Page 144 of The Alpha and His Childhood Sweetheart

He answered right away “Hi EJ, how’s Fiji?” I answered, “Beautiful. That’s not why I called though. I have a question.” Levi replied, “Alright, hit me with said question.” I asked, “Do you get a headache if I say the name Melanie McAlister?”

Levi snorted, “Not exactly, but I do get annoyed. Because T has bit my fucking head off about her living her dream and shit. I just don’t get it and think it’s all fucking weird. That teenager I met wanted nothing more than to meet Alexander. Now she could care less? It’s bizarre.” I was about to say something when he continued.

“It’s also weird she’s never come home. It’s freaking strange there’s a fucking disaster every time she deigns to an attempt a visit. Or they try to go and see her. I’ve offered to portal her in. I thought T was going to punch me, so I stopped asking. All I know is if any of my siblings did this shit it would end. Quickly.”

I explained, “I usually get a slight headache, but being away from home I feel fine. Things aren’t adding up. What can you tell me about Melanie? No, what can you tell me about Ashley?” Levi snorted, “You’re jumping subjects their cousin.”

I snorted, “If not for their family backgrounds I’d swear they were the same damn person. Micah is weird when talking about talking about Ashley.” Levi sighed, “I know. Sadly, I don’t know much about her. She’s a source. Of what? I don’t know. I know she’s not a great liar, but she’s taken a page from the Fairy handbook. She’s evasive.”

I questioned, “Is she a partial Fairy? Is that why she’s wolf less? She could just need her mate. I don’t have that info.” Levi quickly said, “Micah and Cayden say she doesn’t have Fairy blood. She knows a few Fairies though.”

I thought of Peter’s story about Emmaline. I offered, “They might not have met a partial with Fairy blood like she has.” Levi argued, “Micah has been around tons of partial Fairies with differing levels of Fairy blood. He still says she’s not a Fairy. I think he’s right.” I frowned, “A full blooded Werewolf not having a wolf is not possible.”

Levi said, “You don’t have to tell me, and I know it broke her heart. Micah said she was devastated on a level he didn’t understand. He said it seemed to put her on a destructive identity crisis path.” I rubbed my temples, “Have you ever dug for information on her? What does she look like?” Levi answered, “No, but that’s because she’s not my source. I have no clue what she looks like.”

I cursed, “Fuck. You have to know the type of source…” Levi interrupted, “I know that timing for certain things coincides with Micah or Cayden going to see her.” I asked, “What things?” Levi answered, “Drugs. Those drug runners whose shipments we’ve stopped.” I snorted, “Black Path being involved in drugs would not surprise me at all.” Brutus asked, “Why wouldn’t she tell Elise about it?” That I did not know.

Levi added, “I also know they got to a target at one of The Rebels concerts. She got them in, and they came back with one of the Utah drug ring leaders. She helps with things like that.” I frowned, “Alright. That’s something at least. Have you ever looked into Melanie?”

Levi snorted, “Ask your dad. He’s got a guy on her. My guy spotted his the one time I tried to have someone check up on her.” I groaned, “Great. I’ll try and catch him before mom goes into her concupiscence.” He chuckled, “Best of luck.”

I hung up and dialed my dad. He answered, “Hello EJ, please tell me you know what that was with your brother. I barely kept your mom here. She’s been fretting ever since wondering if she should go to him.” I admitted, “I haven’t talked to him, but he’s happy. I called to ask if you have someone on Melanie McAlister.” My dad answered, “I do. Why?”

I asked, “Does he send you pictures of her?” My dad sighed, “I had him stop trying. He’s not a photographer.” I pushed, “So for all you know, he’s not following her.” My dad said, “She introduced herself to him.”

I argued, “Anyone could say they were Melanie McAlister. It doesn't make that true.” My dad sighed, “I have a headache. FUCK! I have to go.” I felt why so I didn’t ask. I pushed my bond with my mom down knowing she’d gone into her concupiscence.

I called Alexander, but he didn’t answer again. I left a message, “Call me back unless you want me to pop to you. I swear if you went dark on a mission without telling me, I’ll kick your ass. You seem FAR too happy for that though. I have questions and I need some damn answers.” I hung up. I checked the bond and dove into his feelings. He was insanely happy while also confused. Happy was his driving emotion though so I guess that was something.

