Angela nodded, “Yes, she wasn’t blurry at all this time. Melanie has actually been clear to me since she took off those rings. Your mate has had a rough day and needs you.” I nodded, “Don’t worry, little one. Melanie has me. Thank you, Ang.”
I turned to Cayden and EJ, “Thank you.” Angela said, “Melanie will be in the living room when she returns. With company.” I smiled saying, “You are great.” Angela snorted, “If you all could remember that I see things, that would be great.” My little sister popped away.
I had to smile. EJ sighed, “She might have a point.” Elise snorted, “MIGHT?! SHE MIGHT?! Oh dear god.” I popped into the shower in my room. I quickly snapped myself into clothes once I stepped out, then popped downstairs.
A portal opened, and to my surprise Melanie walked through. I grabbed her and crushed her to me. I nearly fell over when my cousin, Hastein, stepped through behind her. He must have just gotten home. Everyone talked around me as I breathed in her scent.
I didn’t care where she came back because she was here and was found by my cousin. Hastein brought her home to me and I sent him my love for that in the bond. Hastein teased me about Melanie being mine. Oden said, “This will all go over quite poorly with our cousin. He will be on a warpath.” He could join me because I was furious about how my mate had been treated.
EJ and Elise came in the room. EJ linked me, “Where was the heads up, little brother? Like oh hey, my mate is finally back.” I bit my lip, “My bad. Except ANGELA gave us a timeline so that’s more on you.” EJ rolled his eyes at me, but I could tell he actually understood in our bond why I hadn’t thought to link him yet.
Melanie explained the basics of what happened. EJ linked me, “So drunk Melanie is chatty. I sensed a challenge in that, little brother.” I snorted, “Yeah, it’s not a bad idea. Not too drunk but she rambles soberly. So, drunk I’d bet it’s a fountain of information pouring out of those lips.”
EJ snorted, “I wonder if it’s awkward rambling like sober Melanie but easier to get talking.” I responded, “Maybe we should find out.” EJ smirked, “Maybe we should.” Gage linked, “I’m so on the plan of getting the minions in Phil’s brain to figure out how to get our Luna drunk. She’ll give us all the secrets.”
Melanie described her eighteenth birthday to us, and I couldn’t stop my roar of anger. Hastein’s eyes were blazing. EJ sighed, “It’s like the punches I took mean nothing anymore. Alexander just gets all worked up less than hour after we calm him down. Why do I do this to myself?”
Elise answered, “Because Alexander is your brother, and you love him.” EJ sighed, “You’re so smart.” Elise snorted, “Remember that.” EJ nuzzled her saying, “I always remember that. You are everything to me and you always have been.”
Hastein was pissed and ready to recall the family. Oden said, “As he should be.” That was their call, and it meant a lot to me that he’d do it. Hastein had commiserated with me on many occasions about not having a mate.
My oldest cousin still hadn’t met his mate yet. He often told me the key was having fun, and that I was not having any. People threw themselves at him because he was the future King and unmated. People threw themselves at his brothers too. I had only ever wanted Melanie though.
EJ wanted to brief everyone. I linked him, “Melanie needs actual sleep. Not laying down and getting pulled into the Ribbon sleep.” EJ said, “I’ll bring H up to speed. You go take care of Ladybug.” My mom of course ordered me to take Melanie to bed.
I winked my mom linking, “I already told EJ I’d be doing just that.” Mom replied, “Because I raised you to be a fucking kind and considerate man and mate. I was just stating it for the group that wanted to attack you two with questions.” I nodded to her.
Melanie ran through the girl’s night problem. We’d worried about Melanie going out since she was the white wolf, but this attack had not been about her at all. We were completely unprepared for it too. Melanie was tipped off because Adlee was behind the bar. Dear lord.
I wouldn’t have thought anything of that because it had happened before. Clearly neither Emmett nor Malachi thought it was weird either. Melanie walked us through everything. What stuck out to me was she knew Cassie’s drink wasn’t water, but Cassie did not. I knew the girls had mentioned they knew the scent, but Cassie should’ve smelled something besides water.
