Page 199 of The Married Alpha And His Arrow: Vol 1

My dad winked at her, “Then pray to the Moon Goddess, like I do, we are present when Lexi meets her.” Nadine asked, “Why? Other than it doesn’t take a genius to figure out Lexi hates Cassandra. She’s a very loyal friend, and Cassandra makes such snide comments about Haley.”

My dad said, “You’re right. She does NOT like her.” Nadine laughed, “She’s going to slap her, isn’t she?” My dad said, “I’ve heard punch, not slap.” Nadine shrugged, “It couldn’t hurt. That woman needs a reality check.” Matt gasped, “Nadine Daniels!”

Nadine reasoned, “Hey, I know power can go to your head. It went to my dad’s for a time. She has a right to her inflated ego. Her husband built an empire, and her pups run it efficiently. Her oldest son is not to be messed with, and her other sons are powerful too.” All true but I could hear the but coming.

Nadine continued, “She needs a reality check, though. People are allowed to do things their own way. She’s not the author of everyone’s story, and she needs to give up trying to be. Her children are grown ass men. She may have traveled but she still has too much control over them and their mates. As shown by her daughters in law following her lead when they knew it was wrong with that whole Claudia ordeal from their Lead Luna. Especially your sister, Matt. Name the last time Molly didn’t do what she believed to be right.”

Matt sighed, “Rarely…” Nadine argued, “Only if Cassandra Conners was at the helm did your sister ever doubt her instincts. I’m not saying Cassandra’s a bad person. I don’t know her well enough to make that call. She’s just not my cup of tea, but that doesn’t make her bad.” I was beginning to see it another way.

Nadine explained, “I’m capable of letting people live their lives, and I don’t think she is. I share my opinion, but I don’t manipulate everyone around me to get what I want. If someone wants to make a bad decision, I let them. That’s how they learn. If it’s not going to kill them then that’s their choice.” Bolt laughed in my head.

I groaned, “I don’t like where this is going.” Nadine smiled, “Like you not marking Lexi.” I muttered, “Oh my god. It’s like you all picked the same broken record today.” Nadine gently continued, “I think you’re wrong about this, but it’s your life and your prerogative. If you lose Lexi because of it, I may be one of the few who doesn’t say I told you so. I don’t want that to happen. I think you two are adorable and perfect together, but even you know it’s a possibility.” Bolt growled now.

I gritted my teeth, “I won’t lose her.” Nadine smiled, “Then you decided to mark her which is great. My point is Cassandra Conners would’ve probably tried to manipulate you and Lexi both. Hell, she could’ve worked up her sons and had them forcibly mark their mates if they wanted to wait. Or engineered a situation where her son believed their mate was in a relationship with someone else. She would see it for the good of her son and their pack.”

Matt frowned, “You make it sound like she doesn’t care about my sister.” Nadine frowned, “No, I think she loves your sister. She’s like a daughter to her at this point. But when Cassandra was traveling, Molly thrived as the Luna of her pack. All the girls did. Now she and Haley have made up, Molly is now thriving again. The rest of their Luna’s disputes are outdated in their rulings, but no one says anything because it’s all coming from Cassandra.”

Nadine paused then added, “Molly and Haley are also the ONLY ones who have made up. Molly is the only one making decisions as the Luna for her pack alone. The other two still go to Cassandra for guidance. Which wouldn’t be a bad thing if it wasn’t for EVERY little thing. When she was gone, they did an amazing job. That’s not all on Cassandra though. The girls should step up, but Cassandra thrives on them asking for her input. She’s not going to discourage it. My point is that she should.”

Matt frowned, “Molly hasn’t mentioned Cassandra treating her any differently than Shana or Jessica.” Nadine said, “She doesn’t to my knowledge, but like I said I don’t know her that well. The only one everyone knows she treats differently is Haley. She may not think it’s noticeable, but people definitely notice. What intrigues me is no one mentions Haley acting cold or aloof.”

I acknowledged, “Haley has a hell of a poker face.” Nadine argued, “It’s more than that. Fairies aren’t actors. I think Haley has the ability to be mad at someone but put on a good public front. I’ve never known a fairy that can do that.” Honestly, neither had I.

I thought back to what Lexi said about the summit. I answered, “She does.” Nadine smiled, “Cassandra doesn’t. She wants Haley to behave a certain way, and Haley’s not going to. The one who looks bad here is Cassandra.”

My dad laughed, “You really don’t like her.” Nadine shrugged, “I told you. She’s not my cup of tea. We have different styles of parenting. Her pups are also in a very different phase of life. I’d like to think I wouldn’t manipulate Susie the way Cassandra does her children and their mates. I don’t think Isabella will EVER forgive Cassandra for what she did to Molly. So, if Lexi punches her in the face, then Isabella will bake her a cake. Possibly throw her a party.”

Matt gasped, “Excuse me? My mother? Do you mean my mother doesn’t like Cassandra Conners? Have I been on glue? What is happening?” Isaac walked in, “Goddess, please do not let Isabella walk into this conversation. Do you know how many earfuls your mother has given me about that woman? Haley is practically a goddess to your mother.”

