Fated to the Werewolf King novel Chapter 45

When did Lily become so grown up?

His little girl was speaking to a group of She-Wolves after their dinner wrapped up. He knew that she was a people pleaser, but this atmosphere that surrounds her now is of something much higher than himself. Even Erica was taking part and she could care less about formal parties, that's just how she was. Yet here they both were, still together after all this time.

Nathan scanned the room of these diplomatic leaders and stepped out. He didn't belong there, he just couldn't see himself fitting in. Instead he looked for the young Wolf that he had grown fond of recently. Elias. The boy always had this energy that never seemed to end, and his imagination was overwhelming. He reminded him so much of Lily at that age. Always seeking for adventure, looking for something new and exciting. Just like her mother once was. Oh how he wished Autumn was here. To see their little girl all grown up, getting married and having a baby. Autumn would've been over the moon.

He stepped into the kitchen, thinking he'd find the pup snacking when he finds Jayce sitting at the counter alone, pouring a shot of bourbon. He glanced up.

"Nathan, care for a glass?" He asked him. Nathan took a seat across from his soon to be son-in-law.

"Please." He said as Jayce turned around to fetch another glass. The man was massive. He had to be pushing six foot five, his muscles practically bursting through his maroon button up. When he turned back around, he met Nathan's gaze.

"You alright?" He asked him as he poured his shot and slid the glass over to him. Nathan stared down at it, tapping his finger against the glass.

"It amazes me how well she's fitting in with all of this." Nathan said finally, downing the drink. It burned his throat, making him cough and his cheeks flare up. Jayce downed his, uneffected by the alcohol's influence.

"It's just for show. She's clearly uncomfortable, but she won't admit it." Jayce told him as he poured another glass.

"Why does she go through with it then?" Nathan asked him, declining the next pour. Jayce swirled his drink, the corner of his mouth lifted slightly.

"She's trying to prove to them and to herself that she can handle it." Jayce downed his drink before setting the glass aside.

"She's like her mother." Nathan mentioned, sitting back a bit on his stool. Jayce raised a brow at that.

"She hasn't talked about her mother with me. Did they have a bad relationship?" Jayce asked him. Nathan smiled sadly.

"Not exactly." Nathan said as he rested his chin on his palm, "Lily was so fond of Autumn. Her mother was a free spirit. She always craved for adventure." He smiled sadly, "I just never craved the same thing." He peered over to his empty glass and pushed it back over to Jayce. The man poured him a drink, sliding it back over.

"What happened to her?" Jayce asked him. Nathan downed the drink, letting the liquid scorch his throat. He winced slightly.

"Car accident." Nathan ran a hand through his hair, "We separated and she was moving back to Virginia with her parents." He felt his mood darken, "It took me almost three days to tell Lily what had happened."

"I'm sorry." Jayce said, but Nathan shook his head.

"Life just sucks that way. I guess that's why I was always a helicopter parent with Lily. I was scared that God was going to take her away from me next." He pushed his glass back to Jayce, but the man held onto it with no intention of giving it back.

"It's true that life can be harsh at times, always testing your limits," Jayce's eyes shifted to the doorway where the women were laughing. The man's eyes softened a bit, "but it's during those times when those moments matter the most." Jayce got up from his seat, putting the bourbon away and setting the glasses in the sink.

"I think she met someone before we had Lily." Nathan blurted out. He watched Jayce shoot a glance toward him. He sat back down across from him, "Sorry, it's probably the alcohol." He tried to make an excuse for the outburst.

"Noted. What makes you think she saw someone?" Jayce asked him curiously. Something about his demeanor seemed a little... off, but he couldn't place as to why. Nathan dropped his gaze to the counter.

"We were pretty young at the time when I got a job in New York. She didn't want to leave her home state to move with me. I would be making enough money to be comfortable for the both of us." Nathan inclined his head when he heard Lily laugh from the other room.

"Making decisions like that would strain any relationship. You obviously worked it out in the end." Jayce told him. Nathan smiled weakly.

"Yes, but I still had a gut feeling. We took time apart, and she didn't communicate with me for almost two months." Nathan sat up a bit straighter, feeling the heat in his cheeks from the liquor. "I guess I just took it as a sign that if I didn't meet her half way, I might lose her entirely." Nathan blinked before rubbing the back of his neck, "Damn, look at me. You should get back before you're missed." Nathan got off his stool, making sure to have his bearings. Jayce rolled up his sleeves, revealing his tattoos.

"I'm the last person anyone should talk to about relationships since I never truly had one. At least, until Lily arrived." Jayce's eyes softened again when he mentioned his daughter. He could see how much this man truly cared about her. He knew from that look alone that he can trust Lily to him.

"But from what I can understand from what you said, Autumn needed her own space. If she didn't love you, she would have never come back to you. So if there was someone else, you were the better option." Jayce stood up to his towering full height, "Besides, you both created one beautiful woman, so I'm not complaining." Jayce complimented. Nathan grumbled a bit at that, making his soon to be son-in-law chuckle.

