Date: Mon, 19 Apr 2021 14:19:27 -0400 From: Just Forfun Subject: New Reality 7 This is my first story, so your input is extremely welcome. Email me at jst4fun2nyt@gmail.com and tell me what you like, what you don't like, and even where I mess up continuity or details. My focus is the story, not the sex. There will be sex, m/m and m/f, and some m/m/m/f but it will be tame compared to some stories. The story is fiction, and any similarities to people, living or dead, is purely coincidence. STDs and Corona don't exist in my fantasy world, so they don't use protection. You should use protection, always!!! Many of my characters are underage, and they will be having consensual sex, both with other youth, and what some consider adults. If that offends you, find another story. If reading this is illegal where you live, don't break the law! I'd like to find an editor, or a Beta reader at least. If you're up for that, contact me. I'm also open to suggestions on where you'd like to see things go, although I'm already 30 chapters ahead of where you are now. Don't forget to DONATE to NIFTY so you can continue to hate me for any cliffhangers. https://donate.nifty.org/ ************************************************************************************************************** When my son's heart beat its last I didn't panic, I didn't scream in anguish, I didn't ask God why, I simply slit my wrist. Scott had used his thumbnail to open the vein on the inside of his wrist and when he heard Charlie's last heartbeat, he held the open vein to our son's lips and hoped he'd feed. He did, slowly, gently, but he fed. Scott fed him for about 5 minutes then I sensed he was ready to switch so I opened my vein in the same way, and put my arm to Charlie's lips. It took him a moment to adjust to a different taste and smell, but he needed blood, and he didn't care the source. We spent the night laying naked on either side of our naked son, taking turns feeding him and he never seemed to get enough. His heart had stopped at 11:43 pm June 18, and he took his first breath as a vampire at 11:44 pm. It was now 4:57am June 19 and Charlie hadn't stopped feeding. He was still sucking at a slow, steady rate. It seemed much slower than how he had taken formula from a bottle so I was concerned at first, but this was new to us. He didn't open his eyes and he didn't pee or poop, he just fed. I could tell from Scott's face that he was as concerned as I was. I decided I would call Dad at 5 if nothing changed. I saw the clock change and looked from my husband to my son, no change. I saw the number change again and I reached for my phone and froze. Charlie's eyes were open and he had stopped sucking. He was silent but his eyes kept darting from Scott to me then back. For the second time in 6 hours tears dripped from our cheeks onto his bare chest. Scott pulled his arm away and I picked my son up and held him to my chest and my tears flowed, he was OK, it was going to be OK. Then we got the real proof he was going to be OK, as Charlie covered my chest with pee. We started laughing and we were laughing so loud Billy knocked and asked if we were OK. Scott told him to come in and when he saw Charlie looking back at him, he ran to us and hugged us both. When he realized he was now covered in pee he freaked out and went running away, and that got us laughing more. Finally, I stood and carried him in to our shower with Scott right behind me, we rinsed off, powdered him and wrapped him in a diaper, then laid him in his crib. Scott was changing the sheets when I turned and saw everyone in the house standing around our door. 24 hours ago I would have freaked if any of these people had seen me naked but an afternoon of hunting nude had removed that inhibition, so I just smiled at them as they ogled Charlie. Mary had our other son in her arms and when I reached out she handed Davie to me. "When did he eat?" "Several hours ago, he just woke up." so I smoothly reopened my wrist and fed my other son. His feeding wasn't slow and gentle like his brother had been doing, this boy was growing and hungry. When he finished with the bed Scott put on jeans then took Davie from me and continued feeding him. I pulled on some underwear and jeans and we went out to the kitchen. Mary got two large coffee mugs, filled them with white tail and stuck them in the microwave, she then started scrambling eggs for omelets. When the microwave dinged, Billy grabbed the mugs and handed them to Scott and me and we gulped them down. I pulled my phone out and called Dad to let him know things had gone well. "So he's doing good?" "I guess, he fed for hours but he's breathing, and more attentive than before. Is that normal?" "Vampire infants' brains are more developed than humans, I didn't know what the change would do, I told you it's rare." "Well, it's done, and my stress level is way down." "Good. If it's ok with you, we're heading to look at a few places this morning." If it's ok with me? What's that mean? Tommy and Leonard came down