Dawn's Innocence

"Be gentle with him," Jan teased. Thomas was trying, just not succeeding. At the rate he was going, that crib would be ready by the time their grandchildren were born.

"Don't worry. I'm the king of tact." Mack flashed Jan a wide smile as he disappeared down the hall and peeked into the nursery. "Jan says you need some help getting that crib together," he said loudly as he could so that Jan would hear. He lived to harass and tease his grandson. Thomas had parts and pieces scattered from one end of the room to the other and the meager portion of the crib he'd managed to put together wobbled in threat of collapsing.

"Thanks Mack," Jan shouted. She wandered into the kitchen, shaking her head as she searched the fridge for something to make 'her men' for breakfast. Chuckling beneath her breath when she heard the men shooting the shit from the nursery. There wasn't much work getting done on putting that crib put together. But, that was ok. She wondered what Thomas would look like when he got to be Mack's age. Would he look like his grandfather, weathered, but still strong and capable with kind eyes that had seen too much of life? When he was Mack's age, would he be eagerly awaiting the arrival of the next generation and shooting the shit with his grandson?

Thomas was human. One hundred percent human, he would age and die. She would too, but much slower thanks to her wolf DNA. Eventually, a choice would have to be made. They both knew it. She didn't have to lose him to the eventual. He could never become like her, but there were alternatives. They'd always skirted around the subject. Someday, they wouldn't be able to avoid the topic any longer. He'd have to make a choice. That point would be years from now. They had plenty of time to think about it, for now.

Shayla stifled a tear as she sat on the cold, uneven concrete floor out of his reach. Carter was worse today. He wouldn't even turn from the corner of his cell to acknowledge her presence. He crouched with his palms pressed to his ears as he rocked back and forth. "Carter, please look at me," she begged. She was losing him bit by bit as he slipped closer and closer into a place from which there was no return.

Carter warred with the beast in his body and the sweet presence in his head. Today was the worst yet. The voice sang deafeningly loudly. He had not had a moment's peace only torture piled on top of torture. He was starving. Hunger jabbed at his gut like the points of thousands of knives. The scent of Shayla's blood, clean and so potent, stirred the beast within him. Her voice soothed over his bare skin like a lover's touch. If he turned to answer her plea, he wasn't sure if even the steel coils that bound him would restrain the feral animal he was slowly becoming.

"Thomas says the baby is due in a couple of weeks." Shayla forced her voice to be cheerful and hopeful. Maybe if Carter heard the hope in her voice he'd at least turn around and look at her. Even if he didn't speak, at least she could look him in the eye.

"All is well with the child?"

Carter's voice was cold, freezing her as he spoke. Drawing her closer. Pushing her away. "Yes. Thomas says the ultrasounds look good." She forced a smile as the sound of metal grating against concrete and rock echoed in the room. She tried to bite back her shock at the sight of him. He was gaunt and thin. His eyes glowed like tiny blue beads in his skull. His fangs protruded from his thin upper lip.

"Do I frighten you?"

"Of course not."

"I should." Carter filled his nose with her scent. The predator inside of him growled with hunger, aroused by her blood. "I frighten myself."

"I told you. I'm not afraid. Why can't you believe me?"

"Because I know what I am." Carter shifted and turned away when she bravely crawled closer.

"And what is that?" Shayla had managed to get through to him and she wasn't about to back down now.

"Death in a pretty wrapper."

"You don't look so good right now."

Carter chuckled at her response. "No, I suppose I don't. There isn't much time left. If I don't feed soon, I'll go rogue and the Sons will have no choice but to put me down."

"Is that what you want? To die?"

"If it will make a difference to the young in your womb, yes. I know the time draws near. Soon, the child will be born. Each day, the child's thoughts grow stronger and stronger. I can hear them in my head. Such a thing, to think about how pure and innocent we are when we come into this world, and how quickly the corruption takes place." Carter shook his head. "I never really understood, till now."

"Understood?"

"The part I've played in the corruption of so many innocent souls. You should go before I corrupt you further."

"People make their own choices. As do I. I am here because I choose to be."

