I focused again and listened to the conversation and discovered there were cops looking for me. ME? What? Someone reported me as Ashley Griffen missing? Who the hell would do that? That would be a very dumb thing to do. Instantly I knew they were lying because I would've gotten an alert if someone did that.
I checked ILYX and saw that I had in fact not been reported missing. Freya said, “Let’s ruin their plan then.” My own formed because I knew they’d have to leave if I proved I was me. If Xander and EJ made them leave… they’d just keep coming back, and Xander would kill them.
EJ and Xander closed the door and conferred with their group. A license appeared in my hand. I put it in my back pocket and waited a little longer before I walked out into their view. They pointed at me saying I was Ashley.
I turned and to my surprise I knew these guys. They were altering their real voices, but I knew them. They looked at me as though they’d won something. Did everyone just bury their heads in the sand and think no one could outsmart them? Even if everyone here agreed I was Ashley… they had no cause to take me.
I linked my dad, “I need you and mom to come to the living room.” My dad answered, “We are on the way, Ladybug.” This just didn’t make sense. Did these Warlocks not understand that no wolf, particularly an Alpha, would just hand over their mate? Freya said, “They are stupid.” Clearly. Even Edward would never hand over Elena and he was a bad mate.
I teased them and produced my license. My dad saying I was his daughter nearly had me in tears, but I slammed that box of emotions shut before I could. Dad linked me, “You are my daughter, and I always claim that. You make me proud, pup.” That was Pepper at the end.
Both Warlocks paled at the sight of my family. Did they think I was up here, and they didn’t notice I was home? Or did they think I made them stay away because I was mad? That option seemed far more likely.
I linked Tristan, “Did dad just say something about me not being married?” My big brother answered, “The Warlocks here claimed you were married.” I snorted, “I am absolutely not married.” Tristan asked, “Would you know if Trevor got a license without your knowledge? They could forge your signature and pay people off.”
I laughed, “Yeah, no. I’d have known.” Tristan raised an eyebrow, but I would’ve known. My searches on my name ran automatically. I wish I’d done that with the allies communications… or I’d have known…the whole charade….but I could tweak that easily enough.
Xander’s patience ran out and he shut the door in their faces. Freya warned, “Mate doesn’t like your plan to go with them.” Well… no, but it made sense. It’s just his logic for me not going did too. Freya offered, “I don't mind the plan, but let’s wait until after we’ve shifted for such things as being bait. I don’t want them to hold us up any longer.”
Both my wolf and Xander made excellent points. It was too raw for my mate right now after what he saw… and I didn’t want to delay Freya and my shift any longer either. It hit me and I nearly shouted, “Oh GOD! PAIGE!” They would go after Paige next.
I had to warn her. Xander popped us upstairs saying we needed to talk about several things. I held up my hands, “I agree. We can talk about all that... I just need to make a call.” I ran over to my phone and called Paige.
My Witch friend answered, to my relief, greeting, “Hiya ,Mel.” I blurted out, “Ivan and Yusef were just here trying to claim I was reported missing. They want you way more than they want me. EJ was going to have them taken into custody here… but they have to have a quick getaway planned. If they slip away from Black Mountain… they are coming straight for you. They will attack or use a distraction to get to you.”
I heard Dalton snarl. Alpha’s man…. my research was right about their intensity. Black Path.. and the forgotten Alpha’s were the exception to the data sets I had. Dalton started barking out orders, “I want Warriors on our goddamn borders right now. Someone get EJ on the fucking phone. I want to know if those fuckers slip past their warriors.”
Dakota answered him, “T is already on the phone with me giving the same warning. We will know when they have them or if we need to get them. EJ is ready to pop to us.” Paige laughed, “You are such a worrier, Dalton. They can’t even get me if they take me by surprise. I’m way better than them. Having theadvantage of Mel’s call…” My friend trailed off then smugly said, “Well, they have a negative percentage of succeeding.”
That was true and Paige knew that because of all my tables of data… which I told her about… and explained to her….then made her take tests about. Dalton growled, “You don’t leave my side.” Paige fake pouted, “Aww, what a harsh stance to take. I suppose if it will make you feel better, I’ll stay right by your side until they are caught. You’ll have to make it up to me later though.”