during my call and when I was done Leonard said "I've got some ideas about the office, if you want to talk business today. It can wait if you still need space Sir." Still with the `Sir'? I hope they get past that. "No, we can look at it." "First, we need to talk babe, let's go use that office." The words 'we need to talk' always set me on edge so I was nervous as I followed Scott to the office. He closed the door behind us and pushed me into the big leather chair behind the desk. "Stay!" He walked around the desk and took a picture of me at the desk then came back around to show it to me "What do you see?" "Me at a desk?" "I see an incredible leader who needs to realize that he's in charge, and doesn't need me at his side to have me in his corner. When you said we would handle things together I was all for it, but what I see is you were born for this. I don't need to help you with things. If you don't set up an office somewhere downtown, you need this office to project power, control. You can't do that with other desks crowding in here. Leave things as they are." "Where will you work? What about Billy?" "How many times have you been in here so far?" "This is the second." "And you've been making decisions and running things fine. You don't work in an office babe, you work on the fly. This room will be for sitting and talking things over with people one on one. Dad set it up like this for a reason. You have the desk to impress, the couch and chairs, to have conversations, and this" as he pushed on a section of bookshelf in the corner it swung away "to let Billy or you get to and from the library quick and easy." "I didn't know that was there!" "I forgot about it until just now. I used to sneak in and surprise Dad while he was working. My point is, leave the layout, we can set up a work area in the library for me. We can set one up for Billy too, right by the pass through, and leave it open when we want. I'm not saying not to remodel if you don't like things, I'm saying I don't need a space in here, and even more important, I need you to just run things. I have zero interest in it babe. I wanted to at first, but now, well, I want to be here for our sons." "You mean you don't want to be involved at all?" "I'll be involved because we'll talk and you'll share, but no, I want you to just go with things as you see fit. I'll work with David and manage our personal stocks and investments, but the businesses are totally you. Well, you with Billy to keep you organized." "OK, I won't argue with you, if you agree to get more involved with David and get more aggressive on investing." "OK, deal. Now, what was Dad saying you should have told me about?" I told him everything Dad had said, starting with his advice about changing Charlie and ending with what he was seeing with Jack and Matt. Scott agreed about Jack and said he bet Jack might want to retire with Mom and Dad. I didn't know much yet about my nephew but as I thought about it he was right. It might be a good thing for Jack to take some time off, it might help him get over his loss. I'd need to talk to Dad about that. "OK, then we agree we'll leave the office as it is, put a workstation in for Billy and a desk for you in the library?" "I think it's the right move babe." "Speaking of Billy, his only family is Mary. Will she teach him what you taught me last night? Or does it come natural when you're born this way? Or what?" "When I started puberty, Dad took me hunting. I had never felt my beast until Dad brought him out like I did yours. He got mine out with the first pain. I suppose Mary will take him, why?" "Well, I just thought he might feel more comfortable with one of us, naked and all." "Nudity isn't a problem with us. Everyone was wearing clothing for you because of your human background. I grew up naked most of the time." "You mean Mary took care of you while she was naked?" "We wore clothes, or not, as we wanted. Some days she'd come over naked, yeah. I was just used to it, I've never thought about it. You did notice you didn't flinch this morning when everyone came in, didn't you?" "It didn't cross my mind... Are you saying everyone would prefer being nude?" "I don't know about everyone, but I'm saying our family wouldn't care." I had to think about this "Well back to Billy, would we offend her by asking? I mean is it a private thing?" "I'll go ask her to come in and you can ask her. I'm sure asking won't upset her, I don't know what she'll say though." and he came back a few minutes later with her. "Mary, I don't know a lot about vampire customs and such so if I offend you please tell me? Scott took me out and taught me how to hunt, you know that. I knew nothing about my beast or anything of hunting, and I'm not some expert or anything but, well, were you planning on taking Billy hunting soon?" "I was going to take him this weekend, well, that was until last night." I looked to Scott "What happened last night?" "You found your beast. Billy asked me if I would be mad if he asked you to take him