"Sitting Dork? Really? You taking a jab at my heritage when you're almost as Native American as I am," he replied. She just rolled her eyes at him. "I gave you every ingredient that you asked for Lily. You're the chemist of the duo, you mixed it. You should be asking yourself why it didn't work," Doctor Litefoot told her.
"Are you saying I did it wrong?" She snapped but it came out as a hiss thanks to her elongated fangs.
"If the shoe fits," he replied then held up his hands when she took a step towards him. "Okay sorry. No, I don't think you did it wrong. What I think is that we both did our part and it's not working so I'm thinking that the vampire lied to you about the ingredients." Lily let out a growl, bitter betrayal making her stomach sour even more than it already was.
"So what do we do? I can't eat normal food anymore and I am hungry," she said, resuming her pace. The Aequivalere or what she thought was the Aequivalere had made and given her pills that suppressed the enzymes in her stomach that made her system reject food, leaving blood her only source of nourishment. She had only three left so she had been working with Doctor Litefoot to make their own.
"Sorry to interrupt but Tony just called. Today's meeting finished so we'll probably be getting some guests soon," Sandy said, sticking her head into the room. Lily scowled then took a deep breath to attempt to calm herself down. Litefoot got up from the table, taking the failed pills with him.
"Can you get a donor? James, maybe?" He asked and she shook her head.
"No and no. I don't want to drink from anyone, especially James," she replied. The last time she drank from someone she had nearly killed him. Even though it was the vampire Bianca's fault for pushing her to drink Lily still felt guilty about it.
"I can get some blood from the blood bank," he offered and she wrinkled her nose.
"That stuff tastes like shit since they put all that stuff in it to keep it in good condition," she said.
"You shouldn't leave Montana tomorrow without some kind of plan," he told her and she knew he was right. Lily sighed, running a hand through her hair.
"Yeah, I know. Alright, get a couple bags of blood or whatever and can get your hands on," she said and he nodded.
"Give me the rest of the pills the Aeqivalere made and I'll see if I can't get them analyzed. Hopefully, we'll figure out what the missing ingredient or the right quantities," he explained and again she nodded. "Don't worry, alright. We'll figure it out," he said as he got up and left.
Sandy gave Lily a concerned look as she entered the kitchen. "No luck with the new pills," she asked. Lily tried her best to give Sandy a reassuring smile.
"No but I'll be fine Sandy," she told her mother. "Right now I'm just edgy. That's all." Sandy didn't look very convinced but she returned Lily's smile.
"Well I have good news for you," her mother said with a smile. Lily nodded, grabbing a bottle of water and sitting at the table so she'd stop pacing. "Now that the meetings are over and the plans have been set almost all of the alphas have left. There are only three current alphas who've stayed. All our remaining guests are those that will actively aid in the vampire situation," she explained. Lily let out a sigh of relief.
"Thank God, that is good news," she said and took a cautious sip of water. "Who are the alphas that stayed?"
"Alpha Daniels of Montana, of course. Alpha Girard from Yukon Territories of Canada and Alpha Sanders of North Dakota," She replied. Lily tried to put a name to a face for the two alphas besides Nick but she didn't think they'd met.
"That sounds like some cool beans," Lily said, getting up from the table. "Thanks for everything Sandy and thanks for watching A. J. while I'm gone."
"Don't be silly. I am more than happy to do it. You just be careful while you're up there," Sandy said, worry darkening her eyes.
"I will," Lily told her and gave her a hug and kiss before leaving to spend as much time as she could with her son before she had to leave.
Lily looked at the small private jet with a smirk. "Think he's compensating for something," She whispered to Tony but knew the Canadian alpha could hear her perfectly.
"Lily can you try to not antagonize the alphas," Tony groaned with an exasperated look.
"That's like asking her not to breathe," Nick said before walking to the jet.
"What you mean Nickie baby?" She called after him.
"Don't call me that," he growled, not looking back. Wendy giggled, giving Lily a high-five before racing after him.
"You can call me baby if you like," the alpha of North Dakota offered with a smirk.
"Not in this lifetime Coronel Sanders," Lily shot at him. Unfortunately, the alpha was one of the alphas interested in having Lily as a mate. James's father, Mitchell, sniffed eyeing her with disapproval. Melody, James' mother, had told her how much he loves the chain of command and he couldn't stand when it wasn't respected. So she didn't see them becoming buddies anytime soon. Not that she wanted to be buddies with an abusive dick or a recovering abusive but still a dick.
"I'm sure my mate can agree that I've nothing to compensate for and it's not that big of a plane," Alpha Adrian Gerard said. He looked at her and gave her a small smile. "Maybe you are so accustomed to such tiny standards, your judgment is off," he suggested. Lily's jaw dropped in surprise then began laughing.
"That was an awesome comeback," she said, wiping away a fake tear.
"Too bad it's not true... at least the first part. I can't vouch for your judgment," James jumped in, giving her a grin. She rolled her eyes at him, smiling. James turned to Tony and said, "I'll keep you updated daily if I can."
Tony gave him a stiff nod and walked up to Lily, giving her a hug. "Get in, kick ass, get our sister, and come back home," he said and she felt a pang in her chest. He already considered the girl as part of the family. It touched her and reminded her one of the many things she loved about the Roberts family - their big hearts.
"Thanks, Tony, I'll do that," she said and with one final hug, she boarded the plane.
The flight was pleasant enough but very short. It seemed like they'd just gotten in the air when they were landing already. Lily stood in the parking lot of the hotel that serves as temporary housing for Nick's pack. Anger and sympathy filled her as she watched the people around her. They looked so defeated and so lost.
"Alpha, I know you just got back but I need to speak with you. It's important," said a boy, maybe seventeen or eighteen. He looked somewhat familiar but she wasn't sure from where. Nick grew even more serious as he looked at the boy.
"What is it, Zander?" He asked and the boy looked irritated by the audience but with a scowl he spoke.
"I saw my mom a couple of days ago," he started.
"Is she alright? Where is she," Nick asked, looking alarmed and that caught Lily's attention.
"Mom's always fucking okay and she had to go back," he replied bitterly. Nick nodded but glanced around him to the guests. There was something he didn't want the others to know.
"Hey Nickie, how about you get these guys settled and I see to your kid," she offered, having a feeling this was Bonnie's kid. Both the kid and Nick scowled at her.
"Only if you promise not to call me Nickie or Nickie baby for forty-eight hours," he offered and Lily grinned.