I walked outside and found Virgil and Crush were waiting in a car. I got in the back and Crush took off. He used several evasion tactics. They dropped me off at Mason and Hendrick’s house. I walked in and went to my room.
I quickly moved my nightstand and tapped on the floor. My safe was under that. I typed in the code and pulled out the phone Xander called and left messages on. A thrill went through me seeing he’d left another voicemail.
I listened and was instantly unable to stop my tears. He was so sad, and I couldn’t have that. He wanted to fund us. I didn’t need his money. I’d have to talk to the group about changing some things. One thing I knew… was my old fighting style had to stop.
Xander begged me not to keep fighting like I had been. I couldn’t ignore that part of his plea. I could hear his heart breaking when he’d made the request. I heard people coming up to the door. I quickly put the phone away.
I walked and opened the front door. I gasped, “Alpha Theo… Alpha Lux… what are you doing here?” Alpha Theo replied, “We have been waiting for you to get here. I want to hear about your car accident.” I admitted, “I mean... I’d tell you, but I don’t remember. I do remember a fight… maybe a couple… I remember the flashes of light… I KNOW there was a crash cash… the rest... I got nada.”
Lux laughed, “Aww come on pretty lady. Let me whisk you away from this horrid place. They don’t deserve you. I’ll treat you like a queen.” I reasoned, “You have a mate out there, Lux.” Lux flirted back, “There’s nothing wrong with a little fun before she comes along. You’d still be treated like a queen. There would be no attempts to forcibly mark you. I’d bite you but you’d like it.” He winked.
I gently told him, “That’s a very kind offer but I’m ok. I really don't remember anything other than what I’ve told you.”Alpha Theo hummed, “How odd.” I thought about it and could acknowledge he was right because I’d thought the same thing. This was twice now. Maybe I’d have Paige look into it.
I offered, “Tell you what…. if I remember the details, I’ll actually call you.” Alpha Theo looked surprised before saying “You’ll call me and tell me what you remember?” I nodded, “Yup. it’s one thing to lie and claim I’m his mate… it’s entirely another to try to mark me... if that’s what happened. If I remember and can honestly tell you that’s what he did…. Well, then I’ll call.”
Lux jumped in, “Well, there had to be other witnesses. They can tell us and then we can protect you.” I told him, “I can protect myself and I have no proof he attacked me with the intent to mark me. So… there really isn’t anything you can do.”
Alpha Theo snorted, “I’d believe that what’s happened based on the pictures in your hospital chart. I doubt anyone on the council would disagree.” He was wrong. I nervously offered, “Take it or leave it Alpha Theo... I promise on my honor, if I remember the events of that night… I’ll call you and tell you all about them…maybe even given you a written report.”
Alpha Theo agreed, “I will take that. I think we are making progress. I think you like us.” I was stunned he didn’t know that I did like them. I replied, “Liking you is not the problem.” Lux threw on his charm again saying, “Aww, come on tell then. Out with it. Tell Lux the problem. I’ll fix it all up and then pamper you as you deserve.” He was referring to himself in the third person?
I teased, “What fun would that be? You love a challenge, Lux.” Lux acknowledged, “I do. I like you, Ashley Griffen. I promise you would have fun with me. I’d take you on dates and show you the world. While cheering you on as you schooled all our Warriors on how to fight. You’d also like me when you were writhing underneath me, screaming in pleasure.”
I shook my head, “Sorry. My heart has belonged to one man since I was three.” Lux faked a dagger to his heart. He said, “One day, you’ll give up on him and I’ll be there.” I chuckled, “You’re a pathological flirt. Are all your siblings that way?”
Lux laughed, “No. My brothers flirt, but obviously I’m the best. I couldn’t answer for my sisters.” I frowned, because as far as I knew he just had one but he’d said it as in plural. He sighed, “I’m looking for that answer though. Among others.” That made no sense whatsoever. I offered, “I’d help if you needed it.” Lux smiled, “Now, we’ve come full circle.”
We talked for a few more hours before they ended up leaving. When they left, I went back into my room. I took my Xander wolf out of my safe and Xander’s old hoodie. I held onto him and cried.
I admitted, “I miss you Xander. I wish you didn’t hate me. Maybe my friends are right. Maybe you would love me too. Or at least give us a chance. All I need is a chance. We could be happy. No matter what, I'll always be yours Xander. Always.” I closed my eyes and cried myself to sleep.
Strawberries
Alexander is Twenty-Five Years old
Alexander saw EJ and Elise popped out of Black Mountain to go on their vacation with the Kyle family. I looked over at my brother, Wesley. He smiled at me before joking, “I give EJ an hour before he makes his first call to ask how things are going.”
I laughed, “I think you’re giving him too much credit, little brother. I’ll give him twenty minutes. He’s not actually worried though. We both know you and Max have got this.” Wesley replied, “You could take off too.”
I shrugged asking, “Where would I go?” Wesley answered, “I don’t know. Maybe Nashville for fun and stuff.” I laughed, “I’ll think about it, Wes.” Wesley nodded, “I’m just saying, you’ve got some spare time on your hands.” I did. Oden sighed, “Or New York.” It wasn’t his worst idea.
Wesley continued, “I know you’ve wanted to convince Ashley to have a training session up here with the Warriors. Who could say no to you in person? You’d have the advantage. I’ve yet to meet a woman or man who said no to you in person. Plenty you’ve said no to, but none say no to anything you ask. Even when they are disappointed in the answer.”
I laughed, “Plenty of people could say no to me. In fact, Ashley does all the time.” Wesley teased, “I know. It makes me like her. People just do what we say all the time, but she’s different. I don’t know though, I think she’d say yes to you in person, big brother.”
I chuckled, “Maybe we will find out. I’m going to the gym if you need me.” Wesley gasped in mock shock before saying, “Of course that’s where you will be. It’s where you usually are. If you want to talk about that, I’m here. Because I know somethinghas been going on and it was before Ashley Griffen came on the scene.” I lightly punched his arm and popped to the gym.
I lost myself in the movements of hitting the heavy bag. Maybe Wesley was right. Maybe I should go to Nashville or New York. Heck, I could do both. Oden perked up in my mind, then someone cleared their throat. I knew who it was turned around asking, “Phil?”
Phil sighed, “A certain little sister of yours requests that I get you showered and dressed. It seems she has plans for the both of us. I, myself am freshly showered. Gage is off on some other thing because his sister asked him to do it.”
“I just can’t help but comment on how all of us are owned by your sisters. They say jump, we all ask: how high? And for how long? I’m worse off because I have my own sisters that I jump through hoops for AND yours. It’s not fair for a group of people who CONSTANTLY talk about what’s fair.”
I laughed and popped us to my room then quickly got into the shower. I came out and a pale green shirt was sitting out with jeans. I raised an eyebrow at my Beta. Honestly, I’d forgotten I even had this shirt.
Phil laughed, “I know what you’re thinking. I have lost my marbles and decided that you are my personal Ken Barbie doll, and I get to dress you; however, I had nothing to do with this.” I rolled my eyes.
Phil urged, “Go ahead and put it on. We are all the dancing monkeys of Angela. Gage linked me his sister’s errand had something with Angela too.” I laughed because he was right. My little sister wanted me to get dressed up so I would be.