I bit my lip so I wouldn’t laugh. Dalton wouldn’t even notice her tone was teasing. I urged, “Go get them, Paige. Well, you know… should they end up in your territory.” Paige laughed, “Ohh I’ll give them hell. You know I will.” I acknowledged, “I do know that.” I hung up as Dalton was ranting about how they wouldn’t get near her.
Xander was behind me in the next second warning, “I will sense your teasing tone if you do that to me.” I laughed, “Probably not at the moment, but later… sure. Alphas hear or perceive their mate to be in danger… and they go very Alpha male about it.”
My mate nipped my ear and whispered, “You and your friends tend to run to danger.” I snorted, “It’s not running to it, if danger comes to you. It’s being prepared. We also know we are better than them.” I gasped, “Oh gosh... that sounds brag-y… it’s not... it really is a fact... Paige is better than them. I could kill those two guys easier than I’m breathing right now.”
Xander informed me, “My mom sent her tornado at them. Their escape was near where she was and my mom does not take kindly to unknown Witches or Warlocks in this territory.” He paused before adding, “Particularly in her current mood. Plus, after what they helped do to you, which she was linked about. So, it’s all good.”
I laughed, “I’d bet Haley’s very upset in her current mood as you say. Did she kill them?” Xander smirked answering,“Not quite. Now, back onto the topic of our Mating Ceremony. Plan whatever you want. Go dress shopping. All I want is the traditional Wolf, Fairy, and Hackura components. Well, if we don't have our Hackura bonding ceremony before then.”
I asked, “That’s it? You don’t have anything else you want?” Xander smiled, “The only other thing I want is you and I married at the end. You can plan it and the day after you are marked, we can have it. If you want more time, that’s fine.”
My mate warned, “If you want as much time as Paige I might combust, but I can give you that.” I snorted, “No, I don’t need as much time as Paige. I struggle with a few things about it, but at the end of the day... I want you to be my husband.” I blushed saying it out loud.
Xander asked, “What do you struggle with?” I answered, “Jason will be standing up there with you… when I’ve been thinking he’d refuse to even come… if you agreed to give us chance… so… he’ll definitely be there.” Xander started to speak.
I held my hand up saying, “Don’t offer to not have him up there. I know my brother is important to you. It would hurt Jason’s feelings if he wasn’t, and I don’t really want that. I know he doesn’t actually hate me... I know he didn’t say all that… or write those things to me. I’m trying to work through all that. It’s honestly a small struggle... I’m just trying to be honest and share and... stuff.”
Xander kissed me then asked, “What else?” I sighed, “My dad. He’s alive. He can walk me down the aisle…..and my feelings about that are difficult. I’m happy but I’m not sure I’m ready for that. I stopped dreaming about our mating ceremony years ago.”
I whispered, “The ideas and dreams come back, but some of them hurt. I just… I didn't think it would be this way. I didn’t think I could have all this, and now I can... it’s weird… Gosh, I’m weird. I can have everything I dreamed of before everythingchanged. Plus, my new family I made while I was gone can come… I just…”
Xander kissed me again. My mate pulled back to say, “You are dealing with a lot, and I completely understand what you’re saying. You didn’t think I would accept you. As much as it pisses me off, they made you believe that, because it was NEVER true. I still understand why aspects of this are hard to cope with for you.”
I wiped my tears away asking, “You don’t care about the colors for our Mating Ceremony?” Xander laughed, “I assume red will be one of the colors.” I nodded saying, “If you don’t mind.” My mate replied, “I don’t. I want the colors to be whatever makes you happy. Because whatever makes you happy, makes me happy.”
I immediately said, “Then it will be mostly red with some white and little gold.” Freya chimed in, “I like it.” My wolf would have seen my memories of my dreams for our ceremony. Xander kissed me then declared, “That works for me. Whatever you want. I want you to have your dream mating ceremony. Start planning whatever pieces of it you are comfortable with. Don’t think about the pieces that give you anxiety.”
