Page 96 of The Married Alpha And His Arrow: Vol 2

Arms encircled me. I turned to see who it was. Frank was speaking to me, but I couldn’t hear him because someone was screaming. Chase ran into the room with Derrick and Matt behind him. Then I realized it was me, I was screaming.

Something Bigger

Chase grabbed Lexi’s hand and backed her up against the wall. I lost myself in a haze of needing to claim her. When the fog cleared, and I calmed down we were both sweaty. Lexi took a few minutes then got up. I wondered if she was trying to find the bathroom, but she walked into a closet.

Then she tossed clothes out at me. I looked at the sizes and was shocked they were mine. Bolt linked, “How could they be ours?” Apparently, Haley was how. That was very nice of her. I linked Alpha Eric, “Tell your mate thank you for the clothes it was very nice.” He replied, “I will do that.” He sounded annoyed already. I guess Lexi’s family was pissing him off. That would go well for them.

Lexi walked out in a shirt that immediately drew my eyes to her bump. It was so crazy how fast the twins were growing. I couldn’t resist putting my hands on her stomach. Emma and Emmett were going to be joining us soon. It was still surreal. Bolt purred in my mind.

Her hurt when she commented on my marrying Sophia stung me more than I cared to admit. I was glad we were unlikely to run into anyone I’d slept with. A few at a summit, but they were mated now. I wasn’t worried about the knife like she was. King Aiden wasn’t going to let it out of his sight. Only he or Haley could touch it. The knife was a moot point to me.

I knew that I lost rational thought when it comes to thinking of someone touching her. Honestly, it’s the animal in me. I couldn’t promise her it wouldn’t happen, but I could try to not lose it on the person in question. So long as claiming her afterwards was still on the table. Alpha Eric seemed to have that down. I’d ask him how he managed to do that. Bolt grumbled, “The annoying Angel left in one piece.” True.

Lexi asked about the time. Given everything that went down, it was impressive we were only fifteen minutes late. I linked Alpha Eric, “Can you send Haley to pop us in for the meeting?” Alpha Eric replied, “Yes, Haley’s already slapped two of them and charmed them so they cannot speak until they leave our home. They said something about Lexi not being on time. This is going to be an interesting meeting.” Bolt growled, “I’ll rip their heads off.” Lovely.

When we were popped in, I got several glares from the adults. I glared right back, and they looked away. Alpha Eric linked me, “We’ve been playing who can glare the longest. They won’t look at me, Jackson, your father, or your brother anymore. Heath told them to fuck off when they asked where Lexi was.”

I questioned, “Seriously? It was fifteen minutes.” Alpha Eric replied, “I know. They are lucky. It would’ve been hours if it was me.” I snorted. Heath and I exchanged looks when Lexi hugged Jordan. It looked like he was going to become a part of her life. He’d better never disappoint her and disappear, or he’d answer to me.

Haley laid down the rules for her home. I linked Alpha Eric, “I’m surprised she hadn’t already set those.” Alpha Eric said, “You’d think they’d have learned since two of them are unable to speak.” I only paid attention to Jordan’s family. I didn’t think the rest of the aunts and uncles were going to be in our lives. I memorized all the cousins' names. I knew Lexi had every intention of trying to be involved in their lives moving forward.

Lexi rolled her eyes at her grandparents who both frowned. They opened their mouths to cut Lexi off as she started explaining what she knew. I glared at them and let my canines grow. They all sat back. Jordan smirked at me.

My dad linked me, “He’s probably wishing he could shut them up like that.” I replied, “It’s going to be a race to who kicks their ass at this point. Haley and Heath can get to them the fastest, but I’ll be in a close third.” My dad snorted, “Maybe fourth. Alpha Eric doesn’t seem particularly happy.”

I pointed out, “With his mate and Hackura bond with Haley he feels how she does.” My dad chuckled, “I know.” I looked around. I linked my dad and brother, “Notice anyone missing?” My dad didn’t miss a beat answering, “Cassandra and Nathan.” I nodded.

I linked Matt, “Where are Alpha Eric’s parents?” Matt responded, “I don’t know. I’ll have to have Ted listen to the gossip if we get a break. People tell him things.” I said, “Your mother will love you forever.” Matt snorted, “Please. If I come back without her exact location after she finds out that Cassandra wasn’t here, she wouldn’t speak to me for a month or something. She might even ask Ted to withhold sex or some shit.” I bit back a laugh.

