I asked, “Is this the Black Arrow?” She laughed, “Call me BA.” I wasn’t going to do that. I replied, “I think the Black Arrow is fine.” Matt linked, “You are so smooth right now.” My mouth was dry. I linked Matt, “Get me water.” He rolled his eyes and grabbed a bottle of water out of the mini fridge.

She sounded surprised, “You won’t call me BA? Why? Plenty of people are flattered when I ask them to.” I took a drink, “No, that’s BA is fine. Yes, I did want to thank you. You’ve saved my father twice, my stepmother, sister, and sister-in-law. I owe you.”

She laughed, “Oh yeah? I saved your ally the other day too. Don’t you owe me for that as well?” I sighed, “Alpha Sophia owes you for that.” BA laughed again, “Why don’t you like her?” I asked, “Who said I don’t?” Ba replied, “The tone of your voice.”

I said, “She’s been my friend since childhood.” BA laughed, “Well, this has been interesting.” She was about to hang up. I yelled, “Wait! Do you ever do missions with Lexi?” BA replied, “I assumed you mean Lexi Scott.” I answered, “Yes, Lexi Scott.” BA laughed, “All the time.” I somewhat pleaded, “Watch out for her, please.” BA answered, “I’ll do my very best.” She dropped her voice and sexily said, “Alpha Chase.” She hung up.

FUCK! How can a voice modulator sound sexy? Matt scoffed, “Dude, I don’t need to see your boner.” I growled at him. He was right. Damn it! I ordered, “Shut up.” Derrick furrowed his brows, “She’s an interesting friend.” I asked, “What do you mean?” Derrick pointed out, “She was flirting with you.”

I shrugged, “She’s going to watch out for Lexi. That’s all I care about.” Matt chimed in, “Not to be a broken record, but maybe you should just mark your mate.” I admitted, “I’m considering it.” Bolt took over, “We argue about it, but don’t worry Matt. I’m making progress.” Matt laughed, “We’ll work on our side too, Bolt.” I took back over. “You guys suck.” They laughed as if it was hilarious.

We got through the rest of the paperwork. I texted Lexi that I’d join her at her place when I was done. It was almost midnight when we finally broke away. I was so tired as I walked to Lexi’s. The door was unlocked thankfully. Not that she needed to lock it only so many people could find it I walked upstairs. She was already asleep. I got into bed with her and pulled her close. I was asleep within moments.

I heard someone call my name, “Ccccchaasssseeeee. Wake up Chase!” I blinked my eyes. I looked around and groaned, “Oh god no.” BA laughed, “Is that anyway to greet your dream girl?” I growled, “LEXI is my dream girl.” BA smiled, “So, let’s have fun.” She straddled me and kissed me before I could reply. I couldn’t pull myself away because I craved her lips.

I rolled us and slid my hand up to her butt then opened my eyes. What was I doing? I forced myself to back away. BA groaned, “Come on!” I said, “I have a mate.” BA rolled her eyes, “I know.” She was in front of me in a second. She locked her arms behind my head kissing me again.

She pulled back stating, “You want me, Chase.” I growled, “I’ve never met you.” BA laughed, “Haven’t you?” I looked at her in confusion, “What are you talking about? You’ve met basically everyone else in my family except for me and my brother.” BA sighed, “Chase, Chase, Chase. When are you going to wake up and smell the coffee?” I questioned, “What coffee?” BA groaned and walked back to the bed and fell on it. She yelled, “GOD! Can’t I catch a break? I can’t tell you what the coffee is. You just have to smell it.” I admitted, “I don’t know what that means. Look even if you're my second chance, you’ll still get a mate.”

BA rolled her eyes, “If we aren’t going to make out, and you’re not going to get a clue can I go?” I gestured with my hands, “By all means, leave.” BA rolled her eyes, “The problem is you don’t want me to go.” I disagreed, “I really do.”

BA sang, “No you don’t.” I groaned, “Can you help with the danger Lexi’s in?” BA replied, “Lexi is in danger often because all missions are risky. You’ll have to be more specific.” I frowned, “Not all of her missions are risky.” BA smirked, “No project is risk free. Even our gathering intel missions can be dangerous. Hence why Lexi was drugged and almost beaten on one. Actually, she’s been hurt more often on those types of missions.”

I complained, “I don’t know that. Are you actually here? My subconscious wouldn’t know that.” BA laughed, “Yes it does it’s logical. As her moniker she’s in the shadows. As an alias she’s out in the open. Ask her and she’ll tell you herself. The most serious injuries happen when she’s gathering intel.”

I growled, “You’re just going to give me a headache aren’t you.” She shrugged, “That’s not my goal, but I guess I am.” I questioned, “What is your goal?” She flashed back to me and kissed me. She admitted, “Stealing kisses and getting you to admit you want me.” I closed my eyes. “Why Moon Goddess?”

BA said, “The words you are looking for are thank you, Moon Goddess.” I told her, “I feel so guilty every time I wake up and look into her perfect face when I've been dreaming of you.” BA huffed, “I told you to just tell her. She will laugh. Did you not hear me last time?”

