Dawn's Second Chance

Chance scanned the page, his eyes settling on a photo of a teenage boy, lounging casually against the hood of a vintage muscle car. A silver and turquoise pendant hung from the boy's neck, barely visible beneath the collar of his jacket. Chance trailed his hand down, wrapping his fingers around the rough piece of leather and gripping the pendant in his fist. Alex had given it to him for luck when he was going through the trials. She had told him that the pendant belonged to Lucien and that he'd worn it every day for as long as she'd known him. A deep breath caught in his throat. "Lucien."

"This must have been taken a few months before the accident and his transformation. He was still human then," Will answered softly.

"He's kind of a legend isn't he?" Chance asked.

"Lucien was very well liked and respected."

"Sometimes, I feel as if I'm standing in his shadow," Chance said, closing the album and laying it down on top the mound of boxes.

"Chance. Lucien was only a man, far from perfect. He and Alex, they were very much in love and when he died, she almost died with him. I didn't think we'd ever get her back. From there to here has been a very hard road for her."

"I know."

"Son, she loves you. Don't ever doubt it. She loves you for who you are. A part of her will always love Lucien. You accept that. But, her feelings for you are no less diminished. If anything they're stronger. Sometimes, it takes a loss like that to make a person realize how precious love is. She doesn't expect you to take Lucien's place in her heart. She expects you to be who and what you are, nothing more. That's the man she's in love with."

"I love her dad."

"I know you do, Son."

"Dad," Chance said, pinning his father's gaze. "I'm going to do everything I can to make her happy."

Will clapped his son on the back and smiled. "Chance, she already is."

Chance grinned at his dad and picked up the album. "Come on old man, let's get these boxes put away."



Chapter 52

Marcus spent the week studying dance moves and perfecting his technique. What was worse was he forced Lance and Bryce to suffer through practices with him. If they were volunteering to be the strippers for Alex's party, they needed to make certain their performances were flawless. Joke or not, meant to be funny or not, Marcus wanted the three of them in tip top shape. But, damn if he had to watch another Chippendale video he was going to puke. Tomorrow as they were driving out to the compound for a weekend of rest and relaxation, replacements were coming in to take their posts in the city.

Dane was solid about that rule. Nobody got left on duty in the city for too long. A couple of weeks max. Hunting was an integral part of who the brothers were. Stray alley cats and donors were ok. But, without woods, and nothing but concrete and miles of urban jungle, the brothers couldn't satisfy the hunter inside of them. It was an unspoken fear, a worry shared by all the brothers, a danger...the hunter would hunt. The instinct was too strong to deny for long.

Bryce dressed in nothing but a g-string, chaps, and a cowboy hat, frowned at Marcus. The damned get up was breezy and Marcus had been at them for hours. Lance wore nothing but a scrap of fabric around his groin and a stethoscope. The crack of his ass was never going to be the same. But, as Doctor Love, he looked fine. Marcus shook his head at his fellow dancers in dismay. They could leap from rooftop to rooftop with the grace of a cat. But, try to teach them a simple one-two hip thrust- booty shake combo and they were tripping over their feet.

He had settled on a fireman costume. Covered more until the magic moment when he stripped down to his g-string. At least the trackers weren't built like most the brothers. Compact and lithe, they were made for speed and agility. He was a natural for the job. Ok, so the whole thing set up by Janine was meant as a joke. But, maybe, some lucky female would be impressed with his hose and offer to put his fire out. Yeah, not likely. "Come on guys, we look like the Village People, not strippers. From the top," he ordered, pushing the play button on the stereo and taking his place in line.

*******

Later that evening Chance pulled Alex close, neither one of them could sleep. Tonight was their last night together until after the wedding and they both had a case of pre-wedding jitters. He'd been naked on the bluffs and hadn't felt this nervous. "Are you getting cold feet?"

Alex ran her foot up his shin and rested her toes on the warm skin of Chance's backside. "Honey, I've always got cold feet."

Chance shivered as her cold toes connected with his flesh. "You know what I mean."

Alex giggled at Chance's goose pimples. "I want to spend the rest of my life with you. I love you. It's not the wedding I'm nervous about. It's just the bachelorette party that I'd rather skip."

Chance ran his hands along Alex's neck, kneading the taut muscles. "Couldn't talk Janine out of it?"

Alex snorted, "I'd have better luck trying to stop a freight train."