I popped my mate upstairs. I linked Elise, “You’re outside my door, aren’t you?” Elise answered, “Well, not yet. I practically am since I’m on the way though. Now I am. I already told EJ my version of events. I know you’re going to him once she’s asleep, but you won’t feel comfortable unless someone is with her. So, I’ll be that someone. Or I’ll be coming with you.” I asked, “Huh?” Elise didn’t answer me.
I told Melanie to get some sleep. It’s not like she could change facts right now. She was the white wolf and that was what it was. She saved Emma and MaryBeth, not to mention Cassie tonight. We’d gotten too relaxed and that was going to change.
I had Trevor and Francis now to play with. When I’d get the time to do so was the question. Melanie’s Luna Ceremony and our Mating Ceremony would be happening this week. EJ would want her Luna Ceremony as soon as possible given that she was the white wolf.
Once Melanie fell asleep, I got up and opened my door. Elise and Sam were on the other side. Sam whispered, “I’ll stay withher. Drake can tell me all about the plans later. I need to be with Ladybug right now.” I nodded, “Of course you do.”
I moved aside so she could walk in. Sam walked over to the bed and kissed Melanie’s forehead before laying down with her. Elise sniffled, “It was never supposed to be like this with us on the outside of her life.” No, it wasn’t. I grabbed Elise and popped us to the office.
Hastein’s eyes were still blazing. My cousin announced, “I see your Melanie was not exaggerating when she said I missed a lot. Hugo, Louis, and Gabe will be back tomorrow. I will have them come here. I have long since suspected, along with most, that Cayden’s source had an in with the Resistance. I had no idea she was your Melanie.”
I shrugged offering, “None of us did.” Hastein sat back in his chair saying, “I should have.” I argued, “If one of us should’ve known, it should have been me. She’s my mate, H.” I turned to Cassie, “Melanie mentioned your drink tipped her off. What did it smell like?”
Sierra and Phil came into the room with Gage and Abigail. Cassie frowned and answered, “Just water. It smelled like water.” Sierra chimed in, “Like I said outside, we’ve worked with Hunters. So, we know the smell of the drug they put in drinks. It’s subtle and unless you knew it, you’d never be able to tell. It’s kind of the point of it.”
Something broke in our office. I turned and saw Cayden with his hands around Ghiza’s throat. Cayden asked, “What part of NO ONE touches her was unclear?” Cassie touched her mate’s back and whispered, “It wasn’t his fault, and technically no one did touch me.” She leant forward and gently removed Cayden’s hands from Ghiza, taking them in her own.
Cassie added, “It was a horrible plan anyway. The second I was drugged Alexander and EJ would’ve popped to me. We ALL know they are going to be extra sensitive to what they feelfrom me in the bond right now. Sierra told us that they knew the smell, but there’s no way we could’ve known. That include Ghiza.”
Hastein asked, “Why would they be extra sensitive to your bond? Wait. ARE YOU PREGNANT, CASS?” Cassie nodded. Hastein stood and picked up and twirled her around. He turned to Sierra asking, “Can you get ahold of that scent? I could get it to my men, particularly my cousin and my aunt’s Guard.” My mom snorted.
Blade said, “Blade wants. Princess trouble. Kill Hunters.” My mom sighed, “Blade, the Hunters are not after me. I’m not a wolf.” Blade snorted in response. Sierra said, “Melanie could get it to you. She has some of it for reasons. I don’t know if Nate still does, but he obviously had access at one point.”
Wesley answered, “Nate doesn’t have anything. He gave us the information he had in his interview but did not know he would be staying when he came here.” I sighed, “Great. Naturally, we have to ask Melanie.” My dad sighed.
Jason snorted, “What’s new?” I said, “We have gotten too relaxed with our security, EJ. They would’ve had Emma and MaryBeth for sure. Cassie would’ve been drugged, but she’s right they wouldn’t have gotten her. Ghiza and the rest of her Guard were there. Not to mention if she feels slightly off right now, I will be at her side ready to heal her.”