out." "I was thinking Scott would be better, I'm so new to this." "You don't see it, do you Greg? Do you see it Scott?" "See what?" I asked while Scott just nodded. "Have you ever heard of an 'Alpha'?" "Like the Alpha wolf that leads a pack? Yeah, we read about wolves in school, there's Alpha, Beta, Deltas, warriors, healers, hunters and an omega or two." "Vampires are like wolves, in that we form packs and extended families. Our humanity has us expressing it differently and our natures help us survive." "What's that got to do with me?" "Babe, we can explain, but pictures say a thousand words, right?" I nodded so he handed his phone to Mary and asked her to take a picture. Then he came around to my side and told me to bring my beast out to show my eyes as he did the same. We turned to look at Mary and she snapped a picture, then handed me the phone as Scott explained. Scott's eyes were a fiery red and now had a bit of a glow, but my eyes were bright crimson red and glowing like fire. "My eyes used to turn red, blood red, I was just a pack member. Today, you see the slight glow? I'm an Alpha's mate now. Your eyes last night were glowing like the sun. You're an Alpha babe. And that collection of goofy people out there is your pack. They all could sense it before your beast came out, but no one was sure. Last night you came home and everyone smelled the Alpha. Didn't it seem odd that everyone was hanging around the family room? When did they ever do that before?" "When did we have the time?" "In LA, everyone did their own thing, last night, they gathered around us." "Have you told Dad?" "I think he suspects but you've talked to him since last night, I haven't." "Greg, a lot has happened to you in the last two weeks and you have a lot to learn, but you've also done an incredible job adjusting. You got control of your beast on your first hunt. Only a true Alpha could do that. I worked for your dad and he was my Alpha but when he gave you this house, I came with it. And since you're an Alpha, you're my Alpha. Billy sensed it the first day, remember how he's been by your side the whole way, helping?" "What's that make him? Beta? And Tommy? Leonard?" "Vampire roles tend to be genetic and Billy's Granddad was James' Beta. Most of the mid-levels simply serve as best they can. My life has been spent serving as a Beta mate, or simply helping after I lost my Will." "I have a lot to think about Mary. Thanks for this. Go check on the boys please?" "OK, you gonna teach my boy to hunt?" "I'll do my best Mary." Mary left us and Scott sat on the sofa. I got up and went to sit with him. "I need you to teach me more hon, I need to understand all of this. If I'm supposed to be their leader, I need to know more than I do now." "I'll do what I can babe but you might get more from Dad, or George." I heard the doorbell but knew Mary or Tommy would get it so I just sat there thinking, trying to digest all of this. There was a knock on the door "Yes?" "Greg, you have a visitor." "Bring him in please." Mary stepped aside and George walked in. My beast got defensive and I jumped up "What are you doing here?" "When you called and said you were doing it, I called James. When I found out he was in Florida we decided I needed to be here, so here I am." "Why do you need to be here? The change went fine, Charlie's sleeping." "Not the change Greg, you. James knew you were special when he tasted your blood. I knew you were special when I first scented you. When we heard you did your first hunt and had control as fast as you did, we knew what it means, and you need to learn to be an Alpha. James doing it would cause confusion with your people, so here I am. Scott, can you feed your boys for the next few days if you need to? Greg and I are going hunting, all week if he needs it. We're gone until he's ready. Both of you go suck down a pitcher of blood, then Greg, meet me outside in 10 minutes. Scott, with you feeding two babies, you need blood, at your age it can't hurt you, that changed baby needs to stick to blood, Davie can handle a mix. Now both of you get moving." I didn't argue with him, just got up and went to our room, kissed both boys and undressed. I ran to the kitchen and gulped down a pitcher of white tail then headed out front. George was waiting naked and doing some stretching. I followed his example and he laughed "I'm an old man Greg, I haven't hunted in 20 years, city life has spoiled me. You might learn some hunting from me, but that's not the reason I'm here. I came to teach you all the little things about controlling your beast, and how to use him. Most vampires separate their human and beast. Alphas and Betas need to learn to merge their two parts into one complete and powerful being. The strongest packs are full of vampires who can use the various aspects of their beasts at any time, remember that." He started walking towards the woods about a thousand yards away so I followed, "How do you mean? The beast needs to be kept hidden or humans will know what I am." "Greg, do