Chapter 9

A/N: WANT TO WIN SOME PRIZES?

My 4th wattpad birthday is coming up so I'm giving away chapter dedications and reviews and naming a character after a reader. More on that at the bottom of this chapter :)

*****

I put my hands over my lap so Riley wouldn't see me crossing my fingers. Trying to keep the smile on my face and going for a casual tone, I asked:

"Why don't you come with us then?"

"Like on..." He made a barely noticeable pause before going on. "... This Friday?"

"Yeah, tomorrow," I replied, wondering what he'd originally meant to ask.

"I'd like that."

His reply was soothing music to my ears.

"I'm crazy about the movie and I can't wait to meet Ken."

Trust me, he can't wait to meet you too. Him, and mom, and dad, and Keri... A whole bunch of people are eager to meet you, Riley.

"Just don't call him 'Ken'. It reminds him of Barbie's boyfriend and he hates that."

I took a large gulp of my coffee and he nodded.

"You have a bit of cream over your lip," he murmured.

Riley reached out to wipe it off, my skin flaming at his touch. My eyes shut and my nostrils flared, inhaling my mate's appetizing scent. My fingers flexed and I balled my fists, doing my best to stay in control as I felt the familiar vibrations in my muscles.

I cannot shift here. I should not shift here. It will put the pack in danger. It will scare the patrons. It will scare Riley.

I slowly opened my eyes. I could see the bar clearly, I could see Riley clearly, I could even see the details on the cups in the shelves behind him.

I loosened my fists and let out a breath.

My vision was normal.

It was human.

I'd managed to keep the shift at bay.

"Thanks." My voice was but a barely audible murmur.

He tilted his head to the side, looking at me with a thoughtful expression. A tiny crease formed on his forehead and he was quiet for about a minute before he started a topic I had no wish discussing.

"Hey, Rhys, is Alec only into guys or does he go both ways?"

"No one knows what Alec is into. He uses sex to manipulate both genders and is equally careless about the feelings of either."

I picked up the mug.

About anyone's feelings. Sexual partners, family... I couldn't add friends to the list because as far as I knew, he didn't have any. But whatever Alec considered you to be, he didn't give a damn about you. He didn't give a damn even about his own father who was literally losing sleep over him. As a matter of fact, I was sure that Aleksei would grin if he heard about that.

I sighed and placed the mug back on the bar.

"That's what Alec does: he uses whatever it takes to get into people's heads, to make them do his bidding..." To allow him to feed on them. "... And when they are no longer useful or start to bore him more than the average person - because Alec finds almost everyone boring - he'd move on to his next target; it's his favorite pastime."

And then he'd leave them as the same emotions wreck as the person before them. About a year ago, he had hooked a girl so much that she'd given all of her savings to a private detective and was ready to sell her house just to have that man find Alec once he dumped her. I could still hear his obnoxious, loud laughter when he found out about that. He wasn't even attempting to hide how hilarious he found her desperation. The worst part?

He had a guy with him that day. But even after the guy had heard everything, he was still looking at Alec as if my nephew was the most gorgeous, perfect creature in this world.

I would never understand Aleksei's power over these people. He was indeed inhumanly beautiful, mesmerizing even, but how could they allow him to treat them as he did?

Couldn't they see past his perfect body and face?

"I don't like your nephew." Riley brought me out of my reverie and I smiled, proud and relieved. My mate knew better than Alec's toys; he could see past his looks.

"Good. Then you'll stay away from him." I took a sip of my coffee. "I hope you like Kennedy." I added, wanting to change the subject; I wanted a pleasant conversation with my mate.

"I'm sure I will. From what you've told me, he's a nice kid; mischievous, but nice. Besides, I love children; I want at least five."

He grinned and my eyes rounded.

Five?

Riley had said five, right?

I'd been thinking about five myself; could this be Fate?

Then again, he had said at least... But I wouldn't mind more than five. We'd just add more rooms to the house.

"At least?" I asked.

"At least." He nodded. "I want a really, really big family. And a close one too. I want us all to gather during the holidays, go hunting for Easter eggs, carve pumpkins... And I want us to live in a house with a huge yard with swings and a slide in it..."

There is room for swings and a slide in my yard.

"... And everyone will have their own pet, whatever they want - dogs, cats..."

I shook my head.

"I don't like cats. But I want to hear more about the dogs."

"Well, the children will pick their own pets, but I was thinking about a Golden Retriever; they are great dogs, absolutely amazing with children. And on Christmas, I'd dress him or her in some fancy doggy clothes and put antlers on his or her head..."

I laughed as I imagined how ridiculous, yet cute, a Golden Retriever would look next to my mate, both wearing sweaters mom knitted them and with a matching set of antlers.

Mom would love that. She'd probably make us all wear the antlers for a family photo. I could already imagine everyone in it: mom and dad hugging, Lisa and Everett too, one of Riley's hands in mine, the other - on our dog, Kennedy grinning or making a silly face and Carter trying to hide as he wouldn't want Mel to see him wearing a pair of stupid antlers.

"You never know, Riley; you might find yourself a part of a family soon."

He gave me a weak smile and I barely resisted the urge to snuggle him.

"I don't even have a boyfriend. And then we'd have to be assessed by child services before we adopt." He sighed. "At least in this state we are allowed to adopts."

I opened my mouth to tell him mom was a social worker and she could speed things up with the adoption process, but I realized my mistake on time and instead took a sip of my coffee. I allowed myself to imagine us together, with children and a dog and began planning what changes I should make to the house so that it would be large enough for all of us.

Before I knew it, my drink was over so I got up and paid.

"Soon, Riley." I said quietly, more to myself. "Just a little more patience."

I turned to leave and added:

"I'll see you on Friday."

*****

"So let me get this straight." Kennedy sat on my bed beside me. "You invited Riley out."

I nodded.

"Using me as an excuse and not telling him you want a date, probably confusing the shit out of him..."

"Language." I said, thinking he had a point. Even I didn't know if we could call this a date; how would Riley?

"And then you told him that we'll see him on Friday."

"Exactly." I nodded and smiled as he at least couldn't criticize me about that.

Or so I thought.

"When and where, Rhys?"

I straightened in my bed as I realized my error.

I had forgotten to tell Riley when the movie started and which theater we were going to.

"Oh, shit!"

"Language." He imitated me, all smug and teasing.

I jumped off the bed and dug my hand into each of my jeans pockets. I then looked at the nightstand. Then I ran downstairs - Kennedy followed right after me, of course - tore my jacket off the coat hanger and went through its pockets. A sigh of relief passed through my lips as I found my phone, but my alleviation lasted no more than a couple of seconds.

"Shit." I repeated, panicked.

"You didn't ask Riley for his number, did you?" My youngest sibling was shaking his head.

"What do I do now?" I ran my fingers through my hair and pulled at the strands.

"You could keep freaking out or you could hop in the car, drive to the café and tell Riley when and where to meet us," he suggested, biting his bottom lip to keep from laughing. I was too unburdened and grateful to get irritated by him enjoying me going crazy so I ruffled his hair, kissed him on the top of his head and darted for the door.

"Rhys?" He called after me and I turned around. "I can't believe you said shit twice in a row."

"Don't tell mom, okay?"

Cussing was not something you'd hear often in our house. Well, with the exception of Kennedy.

The boy laughed.

"It's not like she'd believe me anyway."

*****

A/N: So is it a date or not?

Are there still any fans of Alec out there?

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