I smiled and sent him my love in the bond. I told him, “Thank you for saying that. I offered that option, but she has ‘stuff’ to do.” He cautiously said, “I suppose she could just go to Black Mountain with her friend.”
I grimaced, “They are both returning where they came from. They have things to do then her friend should be joining Phil afterwards.” My Uncle snorted, “I imagine Phil does not like that either.” I grumbled, “That’s an understatement. I don’t like this at all. I wish the girls would just stay here.”
My Uncle frowned questioning, “Is there a reason yours doesn’t want to stay here?” I nodded, “Yes. I believe there is.” My Uncle leaned back and studied me. He surmised, “But you’re not going to tell me what that reason is.”
I explained, “I just need a bit of leeway here. She is my mate, and she asked for a bubble before I get answers. The second I have them, I’m telling EJ, you, dad, and Uncle Aiden.” Uncle Bjourn lamented, “I’m giving a whole lot of leeway everywhere lately it seems. Time will tell me if that’s a mistake. I think she should stay here though. I don’t know why she wouldn’t just go home to Red Run and wait for you. Did you take her to New York after Switzerland?” I shook my head, “No.”
He raised an eyebrow. Eventually he said, “Here’s your folder for the mission.” I took it warning, “I intend to wrap this up as quickly as I can.” He laughed, “I’m sure that you do. It shouldn’t be horribly time consuming. Just cozy up to some people and get the information. You can download it too. Whichever way you can, get us the information. Just be careful and don’t rush it.”
I looked over the file. I looked up asking, “Demons?” My Uncle nodded, “Yes, I want to know if they know about the drugs we’ve been stopping.” I surmised, “You think that they do.” My Uncle nodded, “Yes, I do. I think they could be Ring adjacent.”
I assured him, “I will get you the information.” Oden grumbled, “Just ask mate.” That was certainly an option if it was taking too long. Uncle Bjourn stood and hugged me. He pulled back before saying, “I am very happy that after all this time, you’ve finally met your Melanie.”
I grinned broadly, “And she is mine.” He clapped me on the back, “I told you she was.” Oden linked, “For the record, so did I.” I laughed, “It’s nice to know for sure. I’m not just possessive like the rest of them.”
He nearly growled, “You never were. You were always hers and she was always yours. That’s where it came from and where I always said it did.” I admitted, “I’m just glad I finally met her.” My Uncle smirked, “Through Angela. How did that happen?”
I answered, “She called and told me to come get her. She’d popped to a different state. I didn’t even think about it. Phil and I just went to go get her. I heard her pop away when we got there, and then I smelled Melanie.”
My Uncle sighed, “I’ll speak to Angela’s Guard. Hopefully, she took one of them or Klaus.” I winced admitting, “I was going to ask that, but I got….” He laughed interrupting, “Distracted.” I nodded, “Yes, but I knew Angela was ok.” We had a bond. My Uncle smiled, “Well go on. You can get settled and wrap up this mission then officially introduce me to your mate.”
I nodded and opened a portal to Florida. I always thought it was ironic that Demons loved it here, but Fairies and Demons both tended to like Florida. I walked into the condo that was set up for me and memorized my folder.
I was meeting someone for drinks later tonight. I looked at my phone to see Melanie had replied. I texted her back but didn’t hear anything. I could take a nap, but for some reason I was too keyed up. Oden hummed, “I don’t think that’s us.” Why would Melanie be keyed up?
I took a deep breath and decided to call Jason. He didn’t answer so I called Tristan next. He picked up teasing, “Well, if it isn’t the mysterious Alpha.” I frowned asking, “Huh? I’m not mysterious.” Oden agreed, “No one has ever accused us of that.”
Tristan laughed, “You really don’t know that everyone is buzzing about you bringing a girl home and that girl getting in a fight over you?” Shit. Oden snorted, “He doesn’t know who it was.” I agreed based on the fact he was laughing and not screaming at me for not letting him see her.
