Page 135 of The Alpha and His Childhood Sweetheart

Buttercup linked me, “I could’ve done without that parting comment.” I bit my lip at the look on EJ and Alexander’s faces. Say what you would, but the Conners women knew how to make an exit. Rhea linked, “Fang incoming.” Dylan stormed into the room, but Eric had him running right back out in under five minutes.

Aiden looked ill when Haley pointed out TJ and Angela’s sibling bond would help her in Faerie. His face told me he wished Haley herself had that sibling bond at the time to lean back on when she was young. I shot him a sympathetic look.

That sparked a guard discussion. Buttercup linked me, “Eight guards my butt. He’ll have that number to ten, minimum, by thetime negotiations are done.” I barely kept my laugh in. Haley delivered one HECK of a parting speech about how they were trying to take a happy moment from Angela with their selfish emotions. She even slammed Farrin. I needed this talent to deliver parting lines like her, Cassie, and Angela. They were just the clear parting line winners.

Rhea linked, “When is the best time to tell Angela her father in law tried to have sex with her mom?” I answered, “Never. I don’t want to know about the guys that wanted my mother before my dad came into the picture.” Oh god, now I was thinking about my parents having sex. Or the guys that could have leered at my mom wanting to have sex with her. EW!

Rhea shouted, “Stop that! Turn back around and get off the train!” I teased EJ about erasing that from my memory. Rhea agreed, “I’m on board. I like this plan. I know you were teasing but, seriously though. These images they gots ta go.”

EJ distracted me. He clearly linked his brothers because they all looked happier about this situation. Rhea snorted, “Wonder what he said.” I warned, “I don't know that we want to know at this point.” Aiden was overjoyed about Angela and Klaus. I think he’d been disappointed that Julian hadn’t found his mate yet. Everyone thought his mate would be a Fairy. Rhea reasoned, “It’s not like he’s met all the Fairies yet.”

As soon as we made sure the party was moving along fine, I stepped outside and walked over to Angela. I hugged her, “I am so happy for you.” I smiled at Klaus, “I’m one of Angela’s big sisters. I’m Elise Conners.” He nodded respectfully, “Luna Duchess Elise, it’s nice to meet you.” I laughed, “None of that just call me Elise.”

Angela smiled telling him, “Elise is super cool. Just like Cass.” Klaus nodded, “It’s a pleasure to meet you, Elise.” Angela whispered, “Is EJ upset?” I assured her, “He’s not upset with you or Klaus. It’s more of him pouting about his baby sister findingher mate thing. They weren’t ready or prepared. He’s happy that you didn’t just pop to Faerie and meet him. He’s glad he knows. They’ll calm down and adapt. It’s not like EJ has any room to talk. He knew I was his before I was born.”

Angela giggled, “That’s true.” I kissed the top of her head, “If you need to talk to someone, you know I’m always here for you. I know all the stages you’ll go through with this. You've one upped me though. You live in different realms. That’s something.” She nodded.

I smiled, “I’ll give you guys some space, and I’ll send some of the guys out. They will be nice because your mom gave them one of her signature speeches.” Angela smirked, “I know, I saw it.” I laughed, “Of course you did.”

I walked back inside and got EJ moving. When he went to see Angela, I walked over to Tristan, Everly, and Jason. Jason looked tired. Rhea linked “Ajax doesn’t sound good either.” That was Jason’s wolf. I frowned calling out, “Jase?” He looked startled, “Huh? What? Oh, Hi Elise. I’ll be back.” He took off.

I looked at Tristan confused, “Did I spook him? Have I offended Jase in some way I’m not aware of?” Tristan grimaced, “He’s having nightmares.” Everly cringed, “They are awful.” I asked, “About what?” Tristan answered, “He’s still got this idea that Ladybug saved him from those Hunters. Now he’s saying he’s getting flashes of her spraying him with something and dosing him with a syringe. Then he gets a flash of being strapped in a tree as people searched for him.” My jaw dropped.

Tristan ran a hand over his face, “He wakes up screaming for Ladybug because he said she was being punished. She took the punishment from these two guys for him escaping. He sees her being whipped. Then he says he saw her strung up and shocked with a cattle prod. Honestly, it switches between what he thinks he sees.”

I frowned, “Did he call and talk to Ladybug?” Tristan nodded, “It’s the only thing that calms him down. Plus, they would’ve smelled him.” I mused, “We don’t smell the snipers. What if they have something…?” I trailed off then waved my hand dismissively, “No that’s silly.”