you remember when you first met me?" I nodded "I could smell you coming down the hall from the minute you walked in. I heard every word, including your Dad's Norma Desmond comment." I remembered that comment and still didn't get it. "So, you had your beast out until we came in the room?" "I had my beast out the whole time Greg. Every aspect of him is a separate piece and you'll learn to use them. As an Alpha, you need to be able to just extend your hearing when you choose, or your eyesight, or your sense of smell. Most times, you want them all slightly heightened." "But if I allow the beast to use my eyes they glow, humans will see it." "It takes practice, that's what we're going to do. Show me your beast Greg." so I took a breath and let my beast surface a bit, I felt my fangs and nails grow, I could sense my hearing and sight sharpening "I said show me your beast, that's just a touch. Let him out." "But I might attack you!?" Suddenly George stood over me looking down. He had grown to over seven feet tall with fangs that were, I swear, four inches long, his eyes were glowing like a fire in a fireplace, and his hands had changed into long deformed paws with razor sharp claws the size of a bear's "You think you're gonna hurt me pup!?" he roared. My beast was startled and burst to the surface. I must have grown too because I found myself looking into his face, on his level. I snarled at him and could feel my fangs brushing my chin. I looked down and my hands matched his. I heard him growl "Much better pup, I'm not a threat to you or your pack, you know that, don't you?" My beast wasn't so sure but I nodded, 'friend' I said in my mind, and I relaxed just a bit. "Good, very good. Now, back to human" I thought it and within seconds I was back to the body I was used to "Holy shit! Does everyone's beast look like that?" "Only an Alpha grows as much. Now that Scott's beast knows his place, he'll be larger than the pack but smaller than your Beta. You'll always be larger than those below you. Now we work on you controlling each part individually." The sun was going down before I could isolate each of my senses and focus just the one. The hardest part was my eyesight, I struggled to enhance my sight without letting the red of the beast take over, but I finally got it. Once I could pick and choose my senses, he taught me how to extend my nails just enough, hands and feet, and climb a tree like a cat. We were perched about twenty feet up when he tapped my arm and pointed. A deer was walking under us. I knew what he meant for me to do, so I pulled up various aspects of my beast and silently dropped down on the deer, fed, and let her go. As she ran George dropped down by my side. "I knew you were unique when I saw you that first time Greg. I smelled the Alpha and I knew you had no idea. You can learn to lead your pack by trial and error if you want, they'll forgive your mistakes because they know you're young. If you want, I'll stay and do my best to teach you more, but you're at a point that you need to decide, not me." "In LA I said I wanted to learn from you, and that's still true. Stay and teach me all you will. Are we heading back or is there more to learn out here?" He smiled "There is always more to learn. Now we combine things and work on where your beast stays on a daily basis. You've not merged, you're still thinking of him as separate. Tuning your hearing and eyesight, bringing up your sense of smell, adjust them to a level for everyday use, we'll work all night." And work we did. George had me combining hearing and smell to find game with my eyes closed. I spent hours just 'getting to know' my beast and getting comfortable letting him stay and merge with my mind. I found he didn't want to control me, just to assist and protect me and mine. Once I realize we weren't two different beings but parts of one whole, I could instantly do all the things George wanted. I could drop my fangs exactly as long as I wanted them, I could change into my full Alpha form in the blink of an eye, and suddenly I could sense Scott's concern for my safety even though we were a mile from the house. When I felt that, I had an overwhelming desire to run to him and protect him. George sensed my change and said "We've worked hard enough pup, the sun will be up soon. You have a Beta to teach. I'll race ya to the house!" and he went full Alpha form and took off running. For a split second I felt the concern for my pack but I knew he wasn't attacking them, just running to them, so I changed and followed. I caught him and passed him as we crossed the front yard and I shifted to all human as I reached for the door. I sensed him behind me rather than heard him so I turned. "Thank you, George, I'm lucky to have you in my life" and I hugged him, then turned to go greet my pack. Everyone was at the kitchen table having breakfast so we joined them. Billy was looking at me, but wouldn't make eye contact, then I realized no one would look me in the eyes except Scott. I knew wolves avoided eye