"And I say its time for you to go. For good. Don't come back. I can't look at you and know what I've done to your life. You disgust me, tempt me, and risk your unborn child. Don't think for a minute that if I wanted you badly enough, the threat of their blades and these lengths of steel would hold me back. Only the strength of my fragile will keeps me from tearing out your throat and sating my thirst. How easily it would be done. I'd break your neck, and your heart would continue to pump. Deliver your life into my mouth. If you were dead, the child inside of you would be so too. And then I'd have my mind to myself again. Don't think I haven't considered it."

Shayla wiped away her tears on her sleeve. "You don't mean what you're saying."

"Come closer and find out." Carter hissed in warning as Shayla rose to her feet. The menacing sound of steel being drawn from a sheath broke the silence between them. The guard posted at the entry to the cell drew his blade hesitantly, but Bryce had still drawn it. And he was prepared, ready to end Carter's life to protect Shayla's.

Shayla looked down at her feet. She took one step closer and then another. She must be insane to tempt the devil. Her feet carried her until she was within his reach. He towered over her a ghost of his former self. His hands fisted the hair at the base of her neck. Gripping and pulling till her eyes watered from the pain. She tore her gaze from the floor to stare up into the fierce electric blue eyes of a predator. "I'm not afraid of you. Do it. Drink from me. Take it all," she panted.

Carter curled his upper lip back and lowered his mouth to her neck. Settling his tongue on the pulse point bounding beneath the flesh. He smelled her fear. She was brave to offer her throat, but she had enough respect for what he was to be terrified. The presence screamed in his mind. Roaring, he pushed her away. Predator, hell bound, he would not take her with him. "Do not offer what is not yours to give. Your life is no longer your own. Don't come back." His body trembled with the effort of his restraint.

Shayla dropped to the floor at Carter's feet and felt her body being gently lifted by the guard. The guard's careful, strong hands pulled her across the cell, away from Carter. She dug in her heels and slowed the gentle pull toward the door. Carter believed he was alone in his suffering. He wasn't. She suffered with him. The brothers endured his torment with their silent stoicism, dreading what was to come if she couldn't reach him. Evan asked questions and had the most haunted look in his young eyes she'd ever seen. Carter fought them all. They were so desperate to save him and he so evidently didn't want to be saved. Not even his Guardians, his duty to them was enough to pull him back from the brink. "What do I tell Evan?"

"Tell him the truth. Tell him that I'm dead."

"There's nothing more I can do, is there?"

"Yes, there is. Leave, Shayla. Just. Leave."

Evan swallowed his fear. He had managed to wedge the heavy steel door open that separated the basement from the labyrinth of underground tunnels leading to the vampire's house. He'd been told about the tunnels. Everyone knew about them. And he'd been told that he could get lost and to never ever go into them without an adult. Silly thing to tell an impulsive, curious, six year-old boy, of course, he wanted to explore them. And he wanted to find Carter before it was too late.

The minute all the adults turned their backs, he'd made for the door. He stared into the dark, open maw of the tunnels, gathering his courage. Uncle Carter was at the other side of the tunnels, someplace. And Evan had been very patient. Listened and evaluated every pat excuse his aunt and mother had come up with to keep them apart. Uncle Carter needed him. Nothing was going to keep Evan from going to him. Nothing, not even the dark spooky tunnel was going to keep him from going to his uncle. He gripped the flashlight and slid inside, pulling the door, shut with a slam, behind him.

Chapter 60

Kacie gathered up all the composure she could muster. This morning she'd left for the compound before even Nash, the early bird, had risen for the day. The whole house knew what was doing between Tristen and her. They'd all heard her argument. This morning avoidance seemed like the better plan, but now she had to face them, and him.

He sat at the kitchen table, chatting away with, of all people, her mother. Didn't the woman know any loyalty where her daughters were concerned? Her mother was SUPPOSED to be on her side. She should be shunning Tristen, not sharing a mid afternoon snack of cheese, crackers, and fruit with him. REALLY.

Tristen sat with his long legs stretched out and his arms folded under his head as if he didn't have a care in the world. He laughed and chatted with her mom as if they were old friends. Kacie thrust out her chin and slid open the patio door. Bravely facing the not so dynamic duo. She could play along. She could pretend that their break up didn't bother her either. Unfortunately, unlike him, she would only be pretending that she was unscathed.

