We talked for several hours before Melanie came in with a duffle bag full of books. My wife asked Uncle Aiden, “Do you all not have a charm for dust? Some of these… have centuries of dust on them.” Uncle Aiden laughed, “It’s a large library. I’ll be sure to speak to the staff since we don’t want dust.” He winked at me.
Melanie seemed confused but nodded. I popped us home, kissed her, and went to find EJ. He was in our office and looked surprised to see me. My brother said, “I thought you’d be back tonight.” I frowned, “Then you missed where I said we’d be back this afternoon.” EJ told me, “We have some visitors.”
Phil groaned and put his head down on the table. I said, “Ok. I assume you meant Cheyenne and Lomax.” I heard a laugh from behind me and Phil groaned louder. I turned and smiled as Cheyenne bounded into the room and did a little jump to wrap her arms around me.
I was startled when I heard a growl. I asked, “Elise?” Elise warned, “Alexander is mated and married now, Cheyenne.” Cheyenne frowned, “Yes, I heard that because everyone talks about her. Here and literally everywhere. I can’t wait to meet her. I’d like to see how we match up in a fight.”
EJ spit out his water. Elise disagreed, “You really don’t want to do that.” Phil said, “Yeah, no. That’s the worst idea ever.” I shot him a look, but he gave me a measured one back. Gage linked, “No, do not let your mate and Cheyenne fight.”
I replied, “A friendly spar isn’t a big deal.” Gage grumbled, “You just don’t like me. I’ll be clearing the general area in the gym since I’m already here.” Oden snorted, “That seems dramatic.” Yes, it really did.
Cheyenne smiled at Elise, “Oh, come on now. What’s some sparring between friends?” Elise asked, “You met Melanie? How odd. She did not mention that you were two were friends.”Cheyenne laughed and kissed both of my cheeks. I heard a sigh I knew.
Phil linked me like he was screaming into his hands. What the fuck? Lomax came forward, seeming a little tense. My friend shook my hand saying, “It’s good to see you again, Alexander.” I smiled replying, “It’s good to see you too, Lomax.”
Cheyenne said, “Alexander, since you’re here you can take us on the tour. Elise was going to have someone else do it, but now you’re here. So, let’s go!” I asked, “Tour? You’ve seen everything around here.”
Cheyenne laughed, “I want to tour the town. We’ve mostly stuck to the pack in the past. You’d be the best tour guide.” Elise said, “I already assigned someone to take you, Cheyenne.” I frowned, “Elise, it’s no trouble. I’ll show them around.”
Elise muttered low enough I heard her, “It’s your funeral, Alexander.” I linked Melanie, “I’m showing some friends around the town. What are you up to?” Melanie replied, “My grandma stopped by for a chat. I mean Grandma Esther… the one who talks to me… since the other does not.”
Fury filled me. The Haskins had no right to hurt my mate. I calmly said, “Have fun.” Melanie replied in kind, “You too.” I linked Phil and Gage, “What the FUCK is wrong with the damn Haskins?! They STILL haven’t called my mate?”
Gage sighed, “They hate us. Everyone hates Phil and I.” Phil agreed, “They do and we’ve been so nice to people.” I demanded, “Make Dylan do some shit to get their heads OUT of their asses.” Phil replied, “Texting the Beta group chat.” Good.
I spent the rest of the afternoon showing Cheyenne and Lomax around until Cheyenne started pouting. She asked, “Since when don’t you call me Chey?” I laughed, “I call you Cheyenne all the time.” My friend sighed, “Yes, but I love it when you call me Chey.” I smiled at her.
Cheyenne ended up buying several things in town. I had to link Warriors to come with another car. My friend happily put all her things into it and our car. When we got home, I started to head into the house, but Cheyenne grabbed my arm.
I felt fury in my connection with Melanie. Damn. I guess someone upset her. I linked Oden, “What’s going on?” Oden sighed, “Yeah, I’m not getting good feelings here.” Ok? Cheyenne said, “Let’s head to the gym! I need a fight after my long flight.”
Lomax gently said, “Maybe we give it a rest for tonight, little sister. We can spar in the morning.” Cheyenne laughed, “Nonsense. Alexander and I always have our friendly fights on the first day of our visit.” She kissed my cheeks twice again, and I barely stopped my eyes from blazing.
I asked Oden, “Hey, you’ve been quiet all day. What’s up?” Oden sighed, “You’re walking towards a cliff, and I am to be silent. I’ll suffer right along with you; however, I am being silent.” I questioned, “What does that mean?”
Oden said, “It means maybe stop letting this woman kiss our cheek.” I replied, “It’s her custom.” Oden growled, “We lost our shit over that Vampire using a possessive pronoun about our mate. I’m just saying that kissing is worse.” My wolf had a point there, but it was just a European thing. Though I suppose Charles was from Europe too.
I acknowledged, “Fair point.” Oden sighed, “Thank god. I’ve had to stop myself from growling a few times because I do like Cheyenne and her wolf. As friends though, only friends.” I replied, “What else would she be?” Oden urged, “Let’s just go find mate.”
Cheyenne tugged me in the direction of the gym. I told Oden, “One quick fight.” Oden grumbled, “Cliff here we come.” I told Cheyenne, “Just one quick fight.” Cheyenne clapped. When we walked in the gym several of the Warriors shot me disbelieving looks.
Gage linked me. “Are you INSANE?!” I replied, “No. Chey and I always fight.” Gage groaned. Liam linked me, “Alexander, I’m going to go ahead and tell you what you’re doing is a bad idea.” I replied, “I fight Cheyenne all the time.”
Liam replied, “You used to when she came to town. Now you are mated and married. Cheyenne is neither. That girl has also always had a crush on you.” I replied, “No, she hasn’t. We are just friends.” Liam said, “No, you were just her friend. Cheyenne has always wanted more. Just be careful here.” I sighed and stepped into the ring with Cheyenne.
We fought longer than I’d planned. Neither of us were really putting in the effort we normally did. I had long since scented my wife was here now. I wanted to spend time with her. Which I knew it was crazy we’d just spent all our time together. I just couldn’t get enough of my mate.
I pinned Cheyenne to the floor. My friend laughed, “Good fight, Alexander.” She kissed both my cheeks, and I helped her to her feet. Cheyenne beamed at me waiting for my answer. I sighed, “Good fight, Chey.”
I heard a growl that this time I knew it was Freya. Gage linked, “Dude, why?” Phil linked me sounding like he was screaming into his hands again. Cheyenne looked past me and frowned, asking, “Who are you?”
Melanie scoffed, “The person who doesn’t think that was a good fight on either of your parts. What I find interesting is that my mate, who is a partial Fairy that cannot lie, does somehow consider it to be one. That was sad and borderline pathetic. You both held back.”
My eyes widened. Gage linked, “Well, I didn’t say it.” EJ linked me, “I thought I’d try not to say I told you so, but I was wrong. I told you so.” Melanie said, “If you want a good fight… or if you’d like to know what one isChey...” Melanie sneered hername. Oh god. My wife continued, “I’d be more than happy to show you.”
Cheyenne frowned, “I just fought for an hour.” Melanie said, “I fought for several hours while you were gone in town, spending all dang day with my mate.” I linked Gage, “What the fuck? Why didn’t you link me?” Gage replied, “I was preparing the gym for battle.”
I linked Phil, “Why didn’t you link me?” Phil answered, “I like sex and my mate mentioned not having it if I told you.” I asked, “Why?” Phil answered, “Because this has apparently been a whole ass plan for years. You don’t mess with the Cheyenne showdown plan. That’s what Phil learned today.”
