“Hey Lily,” he replied back, not sure how to start the conversation he wanted to have.
“So,” she said slowly and he was sure she felt as awkward as he did right now. “What brings you over here today?”
“Besides the fact I want to spend some time with my son?” James asked, a little bitterly and he saw her wince even though she tried to hide it. He knew it was wrong, but it made him feel a bit of satisfaction. “I came here to let you know that I want to spend Saturday with him.”
Lily seemed to be thinking about something then nodded. “That sounds good. I heard the weather is going to be nice then and I saw a really cool park on Main street,” she said and James was again surprised that not only did she have any problems with it but actually thought it was a good idea.
“Good so I’ll be here around ten?” James asked and she nodded.
“I’ll have him ready by then,” she offered. He returned her nod and stood up about to leave, but Sandy insisted James stay for dinner, not that he put up a fight to leave. Her cooking was the best he had ever eaten plus he wasn’t ready to say good night to A. J. or Lily.
At the dinner table, James sat next to Sandy so she could help him make A. J. eat. The toddler obviously inherited his mother’s stubborn tendency to want to do things his way and only his way.
Chris was also eating with them as well and sitting next to Lily. James didn’t want to admit it, but he really didn’t like how close those two seemed to have become. Not that it’s any of my business, James argued to himself. “So what was Montana like? I’ve never been there” Sandy asked. “I’m honestly glad Lily had a familiar face to be around,” Sandy explained to Chris and Lily rolled her eyes.
James clenched his jaw tightly, starting to feel a possessive jealousy that he knew he shouldn’t be feeling. She wasn’t his mate anymore. Chris glanced at him with a nervous look on his face. “It’s alright, but it’s not really homey. The Aequivalere place is huge and there are a lot of different people there, but lucky Lily and I managed to hang out a little every day,” Chris said and James nearly growled at him, but he managed to stop himself at the last moment.
He was not going to be jealous over Lily, he vowed. He refused to allow her to treat him like trash again. He had given her a hundred chances and she threw all them back in his face! “So how did you end up in Montana and working for the Aequivalere?” Andrew asked and Chris shifted in his chair He glanced at Lily before answering and Lily got a look on her face that James couldn’t quite determine.
“I got him in,” Lily suddenly jumped in and Chris passed her a look of appreciation. They were lying, James realized as he watched them. They’re hiding something. He watched them during the meal, their words were obviously well thought out when talking about Montana. By the time the dinner was over James was determined to discover what it was.
It was his duty as the beta to protect the pack and he knew too well secrets only put the pack in danger. So as people started to get up from the table James made a beeline towards Chris. He’d crack long before Lily would. He grabbed the other wolf and dragged him out onto the back porch then slammed him against the railing. “What’s going on between you two?” he growled, not liking that it sounded more like he was jealous than suspicious.
“Relax James,” Chris demanded with his hands up in the air.
“Don’t tell me to relax,” James snarled at him. “Just answer the damn question!”
“It’s not like you think,” Chris demanded.
“Don’t patronize me! There is something going on and I want to know what it is!” he demanded.
“It’s not like that James! I’ve got a mate,” Chris cried out with a fearful look on his face.
“What’s Lacy got to do with anything, especially since she’s dead,” James snapped at him, feeling irritated that Chris was treating him like an idiot.
“I’m not talking about Lacy, I’ve got another mate. Look,” he said pulling his shirt up his shoulder. There was a bite mark clearly visible with some Chinese tattooed in the center. “I don’t really work for the Aequivalere, but my mate does. I just live there and was surprised to find Lily was there too,” Chris explained and James didn’t let him go but felt completely confused by what he was telling him.
“How is that even possible? Everyone knows you get one mate and only one,” James asked and Chris shrugged.
“I don’t know but what I feel with Qin Xuan is so much more than what I ever felt with Lacy. I have no doubt we’re really mates. Qin Xuan and Lily think that Lacy and I might have never been mates to begin with but something Xavier did to us to make us think we were mates so he could control her,” Chris explained again.
“Wow… sorry Chris,” James apologized feeling a little foolish and the other smiled.
“No harm, no foul, but now I see why you got the badass reputation. Damn I think I may need to change my pants,” he joked as only he could and James laughed despite himself.
“Really man I’m sorry, didn’t mean to go all out like that. It’s just I knew you guys were lying and hiding something,” James admitted, but part of him knew he had acted like he had because part of him was afraid they were together as in together.
“Like I said no harm no foul,” Chris stated smoothing out his clothing and James gave him an appreciative smile. “Please don’t mention my mate to anyone. I haven’t even talked to Sandy and Andrew yet about Lacy’s death. I don’t want to throw in their face that I’ve already replaced their daughter,” he said as he stuffed his hands in his pockets.