"That'd be Janine, a runaway locomotive."

"What about you? You're not getting cold feet are you?" Alex asked, snuggling into Chance's broad chest.

"Who me?" Chance asked, running his long, lean foot up her calf. Gently parting her thighs with his knee and working his way between her legs with his hips. She felt good beneath him. "Nice and toasty." He kissed her deeply, with promise of all the love to come.

******

"I look trampy." Sam emerged from the bathroom, scowling at Janine. It took days before she worked up the courage to ask Janine for help. Now, it was the night of the big party and she looked like a hooker. She teetered on the three-inch stiletto heels and damn near fell flat on her ass. Adjusting her boobs in the push up demi-bra, she frowned at the show of cleavage popping out of the low plunging neckline of her borrowed blouse.

"No you don't," Janine retorted, readjusting the low cut blouse. Sliding it down Sam's shoulders to reveal more cleavage. "It's a bachelorette party and you're supposed to show some skin." She turned to Alex for support. Like she'd find it there. Alex dressed like a nun. "She's got great boobs. She needs to show them off. Isn't that right Alex?" Janine grinned at Sam. The woman was next on her matchmaking list and luckily for her, Janine had just the guy in mind. "Quit that," she ordered, smacking Sam's hand away from the hem of the hip hugging leather skirt. "It's just the right length." She ushered Sam to a chair and pushed her down onto the seat. "Now for the hair and makeup."

Alex snorted and waved her arm in resignation. "Don't look at me, Sam. I cry when turtleneck season ends." She dressed conservatively, much to Janine's disappointment, in a pair of form fitting jeans and a loose button down blouse. She'd learned a long time ago not to let Janine pick out her outfit. She smiled at Sam consolingly.

A few million pokes in the eye with the end of a mascara brush later, Sam was allowed to look into the mirror. The makeup was a lot heavier than what she was used to. But, the thick, kohl liner and smoky colors made her brown eyes look huge and seductive. Her lips, tinted bright crimson, looked full and slick, pouty, practically begging to be kissed. Her hair was wound up in loose, disheveled, jet-black, sleek, shiny spirals, cupping her face. Over all, she liked the effect. No one would doubt she was a girl tonight.

The makeup and hair were perfect. But, the clothes weren't quite what she was used to. She self-consciously tugged on the end of the skirt, adjusting it down on her thighs and pulled on the neckline of the top, adjusting it up onto her shoulders.

Janine squealed with delight at Sam's reaction. Some worked in clay and paint. Janine was a master of her craft. She'd taken a diamond in the rough and created a work of art. Clapping in congratulations, she said, "It's too bad I couldn't use any foundation or blush on you. The damn stuff won't work on vampires. But, you look fabulous. I love it! Girl, you are hot, hot, hot!"

Alex sensed Sam's displeasure with the outfit and went to Janine's closet. The woman owned more clothes than Neiman Marcus. Fishing out a pair of navy blue, denim jeans, she tossed them to Sam. "I think you'll be more comfortable in these." She smiled at Janine as Sam mouthed the word 'Thanks' behind Janine's back. "Consider it a compromise. Sam's a mini-skirt virgin and needs to take it slow on her first time out."

Janine nodded and sighed. "Rightfully said. The skirt didn't look right with those granny panties she insisted on wearing anyway. Virginal white cotton undies and short sleek black leather don't mix." Janine shuddered in horror at the thought. She'd offered Sam a thong and the woman had practically tried to strangle her with it. "Why don't you guys go round up Anna and I'll see how the preparations are going."

Sam exhaled in relief as she pulled off the skirt and tossed it over her shoulder. Jeans were better, a little snug, but definitely better than the skirt. She exchanged a look with Alex over Janine's shoulder. How the woman managed to get her size seven butt into a pair of size five jeans was a mystery to the both of them. The jeans were low rise and hit her just below the belly button. Still too revealing for her tastes. But, at least she could move without worrying about flashing her ass. "Come on Alex, let's go get Anna."

Chuckling, Janine put a final touch on her makeup, adjusted the neckline of her blouse, lower, and raised the thigh riding skirt, just an inch higher. Alex wasn't going to know what hit her tonight. After a final look in the mirror, she tapped down the halls in her stiletto heels in search of the entertainment.

