"Forgiveness has nothing to do with absolving a criminal of his crime. It has everything to do with relieving oneself of the burden of being a victim--letting go of the pain and transforming oneself from victim to survivor." C.R. Strahan
Tiana P.O.V
Everyone is kind of talking amongst each other in a confused murmur, still unsure of how we should feel about the past and how we can move forward from this. Tate has seemed to be separate from all of this. I'm still unclear as to why he came here.
Asher seems to grab me and pull me aside, away from the confusion and looks at me with a serious expression; I can tell he's about to tell me something important. Like always, his emotions are written across his lips, eyes, and scrunched nose showing his nervous energy.
"What's going on with you, bro?" I ask, placing my hand atop his shoulder towards the center of his back. He smiles at my reassuring actions. "You know you can tell me anything," I chuckled. "It's been a night of honesty."
"I don't think now's a good time, yet I fear the moment will never be right," he overexplains, something he does when anxious and fearful of my reaction. He sighs and quickly states while looking into my eyes for my approval, "I'm gay."
I immediately smile ear-to-ear and bring him into a tight, supportive embrace. "It's wonderful you are accepting who you are and opening yourself up to unchartered happiness," I state, kissing his check without breaking our intense hug. He finally escapes me, his face relaxes in relief. "So who's the lucky fella?" I ask suggestively, nudging his sides making him blush. Asher ushers Take towards us and Tate secretly puts his arm around my brother's lower hip that's facing away from the family's view.
"Oh, I'm so happy for you two," I whisper, noticing how they don't seem to be to open with their affection. "What are you waiting for, bro? Selene already came to Ryder to save my life, she's got enough on her plate. This is something you have to do on your own," I state, giving him my honest opinion. Tate seemed to smile at Asher the way I've wanted my mate to look at me.
This thought reminded me of Ryder and how complicated our relationship is. Why couldn't I just get a mate who loved me off the bat; someone who'd promise never to cause me harm and mean it. I don't wish I had a normal, boring life. That's never been what I desired. After what my mother endured, that's the life she craved. My mom wants a normal life where the only drama is pack related.
I've always wanted to be a part of something. I love taking pictures of movement, take life and capture it; pause and steal an emotion, a provocative memory; I can look into someone's soul and I see their pain through my photos, My lens is my eyes and sometimes I forget to look up and remember I'm in reality where life keeps moving regardless of my constant wishes for time to bend to my need to see everything around me, missing none of the action and excitement.
I'm snapped back by reality as Asher looks at me, expecting a response to his rambling which I was too busy daydreaming to listen to. I smiled and nodded, saying vague and supportive statements hoping I could get away with it.
"So you think I should just go for it and get over it . I should Just tell the family now?" Asher wonders, continuing the apparent conversation we're having that I wasn't participating in. Without much thought, I responded "Yes! Go for it my dude. I'm right here to support you and so is Tate," I look at him to back me up and he smiles and nods to us both. He seems like a good dude.
They comfort and reassure each other as we approach the rest of the family, preparing to share the good news once more. Asher takes a breathe and calms himself before he clears his throat to get everyone's attention. No one seems to notice this action so he tries again a little louder. Still nothing.
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Beaten, Bruised, and Kissed
Werewolf"Don't let me fall Ryder! Don't let me fall," back then, I had no idea the truth behind that plea. With my feet in his tiny, 5 year old hands, he held on tight. But I fell in a different way. One that doomed me from that day on, and change my life f...