Page 114 of The Alpha and His Childhood Sweetheart

I told her, “We will just have to see. What I know is that my light and I agree. You and me, we are forever. That has always been true. Now it’s just official.” Elise put her forehead on me, “I’ll worry about you if we go into the Ribbon.”

I smiled, “We’ve known each other since we were pups. I’m sure that would be the case for all versions of us.” Elise snorted, “Unless we are the Melanie and Alexander of some reality.” I pointed out, “We could fix that for them in the Ribbon, and don’t speak that into existence. That me is probably their moody triplet.”

Elise laughed, “No joke. I can’t believe you shared your light with me again.” I laughed, “I can’t believe it took my light that long to get on board. You have always been mine. It’s probably because I lean towards my wolf side.” Brutus snorted, “Yes we do but I am happy about this.”

I pulled back, “I have always loved you with every fiber of my being. I have wanted to share my light with you twice more than once.” Elise assured me, “I didn’t think otherwise. I’m not upset or worried about it. I’ve always known you lean towards your wolf, Hackura, then the Fairy side last.” It was true.

She added, “I have been around your siblings that lean towards their Fairy sides. They are far more mischievous than you are. They bring out that side in you when they get you involved. Or your mom does by involving you in one of her pranks.”

She grinned, “In fact, I heard Dylan Frost tell her she needed to write prank ideas down to publish one day. We need to nip that in the bud. The world is not prepared for the scale your mom does pranks on.” I laughed, “No, they really aren’t.” Ipopped us outside and we watched the waves come in from the beach.

Elise asked, “Shouldn’t we get back?” I reminded her, “The beauty of having as many siblings as I do, means they can handle things if I’m not there. They will not fall apart if we stay here a few moments or hours longer.” She snuggled into me.

I asked, “So, how many pups do you want?” Elise answered, “At least four.” I nodded, “Alright.” She shrugged, “But I’m open to more. Let’s see how labor goes in a few years. I don’t think I’m on your mom's level of popping out twenty of you. At the same time, I love your big family. I love how many siblings I have too.”

I nodded, “That sounds good to me. We’ll just play things by ear. If you decide you’re not ready in a few years, you know it’s fine by me, right?” Elise playfully shoved me, “Yes, I do know because you are the worlds’ most understanding man. I told your mom a few years ago that she raised incredible men and women. You and your siblings are something else.”

I agreed, “My parents are one of a kind. Especially my mom.” I looked away because what happened to her as a child still killed me on the inside. Elise took my face into her hands, “She’s saved herself in the Ribbon. Other versions of your mom didn’t suffer as much or like she did, or even at all.”

I whispered, “I’ve read the journals they keep. One version of her was sold as a snack. She was just happy she stopped being raped. That’s just so messed up.” Elise acknowledged, “It is.” We were silent for a moment. She asked, “Do you think we will end up in the Ribbon?”

I laughed, “I don’t know, but I doubt it. As you said, I lean more towards my wolf, and my mom figured out we were mates before you were born. No one could ever keep us apart after that. I don’t know what there would be for us to fix. I could be wrong though.”

Elise sighed, “You are rarely ever wrong.” I laughed, “It has been known to happen from time to time. I feel there is something I’m missing. Sometimes I swear I’m on the edge then nothing happens. I know something is going on though.”

Elise frowned, “About the undergrounds?” I snorted, “No, that I KNOW has something shady going on.” Elise asked, “Then what?” I shrugged, “I don’t know. Sometimes I feel like my mind is reaching for something, but I can never quite get there.” Elise admitted, “Yeah, I feel that way too sometimes.”

I kissed her, “Well, between the two of us, one day our brains should be able to grasp it.” Elise grumbled, “We haven’t yet.” I squeezed her tightly, “That does seem odd, but we do have a lot going on. I know I don’t say it often enough, but I am so proud of you handle the pack. I’m proud of how you’ve taken over the Luna duties. You are the heart of our pack.” I kissed her forehead.

She blushed, “You sweet talker you.” I replied, “Only for you.” Elise kissed me enjoying the moment. We sat there a little bit longer before I popped us home. I didn’t want her out of my sight for the foreseeable future.

