For the Love of The Guardian

Ready or Not?

The warm water slowed to an end as Sarah’s hand gripped the dial and shut off the shower. Her body dripping from the fresh water and the smell of honeysuckle filling the room. She loved the body wash that Asia would buy for her, one of the few bonuses to being home. Her hands moved over her sore muscles, the bruises on her ribs only slightly tender to the touch. She paused in front of the full length mirror, noticing herself for the first time in years.

Her dark hair had grown beyond her shoulders and was curling at the ends. Her gray eyes carried a weight to them, she’d not seen before. Her own reflection seemed like a stranger to her. The muscles along her shoulders and arm had grown stronger and there was a faint outline of her abdominal muscles, her finger tips moved across her own flesh. Her body had matured in the time she’d stopped looking at it. The crescent mark between her breasts always made her smile. It was pink once, like a birth mark, now it was purple. The tattoo artist outlined the mark and tinted it to give it a three dimensional look. What once looked like a mark of nature, looked like a crescent moon with purple light shining brightly on it.

Sarah couldn’t recall when she found her love for the mark, how it had become her talisman, like the bat signal for batman. She smiled to herself as she shoved a leg through a pair of dark jeans. The purple color to it was perfect, as she had grown to love that shade of the rainbow as well. Her mind deep in thought, trying to determine when she came to love the things that made her unique. Amidst the self reflection, her brain must have triggered, as she reached for a rich purple button up shirt. It was elegant in it’s own way, yet functional and modest. She threw a black tank top on before shoving her arms through the sleeves.

She grabbed a hair tie from her dresser as the thud of her boots carried her from the room. Time was up and she rushed down the hall to the stairway. Familiar voices filled the large open space as she rounded the corner of the hallway. Listening carefully as she descended the staircase, making out the owners to the deep voice that carried so gracefully up the steps.

“Erick!” Sarah ran from the stairs and embraced the large bear of a man. His blond hair was cut high and tight to the skin. His beard was well trimmed, letting his eyes truly sparkle as he smiled to the young woman.

“Holy…!” Erick hugged the woman back. “Sarah?!” His eyes moved from the raven haired beauty to her father. “You’ve grown!” His eyes brightened more as he gazed into her gray orbs, the memories of her mother flooding forward.

“Of course I have.” Her laughter brought an audience, as an young girl about four years of age walked into the room.

“Daddy!” Her tender pitched voice broke the air and instantly curled the burly man about her finger.

“Come here, angel,” he lifted the young girl into his arms, “I want you to meet my friend Sarah. Sarah, this is my daughter, Sophia.”

Sarah’s eyes widened as she look to Erick before greeting the young girl, “Nice to meet you Sophia.” Taking the petite hand in her own and giving it a soft shake. In that small touch she knew what Erick would tell her later, she was human. No scent of wolf carried in her DNA. Sarah looked back to Erick with sad eyes, but he just smiled to her.

“Sophia Marie!” A woman’s voice yelled from the family room, as a short brunette came through the large double doors. Her high cheekbones and green eyes pierced down the hall, the intimidating mother’s glare rolled from her in waves. Her hands were on her thick hips. “Get your butt in there and clean up that mess!” She paused and looked about the room, “Alpha.” She nodded to Henri. “Heiress.” She nodded to Sarah. Her hands quickly gripped about the young girl, “I apologize for the intrusion, but we have a young lady who is in trouble.”

“Daddy…” the young girl pleaded.

“Nope,” Erick released her into her mother’s arms, “you best listen to your mom.”

With defeat she walked back with her hand in her moms, her lips pouting and trembling with the threat of waterworks.

“The girl is going to be the death of me.” Erick looked to Henri, who only laughed loudly in response.

“Trust me, daughters know how to work their fathers.” Henri winked to his own ‘little’ girl. “They are the greatest treasure and the most exhausting.”

“I am not exhausting.” Sarah joked with her father, “I’m exhilarating and keeping you young, there’s a difference.”

The trio burst into laughter as Eli and Sebastian came from the family room.

“It’s chaos in there.” Sebastian’s warm smile played off the mood, “I would avoid that room.”

“Child chaos?” Erick asked quietly.

“The ladies are trying to straighten the room to create a makeshift dining hall,” Eli’s voice barely above a whisper. “The kids keep undoing their hard work, I truly fear for their lives.”

Sarah laughed and walked passed the men, watching her as a warrior about to walk to their death. She looked into the room to see one young boy climbing on the table and Sophia in the corner crying amongst her rubble of toys. Another boy was dragging a chair from the corner and trying to climb the bookcase, while Sophia’s mom was trying to stop him. Asia was fighting with all her strength to catch the young man on the table. Both women looked exhausted and warn from the trial of the afternoon.

Slowly Sarah took in a deep breath and then let her Alpha heritage roll from her body. “What is going on in here?!” Her voice boomed and she could almost here Erick jump in the hall behind her.

“We… I…” the young boy on the table fumbled.

A thud came from the far corner as the young boy, that looked to be a few years older than Sophia, fell from the chair. He jumped to his feet and quickly clasped his hands together. His blue eyes were wide, and his blond hair fell in his face.

Sophia’s sobs ended quickly, as her head shot to the door and she stood slowly from the floor.

“Why are you on my table?” Sarah walked over and looked at the young man. She knew him well, this was Sebastian and Asia’s youngest boy, Levi. His green eyes reminiscent of his father and his black curly hair was trimmed short and close to the skin. His caramel, brown eyes lit up briefly as he first looked at Sarah, then fell slowly to his feet as he took in her expression.

