“Hey A. J.,” James said, picking up his son. He hugged him close with such a relief it nearly brought him to his knees. He breathed in his scent as he looked him over for bites.
“Not a fang got near him,” the old man said.
“Bill?” Andrew said as if not believing his eyes.
“The one and only. You’re lucky the boy is here or I’d be kicking your ass! You promised Andy! You promised me!” the old man said, anger filling his voice as he stood.
“It’s not my fault Bill. Things got complicated and I-” Andrew explained quickly.
“Complicated? There isn’t anything complicated about it, Andy. I warned you about Thompson long nearly a decade ago and you didn’t have to involve her!” The old man argued.
“Wait a minute,” James jumped in. “Who are you and what the hell are you two talking about?”
“James this is Bill,” Andrew started. “He’s… Lily’s biological father.” James jaw dropped and after a moment he snapped it shut.
“And I expected you to keep her safe! That’s the main reason I let you adopt her. Now I come home to find out she’s Thompson’s experiment and mated to that thing,” He said, jutting his thumb at James. James scowled at him. That thing?
“Excuse me?” James snarled at him.
“You heard me. I know all about you beast,” The man said. “Not exactly what I wanted for my baby girl, but I blame Andrew for that one. You promised to keep her safe and you didn’t. Just like my grandson here. He was about to be some vampire’s snack when I found them. So you owe me alpha!”
“He’s not the alpha anymore that’s his son Tony but when it comes to the debt of A. J., I’ll take that. He is my son and the fault is mine,” James told him. The old man eyed James for a while then nodded with a small growing grin.
“Where?” She breathed, hope blossoming through her.
“He’s at James…” Andrew started, but Lily didn’t stay to listen. She took off in a run, ignoring her father calling after her. She ran out the front door, leaped off the porch and into the front yard. She didn’t stop there but ran all the way to James’ apartment. She knew it could be considered idiotic, but Lily had to see her son. She had to know that it was all true and not a dream.
When she arrived at James’ apartment, she was nearly out of breath and sweaty, not being at her full strength yet. Lily didn’t even bother to knock but rush right in. “James where is he,” She demanded, looking for A. J. but froze as her eyes fell on the man sitting on the couch next to James. “You? What are you doing here?”
“He rescued A. J. from the vampires,” James offered. Lily looked at the older man through narrowed eyes.
“So you know about vampires? Of course! Why am I even surprised,” She said throwing her hands up in the air.
“We moved next door to the local alpha. That I knew something should be at least a little obvious Lils,” Bill said. The old nickname stung her as if he’d insulted her.
“Don’t call me that,” she snapped at him. “I’ll ask you again. What are you doing here?” The man sighed and stood up. His gray-streaked black hair tied tightly behind him. He stood tall and strong, just like she remembered him. In fact, not much seemed to have changed in him since she last saw him.
“Lils- Lily I understand you’re still angry with me,” Bill said but she stopped him before he could say more.
“Angry? Angry doesn’t even begin to describe what I am,” She growled at him. “You and that woman abandoned me. Just picked up and left without ever looking back. I was your daughter and neither of you could care less!!” Sharp tingles spread through her body and she felt her fangs extend.
“Lily it wasn’t like that. Things got complicated,” he started again and Lily cut him off with a bitter laugh.
“Yeah, complicated. Whatever. I’m not a stupid kid anymore. Sell your bullshit somewhere else. Where is A. J. James?” He started to speak, but Bill cut him off.