I walked into my office with her. Alexander, Wesley, Theo, Maverick, and my dad were there. Buttercup smiled and bounded up to Elise, “You’re back!” Elise laughed, “We are.” Buttercup frowned, “Sorry about those assholes.” Elise laughed, “It’s fine. I had it handled and then EJ showed up with Alexander. What’s going on here?”

Alexander frowned, “I would like to start this by saying everyone is fine.” I frowned and Elise tensed. Brutus grumbled, “We take ONE simple moment for ourselves, and something goes to hell.” Yeah, that did seem to be where this was going.

I asked, “What happened?” Alexander said, “There was a rather large rogue attack on Red Run. Like I said though, everyone is fine.” Elise frowned, “But it was my parents’anniversary. They always go to the cabin.” Alexander nodded, “They weren’t there. Your brothers were and they are all fine. Jase called us, as this was deemed an emergency thank god, and we popped in.” There was something in the bond that told me that wasn’t even close to all of it.

Elise slowly said, “Ok, I feel like there’s more to the story.” I growled, “Alexander.” Because I knew there was more. Alexander sighed, “There was an attack on the cabin. Not by rogues though it was the Hunters. Your dad got a text telling him to get out the back door. He did. The Hunters came in guns blazing, but your parents weren’t there. They are fine.”

I growled, “What about the Hunters?” Alexander sighed, “They are all very dead.” Elise asked, “Our sniper?” Alexander nodded, “Snipers. This was a group of thirty Hunters. Our sniper, it’s clear which ones she shot, took out over half of them. Micah ran the trace on the phone number that texted your dad. This one was bought by our sniper in Missouri. Sadly, there is still no camera footage of them.”

Elise whispered, “I need to go see them.” I nodded, “Of course, let’s go.” Alexander linked me, “I uhh kind of toned down the text. Our sniper does not like Peter.” I frowned, “What did the text say?” Alexander winced, “Move your butt if you want to keep your life. They are coming. Maybe try opening up your ears and listening. Can any of you be helpful in Red Run? Do you all have to make my life so damn complicated?! You jerk!”

My eyes widened, “Damn.” Alexander nodded, “Yup. So, it’s not just Dalton and Dakota. It’s Peter too.” I replied, “That’s not just ‘doesn’t like him.’ That’s angry, bitter, and very personal.” Alexander nodded. He said, “Mom thinks the person doesn’t hate him, but is mad he doesn’t love her. She says it feels like an Alpha relationship with a pack member who wants to be seen, but I think she just doesn’t like him.”

Brutus reasoned, “Mom’s not usually wrong.” She wasn’t. I popped Elise to her parents’ house. Elise ran to her mother. Chelsea assured her, “We are fine.” I walked over and gave Peter a hug that he returned. We parted a moment before Elise threw herself on her dad sobbing. After thirty minutes she’d calmed down. Her mom took her outside to swing on their porch swing.

I turned to face the group left. Dalton, Dakota, and Cooper had joined us. I asked, “Who is this upset with you, Peter?” Peter ran a hand through his hair, “Honest to god, I have no clue. Someone’s upset enough to send that text, but they saved us too. We’d have been goners.”

Dalton, Dakota, Cooper, and I growled. Cooper said, “It’s not just dad. This is the second time the sniper has communicated with us. She was pissed at Dakota and Dalton about Jase too.” I questioned, “Have we looked over the pack members you’ve kicked out?”

Peter sighed, “I didn’t kick anyone out because I didn’t have to. I had some pups doing punishments, but nothing to warrant someone being this upset with me. She’s still willing to save my life. That’s the dichotomy I can’t figure out. Our sniper is angry at me personally, but she saved my life and Chelsea’s. While insulting me and the pack but still.” I agreed, “But still.”

We looked back over his files. Annoyingly, nothing stood out. Peter was right, there was nothing here to find. There were no former female pack members that should be this upset with Peter.

Tristan walked in. He sighed, “I ran down all our possibilities, but nothing popped.” I snorted, “What possibilities? I see nothing here to run.” Tristan shrugged, “I know but I ran through Charline’s old friends. They all met their mates and left. None hold any ill will and are just glad they didn’t share her fate. They are grateful to Peter.”

We all pause then Tristan yelled, “What the hell is going on? He may be the former Alpha now, but he’s always been a second dad to me. He’s a good man. I’m telling you when we get a face to face with this sniper and I’ll tell her that kind of disrespect doesn’t fly here.”

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