contact as a way to show respect but these people were my friends, my family. Finally, when I couldn't stand it any longer I set my cup down and stood "Look, I get it, but please look me in the eye when we talk? I'm not going to be upset. I'll be more upset if you don't, you're my family." `They need time babe, they'll adjust, you can't force it.' "I know Scott, it's just gonna take time." then I realized he hadn't spoken. The shock must have shown because George laughed. "I forgot to tell you. Alphas and their mates can hear each other's thoughts. It will get much stronger once you've actually completed the mating bond." "You forgot to mention that just so you could laugh at me, didn't you?" He rocked his head back and forth with a big grin "Maybe" I shook my head "More work with you? Or should I do that other first?" "I would like to shower and rest. I'm old, last night wore me out. Go deal with that, when you come back we'll sit and go over things. I've got a thousand that says you're back by sundown." "I'll go one better, I'll say we're back for dinner. Billy, let's go hunting." He dropped his cup and smiled ear to ear as he stripped and ran for the door. I tried the connection and thought 'Love you' and Scott smiled as he came over to give me a kiss, then I went out front to join Billy. I had seen him in his briefs so his pale body was familiar to me. He was skinny, pale, and his uncut penis was standing tall. I could smell his anticipation. I could sense that he looked up to me and felt honored that I was going to hunt with him. I walked the same path I had just run and he followed, I motioned for him to walk beside me so he stepped up and we headed for the woods. As we got to the boulder I stopped "You've never hunted?" "No Sir." "Stop it. You've never called me Sir before, don't start now. Can you sense your beast? Have you ever changed any?" "I've never changed but I haven't tried. I can feel him trying to come out sometimes. Usually when I'm with you he's screaming that he needs out." "George told me he thinks you're a Beta, my Beta, and your beast wants to fulfill its role. Are you ready?" "Part of me is, but I'm afraid I'll hurt you." "Have you ever seen someone in full form Billy?" "Grandma showed me a few times." "And you think you could hurt her in that form?" He was looking down and thinking about it when I made a decision, this was taking too long, he needed to let his beast out fully now, then learn control, so I switched to Alpha form. When he heard me snarl the shock knocked his defenses over and he instantly transformed. He grew to over six feet tall and had the same claws and fangs I did. The thing George hadn't told me about were his eyes, instead of the red I had, his were green, a glowing emerald green. He didn't growl at me or even try to threaten me in any way, just stood there avoiding eye contact and turned his head to the side offering me his throat in a sign of submission. "George was right pup, now look at me." and he turned but wouldn't look me straight in the eyes "Today you hunt, we'll work on you and your beast working as a team, I need you merged Billy, I need you strong and at my back. I need your senses constantly on alert if you're to be my Beta. Are you? Are you my Beta? Or are you a runt?" "Beta!" he roared. I changed back to human "Then show me a Beta's control. Show me the Billy I met." He struggled for 5 minutes but he got control and was back to the boy I knew, standing there looking up to me and when I opened my arms he fell into them and we hugged. I noticed his scent had changed. George had told me I would know my pack by scent, and Alphas and Betas also had a distinct scent. "Really good job buddy, you did great." I spent time explaining what George had told me about Betas and how they also merged with their beasts. I told him how to control his various gifts and he caught on quick, and soon we were stalking rabbits. I used Scott's trick and told him his Alpha wanted rabbit for lunch and he was off, running in the direction of one I had already scented then slowing to stalk closer. He was an exceptional stalker and was only three feet from the rabbit when he pounced, then turned and held it out to me. I smiled at him and took a sip then handed it back and told him to drink but not kill. After he released the scared little thing, he grinned at me and I hugged him, kissing his forehead. "Amazing job buddy." "Um, Greg, why am I hard?" "You know about sex I'm assuming?" "Yeah, but guys have never turned me on before." "It's the thrill of the hunt. Scott told me he had to masturbate before and after hunting until he was 7, and hunting still turns him on. Does me too, if you hadn't noticed." He blushed "I noticed, sorry." "Nothing to be sorry for, we can talk about anything. You ready to go back? Or should I let you run behind that bush and deal with that first?" "We can go back, it just didn't make sense but now it does. I bet Grandma will expect it." "That she might buddy, race ya!" and I tore off for