Theorizing
Alexander need clarity. When Sierra announced that her and Melanie would be getting ready together, I tried to hide my disappointment because I wanted to get ready with Melanie. I had planned to see if she was up for some sexy time. I wasn’t letting her go without at least a kiss.
Oden linked me, “I mean we could just pop away with her, have sex, then pop her to her friend.” Before I could do just that, Sierra grabbed Melanie and led her away. I snapped myself clean and ready. Phil held out his hands and made a come on gesture. I laughed then snapped him clean and ready too.
I told him, “I swear you are losing your touch, cousin. Your mate is always running off to be with mine.” Phil snorted, “I assure you I have not lost my touch. I had sex this morning.” I growled, “Because my mate made breakfast.”
Phil acknowledged, “That is true. It’s also something my mate knew would happen. She knew exactly where yours would be this morning. Somehow, she just knew Melanie was in the kitchen making all kinds of food. She even said there would be a smattering of it all.” We walked into the living room to wait.
I wasn’t trying to eavesdrop on our mates, but I could hear them talking. I’d missed the first part but Sierra was telling Melanie I wouldn’t care about something. Melanie disagreed. Phil sighed, “What did they say? Your face says it’s not good.” I explained, “They are arguing about me caring about something. Sierra says I won’t, but Melanie says I will.”
Phil sighed, “If only I had your supersonic special hearing. Melanie must not know how good yours is.” That had to be true. I wondered why Jason didn’t tell her about it. I laughed, “Now they are talking about having sex with us and Melanie is flustered.” He called Gage.
Phil raised an eyebrow asking me, “How do you know that she’s flustered? Is it her tone? Or did my Fairy cousin break the rules and mark his mate?” Gage asked, “What the fuck am I being brought into right now?”
I sighed, “I didn’t exactly break the rules. I didn’t mark her.” Gage groaned, “He did something.” Phil surmised, “His loophole loving ass shared his light.” I inclined my head. Gage gasped, “You did?” Phil asked, “Did you tell her that you shared your light?” I replied, “I didn’t mean to do it.”
Phil laughed, “So no, you didn’t tell her.” Gage advised, “I would tell her it happened. It’s not like you can help it. It’s an instinct.” I ran my hands through my hair asking, “What am I supposed to do, guys? She wants to tell me some big secret before I can mark her.” Phil said, “Which you didn’t actually do.”
I grumbled, “I’m pretty sure she’d freak out about me sharing my light. Plus, I wasn’t even thinking about it, my light just had a mind of its own. She’s mine, I’m hers, and I don’t care about whatever she thinks will turn me away. It won’t. I’ve wanted her for so long at this point. I probably should’ve expected my light to act on its own accord.”
Phil put up his hands saying, “I know all that.” Gage agreed, “Me too.” I told them, “I’m going to tell her. I just want to wait until after my mission and she tells me whatever she thinks will change things. I don’t want her to feel guilty because she’s thinking I don’t know something about her.”
Phil snorted, “You know, Gage, he’s not wrong. Melanie would rant about it for hours and probably pace. I’m a fan of that not happening for all our sakes since I’m the boots on the ground here to deal with the Alpha who would be a wreck over his mate being in that state.”
Gage admitted, “I don’t see why it would be that big of a deal.” He wasn’t here and didn’t see how my mate was acting. I sighed, “I’m excited but I feel bad because I’m not telling her it happened. I probably should’ve told her afterwards.”
Phil disagreed, “I don’t think so. You have excellent instincts. If they are telling you to wait, then that’s what you do. We both know it’s not that she doesn’t want you to mark her because she’s not ready. It’s that she’s afraid you won’t want to mark her after said information. She’s not wavering on her feelings for you. Sierra told me Ashley, who is really Melanie, always said it was you. Ever since they met her, she told them you were her mate.”
Gage said, “I’m still confused over here as to what the problem is.” I nearly shouted, “Then why the HELL didn’t she come to me?” Gage grumbled, “Typical. Don’t tell the Gamma what’s happening. Continue to ignore me and act like I’m not here.”
