Sisters By Chance - The Dawn (Book Two)

Dreams N' Nightmares

Raven's POV

The week went by, and the weekend came, and with each passing day, I've been thinking a lot, mainly wondering where Tim is. Doggie and I came back to his bedroom only to find it empty. Tim had disappeared, and I've not seen or heard from him. How do I accept his apology, or deny it for that matter, if he's nowhere? Tim has been filling my thoughts, not just my dreams. And my friend has given me space, letting me deal with it on my own, despite not being physically alone.

However, his apology made me think about my wrongdoings. Weeks ago, I threatened to kill Big Bear's partner. But it isn't "Miss Perfect's" fault, and I shouldn't have blamed her. She took nothing because I had nothing for her to take. He wasn't mine.

'I think I need to say sorry!'

'Huh? What's that, darling?' Harry asks without looking up. We're in his living room, seated on his couch with Tobias. They're playing some game, and Harry is whipping Tobias's ass!

'I said; I think I need to say sorry!'

'To who?' Tobias asks.

'Whom!' Harry corrects him, still not looking up and making me sigh hard.

'I don't know her name, Big Bear's partner!'

'Sofia!' Tobias tells me as he tries to look at me and the game.

'Yeah, Sofia!' I say, letting her name roll off my tongue. It didn't taste as bad as I expected it to, though.

'I think she'd appreciate that!' Tobias tells me with a cautious smile. He's a man of few words, careful and unsure of himself. My exact opposite! Yet I like him. He's the perfect example of the saying; If you don't have something nice to say, then say nothing at all.

'That's a good idea! I'll talk to Jacob! We haven't seen each other for a while! I think John's there tonight, actually!' Harry tells me as he throws his control on the table. He's grinning from ear to ear, celebrating his latest winning.

'Good! Now, bring us food, Doggie! It's my turn!' I tell him while snatching the control from the table. Tobias resets the game. And we spend the remainder of the night racing cares around a pretend track, letting Harry cater to our needs while mocking us perpetually!

*

Sunday morning, at breakfast, Mr. Bossman had a peculiarly happy look in his eyes. He didn't say much. Yet he hummed as he sipped his coffee, and I wasn't the only one deeming it odd.

Charlotte keeps glancing between him, Harry, and her mate. She repeatedly let her eyes cloud until Harry lost his temper and growled at her for everyone to hear.

'I don't f*****g know! Ask him yourself!'

'Don't you f*****g swear, there's a child here!' I scolded him.

When he snapped his eyes toward me, it was with utter dismay and annoyance.

'You're doing it too!'

'Well, you started it!' I tell him as I poke my finger into his chest!

Mr. Bossman sighed before putting his coffee on the table and looking between us, one by one.

'What's wrong?'

Charlotte gave Harry a deadly glare before turning her attention to her Alpha. 'You seem happy!'

'I am!' He confirms, looking around the table again.

'Well, we wondered why?' Charlotte tells him, making Harry snort. 'You wondered!'

'Why shouldn't I be happy?' He shrugs. Charlotte huffed like a steam train, looking like she'd want to kill him, but instead, she pressed her lips together tightly. An ability I have yet to master.

'How's your family, Alpha?' I ask him, surprising everyone. 'You went to visit them yesterday, didn't you?'

'I did, Raven! They are very well, thank you for asking!'

'And Big Bear?' I ask.

'He's fine as well!'

I meet Mr. Bossman's smile and send him one of my own before turning my attention back to my food. The table is silent. There isn't a single sound, not even the scraping of cutlery against china. So I look up at Harry.

'What?'

'What the hell was that?'

'What?'

'That!' Doggie stated, waving his hand towards me from head to toe as if pointing to all of me.

'What? I'm practicing small talk. People do that s**t, you know!'

'And she's back!' He sighs while placing his hand over his heart in excessive relive. I flip him off and shrug at the same time.

Doggie had talked to Jacob and decided that we would run down to visit him, Big Bear, and his perfect partner. So after some official "Beta" business, he stripped his clothes off and handed them to me. I climbed up on the massive wolf's spotted back, and he took off. I held on to his fur as he strutted over the grass and between the trees. They swept past us in a pleasant blur of brown and green. My hair whipped in the cold air as I clung to his back. He's fast despite not running at full speed, yet the journey takes several minutes, and my fingers have gone numb. The large steel mirror in the distance becomes a sea, glistening despite the gray day. It's still and perfectly reflects the gray from above, whereas it gives a colder picture of reality.

It's beautiful, as is their home when we arrive - the yellow house has white trims and rails. It's on top of a hill overlooking the lake below. The village is wrapped up by the forest all around. I can barely make out the campsite on the other side of the steel-colored lake. It's all so quiet. Peaceful even.

