I questioned him, “Why don’t you tell him you’re awake?” Matt said, “Because he’s working through some anxiety. I’m not sure if he wants me to help or not, and I was exhausted. I fought rogues tonight, and thought I’d lost your dad. Only to find out the damn Black Arrow is fast as fuck. She picked him up and ran him home. My heart rate has NOT calmed down since we reached the area your dad was in, but nowhere to be found. Nadine was FRANTIC. We are all lucky Susie was sleeping. We knew your dad was in trouble, in pain, and then we couldn’t find him. I thought he’d been taken prisoner, and that I’d have to tell you that. I AM TIRED!”
I barely held a laugh back. I told him, “Go to sleep then. FYI I was asleep until you linked me. I had a night myself. How did you know it was Lexi that Ted was texting?” Matt answered, “The ringtone. Ted has ringtones assigned for everyone. Lexi’s isMe and My Girlsby Fifth harmony. I hear it all the DAMN time because they talk ALL the time.”
It was getting harder and harder not to laugh. Lexi put her phone down and shot into the bathroom. I opened my eyes and held back yet another laugh. She was sneaking in her candy while I was sleeping. I had no idea why I didn’t care if she ate candy.
I closed my eyes and she quietly got back into bed then pulled her to me. I fell asleep quickly. I heard a giggle. I opened my eyes and saw the Black Arrow standing in front of me. I looked around asking, “Where’s Lexi?” The Black Arrow laughed, “She is around, closer than you could ever know.” She looked like she had the world’s funniest secret.
I rubbed my face, “Huh?” The Black Arrow sighed, “She gets you all the time. It’s my turn.” I frowned, “Turn for what? Actually, I wanted to thank you. First, you saved our Beta Male, and then my dad. Truly, I cannot thank you enough for either action. My dad means the world to me. Even though I’m currently mad at him.”
She smiled seductively and straddled me. Oh God no. I was getting hard. She leaned down and whispered in my ear, “How grateful are you?” I gulped, “Umm... I have a mate... It’s actua…” Her lips cut me off. I couldn’t help but respond because her lips fit perfectly on mine. She ground against me. She yanked my head to the side and bit my neck hard.
I growled and pulled her face back to mine. I kissed her on the lips again needing to taste them. I craved her lips. They felt so familiar and right. She groaned, “Oh come on!” I was confused. I was about to ask her what was going on when she dug her nails into me. I stared at her in shock. What happened? She screamed, and my eyes flew open.
Guilt hit me like a freight train. Lexi was digging her nails into me. She was screaming and crying. I am the worst mate of all time. I’m having a sex dream about one of her people, and she’s locked in some damn nightmare. I’d never been so ashamed of myself in my entire life. I let Lexi scratch me for several minutes because I deserved it.
I tried to coax her awake, but gently wasn’t doing it. Finally, I yelled trying to get her to come around. She finally opened her beautiful eyes. I could see the guilt in her eyes when she looked at my arms. She had nothing to be sorry for. I deserved this and more. How could I ever want anyone but her even in my dreams? She was perfect, and I was an ass.
It made me feel even worse that she was dreaming about her mother getting murdered, and I was about to get it on with the Black fucking Arrow. I was getting hard again. I linked Bolt, “What the HELL is wrong with us?” Bolt was quiet then answered, “I don’t know. Can we have two mates? I feel drawn to them both.”
I had never heard of a werewolf having two mates. Other supernaturals did, but not us. I replied, “No, absolutely not. It’s bad enough that we are married. Haley will MURDER me if I try to have Lexi and the Black Arrow. I can’t do that to Lexi.”
Bolt whimpered, “Neither can I. I don’t want mate to be upset. Maybe if we marked her it would stop. Maybe the Black Arrow is our second chance mate.” Fuck me. That would actually make sense. GOD DAMN IT! Could something in my life be simple? Just one little thing. I shoved that aside. I was going to stay far away from the Black Arrow. I might even ban the mention of her in my office.
I offered to help Lexi find her family. Honestly, I needed something to make me feel like less of a shitty mate. She declined though. I could tell she didn’t even want to meet them. She was angry, and she had every right to be.
They were awful to her and Heath by abandoning them all this time. I hoped they had a hell of a reason for keeping their distance. It wasn’t out of the realm of possibility they were told to stay away. Maybe they were told Lexi and Heath didn’t want to see them because their parents didn’t like them. I don’t know. There had to be a reason though.
Their family absolutely would’ve known Heath needed their guidance to lead, but he did just fine without them. He’s known as a great leader, not that anyone knew his name. Bolt snorted, “We do.” I replied, “Ok, a few people do. The general masses do not know the name of the family in charge of the Hood.”
