The first year in Malta was a pain in the ass for Stefan and Nico. Once word spread that Damon Santorno’s single great-grandsons were there, the girls came out of every corner. Stefan stayed to himself, hanging out with Nico and his male friends. As many times as they asked him out, he never dated anyone. His heart belonged to someone else.

Nico was propped on his elbows on a beach towel and heaved a huge sigh. Stefan looked over at him.

“You miss Tanner.”

“God, I do. I can’t stop thinking about him. What’s wrong with me? He’s so much younger than me.”

“You can’t help who you fall in love with, Nico.” Stefan put his hands behind his head.

Nico let out another loud sigh. “Here comes the next wave. And I don’t mean the ocean ones.”

Stefan noticed a horde of teenage girls heading their way. “Can I be gay too?”

The whole group went to Russia for a week. Nikolai loved having his Colin at his house. They were running around in the yard with the rest of the kids when Sergio cocked his head to the side.

“Something is coming.”

They all turned toward the woods. Tanner narrowed his eyes, looking. “It’s coming closer; I hear it.”

“What if it’s a wild animal?” Ryan pulled Evan behind him.

“We have wild animals all the time,” Nikolai said. “Our property goes on for miles.”

Vince came out when he saw all the kids staring into the woods. “Something interests you?”

“Something’s coming.” Sergio closed his eyes. “It’s about to come through.”

Vince watched the woods. Sure enough, a black shape took form. The kids stared at it and Jensen cocked his head.

“It’s a dog.”

Vince narrowed his eyes. “Yeah, that’s not a dog.”

The black wolf puppy came over wagging his tail. He stopped in front of Nikolai and looked up at him.

“He’s so cute!” Nikolai bent down.

“Don’t touch it!” Vince grabbed his son’s hand. “There could be more.”

“I don’t think so, Pops.” Nikolai examined the wolf. He was rail thin and dirty. “I think maybe his mommy and daddy died.” His face fell.

“Or were shot.” The black fur was matted but the green eyes sparkled. Vince picked it up, dodging the rapidly wagging tail. “You need a bath and some food.”

“I wanna name it,” Nikolai exclaimed.

“Okay.”

Nikolai thought hard and then announced, “I know! Lelantos!”

The kids looked confused until Colin smiled.

“Ah, I get it.”

“Huh?” Jensen asked.

Vince laughed. “Lelantos was the younger Titan god of air and had the hunter’s skill of stalking prey. His name comes from the Greek words lêthô, lanthanô, and lelathon, meaning ‘to escape notice,’ ‘move unseen’ or ‘go unobserved.’ ” Vince told all them. “It’s a cool name.”

“Ohhh.” Ryan nodded.

Vince took the wolf inside. The kids followed him in and Nikolai saw his dad arch a brow. “We have a pet?”

“It’s a wolf pup, Dad.” Nikolai smiled wide.

Andrei sighed. “Of course it is.”

“Can we keep it? Huh, Dad?” Nikolai bounced up and down.

“We will see if he keeps us.”

The rest of the day was spent with the kids playing with the pup as Vince and Andrei watched them. Lelantos would stop and smell each child making a mental note of who was who, then tackle them and lick their faces.

“He is going to get much bigger.” Andrei watched the kids playing.

“Yes, wolves do that.”

Andrei smacked his ass. “You are okay with this?”

“He seems to like them, and he’s still a pup so…”

Andrei wrapped his arms around his husband. “I missed you.”

Vince leaned his head to the side as Andrei kissed his neck softly; he had been gone for a week with Ivan.

“How about we make love?”

“Right here?” Andrei chuckled moving his arm around Vince and discreetly squeezing his erection.

“After the kids go to bed.”

“What time is it?” Andrei kissed his neck, running his tongue along his husband’s neck.

“It’s time for the kids to go to bed.”

Vince picked Andrei up and took him to their room; he smiled at Ivan on his way down the hall.

“I will babysit.” Ivan laughed.

“Good, thank you.” Andrei smiled.

Vince put Andrei on the bed and took his time taking his clothes off. Andrei watched every movement; the shirt came down his biceps and Andrei shifted to the end of the bed to stroke his hands up Vince’s chest. He traced his fingertip over his name tattooed on his husband’s chest. Vince smiled and ripped Andrei’s shirt off. Buttons scattered everywhere, and then Andrei was on his back with his husband pounding the shit out of him.

