Isla sat down in her allocated seat, complete with a place setting and tag with her name. It was adorable, and the foresty theme matched Scarlet’s werewolf roots perfectly. She was sure that all the werewolves appreciated it. Isla overhead a conversation between Seth and some of the other pack members, they were making plans on what to do after the wedding reception. They wanted to continue to the drinking bender and hit up some bars. He turned to Isla and asked, “Is there anything fun to do in Hollowbrook? Where would you suggest we hit up after the reception, Isla?” 

“Pfttt… You’re asking too much of Hollowbrook, Seth..” Isla cracked with a sip of her champagne, throughly amused. “If the world was an ocean, Hollowbrook would be a rock just along the shore. Close, but not close enough. My favourite spot used to be the Olive or Twist.. That’s probably your best option for a bar crawl..” Isla finished, truly she’d grown quite resentful of the town she lived in. It had only brought her and her family pain. But she supposed that’s what made it home. 

Kiara sat down beside her and Isla wanted to curse, fuck my luck, out loud but she managed to stop herself. “You’re a new one in town aren’t you, wolf girl? How did you find the people of Hollowbrook?” Isla asked, trying to gauge the other girls age and story. It had to better than the rest of the tedious conversation going on around her. 

Alistair stepped onto the dance-floor and looped an arm around Scarlet’s waist, the other hand holding hers. What would I do without your smart mouth. Drawing me in, and you kicking me out. Got my head spinning, no kidding, I can’t pin you down. Alistair lead her in a classic waltz as their official wedding song played, he twirled her and bringing her back into his arms as the lyrics played out. “I sure did.. It’s like they were written about us, Scar.. Just listen.” Alistair proffered, as the two continued their slow dance and everyone watched them. Other couples slowly gravitated to the dance-floor and did the two-step around them. Alistair was surrounded by his wife, and his family and friends. He couldn’t have been happier. You’re my end and my beginning. Even when I lose I’m winning. Cause I give you all of me. And you give me all of you. Alistair dipped his wife as the last verses of the song played out and he planted his lips on hers in a sweet kiss. 

Kiara had joined the conversation, as she went to go for some more drinks at the bar and taking advantage of the fact that they were free drinks for as long as they can. She sat next to her brother, as the seat on her other side was Isla and could instantly tell by her vibe that she was not impressed that she had sat next to her, but to be fair she had sat down there previously and Isla had joined in on the conversation. “I’m not the only new one in town sweet heart” She added, as the girl had seemed to be finally in the mood to talk to her, tilting her head in the direction of her brother and sister sitting next to her.

“Hi I’m Kalani” Her sister introduced herself, and her brother had pipped up waving at the girl from the other side of the table, “Kaleb” He spoke up, not really bothered by the whole reception thing, he was just looking forward to getting wasted afterwards.

“We’re kind of like the Kardashians…. But wolf style” Kiara teased giving the girl a wink, “Finding the people of Hollowbrook has been interesting not going to lie, my siblings and I were in foster homes for awhile” She admitted to the girl, having no sense of family before ending up here.

“Jesus Christ Kiara…The girl asked how you’re finding the people in Hollowbrook not our life story” Kalani spoke up, rolling her eyes as she took a swing of her drink, not impressed by her sister being so opened about their childhood, it was private and she didn’t want that information out. “No wonder why you don’t get laid” She said rolling her eyes, as Seth chewed the inside of his cheek, avoiding the confrontation the two fiery sisters seem to have.

“Play nice ladies, today is mum and dad’s day of getting married… don’t want to ruin that now do we? We actually want to make it out of this reception alive…to get pissed drunk, so Isla was it? can you handle a drink or two and catch up with us? Since you know…you’re human” Kaleb teased, crossing his arms against his chest.

Scarlet smiled lovingly at Alistair, as he had told her to listen to the lyrics he had chosen, and knew he had put so much effort into the song choice, and the small details he had added just to make it their special day. She knew she had chosen the right man to marry, without a doubt. She continued to dance with him slowly, as she allowed him to take the lead like always, he was much better than her at this with years of practice ahead of him. Once the other couples started joining them on the dance floor, her heart was content, their friends and family all joining in on their special day. She smiled against his lips as he had dipped her, returning the kiss and kissed his cheek as they pulled away, once he had lifted her back up right. “Baby girl it’s your turn” She said looking over at Hope, as she stood behind her father, waiting for her dance.

“Too old? You’re never too old for daddies kisses! You’ll always be my little princess, Hope.” Alistair teased the little girl lightly as he continued to plant kisses on her face despite her protests. Hope scrunched her face up as he continued to place kisses on her face. “Yes. Daddy needs to dance with his little girl. Would you do me the honour, Hope?” Alistair asked, jutting out his bottom lip in a pout for the little girl. She giggled and nodded her head, not wanting her daddy to be upset. “Thank you princess.” Alistair planted a kiss on the top of her head. The first course of food was brought out and Alistair chopped up his entree into tiny pieces, allowing Hope to try a little bit. “Not a fan of prawns, baby girl?” Alistair asked and she shook her head. “How about some chicken..” he gave her a little fork full of chicken and she nodded her head contently. 

Warmth surges into Isla’s chest as she watches her father return to the table alongside Scarlet and Hope. He’d truly made a beautiful family for himself, she was happy for him. Isla smiled, lifting her free hand to tuck a tendril of blonde hair behind her ear. Isla’s gaze flickered to the werewolf who strummed up a conversation with her. The nerve, really. “Beautiful wedding..” Isla deadpanned, not really one for small talk, as she cast her gaze around the beautifully laid out reception area before taking a sip of champagne. “Isla, pleasure I’m sure.” Isla added, finishing the last of her champagne before grabbing another glass and heading to her table at the reception. Leaving the young werewolf behind. 

Kiara had noticed how cold the woman was to her, perhaps she was finding today to be a difficult time seeing her father remarry a younger woman as such. “Kiara….” She responded as she watched the beautiful girl leave the bar, biting down on her lower lip as she watched her before walking over to her own table, and sitting down with her pack as they had served her food.

Scarlet continued to watch Alistair and Hope interact while she had continue to try the first course that was brought out to them, and smirked at Hope’s reaction when she had scrunched up her nose, denying her father’s request into trying seafood. “Maybe a bit too adventurous babe” She teased, rubbing the back of Alistair’s neck and chuckled when Hope had opened her mouth ready for the chicken a familiar taste that they had tried her with. Scarlet stood up from her chair once they were done, and the DJ had announced that the couple was to do their first dance, she had kissed Hope on the forehead, before leaving her at the reception table with her mother to continue feeding her.

When Alistair had joined her on the dance floor, she wrapped her arms around his neck and felt his arms around her waist, and smiled brightly up at him, as their song started playing in the background, “Good song choice babe, I’m proud of you” She complimented as she had left him to decide this part of the wedding, wanting him to have some inputs when they were planning the wedding together. “Did you pick the lyrics on purpose?” She teased as she caught on to most of the lyrics, talking about how much he adored her although she was stubborn.

