It was difficult for David to stand next to his own father and look so helpless. Michael had taken the blood bag from David’s hands, and sat down on the couch with Mael in his arms. Michael stuck a straw he’d collected from a capri-sun pouch into the blood bag and gave it to Mael.

“Is it… Normal?” Edith asked, finding herself sitting comfortably on the couch next to Michael. Julio actually looked offended when she did this.

“Not really. This usually only happens when a kid from a strong bloodline is born. We don’t really know Mael’s heritage, so I couldn’t say for sure.” Michael said, positioning Mael into a more comfortable position on his lap. Mael hadn’t looked up from the bag of blood yet.

“Edith, get away from there.” Julio used a commanding voice, a kind of voice that only alphas really had. Julio had no real power over Edith, who was not only his mate, but his luna. Lunas were just as, or even sometimes more powerful than the alpha.

“Mael is harmless. He’d never attack us willingly.” Michael said, patting the couch seat next to him. Michael was attempting to befriend David’s father, but Julio wasn’t having it. Instead he made a disgusted noise and scowled toward David.

For a moment longer, David tried to remember his sanity. He tried to regain the composure he so desperately wanted to hold on to. David tried, and failed, to keep his anger contained. David ripped off his shirt and started to undo his belt.

David knew that the only way to prove to his father that he was serious, was to change. Change into a wolf. There were few things that David truly hated about himself, and his wolf was one of them. David transformed, and his grayish black long hair grew from his skin. His bones cracked and regrew into a wolf’s shape.

And then like it was natural, he bent his head low and growled. To other alphas, including his father, it was considered a challenge. He accepted it.

Michael watched from a distance, but realized what David was doing. He handed Edith the young vampire who had sucked the whole bag of blood dry, and sped into the kitchen. Michael bent down and pet David behind the ears. Michael knew from years of experience, he liked it there best, in his human form and in this form, ironically.

“Mael’s going to make you give him a ride if he sees you like this,” Michael chuckles, as David licks his hand happily. David only then realizes that he’d gotten distracted from his initial challenge. His father was still waiting there patiently, but instead of staring at David, he stared at Michael.

“Don’t think Mael won’t happily jump onto your back too, old man.” Michael says to Julio, who sits on the hard tile like he is thinking about something.

David got up and followed Michael back to the couch, where Mael was already jumping up and down with excitement. He giggled and put his small hands on his father’s hair gently. David nudged him with his nose and Mael giggled again. Mael jumped up and down with a huge smile on his face.

Julio peeked around the corner, looking at the group who comfortably all took their seats on the ground or on the couch. Mael’s happiness was a sudden beacon of light that made everyone else suddenly happy.

Bear looked up from his gameboy and directly at Julio. He smiled, and then looked at his dads.

“Dad said to get on before he changes his mind, Mael.” Bear was creating a lot of trouble for his dad, but he didn’t really care. It was always fun to watch Mael try and hold on as David zipped himself around the house.

“Yay!” He screamed, lifting his tiny legs up and trying to hoist himself up onto David’s back. Mael’s hands were pulling roughly at David’s hair as Michael helped him up. Julio inched closer, trying to see what they were doing.

It was strange to see such a strange and diverse family get along like that. Naomi bent down beside Julio, completely unaware of his attempt to blend into the background.

“You know, the world has changed. Vampire’s aren’t evil. Michael doesn’t drink a lot of blood, and this is honestly Mael’s first time. I know you don’t really have a problem with your son, so just accept his mate already.” Naomi felt indebted to David in ways Julio could never really understand. She took it into her own hands to make Julio understand that hating it would never change anything.

Julio stood, and walked over to the couch area, and watched as David started a slight jog to try and shake Mael off of him. Julio didn’t know why, but watching the two of them play made him forget that the boy was a vampire. Mael fell off, but was quick to recover. David bent down low, with his tail high in the air. David was waiting for Mael to do the same thing. He bent down, in his human form, and matched David exactly, and then they went on playing.

The two nephews, Caden and Holden, excitedly jumped in. They changed into the small pups that they were and jumped onto Julio without hesitation.

“Quit it you mongrels, we haven’t even eaten yet,” Edith laughed, picking up one of the pups and carrying him in her arms. Holden chased after his brother at Edith’s feet. Mael jumped back onto his father’s back and they also headed for the kitchen. Michael grabbed David’s pants and shirt from the ground and carried them over to the bathroom.

“You’ll need these, I think.” Michael set the clothes on the sink counter, but before he could leave, David had shut the door on Michael and transformed.

“I will, eventually.” David said, coming onto Michael like he was high on wolf hormones. He was, yes, but he’d never admit to it. David was kissing Michael before he could really think about the consequences. Michael was careful in pushing him away. It wouldn’t be good to ruin such a good mood, especially when Michael was benefiting from it.

“It really is dinner time. Naomi just finished.” Michael said, and David took a deep breath before pulling his pants on. He pulled his shirt over his head in one quick motion before stealing another quick kiss from Michael.

They both walked out and found the rest of the family sitting at the table. There were twelve of them in total. Cole, David’s brother, had started to dig in without another thought. Michael and David joined them at the table. The two were awkwardly separated by David’s father, who sat in the middle of the open seats. Michael sat on one side and David sat on the other.

“Your wolf handled the change well,” His father said, taking a bite of the beans on his plate. He looked like he was enjoying it, but David didn’t give him the satisfaction.

“Dad. Keep bringing this up and you can enjoy your beans outside.”

“I was just saying, Mijo.”

The word Mijo had never meant as much as it did before that moment.