Chapter 11 - The Big Question

Lacey hadn't seen Jr for a few weeks. Since her and Seth ended their conversation so badly the night she'd finally told him she'd slept with Jr. She'd tried talking to him the following day, but he was really pissed. What was she supposed to do? The guy who imprinted on her showed interest and they couldn't ignore the pull to each other and it had just happened.

Lacey had heard from some of the others in the pack that Seth was able to sneak around Jr and see Sandra more. She was pleased that Seth had been spending more time over at Sandra's. Though she also knew Sandra still wasn't sure about anything because Jr's lies had her twisted inside. Luca had been patrolling with their father. Lacey had taken to walking through the woods, she watched as a deer trotted by as she jumped on it and carefully grabbed the antlers and broke its neck. Placing her hands on it, "I'm sorry you had to lose your life today. You were a brave one and lived a long healthy life. May your soul ascend into the heavens where you will be at peace forever." After she'd eaten her fill she buried the remains under a large willow tree.

She could smell Jr. She couldn't see him, only smell him. "I know you could kill me if you wanted to. The truth of the matter is the same blood that runs through the veins of everyone in the tribe runs through me and my brother. I realize if both Luca and I had phased it would be a different story. Just for the record. I have never killed anyone, I couldn't even if I tried. And I don't have venom, which if I did I wouldn't use it. I hate what I am. I've always pushed myself to eat more human food and not blood or raw meat. Trying to make myself something I'm not. In a perfect world we'd all be human and vampires and wolves wouldn't exist. I'd marry Seth and you and Sandra would be blissfully happy without having to be miserable because you imp-...imprinted on a vampire hybrid."

Lace sighed heavily, "But it's not a perfect world and no one ever said life was fair…I'm half vampire, but I have a beating heart and a pulse, I have a temper when provoked. I hate and I love. I feel it all. I can feel you right now. The anger, pain, the hate you feel towards me. I don't have to be near you to feel everything your feeling. Ever since you imprinted-everything just feels more intense…and I know this is the last thing you want to hear but…I'm sorry I love you Jr. Actually I'm not sorry that I love you…I'm just sorry I can't stop it. And I'm sorry I'm not human enough for you." A tear trickled down her cheek as she headed back to the house.

Jr had watched her release the animal's soul from a distance and heard every word she said, but something was holding him back. He wanted to go to her, to apologize, but that was his heart talking. His mind kept screaming the horrid reminder of what she was. It didn't help that Seth was spending more time with Sandra and that pissed Jr off to no avail, especially since he knew that was Seth's imprint, but his fiancée. Sandra had still agreed to walk down the aisle and marry him, which Jr was thankful for silently. In his heart though, he knew marrying Sandra would be a big mistake because not only would it hurt her and Seth, but himself and definitely Lacey as well.

Jr phased and headed back to Sandra's, walking inside the back door and tossed Seth out on his ass when he caught them in another lip lock. "STAY AWAY FROM MY FIANCEE OR I'LL TEAR YOU APART!" He slammed the door shut, locked it and grabbed Sandra before she could protest, his mouth devouring hers instantly. "Do you want him or me? Make your damn choice now, Sandra."

Sandra could feel the tears burning in her eyes because Jr's lips didn't feel the same as Seth's did, which broke her heart even more. "I…Jr I'm so confused right now, I need time…"

He shoved her away from him and extended his hand. "Give me back the ring then."

"Jr, please understand why this is hard for me…" Sandra began crying, but it didn't bother him in the slightest, his hand impatiently waving at her. "I do want to marry you…" She whispered, lowering her head in shame, her lips still burning from Seth's kiss.

"Then you'll stay away from Seth Clearwater and be totally devoted to me." Jr gave her the ultimatum and Sandra felt her head snap up, her eyes widening. "This is your only chance left, if you blow it next time around, we're done."

'I'm sorry Seth.' She thought and walked into Jr's arms, kissing him the way she should've been kissing Seth and felt Jr carry her to the bedroom.

Jr stood on the porch and watch as Sandra took off to work. Jr decided it was time to go see his dad. His parents along with Sandra's parents had been gone on vacation for the last few weeks and weren't aware of what was going on; but was pretty sure by now Jacob or Sam had told them everything. They were bound to find out anyways...Right?

Jr couldn't help re-running the conversation he'd had with Lacey the morning after their not so unfortunate coming together. He always thought of it that way because even he couldn't deny when he was with Sandra it wasn't the same as the night he was with Lacey. He couldn't deny that no matter how many times he and Sandra made love...It wasn't the same. It didn't feel right and it wasn't as satisfying as it was with Lacey. On more than a few occasions he had to bite his own tongue hard to keep from moaning out Lacey's name. Yea cause that just wouldn't kill the mood with his fiancé or anything would it?

Jr jogged to his parents place, his dad was unloading the car when he arrived as he helped his father grab more bags and carry them into the house. "I think you're mother is officially trying to force me to start phasing again so I can get some of my wolf strength back."

Jr couldn't help but chuckle as they finished up dropping the suitcases and other things in the kitchen. His mother had said she'd take care of everything if they'd unload it. Jr stood back and watched the exchange between his parents. His dad smacked her on the ass as she giggled like a school girl. They'd been together as long as all the other older generation of shape shifters and still acted like they were in high school.

"Dad don't porn slap mom in front of me ok. That's a creeper move."

Paul shrugged off his son. "When you've been together as long as your mother and I have, it's not creepy to still have a healthy sexual appetite. And Believe me your mother keeps me busy on a nightly basis."

Jr covered his ears as he fake gagged his way out the back door. "OH MY GOD MY EARS!"

Paul chuckled as he pulled Gaby into his arms and leaned over kissing her lips softly as she giggled into his chest. "Sure cause it's always my fault that we can't make it through the evening news...I'm going to get some laundry started and then I'll start dinner. Anything in particular you have a taste for?"

"Just you my love. Just you." Paul growled in her ear making her squeal and blush all at the same time; he loved how she still maintained her shy side even after all these years. Paul laughed hard from the back of his throat when she took a swipe at his arm. "I'm going to go see what's on the boys mind. There's something wrong." Gaby nodded as she watched Paul disappear out the same back door their son had just fled through not more than two minutes prior.

Paul walked over and noticed his sons whole demeanor was different. He was battling inner demons and couldn't figure out what it was from. "Okay kid what's going on in your head?"

Jr rolled his eyes at his dad for calling him kid. His eyebrows lifted to his hair line. "Really pop?" Jr smirked ruefully when his dad gave him a warning growl for the 'pop'. They were even now.

Jr pushed away from the tree he had been leaning against as he rubbed his hands up and then down his face a few times, trying to figure out the right way to ask this sensitive question. He knew if he didn't word it right his dad would damn near take his head off his shoulders and he liked where his head was at the moment.

"I know this is probably a really personal question dad, but I have to ask. Did you accept the imprint right away...with mom I mean?"

Paul lowered his eyes to the ground. How could he possibly tell his son he was a giant asshole to his wife...the mother of his children when he first imprinted?

How do you tell your son the horrible words and hateful things you said to the woman who was now the long of his life all those years ago?