Page 117 of The Married Alpha And His Arrow: Vol 1

Ted smiled, “I was going for the Troll, but it was a happy accident.” I grabbed his arm, “Are you ok?” Ted nodded, “I didn’t kill her. She’s fine.” That was Ted’s first time shooting an actual person. He’d only done target shooting until now.

Chase answered, “She’s in my dungeon. We have cuffs that don’t allow her to use her magic. I’ll get to the bottom of this, I promise.” I shrugged, “It’s not so hard to figure out. The Troll figured out where I live and took a chance.”

Ted questioned, “How?” I shrugged, “Someone told him? Or he followed us.” Ted said, “You’d know if he followed us.” I countered, “I should have, yes.” Chase announced, “I think we need to check your car over for a tracking device.” I reminded him, “My car isn’t here because it got tampered with already.” Ted cringed, “It could be mine.” Matt cursed.

Kevin and Kincade arrived. There wasn’t a bug in the area around my house, but there was one on Ted’s car. He was enraged. I made everyone but Ted leave when I knew it was close to time for Haley to pop in.

Ten minutes after I had everyone leave a golden eyed Haley popped in. She lamented, “NO ONE will fucking listen to me. Aiden thinks I’m delightful and entertaining. UGH! I am not either one of those things right now! I’m fucking right.”

She didn’t wait for a reply as she walked to the edge of my barrier and held out her hands. A purple glow came out of her hands. She ranted, “There. Let’s see those insulting bitches put that in their cauldron and SUCK ON IT!” I couldn’t help but laugh.

She popped out to the area surrounding my barrier. She spent about an hour popping to random places. Ted nudged me, “Is it just me or does it look like she’s talking to the trees and the ground?” I said, “She probably is. She's an earth and sky fairy.” Haley popped back to us after disappearing for about ten minutes.

Haley smiled, “Everyone’s area is on the lookout for Trolls. I swear TO GOD we don’t have time for this shit. I am only ONE person! Emmaline and Lucas have problems, Eric and I have problems, partial fairies have problems coming out MY ASS! Your string has problems. CAN SOMEONE NOT HAVE A DAMN PROBLEM?”

I admitted, “It doesn’t seem like it. Everyone has problems. All the time. Is there anything Arion’s ex mate can do?” Haley turned her head to the side, “Megan? I can ask her. She’s really focused on Lila right now. She found out she and Arion had a child in that orphanage too. He had other children she sees as her own now, and has taken them all in. I don’t want to bother her unless I have to.” That was fair.

She sighed and gave me a hug, “I swear no one can get to you here, Lex.” I smiled, “I believe you.” She kissed my cheek, “He will be in a world of pain if he tries again.” I was annoyed to admit, “He’d have to know that. He took a risk coming here and failed. He won’t be back.”

Haley groaned, “Just once could something be fucking easy? MUST the villains ALWAYS work with witch bitches. Where is said witch?” Ted offered, “Matt has her.” Haley yelled, “GREAT! Now I have to be nice and have Eric ask the Alpha here if I can talk to her.”

Ted laughed, “I’m sure they will let you.” Haley sighed, “It would be so much simpler if I could just take her. That would make me happy. I might just open a portal and take her. What would they say? Nothing.” I smiled, “Thanks for booby trapping the area.” Haley smiled, “Anyfuckingtime.” She popped out.

Ted nudged me and pointed out the window, “There’s your man.” I looked to see Bolt heading towards my house with Matt’s wolf. I stepped outside the barrier so Matt could pow wow with us. Both shifted back. Chase spoke, “I’ll let Haley take the witch. She’ll get answers, and it’s a prisoner I can give her.” I frowned asking, “You have a prisoner you can’t give her?” Chase sighed, “Technically speaking, yes. Because it’s not my prisoner to hand over.” Matt shrugged, “We could and say what Haley does. Oops?” I laughed, “She does say that a lot.”

Matt and Chase looked at each other. Chase said, “It’s late let’s get some rest.” Ted gave me a hug and left with Matt. Chase came inside with me. I asked him, “Are you ok?” Chase ground out, “No, this should be over. I should’ve had him and I should’ve protected you.”

