"What's going on out here?" My dad asked, carrying two glasses of iced tea. My mom took hers and started stirring the ice cubes around. "Zoe's found her mate."
My dad, who was drinking, choked and sprayed tea everywhere. Riley chuckled, which sounded very weird.
"What?" He asked hoarsely.
"Our daughter has found her mate," my mom said slowly. He frowned. "I heard what you said. I just wasn't expecting it so soon."
"What's your name?" My mom asked Jace kindly. He smiled and took my hand. "I'm Jace."
"I'm Juliet, but everyone calls me Enna. It's nice to meet you. Paul, don't just stand there with that look on your face, say hello." My mom winked at us.
I once asked her why she didn't like her real name, and she explained that she didn't want to carry the same name as a girl who killed herself over some pansy-ass guy.
You can't beat that logic with a stick.
My dad scowled at her. "Hi." He said, without looking at Jace. Which was very rude by the way, because I didn't see him treating Delilah or Cassidy that way.
"Paul, that was very mean of you."
"But I don't like him," he said, pouting. My mom smiled and kissed him. Right in front of us! "I am now permanently scarred." Riley hissed in my arms.
My dad got this look on his face and turned to Jace, extending his hand. "It's very nice to meet you, son."
"You have got to teach me how to do that, ma."
"I learned it from your Godmom, so I'll asked her to teach it to you. She's the best at it."
"Who are you?" Art asked, coming out. Damon had his arms around Delilah and Leo was holding Cass's hand.
"Guys, this is Jace. Jace, this is the guys."
Leo looked from our entwined hands to the look on Jace's face and back. "You went to the woods and came back with a mate. Only you, Zo."
"It's not like I planned this," I said, bringing Riley a little closer to my chest. Damon wrinkled his nose. "What's that?" He asked, pointing to Riley. She swore under her breath and I looked at her. "I am tempted to give you some hot sauce."
She pshhed. "You wouldn't come within three feet of me with the bottle."
I sighed. "This is Riley," I told them, moving her a little so they could see her. "And there will be no shifting around her, or I'll kick your ass. That means you Art."
"It happened once! And I was ten!"
"Yeah well. Make sure it doesn't happen again. Riley, you don't want to know so stop asking me. By the way Damon, you and Delilah have my blessing." He looked relieved.
"So tell us a little about yourself, Jace." My mom said.
Jace looked a little nervous, and I automatically squeezed his hand. He smiled a little at me. "Well, let's see...my mom was a vampire and my dad was a werewolf, so I'm half and half. They died when I was a kid, leaving a whole pack to me. A man who I now consider my father, Matthew McArthur, took over the pack until I was old enough to handle it myself. Now I'm the alpha, and in human years, I'm twenty years old."
"You're half werewolf half vampire?" My dad suddenly looked very...weird. Like he was somewhere else. "What was your father's name, son?"
"Sloan. And my mom's name was Ellie."
Suddenly, you could cut the tension in the air with a knife. My dad clenched his fists, while my mom put a hand on his shoulder, trying to calm him down.
"He doesn't even know his parents, Paul. Give him a chance."
"His parents." A shudder went through him and Jace's arms went around me and Riley, and I felt a light breeze making my hair go back a little. I opened my eyes.
"What did you do?" I asked in wonderment. We were halfway across the yard while my dad, a giant black wolf, paced by the porch, snarling loudly.
"I teleported. It's one of my hidden talents." He whispered in my ear.
"Dude." Riley said in a small voice. "That was so cool."
"I know right." I said back, quietly.
"What'd she say?" Jace asked. I grinned at him. "She said that was cool."
I made a move to go back to the porch, but Jace held me back. "What?" I asked aggravated. He frowned. "There's a big, giant, angry black wolf by your porch. You think I'm just going to let you swagger over there?"
"I think, wait, I know you're being ridiculous. He's my dad, Jace. And may I remind you that I'm a wolf also?"
"Sorry for caring." He said sarcastically. I wanted to punch him. Instead though, I walked calmly over to the porch (holding cowering Riley in my hand) and sat next to my mom, who was having a little thinking time to herself. My caring brothers had gotten bored and gone back into the house.
"Mom?"
"Yeah hun?"
"Why's dad so upset about Jace's parents?"
She sighed. "It's a long, gruesome story that I'd rather not tell. Let's just say that me and your dad and Jace's parents were enemies and leave it at that kiddo."
We sat in silence while my dad paced, growling and snarling occasionally. Once he worked it all off he ran into the house and, a few minutes later, walked out wearing only a pair of sweats. He folded his huge arms and looked at Jace, who was sitting on the grass. Lazy.
"I'll give you a chance. But if you hurt my daughter or any of my family--" he narrowed his eyes and used his alpha voice--"I'll rip you to pieces. Got it?"
"Got it." Jace stood up and walked over to me, while my mom walked inside. My dad gave Jace a look before following her. I looked at him.
"Did you know what they were talking about?"
He looked me in the eyes and nodded. "Yes. But I'm not telling you."
"Why not?" I pouted.
"Because. You don't need to know, and when Matthew told me, I wished someone had kept it from me." He made a face. "So now I'm not telling you."
He kissed my forehead and I closed my eyes, enjoying the feeling. I sighed. "At least that went better than I imagined it. Were you scared?"
"A little. You are, after all, your daddy's little girl. I thought he might kill me for taking you away from him."
I sat back, searching his face. "What do you mean taking me away from him?"
