I sent it back and popped out. I groaned, “What are you doing Alexander?” Oden snorted, “Despite you talking in third person, I approve of this plan. Do it!” I was in the technology building and let Oden come forward. Micah Percival, my cousin for all intents and purposes though it wasn’t biological, was working here.
He was quite talented at hacking, and I knew he could do what I wanted. Plus, he’d keep it private. I found him hunkeredover, rubbing his head in a room where the techs went to get a break. I knocked calling, “Hey, Micah.” He looked up and his eyes widened. He nervously greeted, “Hey, Alexander. Are you here with your brothers?”
I grinned, wondering if he had a crush on one of my brothers. Max and he would make a striking pair. Oden chuckled, “Do not play matchmaker. It’s not our forte.” He was right. I’d leave that to Angela and Cassie. Even at two Angela was better than me at it. Then all of us except Cassie really.
I told him, “I was wondering if you could help me.” He agreed, “Of course.” I winced, “Hold that thought because I need you to keep what I’m asking secret and not ask me questions.” He snorted, “Do you know what most of my job is?” I answered, “Yes, hacking.” He laughed, “Yeah, but I keep a lot of secrets and rarely ask questions. It comes with who we are. What do you need?”
I conjured my computer and handed it to him. I explained, “I need you to put a backdoor on my computer to Jason McAlister’s that he can’t trace.” He made a face and stared at me. He held my gaze and nodded, “Alright. Are we worried about Jason being a traitor?” I scoffed, “No.”
He laughed, “Is this for a prank?” I answered, “Also no and I’m not going to do anything bad.” I’m just going to use his link to watch Melanie dance. He shrugged, “Ok.” He got to work, and I sat down feeling everything settle in my gut. I’d finally lay eyes on her.
Oden huffed, “Will you admit she’s our then?” I snorted, “We have to see her IN PERSON, and you know it.” He argued, “A lot of Hackura say when they see a LIVE video feed, they know.” I shot back, “Two people is not a lot.”
He groaned, “Come on!” I said, “Once we see her in person, it will all be settled.” I closed my eyes and couldn’t help but think of the biggest shot to our family regarding the McAlister’sbefore the dance in Red Run, that felt like it set a new tone to our relationship. They hurt all my siblings’ feelings, but it shot through to my heart in a way I couldn’t explain.
Flashback
Alexander was curious. My dad had gathered all of us with mom. She was locked down in the bond and I hated that. I raised an eyebrow when my youngest siblings so far popped in. We need our three year old brothers here for this?
I picked up Grant and nuzzled his nose. He giggled, “Alexander!” Bryce and Bradley popped into my lap. I teased, “You guys are getting too big for this.” Bradley gasped, “But not really, right? You jokin’.” I grinned, “I’m pretty sure I’ll always be bigger than you guys.”
Bryce scoffed, “Never.” My mom was pregnant with my little sister and brother. She rubbed her tummy, and I saw a calm come over her. I was certain my little brother was an empath and helped mom. I just wondered why she wasn’t calm right now. In fact, I was certain she was hurt.
My dad cleared his throat, “Since we are all here, I do have something I need you guys to give me a promise about.” My mom turned her head, but I saw the face she made and I could feel her better than my siblings. She did not agree with what we were about to do.
EJ asked, “What’s going on?” He sighed, “I have had a discussion, that I don’t agree with the outcome of. I just want to say that. I don’t really understand where this is coming from, but I don’t think it’s about us.” Everyone frowned and I felt my sibling’s confusion.
He explained, “Obviously before your mom came into this pack, as Wolves, we didn’t really rely heavily on magic.” I snorted, “That’s a way of saying how things worked in packs. Turning into a wolf is magic.” My dad nodded saying, “No,you’re right but we didn’t use teleporting or charms to get things done.” Ok?
He ran a hand through his hair and the bond told me he didn’t want to have this conversation. He felt this was unjust and could hurt us. That put me on alert because I didn’t want any of my siblings to have their feelings hurt. I sussed through my bond with my dad. I was shocked to find he was mostly worried about me and EJ.
