Argent

I have to use all the resolve I have in me to hold myself back. If I could, I would release my wolf and rip that asshat's throat out. That would be the least of it.

He deserves more. He deserves it all.

And I'm going to let her do it.

"How dare you show your face here. After everything you've done to me, to James. You're a monster," Aida spits. She slaps him again and again until Father steps in and grabs a hold of her. She turns into him and sobs. He guides her over to me, and I take her in my arms. This girl. This amazing, strong, and brave girl is falling apart in my arms. And I hate it. I hate him.

Argos snaps, "What do you want? I mean, now that you're here, you have saved us from the trouble of going out and hunting your ass, but why now?"

I stare him down while I hold Aida tightly and keep her face hidden close to my chest.

"Answer, Jasper. No matter what you say now, your days will be few, and you will reside the remaining that you do have left in the dungeon."

The grubby and thin little man before us looks from me to father and then down to the sobbing girl in my arms. He sighs, and his shoulders shrink smaller and lower than they already were, saying, "I know you won't believe me, but I've come to assist you."

"With what? Your daughter that you lied to and drugged? Or my daughter that you treated like some sort of animal?" Father lets out a deep and ominous growl. It reverberates around the foyer and feels as though the walls vibrate from the tone alone. We all shudder in response. He steps forward and looks into the eyes of the man that we all arguably believe we hate the most. "What help can you possibly offer?"

"I can save her."

All of our heads snap up at once. My father steps forward again and now he stands with his chest touching Jasper's. He towers over him, then bends down and grabs Jasper by the collar, lifting him up to his eye level.

"What do you mean?"

"Amalie. I can reverse it. All of it. But I need time."

My father releases him, and he tumbles to the floor in a dirty heap. He cowers there, not bothering to stand. Instead, he gathers his limbs in and rocks back and forward.

It's truly pathetic.

"I, as you can see, do not need fixing, you psychotic bastard. My new family have helped me more than you ever could."

Jasper lifts his head slowly now, looking for the brave owner of that stoic response. My girl. "What do you mean? You ... You can shift?"

She nods. "Yes."

He sputters, "How? When?"

"Not that you deserve to know but, Dr. Emerson gives me blood transfusions to remove the toxins you plagued me with. It's getting less and less each day."

"So ... So you're healed?"

"No thanks to you, yes."

"But the vampire blood runs through your veins. How has she combated that?"

I feel the frown on my face. It is the same one my father wears at this moment.

"What do you mean, Jasper?" Father's dark tone has returned. Aida stands still, watching the man that should have been her father but instead was her tormentor.

"Aida is the only known hybrid ever born. Even with me suppressing her wolf traits, the vampire blood is part of her. As it was in her mother during her time carrying Aida. This is why she learns fast. Why she is stronger, faster than normal. I'm sure there are many more talents she is yet to discover. Aida, you're different. Special. It's dangerous. You are a commodity."

My father looks at me and then turns his head to Aida.

She is visibly shaking on the spot.

"And Amalie? What you did to her? Can you fix it? Can you fix any of this mess?" Father demands.

"Yes. But ... "

"But what?" Father snaps impatiently.

I'm barely holding myself back.

"It must be soon. They know about her and will come for her. That or ... it will be too late."

Aida steps back into me, trembling, and I wrap my arms around her front. She places her hands on mine, her skin ice-cold.

Father finally commands, "Guards, please take the doctor downstairs and get him settled in his new abode." They nod in response and mobilise towards Jasper. Father sets his sights on the crumpled man now. "You'd better not be falsifying any of this. If this is a trick and you lead more danger here, I will kill you myself."

Jasper nods, as the guards drag him away, his feet barely touching the ground as they go, instead skidding against the ground and leaving a trail of dust.

"Are you okay?" I whisper to Aida, who hasn't moved from her position locked in front of me.

"I don't know." She turns to face me. Tears still stream down her cheeks, and I start to wipe at them gently, one by one.

"I have so many questions, Arge. About my life, my mother, my blood. So many unanswered questions and he is the only person alive that can give me the answers." She leans back and looks at me.

Even like this, vulnerable and blotchy, she's the most exquisite creature on earth. I would do anything for her. Even if that means sitting in with her while she gets the answers she needs.

