Page 118 of The Alpha's Stealthy Daughter and Her Commander
Gia linked, “Duck and cover! DUCK AND COVER!” No joke. Gia actually jumped behind Jed who smirked at her despite the seriousness of the situation. Tory linked, “Everyone is dead.” Metaphorically we really were. The pranks were going to be next level and out of control.
Alexander closed his eyes before saying “It’s just that she was supposed to be living her dream.” My asked, “The fuck does that mantra have to do with her being your damn mate?!” He admitted, “I’ve always thought she was mine though.”
Rain snorted, “He did not just say always. I thought it was after the dance.” I reasoned, “Maybe that means always to him. Or he liked her name when we were younger or something.” My mom’s eyes blazed, “Uh huh.” Her feelings pulled back in the bond and she blocked us out. Rain whimpered but I understood it this time. She wanted to work through her feelings and not distract us from what we had to do right now.
Alexander tried to explain, “Angela did a thing and...” Drake interrupted, “Awesome! Tell us all the LONG story later. WHERE IS MY DAUGHTER?! WHY THE ACTUAL FUCK IS SHE IN NASHVILLE?! WHY IS SHE WOLF LESS?!”
Alexander frowned, “That’s not entirely accurate. I don’t know why she’s in Nashville because she didn’t want to talk about it. Plus, she didn’t tell me her real name.” Drake growled, “You knew who she was.” Alexander snarked back, “Of course I did! No thanks to you!” Jason stood and ran outside. Alexander chased him out of the house yelling, “JASE, WAIT!”
Emmett yelled, “EJ, they are on our border. We need to go!” Cayden linked, “You stay on my six.” I sighed but understood. EJ popped out with Emmett. Emmett was popped back in by Annie Miller a few minutes later.
He announced, “My mom insists we need Alexander.” I linked my brother, “Emmett needs you.” Alexander popped back with Jason who was sobbing. Emmett and Alexander popped away, only to come back with Elise.
I frowned asking the question everyone had. “Where’s Melanie?” Alexander answered, “She was gone when we got there.” Lexi looked really upset. I walked over and rubbed Jason’s back. Cayden sent me a lot of possessiveness in the bond even though he understood.
Jason sobbed, “My dreams are real. All that stuff I said happened did. They beat her! She saved me but she’s mad at me!” Alexander stiffened. Drake was sobbing, holding onto Sam who was near hysteria. I looked over at TJ. He linked me, “I’m giving them all I’ve got, but it’s too much.” I nodded.
I linked my Uncle Bjourn, “Someone might need to get TJ out of here.” He replied, “Your parents have the same thought.” Of course they did. My mom granted Sam peace. Alexander healed Elise and stepped back.
The second her eyes opened she jumped up and looked around. She demanded to know, “Where is she?! It’s Melanie! She said Mshango and that’s our word. Where is she, EJ?” My brother felt devastated he didn’t have the answer for her.
Drake ordered, “Alexander pop to her.” Alexander winced, “I can’t. I don’t have permission.” Drake said, “I give you permission, even thought I didn’t ever say you couldn’t, it’s an emergency.” Alexander was gone but thrown back seconds later. Holy shit.
Cayden, Micah, and Gunner were frantically searching everything they could think of. Silas said the bigger group had come back, but Ashley wasn’t with them. He left Black Path and joined us here. None of us had anything good to say at this point.
After twenty minutes Peter’s phone rang. He answered, “Hello.” He frowned, “Yes, this is Peter Kyle.” His face paled, “What do you mean?” He looked at Haley saying, “I’m sending you someone who can fix them.” He hung up the phone.
Drake questioned, “What now? Who is hurt?” Tristan walked back in and Everly immediately went to him. Emmaline popped in with Kai. My cousins were a wreck. Peter looked at my mom, “Haley, I need you to go heal my dad and Ben McAlister. They were shot. Our sniper…” He trailed off before he corrected himself, “I mean Melanie was a few seconds late.” Drake hit his knees.
Elise started to sob and EJ wrapped her in his arms. My mom and Alexander popped away. My dad snarled, “What happened?!” Peter admitted, “I don’t know. The doctor that called was the one who camewith his family that The Resistance placed here called. He said someone brought them in but not who. I think we know who it was though.” We did.