I had to admit I was leery of Noah’s dad. His son was crazy, and that could mean he was too; I’d watch for him too. At minimum he wasn’t a bad person, but he could be hiding his son because he didn’t want Heath or I to kill him. He could also just know where Noah was hiding.
I looked at the time, realizing my dad would be up. My call with Alpha Eric was soonish. I could give them privacy to talk because Isaac would still be there to monitor the situation. I went downstairs and made us both breakfast. I really felt it was the least I should do. Make her breakfast. Nothing says I’m sorry I almost fucked your friend in a dream like scrambled eggs. Right? I was such a dead man. Haley was absolutely going to kill me dead. Bolt snorted, “Just charm us and kick our ass. Our death would hurt Lexi, and she won’t do that.” At least I had that going for me.
I loved seeing Lexi in my clothes. It screamed that she was mine. I was so happy that my scent calmed her down and made her happy. She made me happy. Bolt piped up, “Until we dream about her friend at night.” I growled, “SHUT UP! Lexi DOES make us happy.” Bolt replied, “I know. I think this could all be solved if we mark mate.”
I blocked his making sense self out and grabbed Lexi’s hand. I linked Nadine, “Where’s dad?” Nadine answered, “He’s still in the hospital.” I tensed, “Is he ok?” Nadine assured me, “He’s fine. He might be mad as a hornet that I’m making him stay until this afternoon. I want the doctors to make sure he’s ok.” I told her, “You’re a good mate.” She sounded flustered, “Well thank you, Chase.”
I led Lexi into the hospital. Matt linked me, “Where are you we need to... Never mind I smell you.” He stepped out of my dad’s room. I kissed Lexi quickly, and left with Matt. We took off to my office. Derrick looked sad. Just what I needed.
I asked, “Derrick?” Derrick sighed, “Sally is supposed to be back today, but I feel nothing. What if she’s not my mate?” Matt quickly said, “She’s not back. Ted would host a party and link me about drinking mimosas. In fact, I’ll just confirm it for you Derrick.”
Matt was silent for several moments. He announced, “Sally is not back yet.” Derrick looked relieved then frowned, “Why not?” Matt shrugged, “Maybe she wanted to spend some more time there? Ted told me she’s cooking for them. Maybe their cook had her baby, and Sally offered to stay for a bit.” Derrick huffed, “She’s perfect like that.” I laughed, “You’re already whipped.” Derrick raised an eyebrow, “You’re one to talk.” I agreed easily, “Touché.”
Our phone rang. I answered, “This is Alpha Chase.” I was greeted, “It’s Alpha Eric. This had BETTER be good. My Beta pulled me away from my mate for this call.” I heard Beta Caleb snort, “Damn rabbit.” All of us stifled our laughs at that comment.
I explained, “It’s been brought to my attention that Alpha Allister’s death is odd.” Alpha Eric was silent for a moment. “It was believed he dosed himself with silver on purpose to kill himself.” Matt and I exchanged glances we weren’t told that.
I argued, “He did chemo for his cancer though. Why not just let it kill him?” Derrick followed my line of thought, “He couldn’t have been trying to kill himself. Alpha Allister told my dad he wanted to be there for Sophia for several years when she took over, to quiet any unrest about her leading their pack….” He trailed off.
Alpha Eric growled, “Are we saying we’ve possibly let the MURDER of one of our allies go unavenged for almost four years?” I acknowledged, “We are saying it’s a possibility.” I heard groans on the other end. Alpha Eric thought aloud, “Come to think of it… fuck it all to hell and back.”
I questioned, “What?” Alpha Eric said, “Martha and Allister died. Beta Alfred Senior’s mate died. Before Wallace was demoted HIS parents died. That’s a hell of a lot of people in charge dying over there.” I gaped, “Well, I don’t know how Sophia’s mom died, but Wallace’s parents died in a rogue attack.”
Alpha Eric commented, “Supposedly. The rogues were never tracked down.” I rubbed my head, “I really just called to tell you I think we should look into Alpha Allister’s death. Now we are talking about what? A revenge plot happening in their pack?”
Alpha Eric countered, “Or a coup made to not look like a coup.” Matt groaned, “Fuck.” Alpha Eric agreed, “Indeed.” We came up with a plan of how to quietly look into this. We didn’t want to alert anyone if this was some massive conspiracy to kill off the higher ups. We hung up.
I slammed my hands on the table, “I’m not telling Sophia this shit. She’ll NEVER fucking sign the annulment papers if she knows this. I can’t take this anymore; I need OUT of this farce of a marriage.” Derrick winced, “She does have a right to know her dad was murdered.”