At this moment, I had never understood my brother more. He was acting how I would, because Elise had been taken. EJ wasn’t acting like himself, but I understood. I put a hand on EJ as Cassie did. The second we popped into the Coven I had Cassie behind me.
EJ lost it, but I was more than happy to let him. We needed answers, and he needed Elise back. Oden said, “Thor told me they have the kidnappers on the phone.” Before I could say it out loud Cassie did. Yeah, I’m sure Cayden was linking her about coming back.
Cassie wanted to talk, but EJ took priority and so did getting Elise home. We could figure out the Melanie situation once Elise was home. When we popped back in, EJ was threatening those on the phone to give Elise back to him. He’d scared them shitless.
I linked Wesley, “He’s taking my lines. Normally, he’s the calmer one.” Wesley snorted, “If that was Buttercup, I’d be right there with him.” I took out my phone and texted Melanie. I needed her here with us. Elise was drugged but fought back.
I was tense because there were too many of them for her to fight alone, and she didn’t have her hands free. No sooner had I thought it than shots rang out, freeing Elise’s hands on the second shot. The Resistance shimmered in, and the shots stopped. Then my whole world tilted.
A woman entered the screen in a white shirt. Her back was covered in blood but still she fought with them. She began shooting. It couldn’t be. Phil linked me, “Alexander.” I replied, “NO! That CANNOT be my mate. She’s hurt!” Phil cringed.
My heart felt like it was in my feet. I couldn’t take my eyes off the screen. I took out my phone and texted Melanie again without looking away from the screen. I looked at the computer for any sign that she had a phone. There was no indication she did.
My dad linked me, “Alexander, you may not want to know who that its, but you clearly do. Who is it?” I couldn’t answer him. Hell, I couldn’t move. Melanie was hurt. Badly. Why was she hurt? What the hell happened?! She was fine when I saw her.
This was why I couldn’t sleep. Because Melanie was being hurt. We needed our Hackura ceremony to happen yesterday. I would obliterate anyone who did that to her. They were beyond dead because the blood on her shirt suggested that someone WHIPPED my mate.
My mom linked, “Alexander, are you ok?” I didn’t answer her either. My whole world froze when Oden linked, “It’s mate.” I replied, “I know that. I just didn’t want to.” Melanie dove in front of Elise and took three tranquilizers.
I’d take care of her and heal her the second they got back to our pack. Melanie stunned the hell out of me when she laughed them off like they were nothing. Did she come up with some inoculation for them? The Resistance members argued with Melanie. They told her we didn’t deserve her.
I couldn’t stop my roar of anger. They wanted her and she was MINE! My dad linked me, “Son, they won’t keep your mate from you. If that is in fact her. That’s what you think right?” I still couldn’t answer him.
My mom linked, “I have so many damn questions, but those people will not keep that woman from us. Particularly given how possessive you feel. We will handle this. Because they will not be able to accomplish that. We are the promised family and I will be right by your side to solve this issue.”
My dad linked me, again, “I know the feelings that you feel right now. Your mother has been hurt while I’ve been on video talking to her when she wasn’t in her right mind.” I replied, “It’s my mate. They hurt her dad, and they will PAY!” He agreed “They will pay. I promise you that.”
I knew they would because I would not rest until they had. I texted Melanie again because I needed to get to her. Oden linked, “Freya is weak.” I nearly snarled out loud because that was the LAST thing we needed to be happening right now.
Phil linked me, “So, you seem to be going permanently gold eyed. Alas, I can’t help you because not unlike you know that’s Melanie, I know that Sierra is there too.” I nodded because I knew that. I’d seen her when they were shimmered in. I just didn’t want to admit it.
Gage linked me and Phil, “What the FUCK is going on?” Phil answered, “Some shit.” Gage growled, “Are you two serious right now? Me and Abigail we delayed in our departure but we are on the air now. We will land in a few hours.” I could pop to get him, but I didn’t want to leave right now.
Melanie was refusing to leave Elise behind, but that didn’t stop the Resistance from trying to convince her. I linked my Beta, “So, not only does she believe Drake, Sam and Tristan are dead they ALL do.” Phil winced, “That does appear to be the case, but we knew that based on the things Sierra said.” True.
I questioned, “And Melanie thinks Jason doesn’t want her with him? That doesn’t make sense. The Kyle’s would raise her if anything happened to her parents.” Phil told me, “What I know says that Ashley’s old pack hates her. She must believe they don’t like her anymore.”
I replied, “She has to know that’s not true. She grew up there. They love her.” Phil sighed, “As we previously established, I think she does believe the story. I don’t think there’s any way around that fact at this moment.” We’d explain the truth then.
I warned him, “Literally everyone who had ANYTHING to do with this dies.” Phil nodded. Melanie said ‘Mshango’ which set off a chain of events. Elise passed out on the screen, but so did Jason. The Kyle’s were in shock and so was Tristan.
Phil linked, “So, they were word bombed.” I snorted, “By a code word they clearly have.” EJ issued rapid fire orders about getting people on the borders. The Resistance had to have a way in and out. They’d never catch Melanie if she was coming though. She was too fast and smart.
Tristan took off and shifted then howled outside. EJ had pieced together that the sniper was Melanie. It shouldn't have surprised me. My brother was very smart. My mom was healing Jason, meanwhile I was too stunned to think clearly or move.
My mate was hurt, and I couldn’t get to her because I couldn’t fucking pop to her. My anger at Drake McAlister fired all over again. I couldn’t answer EJ, and he must have seen it in my face because he asked Cayden.
Cayden asked questions then confirmed Melanie was Ashley, which I could have done but no one asked me. Drake went into denial. Oden linked, “To be fair, mate has her wolf now.” Cousin Emmaline turned to water. I frowned. What on earth?
Dylan told me I was up. He linked me, “Dunnnn dun dunnn. Dunn dunn dunn.” Drake whirled to my me, “Where is my daughter, Alexander?!” I ground out, “I don’t know. I know I left her in Louisiana before I left for my mission. She was going back to Nashville with her friend.” Everyone was stunned.
My mom cut in, “EXFUCKINGCUSE ME? Why would you be with her?” I answered, “She’s my mate.” She didn’t understand. My mom repeated, “EXFUCKINGCUSE ME?! What the actual shit is happening right now?! I know I was on my concupiscence, but this does not appear to be new information to the room. I see FAR too many people not surprised by that information.”
I explained, “It’s just that Melanie was supposed to be living her dream.” Mom asked, “The fuck does that mantra have to do with her being your damn mate?!” I admitted, “I’ve always thought she was mine. I justthought I was letting her live her dream in New York.” My mom’s astonishment, hurt, and anger hit me like a freight train.
My dad linked, “More words here would be good.” I continued, “Angela did a thing and...” Drake interrupted, “Awesome! Tell us all the LONG story later. WHERE IS MY DAUGHTER?! WHY THE ACTUAL FUCK IS SHE IN NASHVILLE?! WHY IS SHE WOLF LESS?!”
I explained, “That’s not entirely accurate. I don’t know why she’s in Nashville, because she didn’t want to talk about it. Plus, she didn’t tell me her real name.” Drake growled, “You knew who she was.” Oden snarled, “How dare he!”
