Matt linked, “Is it bad I’m glad Ted’s brother is lethal?” I answered, “No, I’m glad Lexi’s brother is. Even though I SWEAR to you the man despises me.” Matt pursed his lips, “Despise I’m not sure. He wasn’t all warm and fuzzy when we met him though.”
Matt linked me when Lexi pointed out facts to Ted about going to see his mom, “Bless her. What if we forge Sophia’s signature on the annulment papers and bring Lexi into the pack to her rightful place? What’s Sophia going to do? She can’t fight it, right?”
I said, “I’d like to do this above board, but I’m not saying no.” Matt nodded. Ted seemed to think this was about their calls to Noah too. Matt linked me, “He’s so BEYOND dead! This is about a few prank phone calls? Seriously? Haley is right. He’s a damn Troll!”
I said, “I think it was hundreds, but massive overreaction. Even Bolt said he could’ve turned off his phone. If an animal can figure out that logical solution and he can’t, he’s more than a few eggs short of a dozen. Lexi thinks it’s about something else too. She told me Anne thought she saw something. She said the rage in the attack portrayed an anger far surpassing how mad Noah would be about the prank calls.”
Matt said, “That he would drug someone over prank calls and people are like ‘Yeah that sounds like Noah.’ Says entirely too much about the man. NONE of the things that says is good. I mean seriously. WHAT THE FUCK?! Why is this a person who was in a position of power?”
I replied, “Lexi’s family trauma bonded the three of them until Noah broke both bonds with the Scott siblings irrevocably.” Matt frowned, “That couldn’t have been the plan.” I agreed, “No, I think the plan was for Noah to be with her, and either kill or reject his string. Then neither he or Lexi would’ve met their fated mates, and they would have still been together.”
Matt frowned, “From what Ted said, they can have chosen strings; however, they will still know who their mate is if they meet them. That seems like a fucked up situation waiting to happen, and I mean, I’m glad that didn’t happen, but what happened if that was the plan?”
I replied, “Noah happened. He fucked up, and decided he wanted his string AND Lexi. I think he thought he could have them both eventually.” Matt raised an eyebrow, “That’s unlikely from what Ted’s said about Sally. I mean the woman had enough strength to reject him.” That was true, he underestimated her.
Matt continued, “Lexi’s a tough cookie, but she would never hurt Sally in that way. According to Ted after the string ceremony Lexi was done with him. Even before Ted knew the reason, he said Lexi wouldn’t even entertain the thought of Noah. He said she didn’t even say his name. Whenever she saw him her disdain for him was clear.”
I admitted, “I don’t think he really knows the real Lexi. Or he does and he believes his manipulations of her would win out eventually. He inadvertently gambled and broke everything he’d instilled in her with his lies.” Matt said, “Well thank God. Ted said he always hated the two of them together.”
Ted made drinks. Bolt snorted, “You should’ve asked for a whiskey on the rocks or something. You and Matt got the stink eye. Balto is upset with Matt for upsetting their mate.” Because that’s totally what this day needed. We ate our pizza chatting about random things until Ted mentioned Halloween. They were planning something for the pups.
Matt linked me, “They are already really good at being the Luna and Beta Male.” I was so damn proud, and I didn’t bother to hide it. Bolt purred, “Mate will be an excellent mother to our pups.” I smiled at the thought, “Yes, she will.” I couldn’t stop myself from kissing her. This would be a great thing. The pups would be so excited about it.
I felt a flutter in my chest that she wanted to include Nadine. She had no idea what it would mean to my stepmom. Matt linked, “It sucks a little bit Nadine won’t know that Lexi is your Luna. She’ll blubber for days about Lexi wanting her help.” I agreed, “I know. When they find out though, Nadine will still be touched.”
My heart was heavy that the pack would need to think it was Ted’s idea. It wasn’t fair. To anyone. The pack deserved to know their Luna already cared about them and thought of them. It wasn’t fair to Lexi because she could use this to bond with them. Instead, she’d be in the shadows.
I could tell Lexi was already planning everything in her mind. She was so cute. Lexi politely declined Matt’s invitation to join the party. I sighed. Matt linked me, “Sorry man, I tried. Can Kevin and Kincade go?” I growled, “No.”
