I called Virgil. He answered immediately, “Mel, is everything ok?” Angela smirked at me. I sighed, “I need you to get to my location. There are several bodies to burn.” Virgil laughed, “I love when you talk dirty to me.” I warned, “There are little ears here!”
Angela laughed, “I’ve heard much worse. He shouldn’t joke though. Alexander won’t like that at all.” That was… true on all fronts. Alpha bloods didn’t do well with jokes when their mate was marked, let alone unmarked. It wouldn’t matter if he wanted me or not, that comment would bother him.
I walked her back to my bike. I pulled out a kit and injected her with the antidote to get the iron cuffs off. She smiled at me with a lot of trust in her eyes. I gave her the silver and wolfsbane dose. She instantly smiled, “My wolf is back.” Freya said, “Her wolf is Snow.” I knew that.
I gave her my helmet, and she got on behind me. I took my phone out and called Blair. She answered, “Hey Ashley, what’s up?” She must be around people. Angela gasped. Great. Just... great. This day… was the day of disasters.
Plus, I needed to call Xander back to see what he wanted. Freya snorted, “Very smart human of mine simply consider where he is.” Oh gosh. CRAP ON A CRACKER! His sister was kidnapped… after his brother’s mate was kidnapped. He was back from his mission. In fact, it was probably cancelled.
The god forsaken universe needed to give me a break. I glared at the sky and muttered, “I curse you, Selene. You suck… SO HARD.” Angela snickered behind me. Blair said, “Ok, then. Why are we cursing Selene this time?”
I replied, “Because she’s the worst and I loathe her. I need you to bring a group of Warriors from your pack to Black Path to pick up a little girl.” Blair immediately said, “Walker is out on patrol. His brother is right here though. Is the little girl ok?”
I told her, “You’re going to want Walker’s brother to come with you for sure. It will matter greatly to said girl’s home pack that you all had a hand in saving her. She was kidnapped. I got to her, but you need to get her home…she is in fact ok.”
Blair asked, “Why can’t you take her home?” I sighed, “You’ll see.” Blair commented, “Is this someone you will get in trouble for saving?” I laughed, “Oh yeah. Big time.” Angela shouted, “WHAT?” I didn’t answer that clear question she had about why.
I questioned, “Can you make it there soon, Blair?” Angela whispered, “She’s already in a car.” I turned to gape. She grinned at me. I asked, “Seriously with the hearing and stuff?” Blair snorted, “She’s right, we are in a car. We will be there in fifteen minutes.” I told her, “That’s good.” Then hung up.
Angela frowned, “Alexander will kill whoever you are talking about if they hurt you. Why would they hurt you for saving me? That doesn’t make sense.” I told her, “Evil people do dumb things. I’ll be fine. I’ve had worse happen, I’m sure.”
Nothing could compare to the pain when I woke up and found my family was dead and Jason didn’t want me around anymore. Angela admitted, “I don’t understand. You are Ashley Griffen and Melanie McAlister.”
I evaded, “What’s in a name?” Angela snorted, “Shakespeare doesn’t really cover this. This is weird. Your family will be upset.” I kicked the kickstand up to take off. I muttered, “Not as upset as you think they would be.”
Angela’s answers were drowned out as I took off. Her arms were firmly around my waist. I didn’t go as fast as I normally would. For several reasons. One, Xander’s little sister was on the back. Two, I needed to time this perfectly so Blair would be pulling up with Warriors at about the same time.
Thankfully, I could see them when I stopped the engine. Edward and Jean were standing on the lawn. Buck looked pale and worried. Booker looked enraged along with Trevor. Honestly, that made it better. I ruined their day….and I had to take my victories where I got them.
I got off the bike and took the helmet off Angela. Booker snarled, “Who is she? And why is she here?” I laughed, “If you don’t know who she is you REALLY need to pay attention more often. Crack your head up from the poop stain of this pack every once in a while. I came upon a pup in need on my ride.”
I pointed at Angela, “She was screaming bloody murder because she’d been kidnapped. Now, before you start shouting and turning purple with anger, I knew you wouldn’t want her pack coming here to get her. So, I took care of that and called Blair. Her Male Lead Warrior and...”
I glanced at the rest of their group. I hummed, “Oh look at that… Their Beta and a few other Warriors came to collect her. I know... I’m such a good Female Lead Warrior. I solved all the problems in one swift swoop.”
Booker came and got in my face screaming, “DO YOU HAVE ANY IDEA WHAT YOU JUST DID?!” I wiped the spit off my face, “Uhh yes... saved a pup... and solved your whole ‘you don’t like people outside Nashville on pack grounds’ problem. You're welcome. Though spitting in my face because you’re so close to me is HARDLY a thank you.” Buck snorted. Everyone looked at him before he sobered.
Addison ran out of the house with Sierra who gaped. I guess they didn’t tell her where I was going. I nodded to Sierra saying, “Get outta here.” She was going with several of my Warriors. I was surprised Addison and Avery didn’t go with her. I thought they would go to see Black Mountain and say goodbye.
Blair got out of the truck they’d came in. Edward grabbed Paige’s arm demanding, “You alter that little girl’s memory of who saved her. It was Blair. You got it?” Paige yanked her arm away and glared at him before marching over to Angela. Not happening.
Paige tapped her thigh once she was facing me. She wasn’t going to alter Angela’s memory. I didn’t think she could even if she wanted to. I spoke in Fealish, “Cunif actin the ticytoky to act owning unheard (now would be the time to do your space unheard deal).”
Angela gasped, “Own Fealish?! (You speak fealish)?” I winked, “Et Latin. (And Latin).” Angela spoke, “Frater meus felix est. Veniet te. Irati videntur (My brother is a lucky man. He will come get you. They seem angry).”
I winked, “Semper irati sunt. est status naturae (They are always angry. It's a natural state of being for them).” Angela frowned, “Habeo multum quaestiones (I have a lot of questions).” Before I could answer Booker snarled, “What are you saying to her?”
I looked at him evading, “That she shouldn’t be scared that you are angry because you are always angry. I was putting her at ease speaking the language of her people. You could kindly shut the hell up. You’re scaring her.”
“Honestly, who could blame her? Your face is terrifying. Seriously, turn around. No... that’s no good either. Just go away and stop scaring the pup.” Alpha Edward growled, “Paige, now.” I wanted to take his head off for having the audacity to think he controlled Paige at all.
Angela chanted her space unheard. Edward glared at me. I smiled saying, “I assume you would not like our visitors to hear what she is doing. That would be bad… for so many reasons.” Jean bared his teeth at me.
Blair’s Beta walked up asking, “What the hell is going on over here?” I explained, “I found a pup in need. I rescued her, and you’re here to take her home.” The Beta frowned, “That would make you Female Lead Warrior Ashley Griffen then.”
I hummed, “I don’t know if it would make the Female Lead Warrior but I am. I am also pleased to meet you.” Several wolves chuckled. The Beta looked at our pack leadership and then back at me. He asked, “Is there any particular reason this rescue seems to upset them? If our Female Lead Warrior saved a pup we’d be celebrating.”
I laughed humorlessly, “Oh, this lot doesn’t like the womenfolk doing the saving around here. I’m not popular with them. They hate gender equality. They are, most definitely… stuck in the dark ages. They would prefer if I stuck to my stellar cooking skills... which is just insulting since I’ve saved their ungrateful asses SO MANY times. Who’s counting though?” Me. I was counting.
