Chapter 6: Chapter 5

The woman’s family photo was almost reassuring. The man that stood beside her was just as tall as her, his skin darker and his eyes a liquid gold. He was definitely a changeling, but she had never doubted that. He looked like a gentleman, his smile reaching all the way up to his kind eyes. He held her close, Hazel’s smile just as big as they faced the camera as if there were no worries in this world.

In some of the pictures she was younger, standing with a family that included a mother, father, brother, and herself. In others she was older, close to her soulmate and carrying a child within her belly. Every photo told a story, all of them filled with joy.

“You keep pictures.”

It was a statement, Dawn’s voice raw with emotion as she let the woman’s hand go and moved to touch one photo in particular. It was of Hazel and two small children, both girls with dark brown hair and both of them adorning piercing blue eyes. They looked happy, content in life as their mother held them close.

“My daughter’s, May and Destiny. They are twins.”

Dawn turned around to face the woman, her green eyes moving down to her belly. It was clear that the woman was pregnant again, but was it the same dad? In her old pack the females never had the choice to stay with the same male. It was first come first serve, so to speak.

“We’re hoping for a boy, but will be happy with anything as long as he or she is healthy.”

She wanted to ask her so many questions, but would she be truthful? What if she said something wrong and the woman told Kane? Would she get in trouble? What if he hurt her because of it? What if she didn’t ask and he hurt her anyways? She took in a deep breath and pressed forward, forcing the words out of her mouth.

“Where is the father?”

Hazel smiled.

“He took the girls to the lake. They’re learning how to catch fish with only their bare hands, and though they don’t come back with much they enjoy the time they spend with their father.”

Dawn nodded, moving to the next question.

“Is he the father of this one as well?”

Her smile fell slightly, but she remained positive.

“Yes, he is my soulmate.”

Again, Dawn nodded and continued to the next thought plaguing her mind.

“Has he ever…hurt you?”

This time Hazel’s smile was gone completely, her eyes losing some of their light as she looked hard at this new girl. What was she thinking of? Soulmates could never hurt each other without hurting themselves, didn’t she know that?

“No darling, he never has. Since the day we set eyes on one another the sun has never shown brighter. Our love is endless, as it is destined to be.”

Dawn frowned, looking around at the pictures collecting on every wall. Love? They loved each other? Did that mean he only bedded her? It didn’t make sense. They didn’t know what love was, only pain and causing anguish. The males took the females, forced themselves on them and kept them to fill needs they couldn’t fill themselves. The females were garbage, less than the dirt they walked on.

This didn’t make sense. These homes, the warmth in everyone’s eyes? The love she felt as mothers and fathers watched over their children. Beginning conversations with their neighbors that created more smiles and laughter than she had heard in years. Why did she have the urge to get comfortable?

What was this place? It had to be lies, but how? Why go through all the trouble of creating such a fake sense of safety? Unless…

“Hazel…”

She couldn’t look at her, gaze falling to her bare feet as she continued in a soft whisper of a tone. She was scared that her next question might be met with hostility. Hazel heard her clearly, and when she did her heart dropped into her stomach.

“…am I safe here?”

Maybe it was the motherly side of the woman that moved her so, or perhaps there was something in Dawn’s tone that caused her pregnancy hormones to skyrocket. Either way she was in front of the young newcomer in the blink of an eye, arms wrapping around a small form to pull her into a warm hug as she tried to hold back tears for the girl. She was frightened, which was understandable since she was in a strange place. She was anxious, which again was understandable. Still, the way she spoke such words so softly? It caused worry to etch into Hazel’s mind. What had life dragged this woman through?

She held her close, one hand rubbing her back soothingly as she spoke lightly in her ear.

“Of course darling. There’s no safer place for us.”

Dawn was stiff for a moment, but then, as if something caught on within her head, she loosened up. Her arms moved to wrap around Hazel’s growing waist, her head resting on the woman’s chest as she took in deep breaths. What if this woman was lying? It could all be an elaborate facade.

She closed her eyes and took in another breath, the woman’s scent warm and reassuring, like homemade cookies and hot cocoa. Dawn felt, for the first time in five years, like she belonged somewhere. Was it wrong to trust someone so quickly? Had she not learned from her past?

When they separated Hazel smiled down at her, reaching out her hand in a friendly gesture. Dawn took it gently, allowing the woman to show her around the house full of love before heading back to the last house on the left. Kane’s home.

Something dawned on her then, causing her footsteps to halt and Hazel to look back at her in confusion. Her nerves were beginning to itch and moan as her heart skipped a beat.

“Why are you so far away from your brother?”

Hazel turned to fully face her, smiling as she answered.