Bolt growled, “This Donald wants to get his ass kicked.” He did. I linked Alpha Eric, “It’s kind of endearing how wrong Haley is about colloquialisms.” Alpha Eric told me, “We enjoy it. Plus, hers do make sense. They tend to be wrong, but she’s got one about a leprechaun that’s caught on in our pack.”

I questioned, “A leprechaun?” Alpha Eric explained, “Something like that will happen when a leprechaun’s rainbow sprouts from my ass with a pot of gold.” I met his eyes laughing in our link. I told him, “I’m sharing that with my pack. That NEEDS to catch on. It’s gold.”

I linked Matt Haley’s saying. His eyes lit up. Derrick linked me, “Is Matt serious? A leprechaun?” I answered, “He’s serious. It came directly from Alpha Eric.” Derrick was howling with laughter in our link.

The rest of the ‘family’ shared what they knew and quickly Lexi asked a question I thought was basic. The looks on everyone’s faces told me it wasn’t. Jordan looked at them in shock. He must have thought they saw a body. I mean SURELY they wanted concrete proof?

I linked Cameron, “No fucking way.” Cameron said, “I mean I agree, seeing a body is standard but look at their faces.” I shot back, “She was their daughter! Her twin! I wouldn’t believe anyone who said you were dead if I didn’t see your body. Especially if I was then thrown out of wherever we were.” Cameron agreed, “Neither would I.”

I linked Alpha Eric, “You’d think at this point they would’ve questioned every piece of information Betty gave them. Especially something as important like oh hey Lizzy is dead.” Alpha Eric responded, “You, me, and Heath would’ve. No, any sane person would’ve. I don’t know if these people are very smart, or if it’s because they have magic placed on them as well. Logan didn’t want Katie at this meeting. He doesn’t think they deserve help for what they did to Lexi and Heath.” I admitted, “Well, I don’t know that I disagree.”

Heath lost his temper. I linked Alpha Lucas, “Why would your Luna think it’s her fault?” Alpha Lucas answered, “Because David performed the magic. Katie, Dustin, and Ryan told her that after their meeting with you. She always feels responsible for his terrible actions.” I assured him, “Lexi is right. This was done before she was even conceived. David was a bad person that wanted power and money. That’s not on her.”

Alpha Lucas agreed, “I know it’s not, but she’s very sensitive. Especially when David is involved and more so that she’s pregnant.” I frowned, “His crazy isn’t on her.” Alpha Lucas shrugged, “She thinks he started losing his mind when he found out she wasn’t his.”

I pointed out, “I hope this starts to prove to her that he lost it well before then. He may have blamed her or started letting his darkness show more after he found out she wasn’t his, but he had a rotten core all along.” Alpha Lucas nodded his head indicating his agreement.

Lexi pointed out killing your other half was near impossible. She was right. Before Alpha Max was killed, he’d abused his mate. It was odd, he used to treat her like a Queen, but he lost it after his parents died. Abusing her was hard enough because he had to fight his wolf every step of the way. He couldn’t kill her though. Even to his crazy mind it was unfathomable. Lexi slammed her family with her words.

My dad linked, “Well Lexi isn’t wrong. I’d be DAMNED if I accepted anyone telling me one of my pups was dead without a body.” I agreed, “You got that right.” I linked Matt, “But why did they believe Betty so resolutely? For Heath and Lexi ok. Presumably, Betty knew them better, but your daughter’s death? Come on.” Matt replied, “Lexi isn’t wrong. They don’t seem too bright.” Heath said this wouldn't just be about some obsession with her mother.

I locked eyes with the other Alpha’s in the room. He was right. All his points made sense. What was the goal of separating the families? If Allison and James fought the magic, if they remembered; what did they know that got them killed?

I linked Alpha Eric, “Is something darker possibly going on?” Alpha Eric answered, “It seems that way. Their uncle mentioned missing people. I don’t have any pack members that disappeared. Alpha Hammond’s did and he was possibly involved in whatever this is.”

I questioned, “You think this is about abducting people?” Alpha Eric speculated, “It could be. Having separate Shrouds with people who aren’t communicating means both leaders could assume someone is in the other Shroud. Damn it. This could be bad.” I thought about it then said, “I don’t have anyone missing.”

Alpha Eric advised, “We need to check with our allies. They might not be trying to take wolves in packs. It’s rogues or runaways, that haven’t turned rogue yet, that are in danger. Or packs with shitty Alpha’s like Hammond. We need Cameron to look through his records. We need a list of who was missing prior to him taking over.” He had a point.

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