Blood Mates

Advice From A Friend

Jasper loaded up his truck, bumped fist with Davon who told him they’d see him soon. Jasper agreed, hugged Lucy and Seth who honestly didn’t want him to leave. Neither did Yasmine who hugged him tight and made him promise to call the moment he got home.

Jasper did and as he started to climb into the truck, he looked over suddenly at the bushes and jumped back when he saw a wolf dash by. “Whoa, did y’all see that?”

Davon moved closer to him, his eyes out of focus, “You should hit the road man.” Jasper slowly nodded and climbed in as they all stood tense. Jasper took off down the road and soon, he was on the road towards home.

When he got there, his dad was waiting with Arden. She stood in one of his dad’s shirts and yoga pants, her hair up in a messy bun. To be honest it was the first time Jasper had seen her relaxed and not all posh and put together.

He greeted her kindly and Arden could sense no fear in him this time. He talked to her with no change in his posture of heartbeat. Watching as he walked into the kitchen and heated up leftovers she went to put on actual clothes.

William came in behind him and leaned on the doorframe and Jasper smirked in his direction, “Well you look like you had a very merry Christmas dad.” William blushed the color of a cherry as he stammered, “I-it was really nice. Of course, it would have been better if you were here.”

Chuckling as he ate a slice of ham, Jasper shook his head, “Nah I’m good. I don’t think I wanted to be here when Miss. Sammuels “jingled your bells”.”

William turned eve redder as he hissed, “Jasper!” Laughing feeling elated Jasper teased, “Nothing to be embarrassed about pops, I trust you were a big boy. Either that or contact Mtv for a new series: Grandpa and expecting.”

The possibility of William choking his son went up when Arden suddenly appeared. Dressed in jeans, a cute shirt, a black trench coat, with her bag in hand she looked at William.

“William, walk me out?” William rushed to do so, if anything to get away from his son’s embarrassing teasing.  

William walked her out to her car and, Arden kissed him goodbye.

After leaving Arden waited a block before calling her friend to meet her. And when she got to the park ten minutes later, she found Eric sitting on a park bench in a trench coat looking put out.

“You look properly neutered,” She teased lightly as her hair blew on the wind. Inhaling, Eric returned the tease as he noted, “And you smell of William Wynter. I never thought a plaid wearing mortal would appeal to your…tastes.”

Arden smiled widely as she gushed, “It’s been refreshingly different.” Eric shook his head as Arden sat down beside him on the bench, “You’ve been struggling with this.”

 Eric’s jaw clenched at the truth and Arden breathed out, “I never had children Eric, I wanted them, but Shamus thought it was impractical. Thought we’d just be cursing children with something they didn’t want. I agreed eventually, but I came to hate myself for it.”

Feeling a light snow began to fall Arden told him earnestly, “I know you wanted to keep Alaia safe, and I know you thought you were doing right by her.” Nodding, Eric threw up his hands.

“Finally, someone sees it that way!” Laughing lightly, Arden shook her head, “That doesn’t mean I agree with your actions Eric.” Frowning, the old vampire looked at his oldest friend. “I didn’t mean to hurt her.”

Arden nodded slowly, “I know you didn’t. But now you’re putting yourself at risk of losing her. And the only thing that’ll save you is grabbing on to your only life preserver.”

Scoffing, Eric asked bitterly, “And that is?” Arden hit his chest at the attitude, “The mortal boy who’s captured her heart.”

 There was a sound that left eric like a dying curse. But then he humanely sneered, “That punk ran from my daughter in horror. Even when he left the house, he skidded up gravel trying to get out of there.”

Arden nodded, “Yes because his girlfriend who he thought was a cute seventeen-year-old girl turned out to be something from a sci-fi textbook. Are you telling me he wasn’t allowed to be shocked? Or maybe confused? Hurt?”

Eric clenched his jaw and Arden nodded knowing he saw how unfair he was being, “I know you’re looking for any reason to not approve of him. But I just saw Jasper, and unlike when he left to his mother’s, he wasn’t afraid of me. He seems calm enough now where he’d listen. Maybe you should talk to him, instead of intimidating the crap out of him.”

Looking up at the dark grey sky, Eric admitted, “I thought I was keeping her safe. I saw how bad it can hurt when a vampire’s mate rejects them. I didn’t want her to do go through that.”

Arden had seen that kind of pain too. And while she didn’t have a child, if she did, she wouldn’t want them to experience that pain. So she offered her friend a lifeline so he’d get of the dog house with his family.

“Well it’s not too late to fix it.”