Both of us stiffened when Ted talked about her sending out her SOS. Matt linked, “I hate this.” I argued, “Not more than me you don’t.” Lexi casually tried to slide it in she had missions. Plural. Matt linked, “Goodie, that sounds…” I interrupted yelling, “MISSIONS?!” Matt groaned, “Damn both you and Ted caught that.” I growled, “She has to run fast? She’s already like the flash fast. What is her brother having her do?”
Matt grimaced, “You could ask?” I frowned, “She won’t tell me. She’s not marked yet and I haven’t even been to the Shroud. I can’t ask because I WANT to keep her in the shadows until Sophia is not my wife. I feel like I just took out a gun and shot my damn self in the foot.”
Matt speculated, “I mean, maybe Ted could ask her.” I retorted, “Don’t you think he would’ve done that? He must know that he can’t ask. If she can tell him she would.” Matt frowned. He linked, “Ted said she didn’t even mention it. I asked if she’d ever done that before. He said no.”
I frowned, “Then it’s something he can’t know because…” I trailed off realizing exactly what it was about. She knew Matt and Derrick weren’t coming because her brother told her. Matt filled in the rest, “Because he’s my mate. It’s me. They don’t want him to tell me.” Matt and I locked eyes.
I growled, “FUCK! What if she’s going to be wiping out the coven that Hammond is working with?” Matt asked, “Why would the Hood care?” I could see the strategy easily. I answered, “Sophia’s territory is in danger. It’s where their damn home is.”
Matt winced, “It does stand to reason they would help her. Not all the witches will be at the wedding attacking. He could have Lexi taking on the outliers.” I growled, “ALONE?” Matt assured me, “Ted said she’s the best.”
I growled, “Perfect. Just fucking perfect. Of course, she’s the best. I would be SO much happier about this if Kevin or Kincade could go.” Matt pointed out, “You could have them follow her.” I disagreed, “No, I can’t, she’d just lose them.” Matt pressed, “One of them could try.” I sighed, “That’s true.”
We talked for a while longer until both Ted and Lexi were comfortable that the other was truly fine. When we left, we discussed her mission. I linked Matt, “FUCK! I think we are right. She just basically told me this mission she’ll be her moniker. She’s going to kill someone.”
Matt said, “While I wish someone else would do this. Good for us. One less problem for us. At least Sophia isn’t giving us that additional headache. We don’t need to worry about her borders because the Hood is determined to keep her family in power. I wish we’d had that information, oh gee, about four years ago.” I snorted, “No joke.”
Lexi didn’t seem to realize I had no problem trusting her. Other people who didn’t want to die? Yeah, those people I had no trust in. They often fought dirty. She pointed out she was trusting me about the wedding. That was certainly one way to see it. Haley was the other way to see it.
Her wanting me to protect Haley was quite comical. It would be me and every other guest present. No one wanted the return of Alpha Eric without her. He was MUCH calmer with her around and when she was not injured.
Lexi seemed to think it would be hard. Hard to guard Haley? Thor would have her on lockdown. That’s not hard. There’s no way while not intoxicated she would pop away from Alpha Eric. For anyone else that would be suicide. Even if she did, there were enough of us; I’d keep an eye on her. Really the reasons to not let anything happen to Haley were endless. There was the Hackura, Alpha Eric, my mate, and it seemed the King of the Fairy’s was now in his sister's life.
Faerie was in a much more stable place now with King Aiden on the throne. He was very smart. He’d shored up allies, and the latest rumor was he was offering a liaison to the Hood. I’d wondered if Lexi knew about it. King Aiden was making moves to be a very strong King for Faerie. He wasn’t even bothering to hide how powerful he was, or more importantly the strength of his sister.
Their production with the werewolf council when Alpha Lucas’ mate was taken and subsequently injured was still talked about. The Holloran siblings had made it quite the show. Aiden basically announced that with his sister, anyone who came against him would lose their lives. The Fae were determined to be a powerhouse race again. Something told me that with Aiden Holloran at the helm, they just might be.
Lexi and I got ready for bed as thoughts in my head swirled. The werewolves were basically aligned with the Fae kingdom now. If Haley would protect her brother, Alpha Eric would as well. If Alpha Eric called on his allies, we would protect them too. Now the Hood may move to help the Fae. What was King Aiden preparing for? I couldn’t keep my eyes open any longer.