Alistair walked over to the bar and wasn’t surprised when he found his daughter there. Isla was standing beside it, she was on her second glass of champagne and just sort of hovering for the moment. Everyone would be taking their seats in a moment for the first course of food. 

“Hey baby girl..”

“Daddy! Congratulations!” Isla enveloped her father in a hug, giggling though her tears as she rubbed his back.“You did it! ..I didn’t think I would ever be standing at one of your weddings again.. Not in a million years.”

“That makes two of us.. Hopefully next will be yours, baby girl? And I can walk you down the isle!” Alistair offered playfully, noticing that his daughter forced a smile that didn’t quite reach her eyes. He figured, maybe he should change the subject. “Did you welcome Scarlet to the family yet?”

“It’s going to be awhile before that happens… given my track record..” Isla reminded him softly, not particularly open to talking about it yet. It seemed that every time she found someone, they’d either died or had ulterior motives to being with her. Or both.“Not necessary dad… She’s always been a part of the family. I think she knows that.” Isla confessed, wiping the tears away that threatened to stain her cheeks and ruin her make-up. “But I’ll check in with her later.. promise.”

“Just be kind to yourself tonight.. ok? I’ll grab you and Hope for a father daughter dance later.” Alistair promised, planting a kiss on the top of his eldest daughters head. 

“I’m fine.. Go. Find your wife..” Isla reminded him, as she too headed for her table before the reception began. 

Alistair nodded his head and seated himself at the table at the head of the reception hall. Scarlet quickly joined him and he scooped Hope up in his arms, cuddling her. “Hi baby girl! How’d you like the wedding? Mummy looks so beautiful in her dress doesn’t she?” Alistair asked, interacting with the small girl who was playing with their cutlery on the table. “Daddy doesn’t look half bad either aye?” Alistair asked, planting little kiss on his daughters cheek. She giggled and tried to tilt her head away. 

Scarlet smiled down at Alistair and Hope interacting lovingly, “I know babe, she’s getting a bit old for kisses now” she said sadly, pouting as she had noticed Hope had turned away from her father’s kisses like much she’s done with hers over the past couple of days. “Hope” She said, softly, looking down at her as Hope adverted her attention to her mother, “You’re going to have to do a dance with daddy later, cause you know the princess always dances with her king right?” She said getting her daughter excited for the dance she was to have with her father, brushing her hair behind her child’s ear. 

Kiara was sitting down at the guest table, as she decided to get herself another drink. It was her family’s first event appearance that they had joined with their new pack members. She had been a lot more open than her sister and brother were; they were triplets and had stuck together like glue, only trusting each other. But Kiara was a little different then the rest of her siblings. She saw the blonde talking to the older male, and caught on that she was his daughter, she ordered a glass of red wine, as she stood next to the girl once her father had walked away. “Nice wedding huh?” She said making small talk, as she looked at the blonde, licking down on her lower lip, “You know… I’m not quiet ready to accept him as our alpha yet… but they look happy, not a dry eye in the chapel earlier” She stated a she witnessed everyone around her crying. “So what’s your name sweetcheeks? Weird seeing your father married again?”

“Thank you, Mrs. Clemonte..” Alistair replied, his lips stretching into a smile as the sentence passed them. He didn’t think that he would ever get tired of calling her that. It rolled off the tongue beautifully and he’d been wanting to make her his wife for so long. He was glad that after everything they’d been through, it had finally happened. “I liked your speech too. Was very heartful.” Alistair added, as he took Scarlet’s hand and they got into his car. He drove them to the reception and they stepped inside, to find all their family and friends already there. The DJ announced their entrance and they stepped into the atrium area, complete with fairy lights, and lots of greenery. It was exactly what he’d asked for down to the last final touch. The function planner had truly out done herself. 

“That’s us..” Alistair gave Scarlet his arm, allowing her to loop it through his as he escorted her to the table. Along the way they were stopped by many of their guests and congratulated, a lot of them told Scarlet how beautiful she looked, and gave the happy couple best wishes and planted kisses on their cheeks. Dawn was hovering, waiting for her time with the happy couple. 

“Come here.. Mum.” Alistair teased, holding his arms out for a hug from his mother in law. She was all too happy to hug him back before she took her daughters hands, teary eyed now at how beautiful of a bride her daughter made. “I’m go to talk to our guests.. I’ll see you at the bride and grooms table..” Alistair told her, planting a kiss on the side of her head before he took off to greet his guests. 

Scarlet smile had only got brighter as they were stopped along the way, and congratulating the happy couple and of course complimenting her on her dress. They had finally reached her mother, as she embraced her in a warm hug, her mother sobbing now that she could be finally relieved from her make up. She pulled away from her hug, when Alistair had announced that he was going talk to their guest, “Okay babe” She said nodding, as she watched him biting down on her lower lip, it was hard to believe that he was now her husband. “My darling, that was so beautiful” Dawn gushed. 

“Hey Mummy” Hope said tugging at her dress as Scarlet had bent down to her level, planting a soft kiss on her cheek before wiping off the lipstick that was left there. 

“Hey baby girl, are you tired yet?” She asked as the girl shook her head, obviously too excited for what was happening around her. 

“Ladies” Seth announced, as he stood there and had earned a swift hug from Scarlet as she had wrapped her arms around him, “Thank you Seth…for being his best man” She whispered in his ear as he had pat the girl’s back softly. 

“No worries…. I mean I hope they didn’t catch me cry on camera, I was sobbing” He said showing his now red eyes that were evident he had been crying the whole time.

Alistair could feel tears building in his eyes, blurring his vision as he continued to gaze at Scarlet lovingly. Her vows were so heartfelt and real, they were Scarlet baring her soul to him and he intended to do the same. “Scarlet… I don’t want to marry you to wake up to you every morning.. or to be with you forever. I want to marry you because marriage is hard, raising children is hard, jobs, bills, relatives are hard.. Blending two families is hard.” Alistair listed, knowing that in the beginning his vows might not have seemed sweet but his point was much larger than that. 

“And you’re the person I want to go through the bad times with.. Life won’t be all sunshine and rainbows.. when you marry your soulmate. I know that too well..” Alistair added ruefully, his memory recalling his wedding day to Isadora. He thought it’d be his last, but of course everything happens for a reason and after her death, he found Scarlet. Another soul mate. 

“Because I never thought I’d be here again.. vowing myself to another. But here I am.. Pleading my heart to you. I want to marry you and love you through every bump in the road. I want to marry you and be your rock through every curve ball and look at you when everything falls apart.. I want to marry you because it’s real.. and it’s hard work.. and a lifetime of ups and downs with you.. Is worth every second of it.” Alistair finished, his eyes casting over the family and friends who had filled up the pews, there was not a dry eye in the chapel. Including Isla who gave her father a nod of approval at his words, letting him know that he’d done well. 

“You may now… Kiss the bride..” the priest concluded, gesturing that the betrothed close the gap and kiss. 

