Page 203 of The Married Alpha And His Arrow: Vol 1

I was trying not to laugh myself. I clarified, “You made your people be mean to him this entire time?” Haley frowned, “Made is such a strong fucking word.” Susanna asked her, “What’s the right word?” Robert kissed her, “You, my Susanna, are very wise for your age. Many vampires don’t know how to talk to fairy for at least a decade.”

Haley stuck out her tongue, “Because they’d try to fucking drain them dry instead of talk to them. The right words would be ‘strongly encouraged’. I might have implied he reminded me of a fairy or two. Which is true! Don’t any of you say he wouldn’t be the piece of shit type who belonged in my uncle’s ring.” Sally interjected, “No, he is.” I glanced sharply at her. Heath’s fist curled, “If everyone could excuse us, I need to speak to Sally.” Sally sighed, “No, it’s ok. You can ask. Haley and I have actually talked about it.”

Heath turned to Haley. She shook her head, “It’s like you forget I’m studying to be a therapist. I have also been in COUNTLESS therapy sessions for myself. I know what I’m doing. People like talking to me because I’m fucking awesome.”

Heath turned to Sally asking, “Did he… did he ever…” Sally cut him off, “Yes, he raped me often. Most of the times I honestly didn’t realize that’s what it was until I talked through it with Haley. I thought because I was his string even if I wasn’t in the mood or I said no then it wasn’t rape. Haley helped me realize if I say no then it’s not consensual. The night he found out about Lexi and Raphael was a bad one. That was the first time I would’ve said he raped me, before Haley and I spoke.” That motherfucker.

Sally continued, “He would also punch me in the stomach on occasion. I also thought it wasn’t so bad because it was never more than once. He’d be very apologetic in the following weeks showering me with presents and flowers.”

Heath gently asked, “The night of your string ceremony. Did he rape you?” Sally sighed and looked at Haley, who nodded and gave her a small smile of reassurance. Sally took a deep breath then said, “He did. I said I wanted to wait. I wanted him to be over Lexi. He didn’t take no for an answer. I thought because….” She turned red.

Haley took her hand, “It’s ok, Sally. It’s your body’s natural reaction. He was your string.” Sally sighed. “I thought because I was wet down there that maybe I did want it. He said I must have because of how wet I was for him. I just thought it was normal. I’d never done it before and it wasn’t like it ever took a long time anyway.”

I gave her a hug. “You are the bravest person I know, Sally Quaid.” Sally smiled, “I’m in a healthy loving relationship now. Derrick and I are actually going to a therapist together. I told him I needed to keep going, and I’d like for us to have the tools to talk through things. Not that we are in trouble. I just don’t want us to get there. I don’t want to retreat into my shell. Things trigger me, and that’s not his fault; I want someone there to guide us through this time.”

I praised her, “That’s really smart.” Heath snorted, “I might need the name of your shrink.” Haley asked, “Why? They are going to a couples therapist.” Heath faltered, “Oh umm…” I raised an eyebrow then Heath said, “My best friend did betray me and lied to me for three years. He hurt my little sister and put up a wall between us. He separated us. My first string died, and I found out recently she was actually murdered. So, I have a lot on my mind.” Haley conceded his point with a nod of her head but was appraising him out of the corner of her eye.

I raised an eyebrow at Heath. I knew that wasn’t the reason he wanted the name of Sally’s therapist. It didn’t seem like he was going to share though. I said, “The War Goddess told me he separated us on purpose.” Heath clenched his jaw so hard it ticked.

Haley yelled, “Of fucking course he did! The fucking Troll is the fucking worst.” King Arthur laughed, “Lass, I do so miss the nights where I was around you all the time. Though, I wish those circumstances hadn't happened the way they did. I also wish you had managed to not be injured throughout my entire waking moments.”

Haley pouted, “None of those things were my fault.” Robert snorted. King Arthur chuckled, “Really? How do you NOT see running around on your feet, that were stripped of the skin, getting grass and all sorts of shit into them; re-opening any sort of healing that your body had done to go outside to see your wolf as not your fault? You knew we didn’t have the best gauze around; we drink blood. You often left trails of bloody footprints because said gauze didn’t stay on your feet very long while you ran around.”

Haley confidently explained, “I’m twice light bound to Eric. I HAD to see him. That’s not my fault.” Heath laughed. I agreed, “She’s got you there.” King Arthur groaned, “Lass, I look forward to our next meeting. Lexi, you have an appointment at the condo leasing office in the morning.”

I was surprised, “You knew I’d pick that one?” King Arthur nodded, “Susanna was sure.” I laughed, “She would be. We lived together in a few places for several months on missions.” Susanna blew me a kiss, “And what fond memories those are.” Her vampire took her in his arms and sped out of the room.

Haley waved her hand in front of her face, “I feel so proud she got her vampire riled up implying Lexi and her had them a hot girl summer. The teenagers in the pack say that’s what it’s called and Google confirmed.” Oh my god. Ted’s jaw dropped. Haley continued, “Now we just need to get the she wolves to consistently rile up their mates. The world will be a far better place.”

