I heard someone crunching on popcorn. Dylan chimed in, “He’s serious, MelAshley. Them Conners boys don’t do the whole following the rules thing. They see tradition and chuck it out the window. Take Saint God Alpha Prick over there for example. Before his mating ceremony receptions were not a thing.”
“The glorious part about it all is he believes his wedding day was the happiest day of his life. When in reality, it was the happiest day of mine. The explosion that was pink cannot be overstated. GOD after decades upon DECADES of his prickishness, his ass was finally owned by a five foot three adorable Fairy Hackura Princess who loves pink.”
Dylan waved saying, “Until he met her the man NEVER had anything pink. In fact Claudzilla, Iblis please torture her soul forever, once had some flowers planted for him. Some of them were pink. She did not ask because she’s Claudzilla.” I cut a glance at my mom who was deeply annoyed.
Dylan cooed, “Anyway, he had the pink flowers dug up and they now reside in Blue Moon.” Melanie gaped at him and cautiously looked at my mom. The fury that hit me from my bond with my mom surprised even me.
Mom looked at my dad before managing to clarify, “Only the pink ones?” Dylan answered, “Yup! Just the pink ones.” Mom shouted, “You are telling me there are flowers FROM CLAUDFUCKINGZILLA IN MY YARD! IS THAT WHAT IS BEING SAID TO ME RIGHT NOW? ARE YOU FUCKING SERIOUS?!” Uh oh.
Dad went to say something several times, but no words came out. Dylan crunched on more popcorn then said, “And now SGAP is speechless. This is SUCH a day!” Mom whirledto face him and asked, “There are flowers here FROM THAT WRETCHED BITCH IN MY GODDAMN YARD?!”
Dylan nodded gleefully, “A whole ass garden in fact.” My mom screeched, “EXFUCKINGCUSE ME!” Dylan smiled, “It’s on the north side of the house, just so you know.” My mom yelled, “So Eric could see the fucking flowers from his fucking office, that is now my sons’ office and be reminded of her Claudzilla fake ass!”
Dylan happily supplied, “I do believe that was the point.” My dad said, “I honestly forgot about that.” Dylan spit out his drink. My mom shouted, “FORGOT?! YOU FUCKING FORGOT?!” My dad cautiously said, “Angel, I truly forgot.”
I think if my mom was a Water Fairy ice would be flying all around. Dad continued, “I didn’t honestly care what Claudia did. It’s not even like she planted them herself. She was no more a gardener than my mother. She ordered the gardening crew to do it all.”
My mom warned, “Well, someone better alert the gardening crew there’s a blank fucking spot for them to plant shit in and NOTHING that Claudzilla picked is afuckingllowed! Oh, and my friend Dylan, you should warn Lucas his ass is about to get kicked and there will be a spot in his damn territory to re-garden too!” Mom popped away.
Dad yelled, “DYLAN FUCKING FROST WHY?!” Dylan laughed, “I have been waiting for YEARS to drop that tidbit of knowledge. Because I did notice that you forgot Claudzilla had planted a garden outside your office.”
He winked, “Former Beta Caleb has always kept me from the ledge of that particular knowledge bomb, but alas he is not here. Oh look, there’s our goddesses version of a tiny tornado in the Claudzilla garden. GOD, this is better than cable.”
I linked Dylan, “You did that for Melanie. You dropped that information so the focus would be off her.” Dylan winked at meand replied, “It’s MelAshley but there’s always a method to the madness, young Moody Mini King Alpha Prick. Plus, it’s always fun to ruffle your daddio’s feathers.” I snorted.
Dad growled, “Fuck me.” Dylan snorted, “Alas, none of the Wolves who are into men wanted to test the Dylan waters. I’m beginning to think my last name of Frost held you all back. I told you long ago our potential moment in the sun passed by us. We both have mates now and we have pups. You just embarrass both of us when you say such things.”
