Cayden silently entered his home. I’d come home later than normal because I had a meeting that ran late. I usually made it home in time to go to bed at the same time Cassie did. Sadly, that was not in the cards tonight. I knew my mate was asleep already from our bond. I eased into our room soundlessly and got ready for bed in the dark before sliding in next to her. I pulled gently pull her over to me thinking that she was perfect.
I couldn’t stop my smile knowing she’d be my wife at the end of this week. I was more than ready for our wedding. I loved that she wanted every detail to be perfect. I didn’t care that we’d had a two year long engagement. For Hackura’s, we were still running down the aisle. Our engagement was considered quite short here. Everyone was excited for our wedding despite some thinking it was fast.
I closed my eyes, my mind flickering to a regular thought I’d been having lately. What the fuck happened last year when the Werewolves went down? Micah and I had a theory, but it didn’t make sense. The only thing we’d come to find about that event that haunts me was it happened on Ashley’s sixteenth birthday.Her real birthday. Not the one on her birth certificate.
That had been an interesting story. Or lie I should say. We’d stumbled onto the information by accident. Micah had overheard someone from Black Path talk about the weird shit that happened on Ashley’s birthday. He’d immediately found Ashley at the King’s Diner. Apparently, according to Addison Ashley was born at home and her parents didn’t report her birth until a few days later.
Ashley had nothing to say about it. Even when I came in and asked her directly. Which let me tell you, I’ve never found anything as disconcerting as a silent Ashley Griffen. It was terrifying and looked rather painful for her.
Addison was the one who’d told the tale again to me. I had to admit that Addison was good at lying. I just knew how to spot when someone was lying to me. Her story about Ashley’s birthday was an obvious lie to someone like me.
I didn’t know the real story, but I knew Ashley’s real birthday was the same day as Melanie McAlister’s. Melanie was fine though, and Ashley was wolf less. It was fucking weird. Every Werewolf in the world went down. For the first time in a long time, I let myself remember that day.
Flashback
Cayden was in the gym fighting with Hendrix. It was a normal day, so the gym was packed. I knew Cassie was working out too since I could feel her close by. When Uncle Bjourn walked in, I ended my fight and went over to talk to him.
Uncle Bjourn spoke first, “I was…” He was cut off by an ear piercing scream that made my heart stop, because I knew who had made it. I nearly went to a knee from my mate’s pain in the bond. I screamed, “CASS!” Whoever was fighting her was fucking dead. I ran over to where she was.
I glared at an astonished Milana because she was my mate’s opponent. Milana explained, “I don’t know what happened. She just went down.” I yelled, “SOMEONE GET A DOCTOR!” My Uncle began checking her over. I’d forgotten he was one.
Titus, Drake, and Evin ran in, followed by the rest of Cassie’s uncle’s. I held her hand, “Cass.” She barely managed to glance at me. I begged, “Cass, talk to me. What’s going on?” Her face was contorted in pain. She started sobbing, “Alex… ander. Get to Alexander.” I glanced sharply at my uncle. It wasn’t her pain, which I should’ve known. It hurt so badly in the bond, I thought it was hers.
Hendrix yelled, “OPEN A PORTAL RIGHT FUCKING NOW! I want twenty men on me.” Someone taking down Alexander was not an easy feat. They might need more men. Harper opened a portal, and they ran through.
Suddenly Cassie’s pain barreled into me like lightning. I gripped my uncle’s shoulder to remain upright. Cassie screamed in pain, and I knew this time she was the one in pain. I heard more screams and looked over at the portal that was still open. It was coming through from the other side.
Hendrix came back through looking panicked. He told me, “Every single wolf is down. Haley is freaking the actual fuck out. Alexander went down first, and I quote ‘for no goddamn fucking reason,’ Haley said it’s all her kids now. All her kids are in pain.”
Jed ran through another portal announcing, “Blue Moon is down too.” Silas came through another, “Red Run is down along with Yellow Hills.” A portal opened and my brother, Angus, ran in with eyes wide. He’d been in Louisiana.
I asked, “Angus?” He told me, “An entire pack is down but nothing happened. They just went down in pain. Even the rogues that were nearby.” I demanded answers, “What the fuck is happening?!” Cassie whimpered and I held her tightly against me.
I whispered, “Shhh, My Duchess. I’ve got you.” Her pain was fading, then it just vanished. She stood up in a flash, opened a portal, and ran through it with me and all her uncles right behind her. She spotted her parents then looked around frantically.
She cried, “Where is Alexander? Mom, what happened? Where is he?” Eric answered, “Alexander popped out. He with EJ in Red Run. I don’t know what the fuck happened, Princess. Did…?” He trailed off sounding like it physically pained him to ask, “Were you hurt too?”
He forced his way to his feet. He walked over to us and crushed Cassie against him. She cried, “What was that daddy?” Eric was clearly pissed he didn’t have the answer and his kids were hurting. He rubbed her head, “I do not know, but I will find out. Are you ok, Princess?”
Cassie whispered, “I’m fine. Is Alexander ok?” At that exact moment Alexander popped back in. I didn’t need a bond with him to know he was enraged. Haley asked him, “Alexander, what happened sweetie?” Alexander punched a heavy bag straight off its holder.
Uncle Bjourn put his hand on Alexander's shoulder. He asked him, “What happened?” Alexander whirled around, “I don’t fucking know! A wolf that Oden said it was a new wolf contacted me asking for help. The wolf sounded tired according to him. Like that wolf had been fighting. Then the connection cut, and I felt pain. EJ said they did too.”
Cassie acknowledged, “First it was just you, then it was my own pain. Rain was howling in my head. She’s still in a state, but she doesn't know why. Is Oden ok?” Alexander locked his jaw, “No, he’s not.” Haley kissed his cheek, “You’re ok physically though?” She’d know he was.
Alexander nodded, “Yes, I’m physically fine. I also know they want you in the pack house. They need you because they are scared.” Haley frowned, “I understand they do, but my kids come first.” He smiled and kissed her forehead, “Go, mom.” She sighed and looked at Eric.
He nodded, “I’ve got this, Angel.” Haley popped away clearly not happy about it. Cassie asked, “Why did you pop….?” She trailed off then yelled, “OH MY GOD!” She grabbed him and whispered, “Is Melanie ok? Was it her?”
Alexander’s jaw ticked, “Apparently, she’s fine. She is also not in town.” My jaw dropped. Eric faltered, “Excuse me? Apparently? Melanie’s not at home?” Alexander shook his head, “Her plane had a mechanical issues. She barely made it back to pack lands before midnight. She started her goddamn shift all alone until their Warriors found her.”
Cassie shouted, “HOW IS THAT NOT A GODDAMN EMERGENCY?! She could’ve been hurt! It’s dangerous to shift alone for the first time!” Alexander nodded, “I know.” Eric asked, “How do we know she’s fine then?” Alexander shrugged, “She called Drake while I was there. They went down in New York too.”
Eric frowned, “A newly shift wolf, shifted back to call her dad?” Caleb, his Beta, offered, “Her wolf could’ve been confused and hurt.” I’d never seen a newly shifted sixteen year old shift back quickly. They usually ran for, at minimum, eight hours.
Eric rubbed his face, “No one else in this area has a birthday tonight.” Melanie’s wolf shouldn’t be able to communicate with Oden though. They hadn’t met each other. Alexander nodded, “I know.” Eric sighed, “I’ll figure it out.” I’d help him.
Alexander shrugged, “I don’t know who else would reach out to me and Oden. I don’t know anyone else with a birthday tonight. Why did the wolf sound so weak? What if I went to the wrong place and a sixteen year old died for that?”
