I sighed, “Let’s see what we can do tracking wise. Which direction did she go?” He inclined his head, “She got in a car and tried to follow us.” I laughed, “That’s hilarious. I hope your woman didn’t freak out about your evasive driving.” He sighed, “She said I’m paranoid and watch too many movies.”
I asked, “Does she not know what you are?” He replied, “She knows.” Ok then. I asked, “Where did you lose Ariena?” He got into a car, and I did too. He drove off and we drove into an alley. He said, “She got dropped off here. I came out and peeled left right around onto the other side and turned off the car. When she came out, they stopped and then drove back through this alley. I had to get my woman out of there.”
I replied, “I understand. Just pull me next time, I’ll come follow Ariena while you get your woman to safety.” I got out and looked all around. I knelt on the ground and found a pulsing piece of jewelry. Kade asked, “What’s that?” I conjured it to myself. I answered, “Something…” I trailed off when a couple walking by ran up to us.
I asked, “Can we help you?” The woman blushed, “Uhh no. I just had to come see this.” I covered it up and they looked at each other confused then left. Kade admitted, “Ariena was wearing that.” I hummed, “She was going to use it to get your woman to come to her. I must not be drawn to it because I’m a Fairy. It’s not a charm so she’s working with other people.”
I linked my mom, “Has Ariena been trying to get your database of partial Fairies?” She asked, “Are you with Kade?” I answered, “I am.” She replied, “Ariena can’t break into my goddamn fucking database because your Uncle coded the shit out of it and I charmed it.”
I hummed, “So, she has tried.” Mom answered, “Yes because she’s a fucking bitch.” I said, “Well, she’s now targetingbusinesses that have pretty things partial Fairies would be drawn too.” She admitted, “I thought as much. Aiden and I will work on this.”
I said, “Then I’ll conjure this to my Uncle Aiden.” I conjured the jewelry piece away. She replied, “Thanks. Tell Kade it’s under fucking control.” I hummed, “Will do.” I stopped linking her and stared at my cousin.
I asked, “Do you need me to ask the local pack to look out for your woman?” He replied, “Your dad already did.” I asked, “And when can I meet her?” He sighed, “It’s complicated.” I snorted, “I got that, but if she needs to be guarded let me know.” He hugged me, “Thanks, man.”
I assured him, “Ariena isn’t going to get your woman.” He snorted, “No, she won’t because I’ll kill her if she tries.” I asked, “Is there any way this could be about more than partial Fairies?” He stiffened, “You mean me? It would be crazy of her to go after my woman.”
I agreed, “I know that, but Ariena isn’t exactly stable.” He nodded, “I’ll make sure my woman is safe.” I reiterated, “You call me if you need anything.” He asked, “What are you thinking?” I admitted, “That there’s something more here.” He questioned, “Why?”
I explained, “She went after your woman who just happens to have a connection to possible partial Fairies? I mean sure, I know their names. I train with them, but Ariena doesn’t. She’s not exactly the worker bee who is going to track these names down. She couldn’t have counted on you seeing her. My instincts say something more is here. Like the list is a bonus, but I don’t know why.”
Kade assured me, “That’s good enough for me. I’ll protect her.” I warned, “Watch your six too, cousin.” He nodded, “I will.” I’d be making moves to make sure someone else did as well. Ipopped him back to our pack. He left and I went in search of who I needed.
I found my dad in his office. He said, “Your mom told me Kade brought you in on certain things.” I snorted, “I pushed him and I still didn’t get to meet his woman. You need to do what you do and cover Kade’s six.” He put his papers down and sat back in chair studying me. He pulled our bond close to him.
He said, “You genuinely think Ariena is going after his woman and him?” Oden chimed in, “The bond says the woman in question is Kade’s mate.” Sure, but why the hell couldn’t I meet her then? Oden retorted, “Why can’t we meet our mate? These are questions I cannot answer.” He was still in a mood.
I told my dad, “I don’t buy that Ariena just happened upon Kade’s woman. It’s too coincidental. Ariena is purposeful. The longer we went on this, the less it felt like that’s how it went down. I think the hitch in Ariena’s plan was Kade seeing her.” That could not have been her plan.
