"A Boot" and "A Shotgun"

Elicia:

“Our mother was a sex slave, and Titan, unfortunately, is our father.” Chris dropped his pained expression into his hands as Ben rubbed and patted his shoulder in a brotherly embrace.

The swirling energy slowly faded away, feeling the deep anger and sadness from them as they looked between themselves, nodding in agreement.

“Only the family knows our history, and Max, he was the one that delivered us at eight-years-old, while our so called “father” stood back and watched our mother struggle with her labor.” Roger side-hugged Elias, swallowing back a sob as my lip trembled violently against my jaw like I was freezing from the cold.

“Our mother named us, while that bastard gave us numbers. One. Two. Three. Four. Roger. Elias. Chris. Ben. We became known as “The Watchmen” because for the majority of our services, we watched over the facilities we were assigned to, but a dream changed all of our lives.” Elias cupped my hands, staring at me with those ambered hazels as his stony expression softened into a warm smile reaching deep into eyes.

“What happened to your mother?” Sniffling as my hands trembled inside his muscular palms, drinking in the warmth that seeped from his hold.

“She bled out. What should have been an easy recovery with her advanced healing abilities, failed her because she was so weak and malnourished. Before she died, she had Max promise he would find a way to get us out of there. It took sixteen years but here we stand, with you, our mate. Our One.” His muscular finger cupped my soggy chin as the breath stuck in my throat, choking back the sobs that threatened to dismantle my entire resolve.

“What are we exactly?” Looking between them as they joined Elias, cupping their hands around mine inside Elias’.

“Randi and Rex are Vampire-Witch hybrids. Amelia is werewolf, but Mei and JR are the Lycan Royals. Max is wolf-bear hybrid, while we are bear-wolf-vampire hybrids. Mom and Dad are the Vampire Royals. Mom was wolf but her vampire trait, thanks to dad, saved her life so she’s classified as hybrid.” Roger smirked sheepishly at my confused expression, looking at everyone with a playful wink in return.

“And according to Thyra, I’m bear.” Smiling brightly at them, because this was so unbelievable and magical all-in-one.

My whole life I always felt different, like something was calling out to me but I couldn’t understand it.

“Bear, yes, but there’s something else we don’t know about yet.” Chris playfully nudged my chin with a gentle fist as Amelia motioned for me to sit down, feeling nauseous and lightheaded.

“Can you shift?” I asked excitedly as they chuckled heartily to themselves with a shaking smile.

“No, but we have traits from each that make us unique.” Nodding in understanding as Roger disappeared from his spot, re-appearing with a ginger ale as my stomach lurched into my throat with a strangled scream.

“Sorry, sorry. Poofing can be quite surprising.” He smiled softly, handing me the ginger ale as they shared a devious brow before “poofing” away, re-appearing behind Amelia with tickles as she growled out in frustration.

“You’re lucky I love you boys.” She playfully swiped at them as they “poofed” back to their original spots.

“Okay, now that we have a baseline for everything…” Amelia halted her words as the front door clicked closed and the familiar scent of white diamonds and Mexican Plum blossom filled my senses, jumping up quickly as my feet carried me out into the hallway.

“LC!!!” Launching into her open arms, squealing excitedly as we swayed side-to-side, unable to hold back the sobs as her petite frame hugged me tightly.

“My baby girl.” She whispered into my ear as we both cried against one another.

“Look at you. Still the gorgeous babe.” She pressed my nose with a soft finger, realizing I was still in a towel as the door opened again with an audible ouf! Looking down the hallway as my bestie and sister-from-another-mother appeared with a megawatt smirk.

“BAILEY!” Jumping into her arms as we tumbled backward into the entryway, giggling, squealing like little schoolgirls.

“Good to see you too, sis.” She chuckled happily as we poked each other, before her smile faded into a frown.

“What happened to your hair? It’s mucky.” She cupped my face, turning my head tsking the nasty state of my faded ombre locks.

Looking back at the guys and Amelia as they smiled in a huddled group, welcoming LC with hugs and warm smiles. Noticing we all needed cleaning up.

“You thinking, what I’m thinking.” Bailey giggled evilly as we wiggled our fingers together in our little mischievous embrace. Grabbing her hand and bag, quickly rushing past the group.

“Beauty Salon. Elias, honeybun, I’m using your room.” Pushing Bailey into the room, blowing a kiss to the guys as they grumbled and whined at my quick departure.

“We’ll fix the bathroom.” Roger winked at me, while LC leaned past everyone with a perked brow.

“They can explain everything.” Closing the door with an excited squeal, quickly opening the door as the guys turned around just in time to catch me, hugging each one with smoldering lips and heated hands stealing gasping moans and quick feels between one another before darting back into the room.

