Amber watched the tears that sprang to her mother’s eyes and wanted to go to her, but remembered all those years ago how she had told her tearful story of lies. She held back reluctantly, wondering what her mother was doing.
Winona looked sadly at Amber. “I know I lied to you, but I had to protect you. I knew the Council would take you from me if I stayed there. I at least got to spend nearly sixteen years with you.”
Winona sat down on the bed, staring at her hand in her lap and continued. “I think your grandfather explained about you being born on the full moon. Did he mention the vampire?” She looked at Amber who stood with her hands draped by her sides. Winona could feel the battle raging inside of Amber. Understood the struggle to come to terms with what had happened in her life.
Amber nodded silently.
“With the vampire’s small exchange, he gave you more special abilities to keep you safe, but if the Council found out, they would have wanted you that much more.”
Amber closed her eyes; her hand gathered at her side into fists, she took deep breaths, exhaling slowly through her nose. “I know you think you were doing me a favor by keeping me scared and running. But, believe me I would have handled the truth much better. I could have had somewhat of a normal life.” Amber filled her lungs with air, her chest rising, and then let it out again, slowly. She reminded herself--if she stayed calm, her wolf remained calm, but watchful.
Winona nodded and looked tearfully at her hands that were still clasped in her lap. “I was afraid if I told you the truth that you would be curious and try to find out more and the Council would have found you,” she whispered brokenly and was surprised when Amber came to her.
Amber knelt in front of Winona, placing her hands on her mothers and looked up into her face. “Knowing me, I guess you were right, I probably would have looked. You were young when you had me and you did what you thought was best. But if you ever lie to me from now on, I will never talk to you again,” she told her earnestly and smiled softly up at her mother.
“Thank you!” Winona exclaimed with relief, leaned forward and grabbed Amber to her in a tight hug. “I promise I will never lie to you again.”
Amber laughed at her mother’s strength as she squeezed her tightly. When they parted Amber rose to stand and asked, “Tell me more about the dress?”
Winona jumped up, excitement in her voice. “Isn't it beautiful? Traditionally, the dress has been passed down through the family with the first-born son, to his mate. I don’t have brothers, and since my son, your brother is not old enough to marry,” she moved on quickly. “Your grandfather suggested that we pass this on to you instead.”
“Wait, you said ‘son.’ I have a brother?” Amber's eyes were wide with excitement and turned back towards her mother.
Winona smiled with a hint of sadness. “Yes, his name is Aiden, but I will tell you about him later. Right now we need to get you ready for the ceremony.”
Winona urged Amber to turn around. “Let’s get your hair done while I continue telling you more about the dress.”
Amber reluctantly turned around, but she insisted. “You can do my hair while you tell me about my brother.”
Winona stared at Amber in the mirror. “Aiden is six years old.”
“Is Byron his father, where are they?” Amber twisted around and stared at her mother.
“Yes, Byron is his father and they didn’t come because.” Winona’s eyes filled with tears. She started to turn away but Amber grabbed her gently by the shoulders and leaned down to look into her averted face.
“Why are they not here?” Amber insisted.
“Byron is out searching for Aiden because someone took him from us.” Winona wiped the tears from her eyes and straightened her shoulders. “Please I don’t want this to turn into me crying all over the place. I want this time to be happy, because I am happy to be with you.” Winona sniffed once more and gave her a wobbly smile.
Amber returned her mother’s smile and gave her a tight hug. Taking a deep breath she leaned back. “Okay, but you have to tell me more about my brother later.”
Winona nodded, her hand reached out and she quickly pulled the towel from around Amber's body. Amber felt a little strange standing there naked in front of her mother and wanted to cover herself. Her mother paid her modesty no attention. Winona had turned and was fussing over the dress she had lifted out of the box. So Amber quickly slipped on her panties, and then lifted her arms, allowing her mother to drape the dress over her and around her torso.
“This was made in the late fifteen hundreds in France and has never been altered. As you can see,” She gestured towards the front of the dress, “this would have been considered risqué.” Winona continued describing the dress in great detail.
“They used Egyptian cotton and flax to weave the fabric, which has kept it in such good condition, and I believe that a spell was woven into the dress at it was being created so the dress will never be damaged.”
Winona kept talking and working to adjust the dress when the door opened. Amber watched two women who appeared to be just a little older than she was come through the door. One of them was pulling a small suitcase behind her. They both smiled brightly when they saw Amber.
“Amber, these are my twin sisters, Melanie and Melinda.” Winona waved towards the two women, but kept working on the dress.
Amber looked at them in surprise. In her mind she kept reminding herself to accept what comes along and just quit remembering what her mother had told her in the past. She hugged each one of the women when they stepped forward.
“How can you tell them apart?” Amber asked, inspecting the women for any kind of difference and found none.
She looked at her mother who shook her head; Amber couldn’t stop staring at the two women. They were identical in every way. And it definitely didn't help that they dressed the same, did their hair the same, and even applied make up the same!
Winona leaned close to Amber's ear and whispered loudly. “I can't. I just call them both Mel.”
