Part 4

(Smile)

I was searching frantically for Lili. I was so lost in thought that I didn't notice he had snuck away. I had first noticed his presence when I looked around. I thought he was in his nest but when I went check he wasn't there. That was when I lost it. I took the pups into the cave and told my mate what had happened and that I would be back as soon as I found him. And he was going to be in so much trouble when I found him. He knew not to sneak off on his own.

I tracked his scent to the safe trail I used to while coming from the mansion to go on killing sprees. He must have stumbled upon it and smelled the lingering of my scent there. He seemed to have followed it back to the mansion. I ran as fast as I could to get to the mansion. As I got closer I picked up the familiar scent of Slenderman.

No sooner than that did I see said tall being. I ran over to him. He was standing in front of the door of his mansion. He seemed to be waiting for someone. As I got closer to him, he seemed to notice my presence.

"Ah Smile," Slender said, "About time you got here. I thought you had gotten lost."

"Enough with the jokes Slender," I growled, "Where's my son?"

"You mean the young pup I found earlier?" Slender said, "The one that goes by Li-Wei but prefers Lili? He's inside, in Jeff's room. I wouldn't disturb them though."

"And why not?" I asked.

"I think it's best if you see for yourself," he said.

He opened the door and we walked inside. Slender led me to Jeff's room, being unusually quiet and careful about where he stepped. We stopped at Jeff's door. It was a little too quiet for my comfort. I could feel my fur bristle a bit at the thought of Jeff harming my little Lili. Slender opened the door as quietly as he could. We both looked inside. Jeff was sound asleep in the middle of his bed, his sleeping mask covering his eyes. In Jeff's arms was my little Lili, sleeping soundly and peacefully.

"This is why I said we shouldn't disturb them," Slender said, "they are just too cute right now to wake up. You know better than anyone that Jeff never lets anyone sleep with him."

"If that's true then why is he holding Lili so protectively?" I voiced out my thoughts.

"Most likely his instincts telling him to," Slender said, "I think we all know he trusts his instincts more than anyone or anything."

"That's true," I sighed.

"Come," Slender said closing the door gently, "we have some things we need to discuss."

I nodded and followed Slender down the hall further and into his office. I watched as he sat in his chair behind his desk. I sat on the floor in front his desk. He folded his hands and resting his chin on them.

"You could have told us Smile," he started, "we wouldn't have minded having you and your family living here with us. Not to mention that it would be a lot safer. Besides, you had all of us worried about you. Jeff especially. He thought he had lost his best friend."

"I'm sorry for not telling you," I said, "but if word got out about Lili being different . . . . . I just don't want Zalgo to get his greedy hands on my son. Lili wouldn't be able to handle it. He can only handle so much. And now it seems he has become attached to Jeff."

"That's a good thing then," Slender said, "you know how alone Jeff feels sometimes."

"That's not the problem Slender," I growled quietly, "Lili is like me and his mother. He can and most likely will go into heat when he gets older. He doesn't know about that yet and I wasn't planning on telling him for a while. If he develops feelings for Jeff then that could send him into heat earlier than normal. He's too young right now. I still don't know why he is so small. His brothers are almost fully grown but he has barely grown at all."

"And it worries you because of how small he is," Slender said, "that is something I can understand. However, don't you think it would be better for him to go into heat over someone he loves rather than a one-time stand? I take it that he is a hermaphrodite."

"Yes he is," I sighed, "the only hermaphrodite I've seen before. That's why I'm extremely over protective of him. I don't want him getting hurt."

"But if Jeff loves Lili back the same way Lili loves Jeff," Slender said, "then wouldn't it be smarter to allow them to stay together. You never know, he might not be tall like your other pups. He is different after all and this house houses those who are different."

"I'll have to talk with my mate," I said giving in, "I'll leave Lili here. I will be back as soon as I can. But be warned that I will be punishing my son for wondering off like that. He knew better than to do that. Now, I need to go check with my mate to see if she is alright with coming here."

Slender just nodded. I walked out of his office and out of the mansion. I took off down the path I used to get here. Hopefully my mate will agree. Lili is going to need someone by his side to protect him. Jeff would protect Lili without a moments hesitation. If Jeff really did start to love Lili in the same way Lili loves Jeff then my little Lili should be safe and sound. I hope this is the right choice.