Dawn's Innocence

Kacie was unable to meet the intensity of the truth in his stare and glanced away, nodding. "I can. But, what if it doesn't last?"

Tristen took Kacie in his arms, scooting her close as he could get her. He draped his thigh around her hips and curled his knee so that their calves were intertwined. There it was. The real question they'd both been avoiding or perhaps, unwilling to admit. She was terrified of loss. What had happened in Texas had torn her apart more than she wanted anyone to know. Maybe, more than even she realized. She'd lost her home. Her family was scattered like fallen leaves in a storm. She'd bled. She'd suffered. Her entire world had been shaken down to its very foundation and it hadn't withstood the battering.

She'd been forced to evaluate and reevaluate everything and everyone she'd ever trusted and believed in. And what she had left was sketchy and terrifying, so unstable and uncertain. He wanted to be the cornerstone on which she rebuilt her world. But, sometimes, especially a woman like Kacie needed to be her own stone. The best he could do was be the mortar, if she'd let him, that held her new world together. "When its real. Love always lasts."

Tristen pinned her against his body and guided her onto her back. Kissing her slowly and sweetly, worshiping her mouth with his lips and tongue, he hoped he was enough to erase every doubt, shelter her from her deepest fears, and love her enough that she truly began to trust and to believe in something bigger than the both of them.

Kacie reeled in the sensation of Tristen's lips pressing against hers. She opened up for him, inviting him in. Her body molded into his. Her softness fit so well against his hard muscular planes. He took her invitation, greedily searching out her mouth with eager swabs of his tongue. His fingers clasped the curve of her hip, gripping her belt loops as he held her tightly beneath him.

Tristen had to keep reminding himself that he was not here to make out with Kacie. He could save that for another time. The ground they lay upon was sacred. The woods and the land were filled with the holy essence of the goddess and her blessing. In his mind, he whispered a silent prayer, that Kacie would love him as much as he loved her. The answer came to him, carried on the spring breeze in a whisper. The answer of the goddess caressed his skin and her fingertips ruffled his hair. Kacie didn't notice the shift in the wind. Only he knew the truth carried in the winds.

He kissed Kacie with a renewed vigor. Searching out every unexplored part of her being. She loved him. She didn't have to say it. He felt it deep within his heart, the heart that belonged to her alone. The goddess in her wisdom had blessed him with a beautiful and fragile gift in Kacie. The gift was one that would need constant attention and gentle nurturing to make it flourish. Kacie's love, he had it. Breaking the kiss, he shifted to sit on his heels. "I have something for you." He sat up and fished what he'd taken hours of painstaking delicate handwork to create out of his back pocket.

"What?" Kacie rested her fingers on his clenched fist. Tristen was grinning again. But, the light in the backdrop of his dark eyes was not humor but the glow of pride and satisfaction. Gently, she pried his fist open and took what he offered her in his extended palm. She fingered a soft, intricately woven necklace made up of hundreds, maybe thousands of thin, sleek strands, the exact color of her hair. The necklace was interwoven with brightly colored glass beads and delicate silver pearls that glinted in the sunlight. The braid work was intricate and it must have taken him weeks, perhaps longer, to weave the strands into a single braid. Turning the necklace over in her palm, she couldn't figure out where the necklace began or where it ended. The work was so intricate and detailed it formed a single loop. "It's beautiful."

Tristen smiled and slid the braid over her head. He'd endured many hand smackings and tsks from Nana to make the necklace. While her gnarled fingers had been graceful and made the macramé that had formed the braid look like child's play, his were big, clumsy, and awkward and it'd taken several attempts to get the knots just right. He'd picked out the beads and some of the heavier pieces were bits of fossils he'd found sifting through the gravel on the road. Kacie hadn't pieced together the connection or the true meaning of the necklace, yet. She smoothed her fingertips over the braid and the beads, appreciative, but not really getting it.

"When you had to cut your hair, I knew it broke your heart. I salvaged what I could from what you'd left on the bathroom floor and saved it. During that bad time, when I was in the barracks and you were trying to save your mom. When I didn't know...if we'd ever see each other again or not. I'd pull the braid out of my pocket and somehow, just the feel of it, of your hair between my fingers was enough to make me hang on...to get me through the hell of not knowing and needing so desperately to believe we were going to live to have our moment, our one perfect moment, and here it is.

