Page 146 of The Alpha and His Childhood Sweetheart

I closed my eyes, “That’s the concerning part. Why does everyone say that? Why did it take me leaving and getting some distance from our territory to question all this? What is going on? And most importantly, is Ladybug ok?” He didn’t answer but I didn’t think he would have one.

I whispered, “If I have failed her all this time, I will never forgive myself. She was just a pup when she left.” Toby sighed, “Yes, but a pup not in our pack.” I snorted, “She’s likely my brother’s mate. I should’ve known better. Dad has someone following someone that I’m not convinced is her at this point. If someone is impersonating her this is a long con.” Toby shouted, “HOLD THE PHONE!”

I snorted, “I can’t believe I had to tell you.” Toby ranted, “I mean I just thought he liked her and wanted to meet her. You’re saying he thinks she’s his. Damn. So many things make sense. I’m going to give this one to you. I can’t believe you had to tell me either. Damn. Just damn. Also bless you. I have questions that are answered in these dark times of no answers. I needed this.” Elise came outside and I noticed it was morning. I told Toby, “I’ve got to go.” I hung up.

Elise sat down in my lap. She cupped my face asking, “Will you tell me what’s going on?” I evaded, “I’m worried about some things. Some things I should’ve seen. I don’t want you to worry unless it’s necessary. I hope to all the gods and goddesses that I’m wrong. I would never forgive myself if I worried you about nothing. Nor will I forgive myself if my speculations are right. I will tell you if and when I know I’m correct.”

Elise sincerely told me, “I’m here for you. You’re my mate and I’ll be there now if you need me.” I shook myself, “Tell me something happy.” Elise smiled, “Ashley is on a vacation with one of her friends. She’s actually taking a break for herself. Her friends had to brow beat her into it, but after the last Rebels concert she went on a vacation.”

Brutus stilled in my head. I casually asked, “That was around when we got here, right?” Elise nodded, “Yup.” I sighed, “Good for her. I’m sure she’ll tell you all about it.” Brutus linked, “That lines up with when Alexander was worried and happy. He’d be worried if he was introduced to Melanie as Ashley. He knows what she looks like.” He shouldn’t have been that worried unless she was hurt. Brutus said, “We think Ashley is Swiffer. She could’ve been hurt.” FUCK MY LIFE.

Elise clapped, “I can’t wait to swap vacation stories with her.” I smiled and kissed her. I told her, “I love you, Elise.” If Melanie wasn’t in New York, was Ashley really Melanie? That would explain why she didn’t come here, but her family was very much alive.

Brutus linked, “But we think Ashley fights in the undergrounds. What if Alexander saw her after a fight? He’d be worried then.” I argued, “Melanie has a wolf, she has to. Drake has pictures of her wolf.” Brutus shot back, “That we haven’t seen.” That was sadly accurate.

I reasoned, “Yes, but T has said she was a pretty wolf.” Brutus sighed, “Our theory makes sense.” It did and it didn’t. If that crazy theory was right, Ladybug and I had some chatting to do. The email exchange I’d had with Ashley floated into my mind. She’d said Elise brought a sense of home and normality to her days.

I circled back to thinking it made sense, but it didn’t. Why would Melanie think she wasn’t welcome? It would make sense about Alexander though. Melanie McAlister had always been about my brother. What if Melanie and Ashley were friends? What if Melanie was really in the Resistance? Why wouldn’t she come home though? Why wouldn’t she talk to me? None of this made any damn sense.

The vacation flew by. The Kyle’s and even MaryBeth had a great time. I was a mess of emotions, and I knew Elise wasworried about me. I could tell in the bond. On our second to last day, we almost cut the trip short.

Drake had called. Kai had been kidnapped, but by the time they told us, Blue Moon had news. He’d been dropped off in their territory with a card from the Resistance. Kai didn’t remember much, or so he claimed, and he wouldn’t talk about who saved him.

Then we found out that earlier that day Jason, Jayden, Finn, and my little brother, Theo, went to a supernatural mall in Missouri to bait a group of the drug ring members. My dad was going to be pissed right alongside me at them for that.

They got shot at. Someone saved them yelling for Jason to duck before rapid fire shots were fired. They did not catch the shooter of course. Finn was also there and said the shooter was fast. Peter told Drake the next time he’d better call THE SECOND something happened to someone.

Elise called Everly and talked to Kai herself. She was worried but he said it wasn’t a big deal. He was saved. Another rebuke for the Kyle’s was delivered in his rescue message. Our sniper really was pissed at them. It wasn’t their fault the play date had gone awry.

