Chapter 20

Akira walked over to the torched yet somewhat recovered house that he had once called his haven, his life`s work, gone. His knees collapsed, and he fell.

"Akira," Bran said placing a hand on his shoulder. "I`m sorry." Akira didn't answer, couldn't. A feminine hand slipped in his and he turned to see Blaire setting down beside him, before he could tell her to go back inside her house because the arsonist might still be around watching and waiting but she wrapped her arms around him and shocked him. His arms slid around her before he could think about what he was doing, she didn't complain although he knew his extremely tight hug was probably choking her, he just couldn't let go, she`d tossed him a lifeline in his world where he felt as if he were adrift in a sea he could never escape from, and he found that he just could not ever even think of letting it go.

He`d lost his home, the one place where he`d safe. Tears threatened and he could feel his eyes burning with the need to shed them, he`d been trained never to shed them and now he had no idea what to do. They trailed down his cheeks softly and silently, pure male pride made him angle his head into Blaire`s neck and under her hair in an attempt to let no one see but he had no doubt they knew he was shedding the tears of not only this act but all the acts that had been made against him, that had clawed his heart and when he couldn't shed the tears that wanted release, he was taught that crying or even showing a speck of emotion made him weak so he`d never shown it, but now the tears wouldn't stop, they kept coming in an unrelenting silent wave. His emotions were finally set free and they took full advantage.

Akira stared down at the cup of coffee in his hands, well aware of the unnatural silence that dominated the morning breakfast; he didn't care, not now.

"We found a stray wolf by your place after we stopped the fire." Charles informed finally breaking the silence. Akira`s head snapped up. Charles went on, "He said he saw an unknown built male enter your territory and light up some kind of alcoholic beverage with a rag in it, more than one actually, and throw it into your windows. Your house was up in smokes in seconds." Akira was growling by the end of the last sentence. "He said the man then took off carrying a bag he hadn't had before he came on your property."

"So they stole something?" Blaire asked. Akira didn't like having her anywhere near trouble but he quieted because he knew she was there to stay.

"No," Charles answered. "The stray said that the man hadn't gone inside. So he must`ve gotten whatever was in the pack and the pack itself from someone or something." Akira didn't have to ask if the man was lying, wolves could scent lies so mostly they didn't even bother with it and it was obvious the stray hadn't lied.

"Did you get a profile of the man?" Akira asked.

"Yes," Charles nodded. "It seems the guy we`ve been having trouble with sent one of his lackeys on an execution job."

"Yes," Bran agreed. "It`s a good thing you weren't inside your house when they did too." No one asked him where he`d been, he had a feeling they guessed where he`d been and what he`d been doing. Blaire`s long hair might cover the mark but even he could sense himself on her, not inside her, but at least on the surface of her skin somewhat.

"At least everyone`s all right," Dylan said finishing up his food. He smiled and it somewhat brightened the room a little bit.

"He`s right," Anna said, gathering the dishes. "At least we`re all safe and sound." Blaire smiled her agreement and suddenly his world felt a lot lighter, he was still angry and mad somewhat but not so much. He could feel Blaire and Anna using their abilities to lighten up the mood around the table, already Bran had somewhat relaxed and started to drink his coffee. Charles sighed slightly and relaxed in his chair, it was impossible not to relax under such power. He smiled softly and knew she`d gotten him, he took her hand and raised it to his lips; he watched her blush as he kissed the back of her hand softly. Her smile had his heart stutter and he could almost believe that there was no danger in the world and that love really did conquer everything, almost.

"Tomatoes, tomatoes, tomatoes..." Blaire chanted as she took the cart around the store. "You had to forget the list," she murmured to herself. Anna had a list of things she needed from the store and she`d asked Blaire to get the stuff since she had to go with Charles to do some work on the juvenile packs that needed constant surveillance. Akira and Bran had had a meeting planned and she1d promised them that she`d contact them if anything went wrong and that she had to have Dylan come with her. She looked over at Dylan and saw him looking puzzled; she looked past him to see one of the younger females in the dairy section looking over the milk. It was obvious in the graceful way that she moved that she was not human, she recognized her as the assistant healer in one of the younger packs that lived by the Marrok.

The girl had beautiful dark hair that cascaded down her back to her butt, she was curvy and at least nineteen. With a shock she realized Dylan was that age and that he was going on twenty soon. The girl`s skin was a beautiful shade mocha frappe and she seemed just as short as Blaire if not a little shorter.

"You should go talk to her," Blaire whispered to him as he continued to watch the young girl.

Dylan shook his head. "I`ll probably scare her to death."

"No, you won`t," she replied. "You look about as dangerous as a plush toy. Go," she said pushing him to the young girl who looked up and smiled just as Dylan walked up to her. Blaire felt a ping of satisfaction in her chest as she heard the girl laugh at something Dylan had said and watched as they both started heading to the other isles, Dylan gave her a questioning look, she answered with a nod, telling him it was fine, he smiled and took control of the girl`s shopping cart and walked off with her. Blaire smiled.

Turning back around she looked for the tomatoes and found the rest of the items on the list. She went to the bakeries next then purchased the items and drove home, Dylan filled the ride home with talk about the young girl who`s name was apparently Amaria. She smiled and when they got home Anna made tacos.

That night, after everyone was asleep –Akira had to sleep in one of the guest rooms in Bran`s quarters—Blaire took the cupcake she`d bought from the bakery and placed a small candle on it. It was something she hadn't gotten to do three weeks ago when she was supposed to do it. She lit it fighting tears, but she`d gotten used to fighting tears so now it was just silence that whispered in her soul and took away the tears. When the candle was brightly lit she put the cupcake on the desk and sang softly, "Happy Birthday to you, Happy Birthday to you…" she only wished that her brothers really could hear her, could see her, if only they could, she`d sing only for them. "Happy Birthday guys," she whispered and finally let the tears come.