Page 11 of The Married Alpha And His Arrow: Vol 1

I shook that thought. No, I was ready for this. I flashed back to Haley’s house. I was tired enough that I managed to sleep as soon as my head hit the pillow. The next thing I knew I heard a pop, “Wake up, Lex! Ted called and panicked. You have a meeting with Sally in ten minutes.”

I startled and grabbed my phone, “SHIT! I overslept.” Haley flipped her hair, “Which is why you are happy to have a fairy sister from another mother.” I couldn’t help but laugh. I’d told her that the first time I’d stayed with her a few weeks ago. She snapped me into a different outfit and grabbed my hand, then popped us inside my office.

Ted sighed in relief, “You asked to meet with Sally, and then you are late for work.” I apologized, “Sorry, I overslept. You know I’d never do that to you.” Ted nodded, “Sally’s always early too. Pick someone else to late with. Gosh, Lex.” He left laughing.

Haley questioned, “Sally, as in….” I nodded, “That Sally. She’s the caterer.” Haley said, “I feel sorry for her.” Now I was confused. I asked, “Why?” Haley answered, “Her string is an asshat Troll.” I winced, “He was great until the end.”

Haley disagreed, “He wasn’t. He was a manipulative, controlling Troll. Besides, a man who lies to have sex with you is an asshat Troll who should be shot in the fucking dick. Would you just let me turn his dick green for a week? It would make me so happy.” I laughed, “They are having problems having a baby.”

Haley raised an eyebrow, “I can sense her sorrow from in here. I know you all think this Sally is a pure soul, but she’s still a smart woman. Maybe she doesn’t want to have a baby. If she does, give me a call. I’ll find her a sperm donor and everything. The world DOES NOT need a baby Troll toad running around. If they are actually having problems, maybe your Goddess realizes what an asshat he is. She’s just waiting for me to make my move.”

I reasoned, “Sally has to want Noah’s child, she’s his string.” Haley snorted, “I fucking doubt it. Would you want a Troll’s child? No, because he’s a manipulative asshole. She knows that better than anyone else I’d bet. Have a good meeting.” Haley popped out, and I shook our conversation off.

Sally came in seconds later. Her smile actually reached her eyes today. She stated, “I have the menu set for the Princesses fairy event.” I motioned for her to sit. I admitted, “I know. I read over everything about twenty times this week. I didn’t ask you to come for that.”

Sally frowned, “Oh, but Ted said...” I interrupted her, “I told Ted to say that. A few months ago, when I came home, you wanted to talk. I haven’t had the time, but I recalled the other day you’d said that. I asked Ted to set up this meeting so we could talk.”

She glanced at the door worriedly. I assured her, “Haley charmed my office, no one can hear us.” Sally sighed in relief, “I need you to tell me the truth.” I was confused, “About what?” Sally said, “The night before the string ceremony.”

I stiffened as she continued. “Please Lexi, I need to know what happened.” I tried to put her off the topic, “It was three years ago, it’s the past.” Sally wasn’t dissuaded, “I’m not stupid. You pulled away from us and went on missions. You did your duty, but you used to do more. We were friends.” I felt like a coward, but I said nothing. Sally sighed, “Noah wants a baby.”

That was an interesting additional statement. I assured her, “We are friends. I know that you and Noah are trying. I can talk to Haley, she can…” Sally waved me off, “I don’t want her to do anything.” I sat back, “But I heard it’s been two years, and you guys want a baby.”

Sally reiterated, “I said Noah wants a baby.” I was floored, “You don’t want kids?” That didn’t make sense. Sally had dreamed of a big family since we were little. Sally admitted, “I went to a doctor outside our Shroud for an IUD. So no, I don’t want a baby.” My jaw hit the floor, “WHAT?” Sally said, “He’s lying to me, has been for three years. Just please tell me the truth about that night.”

I cringed, “I don’t want to hurt you.” Sally laughed humorlessly, “You can’t hurt me. It’s my string that is.” I sat up, “He hurt you? Physically?” Sally shook her head, “That’s not what I meant.” I relaxed, “This is what you need to move forward?” Sally nodded, “It’s what I need.”

I admitted, “He told me I was his string, and that he’d felt the pull since he was eighteen. We had sex; it wasn’t good. Then he left.” Sally reached over and grabbed my hand, “I’m sorry he did that.” I shook my head, “No, I’m sorry. I would’ve never had sex with him right before our string ceremony if I knew he wasn’t mine. I wouldn’t have done that to you. I just believed him.”

