She said I had the usual bite I always did with her. I had a bite? That was rich. Alexander and EJ’s fury slammed into me. Rain chuckled, “She should know better than to fire our brothers’ protective instincts.” No joke.
My mom ignored Grandma and asked me about it. My hurt feelings flowed out of me because I knew Rain and Daisy were right. I actually didn’t mean to say that she didn’t like me because I looked like mom. It just slipped out. My mom jerked back in shock while my brothers jumped up angrily shouting.
I looked down. Rain spoke softly, “It’s not your fault. You kept that in so long it just came out.” I still felt bad. Everyone was pissed when Grandma Cassandra tried to deny it. Rain said, “Don’t let her do this. We have proof.” We did. I heard her that day. We were supposed to be having a Grandma Cassandra day, but she left us oldest Conners pups like she always did. I just wanted to go with them. After I heard her, I had cried the whole day.
My guard had been worried about me. Ghiza had even come out to talk to me, but I didn’t tell him what was wrong. In truth, I had always tried my best with Grandma Cassandra, but I’d felt a disconnect between us. I’d always felt guilty that I liked Grammy Veronica way better.
After that day, I didn’t. I told her I knew that daddy threw her out because of mom. I just couldn’t stop my confession once it started. I was sick of her being so mean to mom. If my dad knew, he’d throw her back out of this house for what she did to my mom. She didn’t like that we were Fairies.
Rain scoffed, “She doesn’t like that we have more than wolf blood.” Yeah, well she was mean to Uncle Aiden anytime he was here. She was rude to my Fairy cousins. She was just a mean person.
I wouldn’t have said anything today, but the protective blood in me was humming. I was protecting Daisy and my mom today too. Even Austin. Grandma Cassandra was so rude about him and Arlina. I protected them just like my mom would.
Rain offered, “And your dad. He would protect a pack member as the Alpha.” That was true. My mom yelled at my grandma and they walked outside. EJ pulled me into a hug. Rain told me, “Brutus and Oden don’t want us to hide things like this. Alexander was giving us space with our feelings, but he’s very tempted not to do that again.”
I talked with my brothers before she added, “Brutus said we are beautiful too. Oden said we were the prettiest person he knew besides mom.” I knew that. Daddy would always tell me how beautiful I was. I smelled my dad coming and knew he was concerned from the bond.
He asked questions, but before we answered the pack link did. I heard, “The Luna is finally fighting her.” “I would’ve done it years ago.” “Good for Luna Haley. Cassandra has been awful all these years.” “You know it will be something she did to the pups. Luna Haley wouldn’t go off for anything else.” My dad growled and shot out of the room.
Alexander grabbed my hand as EJ grabbed his then we popped outside. Wesley ran over to us and filled us in. Mom had challenged grandma. Oh no. Rain gasped, “She accepted?! What the HELL was she thinking?” I asked, “Why didn’t Kena take over and stop her?” Rain answered, “She’s waking up now.” She’d been asleep? Rain added, “She’s quite groggy. Kena sleeps a lot though.” Maybe she was depressed. Rain chimed in, “I would be if I was Cassandra’s wolf.” I winced.
Max and Theo were standing in front of our mom snarling at Grandma Cassandra. I couldn’t help but be proud of them. I linked them both, “You guys are awesome.” Theo replied, “I’m one second away from using my influencing power to make Grandma Cassandra jump of a cliff.” I nearly snorted out loud.
My dad had the situation under control in seconds. Everyone who didn’t know before was now aware that Grandma Cassandra was a prideful, spiteful bitch. My aunt Lexi flashed in, and I had to smirk. She’d fight for mom.
Our Hackura/Wolf cousins ran up next. Cousin Miley was not happy either. Blade showed himself. He was clearly closer than Grandma Cassandra thought because she flinched. Max linked, “Too bad dad came out. Blade was ready to kill her.” It was sad we all agreed on that.
I looked and saw Ghiza was ready to leap into the fray too. Miley took mom’s place in the fight. My Uncle Marcus joined us and his anger and curiosity flowed through the bond. I winced realizing he felt like he’d been late.
I looked at my dad not wanting his feelings to get hurt anymore. I knew he was pissed and furious, but he was also hurting. He wanted Grandma Cassandra to be nice to mom. This was over the line to him though. It was to everyone.
Uncle Bjourn showed up and winked at me. I smiled at him. His eyes and my bond with him told me he had a pretty good guess about what had happened. He walked over and loudly let everyone know who would be fighting a Cambridge family member if it came to that.
