Page 124 of The Alpha's Stealthy Daughter and Her Commander
Corbin told me, “That sounds like magic. For the Conners to be affected it would have to be dark magic. POWERFUL dark magic.” I reasoned, “Wouldn’t you sense magic on me or Cass?” Corbin frowned, “It depends on how you’ve been spelled. Currently you seem fine.” I acknowledged, “I do get headaches at their house most often.” Corbin said, “Let’s go check your house to make sure it’s not there.”
We walked over to my house. He instantly walked in like someone was going to jump out at him. I rolled my eyes, but he picked up the plate of cookies. I warned him, “I wouldn’t eat all of those. Cassie loves them. In fact, those are the Conners kids’ favorite cookies. They are pretty good.”
Corbin snorted, “They all eat these?” I nodded. He shot back, “Aunt Haley hates peanut butter.” I shrugged, “Which is why she doesn't eat them.” Corbin told me, “I’ll take them.” I shrugged, “I guess youcan. Hopefully, Cass never saw them. They are pretty good.” Corbin frowned at me while he put them in a baggie. He was being weird, they were just cookies.
We checked the rest of the house but that was all he took. He left and I went to the castle. I frowned when I walked inside. I knew there were more guards here than there usually were. I instantly faded into the background and found Ghiza. I faded back in and raised an eyebrow at him.
I asked him, “What are you doing here?” He answered, “The Duchess wants us close by.” I was on immediate alert, “All of you?” Ghiza nodded. I asked him, “Why?” Ghiza replied, “She did not say. Does that mean you don’t know either?”
I blew out a breath admitting, “I don’t know. I know there’s something she wants to tell me, but I’ll figure it out. Stick close to her. Make sure nothing happens to her. Are we clear?” Ghiza nodded and I walked into the dining room.
Aunt Astrid was shooting me a look I had no idea how to interpret. I was trying to hide my annoyance and grim outlook on the future. I was not doing it well. Uncle Bjourn linked me, “What’s wrong?” I said, “I’m getting some things put together.” He replied, “I’m always here for you.” I knew that.
Honestly, if I could just go talk to Ashley, I’d be alright. I’d ask her directly if she WAS Melanie McAlister. She was a horrible liar, and I’d have an answer in seconds. BUT NOOOOO she was gone on vacation. At the same time Alexander was somewhere with Melanie McAlister. How convenient. That did line the stars up even further.
Uncle Bjourn pressed, “You do look like you need an ear.” I did but I couldn’t bring this to him. If I was wrong, this was a massive alarm to send out. I told him, “If I’m right you’ll be the first person I’m coming to. Well, if I can’t get the reason for behind it all.” If I could grab Ashley, who was probably Melanie, then I would go to her first.
Cassie was worried and I hated that. I was bothered by myself at this point. Why couldn’t I let this go? I didn’t want Cassie in a war, but I knew her she’d be right there beside me. I’d never forgive myself if this was true. I’d had Ashley right there the whole time. Alexander’s mate was in front of me, and I’d let them both down.
Micah was right. Her being mated to someone I’m related to makes sense given how I feel about her. I should’ve protected her better and I should’ve known that’s what it meant. I knew how I felt about my brothers and sisters in law.
I should’ve said fuck it and brought Alexander, or even Cassie, to meet Ashley as a surprise. No, just Alexander. It should’ve been him. He’d at least gotten Ashley to fill out the paperwork against Trevor. Or was it Melanie? That was going to be an adjustment if I was right.
Damn it if it didn’t feel right. Cassie started to cry again. I didn’t want to scare her, but I could feel that war was coming. If they did this to Alexander’s mate, if they managed to kill or suppress her wolf, we’d be at war. There was just no way around it. We’d have to protect the Werewolves if this knowledge existed.
I’d keep Cassie safe because no way, no how would ever take Rain from her. I would never let that happen. Sadly, the longer I was out here, the surer I became. The question was, could someone REALLY do this?
