It was the moment David had wished could never come, his father's arrival.
Cole had come only a few minutes before, giving hugs, congratulating Michael on finally tying the knot, and even giving them a bottle of wine as an apology for being late. David guessed it was probably only an eight dollar bottle of wine, but at least he did something.
The doorbell rang through the house, and even Michael tensed up. It would be the first time Michael would meet David’s father, and was wondering if he should have spoken to his father before asking David to marry him. It was tradition, even as wolves. Michael shut the kid’s book he’d been ready Mael and the two younger cousins, Caden and Holden.
Michael raced to the door with a speed only Mael could match, which he did. He followed his father with no hesitation on his new speed. The only thing one, Mael wasn't quite sure where the breaks were. He ran head first into David, who’d also been going to the door. Mael knocked him flat on his back. David let out a small groan from the pain emanating from his rear end.
“Mael… no speeding in the house until you’ve got the brakes down.” Michael said as he opened the door with no hesitation. Michael had momentarily forgotten who was at the door when he answered it.
In front of Michael was a stone faced Cuban man with darker skin and gray hair. The old man didn’t slouch, or look at all weak, just like an alpha should look. The father’s face didn’t seem to age, just like David’s didn’t. Most wolves dyed their hair gray to appear older, but really, they still remained young, around twenty five.
“Who the hell are you?” The old man said, looking him up and down. Michael knew immediately that this man was indeed an alpha, and could most definitely tell he was a vampire. Julio was almost two inches taller than Michael, and had broad shoulders that seemed to boast of superiority.
David quickly stood up and helped Mael to his feet, who was still giggling intensely.
“Do I have the wrong house?” Julio asked, looking down at his piece of paper. A scrawly looking handwriting with their address on it sat in his hand.
“No, this is the right place. Nice to meet you, Julio, I’m Michael.” Michael held out his hand to Julio and he shook it firmly. Julio took a deep breath through his nose to confirm that Michael was indeed a vampire.
“Where is Caitlyn? You aren’t dating her, are you?” That was when David stepped in front of Michael. It was more of an act of protection rather than to get his father’s attention. David knew when his father was rattled by something he didn’t like.
“Dad, it’s me. My name is David now.” David laid it all out there as quick as he could. Naomi was standing in the kitchen, frying up the vegetables that David had chopped up earlier.
The old man stood in shock, staring at David like he was an alien. Michael glanced around David’s shoulder at Julio, and found Julio angrily glaring at him.
“This is your doing, isn’t it, you filthy Leech!”
When Julio said this, even Mael stopped giggling in the background. Mael was aware of the term, no matter how hard David tried to keep him away from those negative terms. Leech was something that was used against vampires, and it was basically a swear word in modern times.
“Daddy, that man said a bad word,” Mael pointed at Julio. Mael ran up to David and hugged his leg protectively. He bared his tiny fangs, even though they’d never do anything to a grown wolf like Julio. Julio stared at the little kid, and then back at David, who’d started to bend down to pick up Mael.
Cole came up from behind them, and ushered his dad inside, past the chaos at the front door.
By this time, the house was lively as ever. There were nearly eleven people in the house now, which meant that meals had to be big and there was no sleeping place left untouched. Marie and Carl had gathered near the edge of the kitchen as they watched Cole take his dad’s suitcase and usher him in.
“What is going on here?” Julio inquired angrily, looking directly at Edith. He then gazed at Marie and Cole. They were all aware that this wasn’t going to be an easy thing to explain.
“These bloodsuckers in the house-”
“The proper term is vampire, dad.” David impatiently interjected. He could barely stand to have Michael insulted, but insulting his kid? He wouldn’t stand it. David didn’t care who it was at that point.
“Damned pesky mosquito for all I care what their called. Now explain what’s going on. Why do you look like a man?” David felt the control wearing really thin on whatever was holding back his wolf. He felt Michael’s hand wrap around his.
“David is a man now. We’re getting married because we are mates. We’ve adopted three kids, Naomi, Bear and Mael. If you have a problem, it’d be best if you left now.” Michael warned. He watched as the old man’s eyes travel down to where Michael was holding David’s hand, and slowly nodded.
Julio grew up in a less progressive community, but he knew the basics of gender switches. He also had a very bad habit of making jokes when he was nervous or confused over something. These jokes got him in trouble often.
“A man, huh? What’s under the hood, then?” Julio lifted his hand up like he was going to grab at his son’s private areas, which he absolutely wasn’t, but Michael went an extra step and moved himself in between David and him once again. As a vampire, there were certain areas that no one else should ever joke about. Not to mention that mere fact that Julio was pretending to check made him even angrier. It doesn’t matter what was ‘under the hood’.
“Chill out, leach. I value my life.” Julio said, raising his hands in defeat. Mael groaned again, and this time, David did pick him up. Mael didn’t sound so good. His skin was hot to the touch, and his cheeks were flushed a hot pink.
“Michael, I think he’s got a cold…”
“That’s impossible, vampires don’t get colds.” Michael said over his shoulder. Michael hadn’t broken eye contact with Julio since he’d set foot inside the house. Julio set his other bag down and leisurely took his shoes off. He’d decided on staying, just because he’d missed his daughter for a long time. The only child who showed any potential in being an alpha someday.
David put his hand on Mael’s forehead, and felt the temperature seeming to rise as he felt for it. Mael groaned for a second longer, and then watched as Mael’s fangs came out and his eyes darkened like Michael’s did when he was hungry
“Michael! There’s something wrong.” David said more forcefully, breaking the eye contact he was holding with Julio. Michael looked back at Mael, and had to take a double take of how his eyes looked.
“He’s… hungry?” Michael took a stab at what might have been wrong. He picked Mael out of David’s hands and held him up above his head. He peered up at Mael’s teeth for a moment longer, and then brought him close to his chest to comfort.
David tried to come over to Michael and comfort Mael with him, but Michael shook his head no.
“You have wolf’s blood. It isn’t exactly safe with such a young change.” Michael explained, bouncing Mael in his arms. David nodded like he understood, but was a little hurt that he couldn’t do anything to help.
“What’s wrong, buddy? Are you hungry?” Michael asked, and it took a moment for Mael to answer. Mael nodded meekly, but couldn’t really lift his head.
“Babe, get a pint bag from the freezer. I think he might need one.”
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