She yelled, “SO FUCKING LIE! You have the ability to do so. Alexander doesn’t want to do it. He can just give us his mother fucking word that we both believe in. He can’t lie so if he says he won’t go, he won’t. As I said multiple fucking times not having us be able to pop to them unless ONE goddamn fucking person says so is a bad….” She trailed off then groaned.
She continued, “That’s not a good enough word, catastrophic is.” My dad agreed “Yes, but none of our Fairy relatives are making this promise. I have to go ask the Henderson’s, but no one asked Aiden. He could go to them if they needed help.”
My mom snorted, “Sure, because they can link YOU and you can link our sons. All that can be done without a FUCKING PHONE! They have to hope they can get ahold of us, because mybrother is NOT answering their calls. Then get Drake TO AGREE before they can pop there. Do you know what that means? SOMEONE COULD FUCKING DIE!”
He whispered, “Come here.” She must have popped closer to him. She cried, “He doesn’t want to say it, and I may not understand the feelings behind the why of it; but it’s important to him. So, I can’t ask him to do it. We shouldn’t be asking any of them to do this. It’s wrong. Popping into their home, fine. Them personally? I just don’t understand what the fuck is going on.”
It had to be me. Maybe they suspected I’d be possessive of Melanie like the other guys. Oden growled, “That’s not true.” It had to be what they suspected though. I hated hearing my mom cry. My dad whispered, “I don’t want to ask him to do it either.” I could feel he truly hated asking all of us to do it.
Oden was quiet in my head letting me think through it all. Dad said, “I can’t let relations with us and Red Run go sour because of EJ and Elise.” My mom argued, “That’s exactly why it won’t go bad. Elise and EJ are mates.” He replied, “But if we balk then other allies could and that could affect their relationship with Red Run. I can’t have Elise in jeopardy.” Shit, that was a good point.
My mom repeated, “So fucking lie. You can.” I came in saying, “I won’t make him do that.” My dad stood, “Son, I’ll lie for you pups on any day ending in Y.” My mom snorted, “That’s all of them.” She blinked then said, “Oh, well I agree with that sentiment. Fucking A.” She smiled at me, “You young people say that, right?” I bit my lip.
I nodded, “I have heard that around my school.” My dad asked, “Where did you hear that, Angel?” She replied, “He just said the teenagers say it at that human school they go to now for high school.” That was evasive but mom had some sources in the pack. It stood to reason one was a teenage pack member.
I whispered, “I promise not to pop to the McAlister house or…” I trailed off. My mom jumped in, “That’s good enough and I will fucking fight anyone that says otherwise.” I grimaced, “Or the McAlister’s themselves.” I popped out right after.
I felt my dad yank at me to come back. My mom was more understanding, leaving me to my feelings. I stalked into the Hackura gym. Cayden glanced over but didn’t really take me in. He greeted, “Hey, Alexander. Is Cassie with you?” He looked over when I didn’t answer. He blinked, “Holy blazing eyes.”
Aaron whistled then said, “Ok, Cayden get out on your mission. I’ve got Alexander until the Royal family portals in.” Uncle Bjourn said, “I’m already here.” He hugged Cayden and turned to me. He ordered, “Walk with me.”
I argued, “I came here for a fight.” He agreed, “You did but I have a partial Fairy sister. From what I understand that’s the side of you hurt right now. Which means we have other priorities before we get in that ring.” I glared at the ring but nodded.
He portaled us to a bar. I asked, “What’s this?” He answered, “Cali and your mom’s new business venture.” I conjured us whiskey and slammed mine. He followed my lead, and we kept drinking. He easily matched me. I asked, “Why are we doing this?” He simply shot back, “You tell me.”
I whispered, “I promised not to pop to her.” He blinked several times then sat back. He said, “Since you are not talking about a mated woman, this is about Melanie McAlister.” He tapped his chin, “Your wolf has a different reaction to her wolf looking like yours I take it.”
I conjured another glass of whiskey then confessed, “Yes, but it’s more than that.” He inclined his head and waited. I slammed another drink before saying, “You can’t tell anyone.” He raised an eyebrow telling me, “All of you know you can tell me anything and I won’t share that if you don’t want it shared. I am not onlyyour Uncle, but your King. As long as you aren’t in danger, it’s between us.”