Gasps sounded from the next room as the front door opened and shut, heels tapping against the marble tiles. Jayce immediately growled and left Nathan alone in the kitchen. He took a few deep breaths to steady himself before following after him. Crowding the foyer were the Alphas and Lunas, along with Damion, Erica and Lily. The men appeared on edge for some reason as Nathan walked up, and Erica was standing in front of Lily like she was acting as a shield. When he finally managed to get a glimpse past several arms, Nathan immediately recognized a woman, Penelope, but it was the man next to her that caused Nathan's blood to boil. Jayce's father, Derek, was standing in the center of it all, his face worn down and looking sluggish compared to his business self he presented to them several days ago over breakfast. This was the same bastard that tried to kill his little girl.

"Derek!" Lily exclaimed finally, pushing past Erica and embraced the man. Everyone was taken aback by her actions, even her fiancé was unsure on how to respond. Derek looked down at her confused before he very slowly hugged her back. Nathan blew up.

"Release my daughter!" He shouted, making everyone turn toward him. He stomped past the wall of Wolves, ready to throw a punch when Lily let Derek go and stood in front of him.

"Dad, you need to calm down." She tried to coax him into backing down, but he wasn't having it. With the liquor fueling him, he pushed Lily aside and punched Derek square in the jaw. A throbbing pain and an audible crack came from his hand. Penelope gasped, stepping away from the violent move. Lily grabbed Nathan's arm before he could launch his other hand at him. Derek rubbed his jaw, but he didn't even flinch from the impact.

"You're right." Derek said, interrupting the racing thoughts of rage Nathan had started to build up to counter whatever Derek had to say, "I don't deserve Lily's forgiveness in any way. What I did was inexcusable, and I wish I could take it back." Derek faced him, but not until his eyes drifted across a picture of Autumn that Nathan accidently forgot to pack. Derek reached over, picking it up and ran his fingers over the picture slowly. He appeared to be admiring her.

"Put her down." Nathan told him and Derek listened.

"Autumn was my Mate at one point." Derek said suddenly. The wheels in Nathan's head came to a squealing halt at his words, "It was by chance that I came in contact with her." Derek's eyes roamed the room, "She mentioned that she was engaged, so I never forced myself upon her. I respected her space because she was in a tight situation." Derek finally settled his eyes on him again. Nathan felt the anger slowly evaporate from his nerves at the mention of this. He knew something had gone on, but to actually have it confirmed by the very man himself.

"She finally told me that you two had come to a compromise," Derek's eyes grew dark and sad, "but she couldn't decide what path to take. So I decided for her." Derek finally met Nathan's gaze.

"You broke it off with her?" Nathan asked, and Derek nodded. Nathan sat down on the bed as a wave of relief washed over him. He held onto that gut feeling for so long, the knot it formed finally came undone.

"What happened to her?" Derek asked him. Nathan looked up at the man, seeing the genuine concern in his eyes. He dropped his gaze back to the floor.

"She died in a car accident." Nathan said softly. He heard Derek walk up to him and sit beside him on the bed. They both remained quiet as they mourned the loss of their lover.

"Why did you attack my daughter?" Nathan asked him, no longer feeling the urge to fight. He wasn't a real match against a Werewolf anyways. Derek stiffened beside him.

"I think that's a talk I need to have with everyone." He said, "You should also have your hand checked." He pointed out. Nathan looked at him confused before looking down at his hands. His left hand looked normal, but his right had bruising around his knuckles and was swollen. He was so enveloped in his anger and with the liquor in his body, he barely felt the pain. When did he become such a lightweight?

"Right, sorry." Nathan grumbled his apology.

"Don't be. I'd have done the same." Derek got up, "I'm glad things worked out the way they did though." Derek spoke softly now. Nathan looked up at the figure beside him, "When I first saw Lily, it was torment. I thought it was so unfair with how Fate worked out, but when we all had breakfast together, I saw how Jayce looked at her." Derek's hands clenched and unclenched, "It hurt, but at the same time I had a sense of pride that I haven't felt in a very long time."

"Usually when someone feels that kind of way, they don't get the sudden urge to kill." Nathan told him. Derek nodded slowly.

"I know, and I'll give you all my answers when we group together. I'll admit though," Derek turned back to Nathan and put out his hand, "I'm fine losing her to you in the end since she would've been the happiest." Nathan looked at Derek's hand.

"I'd have to disagree. Even though we worked things out, she wasn't truly happy. We never got married because she didn't like the idea of being tied down, but when we had Lily, her attitude perked up." Nathan rubbed his face, "But it was short lived. She loved Lily, and Lily adored her mother dearly, but Autumn and I just didn't see eye to eye anymore." Nathan stood up and faced Derek head on. The man kept his hand out still and Nathan shook it firmly. Autumn was gone from both of their lives, leaving memories they individually shared with her. What mattered most to Nathan now was Lily and her own happiness.

He opened the door, the men exited the room and found Lily in the same spot as before, but this time Jayce, Damion, Erica and Penelope had joined her. She was visibly shaking when they stepped out. Jayce had his hand on her shoulder, but once Nathan was in the hallway, he let Lily go. She ran from him and threw her arms around her father. He hesitated a second before hugging her back. His little girl, the only connection he had to Autumn now, swept away any lingering anger, confusion, and sadness he had left. Instead he felt love and reassurance, and that's all he'll ever need.