Page 156 of The Married Alpha And His Arrow: Vol 1

Hello subject change. I frowned asking, “Why?” My dad smiled, “Your mate HATES Cassandra Conners. Apparently, a lot went down with the little Fairy Hackura Princess that... well…. there’s more to it than we ever knew.” I knew that. I replied, “Of course there is. They closed ranks. All we got was gossip.”

My dad laughed, “Your mate is VERY upset with Cassandra. I believe your mate is one of those people who take offenses on behalf of those she loves FAR more seriously than offenses to herself. She’s also going to circulate her speculations so that people don’t see pearly white Cassandra. She’s not one for rose colored glasses, that much I’ll say.”

I asked, “What do you think she’ll do that would require an apology?” My dad smirked, “I think she’s going to walk right up to her and punch her in the face.” I winced, “She can’t do that.” My dad said, “I think she can and will. Where do you think Black Mountain’s Lead Luna will stand? Because I think it will be with your mate.” I groaned, “Fuck us all.” My dad laughed, “I’m right.” I nodded, “I know you are.” He got up and left.

I got through the rest of my paperwork quickly. Kincade linked me, “The Luna and Ted are in her house. Something feels off.” I responded, “I’m on the way.” Matt linked me asking, “Did you just get a link saying things felt off?” I responded, “I did.”

Matt huffed, “I don’t like this. The last time he went there his mother almost died.” I assured him, “He would’ve called you.” Matt agreed, “You’re right. Or Alpha Eric would because Haley would’ve been popped in.” I asked him for a favor, “Can you ask Ted about the Black Arrow and Lexi’s relationship?” Matt responded, “Yes, I can. You don’t think that’s a bad idea though?” I answered, “I think it’s a bad idea if I ask him. You can get away with it.” Matt agreed, “That’s true.”

I found Matt putting on shorts outside Lexi’s house when I arrived. I shifted and he threw me some. Matt requested, “Send my mate out please.” I nodded. I ran onto the deck and opened the door. I heard them talking before they noticed me.

I studied them. Lexi seemed to be telling the truth about their girl’s day plans, but I didn’t think it was the whole truth. Lexi’s eyes were rimmed red and bloodshot. Fuck. Bolt howled, “Mates been crying.” This time when I asked Lexi told me everything. I was blown away by all the information being thrown at me. Someone had to have hidden all of this from them.

Bolt said, “They didn’t know there were letters left to them, and they didn’t know about the hides or the go bags. Someone is keeping things from them, and it wasn’t just their parents. If they left letters to explain things, then someone knows about them.” I had to agree with him. That meant Lexi wasn’t safe there. Especially if my warriors couldn’t go with her. I’d get permission from her brother if she wanted to go again. Kincade and Kevin HAD to be there with her next time.

Lexi was more worried about Heath than herself. I wasn’t. Heath was known for being careful. This would just make him more so. Obviously, if they’d wanted to take Heath out, they’d plenty of opportunities to do so. From what she said about Heath’s letter even her dad was worried about her.

Noah’s obsession could’ve been cultivated. He wasn’t an Alpha Male, but he was still a possessive supernatural. Someone messed with him as a child. I couldn’t bring myself to feel any sort of pity for him though. He was trying to take what was mine, and I couldn’t have that, regardless of whether or not he was being manipulated.

He had a choice. He had so many damn choices to back off from Lexi. He manipulated her. He lied to her. He tried to change who she was. He would get no sympathy from me. If anything, I found myself feeling bad for my mate’s brother.

Bolt huffed, “Having your parents murdered and being thrust into leadership without your father to guide you would be hard.” That was true, and I truly couldn’t imagine it. I didn’t want to imagine it. Maybe that’s why he didn’t like me. All Heath had was Lexi, and now she had me. I just needed to hunt down his second chance string. I mean I could start having parties in Sophia’s territory and see if he felt pulled to anyone. Sure, that would do it.

Bolt snorted, “Good plan.” I retorted, “I don’t see you coming up with anything.” Bolt said, “I think he doesn’t like us because we are you know MARRIED!” I sighed, “You have a point.” Bolt complained, “Of course I do. No brother wants their sister’s mate to be married, not to someone else anyway.” I reminded him, “I’m working on it.” Bolt ordered, “Work harder.” He closed our link. For god’s sake, I was not the problem here.

Bolt opened our link, “Maybe the fact that their father saw us with mate will make Heath lighten up towards us. Mate’s dad liked us when he saw us together. He probably didn’t get a look into this exact moment knowing we are married, but her dad liked us. That has to mean something.” I could get behind that logic.

I felt bad I couldn’t explain to the circumstances that led to her brother threatening me into keeping quiet about knowing him. It wasn’t my place to get between them, and whatever weird sibling thing they were doing. They were navigating new territory with each other. They needed to figure that out, and I’d support her anyway I could.

