Chapter Five: Jealous Kind of Love

Final Edit: 12-27-18

Mei's P.O.V.

*At The Airport*

Elijah was so excited to meet Liam for the first time but I however was less than ecstatic. I knew he had lectured me enough to satisfy his maternal need over me, but something about today had me and my wolf on edge.

"Ok Elijah, hold up your sign high so Uncle Liam can see!" He beamed up at me with a toothy smile. "Ok mama!" the little booger was too cute for his own good. "Is that who I think it is!?" I hear Liam's sharp voice cut through the air. "Is that my nephew! Come over here and say hi little pup!" 

Elijah drops the sign at my feet and rushes forward and Liam catches him with open arms. "You seem strong little one, have you been taking care of your mother?" Elijah give him a huge grin and nods, "yup, and chasing away all her boyfriends!" He lifts his eyebrow and looks at me, "is that so? Your mother is a very beautiful woman isn't she? That's why I'm here, to help you chase away all those naughty boys!" I smile and shake my head and give Liam a side hug since he was holding Elijah.

"Look at the both of you already working against me!? I guess no mooncakes for either of you!" Elijah makes a pouty face, "Awe maaaa, we were just kidding, you can have all the boyfriends!" We all pause and then burst out in laughter, "one is good enough kiddo, why don't we get Uncle Liam's bags and show him around ya?" We all start making our way to baggage claim and I didn't miss the fact that Caiden had not come with my brother. "How did you manage to slip away from your lap dog Liam?" "Which one?" He winks at me, "forget it, we have a lot to discuss," I snap, not wanting to talk about him, even though a part of me still missed him.

****

Most of the car ride through town was nostalgic as Elijah was clinging to Liam in the back seat asking all sorts of questions about China. Elijah was just a newborn pup when his mother brought him to the states so he didn't know much about his culture, but it didn't stop him from trying to learn. I made a mental note to take him to China when he was a little older.

We decided to take Liam straight to the pack house so that he could unload his belongings. I hung around chatting with some of the mated females lounging in the kitchen while Elijah played with some local pups and Liam got caught up with Quinn. Quinn had thrown together a small welcoming party for Liam and it was the most relaxed I had felt in weeks.

A few hours had quickly come to pass and they were all pretty tired from the excitement of the day. I silently approached the two laughing men still seated at the dinning table having some good laughs. I really did love my family and pack, I adored them with all my heart.

"Liam, I don't mean to interrupt your conversation with Quinn but it's getting late. I am going to take Elijah home for bed, are we still good to meet up for breakfast in the morning?" They glance at each other sharing some sort of secret exchange. "Of course my sweet princess, I will meet you in town tomorrow. Be safe getting home, and call me immediately if you need anything." I roll my eyes at the princess nickname, knowing damn well Quinn had just told him to use it on me.

"Thank you, but I have been on my own for over a year now." shooting them both glares. Liam smirks, "and look where that has gotten you!" He wanted to continue pushing my buttons so I stuck out my tongue at the both of them, turned on my heel and left without another word. "Cheeky child!" Liam and Quinn say in unison. 'I heard that!' I yelled back through the mind link. Elijah and I run out of the house avoiding any more teasing from my 'siblings'.

*****

The car ride back home with Elijah seemed unusually quiet, he had been acting slightly off ever since the engagement. I tried to talk to him a couple of times but he said he was just really happy. I try not to be overly pushy with him, I wait for him to open up to me on his own.

"What's the matter pup?" I say in a warm tone, "Mmmm, just thinking is all." He replied in a tired tone. "Oh yeah? about what?" I ask sounding hopeful. "Well, when you marry Hunter will he be my dad? I can call him dad right?" He asked in the most innocent voice. 

In that moment though I had almost slammed my foot on the breaks. How could I have forgotten such an important detail. It had been overlooked in conversation between Hunter and I because I think we were all just comfortable. I felt the same way when my dad remarried though. I wasn't sure if I could call his new wife mom, but of course she insisted that I did and I was all the more happy.

"Hmmm, you know, I guess I would leave that up to you and him." I begin to say, "I want you to be able to call a man your father one day, but that is ultimately your choice. Do I want it to be Hunter? Of course," I felt a small pain in my chest saying those words but I swallowed it down and continued, "but I also understand that you both may need time adjusting to that."

This was a hard subject, but one I was just now scrambling to execute somewhat well. Here I was, all wrapped up in my own selfish wants that I forgot to consider this poor boys feelings. "I just want you to be happy mama." His eyes were now closed and he is leaned up against the headrest of his carseat, "and I want you to be happy too son. Rest your mind now, we are almost home, I will carry you inside." I knew the conversation wasn't over, but I needed to talk with Hunter first before I said anything else.