Doggie strutted up a set of stairs and onto a patio. Big Bear was seated with his partner on his lap. He looks as yummy as always, broad and strong, making her look like a child in comparison. They have their heads together: rubbing and whispering against each other's lips - it's almost sickening how lovey-dovey they are. And yet, it's all I ever want. I want that: tenderness, closeness, and love in abundance.

'Hay there, Lovebirds!' I snicker as I jump off my ride, landing with a low thud on the hard surface below.

'Hi, Raven!' Sofia greets me while looking up from her snuggling.

Lucas fixes me with a stern stare as I approach them. The poping behind me lets me know I'm about to get company by my friend in his human form. I can't bring myself to let Lucas's gaze go and hold on to it as he stares me down. I know he's judging if I'm a threat to her. Bossman's brother comes out from a door to my right. I see him in the corner of my eye. His movements are slow and cautious. I feel myself draw a sharp intake of air. I'm not sure I'm welcome here, and this might have been a mistake. Harry's hands on my shoulders bring my racing heart down a bit. I'm not alone. I have a friend here, so they're not going to rip me into shreds. I hope.

'Babe, let her be!' Sofia hums against Lucas's ear, kissing and nipping it to distract him from me. A neat and evil little trick.

'Yeah, Big Bear! Back off.' I muse, 'I'm not here to seduce you. I'm here for her!'

I can practically hear Doggie roll his eyes at my statement, and I realize it came across wrong. Lucas and Bossman's brother growls loudly. However, she laughs. I let his eyes go and looked at her instead. She's pretty with her almond eyes, round face, plump lips, and honey hair. I can almost see it glisten despite the gloomy gray of the day. She is why I came. And she's amused by my statement.

'So, you're here to seduce me then? It's goin' to be hard. You lack a certain body part I'm particularly fond of!' She giggles while licking her lips as she teases me.

I'm rarely speechless, but this caught me off guard.

'I'm not known to turn down beauty!' I wink. 'I am, however, known to value my life. And seducing you seems to be the same as a death sentence?' I tell her while the threatening growls keep soaring in the air. 'So. I'm not here to seduce anyone unless you beg it of me. I'm here; to ask forgiveness!'

There is a sudden silence, and Sofia's face holds astonishment. She wasn't expecting this. Not at all. And it's fun. Fun to know I can surprise someone without being outraged in the process. Her confusion switches to happiness in the blink of an eye as she jumps off Lucas's lap and stands to he feet. Before Lucas can pull her down again, she's striding towards me. Doggie is a wall behind me as she comes up, pinning me between them. Her eyes glimmer topaz blue as she hum.

'Forgiveness?'

'Aye, I was wrong, and I'm sorry! Big bear was never mine. He has always been and will always be yours. I was out of line and should never have called you names or threatened you. You didn't deserve that!' I tell her as I look her in her eyes. They flicker. Then she's suddenly pulled back by the Bossman's brother. He wrapped his arms tight around her while covering her stomach. She turns and kisses his cheek before looking back at me and uttering the words I wished to hear as I came here; 'I forgive you!'

'Just like that?' I ask. 'Don't you want me to beg on my knees, crawl or at least humiliate myself just a little?'

She perks up as if intrigued, then her eyes turn back to her dark orbs, and her smile softens. Her fingers gently caress the arms around her.

'No, there is no begging necessary! And my men will back off as soon as they have calmed down. Are you two staying for lunch?'

As the words slip out into the air, her face falls along with her body. I see her eyes roll back into her skull. Her body would have sunken to the ground if not for the strong arms wrapped around her. When her head tilts forward, thick and lush hair cascades down, covering her face.

'For f**k sake!' He growls as he hoists her up into his arms. 'Luke, it's happening again!'

'She hasn't even eaten lunch yet.' Big Bear complains while taking her from his arms. 'That witch needs to have some f*****g boundaries.' He growls over his shoulder as he carries her inside.

'Oh no! I did nothing!' I yell, holding my hands up in defense. 'Nothing!'

'Take it easy. We know. It's the other one!' A dark voice growls.

The thought of another witch gets my attention. Is another witch meddling with them, with her? My brain goes a million miles an hour trying to figure out who and why all while rambling questions.

'Has it happened before? Who is it? Do they communicate like that? How come? They need to have met for this to happen. When did she encounter a witch?'

It took them a while to explain everything and answer all my questions. All that time, the princess is out cold on the couch. She had met the witch in a warehouse. Then she has invaded her mind to communicate with her. That's how they had known about the Auroras. The witch herself is an Aurora. The thought of my former covenant is frightening, and knowing another witch is involved makes my stomach want to empty itself. Who is she?