My dad nodded, “As it happens, I now own the business she works for.” I laughed, “Damn. It’s still yours and mom’s world and we all live in it.” He hummed, “I’ll be talking with the local pack about security and as with all our businesses Ariena won’t get in.” I nodded and gave him a hug.
I left and shifted. I found Lomax out on my run and felt bad. I’d ditched them. I was surprised Cheyenne didn’t come out to run with him. When we got back and shifted, I apologized, “Sorry, man. My cousin needed me.” Lomax dismissed me, “It’s ok. Family comes first.”
Cheyenne called, “Alexander!” She ran over and gave me a hug. I greeted, “Hey, sorry about earlier.” She giggled, “Make it up to me in the gym.” Oden grumbled, “Maybe we could hang out with them and our mate if you would just meet her.” I asked him, “And how am I supposed to do that?”
I’d tried to buy tickets to her recitals but by the time I got off the online queue the tickets were sold out. It’s not like they sold them on a secondary market for me to buy. Oden grunted, “Ask our uncle Gunner to get us the ticket.” Then he’d ask why.
Oden sighed, “So?” It wasn’t like I hadn’t thought about it. I really had. It wasn’t like I possessed the hacking skills to get the damn ticket myself. I’d knew because I’d tried. I’d gone to a damn class in the Hackura realm on hacking, but I still didn’t get a god damn ticket.
Cheyenne nudged me, “Where did you go?” New York. Oden huffed, “I wish.” Me too. I told her, “Just thinking over some things.” She urged, “Then let’s get on the mats. You always do your best thinking there.” She wasn’t wrong. I walked into the gym with her and stepped into the ring.
Lomax called, “Hey Fowler, do you have some time for me?” I was a little worried since he hadn’t seemed thrilled they were visiting. Fowler agreed, “Yeah, man. Let’s go.” I exhaled and sparred with Cheyenne. I went through the motions.
Oden said, “We could spar with mate if you’d meet her.” I replied, “Tell me how to meet her. I’ve been trying. We try to get tickets to her dances.” He admitted, “I don’t know. Just go to New York.” I replied, “I can’t just go to meet her. I need a reason to give everyone else.”
He asked, “And what would the reason be if you got a ticket?” I argued, “You know what it would be.” I dodged a punch and landed one. I saw Cheyenne wince and felt bad. Oden asked, “Who cares? We don’t pull punches. We are helping our friend. If we go to mate’s dance to talk to her about coming home to see Jase, then we can just go to New York and do that.”
There was something that stopped me with that though. A scent reached me that I knew, and I turned. I told Cheyenne, “Let’s break. I love those cookies. Do you want one?” She replied,“Nah, I’m good.” I shrugged my shoulder and grabbed some of Karina’s cookies. Damn. They were so good.
I ate it and calmed down. I told Oden, “We’ll get a ticket or something. She’ll come home one day. Everything is fine.” He agreed, “You’re right. I’m just impatient.” I chuckled, “Me too, buddy.” Cheyenne pouted, “You really are out of it this visit.”
I admitted, “I’ve got a lot on my mind.” She grinned saying, “I’m a good listener.” Gage and Phil appeared. Phil said, “I am also an excellent listener.” Plus, he and Gage knew it was likely Melanie on my mind. Gage said, “Me too. As it is, we need our Alpha.”
Cheyenne sighed, “Everyone is taking you away from me this visit.” I asked, “How long are you staying?” She admitted, “We leave tomorrow afternoon. Lomax has things he needs to get back for.” I winced saying, “I’ll make it up to you next time.”
She beamed, “I know you will. You could always visit our pack.” Gage replied, “Sure he can. With all his spare time.” She giggled and touched his shoulder before cutting a glance at me. Were they a thing? Oden hummed, “Good for them.” I agreed.
She sighed then walked over to Lomax and I went into my office in the gym. I asked, “What’s up guys?” Phil nudged Gage saying, “He asks what’s up as if he did not disappear earlier.” I reasoned, “You could’ve linked me.” Phil snorted, “You are supposed to tell me things.”
