I linked Gage, “You good?” He snorted, “I feel like I’m on a scavenger hunt. I’m good.” I hoped he had fun. I asked, “For what?” He admitted, “I’m not even remotely sure but I’m excited.”
My phone rang and I noted it was Angela calling. I frowned asking, “Why would she call me?” I showed Phil my phone. Phil replied, “Who knows? Maybe it’s for dramatic effect. Fairies. What can you do? You should be used to it. You are one.”
I answered, “Hello Angela…” I trailed off because there was loud music in the background. I growled, “Where are you?” Angela laughed, “I’m in Louisiana. You should come get me.” I shouted, “What the HELL are you doing in Louisiana?!” I grabbed Phil.
Angela answered, “Enjoying some music. The band is actually really good! That was the rumor though and it’s true. Are you coming to get me? I’m not leaving until you do.” I growled, “Do not move. I’ll be right there.” Angela laughed, “Just get here fast.” She hung up.
I threw my phone across the room. Phil complained, “I feel led astray. This was not the type of fun I thought she had in mind.” I growled, “Klaus had BETTER be with her or I’ll have someone ground her.” Phil laughed, “You’d have to ground her, your parents are on vacation. Correction, your mom is the only one who could do it, because your dad is an even worse sap than we are.”
I sighed, “You know I can’t ground her. AH HA! Loophole! Technically Wesley is in charge, so he’d have to ground her.” Phil laughed, “There ya go.” I popped us to Angela but heard her pop out as we arrived. I growled, “What the HELL is she playing at?”
Phil pointed out, “You left your phone at home so we can’t call and ask. Might I suggest linking her.” I could conjure it. Oden told me, “Snow said she was here because we needed to be. We can’t upset Snow.” God damn it.
I asked Phil, “Where’s your phone?” Phil admitted, “It’s also at home. Specifically in your room. I didn’t think this was a long stop. We are being pranked. Obviously.” The music I’d heard had stopped playing. I blew out a breath then inhaled deeply. Igot hit strongly with the scent of Strawberries. Oden demanded, “GET MATE NOW!”
My heart stopped for several seconds. I grabbed Phil. He asked, “Do you smell that too?” Oden growled in my head. I questioned, “You smell it too? It’s strawberries, Phil. Do you know who smells like Strawberries?”
Phil laughed, “Strawberries? I do know because you’ve told me and the hoodie you have used to have a scent; however, you need to get your super nose checked out. That smell is CLEARLY peaches.” I sighed in relief because he wasn’t smelling Melanie strongly like I was. I wasn’t some possessive Werewolf. Well, I was but it was because Melanie was mine.
Oden growled at me, “If you don’t go get mate RIGHT NOW I will growl at you until we have her in our arms. It WILL annoy you and I won’t feel remotely bad about it.” The scent was getting stronger. Phil was bouncing back and forth on his feet. Oden purred, “Mate is coming to us.”
I could hear voices now. One girl whisper yelled, “Where are you going? We need to get the HELL out of here!” A voice that stopped everything in my world answered her, “Uhh do you not smell the most amazing sugar cookie that is literally wafting its scent?”
She practically moaned, “Wafting… I NEED it. It’s practically taunting me….and daring me to come get it. Who says no to a delicious dare like that? Not me…I want to lick it… No, I want to DEVOUR it. It will be mine. You know I LOVE sugar cookies. We can spare a few minutes to track down the delicious sugar cookie then get the heck out of dodge.”
Phil linked me, “Is that really who I think it is? You smelled strawberries because Melanie freaking McAlister is here?!” I answered, “It is her and I assure you she can do all those things to me. I even strongly encourage both.” He asked, “What the hellis she doing in Louisiana?!” I had no idea and I didn’t even kind of care.
I linked Gage, “I’m about to meet Melanie.” He shouted, “YOU ARE WHAT?! I’m linking Phil immediately.” The girl with Melanie snorted, “I do not smell a sugar cookie. I do smell chocolate pie, and it does smell really good. I guess we can go this way, but then we HAVE to get out of here.”
Melanie told her, “When I have my delicious cookie… we can absolutely leave. I don’t know anything about a chocolate pie smell though… you might be losing it. I don’t currently care…. Because I want my sugar cookie. No, no… I NEED my cookie.”
Oden purred, “I want my strawberry smelling mate. Go get her!” They rounded the corner before I could move, and I was instantly captivated. Phil growled, “Mine!” Both girls gasped and jumped apart. Then my mate’s beautiful green pale eyes landed on mine.
I growled, “Mine!” Melanie’s jaw dropped. For a split second everything was perfect. Her eyes were on mine, and I was lost in hers. Then she started to fall to the ground while screaming in pain. She was clutching her head. I rushed forward and caught her before she hit the ground.
Her friend screamed, “ASHLEY, what’s wrong?” I asked, “Umm what? Ashley?” Phil linked me, “What the actual hell? That’s Melanie McAlister. I know because you’ve made me watch those videos of her dancing a bajillion times.” I replied, “I am aware of who she is, Phil. I’d know that scent anywhere.”
I knew what Melanie smelled like, and I knew what she looked like because of the videos I’d been watching of her dancing. Melanie was better when I was touching her, but she was still screaming in pain. Her friend looked around before saying, “God, we’ve got to get out of here.” I nodded to Phil.
I didn’t care why, but I did want to get somewhere safe to help my mate. Phil grabbed his mate, and I popped us away. Gagelinked, “What is going on?” I answered, “Something both good and bad. I can’t talk, you’ll have to link Phil.”
Phil’s mate sat down and groaned. I actually looked at her and was shocked to realize I knew exactly who she was. How the ever loving hell she knew Melanie was going to be a whole ass fucking story, I could tell. She said, “Whoa popping is a really weird experience.”
Sierra Kiern sat down for several moments then jumped up. She shouted, “HOLY SHIT!” She clapped her hands over her mouth. She whispered, “She was right. Oh my god. She was right! She’s been right the whole time.” Phil asked, “About what? And who might you be?”
I linked him, “You know who she is. She’s a Beta’s daughter. That’s Sierra Kiern.” Phil replied, “I am aware of that. I just want her to say her name. They said Melanie’s name was Ashley. So, who knows if we are using real names or not.”
Sierra answered, “Umm I’m Samantha McLean.” I frowned. Phil linked me, “Ok, so that was a no on using real names for our mates. That makes NO sense.” Melanie was still screaming. Sierra asked, “Ashley, what’s wrong?” Both names clicked for me. Samantha and Ashley.
I asked, “Ashley Griffen?” Phil replied, “No.” Sierra nodded. I snorted, “Where’s Cindy Blake?” That was the character they were missing from the book series Melanie liked. Sierra told me, “She left the show with everyone else.”
Phil linked, “They use the names for the band from the book series I read with you because I saw you reading them so many times.” I retorted, “Thanks for that astute observation. By the way, I already figured that out.”
I asked out loud, “What’s wrong with my mate?” Sierra admitted, “I don’t know. She might have hurt her head earlier, but she said it was nothing.” I told her, “There is nothingphysically wrong with her, or I could heal it.” Oden whined in my head.
Sierra winced saying, “I did know that about you.” So, she knew me. Phil linked, “So, Melanie told her about you.” I replied, “Clearly.” He admitted, “It’s not surprising really. EJ and Elise said you are her crush.” What the hell was going on? Melanie thrashed in my arms. I set her down and she started trying to crawl.
I felt something wet on my face and wiped my face to realize I was crying but I wasn’t the only one. Sierra was crying too. Oden howled in my head. I asked, “Buddy?” He said, “I feel like something inside me is repairing and it hurts because it hurts her.”