I spat back, “Derrick is right, you are a weird friend.” BA asked, “Who said we were friends?” I yelled, “Everyone! Everyone says you are thick of thieves.” BA tapped my temple, “There is another explanation just waiting for you to reach out and grasp it.”

A thought came to me. I yelled, “Holy fuck! Are you what she’s in danger from? BA betraying the Hood would send shockwaves through your people.” BA stared at me incredulously, “Seriously? You go there instead of the far more obvious answer? God, we are going to be in the ground hog’s day version of this dream. Could you please just get a clue?”

I pushed back, “Can you give me a hint?” BA snorted, “I have given you so many damn hints. Seriously. When you figure this out, you’re going to think upon these chats and smack yourself.” I scoffed, “Why would I do that?” BA said, “Because I’m your subconscious. You already know, and you’re just not coming to terms with it.” I threw my hands up, “What the hell are you talking about? I just want you to go away.” BA smiled and disappeared.

I sighed in relief, “Finally, some peace.” A male voice from behind me said, “Not so fast.” I turned. “Who’s there?” The voice called, “I can’t tell you. I shouldn’t be here, but I need you to protect Lexi.” I yelled, “Seriously?”

The voice replied, “I don’t joke about her protection. There is so much more than you know that is going on.” I questioned, “Does this go back to her mother?” The voice answered, “Yes, she looks just like her mother except for the eyes.” I asked, “How can I protect her? Her brother and I seem to hit walls everywhere.” The man said, “You will keep hitting walls. You need to make her yours.” I groaned, “For god's sake now my subconscious has conjured out a random voice to tell me to mark Lexi. Look weird voice in my dream, I have a thing…”

The voice interrupted, “I’m not your subconscious, but I know what you’re talking about. You’re married. If you wait to mark her until that’s resolved, you’ll lose her.” I growled, “I won’t lose her. She’s mine!” The voice warned, “After your getaway it will be too late. You have until then to be who you were meant to be to her.”

I snarled, “What are you talking about?” The voice sighed, “It’s unclear. You could have more time, but why wait? You want her, right?” I stated emphatically, “She’s mine, and I love her. So yes, I want her.” The voice told me, “Sometimes we just need a push. You belong with her, and she belongs with you. Her path if you don’t make her yours; I can’t stand it. She will be miserable, and that’s just to start.” I wasn’t going to let that happen.

The voice chuckled, “Her tenacious little fairy friend is quite something. Always fighting for and with Lexi. My daughter’s heart will be lost though. She’s a stubborn thing. She’ll think you deserve better.” I said, “Your daughter?! Wait you’re saying Noah gets her?” Lexi’s dad answered, “Yes, my daughter. It could go many ways. I am trying to push the path where an unlikely source helps her.” I questioned, “What source? I’ll get in touch with said source.” He said, “I must go.” Then Lexi’s dad stopped talking.

I complained, “I am going to be exhausted when I wake up.” BA laughed, “You’ll be rested. You’ll just have a lot to think about.” I groaned, “I thought you went away.” BA shrugged, “I did. Now I’m back.” I spat back, “Why?” BA shrugged, “Maybe you need to talk through that visit you just had.”

I scoffed, “You mean my subconscious being insane thinking my mate’s dead dad is talking to me?” BA smiled, “That wasn’t your subconscious, it was a real warning from your string’s dad. You should listen.” I grabbed her by the shoulders demanding answers, “You’re saying if I don’t mark Lexi then after our getaway, I could lose her?”

BA said, “I think the takeaway here was if you wait until your bitchy wife divorces you, you’ll lose her.” I frowned, “You didn’t know Sophia was my wife when we spoke today.” BA huffed, “I’m your subconscious, Chase. You know, so I know.” I groaned, “Fine. Then why don’t you know I don’t want a divorce I want an annulment?”

BA shrugged, “Because part of you wants to file for divorce to force Sophia into action. I am that piece at the moment.” I explained, “I don’t want to have her be my ex-wife.” BA shrugged, “Plenty of people get divorced.” I said, “I only ever wanted to be married to my mate.”

BA raised an eyebrow, “Being the Devil's advocate, you married someone who isn’t your mate.” I yelled, “It was never supposed to be real!” BA suggested, “Then maybe you should’ve lied, and never actually married her.”

I frowned, “There were members of her pack that checked to make sure that we filed.” BA scoffed, “Pricks.” I said, “Maybe if she hadn’t come when everyone was away or out of town it would’ve turned out different.” BA rolled her eyes, “What convenient timing she has. Almost like she knew.” I blinked. Could she have? I heard Lexi’s voice call, “Chase.” I felt kisses on my cheek. BA sighed, “Her turn again I guess.” I opened my eyes and saw my mate staring lovingly at me. I told her, “I love you, Lexi.” She laughed, “I know.” I closed my eyes, and she kissed me.

Guilt overwhelmed me. I pulled away from her and slowly stood up. Lexi spoke quietly, “Chase?” I closed my eyes and blurted out, “I’m dreaming about the Black Arrow. Or I guess BA. She called me last night and told me to call her BA.” I hadn’t meant to blurt it out like that. Bolt scoffed, “Matt is right, you are so smooth.” Some help he was.