Dusk Rising

Ten.

Roane

Finally. Finally! Finally? I was almost positive that I was losing my f*cking mind because if not, then I truly heard a voice say that word inside my head. As we sat there in that room for the Gods only knew how long, that’s all that I could think about.

Micah had taken the lead when it came to talking to Dylan’s little friends and, while I wasn’t too worried about them, I also knew that I couldn’t immediately underestimate them.

They were both wolves, so I knew that they were not only strong, but intelligent. And while I can’t say that I had to worry about the same for them both, it was clear that the female was extremely smart and the boy was a force to be reckoned with.

I mean, they had not only escaped Blood Mist in tact, but the boy had carried his sister and fought off the guards while escaping with my uncle and Micah.

One thing was for sure, it was that both of them seemed somewhat wary of me and I wasn’t exactly sure why. Being part of this family and this company have taught me from a young age to make sure to conceal my thoughts, emotions, wants, and weaknesses.

Some of the ones who had taught me this were none other than Tristan and Micah and the longer I had stayed in that room, the more I wanted to yell as I watched Tristan throw all his advice to the wind and do the complete opposite.

In a matter of hours, he had exposed his most valuable secret to two complete strangers and, however, many of the security team members who had good enough hearing to hear him from their positions around the suite.

Dylan was not only Tristan’s greatest secret, she was his biggest weakness and even if he didn’t say it with his mouth, it was obvious from his actions. Anyone who saw him would have been able to see all his feelings and emotions written all over his face.

As everyone had started sharing their tales with Dylan lying there unconscious in the bed, I couldn’t keep my mind from trying to reach out to that voice. It was soft and gentle, but I couldn’t determine if it was male or female.

Trying not to get my hopes up, I didn’t try to fathom the thought that it might be my wolf, but that little part of me that had never healed over from when I was a little boy secretly wished for it.

Keeping my composure was harder than I liked because being this close to Dylan was making me feel all kinds of things that I hadn’t felt before. When I had first met Dylan all those weeks ago, there had been something about her that had intrigued me and drawn me to her.

At first I thought it was because of her looks, which, don’t get me wrong, were pretty damn great. In fact, I hadn’t met another woman who had caught my attention quite like she had, but it was more than her physical appearance.

There were still things from that day that I hadn’t said to anyone. Things from our conversation that we had in my office that I not only heard, but saw. I had no idea that she was living in such fear and couldn’t bring myself to share that secret that belonged to her.

When the storm had appeared out of no where, I had already started to suspect that it wasn’t a natural occurrence and that it to had something to do with Dylan, but it wasn’t until I had walked into that room and seen her, felt her, and that presence that I was sure of it.

Everyone tried to explain to me what it was like to have a wolf when I was a kid. They had tried to put me in classes and lessons to teach me all of the things that the pups were learning.

A part of me had always hoped that someday my wolf would show up just like the normal pack children, but as the years passed and it never emerged, I began to not only resent the other kids, but myself, and my unknown wolf.

There had always been this feeling though, this sensation that would be stronger on some days and almost insistent in certain situations. My grandmother had told me that it was my wolf acting as my conscience, but I couldn’t believe it.

No, not that I couldn’t believe it, I wouldn’t let myself believe it. Keeping those ridiculous thoughts in my head only made me weak and easily gullible to think any feeling or sensation was my wolf.

But being in that room with her was so different than the first time that I had been near her, touched her like I had before. What extra senses that I had from being part wolf was picking up new scents.

Most people would call me a generous man. Not because I was all that kind, but because I was sympathetic and understanding to the struggles and plights of others and tried to come up with solutions to their situations.

What they didn’t know, is that I only let myself get involved when it was something that would directly involve me, my company, or my plans for revenge. My family and friends were the only things that mattered more than that and that was all.

There was no part of me that felt like I had to be some kind of unconditionally generous figure that people came to for handouts. Nor did I try to make myself seem like anything more than what I truly was.

In truth, I am a self-centered, one-track minded, vindictive son of a b*tch. If I wanted something, I would find a way to get it no matter the cost. Unsure if I had always been like that or if it was a learned trait, it was my biggest strength and greatest weakness.

Regardless of what made me, well me, I couldn’t stop the thoughts that had begun to manifest and fill my head even before I heard that voice. There was something about this woman and while I didn’t know if it was her or what was inside of her, I was beginning to covet it.

