***
“Fair enough.” Philip nodded. “As you said, Sylver is just a baby. So we have years ahead of us. When he’s old enough to pick a mate, he will definitely come and find you. We toe the line of humans so that will probably be in the next twenty-one years…”
“Don’t you mean eighteen?” Gaia muttered.
“In some cultures, it’s thirty,” Jeremy growled, making Philip, Stan, and Paige burst into laughter.
“I believe it’s up to Enzo and Sylver,” Aurora said, trying to suppress her smile.
“Well, for now, you can forget about him,” Jeremy stated.
“I’m sorry but I can’t do that,” Enzo growled, a scowl marring his handsome face. “In as much as you’re the child’s father, I am the one he’s to spend the rest of his life with so…”
“The fuck did you just say to me?” Jeremy bellowed, startling everyone.
“Shush, son,” Aurora whispered. She clearly didn’t want her son to make Jeremy angry. They’d heard enough to know that it wasn’t a good idea.
“No mother, I need to say my piece.” Enzo got to his feet angrily. “This is the second time he’s made that statement.” He gestured at Jeremy. “I’m pretty sure they take the mate stuff just as seriously as we take our soulmates. So it is wrong for him to keep telling me to forget about Sylver.” He turned to stare at Jeremy with eyes filled with anger. “Tell me… Would you have taken it lightly if Ryan’s father had told you to forget about his son?”
The atmosphere in the conference room instantly changed.
“Oooh no, he didn’t…” Stan grinned as he folded his arms and relaxed in his seat…almost as if he was about to watch something very interesting.
One moment Jeremy was in his seat, the next moment, he was standing toe to toe with Enzo. “What did you just ask me?” Jeremy’s voice was quiet…lethal.
“I said…”
“Jeremy…” Ryan was between his mate and son-in-law in a blink. He knew that the mention of his father would definitely trigger his mate’s wrath. “Please…” He whispered to his mate as he wrapped his arms around his neck. “Look at me, baby…” When Jeremy eventually took his eyes off an equally furious-looking Enzo and locked gazes with his beseeching mate, Ryan went on his toes and planted a kiss on his lips. ‘Don’t get angry.’ He whispered on their mind-link. ‘It was an innocent question. And he does have a point. Stop telling him to forget about Sylver. Your naughty son wouldn’t like that either.’
Jeremy took a deep breath, nodded, and then went back to his seat. The vampires in the room, excluding Enzo, let out sighs of relief. But Enzo remained on his feet, his eyes on Jeremy.
“I can’t stay away from the boy.” Enzo rasped. “And he sure as hell wouldn’t want to stay away from me either.”
“What exactly are you saying?” Philip asked.
“I need to be a part of his life.” Enzo’s gaze moved to Philip. “I need to know how he’s faring and be there for him at all times. I know this is a powerful pack and Sylver is safe with you. But I need to know for myself that he’s okay. To do that, I need to constantly come around. No one, not even a deadly, ruthless father can keep me away from my soulmate.” Enzo threw Jeremy an icy glare before he finally took his seat.
For a moment after he sat, there was total silence. Then everyone started to speak at the same time. Ryan had his arms around a visibly trembling Jeremy. Philip had to give a piercing whistle to get everyone to shut up. Then he turned eyes filled with incredulity on Enzo.
“I’m sure everyone in here will agree that you’re going about this all wrong,” Philip said. “No one should piss off the parents of his mate…soulmate. I’m surprised at…”
“I’m just telling it as it is.” Enzo shrugged. “If y’all can’t stand the heat, get the fuck out of the kitchen.”
“Shit, I love this guy.” Stan bellowed, a wide grin on his face. “To have someone like Sylver as a mate and those guys as in-laws,” He pointed a thumb in Jeremy and Ryan’s direction, “you’ve gotta have balls. And you got it, man…vamp…. Dracula… Err…y’all got some special name you go by?” The completely curious look on his face was almost comical.
“Shut up, Stan.” Joel groaned even as some of the people gathered laughed.
“Or you could go with Furball, Fluffy, or even Woofy.” Gaia drawled sarcastically, throwing Stan a challenging look.
“Touche.” Stan’s eyes shorn with mirth as they gazed at Enzo’s sister.
“Alpha, if I may be allowed to speak,” Aurora said. “I think emotions are high right now. My son didn’t mean to step on anyone’s toes. You’ll all agree with me that when it comes to soulmates, the individuals involved do not really care who they offend to ensure that no one stands in the way of them being with each other. So pardon my son’s outburst.” She gave her son a quick glare. “Having said that, I believe we can all come to a compromise. We must learn to…get along with each other because this makes us family.” She gave Ryan a brilliant smile. “Ryan…and Jeremy, I’ll appeal to you to allow my son to visit and spend time with little Sylver anytime he wants to. It is only fair. It will be cruel to deprive my son of that. That’s all I ask.”
“Jeremy, Ryan, what say you?” Philip looked at his friend and his mate.
“That’s okay by us.” Ryan smiled. “I think those visits will help Enzo know more about his soulmate’s pack and most importantly, his father. I couldn’t help but notice that you have a wrong perception of my mate. He’s not the cruel, ruthless person you all seem to think he is. And I think it will be a fine opportunity to get to know the family you’re ‘marrying’ into.” Ryan gave the word air quotes which drew chuckles from those gathered.
“I’m sorry for implying all that,” Enzo said quietly. “I’d love to get to know you more so thanks for the invite.”
“You’re also welcome to visit us and know about us too.” Aurora grinned.
“Oh, we’re way ahead of ya.” Stan laughed. “By the end of this day, we’ll know how many times y’all take a shit in a day.”
“Oh my god!” The look on Gaia’s face mirrored what was on the faces of the other vampires. Aurora recovered first.
“What I meant by you really getting to know us was…”
“I know what you meant, ma’am.” Ryan gave Aurora an apologetic look. “And I look forward to visiting you soon.”