Everyone laughed and both Mel’s began rifling through the suitcase, pulling out a hair dryer and laying cosmetics and all kinds of things that Amber had never even seen out on the bed.
“You are going to look great,” they told her in unison and looked at each other knowingly and laughed.
Geez, even their laughter was the same; Amber thought and wondered what she was getting herself in to.
An hour and a half later, Amber stared at herself in the mirror. She never wore make up, but the twins had applied just the right amount. Her strong facial features looked soft and alluring. Her eyes were practically radiant and she couldn’t stop staring at herself in the mirror.
“It's not just the make-up, dear,” her mother told her, patting her lovingly on the shoulder.
Amber continued staring at her reflection, and realized that she had never worn a dress. It had not been practical, so she had never considered buying one. Her life on the run meant she had to wear sturdy comfortable clothing. Dresses were for feminine women who didn't go traipsing around in the woods all the time.
She stared in wonder at how the dress clung to her in all the right spots, like it had been made specifically for her. The almost sheer material had a plunging V neck that wrapped softly around her neck and clung to her breasts when she moved. She felt a little self-conscious and stared at how low the dress hung with a portion of her generous breast playing peak-a-boo. It opened all the way down to the high waist where the material was gathered together by an intricate diamond shape broach at her slender waist. The material continued, blending into a softer waterfall skirt that fell right below her knees, swirling slightly around her legs when she twisted to look at the back of the dress in the mirror. There wasn't one.
Amber stared at her slender toned back, taking in her form. Her aunts had performed a miracle with her long dark hair, causing it to cascade in curls down the middle of her back. They had swept the tresses loosely from her face holding them
in place with small white roses tucked here and there. The pins holding the roses in place also provided volume to her hair, making it appear to float around her, along with the dress. They put a ton of product in her hair to keep it looking perfect. Amber shook her head lightly, not a hair moved out of place and she laughed. It would be hell getting all the stuff out of her hair tomorrow, but tonight, she liked what she saw.
She felt glamorous and stared disbelievingly at her image. She felt soft and sexy at the same time. Even her fingernails and toenails were perfectly manicured. Her skin glowed while she continued to stare at herself in disbelief.
Amber had never dared to allow the dream that she would have a life mate, never dreamed that she would ever get married. She gave herself a mental shake and reminded herself. This is not a wedding.
It can be if you want it to be, Blake told her softly in the recesses of her mind.
Go play with your friends, Blake, Amber responded, a little embarrassed that he had caught her thoughts.
She heard his soft chuckle in her mind and continued to stare at herself in the mirror. She shook her head slightly to clear her thoughts. The curls swung lightly around her, brushing gently against her bare shoulders, frowning at herself in the mirror. “Something is missing,” she mumbled.
Both Mel's and her mother looked at her with a slight frown. “You look perfect, dear, except for no shoes,” Winona said and she pulled the strappy heals from the bag.
Amber's eyes lit up, but not at the site of the shoes, she had realized what she needed and rushed back into the bathroom. She came back out carrying the stone her grandfather had given her. She couldn't believe she had actually forgotten to put it back on.
Melanie or Melinda, whichever one, held her hair up off her neckline while the other took the small chain and fastened it around her neck. It looked good; the stone nestled between her breasts to rest lightly at the top of the v of the dress. Oddly enough, the stone matched the black, blue and white stones set in the broach, almost perfectly.
Amber turned with a smile and her mother had tears in her eyes staring at her beautiful daughter. “You are absolutely stunning.” Winona told her, fanning herself to keep her mascara from running.
Amber smiled wistfully at her mother and all the women hugged.
“These should fit,” Winona told her, holding the shoes out for Amber to take.
“I have never worn shoes like that in my life,” Amber exclaimed and refused to accept the shoes.
“That's why they are not too high.” Melinda or Melanie, again, whichever one, said, pulling her hand from her side and forcing the shoes into her hand.
Amber gave herself a mental shake, telling herself that she would have to figure out a way to tell them apart. There had to be a tale-tell sign.
“You call those ‘not too high?’” Amber exclaimed doubtfully glaring at the shoes while holding them in front of her. She held the offending shoes by the strap, between her forefinger and thumb. Twisting them around, she stared at them like they would bite her.
“Mel wanted to get the three inch ones, but I told her that would be a bad idea on the grass.”
Even they called each other Mel, so that was not going to be of any help in figuring out who they were.
“How about I just go barefoot?” Amber suggested; her nose wrinkled in thought, staring from one woman to the next. She seriously didn’t want to wear the spiked shoes and fall flat on her face.
“You have to at least try them on!” Winona suggested with a laugh.
CHAPTER THIRTY-ONE
The knock on the door signaled to the women that it was time for them to go. Amber looked nervously at her mother who gave her an encouraging smile as the door opened. Gabrial stood in the doorway.
A smile spread across his face when he saw Amber in the dress. “Perfect,” was all he said and he gave Amber a light hug, not wanting to mess up her hair or the dress.