Alistair closed the gap between himself and Scarlet, planting his lips on her passionately as he dipped her lightly during the kiss. This signified their union, they were now husband and wife, and Scarlet was now a Clemonte. The guests all stood up from the pews and clapped as they sealed their union with a kiss. 

Scarlet smiled against Alistair’s lips, as she placed her hand on his shoulder for support when he had dipped her and it was official. They were husband and wife, after all these months of waiting and all these bumps on the road along the way it had finally happened. She broke away from the kiss, as the two walked hand in hand outside the chapel, as they waited outside and had thanked everyone for coming, hugging everyone that had passed them and had taken a group photo with the lot before heading to reception. 

“We did it baby” Scarlet said with glee, as she stepped into the car that was driving them to the reception, and leaned over to wipe the corners of his eyes, “I loved your speech you did perfectly” She promised leaning over to kiss him. As they arrived, at the reception and they had stepped out of the car, walking hand in hand together. “Ladies and Gentleman please put your hands together, please rise” The DJ announced as the guest had stood up, clapping their hands, “Your guest of honour Scarlet and Alistair Clemtonte” He said as they had walked into the room, everyone welcoming them as they had taken their seats.    

Alistair stood at the front of the altar, under the floral arch with Seth to the left of him. The pianist started a small rhyme wedding tune, and he awaited the sight of his bride. The chapel double doors swung open and Scarlet started her walk down the isle. Alistair’s breath was taken away, at how stunning his bride was. She looked breath-taking and Alistair’s eyes didn’t leave her the entire time she walked until they were face to face at the front of the altar. Alistair took both of Scarlet’s hands in his, planting a couple of kisses on the top of each. 

“We gather here to unite these two people in marriage. Their decision to marry has not been entered into lightly and today they publicly declare their private devotion to each other. The essence of this commitment is the acceptance of each other in entirety, as lover, companion, and friend. A good and balanced relationship is one in which neither person is overpowered nor absorbed by the other, one in which neither person is possessive of the other, one in which both give their love freely and without jealousy. Marriage, ideally, is a sharing of responsibilities, hopes, and dreams. It takes a special effort to grow together, survive hard times, and be loving and unselfish.” The preist declared aloud, reading from the book at the podium as he stood behind the couple.  

“Do you both pledge to share your lives openly with one another, and to speak the truth in love? Do you promise to honour and tenderly care for one another, cherish and encourage each other, stand together, through sorrows and joys, hardships and triumphs for all the days of your lives?”

“I do…” Alistair replied without missing a beat and his eyes glimmered with unspilt tears, his smile broadened when Scarlet replied the same way.

“May these rings be blessed as a symbol of your union. As often as either of you look upon these rings, may you not only be reminded of this moment, but also of the vows you have made and the strength of your commitment to each other.” The preist handed them the rings and Alistair placed the ring delicately on Scarlet’s ring finger and she did the same for him. “The betrothed.. may now read their vows.” 

Scarlet felt the tears swell in her eyes, as she had seen just how emotional Alistair was when he had seen her walk down the isle, and even more so when the two had promised to commit to each other for their rest of their lives. It had been time to say their vows, as she pulled out from her bra her speech she had written the first time the two were going to get married and her shaky hands holding the paper as she cleared her throat. “Alistair” Scarlet began, “When our story first began, I often question if you truly knew what you were getting yourself into” She said looking up at him with a smirk, as the guest laughed at her words. “I was a single carer with a hidden heart, a hybrid with a built in attitude, a sarcastic, stubborn young woman trying to beat the odds with the entire pack watching my every move” she said as her pack chuckled, knowing how protective they were with her at the beginning when they first started dating, “I remember wondering which part of me and my story would scare you away first but you never ran away and you never doubted us” Scarlet stated as she continued to look up at him, feeling her voice becoming shaky, as she was on the verge of tears, she took in a heavy breath before she continued. “The minute I was pregnant with Hope you had left everything you’ve ever known” She said holding onto her piece of paper, “Is when you confirmed without a doubt what I had hoped for all along that perfect love will always conquer fear” She said sincerely, knowing all the sacrifices he’s made to keep this family together. “I promise to be your team mate, your partner, and your very best friend… I promise to be the mother that our children need, and be the wife that you deserve, Alistair, I love you and today I vow myself to you”

Alistair and Isla had gone to grab some dinner for the family. They’d all agreed on Chinese as the cuisine of choice and they’d called and placed the order for pick up. Asher had insisted on staying home, saying he was going to get a little shut eye before dinner and Scarlet had opted to stay home with Hope who currently napping. The pair had picked up the food and headed straight home, Alistair pulled the car into the driveway and they got out. They stepped inside and could hear commotion from within. The living space had furniture in disarray and multiple daggers sticking out of the wall. 

“Scar!” Alistair called out, suddenly fearful for his wife and baby daughter. He bolted into the lounge room and find Scarlet fending Asher off. “Baby?! Is everything okay!?”

“You fucking bastard! I warned you!” Alistair spat as he grabbed Asher from behind, wrapping an arm around his neck, locking him in a headlock. The man thought him back, equally skilled in combat and he managed to punch him in the jaw. Alistair recoiled, and spat out some blood before he went in again. “Stop it!” Isla demanded, and the men both stopped short for a moment. Alistair was shocked that his daughter was still defending the man who had tried to kill her best friend. “He’s mine..” Isla finished dangerously as Alistair scowled in her direction, not sure that it was a good idea. Asher was thoroughly amused by the idea, believing that Isla wasn’t a worthy adversary for him. But that cockiness would prove to be his downfall, it would make him sloppy and in short mean his demise. 

“C’Mon baby… You clearly have no qualms with hitting a girl. So how about you take on someone more your speed..” Isla taunted as she took a moment to read into his stance. Isla threw the first punch, hitting him square in the nose, disarming him. He tried to throw one back, straight at her face but she dodged it. Seconds passed after his last failed attack and he continued to rant and rave manically, throwing in anything he could to try and make her break. About how easy she’d been, how the relationship meant nothing to him and it only fuelled her attacks further. 

“You fucking bastard!” Isla spat, as she kicked him in the jaw and shoved him against the wall. He flipped the two and shoved her against it, he got a few good punches in to her face. He split her lip and punched her in the cheek bone, all in all it was sloppy. Isla grabbed his hand and twisted his wrist at an unnatural angle as he tried to go in for another punch. His thirst for brutality outweighed his ability to actually hold down a decent fight. He came at her hard and fast, but in the end it made it sloppy and predictable. Yes, Isla had been out of practice lately but so had Asher. 

Asher spat out some blood as he got from and grabbed a dagger. He wanted to raise the stakes since he couldn’t handle her in hand to hand combat. Figures. 

Alistair tossed a dagger to Isla and watched his daughter with glowing pride as she defended her family. If anyone deserved to kill the bastard it was her. “Don’t let him get in your head baby girl!” 

