Dawn

Chapter 32

I can feel the warm sunlight hitting my face, stirring me from my peaceful slumber, and in an instant the events of last night flood my memory. A small smile appears on my lips, opening my eyes, I stare at the gold chandelier in front of me and then the roaring fire place. Everything comes into view, and I turn to the side to see Vince.
His broad figure stands out on the terrance, the sun coming into view from behind the rows of trees in the distance. As if he heard me take in a breath, he perks up, turning around. His face is solemn, though, and he stays observing my face. I stand up, walking to him.
"What's wrong?" I question.
"It's nothing," he says, dismissing it with a hand.
"C'mon, what is it?" I say, staring at his warm hazel eyes.
He turns around, not able to face me." I- I thought that when you woke up... you would regret staying." His voice sounds almost broken and he tries to hide it.
"I meant what I said last night. I'm not going anywhere- for now that is," I tease, as warmth floods back to his face.
"Good. So you wouldn't mind if I did this then," he says, leaning in to give me a slow kiss on the lips, cupping my face with his warm hands. Tingles spread throughout my body, my wolf raging with excitement and contentment.
"Isn't he just wonderful" she says, but I couldn't move. I was glued to my spot. It took me a moment to react, then my lips moved with his. He pulls away, but before he does, I catch a glimpse of the blush that tinted his cheeks.
"Woah, is the Vince blushing? I must be seeing things." I say mockingly, rubbing my eyes for effect. He rolled his eyes at me, but chuckled.
"I don't know what you're talking about" he says with a sly smile. I shake my head with amusement.
"I can make you blush pretty quick actually,"he says with a smirk and a knowing look.
"Can you now?" I say with an eyebrow raised.
He grabs my waist and brings his lips to my neck in a swift motion, my face already going red. Damn it.
"Oh, Dawn," he says with a deep breath, against my skin, making me shiver with delight.
"How I wish to unravel every part of you, every part of your mind, your body, your soul-" He pauses, taking in my face with his eyes that flickered black with lust before going back into the crook of my neck. "How I wish to have you shouting my name." I can feel his smirk against my skin.
My face is brighter than a tomato, if that's even possible...
***
I am sitting in the living room, reading...well more like skimming, through the book the held all the answers that I needed. Although, I can not understand a word.
Vince strolls in, his dark brown hair wet from a shower and wearing a tight black shirt, allowing you to see the outline of his perfect chest. He runs a hand through his hair, and I tuck the big book under the couch.
I know I shouldn't keep the book a secret from him now that we are trying to be our best selves for each other, but I'm scared that he's going to see it as an act of betrayal, like I'm actively looking for ways to break our bond, which isn't true. I just need to make sense of what is happening to me, what's happening to us, and what happened with Max...
"Hey. I have to go to the pack house to sort some things out. I've given this a lot of thought... I'm still trying to prove myself to you, and I know I've done some unforgivable things...." He clears his throat.
"What I'm trying to say is, you can see your family. I know this won't make up for anything, but at least it's a start."
My eyes widen with happiness. "Thank you!" I say jumping off the couch and into his arms, giving him a kiss on the cheek. "This means a lot to me." I whisper, against his chest.
He nods slowly, "Well what are you waiting for? Go get ready" he says with a smile.
I lift my eyebrows in confusion, "What do you mean?" I say slowly.
"They may or may not be coming in an hour," he says with a sly smirk, as he crosses his arms over his chest.
It's been a month since I've last seen them. I've been worried they thought I was dead or at the very least being tortured...
It almost doesn't feel real that I'll be able to see them.
What must have been their reactions to Vincent asking them over? Must they have thought it was a trap or a joke. But I know my parents, and they wouldn't hesitate for a moment if it meant seeing their child again. I take a breath.
"Thank you." I say more seriously and give his hand a squeeze.

***
I put on a casual yellow sundress with white converse and just as I finish tying my hair in a ponytail, I hear the sound of a car door shutting.
I rush to the window to see Rose and my family, who all had weary expressions looking at the house like it would swallow them whole.
A smile so wide spreads across my face, as I rushed down the stairs. To my surprise the living room was decorated nicely, bowls and plates of food were set out on the dining room table and fresh artwork and lights glittered the walls and ceiling.
Vince was stirring something in a pot, and as he turned around, I looked at him incredulously. He wore a red apron, and was armed with a wooden spoon in hand.
"You did all...of this," I say, trying to keep my jaw from dropping with shock. I try to contain my amusement from seeing Vincent with an apron on.
"Not without some help from Rose of course" he says shrugging, but a smile making it's way on to his face.
Before I could say another word, the door bell rang.
So many scenerios of how this could end very badly runs through my head as I make my way to the door.
"They'll love him." my wolf says reassuringly.
Let's hope.
I look back at Vince who's walking next to me.
"This is it," I say, taking a deep breath of fresh air, before opening the door.
They were all huddled together, but without a moment to waste upon seeing them, I trapped them in a huge hug.
"MOM, DAD, ELLA!" I exclaim, embracing them.
"Oh honey we've missed you so much" my mom says as she wraps me in a hug. My dad and Ella looking at me with both sadness and happiness. She grabs my face and smiles. Her eyes glassy with unshed tears.
I look to dad. "We were so worried, come here" he says, opening his arms, his familar brown eyes, making me feel instantly safe. Knowing that they were all here, and for them to know that I was okay, means everything to me.
I can't stand the mere thought of them in constant worry and pain, because of a mistake I made. I should have just told them. I should have.
"Come here Ella" I say, gesturing for her to join the hug, she looks at me solemenly, her brown hair blowing with the wind.
I had left her. She was all alone. To her I was as good as dead.
"I'm so sorry" I whispered into her hair, as tears escaped my eyes. "I'm so so sorry", I say rubbing her back in smooth circles.
" This isn't your fault Dawn" she says, but something in her voice has changed. She sounds wiser, as if in that time I was gone, she was forced to face the realities of what her life had become. Forced to fear that I would never come back, forced to grow up.
"It's his" she whispered in her child like voice.
The air around us got thick with tension, and I could hear her small heart pounding through the fabric of her clothes.
My Dad spoke. "Let us take our daughter back home", he says his voice strong, but if you listened closely you could hear the desperation in it. Ella's blue eyes were glued to Vince's, as if she was wishing him away.
I needed to explain to them that it was ok now. I am safe. But they have every reason to feel the way they do, and up until recently I had felt the same.
I turn around to look at Vince, who had since taken the apron off, and in place wore an expression of stone. The cold chill of fall made its way through the open door. It seemed to unfaze Vince though, as I shivered.
"Dad come in please, let me explain." I pleaded looking at my dad, who kept my mom behind him in protection. He was staring Vince down, who towered over my father.
"Dad, please" I whispered.
Rose was in the driveway, watching things unfold. Standing by the car, as if she didn't want to get into things. I locked eyes with her for a brief second, her expression was clouded, and sad. Finally she walked up to us, "Please, Mr. Coleman. I made my famous apple pie. Dawn, told me how much you like pie." she says with a warm smile, diffusing the tension.
A moment of silence passed, then my dad broke the stare off first. You could see how the tension left Vince's body and how he eased. I wasn't expecting Vince to open up to my father, like he opened up to me, or the rest of my family for the matter. But I wanted him to try and at least be nice.
My father just nodded, and Vince opened the door wider for them to come in. As they all stepped into the house cautiously.
Rose gave me a tight squeeze on my shoulders, and I forced a small smile onto my lips.
Please let this go well. Please.