Did ANY wolf have two mates? In the history of ever? Because they didn’t from my knowledge. I’d actually read several papers on it. Wolves, even twins, couldn’t handle sharing a mate. We were too possessive with our animal side. It’s why shifters or and were of any kind never had more than one mate.
Jason said Everly wasn’t his mate, but his reason didn’t make sense. Tristan was dead. I would’ve known if our brother met Everly before he died. I studied Jason, noting he seemed serious though. Freya offered, “He is serious.” How?
Hallucination Tristan was talking to me now too… yeah, the hallucinations were going to have to wait… including my MOM, who was now talking. UGH! Didn’t they get it? I’d talk to them when we were alone. That would look FAR less crazy.
Freya linked, “Mel, I see them too. Which means they are real.” I replied, “Of course they are. They are just in our heads. That’s not actually them.” Freya gently said, “I think it is actually them.” I pointed out, “You have my memories... we saw them die.”
Freya replied, “I told you something seemed off about that. To me it looks fuzzy or hazy.” I snorted, “It doesn’t to me.” Freya assured me, “I’ll keep thinking about how that’s possible.” She could think all she wanted. I still wasn’t talking to hallucinations until I was alone.
Alpha Kyle talked to me. Part of me was thrilled. He didn’t even sound mad. He sounded confused, but happy to talk to me. Then I was mad because the traitorous jerk was acting like he had no idea what was going on. He acted all innocent, and I went firmly into angry. He has GOT to be kidding.
Freya seemed confused, but she did offer a low growl in my head. It wasn’t convincing, but it did convey her confusion and anger at him. My hallucinations kept talking. Freya said, “If ONE more wolf in this field contacts me calling me Ember I’m going to lose it.”
I asked, “Why would they call you Ember?” She replied, “I do NOT know but it’s NOT my name.” I knew it wasn’t her name. Why did anyone think it was? She huffed, “Well, Thunder is genuinely confused.” I whispered, “Thunder contacted you? Like really?”
She replied, “He has. Along with Caulder, Jet and several more.” I asked, “Did…I mean…umm.. never mind.” Freya said, “I know you want to ask about Cove and he did too. He’s deeply confused and worried about you.” Cove was Jared’s wolf. He cared again? This was too much.
Freya offered, “All these people in this field are real.” They couldn’t be. This was not happening. I wouldn’t be here in Black Path... I never would’ve been in Black Path if my parents were alive. So, HA! Nothing was going to convince me they were real.
Dylan Frost joined the conversation. I almost told him to take a number, but curiosity got the best of me. Freya snickered, “According to Fang he really does want to adopt Ashley Griffen.” My jaw dropped while Addison snickered.
Jason looked horrified because of course he did. It wasn’t like I was going to Blue Moon though. He had to know that I’d be in Black Mountain. Freya said, “Ajax said that’s not why they are horrified.” Jason’s eyes briefly locked with mine. He looked hurt. Why didhelook hurt byme? He was the one who ruined our relationship.
I took my solace in the man I’d always loved. Xander obviously knew who I was, and currently he was sticking to me like glue. My hallucination dad got mad. What shocked me, and made me question everything in my life, was the fact that Beta Dylan answered my hallucination.
Dylan shouldn’t have been able to hear an angry statement from a figment of a brain injury in my head. He did though… and that meant… no. No. I was shutting that door. Freya whispered, “Melanie.” Yeah, no.
I emphatically stated, “It’s going in a box. We will talk about it later… so much later. In… I don’t know… a therapist’s office… maybe… probably… our future mother in law is one so…there’s that.” Freya agreed, “Ok. Whatever you need but their wolves were in the group that contacted me too.” I had no words for that.
Dylan asked questions and I had so many thoughts at this point I couldn’t pick one. This was strange, but if it pissed off my dad …. who... could be real… If my dad was real… I just might let Dylan adopt Ashley Griffen.
If my dad left me here all these years, then I knew nothing. Everything I knew was wrong and Aesir was right, I would be angrier than I’d ever been if that was true. No. Bad Melanie. That’s going in the box to be dealt with later.
Dylan messed up a movie reference which didn’t make sense. Tristan always said Dylan was spot on with movie sayings. The correction had Dylan ranting about this land being cursed. He had to do that on purpose. Freya linked, “Fang is delighted you caught on. He’s trying to lighten the mood.”
Addison linked me, “Dylan Frost has NO idea how right he is. This land is beyond cursed.” No, he really didn’t have a clue, but my blood stained this area…so he probably had a though. A longing hit me. I wished I’d known Dylan before.
He was funny and friends with my dad….he even mentored him a little. I should’ve known Dylan. I gazed around the field. Alpha Eric was studying me. I nodded to him slightly which had him smirking. Freya offered, “Thor also contacted me.” Of course he did. Eric was confused but he didn’t show it.
I asked Freya, “How do I know he’s confused? He doesn’t look confused.” Freya answered, “We just know things sometimes.” That was vague, but I didn’t have time to dive into it. My dad, who I was beginning to think was real, and Dylan were arguing.
I whispered, “Freya... I can’t.” Freya advised, “Hold onto mate and center yourself. You can do this.” I didn’t want to. I wanted to crumble on the floor and sob my heart out. I looked up at my friends and at that exact moment I knew Freya was right. I could do this. I couldn’t break down right now because my friends needed me. That always trumped what I needed.
I pushed my personal feelings down and got myself together. I was putting on my Female Lead Warrior and best friend hat. I walked past Jason without a glance but shot Dalton and Dakota an angry look.
They’d been careless with my brother and nephew’s lives. Not to mention they could’ve overturned my banishment. They knew it too. I was almost to my friends when Elise slammed into me. I put my arms around her and nearly caved into the crying fit I wanted to have. She was like home. She was here, and she still cared about me.
I had to pull away before I lost it. Freya linked, “I assured Rhea we do want to talk. She did not call me Ember.” I was certain Freya had warned all the wolves not to call her that by now. Freya admitted, “I did.”
Well, I was glad she’d assured Rhea we’d talk. Jason was making snide comments that I was ignoring. I’d talk to Elise and unlike him at least she’d emailed Ashley. I’d picked the name so Jason would notice, but he never did.
Once further away from the larger group, I motioned to Paige. This was an ‘us’ conversation. Not everyone and their brothers… who were possibly all not dead. I just knew there was no way Xander was going to let me out of his sight.
I’d even caught a glimpse of EJ watching me like a hawk. In truth, all the Conners siblings looked like they were prepared to run, portal, and pop after me. I glanced around again. Yeah, none of them looked like people who were going to let me disappear. Not to mention several golden glowing eyed people with the last name Cambridge that were zeroed in on me. This was just so great.
Paige did her chant. All three started to speak at once. Addison sobbed, “I’ll run, Mel. I can’t reject him, but I’ll run.” Paige snorted, “I’ll keep my ass in Black Mountain. Dalton can pine and beg for my attention.” She winced but didn’t cry. Avery cried, “I don’t know what to do.”
I put my hands up, so they’d all stop. I told them, “They are your mates. Before Jason was a crappy brother, he was amazing. That amazing man inside him has been around. He’s in there. His problems are with me, not you Ads. He’s your mate. You deserve to hear his side. For you and your wolf. We know my side, but as his mate… You should hear his.”
