Page 100 of The Alpha's Stealthy Daughter and Her Commander
I frowned, “She did implement his fighting techniques in their pack. You said she’s diligent about it.” Cayden snorted, “Militant is the right word choice there. Alexander’s words are gospel to her.” I laughed, “Then maybe she will file against Trevor McCann for claiming to be her mate with the council.”
Cayden’s jaw locked, “She won’t.” I shrugged, “Alexander will tell her to. If she looks up to him…” Cayden interrupted, “She definitely does. You’d think he hung the moon.” I frowned, “Poor thing. I hope she didn’t get over the guy back home to move onto my brother. He’s taken.”
Cayden laughed, “No, she still gets all starry eyed when Micah asks her about that guy. It’s weird. I don’t know.” I frowned, “You don’t know what?” Cayden shrugged, “If she was from around your area, I’d say Alexander was the guy she liked, but she’s not. Her brother has never met Alexander, and we both know Alexander has no intention of rejecting his mate. He’d kick anyone’s ass who even implied that he would, let alone directly stated it.”
I laughed, “He would pulverize someone for that. Man, now I feel bad for her! Alexander is Melanie’s but now Ashley’s got a crush on my brother. This is that jerk face who is taking sides in the death of her family’s fault. I just…” I groaned, “Ok I can’t talk about that, or I’ll lose it. It’s just such bullshit that she lost her family, and she’s blamed for it.”
Cayden nodded, “You know I agree with you.” I sighed, “Maybe it could work.” Cayden asked, “What could work?” I laughed, “Throwing in meeting Alexander. In fact, I’ll get the guarantee.” I called my brother. He answered, “Little sister.”
I greeted, “Hello, big brother. If Cayden offered a source who provides good intel the chance to meet you for some information, would you be willing to throw in a training session with some Warriors?” Alexander snorted, “Sure. You know I’d do anything for you. Tell Cayden that’s fine by me. I can make that happen.” I squealed, “Thanks, Alexander!” He was laughing when I hung up.
Cayden laughed, “That offer might kill her.” I smiled, “But it would be extremely hard for her to turn down, right?” Cayden nodded, “I think it will be, yes.” I frowned getting a read on the bond. I said, “You think she will turn it down though.”
Cayden looked away then said, “I don’t know if she will say no outright. I think she will say maybe. It just something about the Conners that both excites and scares her. Alexander most of all. If we are right and she’s Bravo One.” I interrupted, “We are right.”
Cayden smiled, “Then she never goes anywhere Alexander is. Well, not intentionally anyway. Tonight wasn’t intentional on her part. There's no reason to think Alexander would show up. There’s no way Bravo One knew about the rogue attack, or The Resistance would’ve helped. The second best sniper has Alexander's back. Always.”
I frowned, “That is weird.” Cayden smiled, “Ashley gets nervous whenever you say his name. I’m sure she’s afraid that if she had his back, she'd get nervous and mess up.” We’d laughed about that over cookies, but now it didn’t seem as funny.
I frowned, “Well, her saying maybe for Alexander training is better than nothing.” Cayden nodded, “That it is. She could surprise the heck out of me and debate it for five hours then agree.” I said, “Let’s keep thinking that way. She could say yes. I feel like this could change everything.”
Cayden nodded, “So do I.” I sighed, “So it probably won’t happen. Ashley is somehow like Melanie McAlister and New York. There’s something weird about it, but we just can’t put our finger on it.” Cayden snorted, “Melanie is in New York.”
I looked away, “Something about that whole situation is weird.” Cayden frowned, “Keep thinking about it and I’m sure you’ll figure it out. I’ve got to get going.” I nodded and kissed him. He took off running out the door.
I called Alexander back. He answered laughing, “I can’t come to meet Cayden’s source right now. I have a training for our Warriors in fifteen minutes.” I told him, “Cayden’s not sure his source will agree. He’s thinking said source might die from excitement. You are quite the rage in fighting circles, big brother.”
