***
Ryan broke into a run. When he got to where Enzo and his…son lay, within the protective bubble, the shield didn’t even disappear although it was obvious that his son had seen him. Sylver clearly didn’t even trust him around Enzo, Ryan thought as he dropped onto the lush grass beside the bubble, his cheeks wet with tears…of joy.
“Syl? Honey?” Ryan said softly as he reached out to touch the shield.
A completely human Sylver rolled off Enzo and looked at Ryan whose wet, wide eyes were filled with love, delight, and shock. Love because he loved his son to bits of course. Delight because for the first time, he was looking at his son in his human form. And shock because…well, his son was supposed to be a little over two months but actually looked like a seven-month-old kid. He was crawling towards him for goodness sake.
“You’re so beautiful,” Ryan said softly, staring at his naked son. Sylver had thick soft-looking black hair like Jeremy’s, green eyes like Ryan’s, and an absolutely adorable face. His skin was neither as light as Ryan’s nor as dark as Jeremy’s. He looked as if he had a good tan, like Troy. “So beautiful.” He whispered and then instantly burst into delighted laughter when Sylver let loose a happy cackle. He was just perfect. “Let me in, baby.” Ryan wiped at his cheeks. The bubble didn’t disappear like Ryan thought it would. It merely widened to cover Ryan too. “Thank you, honey. Come here.” He opened his arms and watched with joy as Sylver crawled into his lap and accepted his hug. “I’m so happy to see you.” He breathed as he rocked Sylver in his arms.
“You’re acting like you’re seeing him for the first time,” Enzo commented as he sat up, a confused frown on his face. His voice, however, drew Ryan’s attention to the fact that he and his son were inside the shield with the vampire.
“Oh, I’m so sorry I completely forgot you were here.” Ryan laughed as he extended a hand to Enzo. “I’m Ryan. Sylver’s…”
“Dad, I know.” Enzo laughed as he shook Ryan’s hand. “He told me. That’s why I’m surprised at the way you’re acting.”
“Wait…” Ryan’s eyes went wide in surprise. “You two can actually communicate?”
“Yep.” Enzo nodded and opened his arms as Sylver crawled out of Ryan’s arms and went to sit on his lap. “I realized I could hear his thoughts when he told me that his dad says it’s bad to swear.” Both Enzo and a gobsmacked Ryan burst into laughter. “I’m sorry he had to hear me swear but…he did startle me when he knocked me down.”
“At least I know he listens to what I tell him.” Ryan laughed. “What have you two been talking about?” He couldn’t hide his curiosity.
“So far, we’ve been talking about him and what he loves to do.” Enzo shrugged as he combed his fingers through Sylver’s hair. “Oh, he said I’m his, by the way.” The vampire laughed, totally missing Ryan’s resigned look. The clueless vampire clearly thought Sylver was just being a kid. Aurora was right, they clearly didn’t know much about werewolves. “He’s been delightful so far. Well, he did pee on me but I guess that was because he was a wolf.”
“You think…” Ryan drawled. Sylver, the pup was well-trained and would never pee on anyone. His son had clearly been marking his territory like a typical wolf. But he didn’t tell the vampire that. “So why did he shift to human?”
“I told him I wanted to see him in human form,” Enzo responded. “So he shifted.”
“Just like that.” Ryan looked like he’d been fed the juiciest bullshit.
“Yes. Why?” It was Enzo’s turn to look confused.
“Well, he was born in his wolf form,” Ryan explained. “No one has ever seen him as a human being until now. And all you had to do was ask.” He drawled, making Enzo laugh.
“Wow! I must be really special then.” The vampire hugged Sylver to him. “So…he has no clothes yet, right?”
“Oh shoot.” Ryan gasped. “He has a lot of clothes. I’ve been so engrossed in him I haven’t even… Err…diaper.” A diaper instantly fitted itself around Sylver’s naked butt.
“Now…bodysuit.” Sylver cackled with delight as he looked down at himself, clearly fascinated by the simple white short-sleeved bodysuit which had the inscription, ‘I love my Daddies’. “There. Sorry for not thinking about it earlier.” Ryan leaned in to press a kiss against his son’s hair.
“He looks sleepy,” Enzo murmured when Sylver yawned. “Did you name him Sylver because of his wolf’s silver fur?”
“No.” Ryan laughed softly. “His wolf was actually white when he was born. The silver only popped out after about a week. His name is Sylvester.”
“Sylver for short.” Enzo smiled. “Just like the colour of his wolf. I like it.”
“Me too. So tell me…how do you feel about him?” Ryan asked Enzo.
“I adore him.” The vampire said softly. “I don’t know but I feel he’s the reason I got that urge to come here,” Enzo said quietly. “Being with him gives me the most contented feeling. I like it.” He kissed Sylver on the forehead. “If you don’t mind, I’d like to visit him once in a while.”
“You’re welcome to visit anytime.” Ryan smiled.
“Thanks. He’s asleep.” Enzo whispered.
“Good. Now we can get out of here.” Ryan chuckled as he flicked his wrist and made the bubble disappear.
Ryan and Enzo got to their feet with a sleeping Sylver held snugly against Enzo’s chest. Ryan wanted so badly to hold his son but he saw the care and joy with which the vampire held him and just didn’t have the heart to take Sylver from him. Whilst the vampires looked relieved to see an unharmed Enzo, the werewolves just wanted to have a good look at the sleeping Sylver.
“We all need to talk,” Ryan announced. Then he turned his gaze on his mate. Ryan didn’t need to say anything. His eyes said it all.
“Shit…”