Asher rushed her and tackled her, he managed to drive his dagger into her thigh, she let out a screech of pain as he pulled it out. Intending to only drive it into her again. She took this moment to compose herself as she force his hand away from her, she managed to wring the dagger from his hands and drive her dagger into his chest. “That’s for Scarlet!” Isla yelled, as she pulled the dagger back out only to drive it back into his chest with more force. “That’s for my dad.” Isla pulled it out a last time, sobbing now as his hands limply reached out trying to pull her off of him. He was losing a tremendous amount of blood now, and growing weak. “And that’s… for me..” Isla finished, leaving him gasping for air as her last stab punctured his lung, leaving him gasping for air. She dropped the dagger with a soft clutter on the floorboards and broke down completely, drenched in his blood as Asher gasped for his final breaths. 

Scarlet had pulled the dagger out of her back, as she stood up seeing her mother rush to her side while Alistair and Isla had fought Asher off. She was impressed by Isla’s skills that she had managed to catch up to the other, and before finally ending his pathetic life as he had laid lifeless on the floor. “Honey are you okay?” Dawn asked rubbing her daughter’s back where the dagger had been as she checked it and to see that it had healed rather quickly.

  “I’m fine mum” Scarlet responded in annoyance that she had been right all along but had put her thoughts aside to keep everyone happy that had risked her life once again. She had tried to remain calm, and keep the peace knowing that none of this was there fault in the long run nobody really knew who Asher was. It wasn’t until Hope had came downstairs, holding her blanket and her bottom lip quivering as she looked at Asher blood around him, as she began sobbing, “Mummy?” She asked as Scarlet had rushed up to her side, picking her up and turning her away from the scene. 

“This…. I’ve had enough of” Scarlet spat angry in her own right. “I am over…being kidnapped, being almost murdered and preparing for death every single time” She shouted and knew that this wasn’t her taking it out on them, she had simply lost her mind and was going crazy from all the aftermath emotions. “This is not what I wanted for her,” She said bouncing her daughter on her hip, as she tried to calm her down from all the yelling and what she had just seen. “She could’ve died! I could’ve died and she could’ve come downstairs to find me!” She continued, as her mother tried consoling her, telling her to let it go that it wasn’t their fault. “Clean his body up… I’m going to compel my own daughter to make her forget what she’s just witnessed at six months old” She said with anger before fleeing upstairs.

“Shoosh you…” Isla leaned into him as he settled down and his wrapped around her waist. Isla grabbed a piece of apple and fed it to him, gazing at him through her eyelashes playfully. He was insatiable all of a sudden, trying to rile her up in front of her family. Maybe he was bored or something, she couldn’t tell. “You can hang out with my dad, silly.. I’m sure there’s guy stuff you guys could.. bonding stuff..” Isla hinted, it was going to take him a little while to gain her families trust after all the terrible things that had happened to them. But if he wanted to be a part of her life, he would have to try and make some leeway with them. It was important to her, that her partner and her family got along. He could say that he didn’t care how they felt, but if he didn’t try and change it then it was a no go for her. “Whatever the male equivalent is getting your nails painted and your make up done..”

“Drinking beer and watching sports..” Alistair filled in the blank for them, he was keeping close tabs on their interaction. Not that he’d admit it. Scarlet had really scared him, her womens intuition was usually right when she didn’t like someone. Not to mention her hybrid senses. “No you’ve gotta take our little princess there and let her pick.. She’s got to pick her favourite colour.” Alistair replied, knowing it wasn’t their place to pick. He wondered what her favourite colour was, if it was the traditional pink or if she was more eccentric. “I think high school is the perfect time to start using make-up..” Alistair agreed, knowing that there was really no need for a girl any younger to be wearing make-up. 

Scarlet hadn’t realised she was home alone, with Asher until she had walked downstairs and had seen him standing there with a dagger in his hand. She had tilted her head, to the side confused as to why he’d be holding it in her house out in the open like that. “Hey, where did everyone go?” She asked feeling her heart beating at a rapid pace as she prepared for the worst. 

“Out to grab some food for dinner… I offered to stay here, and continue my services” Asher said bluntly, as he glared over at the woman he was about to kill. 

“You really don’t think you can kill me with that thing do you?” She said placing her hands on her hips, unfrightened by him, but had hoped her family was going to come home in time to witness the aftermath at least if not her death she had prepared for. 

“No, but I can try” He said before throwing one of the daggers in her direction, as she ducked and had thrown all the chairs across the room in hopes it would stop him from getting any closer to her and give her time, but he was too fast, and quick thinking on his feet as he had caught up to her. 

“What did you do?” He said as he grabbed her by the throat, shoving her against the wall demanding for answers. “How did you make him change huh?” He said tightening his grip against her, threatening to use the dagger.

“It was great.. I love spending time with my mini-me..” Isla replied, her lips spreading into a gleaming smile. Though it faltered a bit when his lips latched onto her neck, it was a bit much for a family occasion right in front of her one year old sister. “Babe..” Isla tilted her head towards her shoulder, blocking the area he was formerly kissing. “Not in front of my family.. Slow remember..” Isla whispered as she placed a hand on his knee, not wanting to hurt his feelings but he was clearly trying to do a display of affection or something for a family. She was fine with kissing, hugging, hand holding but neck kisses seemed like a bit much. “How was footy with my dad? Who won?” 

“I did of course.. Your daddy is the undefeated footy champ..” Alistair replied without missing a beat as he fixed Asher with a good natured smile. He’d clearly cooled off now and while the words of his threat still remained, he was going to give the other man a chance. If he could make his daughter happy as he’d mentioned he wanted to, then he’d have to give him the chance. She deserved it. Isla had known so much pain in her life, and he hoped that Asher could take some of that away. 

“Sounds perfect! We can all go together..” Isla agreed, knowing that another women’s opinion would be great for finalising the selection for the big day. A pampering day was what all the women in this family needed. 

“You can even take Hope.. Get her little nails painted for the first time..” Alistair added, his heart melting at the thought of his daughter donning her little painted nails around. He didn’t see the harm in it. Then all his girls could bond together. “No make up though… She’s perfect just the way she is..” Alistair finished, planting a kiss on the little girls nose. Hope wriggled excitedly in her mothers lap and puckered her lips at her dad for another kiss, which he was happy to give her. “Aren’t you princess?”

Asher smiled down at the girl softly, as she had reminded him there was a time and place for all of the affection he was giving her, “Sorry” he apologised as he wrapped his arms around her waist, “You’re just so delicious” he whispered, being careful of her family members near by as they were wrapped in conversations with one another. “What am I going to do when you’re out getting your nails done?” He said with a pout indicating that he was going to miss her.

  Scarlet chuckled at Alistair’s response as he had accepted Hope into getting her nails done, and threw Hope’s hands in the air as she giggled while her parents were playing with her. “That’s okay baby, mummy will teach you make up when you start high school” She promised kissing her girl’s cheek, as she was rounded up in kisses by her adoring parents and burst of giggles had escaped Hope’s lips causing her to drool as Scarlet wiped her mouth. She had continued to try and feed Hope more grapes that her father had started off with. “Do you want to pick the colour of her nails or do you trust me?” She teased looking down at Alistair.