“Vince!” Andrei sank his fingers in his back.

“God, I missed you!”

Andrei closed his eyes as Vince slowed things down. His lips were dropping light kisses on his throat and Andrei smoothed his hands up his back and then into Vince’s hair. They had come a long way from the time they had first met again; he had been ready to kill Vince. But when they shook hands, an electric shock ran through Andrei’s body. He had gotten to know the Vince who the Santornos knew, and fallen in love.

“I love you,” Vince rasped.

Vince thrust in deep and let loose; Andrei let out a loud moan in his mouth. Vince came seconds later, kissing his husband with such passion Andrei whimpered into his mouth.

“I love you. My God, I love you.”

Vince smiled and stroked his tongue along Andrei’s lips. “Are you ready for more?”

“When am I not?”

After pressure from his dads and Joshua, Landon decided to stay in Fort Worth for that year but made it known he would spend the next year in New York.

The first day of school found them all hanging out at their lockers, which miraculously were all right next to each other. Joshua propped against his and watched Katarina talking to a guy. He blew out a loud sigh.

“Dude, just tell her,” Landon advised.

Phoebe walked down the hallway and ran into Colin. She smiled and hugged him.

“I have a date.”

“Oh, really?” Colin raised an eyebrow.

“Yep, captain of the football team.”

Colin laughed. “Good luck getting that one by Dad.”

“I’m allowed to date.”

“Yes, you were allowed to date Stefan — not someone else.”

“Well, that’s over now.”

“You know I love you to death, sis, but what you did? It was so wrong.”

“What is that supposed to mean?”

“You knew at some point your relationship would have to go further and you got scared. Jaime ambushing Stefan was the perfect opportunity for you to bail, and that’s what you did.”

“That’s not true.” Phoebe couldn’t meet Colin’s eyes.

“Denial is ugly, Phoebe.” Colin walked away.

Phoebe chased after him. “Why are you saying that?”

“Because you weren’t ready for the next step and you were afraid Stefan would leave you first, which you couldn’t stand the thought of. He loves you, Phoebe. He always has and he would have waited forever. Don’t blame your insecurities on anything he did. As much as you deny it, you’re just like Dad was. You leave before they can leave you.”

Phoebe watched him walk away and leaned against the wall. Is that what she had done? Stefan had been apologetic, that’s for sure. A small voice in the back of her head told her that he really had nothing to apologize for. She missed him so much.

The bell rang, knocking her out of her thoughts and she ran to class.

Joshua watched Landon at lunch and even he could see the pain Kat’s dating another guy was causing him.

“Why don’t you say something?”

“She doesn’t see me that way.” Landon sighed.

“God, I miss Jensen and Hunter,” Joshua said.

“And Conner.” Landon banged his head on the cafeteria table. “And Juliet.”

“Yeah, I get it. Half of us are gone. Nikolai and Viktoriya are back in Russia. Jordan and Lucy are in Australia. We suck.”

“Speak for yourselves.” Colin sat down.

“I’m glad you stayed.” Landon hugged Colin.

“And leave this wonderful town?” Colin looked around.

“You miss Nik, don’t you?” Joshua asked.

“Yeah, I mean he calls me every night but it’s not the same.”

Joshua watched Ryan and Evan. Evan tried to balance his books along with his lunch until Ryan took his tray for him. Joshua knew they had feelings for each other; anyone could see it and he and Kat had talked at length about it. She wanted her brother to just come out and tell Evan how he felt but Joshua had warned her not to play matchmaker for them. They would be together when the time was right.

They arrived at the table and Ryan pulled Evan’s chair out for him. They were cute together. Ryan was taller by quite a few inches, and he was fiercely protective when it came to Evan. Although a lot of girls had crushes on both of them, neither had ever dated. Evan smiled as Ryan took the food he knew Evan didn’t like off his tray and popped it into his mouth.

Britt was approaching and Landon rolled his eyes. Damon and Tanner had joined them and Lily sat with them on the far end with Colin.

“So, I hear Jaime has an STD,” Britt announced, one eyebrow raised.

“She does?” Lily looked shocked.

“Oh, quit, Lily.” Britt chuckled. “I know it was you guys who spread that around.”

“Did you hear she used to be a man?” Lily asked sweetly.

