Page 123 of The Alpha's Stealthy Daughter and Her Commander
Eventually he said, “She’s a dancer, talented, and smart as a whip. You know she made that jewelry Cassie and all my pups have, as well as myself.” Micah clapped his hands over his mouth. Ashley came up with things like that too.
Eric continued, “I knew she had a stuffed wolf before I saw it in pictures.” I winced, “What does the wolf look like?” Eric was quiet then answered, “Like Alexander’s wolf. Why?” My dad gaped at the phone. Corbin was looking between us all clearly putting pieces together he didn’t like. He could join the club.
I winced telling my father in law, “I can’t tell you yet.” Eric said, “We strongly suspect Melanie McAlister is Alexander’s mate. She’s supposed to be in Paris. Are you saying something happened to her plane? Or her?” I said, “I don’t think anything happened to the plane.” Nor did I think she was anywhere near Pairs.
Eric was silently waiting for me to tell him more. I wished with everything in me I could, but I couldn’t put this on him. I was the one in Ashley’s life. If she was Melanie, then this was on me and me alone. I said, “I’d tell you if I could. It’s just a theory right now.”
Eric assured me, “My guy watched her get to the airport.” I asked, “How does he describe her?” Eric answered, “Dark hair, green eyes, and always wearing red lipstick.” I questioned, “Dark hair? I thought her hair was black.” He stalled then replied, “It is. He’s always said dark though. Most people describe Melanie as being Raven-haired. I’ll have to ask KJ about that.”
I asked a different questioned, “How tall does he say she is?” Eric answered, “Almost six feet tall.” I asked, “Does that fit with how you’ve heard her described prior to her being in New York?” Eric said, “People usually say she has pale green eyes, but my guy isn’t close to her that often. She wasn’t that tall when she left, but she could’ve had a growth spurt.” I could tell he now didn’t believe that.
He added, “I’ve got him in the distance. In truth, we all know I shouldn’t even have him on her. She is taller than I thought she’d be, but that’s not a big deal. Is it?” I sighed, “I don’t know. I could just be crazy.” Micah linked, “You’re not. This feels like the best lead on anything surrounding Ashley ever has.” Corbin crossed his arms, and my dad winced. He didn’t want to think I was right, but he did.
Eric snorted, “You are many things Cayden, but crazy is not one of them. When you can share, I’m all ears. Should I dig into this myself?” He was going to anyway. I said, “I think you should, but we knew you were going to anyway.”
Eric agreed, “You’re right, I was. I’ll do what I can. Goddess help us all if something is going on here. My Angel will kick all our asses.” I winced saying, “Let’s hope I’m crazy then.” Eric groaned, “Great. That’s just fucking great. You’re not crazy and I know that without the details. Call me if you get anything else.” I agreed, “You’ve got it.” I hung up.
I turned to the group, “I’m going to tell Cass to eat with her family I’ll be back.” Corbin yelled, “SERIOUSLY?! I HAVE QUESTIONS.” I replied, “I’ll be right back.” I ran to the house, but she wasn’t here. I texted Aunt Astrid.
Me:Can you invite Cass up for dinner?
Aunt Astrid:Of Course. Are you ok? You ran out of the castle like you were on fire.
Me:There’s just a lot going on.
Aunt Astrid:Ok. I’m here if you want to talk it through.
Me:Thanks.
I went back to my office. I looked at Micah, “How hard a look did you take at Melanie getting into that art school and Julliard?” Miach answered, “I didn’t look at all.” I stalled, “Umm, I’m positive someone on our side looked into that. I swear I’ve heard a Conners say that.” Micah shrugged, “I’ll call my dad, but I didn’t hear that.” He stepped out.
Corbin exploded, “What’s the deal with the stuffed wolf? That’s what you wanted Eric to talk about.” I explained, “Ashley Griffen shares a birthday with Melanie McAlister. AKA the day all Werewolves around the world went down when she turned sixteen and Ashley supposedly doesn’t have a wolf. She’s stronger than MANY Werewolves I know who have wolves. She makes things like the jewelry Eric talked about. Oh, and she HAS THAT DAMN STUFFED WOLF!”