******

Patrick frowned, smashed in between two sets of bulky shoulders. Since the trackers were going to be at the compound, there was no need to draw straws to see who was going to be the unlucky winner and stay behind to watch over the girls. In a way he was glad not to be on drunk detail tonight. But, he was also not happy about leaving Janine alone with other men. She'd promised to behave and he knew that she would. But, still that didn't mean the men would. He turned his head glancing into the third row of seats, receiving a reassuring nod from Toby.

Toby grinned and nodded at Patrick. They weren't required to stay behind tonight. Not that Toby minded, Janine and Anna were a hoot when they were buzzed. But, he was going along with it and hanging with the guys. At Patrick's insistence, he'd nanny cam'd the kitchen and the rec room. They'd be there, via web feed, watching from his PC.

******

Chance was glad they weren't going too far from home. They were going out to the cabin and hunting along the lake. Dane didn't want anyone wandering too far from the compound in case there was trouble. He agreed. It'd been hell to leave Alex's side, let alone be several hundred miles away, even if it was only for one night. He vowed not to watch, but Toby was taking his PC so that they could keep an eye on things, primarily their women. It would be hilarious to watch the party. But, he didn't want to jinx his luck by seeing the bride on the night before the wedding.



Chapter 53

Janine laughed as she entered the makeshift dressing room. The guys, although each one of them was hot in his own special way, were hysterically funny in their costumes. She toyed with the tassels hanging between Bryce's thighs, and giggled. "I love it!" She snickered and winked at Lance. The Doctor Love costume was too much. "Just wait until I announce you and then come out and strut your stuff on the stage."

She trotted to the rec room to make sure all the girls were present. After a quick head count, she popped the champagne and filled the glasses, proposing a toast to her best friend. "TO ALEX!"

Leigh downed her glass and tipped the empty flute toward her daughter. "To Alex." She sat down on the couch and waited for the show to start. She couldn't guess at what Janine had planned for tonight. She only knew that if Janine was behind it, the night was going to be something....else.

Anna took a sip, the bubbles going straight to her nose, and tipped her glass. "To Alex."

Candace, Robbie, and Chris couldn't so much as take a taste in Alex's honor, but tipped their glasses nonetheless. "To Alex."

Sam didn't take a glass. She was still battling with not being able to eat and drink real food, and champagne was one of her favorites. She couldn't risk accidentally taking even the smallest of sips in a moment of weakness. If she did, she'd spend the evening resting her head on the edge of the toilet seat, throwing up. A vampire lesson she'd learned the hard way when she chanced taking a bite out of a candy bar. "To Alex," she said, tipping her head.

"Let the party begin!" Janine cried out, downing her second glass. "Ladies! He's here to give you a rough ride. Put your hands together for Cowboy Bryce!" She flipped on the stereo and turned down the lights. Multicolored Christmas lights glowed twinkling in red, green, and gold around a makeshift stage.

Bryce took a deep breath, found what little bit of pride her had left, dressed in the ridiculous get up, and strutted out on the stage. His spurs jangled with each step. He tipped his hat to the ladies and began his dance routine. He gyrated his hips and wiggled his butt as he unbuckled his chaps. He was supposed to toss them into the crowd. Instead he tossed them into Anna's lap with a flagrant wink at her. He twirled his lasso and landed it around Alex's shoulders. With a tug gentle tug, he roped her in.

Alex snorted and laughed as Bryce wrapped the rope around her biceps, wrangling her, and guided her down to her knees. She was eye level with his black and white cow-print g-string. Opening her mouth to take a dollar bill from Janine's hand, she tucked the first bill of the evening. By the time he'd finished his routine, she had tears streaming from the corners of her eyes from laughing so hard. "Are you sure you haven't done this before?" she asked as Bryce untied the rope and released her.

Bryce tipped his hat, gathered up his chaps and waltzed off the stage. The sounds of clapping and feminine yawls filled the rec room. "They loved me! He grinned, fishing the wad of bills out of the front of his g-string and waving them at Lance. Counting his earnings, he chuckled. "Hey, twenty bucks! Top that Doc." He hurriedly changed his vest and hat to prepare for the grand finale.

In between sets, Janine refilled drinks, for those in attendance who could drink and engaged the women in chatter. She didn't want the evening to end too early and she'd only managed to scrounge up three dancers. Timing was everything. She pulled a box out from under the pool table and handed it to Alex.