Holding out his arm, Gabrial escorted Amber down the long hallway, to the marble staircase. Winona and the twins followed silently behind. The house was eerily quiet while they made their way to the front door. Everyone, except for Adam, was in the front yard waiting for them.
Adam stood at the front door and whistled softly when he saw them descending the steps. His smile widening when he saw the glow that formed around Amber, the same glow he had seen when he stared before. His vision was now confirmed.
Amber smiled brightly as she walked towards him. When she reached where he stood, she gave him a tight hug. They both heard the slight growl in their heads and laughed at Blake and his possessiveness.
Relax, buddy, she's coming to you, not me, Adam responded and opened the door for Gabrial to usher Amber out onto the front porch.
The yard was filled with people who talked softly. The moonlight lit the pathway from the steps to the center of the yard. It looked like it was almost a spot light at the altar? Blake stood still, waiting patiently for Amber. Or so he appeared on the outside. Inside, he was impatient, wanting her to hurry to him. There were rows and rows of chairs on either side of the path. The outer area of the yard was lit softly with landscape lighting that looked like candles, casting a romantic glow across the yard and its occupants.
Everyone had turned expectantly when they heard the double doors opened to allow Amber and her entourage to exit out onto the porch. There were a few low whistles when Amber stepped forward on her grandfather’s arm. The women gave low gasps and whispered approvals, making Amber smile even brighter. She never liked being the center of attention, but tonight she felt was her night.
She felt radiant; taking one step at a time, the small steps that were bringing her closer to her mate. Her eyes were locked on Blake and she saw his eyes trail down the front of her dress, stopping briefly to stare at the swell of her tanned breasts peaking out of the soft white material.
Blake imagined how easy it would be to slip his hand inside the soft material and mold to her breasts, to caress the hard buds he would find there. He had to shake his head to clear the thoughts or risk taking her right then and there. He frowned slightly as he heard the thoughts of some of the men in the group, thoughts that stopped immediately when he growled in their minds.
His eyes moved down the front of her form where the material of the dress floated around her legs when she walked. He smiled openly, almost laughing when his eyes landed on her feet. He pulled his eyes up to meet hers and felt her happiness in his mind, Barefoot? I would have thought they would have had shoes for you at least.
They did, Amber responded smugly with a chuckle.
Blake shook his head and continued to smile. The woman never ceased to amaze him. He continued to watch his mate being escorted up the path to where he stood. Gabrial turned and gave Amber a kiss on the forehead and handed her to Blake, then took his place over to the side. The women had followed quietly behind and slid into their seats in the front row.
Blake had to fight to keep his mind under control as well as his wolf. The full moon was pulling at his wolf, he was sure it was pulling on the other werewolves in the crowd as well. This phase felt strong. Staring down into Amber’s eyes, her irises were rimmed in black and the gold specks were beginning to swirl in her eyes. He knew his eyes mirrored hers.
Taking her hand, he leaned down and kissed her softly on the lips. The pack stood, put their heads back and howled. Amber was startled at the sound and looked around in time to notice that someone was running towards them from the driveway.
Amber shoved Blake and threw herself backwards when an arrow barely missed hitting him and thudded into the alter that stood behind them.
Blake landed on the ground in stunned silence while Amber stood to the side, crouched, her lip snarling, ready to fight the person coming at them.
Others followed the man running towards them. The group stopped howling and whipped around when they felt the others presence. Amber knew immediately that this was part of the Council, and watched them file down the path towards her
and Blake.
∞∞∞
“What is the meaning of this?” Gabrial demanded, stepping in front of his granddaughter. “How dare you shoot at my granddaughter?” He was livid with anger.
Blake quickly jumped to his feet and pulled Amber behind him. Holding his arm backwards, blocking her from coming back around in front of him to face the men who had attacked them.
“I wasn't shooting at her, you idiot,” the elder of the Council members growled scornfully. “I knew that you would lead us to her eventually.” He gave a snarling laugh and started forward.
The pack members had taken a collective step back when the Council made their way up the aisle. The only persons brave enough to not move had been Marcello and Adam who were now standing shoulder to shoulder beside Blake, helping to him to keep Amber behind them.
Will you please quit blocking me! Amber demanded, struggling to get around front to confront the Council members.
You will not be in front of them, Blake growled in her head. Isaac Whiting is over three hundred years old and he controls all packs here in the States, He explained to her.
I don't care if he is a thousand years old! Amber exclaimed and tried to push her way through the immoveable wall of muscle that surrounded her.
Suddenly, she stopped pushing and willed herself to disappear so she could face her attackers. She was shocked when she looked down and found that her body was still in its human form. All she could do was glare at the backs of the men who surrounded her.
Amber was shocked that she couldn’t change. She tried over and over again and it just wouldn’t work. Frustrated, she gave up and concentrated on listening to what was being said.
Her grandfather argued with Isaac “You have no right,” he growled standing face to face with the Council leader.
Reading Blake's mind, she learned the names of the men who stood at Isaac's sides. They were William Lee and Reuben Bosworth. From what she gathered, they were at the Council leader’s beck and call and always backed him on whatever he did or said.
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