Whatever it takes.

"I'm calling for Emerson to return with Amalie tomorrow. I pray that Jasper lives up to what he said. I just don't trust him. At all," he says, looking at Aida. "What he said about you ... we need to know more about that, too. I think he'll tell you, but you may need to spend some time with him. Can you handle that?"

Aida nods. "I can do it. I need to do it."

"I thought you might say as much." Father gives her a small smile and heads off towards the dungeon stairs just as his phone rings in his pocket.

I take Aida's hand and we head towards the back door. Fresh air is needed after all this crazy activity. I let her take the lead when we get outside; I know she has a lot on her mind. She leads us to one of the benches overlooking the garden. We take a seat, and she cuddles in next to me, her head resting on my shoulder.

"Babe? You okay?"

"No. Not at all."

I wait. I know she has more she needs to release.

"It's just, why can't we ever have any normalcy? Not even just one day! It's been like this literally since we met! And I'm not saying there's been nothing good. There's been so much good. So much love and care and comfort, more than I've ever known. But there has also been loss and fear and literally more drama than any old movie I've ever seen!"

I let out a small laugh and pull her in closer. I love this about her. The flare. The fire. It's why she can handle everything. Anything that comes her way, she nails it in her own way.

"Babe, literally no one could have handled all the shit we've been through in the last week better than you have. That's why I know, without any doubt, that whatever this jackass tells us, you can handle that too." I take her face in my hands and gently kiss her. I feel her tension lessen slightly, and I feel it even more so as she deepens the kiss. Making out on the bench is a much better way to spend our time at home.

She breaks away from me and slaps me in the shoulder. "Arge! I'm having a break down and you're being cute and chivalrous. It's hard to think straight!"

"So don't!"

Again, she slaps me, but I catch her hand and kiss her on her palm, slowly making my way with small kisses up her arm, along her neck, and up to her face.

The small shivers that are rippling off her in response spur me on and again, we find ourselves heavily making out. It starts to get a little more intense, and I'm about to suggest we take it inside before I hear footsteps heading in our direction, the very obvious crunching of feet on pebbles forcing us apart.

"Ahem."

We both stare at the lanky person standing in the shadow of the sun and the trees.

"Can we help you?" I ask, trying to shield my eyes to get an idea of the rude interrupting asshole I need to punch. The person moves to the left a little, out of the sun, and my eyes go wide with surprise. "Crispin?"

I untangle myself from Aida and jump up to greet my cousin. It must have been at least two years since he was here last.

"What are you doing here?"

"Arge, terribly sorry if I, ah, interrupted something of great importance here. Hate to break up a good pash session."

I laugh a little at his response and accent and extend my arm to Aida. "Aida, this is my cousin, Crispin. He lives in the UK with his family. Cris, this is my mate, Aida."

Aida stands and stretches out her hand to shake his.

Crispin replies, smiling, "Very pleased to meet you, Aida. Actually, it is you who has brought me here."

Aida gives him a confused frown; she's just as confused as I am.

"What? How did you even know about her?" I question, searching his face for clues. The sneaky bugger didn't even call.

He shrugs. "My work. I've been moved this semester into vampire research, and we've been studying the clans in Lithuania. I came across a story of your mother, Aida, and how she was healed, along with what that possibly means for you."

She turns to me, frowning. She hasn't had time to learn about any of the fields we study and work on all over the world. All in aid of improving and maintaining our race.

"Crispin works in research, in weapon and artillery last I heard," I explain to a very perplexed looking Aida.

He goes on, "Yes, but as I said, I transferred this term, and we have been learning all about the vampiric interest in hybrids and new races. Even back then, they were keen to extend their race. We think they were looking even then to start this transition. A few weeks ago, we came across transcripts about your mother. And you."

Aida exclaims, "What?"

"They've been keeping track of you, the ones who bit your mother. You and the others."

We both stare at him now. "Others?" Aida repeats.

"Yes. You're not the only one born this way, Aida. There were five of you. All born within a week of each other."

"Are they ... alive? Are they ... wolves?"

He steps closer to her and places a hand on my shoulder while he speaks. "They're something else."