I admitted, “I didn't think they would talk about it.” My dad knowing was one thing, but everyone in Red Run was entirely another. Did my Alpha Command not work? Oden chimed in, “You didn’t command them right away and only those that knew her or saw it.” True. Damn it. Where was Phil with that amendment?!
Tristan snorted, “Don’t worry your pack isn’t talking. Your Fairy relatives are all aflutter about it and the Lyons are talking to the Richards about it.” Of course their Gamma family got in on it. Damn having so many cousins.
I winced saying, “Well all will be revealed when I get back, just don’t kill me.” Tristan laughed, “I figured that it would be revealed when you got home. Why would I kill you? Jase is more than a little pissed off you didn’t tell him. Did you finally ask someone on a date?” Kind of? Oden scoffed.
I sighed, “I’ll explain when I get back. I called Jase but he didn’t answer.” Tristan evaded, “He’s busy. He needs to focus on what he’s doing.” What the fuck was he doing? I sighed knowing I couldn’t really push here. I wasn't exactly being completely honest with him either.
I decided to switch my questions, “How’s Melanie?” Tristan answered, “She’s good. Apparently, she’s loving Paris and there’s some goddamn troupe scouting her there.” Oden said, “Uhh what?” Yeah, I was with him. I questioned, “You talked to her?” Oden answered, “No, he didn’t.” I knew that.
Tristan snorted, “I mean does three minutes over skype count as talking? It was one of our longer conversations since she left, so maybe.” He sounded bitter and I couldn’t blame him. I nearly blurted out that I didn’t think he’d ever talked to her. He was a Beta so he could look into it.
Ultimately, I said nothing because as an Enforcer I could look at things and Tristan wouldn’t quietly look into my accusation. He’d be loud and that could end up hurting Melanie. Tristan continued, “Her place there looked nice enough.”
I stared at the phone in surprise. What the fuck? Melanie was a terrible liar and while I could admit we weren’t together every second, there was no way they actually talked if he saw her place. I asked, “What does her place look like?”
I knew every corner of my parents Switzerland home. The problem was Tristan had been there so he would too. Oden insisted, “He didn’t talk to her.” I was getting that sense because he would’ve recognized the place she was staying in.
Tristan blew out a breath, “I don’t know. A place?” I asked, “A place you’ve never seen before?” He snorted, “You are aware I’ve never been to Paris.” Yes, but he had been to Switzerland to my parents’ home. He added, “The Eiffel tower is in the distance out her window.” That was beyond not possible.
Oden said, “I don’t like this. Someone else is pretending to be her. Why?” I pointed out, “I don’t know but that’s who dad’s guy is following.” I asked my mate’s brother, “When did you talk to her?” Tristan scoffed, “What’s with the inquisition? One would say your Enforcer blood is on the prowl for something.” He was right.
I didn’t reply and eventually he answered, “I talked to her yesterday.” That was absolutely beyond not possible. I’d been with Melanie, in fact inside her, mostly. We hadn’t slept at all. She couldn’t have snuck away to talk to him. He absolutely did not talk to Melanie.
Oden said, “It’s definitely weird a Beta blood isn’t pushing you on the questions.” That was true. I asked him, “When is she going to come home?” Tristan snorted, “Never? I don’t know. She hasn’t even made it home to meet Kai and she missed my mating ceremony before he was born. I don’t know how we will get her home.” I stared at my phone.
He groaned, “Yeah, I know. You don’t need to say she’s living her dream and I’m being selfish.” Wanting your sister to be at your mating ceremony and meet your pup was selfish? Oden snarled as it hit me like a freight train. Melanie wouldn’t do any of that.
What the actual hell was going on? She loved Tristan. She would’ve never missed his mating ceremony. Why did no one ever think of that? Not meeting her nephew? Sure, she’d tried a couple times and bad weather hit but why didn’t anyone find that weird? I certainly did now, and he’d called himself selfish for wanting normal things.
