CRACKED BUT NOT BROKEN.

Forgive But NeverForget

The rest of the week went by uneventful. I go to school, and after I head to Mrs. Graves tailor shop to work on Diamonds pantsuit for Rico's party. I am nearly finished and might even have time to make a little something for myself. The party is on Saturday and I have yet to muster the courage to ask my parents if I can even go. They have been acting really nice to me since the pack wide vision I sent out, but I'm always waiting for the other shoe to drop.

On Thursday, my mother and father came up to the attic and asked me if I wanted a room on the Beta floor, but I told them that I was just fine where I was and plus, I got the whole floor to myself. I have become accustomed to being in my own space and having my own bathroom. We had a talk about why they have treated me the way that they had and my mother confessed to my father about what her and the Alpha did to me this past weekend. A look of pity and shame passes my father's face, and he tells my mother that she has taken it too far this time.

"Father I have forgiven mom and the Alpha for what they did, and I don't want you holding grudges against mom,"" I think it is time that we move on as a family so I can bond with my siblings before I head off to college." "You have plans to go to college," my mother ask me astounded. "Yes mom I want to be a fashion Designer I am really talented in design and sewing it was the last thing you taught me before everything happened with Solomon."

A tear falls from my mother's eyes, and I am not sure if she is crying for the strain on our relationship or the mention of Solomon's name. I get up and go to the bathroom and take a new piece I have done with my mother in mind for the ball. It is a black shimmery off the shoulder mermaid style gown with a built-in corset, the split goes almost to the hip and has a sheer cut out in the shape of a triangle, giving a sneak peek of the wearer's bottom. I hold out the dress to my mother."Try it on mom. I made this for you hoping you would wear it to the ball ." My mother looks absolutely shocked at the dress as she runs her fingers along the material. She holds it up to herself and a small growl rumbles from my father's chest. "Sorry Saleste, I get a little jealous still after all these years," my father chuckles.

"Please go try it on mom, so I can see if I need to make any alterations." My mom heads to the bathroom while my dad and I sit in an awkward silence. "Salel, I just want you to know I always tried to get your mother and sister to back off of you, something in my heart knew that you would not K!ll your brother." " But seeing your mother so upset triggered the mate bond and I felt her pain and anger towards you and I could not control my anger." Now I know that is not an excuse for me turning a blind eye, but hopefully you let me and the rest of the family make it up to you. By the end of my father's confession, I am a silent weeping mess. I wipe my eyes with the back of my sleeve and reach over to hug my father for the first time in almost 8 years.

My mother comes out of the bathroom looking more beautiful than I have ever seen her in my life. She gives a little turn and my father's eyes trail down the sheer triangle. The sheer is so dark that you can barely see the little sliver of her bottom. When she turns back around she has tears in her eyes and rushes to embrace me. " I needed this Saleste more than you know. " You don't have to wear the dress if you don't want mom, I tell her. "Nonsense, Salel, I would wear nothing else, it is perfect for me.

"We don't deserve the love and kindness you have shown us with all that we have put you through, but we are grateful for the second chance of loving you," my mother says. "I have forgiven you both and love you dearly, but it just may take me a while to forget," I tell them honestly." "We will take it," they both say together. I give my mom one of my custom garment bags after she changes back into her clothes and they both hug and kiss my head and walk towards my door after thanking me repeatedly.

"Oh mom, dad is it ok if I go to the Alpha's ball on Saturday," I ask them nervously. "Salel you don't have to ask to do normal things a teenage girl should be doing anymore, we want you to live an exciting full life." "Just let us know when you are going out and when you will be back," my father says. With that they walk out of the door and leave me to work on my physics paper.

On Friday I return home from school with not even an insult thrown my way. I walked past my mother who has a creepy smile on her face and I think nothing of it. Everyone has been acting differently since accepting me. I head up the stairs, and run into my father who is huffing and puffing, but has the same look on his face. By this time I am creeped out and rush up to the attic.. With a huff, I turn around and am shocked by what I see. My room is no longer an empty cavern, but every 17 year olds dream. I have a queen sized bed with a beautiful silk purple comforter. I have a dresser that is painted a shimmery black with bed side tables to match.

Mounted on the wall is a 60 inch tv, and there is black carpet newly placed. In the corner were my make-shift reading nook was, is a purple fur throw rug with a huge bean bag chair. Across the room is a brand-new sewing machine and at least 50 rolls of fabric, threads, buttons, crystals, and anything else a tailor could need. On the sewing table is a box of business cards that says "Slayed By Salel," with little pictures of bobbins and the dress I made for my mother in the corner.

There is a mini fridge and my bathroom is completely redone in black and purple, with new rugs shower curtains and soaps gels and hair stuff. My mother, father, two younger siblings, and Sky burst through the door and yell," Surprise." My siblings run up and hug me, and my mother and father embrace as they watch their family become whole again. Star shows me the stocked dresser and closet with cute clothes all my size. I have heels, tennis shoes and flats. She also gives me a Credit card with my name on it. "Salel, you have $1000 dollars a month as long as you do what you are supposed to, "my father says. " We will take you soon to get a business account for your new business," my mother adds.

I am so excited I rush and hug them all. I may not have forgotten what they did to me, but this sure does help me forget a little.