I opened my eyes noting quickly that I was in a hospital. What the hell? I looked around easily recognizing this was not our pack hospital. Based on the instruments and machines they had it was a human hospital. We didn’t share all our technology with them, so it was easy to realize when it wasn’t ours.
Great. I had such fond memories of the last human hospital I’d been in. My gaze landed on a woman I’d literally never seen in my entire life, but she wasn’t a nurse or a doctor. She was sitting there as if she was waiting for me to wake up. Why? I didn’t know her.
She noticed me watching her and put her phone down. She sighed, “You’re finally awake.” As if someone breaking into my home and my getting shot personally annoyed her. I frowned asking, “Where’s my family?”
The woman rolled her eyes, “You saw them die. Or so I was told. I guess if you didn’t know then I’ll tell you they didn’t make it.” I flinched then cried, “No, they can’t be dead! Where’s Jase? Where’s Grandpa and Grandma McAlister?”
The woman sighed, “Look, here’s the deal. Jason met his mate. Everly.” I jolted physically as if she’d slapped me. Was that why Tristan came home? I’d heard him say he liked her on the phone… ok I was eavesdropping. Everly and Tristan were talking all the time. They flirted and the moon goddess mated her to our brother? Jason knew Tristan liked her too. That was so mean!
The woman continued, “He’s focused on her now. He’s going to have to be the Beta which he wasn’t expecting.” I argued, “That’s not true… he knows he’ll be Christopher’s Beta. They’ve just worked out how he can be the Male Lead Warrior andtake that role. But he was always going to a Beta… too… he just planned on using the Male Lead Warrior title… which Christopher is fine with.”
She corrected, “Alpha Christopher.” I retorted, “He’s practically my uncle and I’ve always… literally always… called him Christopher.” She gripped my hand, “You will use all their titles per their request.” Yeah, ok lady.
If we weren’t in a human hospital, I’d break her face and hand for touching me. I had already mentally calculated that I was a better fighter than her. She didn’t look like she’d trained a single day in her life. She continued, “Anyway, Beta Jason is basically training full time now.”
I interrupted, “He’s been full time training this entire time so…” She gripped my hand harder. She warned, “Stop interrupting me.” I shot back, “Could you start making sense then? Jase has been training…” She cut me off, “BETA Jason.” I stared at her.
I said, “Ummm you do know he’s my brother… so….” She snarled, “He can’t take care of you. Your grandparents are too distraught over the loss of their son and oldest grandpup.” That didn’t sound right either, but grief did often have people making snap decisions they later felt remorse over. This was just an odd one for a pack, let alone blood relations.
I questioned, “What about the Kyle’s? They are my guardians if anything happens to my parents.” It was literally in their will. My dad had told me, Tristan, and Jason that ever since we were old enough to understand everything. So, why weren’t they here? Where was here?
The woman sighed, “They are upset. They lost their friends.” I tried to sit up and gasped in pain. I asked, “Who are you? Where are my other grandparents? My mom’s parents will take me.” She sighed, “I was getting there. I'm your mother’s sister.”
I interrupted, “Excuse me? Like what? Her what? What? Just… I know it’s coming out squeaking and confused… but I have no other way to ask… WHAT?!” She warned, “STOP interrupting.” I reiterated, “Please start making sense! My mom is an only child.”
She ignored me, “Your other grandparents called me. They can’t bear to look at you as a constant reminder of the precious daughter they loved so much. I have no pups, so I’m stuck with you.” I stared at her. Was I supposed to believe that? She didn’t look like either of my grandparents or my mom.
She sighed, “Look, I get it. Saint Sam was always the golden one. I was adopted.” Ok, that was the first thing she’d said that made sense. She waved, “Then they had their miracle pup, and I was forgotten.” That literally didn’t sound like my grandparents at all. Why had no one ever mentioned this woman? Other than the fact that she clearly had no empathy.
I told her, “Jase won’t let you keep me.” She snorted, “Keep up. He already agreed. He even sent you a letter. Look, you're already here. This is where I live. Nashville.” Nashville?! My dad hated it here and so did my mom. They literally wouldn’t even let me compete here. There was no way this was happening.
I cried, “NO! I want JASE! I want Grandpa Ben! I want Momma Chelsea! I don’t even know you!” The woman stood and grabbed my arm tightly, “Look here little girl, my name is Stephanie McCann, and I’m your aunt.”
I repeated, “My mom doesn’t have a sister adopted or not. I don’t know who you are, but I do NOT know you! Stop touching me or you’ll need a hospital bed yourself.” She glared at me, but I saw the fear in her eyes.
She released my arm saying, “That bitch would tell you pups she didn’t have a sister.” I growled, “Don’t you EVER call my mom that!” She waved dismissively, “My mate was not popular before he died. It was NOT approved of that I went with him,even though he was my mate.” Literally every word out of her mouth was more confusing than the last.
I questioned “Was?” Mentally I ran through memos wondering if I’d seen the name McCann on them but I wasn’t recalling them at the moment. I could looking into archives though. Stephanie nodded, “He died. I have a new husband. You’ll meet him when we go to the pack. He’s a warlock. You can call him Uncle Ajax.”
I sucked in a painful breath because that was Jason’s wolf’s name. I wanted to see my Ajax, not some Uncle I didn’t know. I asked, “Can’t I call Jase?” Stephanie sighed, “It’s Beta Jason.” I glared at her. She rolled her eyes saying, “I’m trying to help you pup. He doesn't want to talk to you.”
I cried, “Why not?” Stephanie rolled her eyes, “Because you killed your family.” I shouted, “I did not!” She repeated slowly like I was stupid, “Sam, Drake, and Tristan came back for you.” I growled, “Beta Female Sam and Beta Drake.”
Stephanie retorted, “You don’t get titles when you are dead.” I flinched again but said, “That’s not true. You always have the title once you have it, dead or not.” Hot tears rolled down my cheeks. I didn’t want it to be true, but I’d seen it.
Stephanie continued, “They left Elise’s Luna Ceremony early because you were upset. They shouldn’t have been there, but they came back for you.” I cried, “Coming home early suggests they would’ve gotten there! They didn’t get popped in so they wouldn’t even have made it there by the time our house was attacked. This doesn’t make sense! T was supposed to spend the night! He shouldn’t have been there!”
Stephanie growled, “They said you were smart. He WAS there. You saw him.” I stared at her before I said, “I would have to lose over twenty I.Q. points to be smart. I’m pointing out a fact.” She retorted, “Well they turned around because of your tantrum.” I flinched as if she slapped me. I had yelled at themlike never before and threatened to leave. She was right, this was my fault.
I whispered, “What about Uncle Duncan?” She answered, “As far as I know, he’s not aware. He’s out on some mission.” She snorted, “Hopefully, he will want you and then I’ll be rid of you. I don’t like pups.” Hope bubbled in my chest. I wanted anyone else to have custody of me over her. Her story was literally insane and maybe she was too. She threw an envelope at me. I opened it. There were two notes inside.
Melanie,
I have to look out for the pack right now. You know how loved your parents and Tristan were around here. Everyone is devastated. We can talk about you returning after you’ve shifted.
Until then, I Alpha Command you not to link anyone in the pack. Respect the fact we need to heal and not hear the rambling facts you have to offer. This is a devastating time for us all.
Alpha Peter Kyle