The moment that Dylan had begun to wake, there was a sensation deep inside my chest that I hadn’t felt before. It wasn’t pain or even pressure. Annoyingly enough, I couldn’t really describe it any other way than some kind of pulling.

I sat there watching everyone in different states of anxiety, fear, trepidation, and hesitation as she woke up and rejoined our little group. Unlike the others, I wasn’t afraid of her waking up.

No, unlike the others, I couldn’t wait for it. And just as I had anticipated, that same pull started as Tristan helped her to a sitting position on the middle of the giant bed.

Everyone was watching her, and while I had seen her earlier that day when she had looked ready to tear apart the world, seeing her then felt like I was looking at someone completely different.

Weeks. It had been a matter of weeks since I had seen her in my office and yet she looked like she had aged, no not aged. The only word I could think of was refined. It looked as if her features had become more distinct or sharper, or maybe brighter?

F*ck, I honestly had no idea, but I had to keep reciting old nursery rhymes inside my head to keep my mind on track and focused and not let these new feelings and sensations take control of me.

Playing cool was easy, or at least. I thought I was doing a hell of a good job reciting rhymes I hadn’t heard for years about lambs and spiders and little pigs. Too bad the moment we made eye contact as she glanced around the room, I felt my heart stutter.

When Tristan went into full on story time and became the world’s biggest over sharer I’ve ever seen, I felt all of the attention of everyone in the room turn towards the two of them.

Thanking the gods that none of them said anything about the sound of my irregular heartbeats, I listened in on the tale Tristan told that I already knew so well, but I couldn’t stop sneaking glances at her.

How could someone’s features seem so similar yet so different all at the same time? Once Tristan was done speaking and we all ate and Dylan and her guests took turns asking questions.

I knew that Tristan and Dylan had much more to go over in private and I was sure that he was anxiously awaiting the time that he would get to be with her, but some part of me had begun to feel odd.

Unsure if it was some sort of envy or jealousy, I wasn’t sure, but it was a completely new experience and one that I did not like very much. Shortly before the rest of our little group finally went their separate ways, I received a text from my uncle Blane.

Blane had sent me a text telling, not asking, me to meet him and Ezra on my floor to talk. Annoyed that they still thought that they could order me around, I noticed the fact that he hadn’t set a time, so I figured he would be okay waiting until I was ready.

As I had suspected, Tristan had stayed with Dylan when we had all cleared the food and made our way to our own rooms. I took the time to take the siblings to their floor. I pretended to be a kind host of sorts, but it was just to make sure that they left Tristan’s suite.

But before I escorted them from the floor, I turned just once more to get another glance at Dylan before walking out. She had pulled her auburn hair up into a high bun and was leaning her head against her knees as she watched Tristan walk across the room.

The look on her face was a mixture of so many different things that I both wished to feel and wished to take away from her all at the same time. Before I had been able to turn around, her gaze flicked towards mine and immediately I had been caught up in the spell that was Dylan Solamier.

She gave me a sliver of a smile before she turned her attention back to Tristan, who was speaking to her as he walked over towards the bed carrying a tray of sweets and a cup of coffee in his hands.

The moment I turned as we walked out of the room, I caught the gaze of the brother, what was his name Nic, and it was clear as day that the kid had no care in the world to try to hide his expressions because he out right scowled at me.

Making small talk with them as I took them to the very next floor seemed to suck out whatever energy I had left, so by the time I left them in the empty suite, I was dreading heading up to my floor.

Apparently, my uncles were not too happy about the idea of having to wait, so instead of sitting idly by, they did the one thing that always made me feel guilty. They called my grandfather.

“Where is that little sh*t?”

“How dare he make us wait so f*cking long!”

“Boys, watch your damn mouths already. He is with his friends. Why should he rush over to talk to you two, huh?”

When I heard their little conversation, a small part of me wanted to run back to the elevator and get out of the building as soon as possible, but before I could make a break for it, the door to my suite swung open and a long strong hand reached out and grabbed me by the arm.

“So you finally decide to show your pretty little face after all, nephew.” Ezra practically pulled my arm out of it’s socket as he every so kindly guided me to the couch Blane and my grandfather were sitting on.