I walked back and got into the ocean with Elise. She commented, “You seem to be a million miles away.” I kissed her, “I’m right here.” Brutus linked, “We should tell her.” I disagreed, “Bringing it up with her would only give her a headache.” He agreed, “You’re right.”

As the days went on, I was barely sleeping. I was really worried about Ladybug. Was she in New York? Of course she was. She had to be. Didn’t she? Why would people get headaches when they thought too hard about her? Why hadn’t we physically seen her?

I called Toby. He answered asking, “Do you sleep?” I snorted, “Rarely. What do we have on Alpha Ezra’s activities?” Toby replied, “Nothing abnormal. He goes to visit Nashville as much as he always does.” I instantly questioned, “Who is he visiting?”

Toby groaned, “You know we don't really have sources in Nashville, EJ.” I ran a hand through my hair, “Then ask Phil since he does” Toby snorted, “If I find him, I’ll do that.” I stilled before asking, “Phil is gone too?” Toby answered, “Yup. I’ve got to run an errand out of the territory today with Genevieve, so I’ll text Phil. Everyone’s going to be gone today except Wes.”

I groaned, “Thanks. That gives me the warm fuzzies to know he’s alone.” Toby laughed, “Chill, man. You’re on vacation and Austin is going to be with your Uncle Jackson. Guess who is going to be with Austin?” I answered, “Arlina.” He clicked his tongue, “Yes, and she can pop. Wesley will be fine.” I hung up the phone in annoyance.

I was grateful we stayed around the house today. Elise and I were getting hot and heavy in the pool until Dalton yelled, “EJ, Jayden is on the phone.” I groaned, “Is it important?” Brutus grumbled, “He can link us.” He could. I asked, “Do you have everyone blocked out?” He muttered, “Maybe.” I laughed at him in my head.

Dalton answered me, “He seems to think so.” I growled, “Fine!” I got out of the pool and took the phone. I snarled, “Jayden, this had better be good. My link was blocked out for a reason.” Jayden laughed, “I couldn’t stop myself. I’m too curious about what was happening in your territory.”

I growled, “I’m not there and you know it. Why call me?” Jayden snorted, “I know you aren’t, but I thought the pack link might give you a clue. The rumor running around my pack is that Alexander brought a girl home.” My mind literally blanked. Brutus grumbled, “The pack link is oddly quiet.” Ok, then.

Jayden continued, “Said girl kicked another girl's ass over him. By the time I got there he and the girl were gone. No one, including Dylan Frost, has anything to say about it. Which means Alexander told them not to.”

I clarified, “Alexander brought a girl home then left? What was her name?” Jayden asked, “You do realize I referred to her as ‘a girl,’ yes?” I muttered, “I did hear that.” He nearly shouted, “I don’t know her name. I just know there was a cat fight over my cousin that doesn’t date. Now, no one wants to talk about it and my curiosity is peaked.”

I assured him, “I’ll call him.” Jayden snorted, “Hopefully he answers you. He didn’t answer me, and his link is also blocked out. Quite harshly according to Basque.” That was his wolf. Which meant Oden and Alexander were doing it.

He added, “I even had Julianna try and she got nothing.” I said, “I’ve left messages but haven’t heard from him. I’ll kick his ass since he’s running around our pack.” I hung up. I called him again, but he still didn’t answer.

I left him a message just growling. Brutus linked, “Oden is just purring away.” I asked, “But you got through to him.” He said, “Oden never blocks us out like that.” It was true, we’d never done that to each other. Even with blocks up people can reach us.

I debated how to continue then decided to call Wesley. Wesley answered, “Hey, EJ.” I asked, “What the hell happened with Alexander today?” Wesley sounded nervous, “That’s certainly a question, big brother.” I glared at my phone, “And the answer is?”

Wesley sighed, “I honestly don’t know where I would start that explanation. I needed his help, so he popped in. Things got weird after that.” I sighed, “The beginning of a story is usually a good place to start so you were on the right track with you asked for his help and he popped in.”

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