I woke up to a wonderful smelling aroma. I teased Melanie about waking up again. Oden was purring about her making us breakfast on our mating day. I was about to make a move when someone knocked on the damn door.
Phil linked, “You let me in with these people right now or I won’t forgive you.” I popped Melanie into the bathroom so she could start relaxing. Then popped away leaving her to it. The women were all there and so were the pack members who were coming to do the massages and nails and pedicures.
I nodded to them all and snapped the room the way they’d need. Sierra whispered, “Wow.” Avery giggled, “Someone pinch me.” Then she shrieked, “Paige!” Paige laughed, “You asked.” Abigail declared, “This is awesome.” I nodded to Adeline then called, “Have fun ladies.”
I grabbed Phil and popped downstairs. I told him, “I need you to quietly look into the activities of Karlee Brand.” Phil grumbled, “Coffee. You must snap me coffee first.” Gage pleaded, “Please do. I’ve been snapped at because my mate sleeps.”
I snapped my cousin two cups. Phil slammed the first and sipped on the second. He said, “Ok, now we can be rational. Who is Karlee Brand?” I answered, “Melanie set up an alias this morning for an assistant for a Vampire in Missouri. Her name is Karlee Brand.” Gage whistled.
Phil snorted, “If it’s the woman she was with yesterday I’ll laugh really hard.” I asked, “Why?” Phil smiled, “Don’t you remember that I took German in high school?” Gage raised hishand saying, “I remember that.” I inclined my head saying, “So do I.”
Phil smiled, “Well, the last name Brand is from the old German name Brant. It means fire. That woman was melting people’s hands off and apparently walked right out of the place on fire and was perfectly fine.” He wasn’t wrong. Kingsley was perfectly fine when I saw her, or I would’ve healed her.
Phil snorted, “It is her! You know I have every belief your ridiculously smart mate knows she set her friends alias up with the last name fire.” I smiled agreeing, “I’m sure Melanie does. She seems to know things like that.”
Gage scoffed, “She seems to know things like that?! I worry about you Alexander, truly. Your mate will know every single language you know and several more.” Phil nodded, “Consider me all over the actions of Karlee Brand.”
Gage commented, “Consider me staring over his shoulder about it.” I laughed, “I doubt you’ll be alone in that either.” Phil sighed, “And who might be joining us?” I admitted, “I promised I wouldn’t tell the exact theory. I’ll tell you it’s one of our cousins, Phil.”
Phil immediately said, “Hastein.” Gage inclined his head, “I agree. It’s him or Gabe.” I laughed, “I’m not saying any words.” Phil shrugged, “I thought it myself after yesterday. H was clearly intrigued. He should’ve looked at Gabe to make sure he was ok but he didn’t.”
Gage said, “Which I said too.” Phil added, “Plus, I talked to Jeffrey last night. He said Hastein was particularly keyed up.” Gage grumbled, “Which a Gamma was not told. Why am I not even kind of surprised by that?”
Phil continued, “Cousin Bjourn had to clear the gym and Uncle Titus even fought with Hastein to get him to calm down. I have surmised the woman with the alias of Karlee Brand, whose last name means Fire in Old German, is the cause.”
Gage said, “That all seems to be accurate given the new information we just got.” Phil hummed, “I think I’ll just call Gunner and mention that I’m quietly looking into her. Don’t you just bet word will reach all our cousins quickly?”
I raised both my hands saying, “I had nothing to do with that. Nor did I promise to keep the alias a secret, but you could wait to pass all that off. My mate has a plan.” Phil snorted, “Does she ever not have a plan?”
Gage answered, “I’m pretty sure she has ten ongoing plans at all times. That’s just from the short window I’ve known her personally, too. Then factor in she’s got Beta blood and there is literally no chance that she doesn’t have a plan going.”
Phil snorted, “Exactly. I’ll text Gunner about it. Casually.” I laughed, “He’ll still pass that along.” Phil shrugged, “We must give our cousins an edge.” I pointed out, “They don’t need one.” Phil shrugged, “A cousins gotta do what a cousins gotta do.”
Gage reasoned, “Plus, we both know that’s why you told us about it.” Phil agreed, “It was definitely so I’d tell them. H will meet the women in Melanie’s plan, but he’ll have more information beforehand. The man loves information.” I laughed, “I’m pretty sure he’s here.”
Phil said, “I know he’s here. I just didn’t know why.” Gage offered, “I also knew H was here.” I asked, “How did you guys know he’s here?” Phil snorted, “I’m your Beta. It’s my job to know things. I know because our cousin also appeared out of thin air to ask me if I’d asked Sierra about being in the Resistance.”
Gage said, “I was standing there when that happened. I won’t lie, I jumped.” I asked Phil, “Have you ask Sierra about the Resistance?” Phil snorted, “Of course I did and she confirmed it. All Melanie’s friends confirmed with their mate. Including Julian’s. Hendrick and Mason told EJ they were in it as well.No one had an in depth conversation about it. Much to the McAlister’s annoyance.”
The three of us walked into our office and sat down. Phil said, “So, does the leader of Resistance do anything now that Melanie works for them? She’s developing all this stuff, helped fund the damn thing, or she was. Melanie is now setting up aliases for people. I mean what do they do?”
I snorted, “Nothing. They tell my mate to do things.” Gage said, “That would suggest she’s quite high up in the organization then.” Phil snorted, “That does seem to be the case.” I glanced at him, “What was with the snort?”
Phil said, “Nah, it’s crazy.” I pressed, “What is?” Phil sighed, “A weird thought. Let’s move on. It’s crazy. Are we any closer to cracking through these hurdles keeping us from Estelle?” I admitted, “Not that I’ve heard, so probably not.” Gage offered, “According to Gia, we are not.” I figured.
EJ and my dad walked into the room with a breakfast tray. Phil inhaled surmising, “Melanie cooked the morning of her Mating Ceremony?” He grabbed several croissants and ate them while Gage did the same. I laughed, “I got food in bed.”
Phil said, “Sierra said she got Melanie back to bed. SO, tell me more and never tell my mate yours cooked today.” I snorted, “My mate didn’t really sleep. She was in bed for a bit, but she definitely did not stay there.”
Phil sighed, “I wish you luck with that. For the rest of your life, you have to figure out how to get your mate to stay in bed.” Gage boasted, “I do not have this problem. My mate loves to sleep in and I love that.”
I replied, “I wasn’t worried since I knew my Guard was with Melanie this morning.” My dad asked, “Is anyone going to share why your cousin is also here?” I snorted, “I’d bet you know exactly why H is here.” My dad laughed, “Maybe, but it’s always nice for people to mention such things.”
EJ rolled his eyes, “Will someone tell me? I only know Hastein is here early.” Phil said, “Alexander cannot tell you, but don’t worry EJ. The non-Fairy blood Beta cousin of yours is here for you.” Gage grumbled, “I could tell him.”
EJ laughed, “Hit me with the information then, either of you.” Phil chuckled, “The unconfirmed going theory, because Alexander promised not to share, is that the woman Melanie fought with yesterday is Hastein’s mate.” EJ’s feelings of that statement ringing true hit the bond.
EJ’s eyes shot to me asking, “You met her right?” I nodded, “I did, yes.” EJ questioned, “What is she? Would she match Hastein?” I replied, “I have no damn clue what type of Supernatural she is. She’s fiery, loyal, and has had some hard times. She’s seen a lot of things, but she does still appear to have fun.”