Alexander said, “Well, we can’t have anyone dying. I’m making people nervous all over the place lately.” I asked coyly, “Oh?” Alexander told me, “I don’t know how someone can sound both excited and nervous in an email, but Ashley Griffen can.”
I clarified, “I assume you mean the Female Lead Warrior in Nashville.” Alexander answered, “The one and only. We’ve been emailing. EJ and Elise claim she answers email quickly if she’s around, but I have to disagree. She takes forever.” I bit my lip so I wouldn’t laugh.
Alexander continued, “She’s taken hours to answer my emails.” Now I did laugh. I said, “You’re Duke Alpha Enforcer Alexander Conners and she’s a wolf less Female Lead Warrior. I’m sure talking to you is like talking to her personal god. You know how packs in Nashville are about their wolf less. That you reached out to speak with her probably blows her mind.”
Alexander laughed, “I guess you have a point. She’s funny. A bit of a rambler which is cute. Her emails usually end with ‘GOD ASHLEY STOP TYPING UGH!’ Which makes me laugh every time.” I laughed, “No they don’t! Why wouldn’t she just delete that?” Alexander admitted, “I couldn't tell you. It’s cute though.”
I said, “Well, I’m going to go on a walk. Enjoy your weird email correspondence, brother.” Alexander assured me, “I will.” I hung up and decided to go for a run instead, to cut the wait down until Cayden came home. I couldn’t stop my smile. I truly did love that man with all my heart.
Can’t catch a Break
Cayden is Twenty-Six Years Old
Cayden kissed Cassie’s forehead before he left the house for a meeting, even though she was still sleeping. Something was going on with her, and I knew it. I was going to figure out what it was. Right now, I had to get to my office.
Micah, my dad and I were going to review footage of Black Path’s attack today. Micah had put a few cameras up hoping we could get footage of something questionable happening. We needed something tangible that proved they were bad.
In truth, I wanted to figure out what area they always took Ashley to. She let them lead her somewhere off camera, but I couldn’t see where. Micah said he’d visited Ashley after we’d seen that, and she’d been a little slower than normal. I suspected she was letting them hurt her, but I couldn’t figure out why. Nor could I prove it.
I nodded to Hendrix before I walked into my office. My dad smiled when I sat down. He boasted, “So I finally get to see what your source looks like.” I replied, “You know her name and could’ve looked her up. I asked you here because we need another set of eyes. Maybe you’ll see something we don't. I need proof.”
My dad said, “From what you said, they already got hit with a huge fine from the council for their leadership hiding in their office. What else do you expect to see?” I explained, “Proof. I can feel it in my bones they punish her by beating her.” My dad argued, “You can’t do anything if she doesn’t talk to you.”
I looked away saying, “I’m the Commander of the Hackura Army. The Protector of the Realms’ Commander, and I can’t help this girl. This girl who has helped us countless times for practically nothing. She has saved so many lives and she won’t take payments from us. She has been one of the best sources in our history, and I can’t help her.”
My dad frowned, “Sometimes you can’t help people until they ask for it.” I yelled, “Fuck that bullshit! I’m a goddamn Protector of the Realms! She’s one girl. A special girl even, with answers. She’s THE key and I know it. I just need the right damn key to turn in the lock with her. She’ll talk to me when I have proof. I just need to have something.”
My dad reasoned, “I’ve told you son, as has your uncle, you do not need proof.” I sat down, “I do actually. I feel very protective of her and have from the moment I saw her. I need to do this right. I know that one day that trust I have with her will be worth more than just getting information out of her now. I already think she’s being beaten. She takes it on the chin and says nothing about it. I just don’t know or understand why.” My dad nodded, “You’re trusting your instincts and that’s what I taught you to do.”
Micah walked in, opened his computer, and projected onto the wall in my office without a word. The scene came to life before our eyes. My dad spoke first, “I assume Ashley is the one who hasn’t shifted.” Micah answered, “Yeah that's her. Black hair in a ponytail with red lipstick on.” My dad chuckled, “She’s very pretty. You forgot to add she’s also strapped down with weapons.” He wasn’t wrong.