After we got home. I wanted to give you something back from everything you'd lost. Maybe, you think it's stupid. I don't know," he said, with a dismissive shrug. "I wove your hair into a necklace. I just wanted to do something nice for you." Tristen frowned as a tear escaped beneath Kacie's lashes and rolled down her cheek. He had absolutely no experience with women and their tears. Feeling like a heel for screwing up so bad, he whispered, "Don't cry." Stroking the tear away and catching it with the pad of his thumb, he felt utterly helpless. Her fingers trembled, flexing and releasing around the braid as if she were about to tear it free from her neck. "I didn't mean to upset you."

"Upset me? It's the most beautiful gift anyone has ever given me. You put so much thought and work into this. I'm not upset. I'm overwhelmed." She climbed into his lap and his welcoming arms, drying her grateful tears on his warm skin. "Tristen, thank you." She rested her head on his shoulder and together, him rocking her back and forth in an embrace and locked together body against body. Kacie finally worked up the courage to say what was shouting in her heart. Disengaging from his hold she looked into his eyes. "Tristen, I love you. I'm in love with you. I don't know when it happened or what it means, but there it is, the truth." She blushed as he smiled and rubbed the cool tip of his nose against hers in a sweet Eskimo kiss.

"That is the most wonderful gift I've ever received." Tristen squeezed Kacie tightly in his arms. They didn't kiss. They didn't talk. They sat together surrounded by nature and in the presence of the goddess, just watching the sky fade from brilliant cloudless blue to softer shades of pink and gold.

Chapter 50

Jan stood up from the kitchen table and stretched her aching back. Her mother and she had been at it forever, pouring over bridal magazines and web page after web page. Decisions still weren't finalized and the wedding was this week. "Mom, you have to make decide on something," Jan moaned in exasperation.

"I just want things to be perfect," Eloise said. All the pictures in the magazines and on the web pages looked so elaborate. The dresses were those of little girl princesses with full skirts, taffeta, lace, ribbons, pearls, and bows. She wasn't going for that kind of a look. She wanted simple and understated. She wanted people to be comfortable and to have a good time at her wedding. She had a more 'come as you are' kind of affair in mind. Her guests weren't exactly the stuffed shirt and tuxedo crowd.

"I never thought I'd say this, but its time to enlist some help. I'm calling Janine." Jan pulled out her cell phone and flipped through her contact list. Janine or maybe, just the threat of Janine would get her mother making some decisions or at least get her to the point where she was narrowing down her final choices just a bit. The vampire fashionista would be happy to help dress the bride, the groom, the bridal party, and hell, the whole damn town while she was at it.

Janine took her love of fashion to a whole new level. To the woman fashion was a religion and she was the holy mother superior. Janine was pushy, opinionated, and she knew no fear when it came to forcing people to look their best. But, she got the job done. If she declared everyone was wearing formal wear, they'd wear it. Not even the toughest wolf in the pack was any match for Janine. Weddings were her first love. Jan would have hated to see what kind of travesty her wedding might have turned into without Janine at the helm. Ok, so everyone did what Janine told them to because they weren't brave enough to do otherwise. Hell, she'd barked at Anna because the wedding cake didn't bake fast enough. And in the end, it truly had been a beautiful wedding and a wonderful reception.

"You wouldn't," Eloise hissed in terror. Janine was an unstoppable force when she got wind of an event in need of a planner. She was a tornado of taffeta and unfortunately, she also tended to suck everyone else up into her funnel. She got the job done, but usually, pushy, demanding people did. Eloise snatched the cell phone out of her daughter's hand and snapped the screen shut.

"You've got till tomorrow morning," Jan declared. "I'll come by early and see what you've picked out." She snatched her cell phone off the table and pinned her mother with a glare, poking her index finger at her phone. Janine's number was on the screen's display. "Tomorrow morning, mom. Or else."

"Ok," Eloise said meekly. She shrank in her chair beneath her daughter's hardened glare. She stared at the stack of bridal magazines piled on the table with a worried expression on her face. She couldn't settle on the flavor of the cake let alone the dress and flowers. Nothing seemed to capture the essence of the love she had for Nash. "Consider it done."

"Mom, I mean it." Jan said, sliding on her coat. "Tomorrow or I call Janine. This baby is coming, whether you're married or not. If you're going to get married before I go into labor, you'd better get on the stick. Pronto."

"Ok, ok, I will. Promise."

