Caine replied, “Because he has become a fast friend as my Gamma and Buck felt like he needed to do this.” I replied, “No, he doesn’t! They could KILL him.” Caine replied, “I wouldn’t let that happen, nor would you.” UGH!
I easily spotted the group I was looking for, but I couldn’t hear them. I linked Max, “Please include me in the space unheard chant.” Max snorted, “You want to defend him, and I don’t think I like him.” I sighed, “Ok… Buck is complicated. But you would like him… eventually. Besides, today is about Avery.” Max rolled his eyes and included me in the chat.
I quickly asked, “Buck… why?” Buck sighed, “I needed to thank them and apologize.” I gaped at him before saying, “This is your sister’s mating ceremony, not the time to go through all your steps of apologizing for your behavior. Find them another time… like any other time. You guys will see them a lot now… you’re the Gamma… and Black Path is allied with all of us… so there will be other times.”
Micah snorted, “You wouldn’t be here another time to save him.” I rolled my eyes saying, “Buck didn’t think that I would save him now.” Buck chimed in, “Buck knew you would, but I don’t need it.” Ok… so he was more observant than I thought.
I grumbled, “Whatever… Look, Buck is complicated… like I told Max… but he’s changing to the guy that does all the things he used to do in the shadows, in the light. If you want to punch him later… for not saving Avery himself that one time… even though he orchestrated me saving her… then do so after the ceremony…. where he is walking Avery down the aisle. Preferably after the reception when she leaves with Dakota.”
Buck smirked. I continued, “Look… he did all that because he loves her… and while I think he could’ve just stood up and said stuff… he did take punishments for his mate before she…uhh left?” Buck snorted, “You can say rejected me.” I winced, “Umm… so before that.” Freya huffed in my head.
I waved, “And Buck set up the whole me finding Avery that day thing. He made sure I did by taking my motorcycle and driving it out of gas….which he totally never put back in the tank…I’m just saying.” Buck threw his head back and laughed.
I grumbled, “Well, you didn’t… but he did what he could to protect Avery. I was the best way to do that. So while all of us would’ve had different ways of doing that… Buck used what he could, given the way he was raised.”
Max said, “Hold on. He’s your counterpart. Or he was and you call it complicated?” I nodded, “Well… yes… he is. We worked together and I saw more of him… it helped me understand him better. I didn’t agree with all the things he did…and he didn’t agree with what I did so publicly. Buck can’t help how he was raised. He was doing better in the years we worked together… and he helped me if he could.”
“He gave me a lot of rides for the coffee pickups I did… he dropped me off before anyone saw… but he still did it. Buck tried to stop me from challenging for the Female Lead Warrior position while still injured. He wanted me to heal. Buck is good… he just needed a way to show that and he’s getting the chance as the Gamma “
“So, I need Max to promise not to say anything to anyone but Micah or Cayden… until after the festivities. Today is all about Avery…and I have a lot of plans for not letting anything go wrong… on days that are special to her… and all my friends… but today is Avery’s day… so… let’s not be a problem. I already fixed one of those… people might have died… probably not… but it’s possible.”
Buck tried to cover his laugh. Max said, “Ok, fine. I promise because my mom is all about the bride getting her way. Back to you not defending your former counterpart with these two…you just don’t want them to hit him now. You’re cool with it happening later.”
I hummed, “I mean… there is no way I could stop them… in theory. Cayden is the Commander of the Hackura Armies… Micah is stealthy… I can’t be guarding Buck twenty-four seven… and the man is a bit of a masochist… clearly.”
Max said, “I am so confused.” Buck argued, “I’m not a masochist.” I disagreed, “You want them to hit you… it’s why you came to talk to them right now. You are still punishing yourself for letting Avery believe you were going to let her get hurt… when you literally made sure I was there… you didn’t even leave.”
“I found the tapes… you killed one of those guys… and would’ve killed more if they hadn’t linked the pack, ergo….you are a masochist who is punishing himself… instead of TALKING to his sister. Fair warning… you can tell Avery all that LATER because today is not the day… or I’ll tell her eventually.”