Phil sighed, “I don’t know why she didn’t come to you. I know she didn’t have a wolf until she met you. I know bad things have clearly happened to her. Maybe she wasn’t allowed to come to you.” Gage shouted, “Why would you say that, Phil? Why? That’s a horrible comment. That’s something you say to ME, not Alexander.”
I growled, “Anyone who kept her from me will PAY. Dearly and with their life.” Possibly along with everyone they ever loved. Phil reasoned, “I understand that, but we don’t know the situation. I think you’re forgetting something possibly very important.” Gage asked, “Is it giving your Gamma a clue? Because, agreed.”
I asked, “What am I forgetting?” Phil sighed, “Gage, catch up faster the clues are in the conversations and links. Alexander, the important thing to remember is that Ashley Griffen’s family is dead.” I replied, “False. Melanie’s family is fine and Ashley’s doesn’t actually exist because it’s an alias.”
Phil asked, “What if Melanie doesn’t know that her family isn’t dead? The Resistance keeps calling Jason the Beta of Red Run. What if she thinks something happened to T and her parents?” Gage groaned, “Oh god. That’s bad. They did say she’s a bad liar. Shit. Melanie definitely thinks they are dead.”
I gaped at my cousin for several moments. Gage asked, “Did you break him, Phil?” I growled, “If someone made her believe the McAlister’s are dead except for Jason….” I trailed off thinking about the story told about Ashley’s family. My anger fired on all cylinders.
Phil gently said, “It could still be a cover story for her alias. I just want you to be prepared for the fact that Melanie might believe this cover story. Because if we knew she was a bad liar, someone might’ve wanted as smart as her so they lied. Why she believes it? I can’t answer that, but I’m saying it’s possible she does believe it.”
Gage asked, “What the hell do I do on this end with that?” I growled, “NO! I don’t like any of this theory. ASHLEY WAS SUPPOSEDLY SHOT! That’s what we know! That’s what you said, Phil!” Phil reasoned, “Leading me back to the fact that this could just be a cover story.” Gage said, “Please god, be a cover story.”
Phil continued, “If Melanie was shot at fourteen years old, anyone would’ve been required to call her parents. Or the Kyle’s. They are listed as her legal guardians if Drake or Sam cannot be reached. There’s also a possibility, and please don’t explode the messenger's head for this, but Red Run could be running a play.”
Gage said, “I doubt that.” I growled, “No, not with my Melanie they didn’t. They better fucking not be running a play. She left when she was A PUP! If Dalton and Dakota didn’t read us in I’m punching them both in the face. If my dad doesn’t know...”
Gage cut me off, “Your dad doesn’t, because he would’ve said something.” I agreed, “You’re right. He knows who I’ve always believed Melanie is to me. Hell, even if she wasn’t he would never allow a pup to go undercover like this.” Oden growled, “Thor would throw things and unleash mom on them.” True. Because it was a terrible idea.
Phil sighed, “There are other options. I’m only saying this so that you don’t panic and make people’s heads explode should this come up at a later date. That’s my job. Keeping you calm. Really most of the time I just make sure the heavy bags are in stock in the gym.” Gage agreed, “I’m on replacement phone duty and Phil is on the gym.” Which was insane. I could conjure it all if I needed to.
Phil groaned, “The last few days give me such pause as how to handle the ever growing mystery of Melanie McAlister/Ashley Griffen. Because NO ROADS of ANY kind of plausible explanation leads to a happy Alpha Cousin of mine.”
Gage agreed, “This is bad.” Phil complained, “There are not enough heavy bags in the WORLD for the anger any, and all, of the explanations will give you. I know this about the heavy bags because I checked.” Gage chimed in, “We also need to be worried about EJ.”
Phil acknowledged, “That’s true for several reasons. Elise LOVES Melanie and EJ likes her. Plus, he loves Alexander who is affected by this. The world is unprepared for the both of you to be nuclear level angry. Because if you’re both even moderately angry, Cassie gets mad. If Cassie is mad The WORLD is fucked beyond measure. Because then ALL your siblings are mad, and oh gee who is that guy that gets angry if his mate is upset? Oh yeah, the Commander of the Hackura Army will be pissed off. Bad things. I see MANY bad things coming.”
