shoes. Another wolf poked its nose out of the dense brush and timidly approached the stream. This one was the color of a caramel candy with splashes of gray and cream on its belly and legs. Soon, another came, and then another.

The gray one inched closer. Its nose twitching as it tested her scent. Fallon stood and held her breath, letting the wolf smell her. The other wolves edged nearer. Running their cold black noses over her skin as they inspected her. She wasn't afraid, although the wolves just by their size and the sharp teeth that poked from beneath their lips were intimidating. Her fingers trembled, just a little as she reached out to stroke the soft, fuzzy points of their ears and the sleek smooth downy fur on their muzzles. Playfully she patted the belly of the caramel colored wolf. Giggling at its long pink tongue lolling out of the side of its mouth. It seemed, they accepted her as one of their own.

Erica sucked in a frightened breath at the sight of her daughter surrounded by a pack of hungry wolves. "Fallon honey," she whispered, "don't move." Her heart pounded in fear as she tightened her muscles to run to rescue her daughter.

Torr gripped Erica's shoulder tightly with his fingers. "Don't run." He pulled Erica in tight against his chest and adjusted his hold. "She's perfectly safe."

"Safe?" Erica sputtered, twisting to free herself of Torr's grip. She should have demanded animal control to come out and do something about these wolves. She should have known there was more than just one. "Let me go!" What in the hell was wrong with him. He stood calmly, keeping her from their daughter. He should be jumping in to rescue her. Didn't Fallon matter to him at all? What was he going to do? Let the wolves eat her?

Fallon gave the caramel colored wolf's belly a firm pat and scrambled onto her feet. "Hi, mom. These are my friends." She giggled as the gray wolf ran its long, wet tongue over her cheek, gently pushing him away. "Aren't they pretty?"

"Fallon. Honey. Come to mommy," Erica pled softly under her breath. Maybe if she could get Fallon away without startling the wolves, they'd walk out of this alive. Then she was dumping Torr flat on his ass. What was he thinking? He was just standing there like a complete idiot. She didn't need a man like that in her life.

Fallon dodged a long, rotting fallen limb and walked over to her mom. The wolves were tight on her heels. "They're my friends. They won't hurt us. Dad knows, don't you dad," she said confidently. "Tell her."

"They won't hurt you, Erica." Torr gestured to the wolves to back off. Obediently, they sat on their haunches, awaiting his command. "These are a few of my pack members. This is my family Erica."

Erica wriggled free from Torr's grip and gathered Fallon into her arms. Squeezing her tightly, relieved that she could hold her daughter one last time before the wolves tore them to shreds. Accusingly, she stared up at Torr and smoothed Fallon's hair with her palm. "What are you taking about?"

"Fallon hug your mommy tight and don't turn around, ok?" The last thing he wanted to do was to scare the hell out of his little girl. He gave Fallon a quick peck on the cheek when she nodded and wrapped her arms tightly around Erica's waist. "Derrick, show Erica what I'm talking about," Torr said. He guided Erica and Fallon a safe distance from the wolf and hung his head. "I'm sorry. I never meant to hide this from you."

Erica watched in horrified fascination as the wolf trembled violently and dropped to the ground on its belly. The sound of its piteous wail of agony tore deep into her soul. Her stomach wretched as she watched fur shed in a pile of soft down around the body and bare pink flesh stretched and reformed. The crunch and sinewy sound that a chicken bone makes when ripped in two was a sound that Erica swore she'd never forget. Her fingers gripped the back of Fallon's head, holding her fast to her stomach. Fallon didn't need to see this. She didn't want to see this. Yet, she could not bring herself to look away.

Her cheeks turned red when the man, naked as the day he was born, stood on unsteady legs and shook his mane of black hair to clear his head. He cast a sly slanted grin at her as her eyes averted from his fully revealed package.

"Mom, you're crushing me!" Fallon cried, wriggling to get free and have a look for herself.

"Derrick enough!" Torr barked. Quickly, he dispatched his pack with a wave of his hand and watched them melt silently into the woods. "You can let her go now," he said, gently prying Fallon free from Erica's grip.

"Don't," Erica said, gripping Fallon closer to her. "Don't ever!" Bile rose up in her throat as she looked at Torr with a mix of wonder, fear, and utter disgust. "Are you trying to tell me you are one of those things?" She couldn't believe she'd ever trusted him. That she thought she loved him. Was a thing like that even capable of love?

Torr dropped his hands to his side and nodded slowly. "I should have told you sooner. I just... I didn't know how." He wanted to reassure her that everything would be fine. They could still be happy together. If she'd only give him a chance. "Erica, I love you."

Erica shook her head fervently. "I can't...I just can't." She felt her heart fall to pieces in her chest. She thought she had a chance for a future with Torr. They didn't. Hell, how could they? They weren't even the same species. Everything was ruined. Gripping Fallon's hand, she began following the trail that led out of the woods.

"Mom?" Fallon looked up at her mom questioningly and glanced over her shoulder at her dad. What was going on?

"Come on Fallon, we're going home."

"Dad?"