Eloise took one look at her daughter and winced. Kacie looked like she had been utterly and thoroughly worked over. Nash was going to have to have a talk with John Mark and discuss his training techniques. "Kacie, come and join us," she said, pushing the tray of fruit toward her daughter.

"Thanks, mom." Kacie said popping a grape into her mouth as she pulled the hoodie over her head. "But, I'm going to have to take a rain check. I need a shower before I can even think about food." She planted her hands on her hips and stretched a long luxurious stretch. Forcing her sports bra to its limits. "John Mark is so intense. He really put me through my paces today."

"I can see that." Eloise frowned as she gently fingered the gathering of purple bruises on Kacie's ribs. "Are you sure this training is such a good idea?"

"Mom, I've never been in better shape. As far as I'm concerned, it's a win-win situation. I'm getting paid to work out." Kacie leaned over the table, giving a bird's eye view to make sure Tristen saw exactly what he was missing out on. She took her time selecting a strawberry from the tray and smiled inside when she saw him shift uncomfortably in the chair. As he once told her, the body never lies, and his was definitely showing signs of interest. "John Mark had to spar with me today. It seems I don't have a partner anymore." Kacie hid the wince of discomfort in her ribs as she righted her body and struggled to avoid limping on her sore hip. "I'll see you at dinner, mom."

Eloise glared at Tristen. "You both are acting like children."

Tristen shrugged and popped a slice of a thick slice of aged Swiss cheese into his mouth. "John Mark won't hurt her on purpose. She's ok." Damn, he adjusted his position in the chair. The titty shot had been nice, very nice. Kacie was playing with him and he'd be damned if he was going to give in and swallow his pride over a mound of cleavage. She could wave her goods like a flag on the Fourth of July as far as he was concerned. He wasn't budging.

"But, you would." Eloise snatched the tray away from Tristen and stomped into the kitchen. She had no patience for the standoff between Tristen and Kacie. She had plenty to say to the both of them, not that it would do her any good. They were young and stubborn and neither one of them would appreciate her interference.

"Aw c'mon Eloise, there was farmer's cheese on that tray," Tristen whined. Eloise responded with a sharp slam of the refrigerator door and breezed past him on her way to do something more important than waste her time counseling him about his love life.

Gina stood in the doorway shaking her head in dismay at her adopted adult child. She'd come to the kitchen in search of a cup of coffee to perk her up. At least she had something productive and worthwhile to do with her time. But, trying to teach a handful of preschoolers their ABCs was a little like herding cats. They were down for a nap, snuggled up in a puppy pile on mats in the basement classroom. Evan was in her group. He didn't belong there. He should have been placed in with the older school age kids, but his mother insisted. So, he patiently relearned things he already knew. His mother was too protective of him. And while Gina understood Evan's uniqueness, she didn't necessarily agree with Ruby's tactics of shielding him from the world.

When the kids bedded down for a nap, Gina had an hour of free time. Funny, she didn't miss the pace of her before life in the city at all. She was busy enough here and she had Hunter to dull any ache of homesickness. These days, she wore blue jeans and sneakers, simple button down blouses or t-shirts, especially when she dragged out the finger paints for her class. She'd thought she wanted the bright lights of the big city and her face plastered on billboards when in the end all she'd really needed was home, family, and a good man to share her days and nights with. She was happy. Contented in a way that made her thankful for everything she'd suffered to get to this point.

Thank God, there was coffee in the pot. She riffled through the fridge and pulled out the cream. Spooning sugar into her mug after adding a generous helping of cream and then filing the mug with black coffee, she stirred. Gina tried not to give advice when it wasn't warranted. But, Tristen was making a complete ass of himself and he sure as hell wasn't making any brownie points with Eloise. "Tristen, a piece of advice. A sure way not to get the girl back is to make an enemy of her mother."

Tristen scowled at his stepmother. Gina rarely intervened in the lives of others. She was pack. She had the right, especially where he and his brother and sister were concerned. She just usually chose not to give any input. She stared across the bar that separated the kitchen from the dining room with too much knowledge in her expression. Ok, so he'd intervened plenty to get her and his dad together. He supposed he deserved what he had coming. Thankfully, Gina wasn't a lecturer. She'd be blunt. Say what she had to say. And let him sort it out.

