Matt linked me, “It’s time for the run.” I replied, “We are coming.” I thought it was all going to crumble when I mentioned Sophia. Bolt huffed, “Why would you do that?!” I honestly didn’t know what the problem was when hurt and astonishment flashed in her eyes. She thought I’d been talking to or seen Sophia. I quickly explained that was not the case.
Bolt told me, “You’re lucky you fixed that so fast. I’ll take over if I have to. I can’t let her leave again.” I led Lexi outside. Everyone was linking me congratulations, visibly relieved Lexi was at my side. My dad linked, “Now everything is back to how it should be.” I agreed.
When I shifted howls of laughter rang out. I looked around then I linked Matt, “What the hell?” Matt asked, “How to say this….?” Derrick linked me, “Uhh you’re pink.” I linked both Derrick and Matt, “What do you mean I’m pink?!” Matt replied, “You are pink. Literally. Bolt’s fur is pink.”
Lexi even confirmed it. Part of me wondered if they were just fucking with me until she did. Haley’s pranks involved turning wolves’ pink. I linked Matt, “Did you know Haley Conners had turned my wolf pink?” Matt howled with laughter, “No, but that’s amazing. I figured it was her that did it though. She loves pink, and let’s be honest here who else would’ve turned you pink?” I conceded, “Fair point.”
My mate was gorgeous. I was going to take her all night long. Bolt teased, “I thought you were tired.” I replied, “Not anymore.” We passed a lake, and I caught my reflection. I was a shimmering pink wolf. Bolt growled, “I’m an Alpha my fur is supposed to be black.” I reasoned with him, “I’m sure it wears off.” He huffed.
Everything went well until I heard Alfred yell at Heath. Matt sighed, “I guess it was too much to ask that they just leave well enough alone for one damn night.” Lexi took off like a shot. I immediately shifted and followed her with Derrick and Matt by my side. Sally and Ted were trailing behind Lexi. She was really fast when she wanted to be. She screamed at Alfred as Sophia sobbed.
I linked Sophia, “Get up and get your Beta in line. I know this situation has to suck for you, I do. Just get up.” She stood with tears streaming down her face. Lexi tackled Alfred. They rolled onto their feet, and he pushed her. I growled furiously. Alfred turned to stare at me in horror as Lexi hit a tree with a sickening thud. Matt and Derrick growled now too.
Heath went at Alfred with renewed fury. Alfred shifted on instinct. Sophia ordered, “SHIFT BACK!” He did and I shifted back to human form to tackle him to the ground. Former Beta Alfred Sr. jumped into the fray. It didn’t help them. Heath was a really good fighter though, and we were kicking their asses.
Haley and Alpha Eric popped in. Alpha Eric growled, “ENOUGH! Someone tell me how Lexi Scott got pushed into a fucking tree. HONESTLY! I have three pups who are less trouble than you all! Keep in mind THEY POP AROUND WHENEVER THEY DAMN WELL PLEASE!”
I growled, “He fucking pushed her into a goddamn tree!” Alfred argued, “I didn’t mean to! She tackled me; it was an instinct!” Heath shouted, “SHE TACKLED YOU BECAUSE YOU WANTED TO FIGHT ME!” Alfred snarled at him, “You disrespected my Alpha.”
Sophia yelled, “No he didn’t!” Simultaneously Heath argued, “No I didn’t!” Sophia ordered, “Both Alfred’s go home. Junior, I’ll deal with you later. I told you I wanted to talk to Heath alone.” Alfred growled. Heath warned, “Leave before I kill you.”
Alpha Eric said, “I’ll do you one better. Leave before I decided helping your pack is more of an annoyance than I care to deal with.” Both Alfred’s left in a hurry. Sophia asked, “Is Lexi ok?” I growled, “Don’t say her name.” Alpha Eric nodded, “She’ll be fine. My wife will make sure of it.
I heard Lexi gasp she was watching Haley intently. Haley had angled herself away from us. She must have mouthed something to her because Lexi visibly relaxed. Lexi said some saying about siblings I’d never heard.
Matt linked, “I have never heard that saying.” I responded, “Of course you haven’t. That’s a direct quote from Haley, I’ll bet.” I linked Alpha Eric, “I’d imagine that’s your wife’s saying.” Alpha Eric replied, “It does seem that way, yes.”
Sophia requested to talk to Lexi. I linked her, “Have you lost your mind? Go away!” To my astonishment Lexi agreed. Matt linked, “NOOOOOOOOOOOOOO!” I agreed with him. Heath was pleading with Sophia with his eyes not to say anything to hurt Lexi.