Alex slid off the wrappings and opened the box. She gasped as she held the cream colored silk trousseau up by its dainty straps for all to see. The expensive silk and lace wouldn't last five minutes once Chance saw her in it. "Thank you Janine," she said, carefully tucking the material back into the box.

Janine winked knowingly at Alex and hopped onto the stage. "On to our next dancer for the evening! This doctor makes house calls and he has the cure for whatever ails you. Let's put them together, girls, for Doctor Love."

Lance shot a grin at Bryce. Game on. Twenty-bucks and Bryce thought he was a millionaire. He was going to beat Bryce and get more than twenty dollars tucked down his g-string. What woman could resist a man who made house calls? He shimmied and gyrated onto the stage, twirling his stethoscope. Swinging his lab coat, he flashed the ladies and jiggled his butt. He thrusted and bucked his hips at the ladies, stopping at each one to give them a few seconds worth of individual love each. His g-string filled up fast by the time he finished his rounds. He left the makeshift dance floor, bowing and smiling to his audience. Catcalls and howls cried after him.

"Yeah," he said to Bryce. Pausing to count the wad of bills fished out of his pouch, he counted his take. "Thirty-three bucks." He smirked smugly at Marcus, fanning himself with the bills. "C'mon fireman. Let's see how well your hose measures up."

Janine passed another round of drinks and snacks and grabbed another gift for Alex. "This is for emergency use only," she teased.

Groaning, Alex opened the package and held the box up for everyone to see. "A vibrator." She felt down inside the gift bag, sifting through the tissue paper. "And extra batteries, how thoughtful." She grinned, at Janine. Of course, she'd expected this from her best friend. "After tomorrow, I won't be needing this. Does anyone want it?"

Anna was pretty buzzed by now. As soon as she drained one glass, Janine poured another. "I'll take it. I get awfully lonely when Toby's not around."

There was a round of laughter from the dressing room as the guys heard Anna's slurred comment. "Anna as your bodyguard. I feel it's my duty to help you out when Toby's not around," Bryce yelled. Toby was so going to kick his ass for that comment. Not that he'd ever find out, considering he was playing nursemaid to the bridegroom.

"I don't need a man," Anna called back drunkenly. "I've got the power of Duracell."

"Slam!" Lance punched Bryce in the bicep.

"Ladies, last but not least. He's got a long hose able to put out any fire, no matter how hot. Here's Marcus!" Janine took her seat, clapping and whistling as Marcus sauntered onto the stage.

He tipped his hat to Alex and began his number. He chose a slow song, taking his time, swaying his hips and grinding to the seductive rhythm. He didn't have the physique that the other guys had. But he had moves and hoped to convince the women, or at least one in particular, that he had it where it counted.

Marcus straddled Sam, placing a leg on each side of her chair as he bumped his pelvis to the music. Taking advantage of every opportunity that he could to brush against her. Before his song ended, he strutted around the room, getting his share of tips and whistles, and more than a few drunken pinches on the butt from Anna and Janine.

*******

The men gathered around the PC's tiny monitor, crammed shoulder to shoulder laughing and clapping as Marcus left the limited view of the nanny cam. None of the women had any idea they were being watched and their reactions to the dancers were funny shit. Not to mention the endless razzing they could dish out to Marcus. "I gotta borrow that outfit," Alexander guffawed.

Patrick hissed, jealously. "Did you see that? Janine grabbed his butt!"

Toby snickered and patted Patrick on the shoulder. "Hey at least your competition is living. How am I supposed to compete with battery operated silicone?"

They all shared a chuckle at Toby's remark. "I guess you'll have to hope yours is bigger," Dane teased.

John Mark grinned slyly. "I think we should go home. Our women are revved up and ready to go. And I would rather hang out with Robbie than you bunch of losers." The men all nodded their heads in agreement. Their women were in sore need of attention.

The Shaman sat down next to Chance. "I'll stay behind and keep you company."

Chance shrugged and agreed. Less than three hours without Alex and he was losing his mind. Tomorrow couldn't come soon enough. "Ok."

********

Roark slammed the laptop shut. "What a bunch of shit!" His face was red with anger. "How could vampires behave in such a degrading manner?" He had been watching the hacked video feed until he couldn't take it any longer. "Keene, did you find out who the woman is yet?"

"No," Keene answered. He avoided his master's angered glare and stared down at the rug beneath his feet. He hadn't really looked. Once he found her and reported to Roark, the woman was as good as dead. Maybe, worse.