Part Two: Ch. 52

"Who's avoiding who now?" Vladimirs' deep voice startled Tatum, causing him to jump slightly.

"Jesus!" Tatum breathed out. "What is your problem? Why are you sitting in my room like a weirdo."

"My problem?" Vladimir snorted. "You're the one who ran away from me before we could even talk about it. And you're my son, I'll do whatever I please when it comes to you."

"Whatever and there is nothing to talk about. You're leaving me to go back to your *home.*" Tatum sneered.

"You're my *home.*" Vlad stated while slowly standing up and approaching Tatum.

Tatum just snorted while looking away, uncertainty flashing in his eyes.

Vlad looked at Tatum with a hard stare before gently grabbing his shoulders. "I know you've heard some stories about the things I've done in my past, before I met my first mate.."

"Yeah, you were a terrifying man, horrible. You enjoyed feasting from all creatures, terrorizing them, torturing them but when you met your wife, she changed you. You changed so much that you don't even drink from live sources.. well besides the weird ones who like elk and bears or whatever.. but whatever!" Tatum interrupted while pulling away slightly. "I get it. You're a better man because of her. I've heard this story a hundred different times from your people."

"No. That wasn't what I was going to say." Vlad scowled. "Yes, she planted the seed of me becoming the man that I am today but she wasn't the one who helped me grow and be this man." Vlad gently cupped Tatums' cheeks. "Tatum, you are the one who watered that seed, that helped be a better man than I could have ever become. I was a monster before you, I still can be and will be if it means keeping you safe. You are the only reason I'm still alive." Vlad started to confess. "After I avenged my familys' death, I didn't plan on living any longer, I was going to end my life, one way or another but then I found you and I couldn't just leave you there and so I was going to return you to your family but that didn't work out obvi.." Vlad shook his head, trying to straighten out his thoughts. "I mean, even if your parents would have claimed you, I wouldn't have let you go. I would have fought to the death to keep them from taking you back. You somehow wiggled your way into my very dark and very cold heart, baby boy. *You* are the only reason I keep living. *You are my home.*"

Tatum was at a loss for words. "Y-you mean that?" Tatum whispered, his voice laced with vulnerability.

"Of course I do!" Vlad stressed. "I love you so much, Tate. You're my baby.. Always will be."

"Then why can't you stay here with me?" Tatum pouted unhappily. "I need you.. Yes, I have Theo, Octavia and Vinny, everyone here is my family b-but they're not you.. I need you.." Tatum whispered, tears threatening to fall, wrapping his arms around Vlad and burying his face in his shoulder.

"I'm staying, Tate." Vlad wrapped his arms around Tatum. "I have talked to Gabriel and Kane.. Well they both have been pestering me about moving here for awhile. Kane doesn't seem to like seeing you upset either." Vlad chuckled, lightly. "Apparently they cleared out a section about two miles from the actual packs town for some housing to be built, it was for anyone who seemed to be 'distant' and liked living a more solitude life but those people or couples always ended up building their own little cabins throughout the pack territory. Anyways, they offered me the space." Vlad finished.

"Wait.. really!?!?" Tatum jerked his head up, eyes wide with excitement.

Vlad just laughed while rubbing Tatums' back. "Yes, really. It will take maybe six months or so for the housing to be built and the plumbing but I'll have to travel back and forth until then.. Can you handle another six months or so of me bouncing back and forth?" Vladimir questioned.

"That's too long.. but I'll survive." Tatum grinned while clapping his hands together and slightly fist pumping the air. "This is awesome!"

Vlad smiled while watching Tatums' reaction. "Calm down, crazy." Vlad chuckled.

"Oh my Goddess, we can start golfing again!" Tatum smiled while happily walking around his room.

"Golfing? That's what you are most excited about?" Vlad snorted while chuckling.

"It's my favorite.. Just you and me.." Tatum confessed with a slight blush.

Vlad smiled while throwing his arm over Tatums' shoulder. "Come on, lets find Theodore and go out to that little diner you like with the weird name."

"*Bears' Home Cookin'.*" Tatum snorted. "Lets' go, I'm hungry."

"Is the owner Bear?" Vlad questioned with a smirk.

"No, his name is Ted." Tatum sighed.

"Wait.." Vlad snorted. "Is he a bear shifter?"

"Yes.." Tatum closed his eyes with a sigh.

"So let me make sure I got this straight.. The owner of Bears' Home Cookin' is not only a bear shifter but a bear named Ted?" Vlad laughed.

"Dad.." Tatum groaned.

"Ted.. Teddy.." Vlad continued to laugh. "Teddy bear.."

"I get it!" Tatum growled. "Dad.. You're not funny. I love you but you're good at being the very over protective and very overbearing father and grandfather. Being serious, not being funny." Tatum dead panned.

Vlad scoffed while walking out the door. "You're my son, you're not supposed to think I'm funny."

Tatum just grinned while following after his father.

~ ~ ~

"Princess?" Kane called out for Isabella once entering her room.

"Daddy!" Isabella squealed while holding up one of her books. "Read!"

Kane grinned while striding over to her, picking her up and sitting down in her fuzzy pink bean bag chair. "Alright, so what's going on, princess?"

"Book!" Isabella grinned while practically shoving the book in Kanes' face.

"Okay, that's enough." Kane scowled while grabbing ahold of the book. "Issy, I need to ask you something serious."

Isabella frowned and shook her head no. "No, Daddy. Book." Isabella tapped the book in his hand.

Kane just snorted while setting the book down and picking up Isabella and holding her closer to him. "You called KJ mate, Issy.."

"Yep.." Isabella nodded while grabbing the book and opening it up.

"Why did you say that, princess?" Kane questioned while pulling her messy curls into a ponytail. Isabella just shrugged her shoulders and tapped her head causing Kane to frown. "You thought it?"

Isabella shook her head no and then tapped his head with a smile.

Kanes' eyebrows shot up in shock. "Issy, did someone talk to you inside your head?" Isabella shrugged again and stood up. Kane watched her while trying to figure her out. *Goliath?* Kane called for him. *Has someone mindlinked her?*

*No. I would have felt it. Maybe her demon?* Goliath suggested.

*As long as you're not worried about it.* Kane let out a soft sigh.

*Like I said, I would have felt and heard if someone tried to link her.* Goliath reassured him.

"Daddy, we eat tookies now?" Isabella smiled while walking up to him.

"Only one, we still have dinner." Kane smiled while standing up and picking up Isabella with him. "Don't tell mommy though.." Kane whispered in her ear.

Isabella let out a soft giggle while eagerly nodding her head. "Otay, Daddy!"