Alistair caught the ball with ease as Asher tossed it at him and he hurled it back with an incredible amount of force. It hit Asher in the chest, knocking the wind right out of him and he heaved a cough trying to catch his breath. Alistair smirked as he smacked a hand on the mans back roughly, only serve to make it harder for him to catch his breath. “I really hope that’s true, Asher… Because if I let you into this family and you intend to harm any one of those beautiful ladies over there.. I swear I will remove your trachea with a rusty spoon.” Alistair promised, knowing that he was a very resourceful man, if anyone could do it. He could. He eyes shined with a dangerous glint, as they met Ashers telling him that he would make good on his promise need be.

“Lunch time!” Alistair called out to the family and Isla scooped up Hope in her arms, bringing her back to the picnic blanket. Isla sat the little girl down on her mothers lap and sat down on the picnic blanket beside Asher. Alistair was watching him closely, looking for any pervading signs that he had the intent to harm his family. But he seemed calm, cool and collected as he wrapped his arm around Isla’s shoulders with a smirk right in front of him. The smug bastard. 

Alistair was chewing on a bit of sandwich as he fed Hope a grape. She struggled with the texture a little bit, munching on it lightly before swallowing with a smile. She liked grapes, at least she wasn’t fussy when it came to her food. Alistair was relieved. “So how was the catch up ladies?” Alistair asked his fiance and his mother-in-law. They exchanged a glance, both smiling and he knew that it’d been a good catch up. 

Asher had felt a tinge of pain in his chest when Alistair had hurled the ball back with incredible amounts of force, knocking it right in his chest as he bent over struggling to breathe as Alistair had laid down the law right in front of him. He was shocked, how could a man who had written the bible that everyone had raved about protect a hybrid so much? What had she done to convince him otherwise, it had to be more than just carry his baby. “No problem man, like I said you have my word” He said playing it off, handing him the ball as he walked over to the picnic blanket once Alistair had called out for lunch casually, and had made his way over to Isla as he placed his hands on her shoulders, rubbing her back and kissing her neck. “How was playing with Hope?” He asked 

Scarlet had collected Hope from Isla once the girl had placed her on her lap, and began brushing the girl’s hair after she had began playing on the playground and hanging upside down. She had kissed the top of her head, while Alistair had continued to feed her and she smirked when he had asked her how their mother and daughter conversation went, as the two looked at each other smiling. “It was fine, mum and I are probably going to go dress shopping soon… since mum wasn’t invited to the first wedding for obvious reasons” we thought you were dead. “But I told her the theme and she agreed even though it’s not her colour everyone” She stated teasing her mother. “Okay, but to be fair I can’t pull of grey, I’m super pale you know the whole vampire thing” She added, as she chuckled along with her daughter. “Get a spray tan…” Scarlet suggested, shaking her head, joking with her mother. 

“What the hell is a spray tan?” Dawn asked, clearly being on the run for too long to notice any different. 

“Oh my god… have you ever got your nails done before? Spray tan? Your hair anything?” She said looking up at her mother as Scarlet had done the whole treat yourself for a day when she had became a new mother. “Nope, can’t say that I have” Dawn responded. 

“Well… I guess more of the reason to take a girls day out… get dolled up, Isla you can come too… and maybe Hope, getting her nails done…make up on?” She hummed waiting for her fathers response.

Isla dabbed her tongue over her dry lips, trying to coax the words out of her mouth to ask him leave. It was hard, he’d been the only person who had been there for her since Luca’s death. Everyone else had been so wrapped up in their own grief and pain, not that she blamed them. But Asher had been there. He called, texted, reached out to her in person and made her feel okay again. Isla opened her mouth to ask him to leave when Scarlet interrupted, stepping into the room and giving her speech. Isla was stunned, as Scarlet planted a kiss on her cheek and left the room. “We’ll… see you downstairs I guess..” Isla mumbled, knowing she couldn’t take back what she’d said to Asher now. She was sure that she’d hurt his feelings. 

Isla got dressed, into a sundress and a pair of sandals, finishing her morning routine and applying her lipstick just so. Her hair was in a messy, half up-do, and she donned a pair of sunglasses. “I’m glad that they’re giving you a chance.. But I still mean what I said. I think that we should take things a bit slower. I’m still mourning over Luca.. and I don’t know what I want for the future yet..” Isla added softly, the dark tinted sunglasses hiding her eyes and hiding the fact she was refusing to look at him. “C’Mon..” Isla reached out a hand and took Ashers, the two headed downstairs and with the rest of the family. They piled into the car and headed to the pack, just on the outskirts of the town square, adjacent to the forest. Hope went running straight to the playground and Isla joined her, holding the little girls waist as she used her hands to grip and swing from the monkey bars. Hope didn’t fear falling because she knew that her big sister would always be there to catch her. 

Alistair’s lips stretched into a smile as he watched his two daughters together. He was thankful that despite their massive age difference that they got along well. He unloaded the car, laying out a massive red pleated picnic blanket. Scarlet walked over with the picnic basket and sat it down alongside the blanket. They spread out the food, sandwiches, wraps, fresh fruit and veggie sticks, an array of nuts and dried fruits too. All the healthy kind of food he wanted to introduce Hope to as she learnt to eat more human food. Granted, she would eventually have a thirst for blood to quench too. He was just thankful she didn’t yet. Dawn and Scarlet sat down on the picnic blanket under the shade and started to chat, catching up on everything they had missed in one another’s lives during their time apart. Alistair looked at Asher, watching Isla, keeping his distance a bit. He wasn’t sure what Isla had said to the boy but he was clearly still reeling. 

“Hey Asher… Go along!” Alistair called out as he pulled a football out of the trunk of his car, wanting to initiate a friendly game of football between the two. He supposed it would be a good time and excuse to lay down the law with him. To tell him that if he harmed any of the girls in Alistair’s life that he would suffer for it. He’d had his guard up a little since his chat with Scarlet, he couldn’t lie. But he was trying to be fair to Asher. He’d never given him any reason not to trust him before. They had the same values and beliefs, that’s why they were both hunters. Or so he thought. 

“So… Isla.. How’s that going?” Alistair started lamely, he’d never been one to question Isla’s boyfriends and it felt strange. But he’d promised Scarlet he would try his best. “What are your intentions with my daughter? I only ask because she’s in a.. delicate place right now after Luca’s death. So if your intentions are to only play with her heart.. I’ll have to insist you leave, right now.” Alistair continued, wanting to start out slow before he really laid down the law with the man. 

“So this is what having a family is like huh?” Dawn said as she helped Scarlet lay out the picnic blanket, causing Scarlet to chuckle as they had spread out the food and watched the others go off and do their thing. She watched in awe as Hope had followed every one of Isla’s movements and was glad because of her disappearance and their time together they had gotten close despite their age.

“Yeah mum, if this is getting too much for you I understand you want your own space” Scarlet added, not wanting to overwhelm her mother as she just got back into her life.

