Me:I’m on the way.

Susanna:Then I’ll have to talk fast LOL.

I frowned, “Come on, Ted. Kincade, Kevin please tell Mark and Joanie Ted and I are running to Chase's house.” Kincade and Kevin nod. Kincade said, “We will be right behind you.” I nodded. Ted frowned, “I mean not right behind. We’d smoke you in a race.” Everyone laughed.

Ted and I took off. Ted asked, “Why are we running?” I explained, “Susanna is there now, and she said Chase needs me.” We ran the rest of the way in silence. I flashed straight through the door in time to hear Chase say he couldn’t lose me. I sighed. I knew this plan would be hard for him to accept, but I wasn’t going down because of an apartment.

Everyone looked up at me in a panic when I spoke. Matt ushered everyone out of the office. I watched them all leave mildly curious what they were all so worried about. Chase explained his fears about his situation. My heart hurt because he looked so scared and broken. I would promise him anything if he would smile at me. Anything that would take the fear out of his eyes. I was glad he didn’t qualify his ask because I might need to talk to Haley first. So, thank the War Goddess he didn’t ask to be the first person I talked things through with.

I wasn’t an unreasonable person. I know it was my decision not to know his situation. I can’t hold it against him that I don’t know. The situation itself, since I didn’t know what it was, I wasn’t sure how I’d feel about it. I did know I wouldn’t hold my decision not to know against him. I might take time to process, but then I’d talk to him about it.

Chase made love to me like I was his water in the desert. I was certain we weren’t leaving his office all night. I was stunned when someone interrupted us. Damn. I really needed to pay better attention without my BA gear on. Chase’s eyes were hardened. I felt a little bit bad for the person who opened the door. Before I left, I saw it was Alfred that had interrupted us. I briefly wondered if I should stay to help keep Chase calm, but he clearly wanted me upstairs so I went to Chase’s room. I took a quick shower. I stepped out and grabbed some of Chase’s sweatpants from the closet and put on a tank top.

I heard small feet thundering in my direction. I was astonished when Susie burst into the room with Nadine a few steps behind her. Susie was sobbing incoherently. I went to my knees as she collided into my chest. She cried, “Don’t leave us Lexi, please! We need you. Chase needs his Princess! We need his Princess! I need you! Daddy has lightened up so much since you came here and you’re my friend!”

I glanced up at Nadine startled. Nadine’s eyes were tight with worry. I hugged Susie and then pulled back so I could look into her eyes, “Hey, I’m not going anywhere. You’re my friend too, and that means friends for life. You know my big secret and that’s an elite club.” Nadine’s eyes widened in surprise.

Susie wiped her tears, “You won’t leave?” I hugged her, “I’m not leaving, I don’t know why I would.” Susie didn’t say anything. I offered, “Let’s go back to your room, ok?” Susie nodded and I led her down the stairs.

I heard people yelling but I couldn't understand what they were saying. I asked, “Did whatever Alfred came to say to Chase upset you?” Susie cried harder. Alfred was going to get a talking to from me. I sent Ted a text telling him to get a meeting with Alfred first thing and not to tell Matt. Ted wasn’t happy, but he was going to do it.

Susie sniffled, “Kincade is mad now too.” I was surprised, “Kincade?” Susie nodded, “He’s beating up Beta Alfred. Chase already did, and he broke the door again.” I laughed. The poor door. I asked her, “Alfred is a Beta? It doesn’t seem helpful for him or his pack that Kincade can kick his butt. Can you really hear that?”

Susie laughed through her sniffles, “Daddy explained Kincade has Alpha blood. I can hear them, but I know it’s Kincade because of the pack link.” I could guess what that was. I admitted, “You know what, that makes a lot of sense.” I laid down on her bed with her.

Susie started crying harder out of nowhere. Nadine hissed, “Enough of this.” She left quickly. I whispered, “I think your mom might go kick Alfred’s butt now too.” Susie sobbed, “He said you’re not staying.” I scoffed, “Hey, he’s a dumb boy. What does he know?”

Susie sniffled, “You promise? No matter what you’ll stay?” I assured her, “Some dumb boy not liking me won’t drive me away. I love your big brother with my whole heart. I love this family and you. I promise you even when Chase and I fight we will figure it out. I’ll never willingly leave you; I swear. I have missions, but I will find a way to come back her to all of you.”

