They didn’t have a regular check in. These two only talked when something happened. Idiots. Though that shouldn’t surprise me given how they dealt with Hunters. I put his phone away and checked mine. Mason and Hendrick were excited about coming in for practice. Dax and Caine were going to stop by for a bit as well because they missed us. I actually missed those two knuckleheads too.
Xander came upstairs and hugged me. He admitted, “I can’t believe I finally get to hear your band play.” I laughed, “You will hear us all the way from over here, won’t you?” Xander smirked, “Yes, I will.” We fell into bed together and didn’t fall apart for several hours.
I woke up agitated. I linked my wolf, “Freya, what’s wrong?” She answered, “I don’t know but I feel it too.” I quickly jumped into the shower praying it didn’t wake up Xander. It didn’t. I went to the gym and sparred with a couple of Warriors who promptly decided they didn’t want to spar with me. I couldn’t blame them because I was on edge. KJ jumped in and fought with me until my mate arrived.
Xander popped behind me asking, “Lovebug?” I greeted, “Good morning.” He asked, “Are you ok?” I sighed, “I’m... on edge and I don’t know why… which put me more on edge, so… probably not. Ugh! I can answer questions… it was no.” A few people snorted.
Xander nodded, “Alright.” We sparred for a few hours. Several people were watching us when we wrapped up. He kissed me before saying, “I’ve got to run.” I hit the showers again. They had doors and locks here, which was nice. No peep holes for fake skulking Uncle’s to watch through either.
I jolted because I realized I was missing Uncle Duncan….but he was busy… and still with that pack. I really thought he’d come home when his mate died. I didn’t understand his loyalty to them when they clearly had none to him.
When I was done, I stepped out and found someone had conjured me clothes. There was a pair of jeans and sweatshirt. I linked Xander, “Did you conjure me clothes?” He answered, “Yes. I thought you might need something to wear.” I smiled at his thoughtfulness. I told him, “You are too much. I love you.” Xander chuckled, “I love you too.”
Sierra and Abigail were waiting when I stepped out. Sierra raised an eyebrow at me, but I simply shrugged. She sighed, “I never like what follows when you are agitated.” I snorted, “Me either.” Abigial said, “Well, I’m along for the ride because I want to see your band again. I’m the only one here who has apparently.” Since Micah or Cayden weren’t here, she was correct.
Sierra threw me my phone, and we jogged over to Yellow Hills. Paige smiled and waved at us, “Hey guys!” I forced myself to smile. Several Yellow Hills pack members were pretending not to notice us, but they were clearly watching. We made our way over to the stage set up and did a few sound checks.
We had just started playing when I saw almost every wolf of importance flee the area as if they were on fire. Followed by Hood members flashing away. I raised an eyebrow then watched several Warriors leave. I linked Sierra, “That’s not good.” She agreed, “Not even kind of.”
I told our group, “Take five everyone.” Abigial was talking to Sierra about how we sounded better than the last time she saw us. I linked my wolf, “Freya, is Xander in danger?” Freya answered, “No, and I would know if he was.”
Then why would all of those people have left like that? They took off in the direction of Black Mountain. They’d be there now. My watch didn’t beep out an alert for Black Mountain either. I walked over to my phone and noticed it had blown up with messages. I read the most recent one.
Nate:GET DOWN! We are here.
My heart stopped as a stronger dome than the ones the rocks could make appeared and covered the area of Yellow Hills. Paige gasped, “Great! Now I need to get to the kitchen. This can only be taken down from the inside.”
Dax and Caine ran up asking, “What just happened?” I sighed, “You guys just got here and now we can’t even catch up is what!” Caine admitted, “We just ran through when this happened.” I heard a snarl of anger I recognized, followed by more.
I sighed, “Well, it’s safe to say our mates are on the outside. I recognized all those angry snarls. Mason, get Paige to the kitchen and….” I trailed off when I caught the glint of a sniper rifle. I turned and judged who they’d aim it.
My eyes settled on a pup. Addie Farmer was out here, and she’d be who they’d aim at given who her parents were. She was the Male and Female Lead Warrior’s youngest daughter. I screamed at the top of my lungs, “EVERYONE GET DOWN!”
I took off running and tackled Addie to the ground and kicked over the table she’d been standing at when the shot was fired. Addie’s eyes were as big as saucers. Dax threw me a gun, and I rolled to the side of the table and took my time.
I fired and saw the Hunter who’d been stationed as a sniper fall to the ground. He was dead at least. I smelled rogues too. I yelled, “YELLOW HILLS STAY HIDDEN! GET THE NON FIGHTERS AND PUPS TO SAFETY! DO NOT ENGAGE UNTIL THE HUNTERS ARE TAKEN CARE OF!”
I turned to Addie saying, “Hi, I’m Melanie. So… you know my mate… Xander… that’s a thing. You definitely know him.” She replied, “I’m Addie Farmer.” I closed my eyes and sighed, “I know… it’s… kind of my thing.” Addie laughed then covered her mouth.
Her oldest brother was probably going to challenge their dad for the title soon. Kincade Farmer had held his position for a long time and won several challenging tournaments. He was impressive as was her mom, Carrie.
I heard a man yell, “Hey Ashley, Come on out. We just want to talk.” I snorted, “Deline, you have LITERALLY never wanted to just talk to me. I’m recalling you’ve actually wondered out loud if I’d shut up during intimate moments.”
I heard a snarl. Dang Xander’s freakishly good hearing. Freya snorted, “Oden did hear that and he’s furious. Also, I love that you call it intimate moments when you mean sex.” The tips of my ears turned pink.
Addie whispered, “That was Alexander’s snarl, wasn’t it?” I nodded, “Yes. He’s possessive. It’s in his nature… I read a lot of papers and studies on it.” Addie snorted. Deline taunted, “I’ll find out soon enough, Ashley. After all this time I’ll finally get a taste of you.”
Xander’s roar of anger shook the trees. I could feel his anger hummin throughout my entire body radiating up from my foot. I rolled my eyes, wishing I could use the bond like the Hackura to tell him it was ok.
I shouted back, “You couldn’t take me on my worst day with several knives in my back. Why on GOD’S green earth do you think you take me now?” Addie gasped. What? What did I say? Deline laughed, “You’re outgunned and outmanned.”
I laughed, “That’s never mattered before…so I don’t know why you would think it does now.” I whispered to Addie, “Tell me you guys have an armory?” She nodded, “It’s the building about five feet from us. Do you mean knives in your back literally?” I answered, “Umm yes… I see that’s weird for you.” Addie made a face that said I was right.
I said under my breath, “Ok… the armory is near me, so that’s good. Finally, something is breaking my way.” I linked Mason, “How’s Paige doing?” Mason answered, “She’s working on surrounding herself in salt. She has destroyed this lovely kitchen. It’s so very messy now.” I sighed, “We’ll clean it up. It will be lovely again.”
I touched my watch and used it to talk. I asked, “Does everyone have their coms?” Everyone answered, “Yes.” Addie whispered, “That’s so cool! Your watch is the com system.” I confirmed, “Yes, it is. People look for phones… but they tend not to care about watches, so… it made sense… to make them this way.”
I told them through the coms, “The armory is by me. Dax... meet me there. Addison, I’m going to send Addie to you. Wave please.” Addison waved from behind the house closest to us. I told Addie, “I’m going to run in the opposite direction, and they will focus on me. When they do... you run with everything in you to my friend Addison over there. Got it?”