Heath snorted, “I doubt that. Super glad you found Google and chatty teenagers, that’s awesome. I need to hear more about what you have discovered on that search engine.” Haley rolled her eyes, “Uh huh. It’s not like it’s that hard to rile them up. Robert just proved that. He’s probably claiming her around here somewhere.”

I laughed, “She implied there was a sexual component to our living together.” Haley said, “Yes, like I said hot girl summer. But there wasn’t, and he didn’t ask.” I agreed, “That’s true. I need to speak to Haley. Everyone out.”

Heath mockingly said, “Thanks for coming by big brother. You are so welcome, little sister. Your hospitality overwhelms me.” I rolled my eyes, “Thank you for coming by Heath. I know no one knows the Troll better than you.”

Heath frowned, “I think someone does. I just don’t know who that is yet. I’ll figure it out though.” I grabbed his arm as he turned to leave. Heath smiled, “I’m getting mixed signals here. You say go, but you’re stopping me from leaving.” I warned, “Be careful. He knows your moves just as you know his.”

Heath acknowledged my fear, “Which is why I’m so proud you were smart enough to ask someone outside of me for help. I can’t say I would’ve presented you with getting an apartment as an option. It’s smart but it has an element of danger to it. Noah will know that I had nothing to do with the idea. It’s why he will believe this is your independent streak flaring up.” I nodded. “Just be careful.” Heath smiled, “I will be. You stay safe as well.” I nodded.

He walked out and Ted shot me a questioning glance before I shut the door. Haley asked, “So, what’s up?” I said, “I was curious about the fact that you haven’t mentioned my string anymore. Or his situation you were looking to fix.” Haley groaned, “I’m being fucking nice. It’s horrible.”

I laughed, “Why are you being nice?” Haley admitted, “For Eric. Cassandra thinks it’s because of her advice, like I give a shit about that. Somehow in her mind though, I’m listening to her. Even though I fucking said BEFORE my damn meeting I was going to nice. It’s somehow all because of her that I’ve turned over this new leaf. New leaf. What the fuck even is that?! I’m nice to MOST people. Plus, if I needed advice, I’d ask my mom. She’s the damn Queen of the Hackura. She knows things.”

I frowned, “What else did that bitch say now? I know there’s more.” Haley waved her hand, “She also said something about honey and flies. Like that makes any fucking sense. A fly would get stuck in honey and die. I told her it should be bees. Bees like honey. Plus, she’s fucking wrong. Nothing is happening with me being nice.” Her fingers clenched into a fist. Her eyes briefly flashed gold, and I swore I saw green in there too. What was happening to her?

Haley visibly reigned herself in, then said, “After New Year’s I’m gathering everyone up. We WILL be having a chat, and I’m done being nice.” I laughed, “How soon after New Year’s?” Haley said, “The next day.” I laughed, “Naturally. Why give them an extra day?”

Haley clapped, “Right? They don’t need an extra day. I’m only being nice waiting that long because of the holidays. Google says they are stressful and important. Christmas seems to be the most stressful of all. I don’t fucking get it.”

I laughed, “Because you can conjure people what you want. Some people have to go to the store or buy things online. Things could be out of stock; family comes into town. It’s a whole thing.” Haley snorted, “Eric’s family is always in town. If I can deal with that then everyone else can deal with temporary stress.”

I questioned, “How is everything going with his brother’s mates?” Haley shrugged, “Molly’s great.” I said, “I didn’t mean with Molly.” Haley sighed, “I want them to like me.” I interjected, “I think they do like you, but I sense a ‘but’ in your statement.”

Haley admitted, “But they hurt my feelings, and they act like it was nothing. Everyone acts like I’m overreacting, but I’m not.” I agreed, “No, I don’t believe you are.” Haley yelled, “Thank you! I don’t fucking get it. If someone had done this to Eric instead of me, he’d be irate. Because it’s Cassandra everyone’s like oh it’s fine. You’re overreacting because of your past. Even my brothers think that. I’m not fucking overreacting! I know none of it happened, but she could’ve caused a SHIT ton of bad things! All for this insane notion that she controls the fucking universe. UGH! I’m trying to get over it.”

I rolled my finger in a continue motion, “But.” Haley shouted, “BUT she acts like she did NOTHING wrong! After my mother died, she had the AUDACITY to act like I was a bitch for wanting the triplets to go to the Hackura realm and be guarded by my family. She took it as some personal affront.” So, Haley believed her mother was dead.

Haley continued, “My mother had just died, and she STILL made it about her. About what SHE wanted. How SHE felt. No one sees that though, and I can’t say that to anyone but you. What can I even say at this point? I love Cassandra because she gave me Eric. I can never not have love in me for her. She tricked me though. She made me feel part of something that I’m not. She wants some cookie cutter version of a mate for Eric, and I’m not it.” Then Cassandra was even dumber than I thought. Haley was the best she could ever ask for, for her son.

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