Page 147 of The Alpha and His Childhood Sweetheart

Elise frowned, “Yes, she was.” Emmaline cleared her throat. I hadn’t even seen that Blue Moon was here. I linked Jayden, “Hello to you too.” He replied, “This is crazy, and I have no words yet.” Fair enough. Emmaline declared, “Eric is right. Melanie wasn’t in the pictures. I thought it was weird, but everyone from your pack acted like it was a joke. I thought it was a prank to keep Haley believing Melanie wasn’t real.”

She added, “Even when I popped into the Kyle’s house after Elise declared it an emergency and walked to your house. There were no pictures of her there either.” Dylan was biting his lip. I did not care for that but at least he’d emerged.

The Daniels were quiet, but that wasn’t odd. Sam said, “But you’re all wrong. Melanie was in all those pictures.” Elise confirmed, “She was.” I sighed, “Ok, someone pulled a prank or used magic then. Drake, give me permission to pop to Melanie.” Drake frowned, “Shouldn’t you ask your dad?”

I snarled, “OH MY GOD, I DON’T HAVE TIME FOR THIS! GIVE ME FUCKING PERMISSION! Declare it a damn emergency! SOMETHING is going on! Release me from the promise and let me go to New York! I know where her apartment is.”

Drake was confused, “What promise? You were the ones who said we couldn’t have you pop to US unless it was an emergency.” I countered, “No, you made us promise not to pop to any McAlister unless YOU said it was an emergency.” Elise gasped.

Drake disagreed, “I never said that.” My dad said, “Yes, you did. I even called you and we discussed it. You said you didn’t want your pups to not do things for themselves. You didn’t want them to rely on people for things, especially given EJ would be around a lot because of Elise.”

Drake gaped, “Eric, we never talked about this. You texted me saying you didn’t want to discuss it. I NEVER talked to you on the phone. I didn’t say any of that.” My dad frowned “We talked about it again when Melanie and Sam got into that car accident. Haley was upset you wouldn’t let her heal them.”

Drake shouted, “EXCUSE ME?! It wasn’t offered! I did NOT want to watch my mate and my young pup in pain.” Eric frowned, “Then who the FUCK did I talk to?!” Drake snorted, “I don’t know. Who the hell texted me about this? Where is my daughter?!” He held his head and shouted in pain.

Brutus said, “We don’t have time to figure that out. Let everyone else. Mate NEEDS to see Melanie.” I looked at him, “Drake, just give me permission to go to her apartment in New York.” Drake sighed, “I release you all from a damn promise I didn’t make you make. Go. Please! Get Melanie and bring her home.”

I popped with Elise still in my arms hearing him scream, “SHE IS LIVING HER DREAM.” Brutus linked, “That was weird.” That was a word for it. I set Elise down and looked around the apartment that was supposedly Melanie’s. Elise started crying because the place was bare. The desk where Melanie sat when she video called was against a wall.

Where the camera would hit on the wall held the only decorations in the whole apartment. The computer wasn’t even on the desk. Elise sobbed, “Where is she?” I tried to pop specifically to Melanie and was thrown back hard.

I shouted, “You’re fucking kidding me!” I grabbed Elise and popped to the arts high school Melanie went to before Julliard.I walked in and looked around, until I found an administrator. I smiled, “Hi, I’m looking for some information on one of your former students.”

She smiled apologizing, “Oh well, I’m very sorry, but we can’t do that.” I linked Theo and Maverick, “One of you pop to me.” A second later Maverick walked around the corner. I linked him, “I want information about Melanie.”

He smiled at the administrator and used his influencing power. “You want to tell us all about your former student Melanie McAlister.” The woman smiled, “I sure do.” She typed then tilted her head, “Huh. That’s odd. We were looking at her as a potential student. She never attended this school though.” I yelled, “WHAT?!”

Maverick frowned, “Are you sure?” She nodded, “Yes, I am quite certain.” Elise had gone past sobbing and was crying silently, holding her breath. I picked her up and carried her to an alley, then popped us to the registration building for Julliard. Maverick was right behind me having guessed where I’d go next.

