Dawn's Shelter

"Well, the couple drooling all over each other, that's my dad, Hunter, and his new wife, my step-mom, Gina. The couple drooling all over the baby, that's my uncle Grant, his wife, Claire, and their new baby, GT." He waved as his dad glanced away from Gina at the mention of his name. He winked at Grant as his uncle shot him a sly thumbs' up in approval of Kacie.

"Your family seems very close," Kacie said as she slurped her cocoa. The rich chocolaty mix slid down her throat warming her in all the right places.

"We are," Tristen admitted as he watched a smile creep over her face. She gulped down the hot chocolate he'd painstakingly made with his own hands. "My grandpa, you met him on the bluffs earlier today, Nash. He's the pack master."

"How many people live here?" She asked, eying the long dinner table that sprawled across the wide expanse of the dining room.

Tristen tried to mentally count all his aunts and uncles, his cousins, the distant relation he rarely saw except for mealtimes. "I gave up trying to keep track," he answered with a shrug. "A lot of us."

He jumped as his cell phone buzzed in his pocket. He flicked open the keypad and furiously typed back a text. "Hey, they want you back at the compound." He snapped the phone closed and shoved it into his pocket. Jumping up he offered his hand to help Kacie scramble to her feet. "I'll find you a coat and some shoes." After a brief riffling through the closet, he returned with a pair of gently used tennis shoes and a weatherworn flannel jacket in his grip. "These should fit."

Kacie clamped her lips tightly closed. Thankful that he had dug up something for her to wear, even if she did look like she came straight off the pages of the redneck fashion journal with the baggy sweat pants, and an even baggier flannel jacket. Not to mention the fact that she wasn't wearing a bra, underwear, or socks and her hair looked like a rat's nest. She followed, tromping along behind him in the too big tennis shoes to the garage.

Tristen snickered at her disheveled appearance as the garage's overhead lights flickered to life. He was proud, almost eager to introduce Kacie to the competition, "the other woman' his vintage 1968 Camaro super sport. Sure, she was rough around the edges. But, she ran like a top. He swung the passenger side door open and dipped low at the waist.

Kacie didn't know a thing about cars other than that she put the key in and turned it, and if she were lucky, it started. Frowning, as she wondered if her knowledge about cars would hold true in this case and the engine would start when he turned the key. She slid into the passenger seat and buckled up. "Is this your car?" she asked. Not trying to insult him but her mind was filled with doubt as he grinned and nodded.

"She is the love of my life," he clarified. Running his hand along the dash as he turned the key and the powerful engine roared to life at his command. He slid Kacie a smile and rested his hand on the gearshift. Taking his time to slide the car into reverse as he brushed his fingers along her thigh. "I've spent years and a minor fortune restoring this car. But, sometimes the result is worth the effort."

"Oh." Kacie understood. Far be it from her to question a man and his passions. If he said it was a classic, for all she knew, it was. Obviously, he was proud of his efforts. "It's nice," she said. Hoping he'd take her comment as a complement.

"Nice." Tristen shook his head and backed out of the garage. "Nice, humph." He slid into drive and navigated down a long, gravel lane that led to a dark and deserted country road. "I should make you walk for saying that," he teased.

"Well, what word should I use?" Kacie asked.

"Cherry. Stupendous. Work of art. Bitchin. Anything but nice. Nice is when your grandma knits you a sweater for Christmas. Nice so does not begin to describe the classic lines and contours of this sleek beauty."

Beauty? The car was primer gray and patched with bondo to fill in the rust spots. A spring stuck up in the seat and poked her in the butt when he hit a rough spot in the road. In her opinion, which wasn't worth much as far as cars were concerned, she'd shoot it and put it out of its misery. But, whatever. "Ok, I get it. Oh Tristen, can I PLEASE ride in your car. I know I can't begin to be worthy enough to sit upon the vinyl seat. But, could I please have a ride?" Kacie laid it on as thick as she could while keeping a straight face. To her, the car was still, just a car.

"That's better." Tristen snickered and gave his baby girl a little gas. Gently inching her along the slick gravel roads that wound through the country to the compound. He snuck a peek at her face, illuminated by the dashboard lights. Her lips curled in a soft smile as she returned the glance. Was she flirting with him? Yes, he believed that she was. And wasn't that promising. It had to be the car. Women respected a man for his ride. Tonight couldn't have been more perfect, just him and his two favorite girls going for a drive through the country.

