Micah said, “I’ll look for him. I know the name already because he was on a list Melanie gave us. We’ve been looking for him, but not too hard. That will change now.” I gratefully said, “Thanks. I’ll go get him once Yuri is found.” Max snorted, “Or I will.” I raised an eyebrow at my little brother.
Max asked, “What? You asked my mate to track this Warlock down which means I’ll probably know before you. You act likeit didn’t drive us all crazy all these years not knowing what you were so upset about. We do not like you being in pain.”
I argued, “I wasn’t in pain.” My wolf was but he didn’t tell me. Oden whined in my head. Max scoffed, “Emotional pain, is pain. You’re our big brother. Wesley has been pretty upset about it, which upsets me.”
“It’s a chain reaction. We all know Angela has been struggling with this. Our baby sister has wanted to see you happy for a long time. This was done to Melanie, and I understand that’s your mate, but in the way we see family she’s my new sister.”
“I know this had to be hell for you, but we were right there beside you. As a mated member of this family, I can’t imagine feeling pulled towards someone and not being able to do anything about it. I understand the moods you were in now.”
Max paused the scoffed, “I also cannot believe I didn’t see it. None of us can. It’s so obvious now that we know. All the pieces were there for us to see, but we didn’t. If only Wes had punched T harder that day, maybe we would’ve gotten answers sooner.”
I rolled my eyes disagreeing, “I don’t think that would’ve helped.” Max shrugged, “I’d feel better about it.” I reasoned, “It wasn’t the McAlister’s fault.” Max shrugged, “Yes and no. We were all under the spell of magical cookies and they were under Vampire voodoo on top of it.”
“There were fourteen years where this should’ve been resolved. Fourteen years of chances where a single decision could’ve changed things. Like letting her come to their surprise anniversary party. I know they didn’t know, but if they weren’t so insane about her leaving the territory; this would not have happened.”
I reasoned, “That’s part of the cookie deal.” Max argued, “T and Jase KNEW it was a surprise party. As a brother, I get they weren’t trying to tip off their parents; however, from what I’ve learned Melanie planned that damn thing.”
“I’d have found a way for her to be there. There were popping Fairies. I acknowledge that I’m biased, and it’s easy to say now, but I’m mad for you and Melanie because the fact remains it would’ve changed everything.”
“I can’t imagine how Melanie, felt constantly being sidelined or held back over a lie. That would drive a Beta blood nuts. Plus, your mate attempting to lie is truly sad. The amount of magic in those cookies had to be astronomical, but I still find it sad that they didn’t realize something was wrong given her attempts to lie.”
“Our parents feel really bad, and I hate that. Red Run is our ally, and Jase is your friend. Neither he nor T are my friends though, and I don’t see that changing.” I frowned, “Max.” Max reasoned, “I’m not cutting out a friend. I’m nice and will continue to be. I’m just not going to become their best friend. You were in hell for over a decade. I’m allowed to be pissed at them.”
“For the record, I’m pissed at the cookie and all of us too. There’s plenty of blame to go around, and there were things out of all our control. I just don’t find it acceptable when people hurt my family. Roles reversed, and this was any of us, you’d feel the same way.” He was right.
I conceded, “Fine. I just don’t want to make things harder for Melanie.” Max shrugged, “I don’t intend to. It’s not like I’m passing up on their invitations to hang out. I’ve never been friends with the McAlister’s.”
I sighed, “I don’t want you to dislike someone because of me. I had choices here too, and I ignored my instincts.” Max punched me in the shoulder which made me laugh. Oden grumbled, “I am getting read the riot act by Magnus.” Fair enough. My brother’s wolf was griping at mine while he aired out his feelings to me.
Max said, “There. Now I feel better. You're my brother so I don’t care what you do wrong, I’ll always love you. I cannot say the same for the McAlister’s. I’ll always be their ally who fights beside them, but I don’t forgive them for hurting you. Maybe in a century or two I’ll get over it.”
I snorted, “You are one of a kind, Max.” I gave him a hug. Micah agreed, “Hell yes he is.” I turned to my brother in law, “I’ve been meaning to thank you and Cayden. I know you saved her when she was almost forcibly marked, badly beaten, and in a car accident. You forged those AMA documents, didn’t you?”
Micah nodded, “Yes, I did. We got her the hell out of there. We were itching to call you but….” He trailed of so I asked, “But what?” Micah said, “Uncle Bjourn was ready to order Cayden to bring Ashley, as we knew her, to the Hackura realm, then he had a cookie.” Fucking goddamn evil ass cookies.
Micah continued, “Then…” I cut him off, “I remember that my dumb ass conjured you guys the cookies.” It grated. Oden whined in my head. We’d directly stopped them with that move. Max stated, “It’s not your fault.”
I replied, “Logically, I understand that I was trying to help my brothers in law. The fact it ended up hurting my mate kills me.” Micah snorted, “Yeah, I get that because I gave one to Brody and he didn’t do his full exam, or we’d have seen her back. So, I understand and share your opinion about the damn cookie.” I hugged him for several seconds before pulling back.
I said, “I can never thank you enough for getting her out of there. Fuck the damn cookies to hell where Iblis can burn them forever. You still saved her, and I can never repay you for that.” Micah sighed, “I wish we’d had you pop in to heal her. We both said we wanted to and acknowledged it would’ve taken you and Haley.” That fucking prick ass named Trevor needed another beating.
I told my brother in law, “You did the best you could with the information you had at the time. That’s all any of us can ever do. I know even if Trevor managed to mark her it wouldn’t have stuck, but who knows how long Melanie would’ve have been in a coma.”
Micah frowned asking, “What?” I sighed, “The white wolf can only be marked by her mate. In all the research we have it doesn’t say what could happen if the white wolf is suppressed. She could’ve gone into a coma for a long time while Freya and her body rejected the mark.”
Max scoffed, “Yeah, I sent my Beta to a meeting about the white wolf. There are multiple time slots now because Dylan found out Faerie held a bidding war to see who got to go. You’d have been in a coma too, as her mate.” I inclined my head, acknowledging that.
Micah interjected, “Cayden and I would have brought Melanie to you if she’d been in a coma. Well, to Haley if you were also in a coma. Maybe the two of you being in the same place would’ve helped.” Maybe a Ribbon of us would find out, but we’d never know unless they told us. I could tell Max felt relieved about.
I nodded, “I know all that. I’m just grateful you two watched out for her.” Micah smiled, “I’ve always felt protective of her. Mel saved me first though. I was going to have to take out a bunch of Hunters in Nashville while my backup was coming in. Then your wife burst in. Can I just say, I can’t wait until you have a meeting with someone she doesn’t like.”
I snorted, “You’ve missed a few meetings I’d swear you were in, Micah. I’ve already had those.” Micah laughed, “No, I mean with someone you’ve known for a while. Melanie worked with Dante and all the Hunters there.” Max offered, “We know that.”
Micah chuckled, “Melanie hated them, and she didn’t bother to hide it. She was sarcastic, snide, and actually downrightrude. Unlike all the other Luna’s here who might be diplomatic, Melanie won’t be. She calls people on their shit. If they are wrong, she’ll tell them. If she thinks they are a jerk, she’ll tell them.”
I shrugged, “I can deal with that. Plus, she told people they were wrong as a pup all the time. I heard about it and found it quite endearing.” Micah laughed, “Some people might not deal so well. Especially since I can guarantee, she was nicer about saying they were dumb and wrong when she was a child.”
I said, “It’s fine. Neither I nor EJ will care.” Micah offered, “No, but some allies might. People are used to a level of respect, but Melanie no longer cares about that. She respects you if your reputation earned you that.”
