Author's Note: I am actually going to start posting a little earlier than 10 p.m. EST, probably 7:00 p.m., which is a nice middle ground for people not in America because I know y'all are degenerates too ;)
While Cassie and Demetri were out searching for any other victims, Mr. Sanchez broke out of Maranda's compulsion. He immediately voiced his objections, claiming that Maranda had taken unnecessary measures, insisting that his wife had the situation under control.
Maya called out for her 'daddy', which promptly ended his tirade and caused her parents to surround her in a love huddle. They took a few moments to be with each other, but then the discussion started. Brody had an endless list of objections to Vasili's Alpha status, but he cooled his jets when his wife threatened to start singing again.
They continued their discussion uninterrupted by Vasili or Elias. Both men could tell that they needed some 'family time' to regroup.
Eventually, Elias called back his staff and had them set a table for their guests. Obviously, it had to be in a different part of the restaurant, as the breeze kept blowing the sewer smell inside. The hole in the wall was going to be dealt with soon, hopefully…
Vasili excused himself from the room and went to grab an actual set of clothes for the lunch that was being prepared. Grabbing a mismatched green shirt with red shorts, he felt like it was Christmas, but with more teeth and claws.
After making his return, Vasili sat down and kept trying to not take Brody's constant suspicions personally, because, to be fair, he did just bond with his daughter and effectively 'take' her from her family.
Elias sat beside Vasili, offering moral support, while Maranda took her place beside her charge. They waited a few more minutes and received the good news from Cassie that everything was all clear, and that Maya had made a straight path toward Vasili, which raised questions of its own. Demetri returned to his regular position as a bouncer.
As Sebastian brought them trays of soup and gave Vasili a side eye for eating all of his bacon, he said, "Bona appétit."
The spoon that Vasili was given to use seemed oddly small, he wondered if it was proper tableware, and if so, he wanted to never use it again. Looking over, he noticed Maya's stunned expression moments before she burst into tears after realizing she couldn't use a spoon with paws.
Taking a moment to appreciate his own luck, Vasili offered, "Would you like me to feed you?"
Maya stopped crying as she internalized his question, and then she began to 'ugly cry' on her mom's shoulder.
…
…
…
'Fuck.'
…
…
…
He turned his head down and tried to focus on the soup he was eating, desperately ignoring Brody's glare that was boring into his soul. Then he remembered what he left in the trench coat's pocket. Excusing himself and going to the room where he changed, he retrieved the amulet.
Returning to their table, he handed it to Mrs. Sanchez and said, "Here you go. I am so sorry, I totally forgot I had this. Just put it around her neck and it should fix the issue."
Elias wanted to stop this exchange because that amulet was quite valuable, but Vasili flashed a proud-albeit ignorant-smile at him, so he let it go.
She was his Brother's Beta, it'd be fine.
Elias shot a text to Sebastian about getting more amulets, when she put it on and 'became' human again.
Looking at her body in awe, Maya had puffy red eyes from crying, but she looked beautiful…for an underaged woman. Then Vasili realized that almost every creature he had encountered was at least slightly attractive.
'Huh, does that mean Ryan Reynolds? No…maybe? No…..'
Shaking off his thoughts, Vasili grinned as Maya successfully fed herself. The illusion granted her a minor ability to resist the world's forces, allowing her to create a force field around the spoon's handle. Vasili made another mental note to learn magic-it was undeniably cool.
Maya ate voraciously, her brown hair even dipping into the bowl at times, but she didn't seem to mind at all. After she slammed the bowl down and asked for seconds, she locked eyes with Vasili and beamed as she said, "Thank you for the meal, Alpha."
Vasili felt a peculiar tingling in his chest as she acknowledged him-their bond growing stronger-prompting Elias to clear his throat.
"Uh, yeah, no problem. But it's Elias' club/restaurant, though he generously offered it to me," Vasili explained, winking at his brother.
Elias rolled his eyes and replied, "That offer has passed, I am definitely keeping this place, but you are welcome to join Vasili in moving in."
The two shared a small laugh as Maya looked at her mother and asked in a hushed voice, "Mom, can we stay here?"
Judging by the vein on Brody's forehead, Vasili thought they might need the physician's services if the night continued like it did.
Maya's mother took a moment and let the question wash over her before turning from her daughter and towards Vasili, "It has been an...ordeal, meeting you, but we have had some time to discuss our options."
Vasili instantly felt the cold water running down his back, it was time to be serious.
She began, "My husband and I aren't particularly tied to our home, so we are prepared to move if that is what you require as her Alpha."
Vasili realized that Elias' joke had been taken more as an order, when Elias responded, "Ma'am. That won't be-", he stopped as he realized it may actually be necessary.
'Damn.' Elias thought.
Taking a second to War Game it out, he realized that it would be a glaring weak point for two creatures that were out of the loop.
Vasili caught onto Elias' train of thought, realizing that if she was his actual Beta, then she was now a valid target for revenge on himself.
They weren't sure which group was enacting guerrilla warfare on them, but she was 100% a piece on the gameboard by sheer virtue of being Vasili's Beta.
Brody and Maggie swapped looks as they saw the change in the 'boys' demeanor. They knew these young men hadn't been taking it too seriously, which boded...well and poorly for them.
Vasili's anger spiked, which caused lava to begin flowing through his veins, but this time, he was conscious of it.
Holding his hand up, he saw through his skin as the bright material pumped along with his heartbeat. This was the equivalent of nuclear fuel in the body, some good stuff to be running on, but he knew his anger wasn't going to accomplish much.
They had to figure out what was going on and make a plan to get their lives back.