Ashlynn

I sat at the desk, looking over an invoice for some supplies we had purchased. I was trying to keep myself busy, otherwise, I’m going to be passed out too. I hear a tap tap tap on the clinic door. I look up to see Dawson standing outside. He see’s me through the little window and holds up a mug.

With a sigh, I stand up and make my way to the door. I really could use some coffee anyway. And probably food, but that will have to wait. I’ve got a granola bar if I really get famished. I cracked the door, “Hey,” I said. “What’s up?”

Dawson holds out the cup of coffee. “I saw you in there burning the midnight oil, figured you may want some coffee.” He looks behind me and then down to my face, with a soft smile. “What are you up to? Want some help, or maybe some company?”

I didn’t want to look like I was doing something shady, so I opened the door some more and let him walk in. I pointed to the chairs against the wall. “Have a seat. I don’t need any help, but thanks for the coffee,” I went and sat next to him in the other chair.

“Hmm,” he’s looking at me with a curious expression. “Care to tell me why you’re still in here working, wearing the same clothes you had on all day? Don’t you have a meeting with Cody in the morning?” He sipped his coffee, and looked at me over the rim.

I fidgeted in my seat a little, “Oh um, I had something to take care of.”

“It couldn’t wait till tomorrow?” He reached over and pushed some loose strands of hair behind my ear that had long ago fallen out of my braid. It was endearing. I didn’t pull away.

“Not exactly. It was time sensitive.” I couldn’t even look him in the eyes.

“Interesting,” he says. Then he just shifts his weight in the chair. “You hungry? I can make you a sandwich or something.”

“No,” my traitorous stomach gave me away and decided to growl loud enough for him to hear.

Dawson chuckled, “Seems like your stomach disagrees. I will be back in a couple minutes, don’t you leave now.” He sets his mug on the side table and walks out the door.

I take this opportunity to go check on my Mom, she’s still sound asleep. She lets out a little whimper now and then, but that’s it. I check her respirations, still even and deep. I head back out to the front, to await my sandwich.

A few minutes later, Dawson strolled back in. He had a plate in hand that contained a very large roast beef and cheddar sandwich. “Hope you like roast beef, it’s all I had.”

“Does it have worcestershire sauce on it?” I asked.

“Yeah, do you not like that?” he asked, now looking concerned.

“Nope, I love it. No self respecting person eats roast beef without it.” I held out my hand for the plate, a big smile on my face. “Thanks, I haven’t eaten since breakfast.”

Dawson sits back in the chair, stretching out his long legs, his jeans hugging every muscle in those huge thighs of his. Nothing gets you muscles like that, like riding horses. I realized I was staring and snapped my head back to my sandwich, hoping he didn’t notice. A few minutes go by, and we sit in silence. Only the sound of me devouring my sandwich like the hungry wolf that I am. After the last bite, I smack my lips together in satisfaction and give him my best smile,”That was possibly the best sandwich I’ve had all day.” That garnered a good laugh, considering we both knew it was the only sandwich I’d had all day.

Dawson leans forward, his elbows resting on his thighs. “Seriously though Ashlynn, why are you up so late? I know the Alpha and he wouldn’t make anyone work this late, unless it was an emergency.”

The look on Dawson’s face was near comical, shocked wouldn’t even be the right description. “Come again?” he says, clear disbelief at what I just said.

A bit more firmly, I said it again. “My father was executed tonight. I wouldn’t even call him my father actually, maybe just a sperm donor. He’s useless and my Mom needed to be rid of him. You know when your mate dies, it’s horrible, right? My Uncles told me to sedate her, even had the pack doctor give me instruction on how to sedate her with livestock sedation. That’s why she’s in wolf form. I had to do it with her in wolf form.” At this point I am rambling and Dawson doesn’t say anything, nor does he try to stop me. The flood gates are opening now and I can’t help it, more tears rolling down my cheeks. “He was horrible, horrible….he used to beat her all the time. He used to cheat on her with any floozy who would open their legs. Humans too. Mom never wanted anyone to know, she was embarrassed. The last straw was when he stabbed me, I reported him to my Uncle. That’s how we ended up hear,” the last sentence came out on a hitched sob I was trying to keep in.

I didn’t even know what was happening, when Dawson grabbed me and pulled me to his lap, wrapping his arms around me. He was rubbing circles on my back and whispering in my ear, “Shh, it’s ok Ash. Don’t cry. I’m so sorry.”

His arms felt nice, wrapped around me. It didn’t even feel awkward that I was on his lap, my head resting on his shoulder as I tried to gather my senses. I sniffled a little and then pushed myself back. “I’m sorry. I just unloaded on you. I really didn’t want people to know our business. My Mom is humiliated. Promise you won’t say anything, ” my eyes were pleading with him.

“It’s ok Ash, I won’t say anything. You can talk to me though, if you ever feel like you need to vent. I promise to lock away all your secrets and throw away the key,” he makes a motion like he’s locking his lips and tossing the key. This makes me laugh just a little, smacking him lightly on the shoulder.

I go to move off his lap and he hugs me tighter, his vibrant green eyes staring back at me. “Don’t,” he whispers, and then pulls my head back to his shoulder. We sit there for I don’t know how long. The exhaustion must have caught up with me, because I fell asleep, in his arms, sitting on an office chair.

Dawson shifts his weight in the chair. I slowly open my eyes, forgetting for a second where I am. I glance at the clock. It’s four in the morning. I look over at Dawson’s face, his arms are still tightly wrapped around me, he gives me a grin. “Did you enjoy your nap?” he asks, a smirk on his face.

I scramble out of his lap. “I’m so sorry. I must have been really tired. You should go, you have to work in a few hours.”

He stands and takes a step towards me, “So do you Ashlynn.” He takes another step towards me. I feel my face get flushed and suddenly I’m nervous, butterflies in my stomach. Dawson reaches out and grabs my hand and pulls me tight against him. He puts a hand up to my cheek and before I know it, his lips are on mine.