“The alpha is wrong thinking that these documents are going to give us anything we can really use,” Greg told her then looked nervously at her again and she shot him a bright smile.
“Don’t worry, I won’t tell him you said that but it’s true none the less. Xavier seems to have thought of everything. He always has a plan B, C, D and probably E, D, and F,” she told him and he relaxed once more. Her excitement and hopes were starting to wane at the lack of good news. “Have you seen in any of his research that may be marked as or hint to a way to reverse this?” She asked hopefully, but her hopes dimmed with his grim face.
“Nothing, not so much as the use of the word, I think we are stuck like this,” he replied fully blowing to the wind all her hopes of ever being a simple human woman again.
She got up and patted him on the shoulder, refusing to give up allow all her hope to disappear. “Well just because he didn’t research it doesn’t mean it’s not possible Greg, there may be hope yet,” Lily told him and herself at the same time. “See you around,” she added with a wave and returned to her bedroom.
James, Tony, and Chris were in the front yard playing some football to help blow off steam, Tony and Chris were against James. They extended the invite to Greg, but the smaller werewolf scoffed and made some snide comment about having better things to do. James smiled as he watched Tony and Chris before him. He knew Chris had the ball, but Tony was trying to distract him. He pretended to go after Tony while Chris raced to his right, just like James wanted.
With a growl of satisfaction, he did a spin and quickly changed directions and slammed Chris to the ground before the other werewolf knew what was happening. Chris groaned as James helped him up. “Damn Tony I think we need maybe two or three enforcers with us to make this fair. Your wicked fast James,” Chris said with a crooked smile which James returned.
“I’m just that good,” James teased as they set up for another play when Andrew called them over. “Duty calls boys,” he stated and jogged over to the alpha.
“Come on inside, I want you to meet some people,” he told them and all three nodded, following Andrew into his office. There sat three people James had never met before, their scent was unfamiliar, neither human nor werewolf. “King Silvano, this is my son Tony, my daughter’s mate Chris, and our guest James Lacrosse who I’m sure needs no introduction,” the alpha stated and James felt a flare of irritation at that comment.
“Boys I’d like you to meet the vampire king, Silvano Raul Alvarez DeCastilla,” Andrew stated indicating the pale man sitting down in one of the chairs. His reddish brown eyes slide over all three of them and a faint smile appeared on his pale face. He was elegantly dressed with long straight black hair and Hispanic features.
“It is my pleasure to meet you all,” he replied with a heavy Hispanic accent. “This is my friend Dorin Stancu,” he said, introducing the other man. The other was paler with dark hair and eyes. He appeared to be bored out of his mind and would rather be anywhere but there. “And my newest liege, Bianca Woll,” he said, indicating the woman to his left. She was also pale with perfect features and fiery red hair, her purplish eyes lit with excitement.
“I can’t believe it, James Lacrosse, you’re so much better looking in the flesh,” she told him with a large smile on her bright red lips that showed off her sharp fangs perfectly. James shifted uncomfortably and both Tony and Chris were trying to stifle their laughter. The vampire king gave her a pointed look and she pouted.
“Well, I must return to my territory, the idea of our kind working with that despicable executor of these repulsive crimes is atrocious and I will not rest until I discover them. As agreed Dorin and Bianca shall return tomorrow night for the hybrid,” he told Andrew. “But remember my warning,” he added then turned back to Tony and them. “Again it’s been a pleasure,” he said with a small bow and all three vampires left the room.
“What were vampires doing here dad?” Tony asked once they had gone.
“They came to see Lily and confirm what she is,” Andrew said with a heavy voice.
“And what is she? I thought she was like James?” Chris asked and the alpha shook his head.
“Sadly no, Xavier’s made her into a hybrid between the beast and a vampire,” Andrew told them. “The vampires are going to help Lily understand and control her vampiric side. That’s all boys. I just wanted to make introductions,” he finished.
Later that night James sighed as he got up from the bed. He had another damn nightmare about Xavier’s experiments on him. He thought when he learned the truth the nightmares would end but apparently he was wrong. He pulled on a t-shirt and jeans and walked out of the guest room on the Andrews’s home. With a yawn, he walked into the kitchen, surprised to see Andrew still awake and looking worried. “What’s wrong alpha?” He asked.
“It’s Lily,” he stated and James frowned. “She’s not in her room and no one knows where she is. I think she’s out into the woods for a walk,” he explained and James frowned even more. Andrew turned to him. “James, could you do me a favor and please bring her home? I’m worried about her being out there alone,” he asked and James looked at him confused.
“I don’t mean to question you Alpha but why me?” James asked.
“Honestly James because I think she can relate to you better now that she’s changed. You two may not be the same, but you’re as close as it gets,” he replied and James nodded, enjoying the amount of trust Andrew was putting on him. “Plus if she refused to come home, you’re the only one who can force her to come home,” he added with a chuckle and James’s enjoyment turned to bitter dust. “Bring her home James, one way or another.”
James went out onto the back porch, feeling angry at the alpha. The alpha buttered him up just to insist he bully Lily to come home. He raised his nose into the air checking the scents and vowing that he was going to have to talk to the alpha. He caught Lily’s scent even with all the changes to it he could recognize it.
The earthy tones of the lycanthrope scent were somehow pleasantly mixed with the musky scent of the vampire along with her own unique engaging hints as well. He entered into the forest following her scent easily and quickly found her, her back facing him and leaning on her side against a tree apparently just standing there. “The alpha is looking for you,” he called out as he walked towards her. She shrugged as an answer, not looking at him.
“So… let’s go,” James told her and she ignored him. “Now please,” he added, becoming irritated that she was ignoring him. She looked over her shoulder and gave him a nasty glare, a glare accompanied by that nasty expression she got when he was around.
“What’s your problem with me?” He asked, determined to find out why she didn’t like him because as much as he didn’t want to admit it, James wanted her to like him. Once again Lily shrugged with a sigh.
“What’s it matter. Not like I’m going to be around long enough for it to matter anyways,” she replied quietly.
“What the hell is that supposed to mean?” he demanded confused, his irritation growing. Lily sighed as she looked up into the night sky then back at him.
“Go away James, I’m not in the mood to deal with you right now,” she replied. He felt as if she had struck him. Deal with him? She wasn’t in the mood to deal with him? He growled at her, feeling insulted.