Micah cooed, “Don’t worry Max, I’ll clear it all up for you.” I groaned, “Do you have to?” Micah laughed, “I’ve had to keep secrets about you, from him for quite some time. It’s nice being able to tell him everything.” That was fair.
I sighed, “Fine! There will be no punching anyone until Avery isn’t around, and that goes for all three of you.” Buck asked, “Did you abide by that rule? Or did you hit my dad?” I gasped, “That’s different! Avery doesn’t even know they are here. Plus, I didn’t hit him….it felt like personal growth.” Buck cackled and Max snorted.
I hummed, “Fine. Someone might have after I left…because maybe…I riled up the Alpha’s bloods present…and everyone else of Warrior status. Dalton DEFINATELY looked like he might punch your dad… and I only riled him up to the point he might have killed them….but it wasn’t trending in that direction.”
“Although, Dylan Frost showed up… and probably encouraged someone to punch your dad. From what I’ve read about the man, he’d have encouraged a death if Eric ends up there. Hastein and Gabe were there too… there are lots of options for people who could punch your parents.”
“Or they might be dead… so… that’s an option. Only like five percent given my mate wasn’t there or his dad. Zane was ready to go though. So, if you want them to be among the living you’d better hope Dylan Frost encouraged Dalton only to punch them in the face.”
“He was the only Beta blood there when I left… but it really depends on how Dylan want the day to go. He could easily continue to rile Dalton… or Zane… to kill them…that’s just a low probability if Eric didn’t go and I see him right there. Plus, there’s the other factor….Dylan can’t stop the strongest men there…nor would he.”
Buck frowned, “Who would be stronger than their Alpha?” Cayden asked, “Seriously? Do you know someone else named Hastein? Melanie is referring to Prince Hastein and Prince Gabe Cambridge.” Buck actually laughed, which caused everyone in our group to be surprised, except me.
I snorted, “You guys act like any of the pups in Black Path like their parents. It’s rare. Not as much for the boys. Surprisingly Buck here… was not a fan of how his parents acted with Avery. It’s rare… which is another reason I said he should be the Gamma. He behaved how Dax and Caine did with their sisters. The point of me coming out here was to say that everyone needs to behave. For Avery.”
I turned to Buck and said, “For one… I’m defending you to good people… it’s a weird change… normally I only defend you to people who suck.” Buck smiled saying, “It’s kind of nice.” I snorted, “It’s how it always should’ve been… that what counterparts do.”
I paused then added, “Well, they do it against people who suck too. They just don’t fight without their counterpart because of made up rules.” Buck growled, “I was not a fan of those.” I replied, “I know… because if certain people weren’t around… you basically said screw the rules and killed people… then lied on the report about how they died… and didn’t blame me. It was all weird…when you consider it was always my doing.”
Max asked, “What the fuck?!” I playfully hit Buck in the arm, “I guess that was our last for previous counterpart things sake moments… probably not though. I’ll always defend you.” Buck replied, “As I will defend you, the way I can now and should’ve always done.” I was not going to cry so I took off.
Buck and I might find ground where we were legitimate friends. I linked Caine, “There is no way Buck’s parents are happy he crossed the border when they were not allowed to. They would’ve told him to stay with them until they were allowed in.”
Caine growled, “They were not supposed to come.” I replied, “They did.” Caine assured me, “I’ll handle them.” I knew he would. Dax linked, “You riled up the Alpha blood’s on the border with Avery and Buck’s parents didn’t you?” I replied, “Just the Alpha bloods? No…I got them all going.” Dax laughed back.
I walked back inside and glanced in the mirror at the full picture of my dress. It was off the shoulder dress and form fitting in navy. The top had some beading with a sheer back. Avery smiled, “You look beautiful, Mel.” I squeaked, “Me? Look at you!” She was in a stunning white dress. It was the same style as ours.
When we got outside Buck was waiting for his sister. Avery beamed with happiness over his presence…. which is why I saved him from getting a black eye before. I guess if he really wanted one, he could seek out Cayden or Micah later.
