Theo walks off of the porch first. He walks over and rips Thaddeus towards him, hugging him tightly and smacks him on the back. “Son,” he says, and steps back.
Thaddeus looks towards his other father. Tobias walks down, stopping in front of his son, and I watch Thaddeus’ eyes go straight to the burns on his father’s skin. He swallows, and I can feel his sadness at what he did, but his guilt is the worst. His father is alive, so I don’t understand the overwhelming guilt he is feeling. Surely it can’t be over his father’s scars.
“Come on, let’s go inside,” Tobias tells him, clapping his hand on his son’s back.
Thaddeus nods, following them in, his mother clinging to him. I see Amara walking out of her little home as she skips over and leaps on Thaddeus’ back. Orion grabs my hand, tugging me toward the house. I laugh as I watch Amara cling to his back like a monkey, until he tosses her off, wraps his arm across her shoulders, and puts her in a headlock, messing her hair. She squeals as he drags her up the stairs and finally lets her go. Ryland walks up behind and then shoves her off the side, making her growl at him as she lands in the garden.
“Mutt!” she screeches at him, just as Tobias spins around and glares at her.
“Get out of my garden, Amara!” he snaps at her.
She dusts herself off and stomps inside the house. We walk into the kitchen, and I help Imogen make coffee. Thaddeus sits at the island counter next to Bianca. They seem close, as he seems more comfortable in her presence than his parents.
Ryland walks over to Thaddeus. He wraps his arms over Thaddeus’ shoulder and kisses his neck. I smile at them and turn back to the coffees. No one says anything, and it actually feels awkward as I place coffees in front of everyone and sit next to Thaddeus.
He instantly pulls me on his lap. His face goes into my neck as he inhales my scent. “I missed you,” he mumbles against my neck. Amara makes kissing faces at us, and I roll my eyes at her. Bianca tosses a napkin at her, making her stop.
“So, well, this is awkward,” Amara states. I see Ryland glare at her for stating the obvious. Amara stands up. “Well, I will start, then, shall I? Some of you may know me as Amara, my favorite color is yellow, and I am a Gemini, and I have a coffee addiction.” Her father yanks her down, and I can’t help but giggle at her strange attempt to start a conversation.
Thaddeus snickers at his sister while Imogen just shakes her head.
“Well, how about I start dinner?” Imogen suggests, and everyone except me screams no, making me look around, confused. They all burst out laughing. Imogen looks pissed off, her face flushes red in anger. “My cooking isn’t that bad!” she snaps at everyone.
“You would think after a hundred years she would have learned how to cook; the woman can’t even make toast properly,” Tobias says, looking at me.
I try not to laugh as Imogen folds her arms across her chest. “Fine, then you cook,” Imogen snarls at him.
“I vote for pizza,” says Amara. Bianca nods her head. “I will go with Amara; you want to come, Evelyn?”
I’m about to agree when Thaddeus tells her no, tugging me against him. She sighs, hops up, and Amara follows her out. Tobias gets up to grab a beer from the fridge. He offers one to Thaddeus and tosses it once Thaddeus nods.
“Can werewolves even get drunk?” I ask, curious.
Imogen nods. “Yes, I can. So can Amara and Thaddeus. Them not so much, they just like the taste. It takes a lot for them,” she states. Tobias tosses one to Ryland, but Orion shakes his head when offered one.
Imogen grabs a bottle of wine from the cupboard pouring two glasses and handing me one. Tobias eyes her, but she shrugs, handing me a glass, and Thaddeus takes it from me.
“Leave her be she can’t get in any trouble with all of us here, Thaddeus,” Imogen scolds, and he reluctantly hands it back to me. I sniff it and take a sip. I scrounge my face up, it tastes dry and sour.
Imogen chuckles at the reaction. “It won’t taste like anything after a few more glasses,” she says. “Come on, let’s go watch a movie and let the boys chat. ” She pulls me from Thaddeus.
“Mom?” Thaddeus says, grabbing my hand.
“You need to speak to your fathers, Thaddeus. We are only going out in the living room,” she says, and he lets go.
I follow Imogen as she grabs the bottle of wine off the counter. Walking into the living room, I sit beside her on the couch. “Do you like horror movies?” she asks.
“As long as they aren’t ghost movies.”
“Excellent, let’s watch paranormal activity,” she says and flicks the TV on. She scrolls through the movies until she finds one and puts it on.
“I hate ghost movies,” I tell her, and she grins.
“More reason to watch them. No point watching horror if it doesn’t scare you,” she says.
She looks to the kitchen door. I raise an eyebrow as she grabs my wine glass and fills it to the brim, making me have to take a sip, so it doesn’t spill out. Only she places her hand underneath mine when I do. I shake my head and have to drink the entire glass. She chuckles lightly.
“Are you trying to get me drunk?” I ask, chuckling.
She fills my glass again and laughs. “You’re young and should be able to enjoy yourself. Besides, best get it in you before the fun police come out,” she says with a wink.
My face feels like it is getting hot, and I have a feeling my cheeks are bright red. We sit huddled on the couch, and half an hour later, Amara walks in with pizza. Bianca takes a couple of boxes out to the boys, before Amara opens three on the coffee table. Reaching over, I grab a slice and almost moan at the taste. Bianca chuckles at my reaction until she spots the bottle of wine. Amara walks out and comes back in with another bottle, but it isn’t red but a pink color. She refills everyone’s glasses, and we watch the movie.