Page 148 of The Alpha and His Childhood Sweetheart

Micah gaped, “THIS?” He flipped the computer around, “This girl is Melanie McAlister? That’s what you’re saying?” I nodded.He was about to say more when I fell to the ground in pain, and it felt like my heart stopped. My mate was hurt. I screamed, “ELISE!” I had to move so I gathered my strength and ran out the door.

What’s Going On?

Elise is Twenty Five Years Old

Elise watched EJ call Wesley again. I knew this trip would be hard for him. I think he wanted to be there at our pack to help Wesley. He also knew that his brothers needed to figure out their flow just like EJ, Alexander, and Cassie had figured out theirs.

Rhea chimed in, “Plus, Alexander is there if there’s an emergency.” He was ready to help if needed, because this was EJ’s first true time stepping away for this long. Normally Alexander was in charge if he left. Wesley answered and I wished I could hear them.

Rhea grumbled, “If he’s going to ask questions like if Alexander is letting Wesley take the reins, we should get to hear the answer.” That’s true because the only person this was hard for was EJ. He was the lead Alpha of the pack. Alexander already stepped back from being the leader of the family because EJ has the reins. So, of course Alexander was fine letting Wes handle this with Max. He did it every day with EJ.

Suddenly they mentioned Angela and I barely managed not to laugh. Rhea chuckled, “I bet she’s pulling a prank on someone.” I agreed, “She definitely is. She’d leave Max and Wes alone this week so that leaves Alexander. He should honestly be prepared the way Angela and Klaus have been pranking everyone since they’d met.” I even had a theory that Haley offered advice and tips here and there. I just knew it.

In the back of my mind, I truly hoped she’d found a way to interfere and get Melanie and Alexander together. EJ needed to let that happen. Even if it was just a prank, he needed to let go and relax. Rhea agreed, “We really do need this.” I told her, “I’m on board. Talk to Brutus.”

I was confident Alexander would be just fine. I knew EJ was worried because we were gone, his parents were gone, and so was his grandpa. Nathan deserved a vacation too though. He needed a break to have some fun. Hell, all of us did. It had been insanely stressful lately.

Rhea chuckled, “I just bet Marcus and maybe even Harper are around too. Which meant Gunner and Cali would be.” I mused, “They wouldn’t leave Max alone to get into trouble. They’d be around just in case.” That tracked. I’d throw theory out to EJ if he couldn’t give this up.

Plus, Micah had a mission coming up so I’m sure Gunner would want to be with Max. EJ hung up the phone. He came over and we teased each other. I loved our banter. Rhea agreed, “It is adorable. I’ve never had this type of back and forth with an Alpha mate. Fated or chosen.” Lucky me.

Rhea purred, “Choose starting sexy time. Come on beg him for a quickie on the private beach. Throw caution to the wind!” I snorted, “He has no intention of being quick. So, there would be absolutely nothing quick about it.”

Rhea purred again, “I’m so in. Sexy beach time. COME ON ELISE! Do it for me!” The hunger pains in my stomach were the only thing that stopped me from agreeing. Rhea sighed, “Stupid hunger. Couldn’t it just wait one hour? Damn human stomach.” I snorted in reply.

EJ got us back to the house. Damn his back muscles had muscles. God he was so strong. Rhea snorted, “You’re regretting not putting hunger to the back of your mind now, aren’t you? We could have gotten us some of that! We missed out on WOWZERS. I know you love it just as much as I do.” My stomach growled answering her. Rhea grumbled about my human needs again. I shot back, “As if wolves don’t need to eat.”

My brothers, Uncle Dane, and MaryBeth were all inside with my parents. I practically inhaled my food. Rhea cheered, “That’sthe spirit get back out to the beach for sexy time!” I could be persuaded that was the way to go.

My brothers started discussing mates. I had actually talked to Cassie about this other day. She had a feeling Dalton’s mate wasn’t a wolf. Rhea mused, “I wonder what his mate would end up being.” We both know if Cassie had a feeling it was true. I’d learned that over the years.

Out of all my brothers I could see Dalton with a Luna that wasn’t a wolf. She’d be something else and probably powerful in her own right. Cassie had a theory, but she wasn’t certain yet. Which meant she wasn’t sharing her thoughts with my brother.

I personally had a feeling Dalton and Dakota’s mates were friends already. They were so close it made sense to me that their mates had to be too. Or at least I hoped they were. My brothers were talking about taking turns traveling.

I told Rhea, “Something about that feels wrong. It’s like they should go together. What if they separated two friends? What if they didn’t go to the same places and the friend was just waiting?” She said, “Dad, Uncle Dane, Uncle Chrisopher, and Uncle Sebastian could run things in Red Run while they were gone. T and Jase would help, and we can’t forget Grandpa.”

I replied, “You make excellent points, and I adore you.” She chuckled. I mentally filed that tidbit away. If they got serious about traveling, I would have to tell them how I felt. Dane and I shared a look. We both knew how lucky we were to have always known our mates.

I loved how EJ and I had always been, and I knew that Dane loved his relationship with MaryBeth. It also explained how drawn we felt to them. People might have suspected we were mates before the Fairies came into our lives. Knowing about our mates wasn’t something we took for granted. I counted my blessings about it.

It was hard being apart as pups, but knowing EJ was my path wasn’t something I would change for the world. I linked my mom, “Is it true Haley and Eric’s story inspired many Alpha’s and ranked wolves to wait instead of taking a chosen mates?” She answered, “Yes, it is. Eric still holds the record for the longest anyone waited for their fated.”

Yeah, well unless Angela interfered, I was beginning to think Alexander may just take the damn crown from him. EJ’s victory and mischievousness bloomed in the bond. Dalton linked, “You’re making a face.” I snorted, “I asked him out loud for you. Alexander is likely getting pranked.” Dalton replied, “Your disappointment is showing. What’s up?” I grumbled, “I thought it was something else. Please drop it.” He blinked but did as I asked.

I’d hoped it was about Melanie, not a prank. He wouldn’t be annoyed if he met her. I should ask Angela when we get back where she stood on interfering with the blurry spots. She never promised not to pop to Melanie. How the HELL did I not think of that before?!

My head started to pound. It was true though. Angela and TJ had never made the promise. They weren’t born yet, and no one bothered to make them do so after they were born. Well, as far as I knew. I filed that away for later reflection.

If Angela had just played a prank on Alexander, then I could have her pop to New York and bring Melanie home for a visit. Rhea threw out, “I like it. A new plan forms.” That jolted me with a tinge of nostalgia because Melanie and I had those types of plans. She’d be so proud of this one.

I heard what we were doing today. I linked Cooper, “That was your request, right?” He answered, “Yeah, they have a wicked sweet set up everyone will love.” I asked, “Wicked sweet? Is that what the pups say these days?” He rolled his eyes at me.

EJ got so lost in someone’s feelings he was making an amused but confused face. Rhea linked, “He’s on the borderline of feeling trepidation according to Brutus.” Why? I felt concern so hard it hit me in the bond, and I knocked into my dad who righted me.

EJ was on a knee, and I was right there. I knew who it was because I saw who he was calling. Why was Alexander so concerned I briefly felt it? Dakota linked, “What the hell?” I replied, “I know what you do.” My mom rubbed my shoulder while EJ talked to his siblings.

Rhea told me, “Oden is locked down to me.” He didn’t often do that, but he wouldn’t be locked to Brutus. I held onto that hope. I linked my dad, “This whole not being able to hear the conversation is beginning to give me fits.” He agreed, “It does suck on this end. It is nice to have privacy we’ve never been able to have though.”

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