I turned to Kai and knelt down. I asked, “Kai, who saved you when you were kidnapped?” I used my power to make him tell the truth. He immediately answered, “Aunt Ladybug. She seemed really sad. She’s super cool though! Like a superhero! She cried when I called her Aunt Ladybug. I told her daddy always called her that. She had to pull over because she was crying so hard.” I looked over at Tristan who crumbled. Meanwhile, Jason was inconsolable.
My dad jumped into the conversation, “Cayden, what do you know?” Cayden sighed, “I know that she believes her family was killed except one brother. I think it’s obvious that she thinks Jason is her living brother. She was shot and woke up in a hospital.”
Elise sobbed, “Oh my god!” EJ comforted her, “She’s alright, Elise.” Elise shook her head, “No, that night we went to Red Run. The McAlister’s house smelled like cleaning products so I opened the windows to air it out.” I said, “That’s not your fault.” Elise sobbed in EJ’s arms. My brother’s eyes were blazing, and his anger was fierce in the bond.
My mom popped back in with Ben McAlister and Nick Kyle. Alexander’s eyes were blazing gold too. His anger somehow overtook EJ’s in the bond. Tory wasn’t going to be wrong about Defcon One. EJ looked at me and did a double take. I linked him, “This is not the moment.” EJ replied, “Cass.” I reiterated, “It’s not the moment.”
My mom screamed then TJ went down. I searched my connections and hit my knees. My mom began trying to pop. She was being violently thrown back. I sobbed as Cayden wrapped his arms around me. He linked me, “I know you want to go. I can feel it, but you can’t get there. That wall is hurting your mom. Don’t go.” The only reason I didn’t was my babies.
Rain howled as my dad tried to stop my mom, but she wouldn’t quit. Alexander tried to go along with EJ and TJ. Uncle Bjourn’s voice whipped out harshly, “HALEY CONNERS STOP THAT RIGHT NOW!” She stopped but let loose a wail that made me cringe.
She sobbed, “MY BABY! THEY HAVE MY BABY!” My dad held her and issued rapid fire instructions. I cried to no one in particular, “They have my little sister.” Tory linked, “I’m getting people on it. We are going to get information.” What good would that do?
Time ceased to mean anything to me. People came and people went. Information trickled in. Angela had gotten a call about Elise. She popped to try to help her and now they had her. It had been hours. Uncle Logan linked, “Everything is going to be ok.” How?
Phil ran in, “I just got a call from a Warrior friend in Nashville. They’ve got her. Angela is in their pack, she’s safe.” His source was his friend. It’s how the pack knew anything about Ashley really. I stood ready to go get my little sister and make some fuckers pay. Rain snarled, “Yes! No one gets to hurt Snow!” I agreed with that wholeheartedly.
Alexander asked, “How the FUCK did they get to her when we couldn’t?” Phil shrugged, “He said he doesn’t know. He came back from a patrol, and she was standing there crying. She wouldn’t tell anyone her name, but he recognized her. He told her that he knew me, which gained him some trust. She said we had to get there right away and save her. He doesn’t seem to think she’s referring to herself.”
Cayden closed his eyes, “Ashley. I mean Melanie. She’s talking about Melanie. I don’t know how, but I’d bet she saved Angela. Probably.” Ben cried, “She saved us, but she wouldn’t talk to me, son. She was hurt. I couldn’t save my grandpup.” He broke down sobbing.
I stood and conjured my swords. Cayden said, “Cass…” I shook my head cutting him off, “That’s my baby sister and I’m going to bring her home.” Cayden looked behind me where my guard was. He spoke in Latin, “Si quis eam tetigerit, non placet consequentibus (If anyone touches her, you will not like the consequences).”
I noted it wasn’t just Ghiza and another here, it was my entire guard. Ghiza pledged, “No one will touch the Duchess.” I grabbed Cayden’s hand as our allies gathered. I said, “Let’s go bring my little sister home.” Cayden kissed my forehead, “I love you, Cass.” I kissed his lips. I said, “I love you too.” He’d been right. We were at war, and we were GOING to win.
War
