I don't know why... but that needed to happen. God, what was with this knowing things, but not why crap? Freya answered, “I told you that we unlocked the powers within us. We just know things now, but we do not fully know why. It’s part of being a goddess on earth.” Oh great.
Freya offered, “It can be helpful.” It would be more helpful to know WHY. Freya laughed, “Beta wolves do like to know the whole picture.” Exactly! Which… I was totally one. Freya agreed, “You are.” Gerdishek shot me a look of hatred before the floor pulled him through. Somehow, he knew I was part of why his plan failed.
Valentina linked me, “That did not seem like a good look. He hates you and you barely spoke. Speaking of, are you feeling ok?You normally have A LOT more to say.” I replied, “Freya told me to keep quiet.”
Valentina groaned, “I do not like a single part of that sentence.” Neither did I really. Sierra shouted down the link, “You are being quiet?” I answered, “Yes… and I have SO MUCH to say. I trust Freya implicitly though.” Sierra said, “Don’t mine me. I’ll be over here planning for the apocalypse.” Well… that was unnecessary. I was quiet because my wolf said to be.
Freya told me, “That means a lot to me. You could’ve been difficult with me, and it would have been understandable. I should’ve been able to help you, but I didn’t.” I heard the hurt in her voice. I realized, “You think that’s what Selene wanted… isn’t it? You think she wanted us to have some trouble getting to know each other?” Freya seemed to cringe.
Eventually my wolf told me, “Yes, I do. I think she wanted us to have some problems to give her wayward pups more time to come around. If we were fighting each other more things would come to pass which would in theory give her pups more time to turn good.”
I said, “There is so much there to unpack. People like Buck… those are the people who deserve a chance to be allowed to be good in the light. Because he was trying… but people like Edward do not.” Freya reasoned, “Yes, but you’ve always been black and white like that. To my sister there is gray.”
Selene went too far with gray then. Freya continued, “There are chances to be given. You and I disagree. We have people like Buck who deserve a chance, but we draw the line at what is evil where my sister doesn’t.”
Selene really was a terrible goddess and quite possibly the worst sister of all time. Poor Freya. The evening got back on track for everyone. Aiden gave a rallying speech that had everyone excited instead of scared. The man was utterly cunning.
Freya agreed, “He really is.” My mate’s Fairy uncle was just good. There were so many thoughts swirling in my head. Would anyone notice if I snuck away and went to the library now? I needed more answers. Freya answered, “They would definitely notice.”
Xander distracted me from my thoughts when he kissed me at midnight. I couldn't help the butterflies I felt. My first New Year’s Eve kiss… with my mate… and we were married. Gosh, so much had changed. I just didn’t know if this was a happy moment considering… Aiden Holloran had just declared war.
Xander surprised me saying we’d been at war since he found me, even if it wasn’t official. Great. So, I’d brought war into everyone’s lives. That was just great. Good job, Melanie. Really good work here. Freya said, “That wasn’t your fault. You were kidnapped.”
I supposed Xander had a point and it wasn’t really unofficial either. We had many Supernatural races, but it wasn’t like we were openly fighting battles. We ambushed the Ring a lot and quietly took down so many attempts of theirs it was ridiculous.
Somehow my quiet ambushing declaration of war seemed better than an all out public war. That was a philosophical debate I could get into with myself. War was war… but somehow, subtle war didn’t seem as bad? I don’t know if that was true or a perception of mine… there were too many thoughts in my head.
Elise and EJ walked over to us. Elise was subtly touching her index finger to her other fingers. It was her tell that she was thinking… and I knew the woman I considered a sister was worried about something. I couldn’t have that.
I grabbed Elise and led her away. I ended up taking her to the Earth looking bathroom. Logically, the bathrooms had to have some charms on them so those with good hearing couldn’t hear. I asked, “What’s wrong?” Elise sighed, “My heat is coming up.” Now, I was utterly lost.
I frowned saying, “Ok… that doesn't seem like something for you to be worried about. I just had mine; it was fun… other than it happened when… I missed my first Christmas home… and the tangled hair issues afterwards… but that’s not the heat itself.”
Elise snorted, “I have fun too, but I just went off birth control.” I nodded, “I know. It may have been as Ashley, but we did talk about you having pups. You’re ready, Elise.” Elise bit her lip, “Is now a good time though?”
I asked, “Is there ever a good time? When you really think about it… there will always be something going on. You can’t let life pass you by. Trust me. If you wait for the perfect time, it will never come. There will always be something going on.”
“Look at Haley and Eric’s lives and all their friends. If all our parents waited for the perfect time to have pups… none of us would be here. Our mates wouldn’t have nineteen siblings… so far… don’t let the Ring keep you from your life, Elise.”
Elise teased, “Why are you so smart?” I snorted, “I don’t know… something to do with genetics, I’m sure. My great grandma was also very smart on my mom’s side. Grandma Esther is the smartest person I know and my dad’s also a literal genius.”
Elise laughed, “That’s true. Esther also always had a way with you with the right words. Tristan and your dad do too.” I agreed, “That’s all true… Uncle Duncan gets me too… but he’s never around, so… that’s… well… I guess he’s been around more than me… in certain ways… I mean I was around but….”
Elise cut me off, “I know what you mean, and I think we both know Duncan will come home once his mission is over. He’s going to be fuming that he wasn’t called back right away. This is going to be the break from that pack he needs. I know you’ll have your data to support that, but I don’t need it. I know him.” He just might avoid me, but that was very likely.
I admitted, “You’re right. There’s over a ninety-nine percent chance…. Uncle Duncan will come home permanently when he finds out what happened.” We stood there for a moment. I changed the topic back to the original conversation, “Really Elise. If you want pups don’t let the Ring take that from you. I’ll protect you. The Conners family will protect you and so will EJ.”
“Personally…. I’m not ready for pups. So… I’ll be out there fighting by EJ’s side. I’ve got this electricity thing going… I’ll protect him… and everyone else. It’s kind of my thing… and your pups will be so protected… I’m kind of eccentric on protection.”
Elise snorted, “You looked like a flashlight, even your eyes were white.” I said, “That’s kind of cool. If only… I had that in black Path. GOD, that would’ve been so handy.” Elise snickered. She gave me a hug as she whispered, “I really missed you, Ladybug.”
I hugged her back and told her honestly, “I missed you so much, Elise.” Then I sighed, realizing we’d all be leaving and going home. Freya snorted, “Not us.” Definitely us. Elise asked, “What?” I explained, “Our honeymoon will be put off again. It’s fine… because I’m a Luna and Xander’s an Alpha… that’s what you do.”
Elise laughed, “Alexander won’t put off your honeymoon.” I gasped, “You cannot be serious. Of course he will… Aiden just declared war. A Fairy said the name O’Toole out loud… in Faerie… for the first time in centuries. His mom is going to duel… Xander and EJ need to coordinate. Of course we are putting off our honeymoon.”
Elise kissed the top of my head and had that look on her face like I was missing the obvious. My sister in law smiled saying, “No, he won’t. Take your own advice and don’t put things like this off, Melanie. Our lives will always be crazy, but sometimes you just need to go away with your mate and unplug.”
“It doesn't count as time away when your need is overtaking your body either. You two need to talk and spend time together away from the craziness. Alexander knows that because he grew up with his parents projecting that model to him. Plus, your brothers are not going to let your mate forget again.”