If looks could kill Dylan would’ve dropped dead on the floor from my dad. His response was to throw more popcorn into his mouth. Dad yelled, “WES!” Wesley sighed, “Come on, father in law of mine.” Dylan giggled, “Yes, SGAP you are his father, and I am his father IN LAW! WE ARE OFFICIALLY FAMILY! I GOT MY CONNERS BOY WITH ME! SING IT EVERYONE!”
I grabbed Melanie and led her up the stairs. When we got to our room I turned, asking, “You’re surprised I would marry you?” Melanie looked down, “I mean... we haven’t talked about it, really…. you did say you wanted to marry me, but not when.”
I told her, “Whenever you want. I meant what I said downstairs. If you want to be married now, fuck the tradition. We can have a mating ceremony with the pack and allies after we are already legally married, and you are marked. No one will say anything about it.”
My mate smiled saying, “I’ll think about it.” I took her hands, “If you want to start planning with my mom, yours, Elise, Cassie, Addison, and any or all of your friends I want you to do that. You will be my wife.”
I heard someone banging on the door downstairs. Moments later someone whisper, “Ashley Griffen.” Oden growled, “They said mate’s alias.” I heard them. I growled, “Fuck. Someone is downstairs. I’ll be back.” Melanie nodded so I popped downstairs and opened the door.
EJ came up behind me. I raised my eyebrow greeting, “Officers.” Something was off about them, I just didn’t know what. One sneered, “It’s detectives.” I replied, “Ok. Can we help you?” The other officer said, “We received information that Ashley Griffen is here.”
EJ asked, “Why would that matter if she was or wasn’t?” The Detective answered, “We are here to bring her back home. Ashley’s probably off her meds and we have an ambulance waiting to transport her. She’s a very sick girl, and her husband is worried.” I growled.
Both look startled by that response, but they shouldn’t be since they were Warlocks. EJ gripped my shoulder hard. Tristan casually said, “Ashley Griffen lives in Nashville. Why would you look here?” I linked Melanie, “Do not come down here.” Melanie linked, “Ok…I mean… I wasn’t coming…in the first place…but I’ll continue not to?” I could sense her confusion but appreciated she’d nearly made me laugh.
The detectives sighed, “Ashley is a runaway from Missouri. They’ve been looking for her for about seven years, and we got a tip that she is here. I’m honestly stunned she was able to survive. Her brother and husband are worried about her.”
EJ asked, “Her husband?” I felt my uncles faded back grab me so I didn’t lunge. It was weird to be grabbed by a person you knew was there but couldn’t see. Oden snarled, “OURS!” I agreed, “Melanie would have told us if she was married.” My wolf calmed down.
EJ said, “You just said she’s been missing for seven years, and we’ve heard of Ashley Griffen from Nashville. So, I know she’s twenty years old.” The detective snarked, “And?” EJ questioned, “Is her husband in jail for marrying a fourteen year old?” They blinked at him.
My brother continued, “Or should I go get my lawyer to explain to you how if a woman is so mentally unbalanced youneed to medicate her in a psychiatric hold, there is a want of understanding in their marriage, and she can get it annulled.”
The detectives faces went red. I felt my siblings pushing calm at me. Cassie put her hands on my back and TJ did as well. My Uncle Bjourn was on my other side. It was Uncle Marcus who was faded back because he was pushing that he was here for me. The detective said, “Look, we just need to get Ashley home.” I growled at him again because my mate was home. Oden growled, “Mate is with US.” I knew that.
EJ asked, “Do you have a warrant to search this house or to take her? Ashley’s not a minor. She’s done nothing illegal, that you’ve stated thus far. You cannot simply take someone off the street.” The detective shot back, “She’s been reported missing.” I could smell Melanie closer to us. God damn it.
Aaron Crawford came around the corner greeting, “Hello, I am the attorney for the Conners and EJ is correct. If Ashley’s been reported missing all you need to hear from her is that she’s not missing. She’s an adult.” The detective argued, “She’s not allowed to make those decisions.”
Melanie linked me, “Conjure me a license with my real name. They will have to leave if they can’t prove I’m Ashley. They will just come back if you make them leave.” I linked EJ, “Melanie wants to come down with a license with her real name.”