I couldn’t even answer the question about why we didn’t like each other. I didn’t exactly know the answer. I was guessing. He just doesn’t like me. At the current moment, I don’t like him. He’s putting me in tough situations when my nuts are already in a vice grip. We talked for several more hours then went to bed.

On Wednesday a blur flashed into my office. I looked up, “People generally knock, you know. Matt, shut the door.” Heath smiled at me, “Ahh, but we are some type of secret family at the moment.” I raised an eyebrow, “You see me as family now? That’s new.” Heath countered, “I said secret and at the moment.” I growled, “Lexi is mine.” Heath snorted, “For now, but I see no mark on her neck. I just left her house it’s a beautiful place.” I growled, “I know. I spend every night there.” Heath’s tone was bitter, “Do you? How does the wife feel about that?” What was his damn problem? I growled, “She doesn’t care. It’s a name thing only. I’ve never had sex with Sophia.”

Heath laughed humorlessly, “I know you haven’t. One of you would be dead if you had.” I growled, “Excuse me?” Heath said, “No one, no matter who they are will hurt Lexi again. If you’d so much as looking longingly at your wife since you’d met my little sister, I’d have killed you.” He had the nerve to smile at me. I growled, “WHY are you here?”

My dad knocked then came in. He raised an eyebrow probably picking up on the tension. I made introductions, “Dad, this is Heath. Heath this is my father.” Heath glared at my dad, “I know who he is.” I said, “Lexi forgave him.”

My dad asked, “Who is he?” Heath answered, “Lexi’s brother.” My dad sighed, “I am sorry about upsetting her.” Heath warned him, “My sister may be a forgiving person, but I am not. She got that from our mother.”

My dad sighed, “Yes, well I don’t know that I’d go that far. She seems to have a serious axe to grind with Cassandra Conners. As for as Lexi, the Hood himself punched me in the face for that.” I was trying not to laugh over the fact that he was talking to the Hood himself without knowing. Heath replied, “I heard.”

I brought the conversation back to me, “Other than to threaten to kill me, or tell me you’d like to kill me for what feels like the hundredth time; why are you here?” My dad growled this time. Heath turned back to me, “You are looking into the death of Alpha Allister, but you haven’t told your wife.” Bolt snarled, “People need to stop calling her that.” I agreed,

I asked, “And?” Heath said, “I want to know why.” I scoffed, “Do you? Well, I want you to tell me why you hate me.” Heath argued, “Your being married isn’t a good enough reason for you?” I stared at him because we both knew that wasn’t the only reason.

Heath stated, “My sister is a tough, fierce individual. She’s always dreamed of her string until the day Noah broke her heart. She gave up on everything associated with love. Our parents' death devastated her. Finding their dead bodies compounded that devastation. It led her down a bad path. A path she can’t take if she’s hurt by you because of TeleTed and Haley. She’s smart though. She’d find another way to dull the pain. I know she could and would. I will not see my sister fade into a shell of nothing ever again. She is what I have in this world.” He looked out my window for several moments.

He turned back and said, “In all of her dreams for her string you want to know what fantasy she never had? Him being married.” I growled, “It’s not out of love.” Heath sneered, “You say that like it matters to me. I’m here because you are important to my sister, for now.” I growled, “She’s MINE!”

Heath stood as I did. He put a finger in my face, “She’s MY sister. If your little sister’s mate was married, would you like him?” Everyone in the room growled. Heath smirked, “I didn’t think so. Why aren’t you telling your wife about her dad?”

I questioned, “Do you intend to leak it to her?” Heath said nothing. I shouted, “FUCK! Did you already tell her? DAMN IT, HEATH! I want an annulment. I can only get it if she signs the damn papers.” Heath frowned, “You think she’d stall again?”

I pointed out, “That does seem to be her M.O.'' Heath frowned then laughed, “But Haley knows you're married.” I asked, “So?” Heath smiled, “She’d find a way to get what you want. Maybe she’d kick Sophia’s ass in a way none of us can.” I frowned, “None of us? You can’t kick her ass?” Bolt huffed, “I can kick her ass.” I knew that.

Heath looked away, “I wouldn’t.” Matt pointed out, “Wouldn’t isn’t couldn’t.” Heath shrugged, “Your wife has done nothing to me.” I argued, “Neither have I.” Heath stared at me, “Agree to disagree.” His phone rang. He read whatever the message was stating, “I have to go. Keep protecting my sister.” I sarcastically replied, “Well gee thanks for the directive, I had planned on not doing that. Now, that you’ve said it, I’ll get right on it.”

He glared at me, and I glared back. I asked, “Can you allow my men into the Shroud with her?” Heath rolled his eyes at me, “No, she’s not marked.” I glared back, “She’s not safe there, and you know it. My men would protect her above all.” He replied, “Then figure out how to solve that pesky being married issue and the not marking my sister problem you have.” He blurred out of my office.

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