Cassie cooed, “Aww, that’s so sweet. I’m absolutely down to help with any plan. I’ll go Fairy hijinks on people’s ass with my mom.” That could be a good new backup plan. I liked it. Valentina nodded towards the space behind me. I watched as Virgil shimmered in before he grabbed me. I felt a hand on my shoulder as we shimmered out.
We were now at the border of Red Run and Blue Moon. I saw Avery’s parents standing in Blue Moon’s territory, being prevented from coming over to the border. Both were upset…which kind of made my day better.
Avery’s dad shouted, “Our daughter is having her mating ceremony today! She’s the Luna here.” Zane replied, “You are not on the approved list of visitors and we quite sensitive to that right now since your packillegallyheld one of our membersfor years.” Ohhh…that was me. Freya snorted, “Yes, it is.” That made me feel warm and fuzzy inside.
Zane continued, “Alpha Dalton is on the way to talk to you. We are under strict orders that no one gets in who isn’t on the list. Like I said, we are quite sensitive to that right now.” Avery’s dad growled, “You let our son in.” Zane stared at him saying ‘And?’ without saying it. Good. Buck was here. I knew he would be.
Avery dad demanded, “I want to talk to Avery, my daughter, or Alpha Dakota. He’s my son in law, not Alpha Dalton.” I answered before the harassed Warriors did, “Buck got in because he was invited. Get the hell out of here before I tell Caine and Dax to banish you from Black Path. Or tell Dalton why you weren’t invited… or Zane. Since he’s standing right there.”
Everyone turned to me. I added, “Just so you know… Zane… is the former Male Lead Warrior. I’d think you’d know that…since I talked about him…but you don’t listen well. So, I’ll just say as someone who has seen all the parties involved in this discussion fight… Zane could, and would, kill you where you stand if I explain why you weren’t invited.” That made several people growl.
Freya teased, “You use your Beta blood to rile people up from than most. I love it.” Yeah well….these two people deserved for everyone to be riled. Freya admitted, “I can tell that from your memories. I would’ve stopped you if I thought they didn’t deserve it.”
Zane snarled, “I’m tempted to do it without an explanation.” Avery dad gasped, “What? Why?” Zane answered, “Because if Ladybug says I’d kill you, I believe her.” I jolted and put my hand on my chest. A wolf of rank believing me about people and in my assessments sent emotions through me I didn’t understand.
I gathered myself and strode over to Avery’s parents. I demanded, “You two get out of here… or I’ll detail to not onlyZane… but the rest of these Warriors, exactly why they shouldn't want you near their Luna.”
“In fact… I’ll go into painstakingly, excruciating detail… and now Dalton’s here. I’d bet he’d LOVE to know why you shouldn’t be near his sister in law. Imagine the anger an Alpha blood…who actually doesn’t go against his blood…. would have for you about that.”
Avery’s dad shouted, “We tried to call Avery. We’ve texted but she didn’t answer.” Zane asked, “What? Avery said you hadn’t reached out.” The former Male Lead Warrior paused when I scoffed. Zane snorted, “I now see why Avery believes that.”
I growled, “Seriously, you reached out? You two sad excuses of parents thought I’d let you hurt Avery? I know that you called…and I know what you said in the voicemails and the texts. Avery will NEVER see them or even know about them.”
I tapped my chin saying, “Hmm, you know… I’m sure Dalton would love to know why NONE of your communications got through to Avery. I’m sure… it would greatly interest him why I decided to make sure none went through… here’s a warning, though. He’s already aware that means none were nice. Because I would never hurt Avery…or keep a genuine connection from her… and he knows that.”
“This pack is where I was raised. They can and will defend their Luna with everything in them. Red Run takes offense to any slight or past transgressions against their Luna. Would you like to take the chance of dying at their hands here and now by explaining to them what you did? Or would you like to save the shred of dignity you pretend to have and walk away?”
