I nodded, “It’s from you so of course she will.” I’d just prefer if Melanie started acting like herself again. It was a silly hope that the gift would do that, but I hoped it would. Elise got it and we left to meet the rest of the group. We made it back to the no access road and I popped us to the house.

Dalton ran back outside and jumped into the pool. I grabbed Elise and popped her to a private part of the house. I quickly untied the top of her bikini. She whispered, “EJ.” I kissed her neck, “This bikini has been teasing me all day. It’s time to pay for that.” She shivered with desire.

Brutus agreed, “It did taunt us, and you only untied it. We could’ve ripped it off.” I laughed, “I like the way you think.”I kissed down her body until I reached her nipple then gently sucked on it, eliciting those moans I loved to hear.

I pushed her back onto the bed and jumped on top of her. She giggled until I traced circles around her hips with my fingertips. I kissed her soft lips before sliding my tongue into her mouth. She started grinding her hips into mine. Brutus groaned, “No more waiting.”

I snapped her bikini bottoms off. I said, “We’ll taste her first.” He was mollified by that response. I placed feather light kisses all over her body. I pulled her to the edge of the bed and got on my knees. I blew on her clit, loving when she jumped in surprise.

I smirked and quickly got to work and licked her slowly. I drove her over the edge three times before standing and lining us up. I threw her knees over my shoulders. I told her, “Touch yourself.” She whimpered when I started thrusting.

I warned, “I’ll stop if you don’t.” She quickly started playing with her clit. Once she came, I flipped her over onto all fours. I gripped her hips and slapped her butt cheeks. She flushed. God, I loved that she still blushed after all this time we’d been together. I slid back inside her.

We spent an hour like that before we took a shower and joined everyone else for dinner. I pulled Elise down into my lap. Dalton sighed, “UGH! Do you and Uncle Dane have to be adorably loved up with your mates? It’s so….” Dakota finished, “Sickening.”

Elise snorted, “I’ll remember this, little brothers. When your mates show up you JUST wait.” She winked at her youngest brother, “Don’t worry Cooper, you’re exempt from my teasing wrath. You only ever say how adorable EJ and I are together.” Cooper grinned at her.

Dakota sighed, “Ours could get a move on. I’d be fine with them showing up tomorrow. Even if you tease us mercilessly.” Dane laughed, “They might not be eighteen yet, nephews.”Dalton shrugged, “I guess one day we will find out. When? Who knows? It feels like never.” Peter laughed.

Cooper said, “Grandpa Nick said you can’t talk, daddy. He said you and Drake pouted and played sad country music until you found mom.” Peter gasped, “Drake is the one who played sad country music, not me!” Chelsea nudged him. He admitted, “That I was in the room for singing along. The fact remains I didn’t play it.” Everyone busted up laughing.

Dakota grabbed a beer out of the fridge. He muttered, “One day. Is anyone else sick of hearing one day?” I snorted, “Alexander is.” Dane frowned, “Why isn’t he looking for his mate? He has all the time, and he can teleport or portal around.” I laughed, “You really don’t know, do you?”

Dane asked, “Whoa! Hold up! There’s a reason?” MaryBeth gasped, “No way!” She squealed, “SHUT UP! I WILL LITERALLY DIE! SAY I’M RIGHT! SOMEONE SAY IT!” Dalton frowned, “What is happening?” Dane answered, “I have no idea.” Cooper muttered, “You guys are clueless.” Everyone stared at him.

I agreed, “They are. I’m impressed you caught on.” He shrugged, “It wasn’t that hard. It’s kind of obvious.” I agreed. Brutus was howling with laughter in my head. MaryBeth looked at Elise, “It’s what I think, right? Oh, MOON GODDESS let it be what I think. I’ll do a backflip right here and now.” Elise winked at her.

MaryBeth got up and did an honest to god backflip. She was on the cheerleading squad at their high school. Dane narrowed his eyes, “Who would she be this excited about? Melinda is mated...” He trailed of when it clicked and shouted, “HOLY SHIT!”