I glanced over and saw my cousin Hastein with his weapon drawn. He grinned at me and held a finger to his lips. I sent him my acknowledgement that I wouldn’t give him away. My grandma actually took her challenge back. Apparently, her pride ended before having to fight my uncle. She really was ridiculous.
Rain grumbled, “Mom would have kicked her ass pregnant or not.” It was true. Grandma Cassandra probably couldn’t even beat me in a fight. Rain scoffed, “Us, our youngest siblings. Hell, pups could beat her. That’s my honest opinion.” Cousin Miley looked disappointed she wouldn’t get to fight. I knew she would go for serious damage. She hated Grandma Cassandra because she wasn't quiet about it.
My Uncle Bjourn dismissed Grandma Cassandra with a literal flick of his hand. Rain cackled in my head. I sent my uncle all the love I had. His eyes cut a glance to me in surprise. I could see the rage on Grandma Cassandra’s face. For that look alone I was going to find some epically awesome Fairy thing for Uncle Bjourn and Aunt Astrid to enjoy. I’d figure out the best charm for him and Aunt Astrid to have a magical date with.
Grandpa Nathan tried to drag Grandma Cassandra away, but she was resisting him. Rain snorted, “She’s linking Herb about how it looks. I think he may shift himself.” Now, she was worried about how it looked? She’d accepted a fight from a pregnant pack member. That was literally not allowed in the bylaws. You linked their mate and the Alpha, my mom’s just happened to be both.
Uncle Bjourn tried to engage with my mom. She wiped tears from her face and was clearly locked in a link conversation with Grandma Cassandra. Rain said, “Herb did say she stopped linking him.” Thor must have told my dad the same because he stepped in.
Mom shocked the pack with her statements. Rain linked, “See? I told you that we should’ve told mom sooner. Now, Cassandra can’t come near us or our siblings.” My jaw dropped. Rain snickered, “I told you so.” Deep down, I knew it would happen because my mom was incredibly protective of us all.
Grandma Cassandra turned on the water works. Uncle Bjourn linked, “What the hell happened?” I answered, “I just said how I felt.” He pressed, “Which was how?” I answered, “Grandma Cassandra hurts everyone’s feelings and she hates me.” He argued, “No could hate you.” I replied, “She does though.” I felt his anger at that in the bond.
My dad looked over and his eyes rested on me. I could see the hurt in his eyes because he knew this was about me. I linked him, “I’m sorry daddy.” He replied, “You have nothing to be sorry for.” I pointed out, “You don’t know what happened.” He said, “I don’t need to. I know it wasn’t your fault. Whatever she said to you was a lie. There is a lot you don’t know between your mom and grandma. Hell, me too.”
He was wrong. I did know because I made Aunt Jessica tell me all last year then took her memories of telling me away. I knew what they’d done to my mom. My Aunt’s had changed and felt genuine remorse over it. So, I was fine with them but Grandma Cassandra she was the same as she’d always been. She just held her tongue in front of my dad, but not around us as much. Rain linked, “She likes to pretend our hearing isn’t better than hers.” I replied, “Willful ignorance still counts against her.” She agreed with me.
Mom was right to be pissed about what happened back then. They could’ve gotten my daddy seriously hurt. Grandma Cassandra wasn’t even sorry about it. She was so steadfast in being right she didn’t want to apologize.
EJ tried to calm the situation down by saying he wanted to go see Elise. I linked Alexander, “Well, that’s going to backfire.” Alexander winced replying, “Maybe she won’t say anything since Uncle Bjourn is here.” I snorted, “She’ll talk about how we can’t be sure because she’s stuck on being a Fairy hating bitch.” Alexander’s lips twitched, “You’re probably right. We can hope though.”
I hoped for my dad’s sake he was right, but I was right. My grandma had something to say about it. She even looped in Austin and Arlina. Alexander linked me, “Would anyone notice if I just gave her braina SLIGHT squeeze? Arlina is crying and I hate that.” I whipped my head in my cousin’s direction. She was trying not to show it, but she was crying.
EJ hadn’t noticed yet because he was enraged. Austin was too. Uncle Jackson was comforting him. Rain linked, “Uh oh. Ashina partially shifted.” That was my Aunt Molly’s wolf and her hands were now claws. I kind of hope she went for it and fought Grandma Cassandra.
