Tristan
Dylan was in the shower, and I had one of the Roane's many assistants out doing shopping for her since first thing this morning, so they should be arriving soon.
I told myself that I was sitting here waiting for them to arrive, but in truth I had no idea how to process everything that happened earlier.
Nico was sleeping on the couch and Micah had taken his leave to go and get some books from his lab, but I knew he would be back soon.
Roane had said that he was going to check on Lecia, but I had a feeling that he was going to check in with Ezra and Blane. A part of me was worried about what he might reveal to them and that was bothering Kesh the most.
Roane had broken our trust in him before and while he had come a long way in winning it back, I didn't want to constantly think the worst about him in situations like this.
I was also trying not to hold a grudge against Lecia for what she had said to Dylan earlier. It was her pain and grief that were talking, but it didn't excuse her behavior in full.
Kesh had wanted to jump up and force her to shut her mouth and keep those words that cut as sharp as knives from leaving her mouth, but I had to keep him restrained.
Eventually she will forgive her friend for what she had said, but none of us had expected Dylan to say and do what she had. Not just her outburst, but the storm she called forth.
In truth I don't think I would have believed it if I hadn't seen it now twice, but in her moments of anger or pain, I mean I don't really know yet, but when she is upset like that, she causes it to storm.
Maybe we should all be thankful that she wasn't as upset as she had been that first day because it was only a small lightning storm with rain.
Last time it had felt like we were about to be in the middle of a hurricane or worse. The whole f*cking building was shaking as if she intended to bring it all down.
As if all of that wasn't enough, she had called me brother. Brother! Just thinking of it caused a sting in the back of my eyes and I had to blink rapidly to keep the tears from starting.
Kesh had taken advantage of my sudden shock and loss of control and pushed forward so that he could finally meet and speak with her.
Even now, I could feel the smugness oozing out of him and while I didn't blame him, I was pissed that he hadn't talked to me about it first.
What if he had scared her? "She has a wolf herself Tris, come the f*ck on." I rolled my eyes even though it's not like he could see me.
As for Dylan, she was enjoying a nice relaxing bath, which she definitely deserved, but while she had laughed earlier, I still felt nervous having her out of my sight.
That's right, she had laughed. It was the first time that I heard her do that. I know that in movies people always claim that it's the most beautiful sound they have ever heard when it comes from those they love, but I didn't know what they meant until now.
Call me biased, but I think everything about her is lovely and I am soaking it all in. I have nineteen years that I missed, and I'll be damned if I don't savor every second I can with her.
Seeing her the moment I had first walked into my room the other day had felt so surreal. Dylan had been unconscious, but it was the first time I had gotten to see her face so close up.
Pain had gripped me as I realized how much she resembled my parents. While she had hair similar to our father's, her features were all our mother's.
When she had opened her eyes and looked at me, I was taken aback by the beautiful gold color that I saw there and had to hold in my gasp as I realized that they were a perfect mix of them both.
In primary school I had always loved art class. One of my favorite things was to mix colors together and see what combination I could come up with.
When I saw her big bright eyes, I had recalled that if you mix brown and amber it makes gold and that is when I knew she truly was the baby girl we had all been waiting for.
There are still tears that I need to shed and grief I need to feel to work through this process, but right now I am just trying to process this all and make sure that I'm present for her as best as I can be.
Soft humming was coming from the bathroom and Kesh purred a bit because she seemed to be happy right now, or at least she seemed to be comfortable.
I knew, hell, we all knew that she wasn't ready to work through what had happened that day just yet. Neither she nor I had even touched the subject of who and what she left behind in any of our conversations so far.
Neither I, nor anyone else, would push her to face something that she wasn't ready to. If I could wrap her in a bubble and provider her everything she desired, I would do so in a heartbeat, but I knew that was impossible.
No one knew better than I did that wishing and praying couldn't bring back the dead and no amount of time could ever truly erase that pain.
No, time doesn't heal all wounds, it just gives the wounds time to scab over, and leave the permanent scars behind. Kesh and I knew that better than anyone about that.
Getting lost in my thoughts, I leaned back against the chair and let my head fall on the soft red cushion.
Everyone hated these damn things, but they were the most comfortable couches I've ever sat on, and I actually liked the color, it was bright and bold and caught attention.
Kesh agreed with me, and I felt the smile spread across my face right before I heard her ask, "what's so interesting on the ceiling?"
Dylan stood there behind the couch wrapped in an oversized black robe and had her hair completely wrapped in a towel atop her head.
There was a soft flush in her cheeks as I glanced to the side and saw her looking up at the ceiling trying to search out what I had been looking at.
I felt my soft smile begin turning into a full on grin as I watched her. I know she's already nineteen, but right now she looked like a little girl.
My heart ached both because I was happy and because I know I missed out on so much of the time we should have had for moments like this.
As I sat there looking up at her, all the thoughts that had plagued me moments ago seemed to vanish into thin air.
Truthfully, I felt like I could just sit here watching her all day. Dylan was still standing there looking around the ceiling and it was the cutest thing I've ever seen.
I was about to tell her that there was nothing and explain what I had been doing when we were both startled by the front door banging open.
Up on my feet, I was in front of her and blocking her from view of whoever had been stupid enough to barge into my suite.
A growl ripped from my throat, and I felt Kesh rise to the surface, when I suddenly felt a brush against my arm.
Looking to the side, I saw Nico crouched down in a defensive position right beside me. Massive sharp claws were extended, and his teeth were barred, but he was still mostly in his human form, for now at least.
Kesh was both impressed at how quickly he had gone from sleeping to jumping into action and annoyed that he thought we needed his help.