the house. I didn't put much effort into it and he passed me and was dancing on the porch celebrating his win. I opened the door and we went in. I followed my nose and we went to the kitchen to find everyone having dinner. Mary got up and came around to embrace Billy brushing his hair out of his eyes "Your Dad and Granddad would be so proud of you baby." "Go shower and take care of what I told you, then come eat." He blushed and ran up the stairs. I had noticed that no one was looking him in the eyes either. I'll get used to it I guess, or go nuts. "I'm going to shower before I eat, don't wait for me. Can we talk afterwards George?" "Sure, see you in the office when you're done." Scott followed me and after we checked that the boys were still asleep, we showered. We both wanted to enjoy more in the shower, but George was waiting so we just washed each other, got out and dried. I dressed, more from habit than need since they'd all seen me naked several times over the last 24 hours. I headed to the kitchen and ate quickly, then poured two glasses of wine and went to the office. George was in the corner chair with a book in his hands. I handed him his wine and sat on the sofa and sipped mine. He held up the book "This is an ancient text that all vampire families have. Study it and it will answer a lot of your questions about your new nature and abilities, as well as customs you need to understand. What I want to talk about has less to do with your nature as a vampire and more to do with your role as an Alpha, and how to survive, and even thrive." We talked for hours as I learned leadership depends on mutual respect. My pack would follow me regardless of my decisions, due to a respect that came from both love and fear. The closer to me they were the more love was involved. He told me that everyone in the house right now would gladly die protecting me and I owed it to them to feel the same way. He said that humans would instinctively feel a level of fear around me and I'd notice it in their eyes and scent. I needed to learn to use that fear to get what I needed without abusing them. The greatest vampires succeeded in life by respecting everyone's rights and helping those we associated with to succeed. I had read business leadership books before and everything he was saying was in the most popular ones. The more my people grow in their lives, the more I grow. It was midnight and Scott was wondering where I was. George sensed my desire and said "I am overloading you, let's get some rest. Mary put me in your parents room so I'll see you at breakfast but I think we'll hold off on anymore long hard lessons. Do you mind if I hunt your lands tomorrow? I'd forgotten how much fun hunting can be." "You are always welcome to hunt my lands George, you don't need to ask. I owe you everything. I would have struggled for months to get the control you've taught me, and I might have taken years to learn how to use it for the pack and for business." "I did it because I can see your potential Greg, you're destined for greatness. Now go be with your sons and mate." I got up and headed for our room. Scott was sitting naked holding Davie in his lap feeding him formula. "Charlie eat yet?" "No, and it's been a while, if you feed him they might sleep the night." So I undressed and picked up my son, sat down, opened my wrist, and fed him. After they were both fed and in bed we snuggled together and slept. I had been awake for 36 hours and was feeling fine but as soon as I laid down, I was out. Saturday morning Charlie woke us at 7 and I got up, changed him and fed him. I had just burped him when Davie woke so Scott got up and took care of him. We showered and I decided to try one of the things George had suggested. We didn't dress but went out to find Tommy and Leonard, Jack, Mary, and Billy just finishing breakfast. I said "We're hunting as a pack today, Mary will stay with the boys." and just like he said they would, everyone stood and headed for the door. They all neatly piled their clothes in the living room and we found them outside waiting. "I need to see your beasts, let them out fully." and they did. None of them grew like I did, they were pack members, not an Alpha or Beta. I turned to Scott and he was looking at me with his glowing red eyes. No one seemed surprised when Billy towered over them by 6" with his green eyes taking them all in. I changed and looked down at my pack and I felt the connection grow. The need to protect them all filled me entirely and I smiled at each one of them. "Good, now we hunt." and I led them off to the woods. We spent several hours stalking, climbing, running, and just enjoying the freedom of being together. At one point I scented a group of deer and we surrounded them and fed, then let them go. I sat in a tree with Scott and watched them chase rabbits and squirrels. Billy stayed close to us the whole time, keeping one eye on the pack and the other constantly on us. Jack seemed to be the Omega, yielding to everyone during the chase and