Avery’s mom burst into tears. She begged me, “Please, Melanie let us come in. We want the chance to make amends. Like Buck is.” Dalton asked, “Ladybug, what is she talking about? Avery hasn’t said anything about her parents.” I stared at Avery’s mom but that made her cry more.
Eventually I said, “I’m sorry… I think I just hallucinated. Do you want to try that again? Amends? I just told you… I saw the texts and I know what the voicemails said. Besides, to make amends you had to have something to build on… you have nothing.”
“You have no relationship with your daughter. If you needed proof, Dalton just gave it to you. Avery hasn’t even mentioned you. Zane thought you hadn’t reached out… I’m guessing he asked because he was in Black Path and noticed you were alive. Dalton wouldn’t have given a crap about you because he was with Paige at the time.”
“Don’t even, for one second, compare yourself to Buck. He doted on Avery when she was a pup. They were so close… it was honestly adorable for the pack you lived in. I spied on them because they reminded me of the relationship I had with my own brothers.”
“Avery loves him with every fiber of her being. My friend DESPERATELY wanted you to love her, but you decided to be giant jerks to her because she was female. You have no relationship with her because you didn’t like that she was a girl.”
Avery's dad winced before excusing himself, “It’s how it was in our pack, you know that. Now, it’s different with Caine and Dax in charge.” I groaned, “UGH! I just don’t care. I don’t care about that excuse anymore. Avery’s your daughter and that should’ve mattered more to you than what other people thought.”
“At least in private, but you were crappy people then too. You raised Buck to think he had to be a good person in the shadows. He’s THRIVING now…. like he always should’ve been. We all know if Avery wasn’t mated to an Alpha, you wouldn’t be here.”
“If you’d like for everyone to know beyond a shadow of a doubt… I’ll have Cassie here make you tell the truth. Just get outof here. Leave this territory and don’t come back. Avery doesn’t know you’re here and she’s not going to.”
I demanded, “Stop trying to ruin things for her. Because I won’t let you. I’ll even change my plan for accomplishing that. I’ll have my mate squeeze your brain until it comes out of your noses. Or Cassie here could shoot you with her sunlight.” Freya cheered, “Go human of mine!”
I waved saying, “Cassie’s mom could put you in a tornado. Valentina’s mate could pull you into a tree. Virgil can set you on fire. Honestly, the list is limitless for me now. If we want to go the wolf route, I already told you Zane would kill you. Plus, Dalton here could rip you to pieces in seconds. He definitely would too.”
Dalton growled, “Dalton is beginning to feel like he should, even if you don’t tell him what happened.” Dalton was apparently going third person… which he did when he was mad. Avery’s mom said nothing while she cried.
I linked Cassie, “Ask Avery’s dad why they are here, please.” Cassie smirked but popped closer to him. My soon to be sister in law asked Avery’s dad, “Why are you here?” He immediately answered, “My daughter is mated to a powerful Alpha wolf. This is a better match than we ever dreamed. Avery was going to be given to a Warrior, but we never thought she’d be fated to an Alpha. We want to be close to our son in law.”
I snorted, “So, it’s still not about Avery…. How shocking.” Zane said, “You are still bad at lying even when it’s sarcastic. It’s good to hear the Ladybug classics.” I blushed but rambled on, “Also, I’m not shocked you agreed to whatever pathetic match Edward lined up for Avery. Don’t think they missed the part where you said GIVEN to a warrior.”
Dalton snarled, “Avery is my brother’s!” This felt like my work here was done… since everyone was mad. Dalton was the Alpha blood here with authority and was absolutely not lettingthem in. Besides, Cassie would probably kill them if they even tried… since she had Alpha blood too.
Freya snorted, “Caulder is not letting them near the border ever again.” I turned to leave, but Avery’s mom grabbed my arm pleading, “Have Alpha Duchess Cassie ask me, please!”
I snorted, “Oh, so you do listen to me. Because I note you said her full title…which meant you knew who Zane was…and pissed him off anyway. You two make such strange choices…around people who can kill you.”