"Go with your mom, Fallon." Torr's heart was heavy and burdened. It beat slowly like an old, rusted piece of equipment, pumping thick, viscous oil instead of blood through his veins. He swallowed hard and leaned against the rough bark of an old oak. His eyes fell shut as he heard the rustling sound of their footsteps grow more and more distant.



Chapter 93

Erica was relieved by a small measure to see the cheerful yellow siding through the thinning trees of the woods. Her head still reeled in disbelief to what she'd witnessed. She wished in a way that she was still happily and obliviously in the dark. She could be happy if she didn't know. She could still pretend. Nash stood by her driver's side door appraising her as she walked across the gravel to her car dragging Fallon behind her. Her worst suspicions were fact. Nash and his family, they were all like Torr. Beasts hidden beneath human skin.

Nash raised his eyebrows in curiosity. Erica's posture was bent, her shoulders drooped, as if she carried the weight of the world upon them. Torr had finally done as he'd been asked and told her the truth. Nash could only guess how much she actually knew. However much Torr had revealed to her, it was enough.

Erica unzipped her purse and fished out her keys. She held them in trembling fingers as she brushed past Nash to climb into her car. "You don't need to pay me for today. I quit." The interior of the car was stiflingly hot, but she kept the windows sealed up tight. Gravel sprayed in a shower of white as she pressed on the gas and barreled down the drive. The overhang of trees quickly devoured the house in her rearview mirror until all that was reflected was a wash of green and brown. Still, she held her breath and gripped the steering wheel with white knuckles. Tears of hurt blurred her vision. How could Torr do this to her? He lied not only to her, but to Fallon.

Fallon slid forward in the bucket seat as the car skidded to a stop at the end of the gravel road. Being on the smooth pavement of the highway was a relief after the tooth chattering jarring of the bumpy road. Her heart sank in her chest. Her mom tried to hide the tears behind dark sunglasses, but Fallon could see the trickle of them running down her mom's flushed skin. The tears were a very, very bad sign. "I forgot my backpack," she said in her best little kid voice. The voice she used when bad things happened.

"Don't worry about it right now, Fallon," Erica snapped. Torr had knowingly placed their daughter in danger. He knew what those people were and he let her, let them both, waltz into that house everyday without a clue to the truth. Fallon had been so happy to finally have a few friends to play with. For the first time, her little girl seemed perfectly at home, as if she were among family instead of strangers. Not going back was going to break her heart. But, what choice did Erica have?

Choices. There were so many that Erica had to think about right now. She needed time to sort it all out. What was she going to do about Torr. He was one of those things too. Beyond the thing that he was. He was also the father of her child. And after so many years of wondering, Fallon had finally met her dad. Erica gunned the engine and passed a huge piece of farm equipment chugging slowly down the highway ahead of her. As a mother, her daughter's safety was her responsibility. She had to look out for Fallon. As the mom, did she really have the right to keep Torr and Fallon apart? Losing her father after such a short time of getting to know him would devastate her little girl. But, how safe was Torr to be around her daughter?

Erica pulled into the bumpy gravel drive that led to the house and slid the car in park. Through the dark glasses, she studied Fallon. Her emotions bounced between anger at being lied to. Fear because she knew the truth. And hurt, deep, deep hurt at the choices that he was forcing her to make. She bounced between wishing she'd never known and being grateful that he'd told her before things went any farther than they had. Her fingers jingled the keys in the ignition. "Go on inside and have Aunt Leigh make you something to eat. I need some mom time."

Fallon unbuckled the seatbelt and opened the car door. "Ok," she answered meekly. Mom time meant that her mother wanted to be alone. Maybe she'd end up talking to dad and things would be okay again. The thought gave Fallon some hope. She didn't want to go back to public school. She didn't want to lose her friends. And most importantly, she didn't want her mom and dad to fight. If her mom got mad enough she might not let her see her dad again. Ever.

Fallon's feet pounded up the stairs to the front porch in an echoing hollow sound. The gravel crunched behind her as her mom backed the car out of the drive. There was little a kid could do to change an adult's decisions once they were made. Whatever her mom decided, Fallon had no choice but to go with it. Her eyes closed and she whispered a prayer. She prayed for her mom and dad to work things out and for all of them to be happy together. She finally had a dad, a real dad, and she couldn't lose him now.

Alexander swiveled his neck and looked up toward the sound of groaning springs on the screen door. He'd meant to get some oil on those old springs. He just hadn't done it yet. But, it was on the list. "Come on in and stay a while, Fallon. You're letting every bug in the county in the house."

Fallon sniffled and stood in the doorway. The screen door snapped shut behind her with a loud bang. She shuffled her feet and ran the back of her hand across her tear dampened lashes.

The sound of sniffling drew Alexander's attention from the ball game on his big screen. Women's tears were never a good thing and they always got him right in the heart. Little girl tears were the worst of all. The worn recliner protested as he swiveled it as far as the ancient mechanism would allow. "Where's your mother?"

Fallon stood in the doorway with her feet planted. Her bottom lip trembled as sobs took over. She couldn't speak, only stand in the doorway and cry like a baby.

"Come here," Alexander said softly in his fatherly voice that had comforted more than one sobbing little girl over the years. He opened his arms and invited Fallon onto his lap. "Come on. Tell your uncle all about it."