I asked Hastein, “Did you have your Hackura Ceremony with Kingsley yet?” Hastein ground his teeth before answering, “We haven’t had it yet. I was thinking after the holidays, but we might have to have it sooner. I was trying to go slow since she’s not a Hackura.”
Hastein added, “Plus, I can feel her through the mate bond. Ever since she showed me her other side, we are connected even more.” I asked, “Is Melanie connected to her then too?” Hastein shook his head, “No, this was a mate thing that her other side did when I met that side of her.” EJ asked, “And that other side is?” Hastein laughed, “You wouldn’t believe me if I told you.”
Dylan Frost burst into the room as if summoned by those words. Dylan squealed delightedly, “I would. These fuddy duddies are no fun; however, I am the epitome of said word. I am REMISS that I did not know our very own Crown Ninja Assassin Prince found his mate. Not only that, but people do not know what type of Supernatural she is. Now that I know, my Beta detective skills are on the case.”
I asked, “Why are you here?” Dylan cooed, “Well MMSGAP, I’m always around. Get used to it or I will stop telling you helpful things. Like the fact I saw your mate leave through the window in her office and she’s now in the pack house. She’s visiting a partial Fairy who is also a former fake Hunter, and his wolf mate.”
EJ and I stood in sync. I asked, “Melanie is with Nate and Paisley?” Dylan nodded, “Should you not be able to figure out why, come back here and I’ll listen to the details. I’ve got a pretty good idea already mind you, but it would be no fun to tell you now.”
“Though you should know already. I’ve been around you all long enough there’s a bit of common sense in that brain, and I lined up the pieces for you so nicely. You’re welcome. The part that might hit a snag is that they are actually friends, but sneaking out the window makes it all scream the answer.”
I popped away with EJ. Gage linked, “We have a front door.” Phil snorted, “Yeah, well what fun would it be to use that and alert us to her movements? Can we get an alarm on the Luna’s office window?”
I asked, “What good would that do? If my wife wanted to get around it, she would.” Phil hummed, “I heard you say I should have the window monitored and alert my phone if it’s been shut down or left through.”
Oden scoffed, “Mate could easily get around that if she wanted.” I knew that. EJ and I walked up the stairs to the pack house together. I hung back as my brother went towards Nate and Paisley’s door. Melanie exited soon afterwards.
After my mate talked to EJ and came my way, I looked past them and saw the smile on Nate’s face. Oden said, “He is very excited and hopeful.” Nate’s motivations screamed at me he wanted to go with my mate wherever she was going.
That all meant that I did know what this was about. My mate had found Nate’s sisters. I interjected into their conversation. EJ linked, “Ladybug thinks I told you she was here. Little does she know her biggest Beta fan told us.”
I warned, “It’s probably best to let her think you did it, big brother. If she’s on the lookout for Dylan, we might get outplayed by her.” EJ snorted, “Might? I think that’s a serious understatement, little brother.” Oden agreed, “It definitely is.” Ok, so we were all doing dumb things today, or thinking them, regarding my mate.
I popped Melanie into our room and we talked. Oden and I relaxed knowing that she intended to tell me before leaving. Oden growled, “I do not like this. Freya is ready for action though.” I wasn’t a huge fan of this either, but it did help that Melanie had Freya with her now instead of locked away inside her.
I confirmed my wife wasn't going alone. I knew a big group was here, but I wouldn’t put it past her to send most of them after one girl and go after the other alone. My wife tried to argue that I didn’t know this was about Nate’s sisters, but I did.
I could tell from her feelings, and our bond, when I said it was about them. Oden chuckled, “Not to mention mate’s heartrate when you guessed it correctly.” There was that too. I took a deep breath. I needed her to be safe.
I walked Melanie down to her office. Oden was growling in protest while my own blood was pumping so hard, I felt it in my ears. I did not like this one bit. I was fighting myself walking into my own damn office. My brothers had gathered. So had my parents, uncles, and cousin. It was a family event.
Grandpa Titus touched my shoulder saying, “You are wound tighter than a tick, Alexander.” Mom questioned, “What the fuck does that mean? A tick doesn’t wind up, it sucks blood and gets bigger. We all know my son is not a Vampire so he can’t be compared to a damn tick.”
“NO ONE BETTER DARE say something about how it’s a saying in this realm. My children’s anxiety has me on edge. I’ll blow something up if ONE of you says ONE damn word about this realm and its sayings that are so fucking wrong it physically hurts my brain.” I bit my lip.
I looked at my siblings offering, “I’m not trying to increase your anxiety.” Mom snorted, “Angela and Cassie are the only ones who are fine. Because the women in this family can handle their fucking feelings. You boys need to get better with your managing your feelings. I can’t clean again. I CANNOT deal with that lying bald ass man who claims to be magic.”
I noticed Red Run and Yellow Hills were on a conference call. Dalton asked, “Are you talking about Mr. Clean, Haley?” My mom shouted, “Yes, that lying ‘magic’ bald man. He’s tricking all the poor humans into thinking he’s fucking magic and he’s not! He’s a damn liar!”
“That company should be sued for some fucking thing! Lying in advertising is NOT allowed and he fucking lies. Magic my ass.I can snap my damn fingers and clean THAT is magic. Using my own body to clean is not fucking magic!”
I linked EJ, “Why are they on a conference call?” EJ answered, “Dylan thinks we should all watch his show unfold. Dalton was more than willing to join, and Dakota is silently seething. Jase is pacing.” The rest of the McAlister’s walked into the room. Now all we could do was wait.
My mom’s words about Cassie and Angela being calm were playing in my head but I shoved that aside. The longer we waited the more annoyed I became. I growled, “I want to find who is in charge of the Resistance and get some damn answers. I want to know why they think it’s ok to send my mate out into this shit.”
Mom snorted and we all turned and looked at her in surprise. Before I could ask what that was about my Uncle Aiden announced, “Little sister, we have a meeting.” Mom sighed, “I suppose we do.” They stood and popped out.
I asked my dad, “What the hell was that snort about?” Dad frowned admitting, “I don’t know.” Great. I asked, “Does mom know something we don’t know?” EJ said, “It wouldn't be the first time. Or surprising if she did. Mom is smart.”
Gage offered, “Or your mom thinks we’d have had this all figured out if we’d told her you thought Melanie was your mate. She’d probably have cracked the whole damn thing wide open in twenty minutes.” That made sense. She and I still hadn’t spoken about that whole ordeal.
Phil said, “Or it’s something else and we are still saps who don’t know because we never told her about Alexander and Melanie. Both of those stated are choices.” I continued to pace. Cayden asked, “Does anyone know what the purple code we got on our watches means?”
What purple code? I looked at my watch. I frowned saying, “It doesn't have a purple code.” Micah got up and came over to me. My brother in law turned the dial to show the history wherethere was a purple code. I groaned, “We need lessons on what this damn thing does.”
Hastein asked, “What do you feel from Melanie?” I said, “Anticipation and adrenaline.” I looked at Julian. My brother admitted, “Val and I haven’t had our Hackura ceremony yet.” I nodded. Julian muttered, “Something that I need to rectify. Shortly.”
Hastein snorted, “Join the club, cousin.” Julian snorted now. Mom and Uncle Aiden popped back in. Mom sat down with my dad who wrapped his arms around her and kissed her. I’d always loved seeing how much they loved each other.