Dakota caught on next. He yelled, “No way! Alexander thinks Ladybug is his mate?! I thought he just wanted to meet her!”I smirked, “I didn’t say that. In fact, I said nothing. Ask your brother, he knows.” Cooper snickered.

Dakota said, “Well, tell his moody ass to get up to New York! No wonder he’s always in such a bad mood.” I raised an eyebrow, “There’s no emergency, and he doesn't want to get in the way of her dreams.” Dane snorted, “You’re joking right now. It’s not an emergency….”

MaryBeth swatted him, “You HUSH! Ladybug is going to come home now! NO ONE will stand in my way. I will FIND a way to make that meeting happen. I miss my niece.” Dane laughed, “It’s still funny that she’s your niece.”

MaryBeth snorted, “It’s hilarious and no more amusing than Dalton, Dakota, and Cooper being your nephews. Elise is your niece for god’s sakes. Our family trees are crazy. That’s not the point. The point is I want Mel back! No one better stand in my way on this point, or they shall SUFFER my wrath.” I bit my lip so I didn’t laugh.

Elise was frowning. I linked her, “Are you ok?” She nodded then took out her phone and texted Ladybug. Brutus linked, “Rhea said they want to talk to her.” I asked, “Why?” He answered, “She just said it’s imperative they speak with her to clear something up.” Umm, ok?

Dane sighed, “MaryBeth ...” MaryBeth shook her head interrupting before he could continue. “Don’t you Marybeth me. I’ve only seen Mel on Skype for a few minutes at a time for the last six YEARS and a little change. I’ll take her being in a territory one over from ours any day.”

Dalton reasoned, “It’s not a done deal.” MaryBeth snorted, “So you think. Mel always said her Xander was hers.” She slapped a hand over her mouth realizing what she said. Cooper snickered while Elise bit her lip.

Dane yelled, “Wait, what did you just say?! HER XANDER?! T never said anything! I talk to Duncan all the time! He’sbasically my best friend and he never mentioned it. Though, he’s her Uncle. He might not know, but you’re her aunt and you know. Does he know?” MaryBeth shrugged, “I don’t know if he does. We didn’t discuss it, and I can’t ask him now. He’s unreachable.” I wasn’t the only one who winced.

After his mate died in a rogue attack, he’d stayed in her pack despite everyone wanting him to come home. He started going out for the Alpha doing dangerous things for their pack to get intel on the Ring. Surprisingly, he’d never been made. Unlike anyone else from our packs.

Brutus coughed, “The sniper protects him. She clearly knows he’s out.” That was true. We’d found bodies in areas we’d later found out he’d been in with a Resistance circle. He wasn’t burned though and he wasn’t easily reachable.

Dane squeezed MaryBeth’s thigh and she discreetly wiped away a tear. My heart hurt for her. Duncan was her brother, and Melanie was her niece. They used to be close like sisters though. It had to be sad for her to have Duncan finding himself while Melanie was distant all the time.

Elise chimed in, “He doesn’t know to my knowledge.” Dalton frowned, “Jase doesn’t either.” I told him, “Jase and T think it’s a crush Ladybug has that’s unrequited. They are quite possibly VERY wrong, but I did not confirm that.”

Dakota started laughing, “Son of bitch, her toy wolf. It looks like Oden.” Peter laughed, “It took you boys long enough to figure that out.” Dane yelled, “NO WAY! You know?! Does EVERYONE know? Wait, no. Drake can’t know. He’d do a backflip like MB here.” He kissed her hard.

Peter admitted, “Drake has no clue, but he would do a backflip.” Chelsea tickled him, “Because he can. So can someone else I know.” Dalton asked, “Who?” Chelsea answered, “I’ve seen your dad do one off a boat.” They all gasped.

Cooper nudged me, “Does everyone know?” He looked disappointed like he didn’t know something when he did. I laughed, “No, they don’t. Alexander hasn’t told anyone, and I didn’t even confirm that’s what he thinks.” Cooper puffed right back up.