It'd taken no small feat to get Gina and his dad where they were. They'd made the magic, but he'd been the one to get things off the ground. He'd gone as far as to pursue Gina for himself just to get his dad in gear. Gina was a looker, no doubt about that. These days, she was different, with her hair grown out and her face free of expertly done makeup. In tennis shoes instead of Prada pumps and wearing jeans rather than the power suits she'd retired when she'd moved in.

Gina was a strong woman, stronger than she realized. But, there was still a fragility to her, hiding beneath the surface. He caught her scowl at the silverware drying in the dish strainer and knew she'd never quite be the same after everything she'd suffered. He wondered sometimes what would have happened if...and then pushed the unwelcome thoughts aside. He so wasn't going there. Gina and his dad were exactly where they belonged and they were great together. "Who said I wanted the girl back?"

Gina rolled her eyes and huffed. "Sometimes, I swear, when I'm talking to you it's like I'm talking to your father. Stubborn. Oh well, I guess there's plenty of other males willing to ease Kacie's broken heart. Since you don't want her, you won't mind if one of them takes your place." She sipped her coffee to hide her grin as he grumbled and stomped out of the dining room.

Gina opened the fridge and pushed the bottled water to the side with a fingertip. She was better, but some days were good and some weren't. Today had been a good day and the bottles of water didn't drag up too many bad memories. Tristen was his father's son to the core. She knew Hunter had spoken to Tristen about Kacie more than once. Nobody seemed to be getting through to him. Had Hunter and she been any different? Sometimes, love just took a while, but it was worth it. So worth it.

Chapter 61

Torr was a wolf on the prowl. His patience had paid off and he'd spotted his prey early this morning. He stayed a casual distance behind Erica as she wound her way down the sidewalks of town, toting a briefcase in her right hand. She'd been to the bank and to the local real estate office, even out to the Super Center to pick up a few items. Now, she had stopped for a quick lunch of grilled chicken before she headed out again. He made sure that his eyes remained on her and that she saw not so much of a glimpse of him. Not till he was ready for her to.

Erica was every bit as pretty now as she had been then. Her normally wavy, unruly strawberry blonde hair had been tamed into a tight and orderly bun at the nape of her neck. Her clothing suggested that she was a woman on a mission. A pale gray skirt showed shapely calves and dainty ankles. The white blouse gave subtle hints of the curves beneath. He sucked in a breath of her scent, swearing that he could still smell the sunshine and the salty air of the Gulf of Mexico on her skin.

He tried not to let the memories of the moment between them distract him from his true goal. He patiently watched from his hiding spot as she ate her lunch and shuffled through the pages of an employment magazine. Job hunting was a good thing, a very good thing. It meant she was staying put for a while.

Erica resisted the urge to kick off her shoes and rub her aching feet. So far, today had been a bust. Plenty of curious smiles and polite words, promises to call if an opening came up, but other than that, nothing. She had a few more places on her list to hit before she called it a day. At this point, she didn't care where she found a job. Just as long as she landed something that included a paycheck. Soon.

It'd only been one night and already she felt like shit for freeloading off her aunt and uncle. The problem was that every place in town gave her the same answer after little more than a glance at her resume. She was overqualified. The flower shop had a part time opening for back room help...no dice there. Erica guessed the owner didn't believe accountants could be the least bit creative.

The bar had a sign in the window advertising for a waitress. Accountants could get jiggy with it, and Lord knew she knew her wines after all the after hours dinners with clients she'd been forced to endure. But, no...the bartender had taken her application and Erica had no doubt the minute she'd turned her back. The paperwork had ended up in the trash.

She'd even stooped to filling out an online application at the Super Center, but she didn't expect to get a call from them either. Tax time was here and she'd applied at the local H&R Block office. She could do 10-40EZ forms in her sleep, but dear old H&R Block didn't want her either. Besides, the work was only temporary for the season and come May first, she'd be in the same boat as she was now, again.

She wasn't giving up. She was going to apply to every damn place in town. What were they gonna do? Shoot her for applying? In this town, that might be a distinct possibility. There was still Hanna's, the jewelry shop, Happy's, and the hospital to go before she called it quits for the day. She planned to make the coffee shop her last stop before heading home. After all, she knew quite a bit about coffee and small business, sort of. She'd managed to run hers right into the ground, but they didn't need to know that.