Susie wiped her eyes. She agreed, “Beta Alfred is a dumb boy.” I laughed, “You’ll meet lots of those. We can all be dumb. The important thing is to grow as a person.” Susie huffed defiantly, “Alfred isn’t growing, he’s insulting you.” I frowned, “Insulting me? That’s odd, but it doesn’t bother me. He’s not the first person to insult me and he won’t be the last. I know who I am, and that’s always important. Never let people take who you are from you. I let a dumb boy do that once, and I promised I never would again. Alfred’s words can’t hurt me.”

Susie admitted, “I think they would.” I frowned then said, “I’d get over it. Even if his words are hurtful, I wouldn’t leave.” Susie nodded. I started playing with her hair and humming a lullaby my mom used to sing to me. Susie whispered, “That’s a beautiful song.” I smiled, “My mother used to hum it to me when I was upset. She was a smart lady, just like you.”

Chase was suddenly in the doorway. He reassured his sister. I couldn’t hear what she whispered to him, but I could read Chase’s lips when he answered her. His words about how I belonged here with them hit me. He was right. I felt a sense of belonging here that I hadn't felt with my own people for years.

Nadine put Susie back in bed and Chase led me back to his room. We discussed things and I decided one positive thing came out of this evening after our rounds of sex. I now knew there was at least there was one pack who didn’t seem to know about Chase and me yet. So, I was taking that as a positive. He seemed surprised I wasn’t pushing him about the subject, but I understood the chain of command.

We just needed to go to bed and put today behind us. Chase held onto me as tightly as he could comfortably. I fell asleep feeling very loved by not only him, but his family. I woke up and left the house the next day with Ted. Our protection detail was in the car behind us.

Ted asked, “Ok, why do we have a meeting with Beta Alfred? And how will our protection not find out about it?” I blew out a breath, “Good point.” I pulled out my phone. Sally answered, “Hi, Lexi. I greeted, “Hey Sally, I need breakfast in my office. Really soon.” Sally laughed, “You’re in luck. I’ve been having trouble sleeping. I’ve been cooking up a storm. Breakfast will be waiting when you get there.” I hung up.

I smiled. “Handled.” Ted sarcastically replied, “Sure, that was completely clear on your plan.” I laughed. Once we arrived, I had to laugh. Sally had put out enough for our clients too. I turned, “How about you guys take this to your office. Kevin and Kincade since Carry isn’t here today why don’t you go drop her a plate? There’s more than enough and I don’t want it to go to waste.”

Kevin looked suspicious but Kincade quickly put a plate together. Kincade called, “We’ll just drop it off at her school and come right back.” Kevin rolled his eyes and followed his brother. Joanie raised an eyebrow but took a plate and followed Mark into their office. Ted bowed down to me while I laughed.

A few moments later Alfred stepped into my office. He eyed the food. I spoke harshly, “It’s not for you.” Alfred frowned, “You smiled when we first met. I liked that better than your anger.” I said, “I liked you better when you didn’t make little a girl cry and have her thinking I’d leave her.”

Alfred blanched, “That wasn’t my intention. I shouldn’t even be here.” I asked, “Why?” Alfred said, “My Alpha commanded me to leave you alone, but since I wasn’t seeking you out and you wanted this meeting, I’m not actually breaking the command.”

I crossed my arms, “Then I’ll say this quickly since I’m sure you’re busy. Do not EVER upset Susie Daniels again. I don’t care if you like me or not, leave an innocent child out of your squabbles.” Alfred frowned, “I do actually like you. I’d like to date you. I can give you things Chase can’t.”

I shook with anger, “His name is ALPHA Chase. Don’t you DARE address him improperly in my presence. You can give me nothing he can’t because he gives me everything.” I punched him in the face, “That’s for disrespecting Chase.” I kicked him in the groin. “And that’s for waking Susie up and making her cry. Ted, get him out of this building.”

Ted hauled Alfred up and flashed out of the room. He was back seconds later. He told me, “It was far too fun dropping him in the field outback. I gave him a swift kick in the ribs because I hate him and his Alpha.” I laughed, “I can’t say I like him either.” Sophia hadn’t done this though.

I walked into my office. The letter from Queen Alania was staring at me. My hands shook slightly as I reached for it. Ted said, “You should sit down, just in case.” I said, “Let’s sit on the couch so we can read it together.” Ted nodded and we both sat down. I took a deep breath and opened the letter.

Lexi Scott,