Nash stuck his head out of the kitchen and frowned at his wife's obvious despair. The top of her head barely peeked out from above the pile of magazines strewn across the table. He wiped the flour coating his hands on the dishtowel tucked in his belt and walked into the dining room, taking the seat beside her. He was a problem solver, a fixer of everything wrong in his world. He randomly yanked a magazine and began flipping through the pages. He blinked at the price tag on the most hideous looking wedding dress he'd ever seen and kept thumbing through the glossy advertisements. "Problems?"

"The wedding is this week and I have nothing picked out yet."

"Huh," Nash grunted. "There's a lot of fancy stuff in here." He shook his head and tossed the magazine on the table. No wonder she couldn't make a decision. There was simply too much to choose from, everything from traditional frills and white lace to black leather and red silk.

"I know," Eloise agreed miserably. "Jan has already threatened to call Janine." She sighed and rested her chin on her knuckles, silently begging her husband to be for a little help. What did he like? Would he prefer white or some other color for her dress? Nash wasn't exactly a fashion minded male. He dressed in colors that matched and his clothes were clean and not too frayed. But, for the most part he truly didn't put much stock in what he or anybody else wore. He didn't know Calvin Klein or Vera Wang from John Smith or Jane Doe. And he really didn't care. "What am I going to do? Oh well, at least we have chosen the place. But, what if it rains or is too cold that day for an outdoor wedding?"

"You worry too much. You're thinking like a pack mistress bent on impressing everyone. Quit worrying about what everyone will think. I want to give you the dream wedding you've always wanted, but not if its going to turn into a nightmare for you."

"I know, but..."

"But what? You're going to be there right?"

Eloise snickered and nodded. "I plan to."

"Well then, the wedding is already perfect. All I need is you. The rest is... well... fluff. As long as I'm marrying the woman I love. That's all I care about." Nash gave Eloise a gentle peck on the cheek.

"That's sweet, but it doesn't solve the fact that I'm going to be attending this wedding naked and there won't be a scrap of food to be served. I can't get Kacie's attention for more than two seconds. She's been ditching me. I'm never going to get her into a bridesmaid dress." Eloise threw up her hands in distress and snatched a bridal magazine from the stack. There had to be something in here she could wear.

"First of all, I don't have a problem if you come naked. Secondly, I'll make sure Tristen gets Kacie wherever you want her, whenever you want her there, and dressed in whatever you decide she should wear. Thirdly, have you ever seen anything a wolf wouldn't eat? And let's not go there with the vampires. Anything you serve will be fine, trust me."

"I draw the line at getting married in the buff. Sorry." Eloise chuckled, "As far as the Kacie issue, I'd like to see Tristen try to get her to do anything she doesn't want to do."

"Kacie won't be a problem," Nash said confidently. "Tristen will handle her."

"Oh really?"

"Really."

"Would you really torture your grandson in such a manner?" Eloise snickered at Nash's smug expression. He was a pack master, used to being obeyed. But, he'd never encountered a woman as stubborn and pig headed as her daughter. Poor Tristen. Kacie would hand him his ass if he tried to force her into a shopping trip.

"Let's find out," Nash said, rising to the challenge. His grandson could handle one little female. "Here they come now." Nash nodded to the patio as Tristen and Kacie tromped up the steps, laughing and giggling like a couple of kids.

"Shit, It's my mom." Kacie pulled back on Tristen's hand. Great. Her mom and Nash stared at her through the sliding glass door. She'd tripped her mom's radar. So not good. Kacie had been ducking and creatively dodging her mom for the last week. She hated shopping. She didn't want to be decked out in some tacky bridesmaid dress made out of cheap satin and bows. The only reason she'd agreed to the bridesmaid gig in the first place was because her mom seemed so happy. But, at the first mention of lace and pink taffeta, she'd high tailed it the hell out of Dodge.

"So," Tristen shrugged. Tugging Kacie along behind him, he practically had to drag her across the deck. She dug her heels in and lunged for the stairs with an expression of horror on her pretty face. What was the big deal? Eloise had been nothing but nice to him. Maybe, a little too motherly, which had been a complete surprise given her previous position as pack mistress. But, otherwise she didn't seem to have a mean bone in her body and he actually, unlike Kacie at the moment, liked hanging out with her.

"She's going to want to go shopping," Kacie hissed in dread.

