I ran over to him to explain everything we’d decided. We stayed with EJ, Elise, Paige, Dalton, Sierra, Phil, Abigail, and Gage the rest of the day. I was subtly observing Paige. She and I were going to have a chat because she was eyeing mine and Elise’s rings.
Paige was stubborn, but I’d already told Dalton to plan her proposal. I knew that Paige didn’t feel she could change her mind sometimes, even if it was what she wanted to do. We were taking a walk when Hendrick’s motorcycle roared around thecorner. I squealed when I saw Mason in their truck, pulling a trailer with their stuff.
EJ and Alexander greeted them politely while I hugged them both. I’d missed them a lot. Paige and Sierra were excited they’d made it too. EJ assigned someone to show them where they’d be staying. The group broke up after that.
Later I found Sierra. Abigail laughed, “That’s a face that says she has a mission for us.” I hummed, “Umm… it’s just that I want you to personally deliver an invitation to my mating ceremony to my mom’s… I mean my grandparents… on my mom’s side. I need to know that they got it. I’m going to send Tiffany her invitation and I’ll send Uncle Duncan’s to his Alpha… but I know he’s not going to get it.”
Abigial asked, “What about your Aunt Allison and her mate?” I replied, “They are on a big trip they saved for while her husband was the Beta. I’m going to have it conjured to them with a hand written note… that I will set up a livestream. Because I know how important this trip is… so… I want them to stay on it. They can still watch the ceremony… and...”
Sierra cut me off, “Mel, it’s ok to have them come back.” I disagreed, “No, I saw all their emails. This trip is really important to Aunt Allison. She’s looked forward to it… and honestly… I’m now a traumatic reminder for her.” Abigail asked, “Uh what?”
Sierra sighed, “Mel, that’s not true.” I argued, “It is true. What happened to me is because of the Ducant Alpha. Aunt Allison is going to feel guilty… and be reminded of what happened to her and Uncle Archer… so it’s traumatic for him too…. so… they should just stay on their trip… but I’m inviting them.”
Sierra agreed, “I will hand deliver the invitation to the Haskins’ who want me to kick their ass.” Abigial asked, “Why haven’t we seen them?” I asked, “Didn’t you see them in Blue Moon before I showed up going all white wolf?” Sierra sighed.I jolted and whispered, “They weren’t there. Were they? That’s why they never screamed for me to notice them when my mom got hurt. I thought it was weird my paternal grandparents were standing by her…and not them…but I figured they were somewhere else fighting and hadn’t made it to her.”
Freya gently said, “Melanie.” Sierra replied, “They are being stupid.” Tears filled my eyes, but I nodded. They didn’t have a trip scheduled so them not attending that party was about me. I shrugged, “So… they didn’t write those letters… but they don’t want me back in their life like everyone else does.”
Abigail quickly said, “I’m sure that’s not…” I cut her off, “Honestly, it hurts but not as bad as everyone else. They literally cut me off according to the letters and stopped any relationship we had. This is kind of fitting when you think about it.”
I nodded to myself, “One thing I knew was true. The people I thought were blood the whole time gave up on me. They don’t have a good reason now. They aren’t even trying when everyone else is.” Sierra offered, “I think they just feel awkward and sad you believed they didn’t want you.”
I replied, “Alpha Peter feels more weight about that than they ever will… as an Alpha that cuts him deeply… as someone that I referred to as Daddy Peter more than once, it hurts him far more than their DNA could ever allow. He was also literally legally listed as my guardian and everyone made sure all of us knew that all the time. Yet he keeps showing up… and practically begging me with his eyes to talk.”
“Luna Chelsea doesn’t say much… yet. She probably will… but she’s shown up. She’s let me know by her presence she’ll talk to me. Grandma Esther is always around… so is Grandpa Ben even though he’s mad and hurt.”
“The Haskins pain doesn’t touch mine… I can admit they have a right to be upset… I’m not saying they don’t… Everyonedoes….but the rest of us are trying… of course they aren’t. Of course they are actively going out of their way to avoid me.”
Abigial offered, “Do you want to talk to them before your mating ceremony?” I replied, “They clearly are the ones you should ask that of. I’m around… I was even scheduled to be in their territory and they left their own pack.”