“Kane is my older brother, he’s always been overprotective. When I met Jeremiah it was love at first sight, a crazy thing. He was a lone wolf and didn’t have a pack, so I brought him back here. Kane was in a right rage when he realized his baby sister had found the man she would bore children with, and almost killed him when he mentioned living with me.”

Dawn’s eyes grew wide, but Hazel was quick to reassure her.

“No, no darling. He truly meant it in the best way. He wanted to make sure I was safe and happy with the man I spent my life with. Of course I told him we were soulmates and that life had planned for our paths to cross, but he wouldn’t back down. I brought Jeremiah around once or twice a week, then a few more days at a time, then every day. After awhile it wore Kane down and he finally saw reason. He agreed to allow Jeremiah the right to join our pack. He built our home with his own hands, with Jeremiah at his side, and though he wasn’t the happiest wolf I could tell he meant well.”

Dawn looked back at Hazel’s home. It was a nice story, but it still didn’t answer her question. As if sensing the woman’s confusion, Hazel leaned in to whisper.

“The walls were built sturdy, but not sound proof. Kane may have allowed Jeremiah passage into our home, but he didn’t really want to have to hear his little sister in the throws of ecstasy every night.”

Hazel laughed as Dawn’s eyes grew wide. She was surprised by the woman’s honesty. Was that truly the reason for the space between them? She knew one thing for sure, she wasn’t about to ask Kane.

“Come on darling, in you go. It’s getting dark and Kane will be back soon.”

Her nerves began to work into a tizzy as she looked toward the alphas home. A soft hand patted her shoulder, warmth spreading through her at the show of support.

“He may seem tough, but once you get through the hard exterior he’s truly a big softy.”

When Dawn didn’t move Hazel gave her a reassuring push at the base of her back. Her feet moved forward, carrying her away from the woman and toward the unknown. The day had flown by, the names of each person in the pack melding itself into her skull. They all seemed so nice, warm and full of love for one another. Maybe she had been wrong. Maybe this place wouldn’t be so bad. Maybe it’s all lies.

She entered Kane’s home, the walls almost suffocating as she looked around at the silent space before her. Hazel had fed her lunch, but that had been a few hours ago and she was hungry again. As a mortal she had never eaten that much, but when she was turned her appetite had become like a bottomless pit. She wondered toward the kitchen, stomach growling as she searched through the fridge and cabinets until she found all the things she could use to make a meal. Whether she believed in the happiness these people played up, she would soon find out. Either way she would need her strength.

Kane got home later than usual, exhaustion weighing him down as he opened the door and walked inside. The aroma that hit him was both surprising and mouth watering. Something that had him wondering blindly into the kitchen as his stomach growled. When had he eaten last? Breakfast? He really needed to take better care of his health.

A plate lay on the stove top, the food still warm and ready to eat. Meat, bread, pasta and vegetables. It was a whole meal, something he hadn’t cooked since his sister lived with him. It reminded him of home, his mother and father, and suddenly his chest felt tight. Who had cooked this? Not only cooked it, but cleaned up the mess and made him a plate. He checked the dishwasher, the fridge, and sure enough the pots and pans were washing and the leftovers were already packed away.

Had Hazel done this? Maybe she had cooked dinner knowing he would be out late. She hadn’t done so in a long time, but it wouldn’t be the first time either. A soft moan caught his attention, his gaze moving to the other room where an unconscious form graced his couch.

“Dawn.”

Her name had caused him to lose his focus multiple times throughout the day, the image of her naked in the lake seared into his brain. She was gorgeous then, but now? Now she was breathtakingly flawless. Her tank top had been pushed up slightly, revealing her small belly button that begged to be kissed by his lips. Jean shorts held snug to her curves as one arm lay above her head and the other was positioned over her abdomen. Her legs were stretched out and she still didn’t cover the large piece of furniture, which made him smile.

She had come home, made dinner, cleaned and fixed him a plate, then fallen asleep waiting for him. Did she know how hard that made him? She was irresistible. With her in his sights it was easy to ignore his hunger for food, because he was starving for her.

He made his way to her side, gently slipping his arms under her back and knees as he lifted her against his chest. She moaned once more, a sound that made him ache to touch her intimately, before resting her head against his shoulder. Her arms instinctively wrapped around his neck, her voice soft.

“Are you hungry?”

He couldn’t tell if she was awake or asleep, so he answered in a whisper.

“Starving.”

She sighed, a gentle noise that made his grin grow. She didn’t say anything more until he had laid her in her bed and moved to pull the blanket up to her chin. He would’ve undressed her, only to make her more comfortable, but decided against it. He couldn’t handle much more torture, otherwise he might implode.

“Kane…”

Her soft whisper caught his attention, stopping his retreat to the front room as he looked back at her. She was still asleep, eyes closed and body relaxed. She looked like an angel, and he couldn’t help but grin at the fact that she was dreaming of him. Now he just had to break through her barriers when she was awake.