“Sorry Miss Sarah.” He slowly slinked from the table, both of his feet touching on the floor slowly. He backed from the very long table slowly and stood with his hands in his pockets, his eyes watching his feet.

“Sir, why are you climbing my beloved bookcase?” Sarah walked over to the young boy that fell from the chair. His hazel eyes and blond hair gave hints of who he was, this young boy had to be Joshua. Erick and Lois’s youngest son. He was just an infant when she saw him last. Holding her resolve firm, she looked at the young boy slowly.

“I’m sorry, Miss.” His eyes dropped to his shoes, “I was just wanting to climb.”

“I see.” Sarah spoke slowly as she turned the boy and motioned for him to stand beside Levi. Her feet bringing her to the young Sophia, who was still sniffling slowly. “And why are we crying, little Sophia?”

“I has to clean up toys.” Her blue eyes were swollen and red from crying.

“Did you make the mess?”

“Mmmhhmmm…” she nodded slowly.

“I see.” Sarah took a deep breath and looked to the boys, “Can you young princes help this little princess clean up these toys, please?” While she posed it as a question, the boys knew it was a statement. With a huff and groan they moved to slowly start gathering the toys. “Sophia, you have to help too.”

“Ok.” Her voice was solemn as she knelt and slowly lifted one small toy and placed it in the bin.

“When you three are done, come find me and we’ll see about getting some yard games out.” The sound of their prize caused their heads to turn, Sarah held up both hands, “When you are done.” She brought her right hand up with her first finger pointed to the sky, emphasizing her deal. “This needs to be cleaned and orderly, and THEN we can get out the games, but not before. Understood?”

The trio nodded quickly as they set about cleaning the disaster. Asia walked over slowly, her dark hair was cut short and her eyes looked tired.

“Thank you.” The thankfulness in her eyes spoke more then her words.

“Anytime.” Sarah smiled to the woman and softly touched Sophia’s shoulder as she moved from the room. The sound of the children working together quietly filled the large space.

“That was awesome.” Eli smiled as Sarah entered the hallway.

Her head was high and her shoulders held back. She looked to the men before her, they all looked at her with gratitude and warmth.

“I’ve only seen Luna Chilam pull off something like that. Though, I guess you are the closest to a ruling Luna this pack has.”

Silence filled the hall. Sarah knew they all thought the same as her, Jhera, Mom. She should be here, she should be wrangling kids and organizing for this summit. She should be setting the menu and decorations, she should be the one greeting the Alpha’s as they arrive; but she wasn’t here. Sarah rolled her shoulders and nodded slowly to Erick, sadness washing over everyone’s expression. “I suppose so, but I’ll never replace her.” She smiled warmly to her father.

Henri had done his best to raise their daughter, but it was hard. She was stubborn and strong willed, just like her mother. Many times he had to send her to Vera’s to help her control the power that raged in her blood, and yet she still became this strong and wonderful woman. He smiled with pride to his young daughter, he knew she could rule as Alpha if no other option presented. Thankful, he knew he wasn’t ready to step down just yet.

“So, when is everyone arriving?” Eli broke the silence, watching as his son walked in the house.

“I think I see some coming down the road now.” Joseph interjected to the conversation. “I give it about 15 minutes before they arrive.”

“Joe, can you ask Hera to get some yard games for the young ones?” Sarah looked back to the family room.

“Sure,” Joe smiled with a mischievous grin to his father, “am I needed?”

“Are you going to play yard games with the kids and keep them occupied?”

It was a two edged sword and a trick question. Joe knew it as he smiled widely. “Absolutely! I think I’ll even convince Malin to help me.” He winked to Sebastian and ran from the house.

“That’s not good.” Sebastian spoke quietly and Joe ran from the house.

“I missed something.” Erick pulled for clarification as they walked to the front door.

“Miss Sarah!” Levi ran from the family and stopped in front of her. “We’re all done.”

“Great job!” She high fived the young boy, “Hera is getting the games now, can you show Joshua and Sophia to the back yard?”

“Sure can!” His eyes lit up as he ran into the family room. “Josh! Soph! Come on!” His voice echoed back to the front door, as the men Sarah was with all smiled.

It felt good to hear the little ones enjoying themselves. It almost felt like this is what the pack house should sound like. For a brief moment, Sarah entertained the idea of settling down. The thought of accepting the advance of one of the son’s of an Alliance Alpha. It was the sound of the rumbling trucks and loud music that stopped her thoughts. Nope. Her thoughts were clear now, Not them.

She watched as the cars rolled slowly into the open space before the pack house. Erick had moved to the lawn and waited for his Alpha to arrive. Eli stood to Henri’s right, watching intently as the vehicles pulled in one after the other. A caravan of wolves arriving in an array of vehicles, ranging from BMW’s to large Ford trucks. Sebastian shifted anxiously beside Eli, his hands clasped behind his back and his shoulders squared. His feet parted slightly, giving him an intimidating appearance. Sarah stood beside her father, her stance not much different then that of Sebastian’s. She was more relaxed, but she was not welcoming like her father.

“Sarah,” Henri’s voice whispered over the rumble of cars. “You need to be welcoming, not scary.”

“If they are afraid of me, they can leave.” Sarah smiled to her father, “I’m not here for a suitor.”

Henri sighed heavily, this was going to be a very long weekend.