I admitted, “Since the day she was born, the world changed for me.” He asked, “In what way?” I shrugged, “I don’t know. No one else felt it besides dad and Grandpa Nathan. It felt different to them than me. They felt something change, but to me it was the whole world. Then Jase called and told me his sister was born the very second I felt everything change.”
He whispered, “Alexander, why have you not said anything?” I snorted, “Because I assumed, like an idiot, I’d meet her.” He put a hand on my shoulder, “Hey, you’re not an idiot.” I snorted, “Aren’t I? What if they are scared of me meeting her?” He questioned, “Why would that scare them?” I snorted, “Think about how many people are possessive of her.”
He practically growled, “And? I’m not getting it here.” Maximus, my cousin, faded in, “He’s saying he thinks they are scared he’d run off with Melanie and be possessive of her. How can you say that about yourself, cousin? Anyone would be lucky to have you as their mate and in their family. They should parade her in front of you to see if the weirdness around her stops. She’s clearly yours.”
My Uncle studied me then asked, “Is he right?” Maximus snorted, “You know I am.” I muttered, “What he knows is you’re the stealthiest of my cousins to exist because you have Uncle Logan’s talent for it with your Demon side.” Maximus rolled his eyes saying, “I won’t say anything, cousin.”
I sat up and pushed all my feelings at him. I emphatically stated, “I knew you wouldn’t. You heard me say I didn’t want it discussed.” Uncle Bjourn said, “Maximus is right. Anyone would be lucky to have you in their family.” Maximus added, “Plus, I can set people on fire if they try to keep you to that promise once you declare her yours.”
Uncle Bjourn snorted, “Maximus.” Maximus innocently asked, “What? I can. It’s a skill that I possess and I’m quite good at it.” He did the impossible and made me laugh. Uncle Bjourn said, “You’ll meet Melanie and Maximus will not be alone in making them back off that promise for you, your mom, and your siblings.”
I snorted, “Mom was talking about literally holding his feet to the fire.” Maximus clapped, “Ah ha! You see where my fire throwing abilities will come into play. I can scare them by throwing it NEAR them, then make Aunt Haley her fire to hold his feet over. The plan is cemented in my mind for possible use if necessary. Levi seems to believe the McAlister’s are reasonable people though, so it may be for nothing.”
He tapped his temple, “The plan does have merit for certain situations though.” Uncle Bjourn pointed at him saying, “Do NOT have your Aunt hold people’s feet over a fire.” I snorted, “That was way too vague.” Maximus grinned replying, “It really was. Bye!” He shimmered out.
Uncle Bjourn snorted, “You all live to give me a headache. Do we need to get in the ring?” I answered, “No, I need to go home and see my dad. He’s upset.” He put a hand on my shoulder advising, “Tell them what’s going on.” I snorted, “I can’t.” He argued, “You can.”
I shook my head, “It’s bad enough you’ll know. If she’s not mine, I’m just another possessive jerk.” He stared at me in disbelief. He blinked before saying, “I can understand why you think that, but not one person in this family, especially your parents have given you the idea that was true.”
I changed the subject, “Have you ever had the cookies from Red Run? Sam gets them delivered. Jase gives them to me too.” He snorted, “I don’t give a fuck about cookies. I care about you.” I told him, “I’m sure Levi has had them. Mom doesn’t care for them since they have peanut butter in them. They were theonly things that made me feel better when Red Run showed up without Melanie and Sam when she was first born.”
My Uncle looked at me worried, “What does that have to do with this conversation?” I admitted, “I could use a cookie right now. They are always a pick me up when I’m down.” He rubbed his temples. He said, “I’ll get you a cookie then.” I teased, “It wouldn’t be the right cookie.”
He blew out a breath then said, “Go home and talk to your dad. Also, yes. I’ve had the damn cookie you’re talking about and they do make me feel better too.” I asked, “Did my dad link you?” He answered, “More than once.” I hugged him, “Thanks for letting me get this out.” He replied, “I’ll always be here for you, and you know that.” He kissed my cheek then I popped home.
My dad was waiting in my room. He handed me whiskey saying, “I’m guessing you’ve had a few based on the scent.” Oden chuckled, “He knew before he scented us.” I told him, “I’m sorry I snapped at you.” He shrugged, “It’s ok.”
I argued, “It’s not. You didn’t want to ask us, and I could feel that. I understand why you did. I didn’t think about Red Run’s relationships with other packs and how that could affect Elise. I don’t want that to happen.”