I pointed out, “I pushed him into a holoport by accident. Ted and I just need to be more careful and do routine sweeps of our cars evidently.” Chase huffed, “Noah knows where you live now.” I gently added, “And he cannot get in. He took a risk and it failed. He can’t just come back at me. Or even Ted. He must not know Sally isn’t here for him to try for. You can rest assured whatever coven that witch was a member of will die soon.”

Chase rubbed his face, “If they are the ones who made it so Haley can’t pop to Noah, I doubt they’d do this without thinking of the ramifications.” I winked at him, “Haley will get the name though. Her brothers will kill them if she can’t, but I doubt this is more than a one off. The Troll, damn him, is too smart for that. He probably just paid a random witch in the area. I seriously doubt this will be the coven he’s actually working with.”

Chase frowned, “Why?” I said, “Because I told you he’s a numbers guy. He knew he could fail, or something could lead me or Haley to the witch. IF this worked, he wouldn’t want to lead Haley to someone where she could get me back.”

Chase growled, “He can’t have you.” I assured him, “He will never have me again. I’m yours. No matter what he does, I’m yours.” Chase hugged me, “I won’t let him get to you. I can’t.” I hugged him back, “Even if I have to face him in a fight, I’m better than he is. I can beat him.” Chase nodded, “You’d better kick his ass.” I promised, “I will.”

I led Chase upstairs to connect like we needed to. Chase took his time making love to me. Whispering how much he loved me in my ear. I fell asleep moments after Chase pulled out of me. The next morning, I got up and got ready for work. I knew Ted would be late, and that worked because Heath was coming to see me. In the chaos of yesterday I’d almost forgotten.

Chase walked me to a car I did not recognize. I shot him a look. He smiled, “You’re borrowing one of mine, Sweetheart. I want you to be safe.” He waited until Kevin and Kincade got in my car before he left. I broke the silence, “I’m sorry you guys got hurt the other night.” Kincade brushed me off, “We are sorry we left you alone.” I huffed, “Witches.”

Kevin snorted, “I’m on Alpha Eric’s Princess Luna’s side.” I laughed, “I think a lot of people are coming around to her side. That will make her happy.” We walked into the building, and I found Heath waiting in the lobby.

He walked over and hugged me. I introduced them, “Heath, this is Kevin and Kincade. Guys this is my brother, Heath.” Heath nodded to them, and they reciprocated. When we got to my office Heath shut the door. He rounded on me, “Why do you have werewolf guards?” I rolled my eyes answering, “The Alpha was worried after what happened with Sally. We all have guards. Sally just isn’t here for her to be guarded.”

Heath snorted like he didn’t believe me, but what I said was true. Chase was just having me guarded before then because I was his. Heath asked, “What did you want to talk about?” I sat down, “I met a vampire that knew mom.” Heath smiled, “Susan Herford? You met her?” I asked, “You knew?” Heath said, “Yes, I know about Susan. The files dad kept are extensive.”

I said, “She had interesting things to say.” Heath frowned, “Like what? Did she tell you about her and mom’s teenage schemes? They went on many missions together. In fact, they were best friends, them, and Anne.”

I stated without emotion, “Mom had an abusive boyfriend before she found out dad was her string. She had to go to our grandfather on dad's side since he was the Hood leader at the time to help her end it. The man was thrown out of the Shroud.”

Heath frowned, “That’s not anywhere in the records. Who was the man?” I shrugged, “She said she didn’t know.” Heath sighed, “Great. What else?” I sighed, “She said there’s a second Shroud.” Heath nodded, “There is.”

I gaped, “You knew? Why wouldn’t you say anything?” Heath said, “They split off from us over a disagreement. I don’t know what it was, but dad said they couldn’t be trusted. I saw no reason to question that.”

I crossed my arms, “Maybe because according to Susan her parents, our grandparents, BOTH sets of them, live there.” Heath’s jaw dropped, “Excuse me?” I nodded, “Yeah, she had dinner with mom’s parents a few years ago.”

Heath stood, furious, “Why wouldn’t they come for us?” I admitted, “I don’t know. Susan said she was told she couldn’t come see us since she couldn’t be a permanent fixture in our lives because she lives in North Carolina. She was given the impression dad’s family took us in.”

Heath paced and I let him. I knew my brother was very angry. He ranted, “I’ll hunt them down. They WILL answer why they didn’t even come see us. So what if there was some disagreement over mom and dad being together, even though they were strings? That shouldn’t have mattered! Why would they let us think they were dead?”

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