“We are not going there looking like bums,” his mom declared.
“There is no we and no party. I won’t have this family going anywhere near that group.”
Maeve clapped. “Bravo, oh mighty savior who thinks he talks for all of us.”
“Don’t start with me,” he growled. “I don’t want you involved in this.”
“Already am, or have you forgotten I was born in the same lab?” Maeve said with a lilt in the reply.
He closed his eyes. He didn’t need the reminder. “But you haven’t been able to change.”
“Not for lack of trying. Catnip doesn’t work on bears.”
“I don’t know why you’d even want to. Doesn’t it freak you out?” Stefan exclaimed.
“While I am not crazy about the idea of wearing a flea collar, I actually think it’s kind of cool. If I can ever figure out my trigger.”
“You might be lucky and not have the gene that makes you into an animal,” he suggested.
“Oh, I am pretty sure I do because it would explain the time I had a blackout after a one-night stand. I thought he roofied me when I woke naked in the park the next day. In retaliation I keyed the shit out of his car.”
He winced. “Ouch.”
She shrugged. “Honest mistake.”
“Do you know what triggered it?”
She shook her head. “Nope, but Raymond’s got some ideas we can try to figure out.”
“I really wish you’d slow down on the testing,” Mom grumbled. “It’s dangerous.”
“Mom’s right. You shouldn’t treat this lightly,” Stefan declared.
“Exactly, which is why we need to know more. Mom thinks there will be people at this party that might be able to give us some answers.”
“I don’t trust them.”
“I should hope not,” Maeve replied. “We barely know them. But the only way to find out what kind of people they are is to get close to them.”
He had gotten close to one. She reminded him of catnip in that he didn’t feel himself around her.
“We are going tomorrow night,” his mom stated. “All except for the youngest.”
“Meaning Maeve, too?” he taunted.
“Ha. Ha. Funny. Not.” His sister grimaced. “Actually, I’m going to talk to Pammy and see if I can convince her to come.”
“Is she talking to us yet?” Pamela had a minor meltdown after the revelation they’d been created in a lab and spliced with animals. She claimed she needed time to think about it and distanced herself. He had a feeling he knew what that meant.
“She’s just sorting through some stuff right now. With work. And her love life.” Mom looked concerned.
He made a mental note to check in on Pamela. “I don’t think she should go. And neither should you or anyone else in this family.”
Mom shook her head. “I’m going.”
“Me too!” Maeve chimed in.
“This is a bad idea.”
“It might be, so the question is, will you be by my side keeping me safe? Or let me enter the den of wolves alone?” Mom laid it on thick.
He groaned. “For fuck’s sake, fine, I’ll go. But I’m not staying long.”
Maeve exploded her fingers as she exclaimed, “Kaboom, taken out by the guilt monster.”
“Not funny,” he grumbled. “Let it be known I am against this dumbass idea.”
“Don’t be so negative. Maybe you’ll find someone at this party.”
Stefan couldn’t believe she said it. “Mom, I am not looking for a girlfriend.”
“You should. You are getting up in years.”
He tugged on his beard. “Mom!”
Maeve cackled. “Old and fat. Better hurry up and get married.”
He glared at his sister. “Still not amusing.”
Mom agreed. “Finding the perfect partner is serious work, which is why you’ll be on your best behavior, Maeve Hubbard.”
“Hold on a second. Why are you talking to me?” Maeve squawked.
“You could use someone in your life.”
“I’m not even thirty.”
“And? Love can hit at any time. There will be boys at this party,” Mom sang.
“Mom, we’re talking about werewolves at this party. I’m a bear. Definitely not compatible.”
“You don’t know that for sure,” Mom interjected.
“Take one for the team, Maeve,” he teased his sister.
“Shut up,” Maeve hissed.
“Ah, now, don’t be shy. You have permission from Mom to get knocked up.”
“Speaking of knocking up, Henny at the beauty shop has a niece only a year younger than you. Single. Attractive. Works full time at Home Depot as a manager.”
He blinked at his mom. “No.”
“Don’t answer yet. You haven’t even seen her.”
He shook his head. “I am not getting hooked up with anyone.” He almost added ever. With the bomb he carried around inside, he didn’t dare take the chance.
His brother Dominick had, though. He was engaged to the very human Anika. Didn’t he worry about what me might pass on?
“You say that now. But wait until you meet the right lady.” His mom clasped her hands. “You never know when true love will hit.” Mom had only loved one man in her life, and he died a year before she adopted her first orphan.
“On second thought, maybe I’ll stay home.”
“Do it, you pussy,” Maeve dared, popping a cookie into her mouth. “Stay home and pretend none of this is happening. The rest of us are going to meet the neighbors. Fingers crossed I don’t insult them.”
“Or else what? The wolves won’t invite us back?” was his sarcastic reply.
“They might choose to rid their territory of those they see as rivals.”
He would have called it an exaggeration except for his conversation with Nimway. “They better not harm my family.”
Maeve shrugged. “You won’t be there to stop it from happening, so here’s to hoping none of us do something stupid while you’re pouting at home.”
Before he could reply, his mom jumped in. “It’s fine, Stefan. If you are that opposed, you should stay away. Don’t worry. We’ll have Dominick with us.”
That hotheaded Neanderthal? He groaned, succumbing to the reverse psychology. “I’m going, but I’m not dressing up.”
But he did wear a special T-shirt.
4
Mom stared at Stefan’s shirt, while Tyson outright laughed. Dominick shook his head and said, “You trying to get us killed?”
“What’s wrong with it?” Stefan glanced down at the image of sexy Red Riding Hood, cloak and skirt hiked high to reveal a leg, wagging a finger at a wolf. The text beside her read: Eat me.
“The purpose of this endeavor is to force a peaceful alliance, not piss them off. And you know that means you’re just being a dick.” Dominick, as usual, provided a blunt opinion.
A correct one as it turned out. Stefan was being unusually contrary. He couldn’t help himself. He’d been feeling more antsy than usual since meeting Nimway. Still, his family had a point. He shouldn’t purposefully antagonize their hosts. “Anyone got a shirt handy?” He’d moved out years ago and didn’t keep any spare clothes on hand.