Coming Alive

Chapter Fifteen

Sorry for the long standing delay between updates everyone! My life has kind of taken an unexpected turn and everything just went to the back burner. I didn't plan on being away from this story for so long. I'm planning on being better about updating this story and am excited to see what ups and downs happens for the SB guys and Anastasia. I'm just going to italicize when a different language is spoken at this point it's difficult to just go back and forth plus like I have said before I don't speak these languages so google translate it was.

Anastasia's POV
    It had been about a week since that night and the only thing that I regretted was how much I let those nasty girls get to me. I had told my darling Brandon how much he meant to me and it was true...more true than anything I had ever felt, but with those strong emotions came back the nightmares and the doubts. I was having so much trouble sleeping that the guys were starting to get worried, but they themselves have been strapped thin.

The day after Corey made contact with Wolff telling him that I was not feeling up to talking and would reach out soon. He had to smooth over some anger, but in the end Wolff conceded saying that I should take the week and the following Monday we would meet to discuss things. Still that didn't stop him from sending gifts to the condo we had set up as where we lived. The first through third days were flowers, the forth and fifth was chocolate covered strawberries, finally yesterday was a platinum charm bracelet with a wolf charm hanging from it. My guys were less than enthused with the gifts, but Raven brought it to another level having target practice with the vases of flowers and boxes of strawberries. We did realize we had to keep the bracelet and I'd have to wear it when I saw him this morning. That brings me to right now and I'm due to meet with Wolff at 10am. I couldn't sleep yet again and I wondered out to the back yard lighting a fire feeling it's warmth and the smell of the smoke soothes me slightly as the early morning sky slowly started to brighten before my eyes as I'm laying back on the bench looking up.

"You know Sang baby does the same thing when she has a nightmare, but she knows now not to do it alone." North's gruff voice rings through the early morning calm causing me to shoot straight up and suppress a scream. "What are you doing up so early North?" My voice even sounded pathetic to my ears scowling at the sound of it before shaking my head. "Cut the shit Stasia both you and Sang are open books and you're both too important for us not to notice." Laying back down on the memory foam padded bench exhaling a huge breath "I've been having nightmares since that night..." "have you talked to the guys about this? You know they would want to know." He responded his voice soft and soothing. This was the side of North I loved. Him and Raven were so much alike, but neither would freely admit it. Both were like a grumpy bears, grumpy teddy bears that is. "...no I don't want them to worry. Yet I'm sure they know. They've all been seemingly paying extra attention. I think the only thing that saves me from waking them up is how conditioned Sang and I are not to scream." The last part of my explanation brought a fire of fury into North's eyes. He drew me into his side in a tight hug his natural musky scent filling my nose before he pulled away grabbing my shoulders forcing me to look in his eyes. "You don't have to do this fucking alone Stasia we're all family now and we aren't going anywhere. You and Sang are nothing like that bitch tried to drill into your heads. Trust them with this."

After those words left his lips a panicked Axel came busting though the doors. Making eye contact with me he showed instant relief on his face before rushing over and taking me into his arms. His ocean scent washed over me calming me down from the inside out. "I was so scared...you weren't there when I woke up and your phone was still on the bedside table next to your watch" his voice was low still thick with sleep. "What are you doing out here beautiful?" It was then I realized North had silently walked back into the guest house leaving me with Axel. Sighing biting my bottom lip not looking up from my lap saying "I've been having nightmares again since that night....I love you so much but I can't understand why you would choose me. Everything they said rang through my fears and insecurities."

I felt his slightly rough fingertips tip my chin up to look him in the eyes "never doubt my love for you beautiful. You mean the absolute world to me...to us and we would do anything to make you happy and safe." Right after the words left his lips he connected his to mine in a passionate kiss that pushed forth all his feelings. Tears silently ran down my cheeks as I put everything I had into the kiss. The desperation, the fear, the anxiety,but mostly the love I felt for each of them. As we pulled away from each other's lips I leaned my forehead against his breathing in deep his ocean scent "I love you Axel...so very much."

Corey's POV
     I'm nervous so nervous that I'm pulling a Vic and my fingertips of subconsciously making key strokes on my leg under the table. I knew we shouldn't have brought her into something like this she wasn't ready hell we weren't ready for her to be involved. We're sitting in the coffee shop again waiting on Alexander, but this time seems different. After Axel screamed through the house searching for our missing beauty we had a very early family meeting. To put it plain and simple she fell apart, but we all put her back together again and it was like something had just clicked in her mind into place. I'm not sure what that even means, but all of a sudden she looked like a Valkyrie going into war.

Her long hair was tightly braided two on her head merging into one. She wore a plain white t-shirt with light blue fitted blazer over dark wash jeans a white high heels. Simple yet edged. I'm snapped back into reality when her warm hand stills my fingers.
"Calm down my Hawkeye everything is fine. I just now know my own strength." Her eyes were so focused but soft fierce yet welcoming. My beautiful black widow looking ready to go to fight all the demons in the world and I'd be more than happy to fight beside her.I felt a shift in her body language as the door opened feeling my spine lengthen at the same time in reaction. "My flower, you appear much better than our last meeting." Wolff's presence radiated through the shop as I got up extending my hand for him to firmly shake and a simple nod not breaking eye contact with Anastasia. He reaches for her hand taking it up to his lips kissing it lightly then lightly brushing the bracelet he gifted on her wrist. A small blush creeps into her cheeks as she smiles at him maintaining the same eye contact before saying "My apologies for that night Mr.—Alexander." A flirtatious smirk gracing her beautiful face before continuing. "Espresso, yes?" He nodded with a smirk before obviously watching her ass walk away leaving us for a moment then moving his gaze to me. "Felix have you thought of my proposition? I'm prepared to pay you very well." His eyes full of determination almost daring me to say no and his voice low for others not to hear. "I have Sir that shouldn't be a problem only taking a day or so." I replied sounding as cocky as I could slight smile on my lips. He had reached out to me during to week regarding finding information on other distributors in the area. He wanted to know everything from what their territories looked like to how much of an issue they would be to push aside and any leverage. Nodding again at me before still maintaining his low voice responding "Good start tonight I will have the cash sent to your house." This was all he would speak of this the sentence definitive and he wasn't looking for any more turning to stare at the love of my life swaying back towards us espresso in hand.

Anastasia's POV
        The meeting went smoothly and was short with the promise of another night out at Mynt in the upcoming weekend, but this time we wouldn't just be in the VIP section. He explained that we would be staying to the owners private section in order to be able to discuss things. His fingers reaching towards my chin as I typed the information I needed about the purchase of  his home following doing tours of the properties myself as instructed. I willed myself to not pull away keeping my face flirty and smooth as he brought my chin up so I was now making direct eye contact with him parting my lips slightly as to sigh giving the appearance enjoying the contact. "I unfortunately have another meeting my flower. I look forward to seeing what you have to say about the tours and I will purchase what you recommend." He got up swiftly shaking Corey's hand with a nod he was out the door with his associate following close behind.