I called Jayden. He answered, “Yeah, I know.” I growled, “Do you? You don’t go off to Missouri without me.” He admitted, “Honestly, Jase needed the distraction, man. He’s a mess. A literal mess. His sorrow nearly drowned me and we had some intel. I was prepared, just not as prepared as the trigger happy sniper. To be fair, she seemed to be flying by the seed of her pants. She was terrified when she screamed at Jase too.” We discussed it a little more before we got off the phone. What if she was so scared because her brother was being shot at? It made sense and it didn’t.

Our last day here, I snapped us all packed. I texted Micah.

Me:Get on Alexander’s computer and check the videos of the girl dancing. I want to know if they were tampered with.

Before he could answer Elise’s confusion and then fear slammed into me. I popped to her. She was standing outside staring at her phone in horror. I touched her on the shoulders, but she didn’t respond. I asked, “Elise?” She turned around with tears in her eyes.

I looked over at her family who was coming outside. Elise rubbed her head and went to her knees. I grabbed her shouting, “Elise, what’s wrong?” Chelsea yelled, “ELISE!” Elise looked at me pleading, “We have to go home and you have to talk to Drake. I think something’s wrong with Melanie. We have to go see her. No, we NEED to! I need to see her! I’m so worried. Melanie remembers everything. She doesn't know what Plan Z is! She doesn’t know our code word.”

I frowned completely lost. Brutus told me, “Rhea is howling in agony. Do something. NOW!” I asked Elise, “What is Plan Z? What code word?” Elise cried, “Can we please just go home?” I carried her back inside. Drake McAlister and I were going to have one HELL of a conversation.

Everyone in our group was looking worriedly at Elise. They put a hand on me, and I popped into our home. My dad called, “EJ? Elise? You’re early.” He stalled then asked, “Elise, are you alright? What’s happened?” I felt him frantically searching his bond with me to find out if something happened to me.

I looked at Drake McAlister, “I need to take her to see Melanie. This shit ends. NOW.” Drake frowned, “I haven't ever stopped Elise from going to see Melanie.” I snorted, “No, just me and my family. I don’t have time to get her a flight. I want to pop to Melanie. Is this all really about Alexander? Is he right? Because he better not be. I stood up for all of you, so help me god you’d better say I’m right and he’s not.”

Tristan asked, “Wait, what? Why would this have anything to do with Alexander?” I glared at Drake saying, “My brother thinks you are keeping Melanie from him because you think he’s just another in the long line of possessive men that likes Melanie. Is. He. Right?” Elise tightened her arms around my neck, and I felt her distress in the bond. I just needed this answer.

Brutus linked, “Pepper is in shock.” I relaxed slightly. Drake was taken aback, “Alexander likes Melanie?” I raised an eyebrow, “He more than likes her. He thinks she’s his mate. The ONLY reason we don’t know for sure is because you all have some excuse for Melanie not showing up at ANYTHING!”

Drake gasped, “Really? Ladybug and Alexander?” His eyes filled with tears. Sam shrieked excitedly and hugged Drake. She cried saying, “Our pup will come home. She’ll come home. Oh god. She’s coming home.”

Jason asked, “What the hell?! Why would Alexander think we would keep them apart? He’s not some weirdly obsessed wolf about her. He would never be mean to her. Those guys were mean to her. Holy shit! He ripped Two Peaks apart because of Ladybug?” I snorted, “Yes. Keep up. So, this isn’t about you keeping them apart?”

Drake wiped his eyes, “Why the HELL would I do that?” I yelled, “I DON’T KNOW! Why don’t you have a SINGLE picture of her? Why don’t you want us to pop to her? These are answers I don’t have! You have them.”

My dad linked, “Son, let’s take a breath.” I replied, “I’ve taken too many. I want answers.” Drake frowned, “We have a million pictures of Melanie.” My dad snorted, “No, you really don’t. I’ve never seen her.” I looked around asking, “Where’s mom?” My dad answered, “Waiting for Sir Arthur, Robert and Breanna to get to their house. Once they get there, she’s bringing them here, for some reason.”

Drake cleared his throat, “Eric, you were at our anniversary party our pups threw. HOLY SHIT HER STUFFED WOLF! Oh my god! Has Ladybug always liked Alexander?” Tristan snorted, “Good catch, dad. Very slow on the uptake.” My dad nodded, “Agreed. Let’s focus on the party. Melanie wasn’t in the pictures there and everyone thinks it's weird.”

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