Willow

<< TWENTY FOUR >>

"Mom. What are you talking about? Please talk to me." I cried, never seeing my mother like this had me going.

"Auntie. What?" Ivy asked.

"Your father, Ivy. He was killed senseless by...them." She was now bawling.

"My father? What? Mom told me he was killed in a gang rivalry or something." She explained, shaking. I went over and held her.

"My brother was NOT in no gang. He was just a stupid fool in love. With that dead girl." My mother mocked.

"That's enough, Ness. You need a break." My dad said.

"This way, lets go." I said leading them to my room.

"I'm sorry about that. I will get to the bottom of this. Y'all stay here. We'll be right back." I told Dave before getting Ivy and walking to my room.

Once inside, I watched my mother hold herself, looking out the window.

"He just couldn't leave her alone. Knowing who she belonged to." She whispered.

"Mom. Explain, now."  I spat.

She turned around with an apologetic smile.

"My brother fell in love with a vampire's sister. Ivy, your mother and him were split up. Their relationship had been on the rocks for quite some time then. He was trying to move on. I didn't like it one bit, seeing your mother was very pregnant with you at the time. But I also knew they didn't belong together anymore. Frank sought after Yvette. After being rejected, time and time again, she finally admit to him why. She was one of them and her brother would never let her date a human. He came running to me telling me about it all. And he showed me a ring and said he planned to run away with her." She shook her head. "They did it. Tried to flee the state. Not two weeks later, they found them. And killed Frank. He didn't deserve that." She broke down and cried. "Willow, I know things have changed. I understand a lot more now. I'm sorry. And I will apologize to David. But right now, I'm just hurt. I was caught off guard. I'm really sorry. Ivy, go talk to your mother. We'll take you." My mother spoke, wiping her face and standing up.

"Mommy, I understand okay? We will talk about this tomorrow morning. We'll come to you if that's okay. Go get washed up." I said, hugging her and giving her a kiss on the cheek.

"Of course. Bring everyone, please."

Ivy and I went back out to the living room.

"Is everything okay?" Dave asked.

"Yes. It's just a long story." I explained, feeling drained.

My parents walked back in.

"David, my apologies. That goes for the rest of you. We will have a discussion at another time. I hope you will let me explain myself." Mom spoke and whimpered the rest of the way to the door.

"What was all that about?" Chris asked.

"Apparently her and the supernatural go way back. She invited us all over tomorrow. I'm sure she'll tell her story. No funny shit." I shrugged.

"That's your people, so by default, ours too." Loc spoke. "Rest up, sis. Hit us up with the moves.

We all exchanged hugs and they left.

"I really hope she doesn't think the worst of me." Dave told me once we were washed up and in bed.

"She doesn't, I don't think. Blood has been taken away from her before and she just reacted from pain. Just let her tell you." I yawned.

I was more than ready for sleep.

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The next morning, we all met up and made the drive to Brooklyn.

Pulling up to my parent's brownstone, I held Dave's hand tight.

Ringing the doorbell, my father opened the door.

Jayde, Ivy and I walked in. 

Then my mother came down.

"Come in." She granted the men access.

"Wow." Chris mumbled.

August slapped him upside the head.

"Thank you all for coming today. Once again, my deepest and most sincere apologies." She spoke after sipping from her tea.

"All is forgiven. Nothing we aren't used to." Dave shrugged. He didn't mean anything disrespectful by it, he was just truly hurt.

My mother went on to explain her story. The same things she told Ivy and I last night.

"So what's changed then? You said you understand more now." Loc asked.

"Well, yes. At the funeral. Yvette showed up. I was more scared than angry at that point. She explained it was all her brother's doing. He had been rejected by his human lover himself. And held that grudge over onto his sister. I spoke out of anger yesterday. I know not everyone is the same. He's since been killed so I know he won't be able to hurt my family every again." She sighed, but had a twinkle to her eyes. "But again, not everyone is the same. I know you care for our daughter Dave, and clearly the rest of you fellas have no bad intentions. But if Carter was human and did this. Who knows what his brother is like. I was scared. I accept all of you and especially Dave and Willow's mating." She cried, but this time it was more of a release than sadness.

"How did you-" I started to ask, but Dave cut me off.

"Thank you. I really appreciate that." He said and went in to embrace both my parents.

"This shit is so beautiful." Chris said. "If I felt emotion, I would be crying right now."

"I really hate you." Jayde said.

We spent the rest of the morning just having a deep conversation really. And then we touched on the impending storm that could be Carter's brother, Lennon.

I was scared but I knew I had to be brave now.
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Just the calm before the storm 😌

I know y'all were probably thinking something was up with Momma Dukes, but I promise there isn't.

She could've been drama, but honestly I felt like they needed to be together. Togetherness is stronger than a broken tribe.