52. A New Family

Eric

I sat there holding Lilith. What she described was horrible. I had no idea. I had sat here being jealous of her past relationship, but this is not what I expected at all. It wasn’t just that he was older and tried to take advantage of her. Which that in itself was horrifying but the fact that he had bitten her. I knew Dhamir’s didn’t even need blood. They lived human lives; they could eat what they wanted.

I already knew that blood made them powerful, I learned about them growing up. They had been considered folklore, seeing as the consciences was the vampires had all been killed off. But that asshole had bitten her. I hated that, sure I had bitten her, but it was never to drink her blood. I had assumed that when I marked her she was in pain from the bite that it was because she was part human. It had been irritated, and she said it hurt. I wonder if she had that kind of reaction because of Bowie.

I didn’t know if the two were related or not. I was also surprised she had gone through the marking process since it involved the two of us biting each other and deeply. Maybe Kali had something to do with her going through it. I wondered if she had a response to it when Axel marked her. I didn’t know, but I felt kind of crappy over the mating mark that I had given her. But Lilith had not said anything then or even now when she was telling me everything.

But now I understood just how dangerous Bowie could be. I wondered what he did to end up in jail. I also didn’t understand why Rob, who despite not being a good anything, shifter or human, would be having him around. Lilith had said he went to the hospital. He knew had done it. As much as I hated the guy, I thought he generally cared for Lilith. At least in some kind of capacity, but he had come to her game with a man who tormented her and abused her. No, wonder she never wanted to bring up ex’s. If I had that in my past I wouldn’t want to talk about it either. This was heavy stuff. Not to mention she had been so young when it all happened.

Noel had said he had found them at the nail salon and told me that apparently Bowie knew her old routines. It was good Lilith was not living in the city anymore. But the fact he had been so possessive over her in the past was not a good sign. That kind of obsessive behavior was a tendency of vampires, and I was now positive that was passed on to their half human children. I didn’t know if the Dhamir were good at tracking. If they were that may be a problem though this pack did a good job keeping our scents hidden.

It was protection from other shifters who wanted to come after us. We had come up with that solution after the Draco attack. But I didn’t know if it would be enough if the Dhamir were better trackers. I doubted it. “Do you know if Bowie is a good tracker?” Lilith shook her head and spoke. “No, he isn’t. He would show up when I didn’t want him to but that was because of my schedule. You know that is the best way to regulate my urges, so I tended to stick to them. But there were times when I wanted to get away from him and he never found me then. However, he is very good at stalking me so I wouldn’t be surprised if he ever showed up here at the pack lands.”

“Were there any signs he was on blood when you saw him? I don’t know if his kind has signs of that.” She shook her head. He was not on blood. At least he wasn’t last night. You can tell when he is. He is agitated and his arms have more veins bulging. Also, his eyes get kind of weird. It is not extremely noticeable unless you are looking for it, but there is a very faint line of red around his iris.” I nodded. That was good at least. I continued to pet Lilith's back. I planned to look up what he had been to prison for. I also wondered if it would be a good idea to put a detail on him. I didn’t want her near her school or her.

I knew Noel would be with Lilith when she was in the city everyday but was that enough? Lilith had grown stronger in two years since they dated, of that, I was sure. “Lilith do you think you could fight him off if he attacked you again?” I hated to ask this, but I needed to know how to proceed. “Maybe, if he was not pumping with seven grown men’s blood. If he was just feeding like he had before then probably. I am stronger and better at fighting than I was when we dated. I can’t be sure though he is faster than me when he is on blood and his strength matches my own so I think it would be an even fight. But if he is gorging there is no way in hell, any shifter alone could take him out. If it was two on one maybe depending on the ability of the shifter.”

I wondered if Noel and Lilith would be enough if the worst-case scenario arose. “Do you think you need more protection from him? Do you want a detail put on him, to watch him?” Lilith bit her lip. “I don’t know, I think the pack should be cautious, just in case. I would wait on the detail to see what he does. Other than school my routine can be changed. On Fridays I could go to new places with Juliet and Noel. Like I said as long as he doesn’t know where I am he can’t find me. And living so far from the city he wouldn’t know other than school when I am in the city.” I nodded. I think this is a good solution.

I almost wanted to ask if she wanted to change schools, but I knew Lilith would not agree to that. “Okay well thank you for telling me.” She looked away and I said, “Your coffee is ready.” Lilith got up to pour herself some. “Do you want some?” She asked. “I would like that.” She pulled out two mugs and then the creamer from the extremely large fridge. She returned back to my lap, with my black coffee and hers with creamer. “You know it just sucks now” I raised my eyebrows. I figured it was that he was out of jail but the way she said it made me think it was more than that.

“I can’t go to Robs at all now. Now that he is out, he will be there, and I have no desire to see him, or be around him. I can’t fucking believe Rob was with him at the game, especially after he saw what he did to me. He knew it was Bowie, I told him who did it.” I heard the anger in her tone. It surprised me because it pertained to Rob, and she never spoke about him like that. She sipped on her coffee, and I took a sip of mine.

She then looked more agitated. “How could Rob do this to me. After everything I have done for him, how could he bring him back into his life. I get he was good for business for a while, but in the end he screwed Rob over. Killing Robs connection to that particular line in the drug trade. That is fucking bad for business.” I felt Lilith shaking on my lap. I was just about to put my hand back on her back when she picked up her mug of hot coffee and threw it into the island in the kitchen. She stood up.

Then Lilith began to yell. “I am practically his daughter, and Bowie could have killed me. Hell, he tried to fucking rape me. I really think he would have killed me if the police had not been in that part of town. What kind of fucking asshole lets him back in. And that fucking shitbag has the gall to bring him to my fucking game. Like suddenly Bowie is such a good guy? Fuck no, he hated that I dated him and then he dangles him in front of my face. What kind of person does that to someone, especially when you claim to love them. Rob is a freaking asshole. How dare he do this to me. Bowie was not even on blood.”

“Rob has no problem killing, he has done it plenty times over since I have known him. He didn’t even consider killing the ass wipe that hurt me so bad. I was the good investment. I am the one who stands up for him. I am the one who brings him the most money. I am the one who probably would have cared for him in his old age. But no that is not good enough. Bowie walks in after years of being away doing nothing for him and he is now a friend to him. After what he did, nah fuck that. Rob can go fuck himself. I am done. Do you hear me. I don’t need Rob. I have a family now. I have my friends. I have a mate, and I don’t want anything to do with that asshole. Taking in Bowie, what a dick.”

“You know the funny thing, Eric?” Lilith said looking at me. She looked a little insane, but I was glad she had come to this conclusion on her own. “What?” I spoke. “I don’t even care about the money, it is the crime and the thrill of it all. If Kali didn’t like that kind of thing, I would have gotten a regular job to survive. Screw fucking Rob, I don’t need him to do anything criminal, I am so fucking done. He betrayed me and that is unforgivable. I am done with him. I don’t need him to find my father and I don’t need his gym anymore; I don’t need a dam thing from him. I am done with fucking trash.” I gave her a smile.

I hated that she had to find out that her the man she loved as family was a scumbag. But, this was a good thing. She needed to get Rob out of her life. He was just bad news. I agreed with everything she said. I stood and wrapped my arms around her. Tears were running down her face. This had to be a huge realization and a hard one at that. I pulled her to me and hugged her tight. She needed to know she was not alone, and I was glad she felt like she had a family because Lilith did have that now. Not just with me but that is what a pack was a family.