My dad replied, “Yeah, I find that weird too. Even as the voice of the forgotten packs, as she declared herself, or the savior as an Alpha that’s a tall order. Your mate has interesting qualities about her.” Oden boasted, “Mate is amazing.” That wasn’t up for debate.
The ability to convince an Alpha wolf you would protect their mate when you weren’t related to them was something different though. Gage linked, “So, does Melanie give classes on how to keep an Alpha calm in a situation like that? Because I will take it.” I snorted, “Ask her.” Gage winked at me.
Cassie popped in, offering to go to Tao’s pack with him. I linked Phil, “Hell no.” My Beta snorted, “As if your parents will let that happen.” My cousin was right. Dad linked, “It was never going to happen.” Good. EJ pointed out we needed to have meetings with Tao.
Unfortunately, Red Run would have the choice to make him pay for recompense they were owed since Ezra violated the treaty Nick Kyle signed. Peter, Dalton, and Dakota had kept it up. Ezra turned around and had Red Run attacked while having Melanie kidnapped.
Ezra knew about the scars on her back too. I could guarantee the only reason that sad pathetic excuse of an Alpha didn’t have my mate in his pack was because we’d have known. WhyNashville though? Oden said, “That doesn’t really make sense to me either other than we wouldn’t look there.”
That was probably reason enough. How did Ezra know them though? Plenty of people would trade a limb for a favor with our pack like telling us Ezra dropped Melanie off in their pack injured. I linked Phil, “What’s the link between Alpha Ezra and Nashville?”
Phil replied, “I’ll ask my guy in Nashville. Or you could ask Jason, Dalton, or Dakota’s mate. Or our new friends in Black Path that have taken over. Caine and Dax like us. They are prickly with Red Run, but everyone understands that. It would hard to change your entire perception of someone and based on what they thought was true I’d be prickly myself.”
I replied, “See what you find first before asking anyone else.” I’d ask Judy and Rena if they could find out if he couldn’t. They were mated to Caine and Dax after all. Phil replied, “I did leave your mate out of that group. She absolutely knows.” Melanie obviously knew.
I assured him, “I’ll ask her if I remember, just ask your guy too. We all know the likelihood some other crazy event involving my mate will drop and I’ll forget this detail aren’t low.” Phil nodded, “On it. I suppose I could ask my mate first. Hello rock and hard place. I’m back. Did you miss me? I did not miss you. It was less than twenty-four hours. We have GOT to stop meeting like this.”
I changed the subject, “I heard Jeffery is home.” Phil smirked, “My brother is home. He has leaned towards his Hackura side more than I ever have. He knows things about torturing that I don't, and Clay NEEDS to suffer.” I nodded because I agreed with that sentiment.
EJ linked me, “It appears that your training videos have reached a lot farther than you anticipated, little brother. You were right about doing them. Those routines are definitelyneeded out there for other packs and Supernatural alike.” I didn’t miss the pride I felt in my connections.
I replied, “That’s all because my mate told them to watch them.” EJ disagreed, “You put them out there for her to use for everyone else.” I did. I was still fuming about Melanie fighting without me again. My mate however didn’t seem to understand the problem.
Oden said, “Because she is right. She couldn’t come fight in Red Run, but she could’ve linked us the plan of action.” I snorted, “I know you get the problem. We need to get our mate to understand.” I paused then asked him, “How did you not know our mate was in Red Run for sure?”
Oden sighed, “Special circumstances.” I questioned, “What on god’s green earth does that mean?” Oden replied, “You will find out soon. It’s getting closer every day. I doubt it will even be two weeks now. I’d honestly tell you, but you wouldn’t believe me.”
I sighed, “Aren’t we past that? I’ll believe whatever you tell me at this point.” Oden argued, “Seeing this one is going to be believing for a lot of people.” I had no idea what that meant, and I didn’t want to guess. I didn’t have the bandwidth in my mind.
Melanie made a good argument for Red Run to return to their pack, but I could see the conflict on their faces. Cassie linked me, “Melanie told me that Edward has ruined any fun, or good day, they had planned for Addison.” I assured her, “I’ll make sure they know that.”
I linked Dalton, “You guys need to go. This is mentally rough for Addison. Her horrible father never let her have a happy day.” Dalton sighed and obviously linked the pack. Melanie’s family was clearly in the most turmoil, but they did eventually go.
Lux and Melanie teasing each other had Oden growling, “OURS!” EJ linked, “You already knew that they see each other as friends.” I snarled, “Not being able to mark her is LITERALLYhell for and makes me fairly irrational about people around her.” EJ nodded in understanding.
Julian got to leave, and I wanted to join him. Phil linked, “Are you really teasing EJ about leases? Toby and I are all over that.” Of course they were. Gage gasped, “Did that idiot really just ask you to heal him?” Oden scoffed, “I would take over if you tried. He does not deserve a healing.” I agreed, Ezra could get fucked.
Phil replied, “I mean, Ezra just said he needed to be healed. He had to be asking Haley. No one believes Alexander would heal him.” I scoffed, “That sad excuse of an Alpha knows nothing of the pain that is in store for him. My mother would never help someone like Ezra. He hurt my mate which hurt me.”
Phil teased, “See, I’m not a dolt so I know that. The problem is the moron who used to be Alpha, somehow, didn’t.” I walked over and knocked Ezra back out because I was not in the mood for his bullshit.
I linked EJ, “I understand people want to talk to my mate, but I don’t care. There will be no meeting this time. I want to talk and take care of her. I don’t give a shit what everyone else wants.” EJ replied, “I get it. I’ll handle it. We do have things to discuss because Ezra let out that she was in the Undergrounds.”
I growled, “I heard him.” Vaguely in the recesses of my brain, but I did hear it. I linked asked Phil, “Alpha Theo does understand I was not asking for Ezra. He’s just ours.” Phil said, “Yes, well EJ is on that.” I would’ve taken Ezra with or without permission.
We worked out more details with Alpha Theo before we left. We decided on leaving ten Warriors with their pack. Most of Theo’s were fine, but just in case we needed to get back here they could link us. I linked Fowler, Chason, and KJ, “I’m going to have Melanie, but I want you shadowing her. She likes you guys.”
Not to mention Chason and Fowler were incredibly stealthy. Plus, KJ seemed somewhat dedicated to the task and somehow always around in the shadows. They all nodded their agreement to my order. I popped us home and ignored everyone saying they wanted to talk to Melanie.
I could literally care less. Noble as my mate’s reason was for getting injured, I didn’t like that she got hurt. She was my mate. I convinced Melanie to go shower. I started taking deep breaths. I didn't even know where to start this conversation.
Oden chimed in, “The beginning of any story is good. Just have mate walk us through everything. Starting when Cassie popped her away.” It was a good point. I wanted to ask about Melanie’s back though.
When my mate came out of the bathroom, I still didn’t know what to say so I jumped in the shower. When I came back out ready with my opening, I took in Melanie’s countenance and paused. My Lovebug was exhausted. I pushed aside my wants and decided to take a nap with her because she had to come first.
We both faded to sleep. Honestly, I was more tired than I thought. Eventually someone poked my side, but I knew it wasn’t my mate. I groaned, “Why?” EJ answered, “Because you appeared out of thin air, little brother. Or should I say, other reality brother.” My eyes snapped open.
My family was gathered around me, including myself. The other me looked at my neck and frowned asking, “How are you in the Ribbon if you haven’t marked our mate? Why are we twice light bound, but our mate hasn’t marked us? What the hell is going on?”