I linked Alpha Eric, “You’ll have to hold me back if she makes my mate cry. I’ll rip Sophia’s throat out.” Alpha Eric said, “I’m inclined to tell my father it was justified. She provoked you.” I smirked, “It’s funny when you crack jokes now. She’s good for you. You should join the council one day.”
Alpha Eric snorted, “You didn’t even chuckle earlier when I linked you. I thought I was actually going to have to have Lucas pop to us. Thankfully, that did not happen. That’s popular advice though. My wife agrees about the council. She says when EJ, Cassie, and Alexander are ready to take over I should take a few years off then join.” I agreed, “You’d be good at it.” He smirked, “Yeah, well if I go, you’re coming with me.” I chuckled.
When Haley growled, I held back my laugh. Had I not seen her kick Sophia’s ass I’d have said she was adorable. Haley popped back over to us and began to pace. Heath and I joined her. Sophia had turned red and paled several times in their conversation.
Lexi turned to walk away, and Sophia stopped her. Heath groaned, “Shit.” Sophia quickly dropped her hand. Heath muttered, “Thank god.” At the same time Haley said, “Damn. It was about to go down.” Alpha Eric smiled at her. We all kept pacing. They kept talking and I felt a torrent of anger coming from Lexi before she punched Sophia in the face.
Alpha Eric asked, “Did you teach her to punch like that Heath?” Heath answered tightly, “Yes.” Alpha Eric complimented him, “Impressive.” Haley said, “It’s a high compliment, Heath.” Matt mused, “I wonder what she said.” Haley muttered, “I just bet I could fucking guess.” I asked, “What’s your guess?”
Haley said, “Eric filled me in on what happened before I came back to the meeting and turned into a raging Fairy magic fueled Hackura monster.” All of us started laughing. Derrick linked me “Raging Hackura monster, she’s priceless.” I replied, “She is but you forgot Fairy magic fueled Hackura Monster.”
Haley said, “I’d imagine Lexi asked if Sophia agreed to sign the annulment papers when she found out about Heath being her mate. Lexi wouldn’t like the answer any more than I did.” Heath cringed, “Lexi doesn’t know for sure…” He didn’t even sound like he believed himself.
Haley shrugged, “I’m just telling you’re fucking lucky she’s nicer than I am.” Heath argued, “You’re so nice it’s painful.” Haley scoffed, “If anyone treated ANY of my brothers that way and they’d had the hurt look on their face you did; I’d eviscerate them.” Matt linked me, “She’s like a cute little kitten that will murder you and go back to looking adorable.” Yup.
Heath sighed, “I believe that, but Lexi wasn’t there. She’s seen me lose my string before though. She’s checking her temper for me.” Haley sighed, “Oh well, fuck. Now I can’t kill her either. Or ask anyone else to. Damn it!” Heath teased her, “About the magic being under control.”
Haley hissed, “IT IS! Lexi and Chase are ok, but I should call Aiden to ask if there are lingering aftereffects because right now all I can think is I hate her. Eric, I really do! HATE! HATE! HATE! No no…. I LOATHE HER WITH MY ENTIRE FUCKING BEING! Actually, YOUR entire being is how much I loathe her in this moment.”
Alpha Eric laughed, “My entire being Angel?” Haley shouted, “YES! Because you’re so much fucking bigger than me. My hatred for her is bigger than myself.” Heath was trying and failing not to laugh. Eric hugged Haley, “That’s so you, Angel.” Haley looked at Heath, “At this moment, you are so very lucky I see you as a cousin. Denying the magic is really hard.” It seemed to be harder for her when Lexi was upset. I wondered when this would stop for her.
Heath said, “You’re family to me too, Hales.” She grumbled, “I think you owe me like a million pizzas for this.” Heath smiled, “I’ll get you a pizza.” Haley brightened, “From my favorite place?” Heath agreed, “Sure.” I breathed a sigh in relief when Lexi walked back towards our group.
Lexi was still being pretty mature about all this. She didn’t react how any of thought she would. Sophia linked me, “That’s quite the Luna you have, Chase. She says she needs time to process, but I think she handled this a lot better than I would’ve if I were her.” I replied, “She is but please stop putting yourself down. You are not a bad person either, and fuck you for making me compliment you right now. You just need to find the real Sophia because she’s pretty damn great. I would know, I grew up with her.” She smiled at me.
I linked Matt, “Less than ideal how she found out? For real?! She could fucking say that again.” Matt snorted, “Understatement of the damn year and the year JUST started. I can confidently say that will be the biggest understatement anyone makes until next January.”
Bolt linked, “Mate is perfect. She isn’t even upset we didn’t tell her because it was her choice not to know.” Lexi was perfect. She was wrong though. It wasn't her fault Sophia was dealing with rats in her damn pack. She shouldn't have had to find out through her work because of a fake party that wasn’t happening. That was out of bounds and over the line.