Why would anyone have looked for a way to suppress a wolf? Ashley said all she remembered from the night she turned sixteen was being in extreme pain for a long time. Would some really do that to a teenager? I knew there was evil in this world, but to take the very thing from someone that made them supernatural and offend a Goddess in such a way was a bold move.
That was something we had yet to come across. Then again, they got away with it. Were they doing it to other people then? Cassie was wrecked and worried about losing me. I had no intention of dying in this fight. We had centuries together, and even that might not be long enough with her.
This would send all of us into a state of paranoia. I don’t know if I could ever trust anything ever again. I should’ve told Levi to fuck the promise he made Tristan. I should’ve sent EJ to check on Melanie since he’d actually met her.
I knew Eric would lose it, but he didn’t top the list. Alexander did. He only let this go because she was living her dream, but even that wasn’t like him. Something was done to him, but he was going to care that something was done to Melanie.
If Ashley was Melanie, she was so far from her dream it was insane. She was trapped in a nightmare. Cassie was rambling about the timing. It wasn’t great, but Ashley would only be gone for two weeks. I knew Cassie’s need to be near me post concupiscence would be gone by then. My phone beeped.
Hendrix:There is no record for Melanie McAlister as a passenger out of New York to Paris. Which is odd because I’m looking at a passenger list with her on it. Micah said it’s wrong though. I’m coming back and I would like some answers.
Him and me both. I left Cassie on the beach and ran back to my office. Micah was there waiting. He was typing furiously on his computer. I asked, “Did you confirm Melanie’s admission to Julliard?” Micah answered, “No. I’m hitting walls that I should not hit. I DID find a GED for Melanie McAlister in Tennefuckingssee.”
I closed my eyes muttering, “Isn’t that just PEACHY?! FUCK!” Hendrix came through a portal and Micah held out his hand. He studied Hendrix’s information then pulled up the manifest. He turned his computer around and I saw she was never on the flight. There was never a ticket purchased in her name.
I summarized, “So she’s on the flight, but she’s not?” Micah answered, “Yes, which means she’s not on the flight.” I ordered, “Micah, pull up our footage we have from Ashley’s pack.” Hendrix asked, “Why?” I said, “I want to know if this is the girl you saw.”
Micah pulled up static. He clicked several buttons and then began typing. He asked no one in particular, “What the hell?” I groaned, “You’ve got to be kidding me. Ashley and her friends know these are there, so they didn’t do this. What about the old files we have?” Micah whispered, “They are all corrupted.”
I questioned, “Is that possible?” Micah snorted, “With magic, yes. Fuck me.” I sighed, “Work with Corbin and your dad. See if we can’t get that cleaned up. Hendrix, go to Black Path. Try to track down Ashley’s hide. Her house with the King’s doesn't have pictures of her anywhere. Which is weird.” I shouted, “FUCK! Try to find something. Levi met Melanie. He’d know.” Hendrix left after putting a hand on my back.
Cassie felt ill in our bond. I told Micah, “Cassie needs me.” Micah nodded, “Go.” I left my office at a dead run. I found Cassie with Levi. She had figured out my suspicion. She was too damn smart. I hugged her while Levi gave me a measured look that I met it head on.
Cassie was crying and complaining about her head. I reached for my phone to call EJ but stopped. He was on vacation so I couldn’t bring this to him now. Levi knew the headaches were always about Melanie. Good god. We were going to war.
Why was Ashley/Melanie so important to whoever did this? Did they know she was Alexander’s? Was this a direct slap in the Conners face? Or was this just some massive revenge plot to stick it to Drake McAlister? It was serious overkill if it was.
If Ashley was Melanie, she’d been working against the Ring from the start. They brought one of us inside and Ashley had begun to dismantle the whole thing. Their revenge plot might be the worst one of all time if that’s what this was.
All at the cost and detriment of Ashley herself. Fuck me. Maybe that was the plan. Ruin her and paralyze Red Run and their allies with indecision. Hell, not even them. Us. We could never hurt Alexander’s mate and that wasn’t a secret.