He asked, “EJ, what the fuck is going on?” I growled, “I don’t know, but I’m not liking the picture that’s forming.” We walked inside. I inclined my head to the lady at the front desk. Maverick spoke, “Hello beautiful lady, you want to give us all the information about a current student of yours.” She smiled, “Yes, I do. Who?” Maverick replied, “Melanie Jane McAlister.” She typed into her computer.

She sighed, “Such a shame really. She got in twice but she’s not a student.” Elise shrieked, “NO, SHE HAS TO BE!” The woman frowned, “She’s not. As I said she got in twice. Her Aunt called the first time and rejected her spot due to funding. We tried to tell her we had financial aid that Melanie qualified for, but she said no.” They had more than enough money, and Allison thought she was here so there was no aunt declining the spot.

The woman continued, “When Melanie applied again the following year, we thought her financial situation had changed. Then her aunt called and said Melanie’s mental stability wasn’t good enough to come and rejected the spot a second time. Melanie hasn’t applied since.” None of that was true.

Brutus linked, “If she’s Ashley she might not be mentally stable. She’s fighting and nearly letting herself die, over a lie.” Yes, but there’s no way she didn’t believe it. She’d come see them if she thought that. Which meant if Ashley and Melanie were the same person she believed everything in Ashley’s background.

The woman drew our attention again, “If you’re friends are with her, tell her to apply again. She’s older now than most applicants but her talent captivated the admittance committee. Her file is earmarked in case she ever decided to reapply.” I could hear my heartbeat in my chest.

Maverick grabbed my arm. He smiled, “Thank you, ma’am. We will just be on our way.” She giggled, “I love an accent that’s not from around here.” Good for her.

I called my dad. He answered, “Do you have Melanie?” I snarled, “Have your man grab the girl he believes is Melanie McAlister. Mav will stay behind and bring her home.” My dad asked, “Thinks?” I snarled, “She’s never even fucking been here. Where is Alexander?”

My dad answered, “He left on the mission for your uncle yesterday. He’s dark, but I’ll call Bjourn. I know your feelings say we need someone to get him and bring him home.” I hung up. I told Maverick, “Pop to dad’s guy. Bring the Melanie McAlister imposter to our dungeons. I have questions she’s going to answer.”

Maverick nodded asking, “Is Melanie really Alexander’s mate?” I answered honestly, “I think she is, but we don’t know.” Maverick’s eyes went gold, “They will pay for this.” I agreed, “Yes, they will.” Whoever the fuck ‘they’ was.

I popped back home with Elise. Drake frowned asking, “Where’s Melanie?” I growled, “I don’t know. What I do know is she was NEVER in New York. She never went to high school there, and she NEVER went to Julliard.” Sam started sobbing, “What are you saying? WHERE IS MY PUP! SHE’S SUPPOSED TO BE LIVING HER DREAM! WHAT ARE YOU SAYING?!”

Elise pushed off me, “I have to get out of here. I need to run.” I offered, “I’ll come with you.” Elise ran outside growling, “ALONE!” I winced. Brutus whined, “Rhea agrees. They need space.” Fuck space.

Drake announced, “My dad’s not answering.” Brutus asked, “What does that have to do with anything?” I didn’t know. Peter explained, “He’s with my dad. They have a meeting with a drug dealer later, so they won’t have their phones on.” Drake cursed, “FUCK!”

Micah came quickly into the room wide eyed. He said, “Uhh EJ, we need to talk.” I frowned, “I already know those tapes are messed with.” Micah nodded, “Yes, but it’s just the backgrounds. The girl dancing in them is there but not where the background was. That’s NOT what we need to talk about.”

Dylan said, “We need the Moody Triplet.” We all turned to him. Drake growled, “Why?” Dylan sighed, “We just do.” I pressed, “Dylan?” Micah yelled, “EVERYONE JUST SHUT UP!” I turned to him astonished. He grabbed me and announced, “We will be back.” Then he dragged me out of the main room, down to my office and shut the door.

I asked, “What’s going on?” Micah questioned, “Why does Alexander have these? And WHY does Jason McAlister have them for him to have?” I explained, “They’re videos of Melanie McAlister dancing. Alexander has them because Melanie is his. Or so I’m convinced. Jason has them because she’s his sister.”

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