Dawn

8

Hayden nodded, seeming pained. "I'm sorry, I'll go."

"I'll walk you out."

I silently walked downstairs, Hayden's slow footsteps behind me. I ignore Mum's prying stare and opened the front door, deciding to walk Hayden to the end of driveway.

When I could see the start of Hayden's driveway, I stopped and stared at the ground. "I'll see you at school," I muttered. I could hear Hayden step closer, his breathing picking up.

"Dawn, please forgive me, I don't know what I was thinking. Your artwork... It's so captivating. I didn't want to give it back yet."

"It's embarrassing! I just showed you the way that I think, the way that I see things, the impressions I get from people. You're in it, for goodness sake. Do you think I wanted you to see that?" My thoughts drifted to the drawing of the wolf. "Do you think I wanted you to see some of the other things in there?"

He looked away. "It doesn't mean anything, they were just drawings! You have nothing to be embarrassed about."

"Just drawings?!" I exclaimed." You obviously don't get it. I draw to control my feelings, to interpret the things people say to me, do to me— if you don't understand how important they are to me, then you can fuck off!" I calmed my breathing and sighed exasperatedly. "The fact is, Hayden, I don't know you, and now you know everything that goes on in my head! You live across the street, but I thought that house was empty. I've never seen you or your family around— and this place is tiny! And suddenly, one night, you just show up and save me from being hit by a car for the second time, with your friends that I haven't even met yet, let alone thanked. Sydney miraculously befriends your brother, and now we're all hanging out, playing happy families, but I barely know anything about you!"

Silence. My eyes fell to the ground as my breathing slowed down and I regretted the whole argument— was it really important?

Making me jump, I felt a warm hand land gently on my arm, pushing away my goosebumps. "So get to know me. I can be an asshole— but I can also be a good guy. I promise I'll prove to you that I can be a good guy. I'm sorry," he murmured, and my head snapped up. His eyes searched mine, trying to figure out what I was thinking.

I sighed. "Okay."

Hayden's arms snaked around me and pulled me close; I closed my eyes in his comforting embrace.

                                                                                              <<<>>>

Hayden

It had been two weeks since my argument with Dawn, and it had been Sydney's tenth birthday two days ago, giving Ash and I another perfect opportunity to spend time with our mates.

Now, Dawn and I were in my room, watching an old episode of Friends, laughing. I was lying across her, making her giggle even though she couldn't breathe properly.

"Comfortable?" I asked, smirking.

"Oh, yeah, totally," she replied, panting, which made me laugh. "I do miss breathing though, it feels like such a long time since I've been able to," she said casually. Chuckling, I got off of her and lay back on my bed, scrolling on my phone.

"Aha!" she cried, jumping on me and straddling my hips, before leaning forwards and plucking my phone out of my hands. I raised my eyebrows.

"Give it back, Dawn," I told her, holding my hand out. She held her arm above her head so I couldn't reach it.

"Hmm, no."

I tickled her waist, watching her eyes widen in shock, and giggles started erupting from her mouth. Her arm came down and I snatched my phone back, tossing it next to me so I could continue tickling her. I rolled us over so I was on top of her and tickled her stomach mainly, where she was most sensitive. Tears escaping her eyes, she cried out and tried to push me off of her, relenting when she knew I was too strong. Instead she writhed around, trying to wiggle out from underneath me so I couldn't tickle her anymore. I placed my hands above each of her shoulders, stopping her from moving, but now I couldn't tickle her anymore. I looked down at her, watching her chest rise up and down with her panting.

We both just stared at each other, me straddling her and Dawn looking up at me, out of breath. In the moment, I felt movement down there and her eyes widened, pushing me off her as we both sat up away from each other. I mentally kicked myself for freaking her out as we both pretended to watch the TV in an awkward silence. Luckily, Ash decided to burst into my room.

"Hey, do you want to go for a run? My wol-" he cut himself off when he noticed Dawn, then mumbled, "Oh, oops."

I glared at him, "Kinda busy right now, Ash." Dawn suddenly sat up straight and smiled at Ash.

"Oh, um, Dad sent me up here to invite Dawn to stay for dinner," said Ash.

"I'd love to! Thanks!" she replied.

"Um...Dawn, can I show you my drawing for school?" Ash asked sheepishly, obviously feeling a little more confident around my mate since he discovered that she is friendly.

"Sure, buddy," she smiled, and followed Ash to his room after grinning at me, proud of herself for making friends with my little brother.

"Look after her!" I called after them.

I soon got up and wandered into the kitchen, where Dad was helping with the cooking. Something had just occurred to me.

"Dad."

He spun to face me, surprised. "What's up, Denny?"

"I just realised something. The half moon's in a month. What if the Prophecy is true? What if Dawn is in danger?"

Dad frowned, sensing my anxiety; he could clearly tell that I was really worrying about the Prophecy.

Dad led me into the living room, turned around, lifted a picture frame off of the wall, and opened it up to reveal and old piece of parchment inscribed with black lettering. I read it over, but I felt different than I had the other hundred times I'd read it before. This time was different.

Upon a half moon, there shall be a battle.

Two Wolf Shifter siblings shall be mated

to two human siblings,

And face the wrath of two Bear Shifters,

Who will need the blood of the male mates

To take the females as their own brides.

"I guess we'll find out, Denny."

******

In a way, Dawn overreacts at the beginning. But when you think about it, she's poured all of her thoughts into her sketchbook, and she wanted him to see a little bit, not everything.

If you had drawn somebody, put them in an image that shows how you feel about them, wouldn't you be embarrassed if that person saw that picture?

In this chapter, Hayden shows a little glimpse of his bitchy side. There aren't going to be that many asshole moments, but he does have that side to him. He can be a little insensitive sometimes.

So now the Prophecy's been revealed! Dawn and Hayden's relationship is going well.

We'll see what happens!