Fighting For A Goddess

Demon Dad

Xander helped Jade and Aidan into the backseat of Max’s car before he climbed in after them. Ares was running through the forest when he’d suddenly stopped and sprinted back to the pack house. When Xander saw all the missed calls, he knew something was wrong. He got to Jade’s house right as Eric pulled up in his car. The front door was ajar, so they both rushed inside without knocking.

Xander looked over at Jade, she looked pale as Aidan clung to her. It was a somber drive back to the packhouse. They parked up and Xander turned to the little boy.

“Hey, Aidan, how about we go look through the telescope? We should be able to see Saturn’s rings tonight.” The little boy lifted his head off Jade’s shoulder and looked at Xander. Max looked through the rearview mirror. The boy looked like he couldn’t be much older than 5. His heart clenched as he remembered running into the attic and seeing the sheer terror on the little boy’s face.

Aidan wrapped his arms tighter around Jade, but Max noticed he was being careful not to touch her bruised neck.

“I’m not leaving Jade,” he whispered into Jade’s shoulder.

“Alright, well, how about we take Jade inside so she can rest?” Aidan pulled back from Jade a bit and nodded.

“Can I carry you?” Xander asked as he stepped out of the car and held his arms out to Aidan. Aidan examined Jade’s face, she gave him a smile and a small nod. He let go of her and moved over to Xander.

Max got out of the driver's seat and opened Jade’s door, scooping her up in his arms.

“Is this okay?” He asked her. Jade looked up at him with her bright green eyes, she looked a bit wary, and he couldn’t blame her. She’d been through absolute hell tonight. She slowly nodded her head yes and tentatively wrapped her arms around his neck. Max made eye contact with Xander, he had that slight scowl back on his face.

Xander took Aidan into the large living room and laid him on the couch. He grabbed a blanket and wrapped it around his small shoulders.

“I’m going to go make you and Jade some hot chocolate,” Xander said softly. He pointed towards the adjoining kitchen, “I’m going to be right over there. Okay?”

“Okay,” Aidan answered softly.

Xander walked back to the kitchen and froze. Jade was sitting on a chair in the dining room and Max was kneeling in front of her. He brushed a strand of her hair back and tucked it behind her ear.

“He will never touch you again,” Max promised her in a low voice. “You're both safe now.”

Xander cleared his throat. “Jade, hot chocolate?” He asked. Jade looked up at Xander and nodded her head yes.

Max stood up and locked eyes with Xander before nodding his head towards the kitchen. Xander followed Max. Once they were in the kitchen, Xander reached into a cupboard and pulled out two mugs and the cocoa.

Just then, Eric walked in the door with a man that looked like an older version of Eric. The older man had messy hair and flannel pants like he’d been pulled straight out of bed. As soon as he spotted Jade, he walked over to her.

“Hello, Jade. I’m Dr. Williams, Eric is my son. He told me what happened to you tonight. If it’s okay, I’d like to take a look at you and your brother.”

Jade nodded her head and did her best to give him a friendly smile. She was trying to put on a brave face for Aidan. She could also sense how upset Xander and his friends were. She knew Xander had spent enough time at her house to know that her home life wasn’t great, but now Xander and several strangers knew just how bad it could be. Although, tonight was by far the worst her dad had ever been. Usually, he was an angry, miserable drunk, but tonight he was like the devil himself. She recalled his eyes glowing red and wondered if it was a hallucination. She was practically unconscious when she saw it.

Dr. Williams sat down in the chair next to Jade. He gingerly examined her neck while asking her questions.

Jade caught Eric staring at her neck, he gave her a sad smile before joining Max and Xander in the kitchen. Jade hated feeling like they all pitied her. She couldn’t wait to move somewhere new and start a whole new life.

Eric had never seen Max and Xander argue, but when he walked into the kitchen there was a tangible tension between them. Max was the kind of guy who stayed out of people's business and kept to himself. Xander was probably the most level-headed, philanthropic Alpha that ever lived. But right now they looked like they were ready to beat the s**t out of each other, Eric thought as he looked back and forth between the two of them.

Xander spoke first, breaking the silent tension between them.

“Max, I appreciate what you did tonight for Jade… But, I’ll take care of her and Aidan.”

“Like hell you will,” Max stated flatly. “You’ve known Jade for how many years? And you didn’t take her away from that place? Have you noticed that despite being strangled within inches of her life, she seems fairly calm? Why do you think that is Alpha?” Max said as he crossed his arms over his bare chest.

Xander ran his hand through his hair. A pained look on his face. He opened his mouth to speak but Max cut him off.

“I’ll answer that for you… it’s because she’s used to being hurt by him. And judging by what I’ve seen from that little worm Kyle… I doubt he’s ever protected her. You’ve had years to help her. I’ll be taking it from here.” Max gritted out.

Xander’s eyes shifted black. “Stay away from her. She’s mine,” Ares growled. Max reached out and grabbed the front of Xander’s shirt. Before he could respond to the threat, something black and thick smeared across his knuckles grabbed his attention.

“Oh s**t,” Max exhaled, releasing Xander.

“What… what is it?” Eric asked quietly.

Max held up his hands and showed them.

“Demon blood. That piece of s**t’s been possessed.”

Xander and Eric stared at the tar-like substance that was left behind on Max’s knuckles from punching Jade’s dad.”

“f**k. How long have they been living with a demon dad?” Eric thought out loud. A guilty look crossed Xander’s face.

“A thousand years of nothing…and now 3 in one night. What the f**k is going on?” Max said mostly to himself.

Xander stepped forward, “What do you mean 3 in one night?!”

“Look, we’ve got a lot to discuss and a lot of answers we need to find. But, not right now. Get the kid his hot chocolate and let him and Jade go to bed. She looks like she’s about to pass out from exhaustion. Once they’re settled, we’ll get to work,” Max said authoritatively.

Xander gave Max a hard look before he sighed and picked up the mugs. Jade and the doctor were now in the living room. The doctor was looking over Aidan. Xander handed each of them a mug before sitting down close to Jade.

After a few minutes, the doctor spoke to Xander, “Alp…umm, I mean Xander, can I speak to you in the other room for a moment?”

Max and Eric were still in the kitchen. Max had washed his hands and arms off in the kitchen sink, but Eric had a smudge of demon blood he was inspecting.

Dr. Williams spoke to the three of them, “I suspect that Jade is in more pain than she is letting on. I don’t see any signs of permanent damage, but she needs to rest.” Dr. Williams sighed as he looked over at Aidan. He had his head on Jade’s lap, she was running her fingers through his hair. From where they were all standing, it looked like he might be asleep. “The boy has suffered something very traumatic, and at such a young age too. I’m hoping the poor boy doesn’t end up with permanent psychological damage. Unfortunately, I’m just an MD, not a psychiatrist, so I'm only good at treating physical ailments. I'm not even sure how to help the poor boy."

“It’s okay, thank you for coming here tonight,” Xander said as he placed a hand on the doctor's back.

“It’s my pleasure. I’ll be back tomorrow to check on them, but if you need me in the meantime, just call.”

“Let’s get you home, Dad,” Eric said. Dr. Williams shook Xander’s hand and then followed Eric out.

Max was leaning back against the granite counter looking at Jade and Aidan. They were both asleep now. Jade was holding Aidan’s small body in her arms.

“Come on, they can sleep in my room. Help me carry them,” Max spoke quietly.

“Why your room?” Xander questioned.

“Isn’t your bed already occupied by your girlfriend?” Max emphasized the word girlfriend, making Xander sigh loudly.

“Don’t worry, I’ll sleep in one of the spare rooms on the warrior’s floor… for now,” Max smirked.