You are the Answer {boyxboy} ✓ (Dogs, Bats & Monkeys series, Book I | Riley)

Chapter 16

A/N: I'm surprised to see so few of you checked the summary to Sentiments & Reason, especially since Rhys and Riley are going to be in it, albeit as supporting characters.

On the bright side, YATA is #147 in Werewolf today thanks to YOUR support! Yep, YOU made this possible <3

*****

Alec's face, illuminated by the lights mounted on the wall on both sides of the door, didn't flinch at the not so warm welcome as he walked in the room. His eyes took us in one by one. They met mine and I dropped the knife, the metal producing a thud as it collided with the wooden floor.

"Be careful when you pick it up, Riley." His voice made the hairs on my back rise without him even trying to sound intimidating. "We don't want any blood, do we?"

"You could've called." My gaze shifted to Rhys as he leaned down and picked my utensil for me. "Keri was..."

"Ah, yes. The beautiful and talented Keri." I heard the clank of Rhys' teeth as his jaw clenched tightly and I covered his balled hand with mine under the table; his fist loosened at my touch.
Alec walked further into the room, still unfazed. Perhaps he was even enjoying this. He was stepping slowly, taking his time, his pale eyes staring at Rhys in a challenge.

"Beautiful, talented and smart," the blond went on, stopping at the end of the table. "Such a shame she still doesn't have a..."

Rhys sprung from his seat and I lost my grip on him. He was caught by the wrist by his father who - once he had his son's attention - nodded to his second eldest child to sit back in his chair.

"... Boyfriend," Alec concluded, his lips turned up in satisfaction at the reaction he got. "What's the matter Uncle Rhys?" The inflection in his tone became especially sneering at the address. "Did I say something inappropriate?" He strode to a small table where extra cutlery and china was kept and took one of the daffodil plates.

I could not fathom how this boy could find it amusing to get a rise out of a man whose sturdy built was intimidating even when his breath did not come out in angry pants like it was now.

"Rhys," I held the hand that wasn't in Tom's grip. Please, I begged silently, my gaze leaving his only for a moment to glance at the chair. He conceded and took his seat.

"Why are you back, Alec?" Rhys avoided looking at the boy when he spoke. His voice was low and trembling like the hand I'd covered with mine. "If you are here to cause more trouble..."

"Trouble?" The nephew interrupted once again, placing the plate on the table and pulling a chair. "I heard you were all here and came to have a nice family dinner." He placed his jeans-clad butt on the wooden seating.

It seemed that whenever I was around this boy, I would get some type of claustrophobia. No matter where he was, I felt as if the space between us was too scarce; even with Kennedy and Carter serving as a fence, Alec was too close. His presence was unwanted.

By all accounts, not only by me; there was not a single person on this table who appeared pleased to see him. Carter looked just as scared as I was - was that why Alec had chosen to sit next to him even though there was another empty spot? - and he had slid the chair closer to Kennedy who looked almost as angry as Rhys; Lisa seemed worried, Jackie and Tom cautious and Everett tired and worried; each time his son was around he seemed to age with anxiety.

"Good," Kennedy noted, his bright gaze meeting his nephew's pale one while I tried to remember what we'd talked about. "'Cause if you try anything, I'm going to drive a spike through your heart."