“Don’t think I didn’t notice… on the border with Val… wolves that left Red Run and joined other packs came back for Addison and Jason’s ceremony. They had no reason to do that… except some of them were my friends…. people are actively showing up places where I am. Now, that I think about it… I didn’t spot them as my brother’s Mating Ceremony. If the Haskins don’t want to see me, then everything I thought about them was true.”
Sierra winced, “Ok, that’s harsh but you know we get it. You don’t need people who would abandon you in your life. Let’s just see what they do with the invitation. I’ll tell them it’s from you and that you want them there.”
I nodded, “Ok… that’s reasonable.” Freya growled, “I will get them if they hurt you.” The odds were that they would not come. I was prepared for that now. I was glad I knew they hadn’t gone to the party, or my percentages would’ve been skewed and wrong. It would’ve hurt more to find out they just didn’t come. Now, I was prepared.
I asked, “Did they miss Jason’s Mating Ceremony?” Sierra admitted, “I wasn’t looking for them to be honest.” I linked Addison, “Did the Haskins come to your Mating Ceremony?” Addison answered, “They came to the reception, but claimed to have a flat tire which caused them to miss the ceremony.”
Yeah, claimed because it was lie. They heard I wasn’t able to be there so they showed up for the reception. Freya snarled. Abigial asked, “What?” I explained, “I asked Ads about their attendance. The Haskins showed up for the reception…which probability wise… is because they found out I wasn’t going tobe there. Word about the attack would’ve been reported to their pack. They claimed to have a flat tire.”
Abigial snorted, “With all the Fairies around to pop them there? Or snap that fixed, they went with a flat tire?” I let tears filled my eyes, “They missed Jason’s Mating Ceremony because of me….they won’t come to mine. They love him.” Sierra replied, “I’m sure they love you too.” I shrugged, “The evidence says otherwise…it’s fine.” Freya said, “I will dress their wolves down when we see them.”
Abigial groaned, “We have discussed your lying skills.” Sierra gently said, “They do leave something to be desired.” I snorted, “I know that.” Sierra told me, “It’s ok to be upset with them, I am.” I replied, “I don’t know….this feels like one thing I knew was right.” They both winced.
Before I knew it, it was Avery and Dakota’s mating Ceremony. Xander popped me to Red Run. I was both relieved and a small part of myself, I was not acknowledging, was leery about the fact that I was not sick. Before, I had an excuse not to come here… now that valid excuse was gone. I wasn’t sure how I felt about that.
Cassie popped me to my friends inside. I smiled at Avery when I saw her. I told her, “You look stunning.” Avery nodded looking sad though. I asked, “What’s wrong?” Avery admitted, “I want Buck to come, I just don’t know if he will.”
I snorted, “He will be here.” Avery lit up and asked, “Do you really think so? You’re never wrong.” I nodded, “I can be wrong… but yes… Buck will come. He’ll always show up for you. Besides, he knows if you’re upset… I’ll kick his butt… again.”
Avery laughed, “You’re right. He does know that. I’m hoping my big brother will walk me down the aisle.” I nodded knowing Buck would do that. I wasn’t going to ask if Avery invited her parents, she didn’t because they never cared about her.
I knew they’d tried to get back in touch with her now that she was a Luna of a strong pack. Avery didn’t though, because I blocked all that. Freya snickered in my head. They didn’t deserve to have the ability to hurt her, and I wouldn’t let them. Dakota would totally be on my side about that.
My watch blinked pink briefly. Well, thank goodness my alerts were here for us. I smiled saying, “I’ll be right back.” I stepped out with Cassie on my heels. I raised an eyebrow at her, but she just smiled at me. Valentina shimmered in, looking pissed.
I asked, “What happened?” Valentina snorted, “You’re going to be furious. We were on that mission you planned for when Avery met her mate.” I replied, “I knew you would be.” Cassie asked, “When did you assign that?”
I answered, “The second Avery was under my command as a Warrior in Black Path. I knew she’d eventually meet her mate, and I needed contingency plans… because of people who suck would try and ruin her day. I wasn’t going to let them. There are plans for all of my friends.”