Chapter 31

Jan fiddled with her hair as Thomas hurried to finish dressing. She didn't know what their impromptu wedding would consist of or where it was even going to be. She settled for letting her hair flow long and loose at the small of her back. Tucking a stray piece behind her ear, she nervously nibbled at her bottom lip. The wedding was definitely going to be a casual 'come as you are' kind of affair. She smoothed her hands down her borrowed jeans and tugged at the soft cotton long sleeved T-shirt she found in the closet. Her palms were slick with sweat as she gave her reflection a once over in the mirror.

Thomas tucked his chambray shirt into his jeans and buckled his belt. He slid into the bathroom, checking out Jan's reflection in the mirror. She looked radiant and beautiful. The way a bride was supposed to look. Soft waves of black hair cascaded down her back and ended in little curls around her narrow waist. She wore a cream colored knit shirt and a pair of form fitting indigo jeans that accentuated her slim legs. He'd never seen a more perfect bride in his entire life.

Usually, wedding ceremonies were conducted at the bluffs. But, after the events of the day. That and the fact that the beauty of the white snow was marred with his bloodstains, the bluffs were a gruesome reminder to him of what might have been. After his encounter with death and the goddess, he realized that there was not one place that was holy and sacred. All places were. The presence of the divine was limitless and boundless. His union with Jan was blessed, no matter where it took place. He wrapped his arms around her waist and pulled her against his chest, inhaling her soft, fragrant scent. "You look perfect."

Jan leaned against the strength of his body and covered his hands with hers. "So do you." She tilted her head to land a soft kiss to the underside of his chin. The breath rushed out of her as he shifted his head and claimed her lips in a long, lingering kiss.

A gentle rap on the bedroom door interrupted the sweet kiss. What the hell was this place? Grand Central Station? Grumbling under his breath, Thomas released Jan and stomped across the room to answer the door. Blinking in disbelief when he saw Jan's mother on the other side.

"Could I speak to my daughter, please?" Eloise asked. She begged Thomas with her eyes. Anticipating the hurt of being turned away.

"Let her in," Jan said. Smoothing her hair behind her shoulders as she left the bathroom, she turned to Thomas, "Could I have a few moments alone with my mother."

Thomas cleared his throat. He didn't want angry words or hurt feelings to spoil her big day. Reluctantly, he complied. "Sure." He cast a warning glance at Eloise as he left and closed the door gently behind him.

Janine was a flurry of activity. Ordering the others around as she rushed about haphazardly, checking all the last minute details. She was the official celebration coordinator for the Sons, her self-declared title. She was probably more nervous than the blushing bride. Tasked with throwing together a little party for after the wedding, she stoked the fire roaring in the fireplace. Straightened the boughs of pine she'd gathered from outside to decorate the hearth and lit candles on her way to the kitchen.

Thomas was finally getting married. She'd gone out with him once. They'd exchanged a sweet, chaste kiss after their date. There was no love connection, no sparks between the two of them and they'd parted ways as friends. She paused to rearrange a few chairs and stood back, finally, satisfied with her work. Fluffing her blonde curls, she complemented herself on her genius at creating the perfect backdrop for the exchange of vows. The scene was cozy and intimate. She bustled into the kitchen to see how Anna was coming along with the food prep. "How close are you?"

Anna scowled, tugging her blonde hair up tighter in its ponytail. "Janine, no matter how fast I can move the oven only bakes as fast as it bakes and water can only boil so quickly," she huffed. "I don't exactly keep wedding cakes on hand."

Janine let out a squeak as she backed away from the stench of a freshly crushed clove of garlic. How Anna could tolerate the stuff with her sensitive nose, Janine would never know. "Ok. Well, ah, keep me posted. I'm going to go check on the decorating committee."

The decorating committee consisted of Chris and Candace with Kayla and Angel as advisors. They didn't have a whole lot on hand to work with. Some left over strings of multicolored beads from the Christmas tree and some stray rolls of crepe paper streamers from birthday parties was all they could scrounge up and still meet Janine's demands for what she called pizzazz. They were doing their best to work their magic when Janine bustled into the dining room.

"Looking good." Janine paused long enough to straighten a stack of white china plates and adjust some napkin rings.