“No.” Britt laughed.

“You will.”

“So, aside from fueling the rumor mill, how are you guys?” Britt sat next to Damon and rubbed her thigh against his.

“We’re fine, I guess. Phoebe’s dating Chad,” Tanner said as he saw Phoebe sitting with the football player.

“He’s going to try to get her into bed. He’s done it with everyone.” Britt told them. “She’s a challenge.”

“And how would you know?” Lily asked.

“Because he tried it with me.”

“Well, that’s not going to happen. He does realize who we are, right?” Damon smiled.

“I don’t think he’s heard the stories.”

“Oh, it’s not a story, sweetie,” Colin said. “It’s fact.”

Britt cocked an eyebrow. “Your Uncle Vince?”

“All true,” Damon told her through the food in his mouth.

Britt leaned over, whispered into Damon’s ear, and he nodded.

“Really?” Britt’s mouth dropped open.

“Yep.”

Lily scowled as Jaime approach their table. Most seniors skipped the cafeteria and snuck off-campus for lunch.

“Call Farmer Brown; one of the heifers got through the fence,” Lily muttered to the group.

“Well, hello, little ones.” Jaime smiled, reminding Lily of a shark.

“Trolling the lunchroom for unsuspecting freshmen, Jaime?”  

“I know it was you, Lily! Shut your mouth before I smack it,” Jaime sneered.

“Bring it,” Lily taunted. “You know, I didn’t have to say a word. That little rumor was already flying around, Jaime. You do it to yourself with your slutty behavior.”

“I am so going to kick your ass.” Jaime moved closer to Lily.

Damon stood up. “You won’t lay a finger on her.”

“Aww, the gallant Damon Youngblood sticks up for his girl. Are you going to hit me, Damon?”

“No, but they will.” Damon nodded toward Katarina and Katiana at the other table, eying the exchange with interest.

“Pffttt. Bored already. Later, children.” Jaime turned away.

Katarina blocked her path. “Sooo, you’re ‘dating’ Brody from Sabino High, right?”

“What’s it to you?” Jaime narrowed her eyes.

“Oh, nothing.” Katarina smiled wickedly. “It will just be so tragic when he finds out the rest of your secrets.”

Lily was watching Damon. It was times like these when she thought maybe she could trust him. Just now he had stood up to defend her and she had taken his hand under the table. Damon looked down and then back up into her eyes; she was so beautiful it made his heart stop.

“Thanks, Damon.”

“No problem.”

The two Kats came over and joined the group. Katarina sat by Lily and flipped her ponytail.

“What did gutter bitch want?”

“Us.” Landon made gagging sounds.

“I know who she wants,” Colin teased.

“Oh, really?” Katarina raised an eyebrow.

“Yep, she wants Damon and Landon and Josh.”

Britt smiled. “Yep, sounds like my sister. Except you forgot Ryan and Evan.” Britt ran her foot up Ryan’s leg under the table and Evan kicked her in the shin. “Ow!”

“Ooops.” Evan smirked. “Muscle spasm.”

Ryan pretended to cough, laughing. “Okay, so anyway…”

“Yeah, Jaime is not getting her hands on my brother,” Katarina told Britt. “And neither are you.”

“Ryan can make up his own mind, can’t you, Ryan?” Britt smiled wide.

“Well, Katarina’s older so I do what she says.”

The whole table erupted into laughter and then the bell rang. They all went their separate directions and Britt followed Damon down the hall.

“You know, it’s true about you guys. It’s just the wrong sister. I only want one of you.”

“Thanks. I kinda like someone, though.”

“Lily.” Britt nodded. “She doesn’t seem interested in you.”

Damon sighed. “I know. I just keep hoping.”

“Well, jealousy helps.” Britt winked.

“I’ll think about it.”

“We could go to the dance together?” Britt asked.

Damon thought about it. “I’ll think about that too. I gotta run.”

Britt watched him run down the hall and sighed. Out of all the guys, he was the one she wanted. But she could do with Landon or Josh.

“What was that all about?”

Britt turned to see the two Kats and Lily looking at her. “I asked Damon to the dance.”

“Did he say no?” Lily smiled.

“No, he said he would think about it. I have to go.”

Lily felt her gut drop. She had wanted to go to the dance with Damon as friends just to see if he could be with her all night and not flirt. Now that wasn’t going to happen.