Troubled Past to Perfect Future

Part 4

BRIAN'S POV

I feel my pulse pick up when we pull into the garage.

"Hey. It'll be ok, Bri. No one is going to hurt you," Dom says, brushing my hair from my temple before placing a light kiss there.

"I've never met another pack I hadn't grown up around. What if they don't like me?" I say as Dom and I get out. Dom quickly walks around the car and pulls me into a tight hug.

"They will love you. It just might take some time for everybody to get used to you," Dom says as we hear the front door open.

"Dom? Is that you?" a soft, quiet, female voice asks.

"Yeah, it's me, Mia," Dom says holding me tight as I tense.

"Is this Brian?" Mia asks, walking over but staying back a bit.

"Bri, this is my sister, Mia. Mia, this is Brian O'Connor, my mate," Dom says.

"It's a pleasure to meet you, Brian," Mia says, smiling at me. I look up at Dom before replying.

"The pleasure is mine," I say softly, reaching my hand out to shake Mia's hand. Mia takes my hand but pulls me into a hug instead of shaking it, which makes me tense and look at Dom.

"Mia let him go," Dom says, pulling me against him as soon as she does let me go. "It's ok, Bri." I slowly relax as Dom rubs soothing circles on my back.

"Is he ok?" Mia asks, stepping towards us, which makes me tense again.

"He's spooked, Mia. He's lived several years without a pack and before that wasn't very good," Dom says as more people walk out of the garage and over to where we are standing.

"Did he have a childhood like mine?" the youngest male of the group asks.

"I don't know, Jesse, and no one is to push him to find out," Dom says, watching me looking at each of the members slowly. "Everyone, this is Brian O'Connor. He is my mate, though we have not bonded yet. Bri, this is Vince, whom you already somewhat met, Letty, Mia, of course, Jesse, and Leon. You'll have time to get to know everyone a little more at the race. Are you guys already?"

"Yes, we are. We just need to add the Nos to your car before we go," Vince says.

"Let's get it done. We are already late as it is," Dom says, following Vince into the garage. I stay outside, upset with myself.

"Brian?" Jesse asks.

"I'll be in a minute," I say, walking over to a bench sitting against the garage and sitting down.

"What's wrong, Brian?" Jesse asks, sitting next to me as everyone heads inside.

"I met Dom just a few hours ago, and I'm already causing problems for him. I made him late for an important race. My whole life I have only ever caused problems for the people around me," I say, a few tears streaking down my cheeks.

"You are not causing Dom any problems. We're late to races all the time," Jesse says, pulling me into a small hug.

"Really?" I ask, wiping the tears from my face.

"Really," Jesse says, smiling at me, which makes me smile back.

"Bri?" Dom's voice says from in front of us, which makes me jump. "What's going on? Are you ok, Bri?"

"I'm going to keep everyone from disturbing you two, so you can talk real quick," Jesse says, getting up and walking into the garage.

"What's wrong, Bri?" Dom asked, sitting down where Jesse had been sitting. "You've been crying again."

"I was upset with myself for causing you problems in such a short time from meeting you," I say, staring into Dom's eyes to see his reaction.

"You haven't been causing me any problems, Bri," Dom says, keeping eye contact with me.

"I know. Jesse explained to me that you guys are usually late to races," I say, smiling softly.

"You are not upset anymore?" Dom asks, his eyes showing immense concern.

"No, I am not. I like Jesse. He's nice and sweet," I say, leaning against Dom.

"I'm glad," Dom says, pulling me up as he stands before leading me into the garage. "This is the work area. Vince and Jesse are in the personal use section. Vince has been having car problems a lot lately. These other two sections are to fix other people's cars unless one section is free, then we use it for our cars. Everyone else does whatever work needs to be done, though Mia mainly works at the store when she's not at school."

"Your car is ready to go, Dom," Vince says, walking over.

"Let's head out then," Dom says, which spurs everyone into heading to their cars, everyone but Vince. "You're going to ride with me, Bri." I start to follow Dom to his car.

"Brian, can I talk to you for a second?" Vince says which makes Dom and me stop.

"I'll be there in a second, Dom," I say, turning back to Vince, who waits for Dom to walk away before talking.

"I just wanted to apologize for the way I acted earlier today," he says.

"It's ok," I said, not knowing what to say.

"No hard feelings?" he asks. I nod my head, smiling softly. "Let's go watch Dom when he races." I nod my head again, smiling fully as I head to Dom's car.

"Everything ok?" Dom asks after I close the door and buckle my seat belt.

"Yeah, everything is fine," I say, smiling at him.

"What did V want?"

"He just wanted to apologize for his behavior earlier today."

"I'm glad he did. Now I don't have to force him to." I leaned across and placed a light kiss on Dom's cheek, who smiles and starts the car to head out to the race.