“No honey, not at all that’s not what I’m saying…it’s nice” Dawn replied, not wanting her daughter to know she was leaving any time soon. “This is a nice park though,” She said as her eyes gazed around the area, taking in the nice day the two were having.

“Yeah… I used to take Luca up here all the time, when we didn’t have money for vacations this was our little get away from home” She informed her mother of the good times she had with her brother, as she pointed to across the lake, “That’s a camping ground right over there…. Luca and I went too one night and he had shit his pants so much we had to pack our things and go back home because he was too scared to sleep in a tent even with me” Scarlet said with a chuckle, as she had recalled the night the two had ran back home in the dark.

Dawn laughed, as she can imagine the situation through and through. Scarlet was only sixteen at the time of her families disappearance, and Luca was four, she can just see it how it all played out and even though Luca had only been four, she knew that was something her boy would do, “Yep…sounds like Luca, scared of his own shadow” She said, laughing.

Scarlet had gazed over the park, looking over at Alistair, she knew what he was up too and she couldn’t help but try and listen to their conversation.

“Uh…. Don’t you dare” Dawn said as she grabbed under her chin, getting her daughter to look at her. “Trust him… don’t eavesdrop…” She stated seeing what her daughter was doing and trying to listen into the man’s conversation. “Trust will have to come along with marriage you know, you have to let your guard down sweet heart, not everyone is out here trying to hurt you”

“Yeah well that’s kind of hard…considering I’ve been kidnapped twice, been almost stabbed twice… and was close to dying pretty much every day of my life” Scarlet said, although a bit of it was an exaggeration, she was trying to let her mother know her trust didn’t come easily.

“But did Alistair ever try doing those things to you? And I’m talking about even the beginning of your relationship… before it developed into something serious, he never gave you that feeling that he was going to hurt you” Dawn reminded.

“Not until he found out I was pregnant with Hope, but then something changed in him” She said shrugging her shoulders, still to this day she had no idea what flicked the switch, yes it had to deal with him almost loosing his life, and her being there for him but he had seemed to accept it so easy after that.

“People make mistakes, they grow…that’s why life is so beautiful” Dawn continued, as they both watched Alistair and Asher playing football.

“Since when did you become a philosopher of life?” Scarlet questioned, looking back at her mother.

“Since I’ve experienced it…” Dawn replied, as she looked down at her daughter with a smile before looking over at Alistair as she saw him being distracted and looking at Scarlet. “The way he watches you my dear, its like he’s willing to leap in front of you and take a bullet for you or something” She said somewhat surprised a hunter would do that for a hybrid. “How did you convince him to feel like that? A hunter…go against his roots”

Scarlet shrugged her shoulders, as she stood up, “Is that a bad thing?” She responded to her mother, when she had mentioned that her husband to be was willing to sacrifice his own life instead of hers. “I didn’t convince him… he just grew respect for me as a mother, then it had developed into something else… I guess you can’t find it when it’s love you know?”

“It’s an intense thing” Dawn responded, knowing that their relationship was harmless, no abusive traits that she noticed of her husband over the past couple of days and worried her daughter was going down that path. “You’re different with him…wherever you go he goes,” She continued.

“I dunno….I guess, we’re just-”Scarlet said before being cut off.

“In love” Her mother responded as she kissed the top of her daughters head, “I get it… and I’m happy for you my dear, it’s all I wanted”

Asher had ran back as he had caught the ball that Alistair had thrown in the air for him to catch, he was glad he was able to spend sometime with the person in this family he had admired the most. After all these years, he was finally going to be able to tick all his boxes, perhaps once he finally kills the hybrid the two could go on killing sprees of all the supernatural in town, and be in history books to come and as well as learn so much from him. “Yeah Isla” he responded, when he had casually asked about his daughter, he assumed he was doing it from an over protective father point of view. “Going good man, she’s not like anyone I’ve ever dated before” He said before throwing the ball back at the man, running his fingers through his hair, “She’s just so honest, and real you know? Not afraid to be herself and gave me the lay down when we first met” He stated, recalling the night she had rocked up at his bar, and had told him what she wanted and that she clearly didn’t want anything from him… guess things change.

“To make her feel loved again, wanted again” He responded when her father had asked what his intentions were, he didn’t feel intimidated at all, and had kept a straight face when he answered. It was better for the man that way, not to feel weakened by another in sign that he could protect his daughter in years to come. “I assure you, we are taking things slow… how she wants to take them, she actually wanted to uninvited me today, but Scarlet had stepped in and told us that I was allowed” he explained, unsure if the man had taken notice of the conversation that had gone down in the bedroom, “I want her to take control of the relationship, whatever she sees fit for her after Luca died, nobody was the same… I tried contacting her for weeks on end after he had passed but she had refused my calls and then I bumped into her at the beach and the rest was history” He continued, with a small shrug of his shoulders unsure if that’s what the man had wanted from him. “Nothing but good intentions from here on out sir…I give you my word”

“Of course I know this man! I would not let him near Hope if I didn’t.. We’ve been in contact since his arrival to Hollowbrook, OK? He even helped me track you down, Scar!” Alistair added, wanting to reassure her that he was safe. He was from a family of hunters too. He’d moved from town to town much like the Clemonte’s and culled all the supernatural he’d been in contact with. But he’d promised that he wouldn’t touch his family. Of course, Alistair would talk to him again to remind him of the said deal. “You want him gone! He’s fucking gone, Scar! I’ll tell him right now!” Alistair raised his voice a few decibels but not loud enough for the rest of the house to hear him. He headed upstairs, ready to inform Asher that he’d been uninvited to the family panic. He stopped dead in his tracks when he overheard the conversation between the two. It appeared his daughter had noticed their distrust towards him and was uninviting him herself. 

Alistair quickly made himself scarce as he heard Isla send Asher on his way. Part of him felt bad for the guy with the mixed signals he must’ve been receiving. But it was for the best right now. At least until they got to know him a bit better. “Problem solved… I didn’t need to have a word with him.. Isla uninvited him herself..” Alistair whispered to Scarlet once he returned the kitchen, his gaze falling on Isla who’d returned the table. She was no more withdrawn, clearly torn up inside about her feelings for Asher. 

Isla stepped into her bedroom and shut the door, she paced anxiously and tried to decide how she was going to go about the situation. Asher tipped off to her anxiety about the situation stepped into the bedroom. “No… I-I think it’s too soon. I know I invited you along today.. but my family doesn’t seem ready for it.. We only buried Luca a couple of weeks ago and I bring you home.. What was I thinking?” Isla acknowledged, scrunching her nose up, pissed with herself. Her family had finally gotten into a good place after Scarlet had returned and she didn’t was going to ruin it. “I think… we just need to take a step back and take things a bit slower..” Isla added, and she watched Asher’s face fall in disappointment. Clearly taken aback by her decision. Isla grabbed his jacket and handed it to him, directing him to the door. “I’ll text you later, okay? I need.. to think.” 