Candace smiled at Chris and kept plugging away. Chris had an unusual talent for keeping people, even the most high-strung, which, was the way Janine tended to run, calm. Wound up tighter than an eight-day clock. "Thanks," she mouthed.

Alex was doing her best to keep out of everyone's way. Janine had delegated her to be in charge of keeping the coffee urn filled to the brim. Simple enough, especially since she couldn't drink the stuff.

Janine congratulated herself and gave herself a big pat on the back again. Everything was coming together perfectly. And just in the nick of time, guests were starting to arrive.

"What's going on?" Kacie asked as Tristen parked the car at the far end of the hidden drive.

"I'm not sure." He pounded away on the keys of his cell phone and waited for it to beep in response. Chuckling, he snapped the phone closed. "It seems you've been summoned back to be a bridesmaid."

"A bridesmaid? Jan? Now?" Kacie hopped out of the car, ignoring Tristen's wince as she slammed the door a little too hard. "Oh, I can't be a bridesmaid looking like this!" Tristen guided her though the garage and into the main corridor. She glanced around and leaned in close, whispering. "I don't have any underwear on and I'm not wearing a bra."

Tristen raised his eyebrows and stifled his wolfish snicker. "I noticed that."

Kacie punched his arm. "I'm serious."

"So am I." He flinched as he expected her to land another punch. "The vampires are used to us popping by sans clothing. I'm sure one of the women has something you can borrow."

A harried blonde trotted down the long hallway towards them as they entered from the garage. The heels of her stiletto pumps clicked at a frantic pace. A horrified look spread across her face as she took in Kacie's thrown together wardrobe. "You're the bridesmaid?"

"Apparently," Kacie answered. The woman was already hauling her by the wrist down the hallway off to some unknown part of the compound. She tugged free of the woman's grip. The woman was a powerhouse of frantic energy. They were roughly the same size and height. The woman was curvier though and fanged.

Janine huffed, resenting the bridesmaid's reluctance to get with the program and move her ass. "We don't have time for introductions. The ceremony is about to start. I've got something you can wear." She rushed Kacie down the hall to her room, not giving her any time to argue.

Tristen laughed as he overheard Kacie's protests about wearing borrowed underwear and Janine's harried response as she herded Kacie down the hall. Stifling his desire as the dirty part of his mind kicked to life at the thought of Kacie's curvy butt in no underwear at all. Maybe, Janine had plans to put Kacie in a skirt and he could sneak a peek to see if she indeed did stoop to wearing borrowed undies or not.

He turned down a long hallway. Ambling toward the small party gathered in the rec room. Everyone was mulling around as they waited for the wedding to start. Dutifully, he took his fussy nephew from Claire. GT was resentful at being pulled out of his crib in the middle of the night and dragged out into the cold. He smiled as Claire mouthed a 'thank you' and slid free of her coat.

After a quick shower and a few minutes of primping and fussing beneath Janine's capable fingers. Kacie looked presentable again. She waved off the harried vampire and gave herself a quick once over in the oversize mirror. The plum colored long sleeved T-shirt made her boobs look bigger than they were and the indigo denim jeans clung to her hips, making them look dangerously curvy and her legs miles long.

Janine clucked her tongue at the jeans and t-shirts that she was forced to dress the bridal party in. She could have done better, no notice or not. She was prepared for any fashion emergency, including a throw together last minute wedding. "It'll do. After all, it's her wedding and this is how she wants it." She grabbed Kacie's wrist and dragged her down the long, twisting series of halls.

Chapter 32

"You're going to make a beautiful bride, Jan." Eloise fussed a bit over Jan's hair, attempting to convey her love through a touch. "I'm glad I'm here to see you get married."

"Are you really, mother?" Jan brushed away the fingertips fluttering across her cheek. She wanted to believe with all her heart and soul the words her mother said were true. She wanted to believe in their sincerity. But, she had doubts. By not marrying Torr, she had left her mother and her sister in a damn bad position. And they all knew it.

"Of course. All that business with the pack will work itself out. I'm sure of it. Nothing for you to worry about on your big day." Eloise forced a smile to her lips, hiding her worry behind a light smile. She was not going to let dark foreboding thoughts spoil her daughter's wedding day. "I truly am happy for you and I wish you and Thomas all of the best." Eloise wrapped her elegant fingers through Jan's and led her to the bed, gently pulling her down to sit beside her.

