“No, your sister, your only sister is dead because of her!” Hunter shouted back causing Tony to slam him into the table again. Andrew started to speak up, but Tony shot him a warning look with a growl causing Andrew to fall silent. His normally blue eyes glowed golden indicating that his wolf was close to the surface and it was best to shut up and be quiet.
Tony moved close to Hunter. “I. Am. the. Alpha! I say she’s my sister!” he growled. “She’s mated to one of our pack members! Lily. Is. Pack! Say anything otherwise is a challenge to me!” Tony let go of Hunter, who slid out of his chair and to the floor, dazed. Tony straightened his clothes and with his eyes closed, took a deep breath. When he opened his eyes again Tony’s eyes now were back to blue.
He didn’t say anything more until he was back in his chair. “Now that we’ve cleared up that misunderstanding about Lily’s status let’s talk about your need to warn the pack,” Tony started. Hunter had managed to pull himself back up into his chair, his hand covering his shattered and blooding nose. “I take grave offense to that uncle,” Tony told him coldly.
“It’s implying that I would allow such a risk to the pack, to my pack. Now what kind of alpha would that make me?” Tony demanded. The sound of the mending bones in his uncle’s nose was the only reply he got at first.
“I don’t know alpha, why don’t you tell me what alpha that makes you when you allow that thing to walk around freely in your territory when she’s gone feral before, hurting innocent people and causing destroying everything in her path,” Hunter replied as he wiped the blood from his face. Tony’s expression once more darkened and his eyes flashed again. “Go on ahead and hit me all you like Tony but that won’t change the truth!” Hunter snapped at him.
“Hunter despite what you may believe I know all the details of what happened to during Lily’s training. I also am aware of the lengths she’s gone to make amends and to prevent it from happening again,” Tony told him angrily and James looked at his friend in surprise, wondering if his friend was telling the truth or not. He knew something happened to Lily, but she had refused to talk about it with him so far.
“I am the alpha of this pack Hunter,” Tony told him, his voice returning to its stoic tone. “I take my job to keep everyone in the pack and in my territory safe very seriously. By the time you heard she was back in town, I had already assessed the possible threat she represented,” Tony told him standing up. “Just as I’m accessing the threat you represent,” Tony finished and Hunter for the first time looked surprised.
“Yeah Hunter, that’s what I’m doing,” Tony replied using the same tone Hunter had used earlier. “You’re my uncle and I’ll always care for you. You’re the man who taught me my first lessons in self-defense and I’ll always respect you, but I can’t tolerate your smug disobedience and the chaos you create in my pack,” Tony explained and Hunter’s surprise grew.
“Tony you can’t-” Hunter started and Tony snarled at him.
“I can’t? I am the alpha!” Tony shouted at him. “You have three days Hunter, three days to get your shit together and get out of my territory or I will have my enforcers remove you… one way or another. Now get out of my sight!” Hunter grew a sickly pale shade of gray and got up from the chair, leaving the room.
“Tony, don’t you think that was a bit extreme?” Andrew asked slowly and Tony let out a slow breath before sink into his chair.
“No offense dad but asking that is why you didn’t make a very good alpha,” Tony told him. “There need to be rules that are black and white with little shades of gray as possible especially when it comes to following the alpha!” With another sigh, Tony gave his father a small smile. “Look we’re done here, you can leave,” Tony told him in a much softer tone. Andrew simply nodded and got up.
“Do you really know what happened to Lily?” James asked, not bothering to hide his curiosity.
“Are you accusing me of lying,” Tony joked, returning to Tony, his friend, and James simply shrug with his own smile. “There is still some things I want to talk to you about, that being one of them,” Tony explained, turning a little more seriously.
Lily watched A. J. and Matt play with several colorful blocks. “Where is everyone?” She asked Sandy, who was sitting across from her, watching the boys as well.
“Tony called a meeting at the pack house,” Liz answered for Sandy. She was standing in the doorway with her arms crossed. “Lily can I talk to you for a moment,” she added with a cool voice. Oh great, this is going to be fun, Lily thought grumpily.
“Sure,” she replied with a forced smile then stood up and followed Liz into the kitchen, mentally preparing to defend herself against whatever new attack the alpha female was going to throw at her. Once they were in the kitchen, Liz had a sour look on her face as if she had just eaten something rather disgusting. “I… I want to… apologize for what I said yesterday. It was over the top and unnecessary,” she said with obvious hesitation.
Lily bit her bottom lip to keep from laughing, but she couldn’t stop the smile. “You’re not sorry at all and you meant every word of it! You’re just saying that because Tony made you,” Lily told her with a laugh and Liz looked at her surprised.
“Yeah… but… you’re not mad?” Liz asked, her immaculate face scrunched up in confusion and Lily smiled at her.
“Nope. Liz you were right. I did put everyone at risk. When I planned coming home to play bait, I didn’t stop to think what would happen if the plan didn’t go as planned. I didn’t stop to think what Silvano could do or who he could hurt to get to me. Once again I was going off as the one man army. Honestly, I’m glad someone was willing to tell me what an irresponsible idiot I have been,” Lily explained.
“That’s is true,” Liz said with an almost smug expression that made Lily want to roll her eyes.
“Also to help calm the waters some, I’ve gone a little back to normal. See my eyes are back to what they use to be. Whatever the king did was only temporary,” Lily told her. Liz gave her a hard examining look. Whatever she saw or didn’t see must have appeased her because she gave a little nod with a satisfied look. “Also after what happened I probably won’t have a moment alone. I’m willing to bet my life savings that James is going to be following me around almost twenty-four/seven.”
“Yeah you’re right, however, no offense but I don’t want you to close to Matt… at least until I’m sure you’re not a threat,” she stated with a direct no-nonsense tone that made Lily want to cringe.
“Of course. You’re his mother and have all the right,” Lily replied and once more with a satisfied nod, Liz walked out of the kitchen. Lily sighed with a slight frown as she walked over to the refrigerator. “My fan list just keeps getting bigger,” she mumbled grumpily, opening the refrigerator. Lily started to reach for a beer then changed her mind. “That’s not going to help,” she told herself as she closed the door to return to the living room with A. J.
Lily spent the morning watching the children play from the opposite side of the room so the ever watchful Liz would remain content. Sometimes A. J. would bring something to show her before running back to play with Matt. While she enjoyed watching the two play, the feeling of being barred from getting too close was frustrating.