It revolved around how we’d take this news more than my siblings. There was a tinge of it around Cassie too. My mom said, “Just tell them outright, Eric.” She whispered, “They will take it better that way.” It was already clear this dealt with our Fairy side. I wasn’t aware packs were still being weird about that.
My dad nodded at her saying, “Your mom already made the promise to our allies.” Her jaw locked and I felt how much she hated it before she locked down. I asked, “What the fuck is going on?” My dad answered, “I need you to promise not to pop to the McAlister’s or into their home unless Drake declares it’s an emergency.”
My heart literally faltered in my chest. I could feel my heartbeat in my ears. My mom popped beside me. She urgently grabbed my hand, “Alexander.” I couldn’t pop to Melanie? Oden growled in anger. He’d been silent until now. We’d been trying to meet her for years to no avail.
Oden snarled, “We will just have to go the dance. Elise said that Warrior’s daughter wants to go with us. Accept.” I was actually thinking it was the only choice. Preston asked, “Why?” My dad explained, “He doesn’t want his pups to rely on magic. They don’t have any and he wants them prepared to act without it.” That made sense and didn’t.
Cassie said, “They have a Fairy family in their pack. Their Gamma’s even.” My dad nodded, “This went out to all the packs, and they don’t want to discuss us.” Too fucking bad. I asked,“Are you saying I can’t ask Jase what the fuck their problem is?” My dad nodded and I could tell he felt it was bullshit.
I pointed out, “He is my friend.” EJ said, “Elise is my mate, and I won’t hide a damn thing from her.” My dad replied, “I very much doubt she’ll say anything about it to you, but if she does I am not going to police the conversations you have with your mate.”
I scoffed, “Just us our friends.” He winced. My mom said, “It’s not his fault and I know you understand that, but you will not talk to your dad with that fucking tone. Do you hear me?” Guilt flared up in me. It wasn’t his call, but I took it out on him. I nodded, “Yes, mom.”
I set my brothers down and popped to him. I whispered, “I’m sorry, dad.” He hugged me tightly. When I pulled back, he looked into my eyes worriedly. He said, “I don’t give a shit who relies on magic or not. I would never ask this of you guys. I just can’t tell someone how to raise their pups because I sure as shit won’t listen to anyone else about how to raise mine. The McAlister’s aren’t in our pack.”
Maverick said, “But they are in our sister in law’s pack.” It was an astute observation. My dad nodded, “And this promise doesn’t involve Elise.” But it did include Melanie. Julian glanced at me then asked, “And if someone in this family ends up mated to Melanie, should she exist, then what?” My mom scoffed, “She’s a damn prank they won’t let go of.”
Julian pressed, “But if she IS real.” My mom snorted, “If Melanie is mated into this family, I will personally hold Drake’s feet over an actual fucking fire until he releases all of us from that promise. It won’t happen because she’s a damn prank. I’m very sorry they are putting this on you guys. They seem to think they can take the prank master title from me.”
She scoffed again, “They are going on about this one and it’s not even fucking funny. Eleven fucking years and they useinsulting reasons as to why we haven’t met her.” I agreed because several of their reasons insulted our intelligence, but she was real. I knew she was.
Oden agreed, “She is real.” I agreed, “I know buddy.” He whispered, “But we can’t pop to her and she’s probably ours.” I reasoned, “Mom will fix it.” He said, “I know this hurts you a lot.” It did. Theo said, “Well, I’ve never popped to them or their damn house. So, I promise not to pop to a McAlister or their house unless it’s declared an emergency.”
One by one my siblings all agreed and left the room. All were offended and hurt. Cassie begrudgingly agreed as did EJ. Both shot me glances before they left. My mom ground out, “Eric…” He cut her off, “They are our allies.” She said, “Alexander, please give us a second.” I stood and went outside the door.
When she was angry enough my mom forgot I could still hear her even if I left. She hissed, “Don’t make him do this.” Dad sighed, “I don’t want to make any of them do this. It feels like bullshit. I don’t understand where it came from. It feels like there’s a threat I don’t know about. The McAlister’s asked for me to say they all promised.”
