Looking for the Light Through the Darkness

Chapter 17: Realization

Point of View: Sang 

Staying curled up on the couch, I let the different scents of the room wash over me. The soft scent of vanilla mixed with the salty scent of the ocean and the light scent of apples makes me feel comfortable. Something I haven't felt in a long time. It is as if something is wrapped around me protecting me. Something soft. And warm. I take a breath allowing myself to relax farther into the couch. I just can't seem to describe it but these guys... I have never felt a stronger connection. And yet... I am scared. I can feel that pit in the center of my stomach as I think of everything that has happened in my life and I don't know if I can bring myself to relax fully just yet. 

"What should we do?" Silas whispers sitting in front of me. But there is a slight pause before he continues amending his words. "What would you like us to do?"  I could feel the warmth of Luke behind me and Gabriel shifting off to my right. 

My mind races quickly as I try and determine what to do when Luke shifts forward placing a hesitant hand on my back. The pain is gone now and I turn to look at Luke whose hand falls from my back and he lightly caresses my cheek. "It doesn't hurt?" He questions. 

"I am okay." I state easily and let out a very slow breath before carefully shifting and placing my back against the comforts of the couch. "It was only a nightmare." I look to Gabriel. "I am sorry that I scared you. I didn't mean to." I shift a little rubbing my eyes as a yawn escapes my mouth and I quickly rush to cover it up with my hand. 

There is a soft chuckle and I smile to Silas whose hand is still in my lap my fingers playing with his. They are also warm and comforting with callouses along his fingers and palms. Not as many as North's hands but enough to cover his hand. "Someone is tired." Silas whispers and I can feel him standing. "If Sang is comfortable enough why don't you three share Gabe's bed and I will take Luke's. This way you both can keep an eye on her." Silas states. 

"And you get your own bed." Luke states with a laugh and I can't help but smile knowing that Silas had another agenda. But I look to Gabriel and gently offer my hands to him. I relax once I feel his hands wrap around mine and give them a gentle squeeze. 

"Fine. But if something else happens I am calling Doc right fucking back here no arguments. Understand?" I can feel my heart pounding as I happily nod. With a slow gesture I can feel my cheeks light up when I feel Gabriel's soft lips touching the knuckles of my left hand... and then my right hand. Shivering, I love the sensation but as the moment ends and he slowly guides me into a standing position I can't help but lean into his chest. 

But the moment is lost as Luke clears his throat and I blush harder hiding my face with my hands. I feel a hand carefully move under my arm and wrap around my elbow. From the pressure of the hand, I know it is Luke and he easily guides me to the bedroom at the end of the hallway. "Time for rest. Its to early for such cuteness." 

I blush again before carefully sit down. A gentle hand guides me to the center of the bed when I suddenly feel two bodies beside me I realize just how different it feels to have others in the same bed as I. Pulling my knees up to my chest I am unable to lay back just yet my head spinning. The last time I shared a bed was when I with him... I feel my breath catch in my chest and suddenly arms are wrapped around my stomach. 

"Sang..." It is a warning from Luke and I quickly curl into his chest letting out my held breath. 

"I am sorry." I manage and hold onto his shirt as he carefully lays us down in the bed. I can feel Gabriel move closer and slowly rub my side allowing me to relax. "It has been a while since I last shared a bed with someone." Admitting this information makes me feel better because instantly Luke places a kiss on my forehead. 

"Cupcake you are just fine here with us." He whispers once his lips disappear from my skin. I nod and slowly curl up. And to my surprise exhaustion takes over instantly and am asleep. 

"Come on Lilly." Avery calls over her shoulder to me. I giggle as I follow her my hand in hers as we move about the mall picking out different outfits we want to try out or ones we want to buy. 

We had just come off of a job helping a grandmother around her home and she had paid us double than what we had requested. That meant new clothes as well as food, maybe even a bed to sleep in. It  made my heart pound just thinking about a bed to sleep in. Something comfortable and warm to call home was something I had been missing all of my life. 

Pulling myself out of my thoughts, I go back to admiring a black cloth in my hand. It was detailed an embroidered beautifully with little hearts and flowers. It was beautiful and way more than what I could ever afford. 

Avery and I had just met up only a month before when I had stumbled upon her in Charleston. I was still close to my home but at the same time it felt as though I was miles and miles of way. Putting down the cloth in my hand I moved to the edge of the store allowing my mind to wander when I spotted a small boy crying in the middle of the isle. 

There were two or three other older boys around him making funny faces and saying mean things to him to make him cry even more. They were bullies just as my mother had been. Stepping forward to intervene, a hand captures my wrist and tugs me backward away from the crying boy. Spinning around annoyed Avery's face is stone her eyes filled with worry and annoyance. 

"You can't!" She whispers holding me tight against her side her nails digging into my wrist. 

Pulling it away I look to the crying boy again and my heart lurches. "But-" 

"Sang," Avery's voice is low now. Very low. "You know what happens when we get involved. We can't draw a scene especially here." I know she speaks the truth but my heart goes to that boy. "The last time we stepped into a fight we barely made it out."

I could feel my heart pound in my chest as I remembered the last time. I had gone into a store to buy something and the manager was taking advantage of a young girl. I couldn't help myself. I had to stop him but it was at a price. Everything seemed to come at a price now a days. You try and do something nice and all you get is pain in return. 

But the feeling to protect didn't stop. I couldn't block off that feeling. I knew that if I did I would never be the same again. 

Turning back to look at the small boy,  my eyes began to water as I tried to figure out what I could do to help when suddenly a figure caught my attention. My eyes widen as I spotted a large male towering over the isles of clothing approaching the group of males surrounding the little boy. The giant had dark black hair and is very muscular, definitely someone who draws attention. The male turns toward me slightly and I can see the angular shape of his chin and his large broad shoulders. He has a very light scar on his chin and another on his ear.

"Enough." He states his voice breaking through the trance his appearance has put me in. There is something different about it. His voice. He has an accent of some sort. But I can't place it. 

"Greek." Avery whispers in my ear. "He is Greek."