Everly caught onto my train of thought. She shook her head, “No, it’s not silly. That makes sense. They made that Fairy antidote. Why not a spray to conceal scents?” Tristan jumped in, “Maybe she had dark hair so he’s picturing Ladybug.”

I nodded, “I learned that today actually. The girl saving those Omega’s from hunters has black hair.” Tristan sighed in relief, “There it is. Maybe he’ll sleep better with that information.” Everly frowned, “That woman still took a beating for him. I don’t know if he’ll let this go. He’s snappy with everything lately, T.”

Tristan frowned, “Not with us or Kai.” Everly sighed, “No, never with Kai.” I squealed, “Show me new pictures of Kai!” Everly smiled and pulled out her phone and showed me a lot of pictures I’d never seen. Jason never came back, but the party wound down at the same time he reemerged.

I listened to Haley and Trixie figure everything out for Angela and Klaus. Haley conjured a phone for Angela with all the numbers she’d need including Klaus. She really was a good mom. I had great role models to look up to when EJ and I started having pups.

EJ was on emotional overload, and honestly I was too. I was really worried about Jason. He looked like he was barely sleeping. I shoved all that aside as my own exhaustion overtook me and we went to bed.

EJ and I woke up late the next day. The pack was always lazy the day after a party. Alcohol was always flowing, so we tended to be a bit groggy. We were having a lazy family day in the main room when Lexi Daniels flashed in. Buttercup linked me, “She has too much energy for the day after a Conners’ birthdayparty.” I groaned, “Agreed. She left early though because she and TeleTed had a meeting with a client.” Buttercup sighed, “Still. I need her to bring the energy level WAY down. I’ll sic my dad on her. I’ll do it, Elise. I’ll fight fire with fire.” I grinned at her.

Lexi was upset about some band she didn’t know about. Rhea muttered, “The Ring Resistance and now The Rebels. Someone was into R names.” I didn’t care at this point because I’d never heard of this band. No one had, except Micah.

My gaze narrowed when he said he couldn’t talk about them. Rhea chuckled, “Someone is interested now.” Yes, because the only person he ever said that about was Ashley. I knew Ashley was musically inclined. She told me she played the guitar.

I asked Micah some questions. Rhea gasped, “How could she not tell us she was in a band?” I didn’t know. I knew the name of the girl they were talking about that sang because Ashley told me about her. Her name was Odette, but only her friends called her that. Her registered, legal name wasn’t Odette for some reason.

Rhea boasted, “They don’t know her name, but we do.” That was true and it made me ridiculously happy since I didn’t know about the band. I almost told them about her, but it felt wrong. Ashley trusted me with Odette’s name. I’d just keep it to myself.

Rhea scoffed, “Odette’s mom is a wackadoodle.” She was. Ashley had said her mom left her in a building that should be condemned. They’d got her into a different place and Ashley was teaching Odette self-defense moves. She said Odette was a natural.

My understanding was few people had met Odette, but now I knew most didn’t know her name. Micah would’ve if they did. Rhea reasoned, “She does sound a bit shy, but she’s latched onto Ashley.” I’m sure Ashley got her to sing a couple times.

Micah had tried to get them to come here, but they wouldn’t. I grabbed a pillow and screamed. Not only because my head hurt, but because I was sick of this whole Ashley won’t come herebullshit. Rhea asked me, “But why?” I snarked, “Well, wasn’t that the fifty million dollar question? Why WON’T she come here?” It hurt my heard.

The information we had was that she never had. So, WHY on GOD’s green earth was she SO damn opposed to coming here? Lexi seemed determined to get them here. Micah and I locked eyes, the knowledge that she wouldn’t passed between us without words.

Rhea muttered, “I agree, barring Goddess intervention.” Micah said the band was mostly made up of Black Path pack members, a Witch, and a Demon. Now I had a full blown headache. Pounding spikes into my head bad. Something about that made sense about something else. What was it?

When I looked up, I noticed Micah and Max had run off. I was going to fire off an email to Ashley. I couldn’t believe she was in a band and didn’t tell me. Rhea snorted, “She knew you’d try to use that to get her here.” I grumbled, “You’re being unhelpful.” Rhea laughed, “Truthful.” I answered, “Well, now I know.” EJ accurately pointed out Ashley was a bit self-deprecating.

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