waiting until last to feed. Tommy was the more aggressive hunter while Leonard seemed to enjoy stalking over chasing. They both were incredible and I never saw them miss their prey. Satisfied I had learned what I wanted and that they had enjoyed themselves, I dropped to the ground and they all stopped and gathered around me. I didn't need to speak, I just headed for home and they followed, spread out instinctively to protect us from a danger that probably wasn't there. We walked in and I said "Showers, then I need Leonard and Tommy in the office. Jack, we'll talk next." and Scott and I went to shower again. "I don't know if I like the way George says I need to be short, direct, and clear with the pack. It feels like I'm being an asshole." "You're not, they expect it at times like this morning babe, there's a balance, and you'll figure out when to be that guy and when to be the Greg I met." We dried off and this time we dressed. I wore jeans and a tee shirt, it's Saturday and I'm home so I figured why not. When I walked in the office Tommy and Leonard were waiting, standing in front of the couch. Billy was in the corner behind my desk by the hidden door, did he know about it? "Sit, please." and I pointed to the sofa. They sat, and I sat in the chair across from them. Billy stayed where he was, watching and listening. "Tell me what's changed that you're treating me so differently. I need to hear it from your side." "I knew you were different the day I first picked you up. I knew I wanted to work for you because of how you treated me that first day. Like an equal and not just some driver. I started thinking you were going to be an Alpha in LA when I saw how George treated you. He's one of the Princes, and he treated you almost like an equal. When I got home I told Len about it and since we've not been in a pack in 100 years we hoped you'd accept us. Thursday when you came back from hunting, the Alpha scent almost knocked us over. This morning it felt like you were welcoming us into your pack by taking us hunting, I hope that was your intent?" I nodded, "It was, for both of you. You were in my pack before I knew I had one. Can you treat me like you did before all of this though? I understand if you can't, but this is awkward for me." They both smiled "We'll try, but with your scent, it's hard to do." "OK, now, Leonard, to business. I talked with Scott and we decided we want to leave this office as it is" I stood and motioned for him to follow "This needs to be kept quiet. Billy knows, and Tommy as security, and since you're working on it you'll know. Beyond that, tell no one." As I pulled the hidden door open and led them in to the library. "In here we need a workstation for Billy, close to the hidden door. And Scott wants a desk in here, nothing overpowering, just somewhere to sit and work. Maybe we can get a smaller conference table, but if you can keep it and work around it, do so. Billy, get someone to inventory the books in here. Do the ones in the office yourself, there are some books I don't want others to see. Any questions or ideas?" "We still haven't talked IT." "Get whatever you want. That laptop you got in LA, is it one you would have bought? Or was it just something in a pinch?" "I got lucky, it's actually what I had in mind for you. I can get a dock for it for your desk." "No, don't do that. Scott says I need that desk for image and he's right. A computer will take away from that. We can see how it works out and adjust, I'll take that one though, get whatever for you and Scott. Get Leonard what he needs as well. I think we'll do wireless rather than pulling wires that will be outdated a year after we pull them." "Leonard, what's the status on the rooms downstairs?" "Closets are framed, wiring is done. I was going to do the drywall today but we went hunting." "You're doing this alone?" "The vampires I've hired have commitments until Monday, and I don't want unkown humans around you, if I can help it. If you're not going anywhere today, Tommy can help me, we'll be painting by tomorrow afternoon." "If I remember, that puts you right where you wanted, flooring on Monday, right?" "Yes Sir, I've been emailing with Clint & Co and have the furniture set for delivery on Tuesday. They said they will probably be back Tuesday afternoon." "Good, and the houses?" "I bought an excavator and skid steer, the dealer will deliver them Monday first thing. I'll need them here for all summer so I figured we'll get the truck and trailer in the fall and let the money make money." "So you have a crew and they'll demo on Monday?" "I'm waiting until Tuesday. I want to oversee it personally. We have movers coming Monday to take all of Mary's furniture to storage until she can go through it. Now that you're Alpha and she's taken to being the nursemaid, she won't be happy away from your pups, er sons, sorry." "It's fine, I'm getting used to it. So, do we have an architect lined up?" "Mike has a friend, I emailed him and we're waiting to hear from him. If we don't by Monday