I commented, “This is a strange workday. Go ahead and explain to us why Isabella hates Cassandra Conners. I speak for all of us when I say we want to know what she did to Molly.” I quickly opened my email and sent a coded email to Alpha Eric and Beta Caleb with my new theory about a sibling being behind Alpha Allister’s murder. I was sure I’d be getting a phone call later.

Isaac sighed, “Isabella doesn't like that after the girl’s accident once it was discovered they couldn’t have pups, Cassandra decided it was time to travel once they were recovered. Cassandra would talk to Saied daily, and they came back for any important event for her. But they stayed on the road. Then Alpha Eric found the Fairy Hackura Princess.”

Matt asked, “So?” Isaac sighed, “So, then they immediately came back. Your mother believes it’s because the Princess could have pups.” My dad looked at Nadine then Isaac. Matt growled, “You’re saying that Cassandra left because they girls couldn’t have pups but came back the second it was a possibility. For ERIC to have pups. No, Molly considered her a second mom.”

I was forming another theory. My dad linked me, “What?” I asked, “What if she came back, not because she could have pups, but because she didn’t think Eric would make the right choice being with Haley?” My dad scoffed, “He moved her in the literal moment he found her.” I responded, “You misunderstand. It’s common knowledge Cassandra hates fairies.” My dad blinked at me. I nodded; I wonder if she wanted to convince him to set Haley aside. That would’ve been war with the Hackura.

Isaac rolled his eyes, “Your mother hates that Molly thinks so highly of her because she’s never liked her. She thinks she’s a snake and always has. Your mother feels she abandoned your sister because she couldn’t have more pups.”

Matt growled, “Team Lexi kick Cassandra’s ass.” I groaned, “That will cause a problem.” My dad repeated, “Again not a big one.” Isaac said, “I agree.” Derrick asked, “How on EARTH did you two reach that conclusion?” I answered, “Haley.” Derrick changed his tune, “Oh well then maybe the Conners should just start traveling again. I don’t think they’d win that fight. Alpha Eric is crazy about his Angel as he calls her.”

Isabella snorted from the door, “Like she’d leave. She has grandpups all over the place now. The Fairy Hackura Princess is the best thing to happen to that pack. She’s not taking Cassandra’s shit or her weak ass apologies. She’s sticking to her guns, and you have NO idea how happy that makes me.”

Isaac sighed, “It was too much to hope you wouldn’t hear this conversation.” Isabella snorted, “Ok, new rule. Cassandra Conners bitching sessions don’t happen without me. Is everyone clear?” We all nodded. Nadine nudged her, “Guess who has every intention of punching Cassandra in the face?”

Isabella’s eyes lit up. She squealed, “Tell me it’s Lexi.” Nadine nodded. Isabella clapped, “Chase, find out her favorite type of cake and icing.” Isaac commented, “It’s like I know her like the back of my hand.” Isabella slapped him, “That woman did not treat my pup well! I’m allowed to dislike her.”

Isaac said, “You didn’t like her before that, and Shana’s mom likes her.” Isabella scoffed, “Two peas in a pod, those two. Of course, she does.” Nadine frowned, “I don’t think Cassandra’s a bad person.” Isabella disagreed, “I do. I think she’s a very bad person.”

Isaac said, “You think anyone who hurts our pups in any way are bad people.” Isabella nodded emphatically, “And I’m right. Plus, as you pointed out, I didn’t like her before then either.” Isaac agreed, “Of course you are right, dear.” Isabella said, “Who I feel bad for is Former Alpha Nathan Conners. He’s such a sweet man.”

My dad pointed, “He’s very happy with her. They have four great pups.” Isabella amended, “They have terrifying pups who tend to be good men, yes. I maintain that was all Nathan. Everyone wondered what Alpha Eric saw in Claudia Harden except me.” Isaac groaned.

I scoffed, “What could he possibly have seen in her? He was just charmed.” Isabella smiled, “His mother.” Nadine admitted, “I don’t see that one.” Isabella shrugged, “Cassandra’s not power hungry, but she is very single minded to the point of recklessness when she wants something.”

My dad said, “They are not quite the same. Cassandra hated Claudia.” Isabella asked, “What snake likes another in their territory? The difference is Claudia didn’t pretend to be anything other than a manipulative snake. I can’t decide which is worse. Claudia knew she was a bad person. She owned who she was.” That true. She did own who she was. Bolt shivered, “I still remember her coming at us.” Me too. It was creepy, but I had a girlfriend so my ass ran from that charm so fast. Thank god.

Isabella continued, “Cassandra believes she’s a good person, but she’s a wolf in sheep's clothing.” Isaac commented, “You are quite harsh on her, my love.” Isabella said, “You mess with the pups you get the momma wolf. She should’ve known that. She is well respected around here so don’t you worry; I don’t share my opinion outside of trusted friends. Unlike her dumb ass.”

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