*

Sleeping beauty has been in her own world for about an hour. Lucas hasn't left her side. He hasn't taken his hands off her, constantly touching her fingers, arms, stomach or hair, cheeks, and neck. I study his mark on her wrist. It has taken form and has a beautiful pattern stretching across it, almost like a bracelet. It's magic on a whole other level - a bond so strong they can tap in on each other's emotions. They feel what the other person is feeling, creating a deep understanding for the other person. If one of them dies, the other can die too. It's like perishing from a broken heart. The feeling of need comes over me, crushing me like a wave. How wonderful wouldn't it be to be understood? To have someone loving you so fiercely?

Doggie sat and talked to Brother Bossman, who kept staring at me during their small talk. I guess he's suspicious! Lucas and I talk about nothing in particular. The weather, his brother, living with wolves, and all that. But my fingers itch for her to come back. I need to know everything. Boys are shity at summarizing. They always leave out the important stuff. The stuff you want to know. When the conversations die, we stay quiet. Their home is stunning. This living room is like a magazine, light and bright. Windows reaching from floor to ceiling overlooking the lake with sheer curtains. I imagine them swaying in a soft breeze as the evening sun casts its light over the furniture. I daydream about living in a home like this with someone I love, cooking meals, watching TV together, and living life. My cheeks heat up, and the corner of my lip twitches in an involuntary smile at the thought. Together is my new favorite word. My new dream!

*

*

*

Sofia woke up gasping for air. Her chest was heaving as if she had been holding her breath underwater. Lucas was cringing at the sound, and I imagined her mate doing the same. What's his name again?

'Honey,' Big Bear breathes as he caresses her arms before taking her hands. 'That Witch need's to have boundaries, especially now!' He whispers as his massive form leans over hers. He places his head on her belly, resting gently on her. I see her fingers twirl his hair as I did with Tim's. He's relieved and angry at once, a confusing mix.

'Hush, she reaches out whenever she can, you know that! She said; Hi, by the way!' Sofia murmurs as she tilts her head back, looking straight up at me by her head.

'Yeah? Tell me, tell me, tell me! Oh, no, wait! Show me!'

'Show you?'

'Yeah, show me!' I encourage her as I scoot closer.

'I don't know how to do that!' She tells me, all confused. Then her face turns green, and she closes her eyes while breathing slowly. 'f*****g hell! I haven't eaten.' She groans. Her mate shoots up from behind me and hurries away.

'Gees, I didn't consider you a 'foodie' at all! You can't function without meals at exactly the right time or something?' I laugh.

'Nooo!' She giggles with her eyes closed. 'I can go without food for days! It's this little one who is craving it...' She tells me as Lucas kisses her belly sweetly. A little one? The realization hits me, a warm and fuzzy feeling seeps through my veins, and I hear myself squeal loudly and clap my hands together.

'A baby, YAY! Good job, Big Bear! Or should I complement your little swimmers? Wait? Is it even yours? HAY! Wolfie-boy! Good job!' I bellow out towards the kitchen as I turn my head and nearly slam my face into his abs. 'O god! Watch it, mister. You could have broken my nose!'

He says nothing. He only smirks at me as if he hadn't minded breaking my nose. So I flip him off, letting him know I'm not a fan of him either. His mate is pretty, though. So I'll give him a pass!

Goldilocks gave him a radiant smile as he handed her an apple. Lucas pulled her up carefully before she was allowed to take a bite. He kept holding on to her, and Wolfie-boy kept still, watching her as she chewed. They're so devoted.

And so f*****g overprotective!

'Shoo, shoo!' I tell them, 'both of you! If she isn't choking on that apple, she'll be smothered by you two baboons breathing up all the oxygen around her. Move!'

She choked on her apple at my words and coughed as she giggled. I see her eyes water, and her men give me deadly glares between the horrified looks they throw her. Lucas patted her back softly, and Wolfie-boy looked as if he was ready to call 911.

'Come on! She's a big girl. She'll live!'

When everything settles down, they finally back off and let Goldilock and I have a conversation without them breathing down our necks. She tells me about a tall girl with doe-eyes and flaming hair. Stella: the walking fortune cookie, the apple of the priestess's eyes. She was never up for the list, of course. However evil they might be, they're not dumb.

They'd never murder the one able to tell the future.

Stella has communicated with Sofia for weeks, letting her know all about: the Auroras, the future Luna of New Moon, and Tobias's sister - who both happen to be prisoners of the Auroras.

'So, Stella is helping you?' I ask curiously. 'Why?'

'She's not comfortable with the Auroras taking over the world!'

'Well, I can't argue with that logic!' I tell her, taken back by the information I have received.

'How does she propose we'll do it?'

'Halloween!' Goldilock reveals, her face shrouded by worry.

'When the shield is down!' I concluded while slapping myself, literally.

'So, what? Does she suggest we should storm the castle? Does she realize how many lives will be terminated; if we run into their arms? The wolves will be killed by the flickering of wrists as soon as the Auroras realize what is happening. We won't stand a chance!'