noon, I'll put out feelers elsewhere." "And you have a crew for that?" "So far 5 vampires. Most of them can do any trade we need, the equipment operator doesn't know electrical but I have enough." "And the landscapers" "All humans, mostly college age. I started with one crew and we'll expand as we get clients. They're coming Monday to do the house and we can see if you want to do some planting or whatever. I'd leave things as is until we're done the houses then design to match." "Ignore the house for now. I want to enclose the property with a four foot tall wall along the road and fences elsewhere. We don't need humans wandering in and seeing us hunting. Electronic gates at the main drive, manual elsewhere. Anything else?" "That's it for now." "Good, Tommy, we're delaying the trip to Maryland for a few weeks, but I want Mom's Suburban here. Get with Regent, get a driver to pick it up. Billy has the keys. Also we'll have the use of James' Ram and I need you to evaluate our needs. Vehicles, drivers, whatever. Make the house run smooth please. I don't mind using Regent for sudden things, but otherwise we need to be independent." "I agree, and forgive me for overstepping here, but I don't want humans driving you. I can barely tolerate another vampire doing it, but I'll survive. I'd like to go to find a few to be around as security and spare drivers." "When we're using Regent, Andrew seemed nice enough, other than that, let me ask George if he knows anyone. Another thing, you told Tyler you're armed, why?" "I assume you mean why am I armed?" I nodded so he went on "+Humans expect you to have an armed bodyguard, and if someone tries something, I can't let my beast deal with it in public. Do you dislike guns?" "No, I grew up with them, it just seemed odd but I see your point. Would a bullet kill me?" "To the head yes, a heart shot might too, other than that you'll heal within 24 hours." "Am I a target?" "No more than any other high-level executive. And only from humans. A vampire would never risk it, the Council's justice is swift." "OK, well, Jack is waiting outside the office so thanks for all of this. If you have issues work through Billy. I'm going to be busy for a while. One more thing Leonard, if I wander your work site just keep working, I don't want to distract. If I have a question I'll ask." Billy headed towards the kitchen, and I went back through the hidden door and closed it, then I opened the door and invited Jack in. We sat on the sofa "This morning you seemed like you see yourself as part of my pack. Is that what you intended? Or were you just enjoying your time with friends and family?" "I've never really felt like I was part of Granddad's pack. I know he loves me and I love him, but from the first time I met you, I've felt pulled to you Greg. I think Matt feels the same but that's for him to say. I live in London but I don't have a home that makes me feel as good as I've felt being around you. It will change things, but if you'll accept me, yes I'd like to be in your pack." "I don't know all the customs, I'm still learning, so tell me what changes?" "Oh, it used to be when a vampire joined a pack he surrendered his assets to his Alpha. Some still insist on that and some don't, but honestly I'm tired and really would prefer if you did." "I'm not going to insist on it Jack, in fact I'm not even going to ask. That's not me, but if you offer I won't refuse. If you want me to care for them and let you relax the rest of this life or longer that's fine too. In fact if you do give things up, all you ever need do is ask and I'll restore you to the best of my ability. But know this: If you do give something up, I'll treat it as mine totally and if I sell it I can't recover it." "This is why I want in your pack uncle. You really don't realize how much integrity you have. I'll think about things and we can talk more." "I think that's wise. While we're in Europe, how hard would it be to visit the ancestral home?" "As simple as flying in to Frankfurt and hiring a car. It's empty, and has been since the war. Are you considering doing something with it? Granddad and I looked into it but it would cost millions." "It was on my mind but you're making me reconsider. It's also an emotional thing, I'm family now so I should see our origins." "I felt the same. I wish you could've seen it before the war. I might have pictures in Woodstock, we can look together." "Jack, regardless of what you decide to do with your assets, you are welcome in this pack, so if you want, you now have a home." Tears ran down his face as he said "Thank you Greg, I'd like that." We sat there in silence a while just relaxing then I felt Scott "Scott needs me. You can stay here if you want." "Nah, think I'll go sneak some of Mary's apple pie." I laughed and went to find Scott sitting in our room holding Charlie feeding him. Billy was sitting with him watching Davie sleep. "What's up hon?" "Billy has asked my consent to ask you something. I've told him he can ask and we'll discuss it."