“Well, why don’t you make yourselves at home in my home? Oh wait, you seem to already have,” I snapped as I rubbed and moved my shoulder around a little.

Blane was looking as uninterested as ever, but my grandfather had already gotten up, smacked Ezra on the back of his head, and was walking over to where I was about to sit on the other end of the long white sectional sofa.

Grandfather rubbed my head before leaning down, kissing me softly on the forehead, and then taking a seat next to me. Even though he was well into his sixth decade, he looked in almost as good shape as me. Sh*t he was probably in better shape then me.

Ezra took his seat next to Blane and I watched as Blane jabbed him softly with his elbow before whispering to him, “that’s what you get for being an a**.” Ezra, like the adult he is, stuck his tongue out at Blane.

Jeeze, I was surrounded by idiots, I swear. I felt a little shiver on the back of my neck and I was sure that the little cricket in my head was in agreement with me this time, but I just ignored the tremor.

“So, what’s up with the impromptu family meeting all of a sudden,” I asked with as much annoyance dripping from my voice as I could muster. I was truly tired and all I wanted was to shower and get some sleep.

My grandfather looked at my uncles who sat across from us and didn’t say a single thing. It was apparent that he knew what this was about, but he was not going to take the lead here.

Leaning forward to rest my hands on my knees, I started in on them again. While I was their little nephew, I was not some child to be toyed with. I was the CEO of one of the biggest companies in the country and I’d be damned if they forgot that.

“Either one of you bastards starts talking, or I’ll call one of the security guards that’s lurking around the building and have them escort you out of her.” Blane’s expression didn’t change much at my little declaration, but Ezra looked pissed.

“Is she awake,” Ezra asked with a look of annoyance still on his face. I was surprised that they didn’t know that already, but I nodded. I saw the haze go and come in both my uncle’s eyes and I began to loose my patience.

About to jump down their throats again, my uncle cut off all thoughts of that almost instantly. “What did you feel being around her?” This time is was Blane who spoke, but I saw the sparkle in Ezra’s eyes as he waited for my answer.

Not liking the fact that there was obviously something going on that they knew and I didn’t, I decided to f*ck with them a little. “Well, I guess I felt,” Ezra’s eyes were almost glowing as he waited for me to finish, “relief.”

I watched with glee as the glow in my Ezra’s eyes darkened. He had a really short fuse so I knew I could only push him so far, but I hadn’t expected my grandfather to end up being the one to get after me.

“Gabe, you don’t understand the situation here. There are quite a lot of things that need to be looked into, but this girl is not just an ordinary female wolf, she is something more.”

Looking between the three of them was making me feel anxious and, while I didn’t want to disappoint my grandfather, I didn’t feel comfortable telling them what I felt.

I ran my hands through my hair, took off my tie and unbuttoned the top two buttons on my shirt. I felt like I was choking and I really just wanted to rest now, screw the shower.

“A pull,” I said as I unbuttoned the sleeve of my shirt and began to roll it up to my elbows. This time Ezra and Blane didn’t link, they whispered to each other in short incomprehensible sounds, but when I looked up at my grandfather, he was watching me intently.

“Is that all,” he asked me and I felt Blane and Ezra looking at me, but I gave him my full attention. Swallowing the lump in my throat, I pushed through, “I heard a voice in my head. I felt it. But it only said one word and that was it.”

“I f*cking knew it!” Ezra was on his feet and had rushed over towards me. Kneeling in front of me, he placed one hand on my knee and the other on my grandfather's.

“This is it Gabe! It’s her! She’s the one who can help bring out your wolf. Once she comes into her full powers, she will coax him forward. F*ck, she’ll damn near lead us all. I almost broke down the elevator doors trying to get to her earlier.”

My mind was blank. I could hear their voices as they spoke to each other, but nothing seemed to be able to get into the space that my mind was floating in.

What if they were right? If that was my wolf and he had been able to come out because of her, then what kind of wolf was she? Had Rogan done something to her or had he known she could do things like that and that’s why he had taken her?

The next few minutes went by quickly, but I couldn’t recall any of it. Somehow, I had ended up taking a shower and I found myself in my bed staring up at the ceiling. Sleep found me quickly, but the only thing that I pictured as I closed my eyes was her face.