Asher was baffled as to how easily her family could persuade her decision into bringing him along to the family trip. “Hey, Hey” he said softly, wanting the girl to think about her decision. “We can make it work it’s okay… I can still come, but I’ll just be in the background of everything” He said as he wrapped his arms around the girl’s waist, and kissed the top of her head, he was so close to the hybrid he didn’t want to loose now all because he got to excited in giving them death glares. “If they get really uncomfortable then I’ll guess I’ll leave… but they should be happy for you that you’re moving on, nothing is too soon cause life is too short” he added as he manipulated the girl in hopes that she’ll still allow him to come.

Scarlet could hear the conversation upstairs, and was eavesdropping; she placed Hope on the couch with Alistair as she had walked upstairs wanting to clear the awkwardness before they had gone to the park. She knocked on the door, and when she had got the approval from Isla to come in she opened it and stepped inside. “ I just wanted to say sorry…. Asher, if I made you feel uncomfortable” she said as she began playing with her fingers nervously, “I just turned my emotions back on recently… last night actually and I’m reading everything so wrong, I’m just all over the place so Isla… he doesn’t have to be uninvited to the family trip, your more than welcome to stay” She added with a small smile looking over at the couple, “We want you to be happy Isla…. Just like how you gave me and your father approval, I’m giving mine” she said walking up to the girl and kissing her cheek, “We will see you downstairs” She said as she walked off, closing the door behind her and grabbing Hope as they started packing the car up.

“Of course, sweetie..” Alistair replied without missing a beat, as he gestured to them that he’d be right back. He followed Scarlet into the living room and listened as she expressed her unrest about Asher. It was certainly a red flag that he was taking vervain but perhaps Isla had been upfront with him about her family and told him Scarlet was a hybrid. Not to mention he was a hunter and it was natural for a hunter to use vervain when they were uncertain about supernatural creatures they were welcoming into their life. “Sweetie.. I think that you’re struggling a bit with trust after what happened to Luca. Give him a chance he seems to mean well..” Alistair replied, knowing that he’d met the man before and he seemed to be nice enough. He hadn’t meant him or his family any harm in the past. “How about I have a word with him? At the picnic today? Find out what his intentions are? With Isla and this family?” Alistair offered, knowing it would put her worries at rest knowing that he was on her side. 

Isla started to feel uneasy as her family all seemed to be untrusting towards Asher. She felt like they knew something she didn’t and she despised that feeling. Perhaps it’d been too soon for her to bring him home, too soon after Luca. Too soon after the funeral. Granted the two had been split before he’d passed, she just couldn’t figure out why they were acting this way. Maybe it was because he was a hunter. She thought her father would be thrilled but she didn’t think Scarlet would be so nervous around him. Asher placed a hand on her thigh and she was broken from her reverie, flinching slightly at the contact as it had taken her off guard. “I don’t think we ever officially met either.. I’m Isla. Alistair’s daughter and Scarlet’s best friend..” Isla introduced herself to Dawn, completely snubbing Asher for the moment and it never got less the awkward the more she said the line. But she was happy for them truly, starting such a beautiful family together. “Can you… excuse me.. real quick..” Isla stood up with a forced smile, leaving the dining table and heading upstairs. She left Asher with Dawn, who continued to fix him with distrustful glances. 

Scarlet couldn’t help but roll her eyes, as Alistair had stared to down play her emotions due to her brother’s death, “We have a hybrid daughter down there, letting another hunter into our home… it’s great that we know him but don’t you think for our daughters sake everyone should be given a background check?” She hissed, feeling furious, but was glad that he was willing to speak with him on his behalf. She had ended the conversation and walked downstairs and saw Dawn and Asher glaring at each other with no words exchanged, it wasn’t until Alistair had entered the room when Asher’s appearance had changed and had become soft, and laughed as if he was having a conversation with Dawn. She tilted her head, as her and her mother looked at each other, giving odd looks wondering just what on earth was he planning. 

“Okay, I’m going to get dress and I’m going to get Hope dressed too” Scarlet said as she walked over to the highchair and collected Hope as she carried her upstairs, and changed her into a summery dress and shoes, grabbing a jacket in case she’d get cold. She then left her to play as she had gotten dress herself, and the two making their way downstairs as they waited for everyone else to do the same. She had sat down on the couch with Hope on her lap, as she was helping her with her words and reading her a book. 

Asher walked upstairs shortly after Isla did, wondering why she had left him by himself. Perhaps she noticed the sudden tension between the hybrid and the vampire that looks were being exchanged, or maybe she wanted to get ready for her trip as he had walked inside her room and closing the door behind him. “You okay Isla?” He asked out of concerned as he began getting dressed ready for the day they were going to have together. “We’re going to a park together with Hope, where we had our first kiss… How crazy is that?” He stated knowing how far they’ve come as a newly dating couple.

“Good morning…” Alistair replied, giving Scarlet a little slap on her arse as she passed with Hope. He watched her set the little girl into her high chair and was cutting pancakes up into little sections to feed her. Hope was already consuming little bits of food and it felt like she was growing up too fast. She was already a little lady. “Good morning Dawn..” Alistair added, suddenly flustered as Dawn noticed him spanking her daughter lightly in passing. He supposed it wasn’t what every mother wanted to see but it had been good natured. “How’d you all sleep?” Alistair asked his family as they dug into the pancakes he’d cooked and his heart started to swell. He never imagined, after Isadora’s passing that he would ever have a family this big again. He’d always just assumed it would be him and Isla for the rest of the time. 

Isla giggled as Asher’s lips left little pecks along the plain of her neck, she rolled on top of him and returned the kiss with renewed vigour. She delved her tongue into his mouth and deepened the kiss, grinding her hips against his as it started to heat up. She’d brought Asher home last night after their little beach date and all the sexual tension had finally got the better of them. He ended up staying over the night and the next morning, they were at it again. They were at that exciting part in their relationship, where they couldn’t get enough of each other. She hoped that never faded. 

“Mmmm sounds good.. We can continue this later..” Isla said playfully as she pulled a tee over her head and slipped on pair of shorts. She spritzed a little bit of perfume on herself but she knew it wouldn’t do much to deter Scarlet away from the scent of sex. Her hybrid sense of smell would pick up on it immediately. “Yeah it is.. So try to behave. This is your first… official.. meeting with my family..” Isla teased, as she didn’t consider Scarlet walking in on their sleep over that morning as an official introduction. Isla stepped into the kitchen and noticed the instant unease about having a perfect stranger in their home. “Guys.. this is Asher. We’ve sort of been seeing each other.. I invited him to come along today.. I hope that’s okay..” 

Alistair gazed over at Scarlet who seemed dismayed at his presence. No one else in the family was making Asher feel welcome so he took it upon himself. Alistair clapped a hand on the man’s back, “Asher.. Nice to meet you, my man! I’m Alistair. Grab a seat and help yourself to some pancakes! There’s plenty there…” Alistair insisted and this seemed to break the tension as Asher did just that. He helped himself to some pancakes and Alistair pulled Isla aside quickly, planting a kiss on her cheek sweetly. “I like your new boyfriend..” Alistair whispered in approval.