“NOT FAIR!!” They all shouted out with playful growls as vociferous laughter filled the hallway.

Now, let’s do this!

Grabbing Bailey’s hand as she gawked at the massive bedroom decorated to reflect Elias’ cold and somber temperament, dragging her into the masculine on-suite as she quickly pulled out her hot wax pot, plugging it in as she rolled out her hairdresser utensils packed neatly in a travel bag.

“From the looks of it, whole body wax, color, cut, tweeze and wash.” Her sparkling blue-grays stared back at me through the mirror, nodding eagerly to her rundown as she went to work on her masterpiece.

“Knock. Knock.” LC called out happily as she waved to us, quickly taking a seat on the toilet-lid, gripping the rim with a bright smile.

“Working fast.” She winked at us, laughing out at her double-edged comment as Bailey dug through her duffle, pulling out a purply-black, fire engine red, and a beautiful hue of sunflower-yellow.

“I’m thinking… a dramatic shadow-root, blended into the red and finish the ends off in the yellow to really make your layers pop.” Squishing her cheek up in an over-the-top tilted lip as she waved her cupped hand, holding the red and yellow at awkward angles.

“That sounds awesome.” LC gasped in excitement as Bailey went to work, closing my eyes as she placed her icepack over my them, flinching back at the stinging burn stabbing through my cheek.

“Oww..Shit! I’m so sorry, you got some deep tissue bruising.” She repositioned the pack so that it was bearable, relaxing into my normal pose as she dove straight-in, parting, separating, clipping and prepping.

“How you feeling sweetheart?” LC spoke gently as her perfume mingled with the Christmas cottage scent, finally exhaling the elephant that sat on my chest as Bailey’s fingers massaged and painted my locks in a heavy aroma of bleach.

I’m sorry, but this was my form of stress-relief. Playing with colors, having fun with the cut but never too short. I still like a little length so that I could run my fingers through the colors, drifting off into my fantasy worlds so I didn’t hurt anyone. I never understood the sudden shift in mood, and the overwhelming need to express myself in colors, but I remember the anxiety, and forceful drive to express myself.

“Hey, earth to Elicia. Ground control to Elicia.” LC chuckled lightly, knowing she was being over-dramatic with her hands, still managing a smile to form.
“Oh, so she is alive.” They both chuckled as Bailey tilted my head down to finish up my new foils.

“I’m pregnant.” The words just formed, because this was big news and it terrified me. Crying softly as Bailey halted her foiling, lifting my head forward as the tears slid down my trembling cheeks into my folded hands.

“Oh, baby girl, it’s nothing to cry about, babies are special gifts. Just like you and Bailey, and all of the other children back home with Derek. Which by the way, sends his love and bear hugs along with the kids!” Her silky palms cupped my cheeks as her slender thumbs, wiped away the salty traitors that leaked from my eyes.

“I miss them, and you.” Sniffling softly as they hugged me with soft giggles.

“Well, of course you do, it’s natural to miss family. We may not be related, but you will always be family, no matter what.” Nodding lightly as Bailey went back to foiling my hair.

“So, which one is the happy papa?” Smirking to myself because the roof was fixing to blow-off the villa.

“All four.” Rolling the word with a squinted eye, prepping for the ear-shattering screams but it remained quiet, opening my eyes to their stunned expressions as Bailey absentmindedly, painted my locks with a blank stare.

“O-oohhh.. Derek is going to be pissed!” LC chuckled behind her hand, waiting for Bailey to say something, anything! But she just smirked with a head tilt like it was all cool.

“He already knows.” Randi stood in the doorway, crunching into an apple with a megawatt smirk.

“What!” We all shouted in unison, turning towards his gleaming smile as he chomped away on the crisp sweetness, nodding to our shocked expressions.

“He just called to make sure you arrived safely, and kinda-sorta overheard Amelia talking in the background.” Shrugging his shoulder, tossing the apple in the trash bin under the counter.

Face palming ourselves.

“He sounded kinda miffed, something about “a boot” and “shotgun” then Ben passed the phone over to Amelia, who more than happily explained his little Elicia was mated to four Hotties and was expecting their first round of pups.” Shocked and mortified barely scrapped the surface of the panic that flooded me but chuckled darkly at the memory of Bain with a Remington barrel shoved up his nose, while Derek escorted his ass off the property. That was the night he flipped out because I backed out of having sex with him.

“They think Derek is scary, wait till they find out about Lady Morgan, her aunt and Alpha Damian.” LC broke out in laughter as Bailey patted my shoulder with a bright smile, realizing Uncle Damian and Aunt Morgan were supernatural. Snapping around to LC as she nodded her head.

“Witches.” She pointed between her and Bailey as everything clicked in place.