Corbin pointed out, “Several people could have that wolf.” I continued, “Ashley Griffen was sent to her aunt in Nashville the same timeframe Melanie supposedly left for New York. She’s nervous anytime you mention the Conners, specifically Alexander.” He made a face.
I continued, “The closest she got to reporting that piece of shit that claims to be her mate was when Alexander told her to. We suspect Ashley is in The Resistance and they do A LOT of things for Alexander. It’s her, I know it. I just now think she’s somehow Melanie.”
Corbin gaped at me for several seconds. When he sat back, he said, “You’re right. If this is true, and thankfully that’s a big IF, this is war. Alexander will be out for blood. Why would Melanie or Ashley be the person the Ring went after? Because that’s the only group we’ve been up against who could pull this off that I know of.” He paused when a soft knock I knew came.
I said, “It’s Cassie.” He stood behind the door so she wouldn’t see him and faded back. Cassie left almost as soon as she came, but she conjured us dinner. After she left, I answered Corbin’s question. “It has to be Alpha Ezra. He wants revenge on Drake McAlister.” Corbin laughed, “Unless he’s with the Ring he could not pull this off.” I replied, “Maybe he is. It wouldn’t be that surprising.” Only that he got away with it with my father in law watching him would be.
Corbin raised an eyebrow, “So Alpha Ezra told Drake McAlister his daughter was living her dream to get back at him? This sounds more like revenge on Melanie than Drake.” I winced admitting, “They have Melanie working with Hunters.” Corbin’s eyes widened, “Alexander’s mate is a Hunter AND A WOLF?!”
I shook my head, “No, not exactly. She works against them and gives the Hunter’s information to us, but they don’t know that. What if his revenge is to show Drake McAlister his daughter turned Hunter, and they took her wolf. Not only that but they have to think she’s working with Rings. The very thing he stands so adamantly against.”
Corbin conceded, “Ok, that’s something, but it’s still more about Melanie than Drake.” My dad argued, “You are trying to apply logic to a group of people that are not logical. They lash out more often than not. They are methodical and well hidden, but they are not rational. Haley is proof that they strike at women.” He was right.
He added, “Drake only has one daughter. It makes sense they’d go for her. I hate to say it, but you very well could be right, son.” I said, “You think I am.” He admitted, “I do. You’ve felt like she’s family this whole time. Her actually being family makes sense to me. Plus, I saw her on that video. Her description matches Eric’s. I’ve never met anyone with pale green eyes like that. It also makes everything involving her make sense. She’s scared and Melanie would have a reason to be if the theory you threw out about illusions is true. So, while farfetched, your theory makes sense.” I just didn’t want it to.
Micah walked back in, “My dad said Levi looked into it, but Levi isn’t….” He winced and trailed off. I finished, “Super techy like you guys. FUCK! Micah, dig into it.” Micah sighed, “My cursory search is confusing. It’s like she’s there but she’s not. I’ll keep digging.” That about summed up the last several hours of my life.
I asked, “Can we get a hold of Ashley?” Micah groaned, “No. I called her, but Addison has her phone. The one we gave her and her other one.” I sighed, “Perfect.” Hendrix walked into my office. I said, “Get to New York and then Paris. I want to know where Melanie McAlister is.”
Hendrix shrugged saying, “That’s an easy assignment. Consider me on it.” I snorted, “Someone bring him up to speed. I need to go see Cass.” My dad asked, “Are you going to tell her?” I snorted, “Tell her that this nagging feeling we’ve all had, THOSE DAMN MOTHER FUCKING HEADACHES WE GET when we THINK about Melanie McAlister too hard, could actually mean something? No. I have no proof.”
Corbin jumped in, “Excuse me? Headaches? What headaches?” I shrugged, “We get headaches when we think about Melanie or Ashley sometimes. Said headache doesn’t go away until we stop thinking about their situations or Melanie altogether.”
Corbin stood angrily, “And you’ve never mentioned this because?” I shrugged, “I thought about it sometimes but then I’d have a cookie and realize that would be silly.” He stared at me as if I was insane. Now that I said it out loud it kind of did sound that way.