Sally rolled her eyes, “He’s believable, isn’t he? Everyone thinks he’s telling the truth about that day.” I frowned, “What do you mean?” Sally said, “You never wanted to talk about it, and I respected that. You and I both know his story about thinking it was you pulling him as his string is bullshit.” I gaped because I’d never heard Sally cuss.

She continued, “I was four people away from you. You, me, Susanna, Isaiah, Zeke, and Terry know its bullshit. We all saw him walk towards you and give that evil, knowing smirk. He did that to hurt you.” Tears filled my eyes and I looked away. I whispered, “I never wanted you to know that.”

Sally said, “I knew. Just as I know, and you know, along with everyone else if they didn’t want to live with their head in the sand about Noah; he knew I was string all along. He’d have felt the pull when he turned eighteen. Not to you, but to me. He dated you anyway, which is fine. It’s not like we are like werewolves with their mates about our strings.”

I pointed out, “That’s not a fair comparison. They can’t feel the mate bond fully until both are eighteen. They just feel like they like each other if one is underage.” Sally agreed, “True. I hate what he did to you. Some days I think I hate him.”

I sat back, “Sally, you deserved better than what happened. I can’t say I know him well anymore, but I know he has a way to make you feel special.” Sally laughed, “That he does. You know he calls me Lexi during sex sometimes.” I paled, “He what? Sally, I swear to you it wasn’t even good!”

Sally didn’t comment on that, “He’s angry all the time. He thinks I don’t know, but he’s angry about you and Raphael. You need to be careful.” I was officially worried, “We can get you away from him. If he makes you unhappy, reject him. I’ll help you.”

Sally shrugged, “We all make sacrifices, this is mine.” I asked her, “What are you talking about?” Sally answered, “He’ll come after you if I reject him. Call me jaded, but I don’t want him to get what he wants. You deserve to be happy. Maybe after you meet your string I can reject him, but for now this is where the War Goddess wants me. I may not be a fighter like you, but I love our people too. I will make the sacrifices I am meant to.”

Tears fell from my eyes, “Sally, I can handle Noah. If you want out, I will help you.” Sally smiled sadly, “I know you would, and you actually have. This catering business is a god send. It’s the most excited I’ve been about something in three years. I love it. Noah is pissed.”

I sighed, “I’m not trying to cause problems between you two. I thought…” Sally shook her head, “No, you misunderstand. He’s pissed about you, not me. He’s over the moon I have this. He thinks it will help my mood improve, and then we can have a child. He’s mad because YOU have something of your own.” He would be.

Sally continued, “I know you loved him, so I never said anything back then about how he was. He controlled you, and we all saw it. Everyone but you and Heath did. When you came back home after your mission and got mad at Heath about withholding information about Haley, that was bad. Whatever they said behind closed doors has Noah scared. He’s desperate to get you back under his control. That’s what Noah craves and not in a fun sexy way either.”

I sat back and thought about it. Haley had said something similar on multiple occasions. I thought she was projecting her own feelings and past onto him. Did he control me? He only showed interest when someone else did. Then he made sure I could only think of him. Even before he asked Heath to date me. I did things to please him. He would make a face if I told Heath I had a date, so I’d stopped accepting any invitations. Was that Noah’s fault though?

I shook myself, “I made the wrong choices.” Sally argued, “He took advantage of your grief and became your rock. That’s not your fault, nor is it Heath’s.” I tried again, “Reject him if that’s what you want. I know you’ll get a second chance string. You’re such a good person.”

Sally frowned, “I used to be.” I shook my head, “You still are. Why did you ask about the night before the string ceremony?” Sally looked away, “Susanna was scared about the ceremony thinking about having a loving person in her life. She’d seen you walk into your cottage it was the closest one to hers. She walked over and heard Noah tell you he’d felt the pull. She heard him ask you if you wanted him. She left after that.”

I was stunned, “That’s why you wanted to talk to me before you left with him that day? That’s why you looked so horrified?” Sally answered, “Yes, Susanna told us before you got there that Noah had confessed you were his string. I asked him that night if anything happened like that with you guys. He told me he respected your decision to wait for your string. He said he hadn’t seen you all month. He was the Lieutenant after all. He had to follow protocol. If I didn't know he was lying, I’d have believed him. He’s that good.”

I apologized, “Sally, I am so sorry. You shouldn’t… Please don’t stay with him for me.” Sally smiled sadly, “The sad part is I love him. He’s my string. I’d always dreamed of my string and our life together. I can’t bring a child into our relationship though. He doesn’t love me, but he needs me. He wants me because I am his, but he wants you too. Just be careful. You know him, he can be dangerous if he wishes to be.”

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