But those thoughts got cut off when I turned and saw who it was. Ezra stood there in the doorway with that devious looking smile plastered on his smug face.
"Well, hey there. I figured that since I still haven't gotten invited to meet your sister, I needed to come by and introduce myself," Ezra blabbered on as he leaned against the door frame.
I was about to respond when I felt Dylan's hand come up from behind me and grab my shoulder. Dylan was tall but I had a good six inches on her so I knew she couldn't see around me.
Kesh spoke up suddenly. "He can't meet her right now, she's only in a robe. What the hell is this a**hole thinking!"
"Damn it," I cursed out loud under my breath, and I was about to reach around and push her further back behind me when I felt her voice inside my head.
"Tristan, is everything okay?" For a second I wasn't sure if I had truly felt that, felt her in my head, but I didn't know how that could have been possible.
Unsure how she had done that, I completely forgot about that bastard Ezra and turned to look at her.
Her hand had fell slowly back to her side, but I looked directly at her face. There was curiosity written there and I had a feeling that she was trying to ascertain if I had heard her.
"How," I asked dumfounded. Nothing should have given her the ability to link with me like that without us being bonded to the same pack and she had never stepped foot on Black Sol land.
Kesh was just as shocked as me, but I could feel that he was still paying attention to Ezra. Nico was still beside me and he was looking back and forth between the door and me.
I knew Ezra was going to try to force his way in at any moment, but besides the fact that Dylan was not dressed, I needed to know how she had just done that.
"Did you… did you hear me," she asked in a soft whisper as she leaned closer to me, "did it work?"
Nodding furiously at her, I couldn't help but reach out and grab her. "How? Just how did you do that right now?"
Dylan smiled sheepishly but I could see the pride and excitement written all over her face. She looked like she wanted to jump up and down in place, I mean she looked like she was practically vibrating.
"I don't honestly know, I have found that I'm able to link with others when I touch them though and Rae can link with other wolves when she's in her true form to," she trailed off softly but excitedly and I was beyond impressed.
Just then there was a soft knock on the door, and I thought it was Ezra being his usual annoying self, but I heard Nico ask, "and who the hell are you?"
Keeping my back to the door and Dylan still hidden behind me, I carefully turned my head around to where Ezra still leaned and saw Roane's assistant standing there.
"Finally," I called out to her. She had two large bags slung on her arm and held three boxes in her hands.
"Sorry Mr. Ferrar, I had a hard time trying to get some of the things you asked for, but I managed to find it all. would you like me to bring them in for you?"
"Yes, please take them to that room over there," I said pointing towards my room since that is where Dylan has been staying.
Turning back towards Dylan, I told her, "I had no idea what you liked, but I had her buy a few things for you. Later we can order more clothes and shoes if you'd like.
Dylan was obviously excited, but she seemed a bit shy and hesitant. "I'm sure what you got is great. Thank you so much."
As she followed her, the young assistant, who I really needed to try to remember her name, to the room and closed the door. I finally turned my full attention back towards Ezra.
Nico had seemed to calm down, but only fractionally. His claws were gone, and he no longer had his teeth barred, but I could see that he was still waiting to find out who this guy was.
"What is it that you want Ezra? I told you that you all could meet Dylan when she was ready not whenever the hell you felt like it."
Ezra gave a fake little pout of his lips, "oh, how you wound me. You probably haven't even talked to her about meeting us. You just want to keep her all to yourself, don't you?"
Well, he wasn't wrong. I hadn't even given much thought to who I should introduce Dylan to and when, but I wouldn't force new people on her unless she was ready, and she had already said that she wasn't.
Ezra seemed to take my silence as an invitation because he pushed himself up from the door frame and strolled right into the living room.
"Gods, I had forgotten how ugly your furniture was Tristan. I hope you didn't pick the same colors for your sister's suite."
At his words, Nico turned to look at me. I don't know why he looked surprised, the moment I had realized who Dylan was, I had begun to remodel one of the floors for her.
Not paying any mind to him since I had a bigger pain to worry about at the moment, I went to grab my phone from the table before heading to where Ezra now sat on my couch.
He had been in here many times, but he seemed to be looking around as if seeing it for the first time.
Quickly, I sent a text to Roane and Micah letting them know that I had an unwanted guest and asked them to come and retrieve him before I forcibly removed him.
It had been quite some time since I have sparred with Ezra, so I wasn't sure who was stronger. While I might be a good match, he was an Alpha and that gave him a boost regardless.
"Do you smell that," he asked suddenly as he dramatically took a large inhale of air. "I swear the air is fully of something sweet like, I don't know vanilla maybe."
Ezra looked at me expectantly and I knew exactly what he was talking about because I had scented it since the day, I went to Blood Mist.
It was Dylan, she was the one giving off that scent. While wolves all smell different to each other, I knew that her aroma had a sweet scent with slight vanilla undertone to it.
He leaned back into the couch and closed his eyes as he continued to take deep breathes through his nose.
It was beginning to annoy me how much he seemed to be enjoying her scent and Kesh was already urging me to throw him the f*ck out, but I knew if I did that, he would just end up coming back with Blane.
In fact, I was honestly surprised that he had come right now without him, but I'm sure that there had to be a reason for it.
Smacking his arm, I growled, "enough. You know what the scent is so cut it out. What do you want? I told you that I would introduce you when she was ready."
Ezra faked being harmed and rubbed the side of his arm vigorously, but the look he gave me was not faked.
No, his gaze was steely and there was a glint in his eye that I knew I was not going to like, and his next words confirmed it.
"I couldn't wait to come and meet the woman who can call on and create a storm at will. Someone that strong should join a strong pack, don't you think?"