"I thought women lived to shop?" Tristen slid open the glass door and dragged Kacie over the threshold.

Kacie stumbled through the door as she scrabbled for excuses to make a quick get away. Had to do her nails? Had to get to bed early? A good show was playing on TV. She had a book she was dying to read? A lobotomy? Anything to get out of spending hours trying on ridiculous dresses and being subject to her mother's whims.

"Kacie, I've been looking for you," Eloise said. Tristen had a firm hold on Kacie's wrist, which was a good thing otherwise her daughter would have bolted for the door. "There's the cutest little women's clothing store in town. I've done a little window- shopping, but I've never been inside. Maybe, the shop has something you could wear for a bridesmaid dress."

"Ah..." Kacie floundered. No matter what excuse she used. Nothing short of death would get her out of going shopping and trying on dresses. Maybe, if she promised to go later, much, much later, like say the second Tuesday of next week, later?

"Oh, come on, Kacie. Go with your mom. Spend some money. I can't wait to see you all dressed up." Tristen chuckled at Kacie's expression of horror. If looks could kill, he'd definitely be a dead man. To date, he'd seen Kacie in pajamas, that sexy little silk number she wore last night, in her usual jeans and t-shirts, and completely nude. Of course, nude was his favorite. But, he'd never seen her all dressed up. She was womanly and beautiful, but dress like a girl? Nah, not Kacie.

"Shut up." Kacie muttered under her breath as she stomped on Tristen's toe to ensure his silence.

"Owww!" Tristen howled. From now on he was wearing his steel-toed boots and ditching the hiking boots for good. He hobbled over to the table and parked Kacie in the vacant chair beside the one he plopped down into. She'd clobbered his big toe with her heel. He couldn't believe she was so willing to kick his ass over a shopping extravaganza with her mother. Hell, if it'd prevent her from stomping on him again, he'd wear a damn dress and stiletto heels.

"Kacie," Nash said in his best authoritarian voice. "This is important to your mother."

"Maybe tomorrow... I've got to..." Kacie fishmouthed. Nash wasn't used to being told no. He'd better get over it. She wasn't going shopping, end of story. She wasn't going to subject herself to her mother's torture. She already knew her mom would pick out the most hideous dress in the store. The one that was the most expensive and looked the worst on her and she didn't need her there for that.

'Tristen," Nash barked. Standing from the table to lend a hand, he motioned to Kacie. The girl could do stubborn. She sat with her arms crossed over her chest and her jaw set in defiance. And he knew exactly how to handle a bratty kid.

Tristen shrugged and, got up from his chair, slinging Kacie over his shoulder. Shocked into submission that he would do such a thing she dangled there like a puppet cut from the strings. "Where do you want her?"

"Take her to the SUV."

"Hey!" Kacie kicked and pounded her fists against Tristen's hard butt. It was a nice view, but not worth the humiliation and manhandling she was being subjected to. "Put me down!"

Eloise laughed until tears welled in the corner of her eye. "Let me get my purse." Her daughter dangled over Tristen's shoulder like a sack of potatoes, a wildly kicking, cursing like a sailor sack of potatoes. When Tristen spanked Kacie on the butt, the crack of his palm striking against her jeans like a shot. Eloise snorted in glee. Nash had delivered on his promise. And she was not one to back out of a bet. With a grin and a glint in her eyes, she was already planning what she'd do to repay her debt tonight, when they were alone.

"You are so going to pay for this," Kacie hissed at Tristen. She bobbed against his back as he carried her down the porch steps and to the SUV. From her upside down view she caught the tips of her mother's designer shoes stepping so daintily down the walk behind her.

"Whatever you decide to do will be worth it." Tristen laughed as he shoved Kacie in the backseat of the SUV and climbed in beside to her. She was mad as a wet hen, glaring and sputtering as she pushed her hair out of her eyes. Trying to maintain some level of dignity as he reached across her to fasten her seatbelt.

Nash let out a satisfied huff and climbed behind the wheel. Grinning at Eloise as he winked. "Hanna's it is then?"

"Hanna's. That's a cute name for a cute store. I bet they have a wonderful stock of dresses for me to have Kacie to try on." Eloise returned Nash's wink, rubbing salt in the wound as Kacie glared at her from the backseat. She'd go easy on her daughter. Try her best to keep the trips to the fitting room to a minimum of ten or maybe, fifteen.