"I know you two will have a good life together. Better than the one I tried to plan for you. I haven't always done so well as a mother. I was hard on you, more than I should have been. I was trying to prepare you for the future I thought you would live. You have to understand that I had your best interests at heart, even though it didn't always seem that way. I'm sorry. I just want you to know that. And, I want you to know that I love you and I'm proud of you. I always have been."

"I know, mom. Life hasn't been easy for any of us. I know you were forced into making a lot of hard choices along the way and that you sacrificed, for us. You always did what you thought was best for your family and your pack. You made me strong. Strong enough to know what I wanted and didn't want for my life, and strong enough to stand up for it." Jan rested her head on her mother's narrow shoulder. "I haven't always been the easiest of daughters, in case you haven't realized it."

Eloise's shoulders shrugged as she snorted, "You always were strong willed and stubborn."

"Like my mom." Jan returned her mother's snort with a chuckle. "I love you too. I really do. And I'm glad that you're here tonight."

"Me too." Eloise slicked her fingers through Jan's hair as she did when she was a little girl. Humming softly under her breath one of the songs she still remembered from when Jan was a baby.

"Jan, I know this isn't a good time and that you're ready to begin your life with Thomas. But I have to ask a favor of you." She threaded her fingers through Jan's and gave them a squeeze. "I'm returning to Texas on the first flight out, alone. I need you to look after your sister. Keep her and my omegas safe for me."

"You're going back alone?" Jan worried that her mother would be returning to Texas, to a trap, defenseless against the pack.

"Its for the best. I have to go back and see what remains of our pack. If anything."

Jan squeezed her mother's fingers tightly in hers. "You could stay."

"No. This is where you belong, not me. Texas is my home. The pack is my family too. As much as I am tempted to remain here and leave them in the past, I can't do that. I owe it to them to face them and whatever fate waits for me there. I know Torr gave his word. Maybe that means something, and maybe that doesn't. But, if I don't return, I'm afraid that trouble will just come here looking for me. I won't endanger all these people have worked so hard, all that you have worked so hard, to build. I won't drag Kacie and my omegas into danger. They need to stay here, start a life here, where I know they're safe."

"You feel that you have no choice but to go back?"

"Jan, I know I don't. But Kacie and my omegas do. I need you to make sure that they get the right to have a future filled with choices."

"And if they choose to go with you?"

"That I can not allow. Jan, please give me your word." Eloise grabbed Jan's hand firmly between her long fingers. "Promise me."

"Mom, I'll look after them. You don't have to ask me twice. But, what about you?"

"Don't you worry about me. You take care of your new husband and build a good life with him, one that you'll be proud of. I can take care of myself." Eloise brushed her lips across Jan's cheek in a soft peck. "Just always remember that I love you and your sister."

"Ok mom." Jan blinked her eyes. Tears tangled in her lashes.

"No sad tears on your wedding day only happy ones." Eloise softly said as she ran her thumb over Jan's lashes, trapping the moisture against her skin.

"Doc, will you stand with me?" Thomas asked. He was waiting in the hallway for Jan and her mother to finish their conversation. Doing nothing but holding up a wall when his mother and the Shaman hustled to his side. Mack lagged behind on their heels. His mom hovered around him like a busy bee. Fussing with his hair and slicking back a stray piece with her spit dampened thumb, like she used to do when he was a little boy. "Mom, stop," Thomas huffed in embarrassment. Sometimes, he still felt like a little boy around his mom. As if he'd never truly be a grownup in her eyes.

"It would be an honor." The Shaman bowed low and opened his arms waiting for the primping and fussing that he knew Barbara was about to smother him with as she locked her eyes on his untucked, misbuttoned pale blue oxford and hopelessly wrinkled pants. He grumbled playfully as she fussed and righted his clothing with her busy, careful fingers.

Barbara slipped Doc a shy smile as she unbuttoned his shirt and rebuttoned it correctly. Blushing, she tucked the tail of his oxford into the waistband of his kaki pants and smoothed her hand down the stubborn wrinkles permanently creased into the fabric. His silvery-black hair was a mess of stray strands sticking out of his braids, as if he hadn't bothered with it in a few days. And the bright green bands he'd twisted around the end stuck out like a sore thumb. She wished she had a comb and a more discreet hair tie. She unwound the braids and let the hair fall in a loose tumble around his shoulders. Finger combing the sleek waves with her fingers, she did her best to make him look the part of groomsman.