Scarlet had instantly sense that Asher and Isla had sex last night, as soon as they had came downstairs. She continues to feed Hope and doesn’t pay any attention to Asher, trying to avoid him as she can instantly feel a bad vibe coming from him. She looked over at her mother Dawn who was also uncomfortable by the males presents, and it was clear it was because they could both sense he was a hunter. “That’s fine sweetie” Scarlet replied, with a fake smile as she did so and tired not to make it obvious that she wasn’t happy about the two dating, she wanted to be happy for Isla that she had finally found a new love interest but out of all people why a hunter, the one thing that she hated. 

She hated the fact that Alistair had been so welcoming to him, and felt betrayed by her husband to be that he didn’t do a background check before he had greeted him, welcoming another hunter into their home. As Asher sat down Scarlet could immediately feel Asher’s eyes gazing upon her, as she had finally looked at him, and he had continued to glare until Isla had returned to the table. She didn’t want to feel threatened in her own home, and a part of her wanted to speak her mind. “Honey…. Can I talk to you… in the living room” She said standing up as she allowed her mother to look after Hope and continued feeding her. Scarlet had grabbed Alistair by the arm, directing him to the living room. “Babe, I have a bad feeling about him,” She whispered. The last thing she wanted to be to look as if she was going crazy. “I can smell vervain on him… I know he’s a hunter I can smell it, why would he be taking vervain?” She asked as if he was going to have some plan against her. “He was staring me down at the table, glaring at me…. I just have a bad feeling and I can smell sex on the both of them! I don’t want him to play Isla to get to me” 

Asher smiled as Alistair had welcomed him, “Thanks man” He said as he grabbed a plate, helping himself and had made sure he was sitting in front of Scarlet while they were eating breakfast. He wanted to make sure that she knew he was going to make her uncomfortable, and he was loving that he could sense just how uneasy she was about it all especially when he had glared at her way too long to bring Alistair into the longue room, he knew that the talk would most likely be about him and him coming along to the family events. He knew a hybrid when he saw one, and he could feel his body being excited about his first hybrid kill but wanted to lay low in front of the family. 

He had placed his hand on Isla’s lap, squeezing her thigh softly when she had came down and sat next to him, as he placed a kiss on her cheek. “So… I believe we haven’t met before, I’m Asher” He said introducing himself to Scarlet’s mother, another one that had sparked his interest and hoped she would be an easy end to her life, a stake to the heart would do just fine. 

Scarlet had woken up with Hope in her arms, as she had smiling lovingly down at her daughter who had managed to bring her back to her real life emotions. She kissed her face softly, waking her up as her eye lids fluttered open, her smile brightly at her mother happy for her to still be at home, “Good morning my sweet girl, lets meet daddy for breakfast” She said sitting up and standing in front of the bed, as Hope had stood up on the bed, and Scarlet had turned around giving Hope a piggy back downstairs. As soon as she had walked downstairs, she was greeted with the smell of pancakes and Alistair in the kitchen. “Good Morning” She said as both her and Hope sniffed the air in approval of the smell of pancakes. 

She had placed her daughter down on the chair next to her, and had bit down on her lower lip when Alistair had asked about to her grandmother’s whereabouts. “She’s out Al” Scarlet hinted, not wanting to make it obvious in front of Hope that her grandmother was going for an early feed in the morning as she had heard her gone out this morning and had told Scarlet before she left where she was going. “You know…when I used to go for walks?” She added hoping he’d catch on. “She said she’d meet us at the park I told her where we were going” She said as she started cutting up Hope’s food and helping feed it to her. 

Asher had come down from his high, as he lay down on the bed next to Isla, breathing heavily as he clutched onto his chest. The two had sexual tension for a while now and it was good to finally release what they had been feeling. He had kissed the girl in between the valley of her breast, and his hand rubbing her breast and his thumb rubbing over the top of her nipple, though they were done he enjoyed touching her. “That’s my good girl” He said as he mumbled against her lips, kissing her deeply as he added his tongue, and grabbing the back of her neck, before he had smelt the smell of pancakes making him hungry and his stomach grumbling. 

“Sorry sweetheart, you made me hungry” He said standing up, as he had put on his cargo pants, and long sleeve t-shirt. “Think we should make our way downstairs, didn’t you say your family was going on a picnic today?” He said somewhat nervously and wondered if her family would like him, and hoped he they had accepted him into the family, after all his aim was to bring Scarlet to her knees, and end her life, he wanted Alistair to get back into the game that he had enjoyed in his past life that had all seemed to be over and done with. He stood there at the corner of her room, as he waited for the girl to get ready not wanting to walk downstairs, without her. As she was done he had walked behind her, and noticed Scarlet’s shocked face, as she dropped the fork she used to feed Hope that Isla had brought a man over without them knowing, she had looked up at Alistair shrugging her shoulders, insisting she didn’t know anything about it.

“Really? That wouldn’t bother you?” Isla asked, uncertain, as she’d been Hope’s full-time carer at the moment. Alistair had been up at all hours day and night on a mission to sought out Scarlet. It was a rare occurrence that he would make time for Hope despite Isla pushing him to do so. She didn’t mind watching the toddler, but she didn’t want her to think that her parents had abandoned her or had no time for her. So she tried to push her dad to see Hope once a day at least. Even if it was in passing on his way to see Scarlet. “Awww.. We would love that, wouldn’t we, Hope?” Isla asked and the little girl nodded her head, enthusiastically. She was just happy that her sister had said yes and that Asher would continue to be a part of her life. 

Isla lingered behind the two as they took off, Hope on his shoulders with her arms spread out like a wing span. The little girl was giggling and tilting her arms from side to side as Asher steered her around, making them circle around trees and pedestrians like obstacles. Isla placed a hand over her mouth to quell a giggle as they garnered the attention of everyone in the area. It was incredibly sweet and the urge to kiss Asher only grew the stronger the longer she watched him interact with her little sister. “Careful Ash.. She’s full of ice-cream. She might chuck on you!” Isla teased but that didn’t seem to deter him as they continued to zoom around the beach. 

Isla stepped in front of the two, cutting them off playfully and planted her lips against Asher’s lips softly. Hope scrunched up her face in disgust and covered her eyes as the two kissed. “Sorry, sis. I’ve been trying to resist doing that all day..” Isla said playfully as she pulled away, to see Asher’s equally flushed face. 

Asher didn’t realise that the girl had just ate and had completely forgotten about it and was quick to stop considering the amounts of giggling that she was doing that would’ve caused her to throw up. He quickly placed her on his hip, as he was caught off guard when Isla had kissed him quickly, as he had smiled brightly down at her, biting down on his lower lip and chuckled at Hopes reaction as he had bounced her on his hip. “Hey, we are not that cringy Hope!” He said playfully, as he had kissed Isla’s forehead, pulling her in for a side hug. “Have you really been trying to resist me all day?”