I was able to tuck Elijah safely into his bed and had even managed to shower and do my nightly routine when my phone started to ring. "Hello?" I answer not looking at the caller I.D. "Hey sweetie! How is my beautiful Fiance doing right now?" Hunter asks in his cheery voice. "I think I am doing pretty great actually," I chirped back happy and relieved that it was him. "Wonderful sweetie, and your reunion with your brother?" He asked sounding a bit nervous. "Great! Elijah and Liam immediately took to one another and I have a friend that is giving him a place to stay for his visit so we don't feel overcrowded."

"Mmmm," he hums out, "good, so I can still stop by for my daily love session?" He asks teasing me, "Hunter!" My face flushes and I let out a squeal, "we will have none of that while my brother is in town! He is going to be on me like white on rice till he leaves, it is my fault though. He hasn't seen me in a while and this is all kind of a lot to take in." He chuckles at me, "I know, I just like making you feel flustered sometimes. Got to keep you on your toes somehow! Anyways sweetie, I'm on graveyard shift the next two days but I wanted to call you really quick to check in and confirm that I will see you at the breakfast nook in the morning." I smile, "ok, I love you Hunter." He takes a deep breath, "and I love you sweetie. I'll see you soon."

I leave my room with a smile on my face as I was finishing up my braid to sleep in for the night. I was excited for tomorrow so I wanted to look my best. If Liam liked Hunter, getting his blessing would be so much easier and I would have Quinn backing me up too. I know it seems old fashioned but werewolves were traditional like that. I had finally made it to the kitchen wrapped up in my thoughts craving a cup of warm tea that would ease my nerves when I'm completely taken by surprise.

There sitting in one of my booths was a pissed off Caiden tapping his fingers as if waiting to catch a teenager coming home past curfew. "Hello love." He flashes me a grin showing one of his pointy fangs. I paused feeling a blanket of anxiety starting to slowly suffocate my happy emotion I was just feeding off.

"Awe, don't play so hard to get now love. You were talking so easily with your boyfriend just moments ago." He said in a bit off manner. "Fiance," I corrected him. His eyes narrow at me giving his face more of a cold look than it already held, but before I could bat an eyelash he zips in front of me. "Making me jealous are we?" he touches my chin softly, "I don't recall the last time going well for your college crush. Do I need to convince this one to run along too?"

I take a few steps back to put some distance in between us but he had other ideas. "Mei, cat and mouse is my favorite game, running away will only make me want you more." He traps me up against the door frame I had been previously leaning on for support. "Caiden, I... We can't do this. A part of me will always love you, but what you did was the last straw for me. I've never seen you so intent on hurting me." My wolf lets out a small whimper missing the feeling of those sparks Caiden would give us whenever he touched our skin.

"I fucked up Mei, I'm a fuck up," he leans in toward my ear brushing his lips gently across my neck. "You deserve the world and I felt like I just couldn't give that to you. I don't ever expect you to forgive me, or let me back into your life, but I can't let you marry that human." He kisses my temple and I look into his chocolate pools he had for eyes. It was taking a lot of resistance on my part because of the imprint, another thing on my list I was mad at him about. He was the only one that could remove the imprint.

"Caiden... please, just let me have this." He smiles and touches his forehead to mine never leaving my gaze. "Oh love, that is why I'm here though. I heard about your deal with Quinn, but you see he was wrong about one thing. If you don't find that mate of yours at the gala I won't bless your union and will do everything in my power to steal you away for myself, for good. No more games, I will have you home by the New Year." And with those final words he gave me a quick hard peck and vanished before I could reply.

"Well Fuck."

*Que Music Above*

Author's Note: 

Thank you all again for reading and re-reading the Final Edits! You all are really the MVP's. I think this is by far my favorite chapter yet! Tell me what you think!

Do we love or hate Caiden?

Are you excited for the gala?

Some Clarifications:

Its Autumn right now so mooncakes are popular to share with loved ones and friends during the Chinese mid-autumn festivals!

Vampires do not have soulmates in the world chosen for them. They live forever so waiting an eternity for a mate seems unfair so for there species they are allowed to have multiple beloveds if they truly wanted.

Vampire Imprinting is like marking a mate in werewolf terms, however the imprint can be removed at anytime. Fully marking would mean a bite and intercourse. 

I'm happy to answer any other questions!

-Boogie Out (▀̿Ĺ̯▀̿ ̿)