We found our place in the world together. I kissed Xander’s cheek because it was right by his side. Where I knew I belonged all along. The next few weeks flew by. My calendar was out of control. Before I knew it Xander was leaving for his meeting.
Xander woke me up to give me a kiss goodbye. My husband told me, “We’ll be back in two days.” I pouted, “Are you sure you don’t want me to come?” Xander replied, “Yes.” I shrugged,“Fine, but don’t come crying to me when something… goes sideways here… and I have to fight someone.”
Xander laughed and hugged me before saying, “Try to keep it together and not fight anyone, my goddess.” Freya purred in my head. My mate tapped my nose and popped us outside. The guys and a few of the women loaded into their cars and left.
I went further out to my spot to dance. Angela passed me running into the house squealing. I asked, “Hey, where’s the fire?” My sister in law seemed happy… so surely… I didn’t already need to punch someone… right? Freya snorted, “Surely not yet. Snow is excited.” Good.
Angela told me, “You’ll see!” I laughed and put on music and began to let myself go. It had been too long since I danced. When I finished, I walked back inside. I realized I didn’t feel anyone following me. Good. Xander’s Guard was with him, and Fowler, KJ, and Chason got a day off.
Or maybe they went as guards to the meeting. I walked inside and Sierra handed me a drink. My Beta Female said, “Your wolf Guards are on patrol in Blue Moon for a flex shift and request that you don’t get in trouble while they are away.”
Abigial laughed, “They were quite insistent we stress the ‘don’t get in trouble’ part.” I rolled my eyes, “Whatever… I am not the problem… with that… trouble finds me… that’s not my fault.” Sierra laughed, “You are a trouble magnet. Anyway, we are celebrating. Someone came home early.”
I smiled connecting the dots, “Nathan Conners is home. That’s why Angela was so excited…. Obviously.” Abigial hummed, “You were right, Si.” Sierra sighed, “I know. Mel, you just suck the surprise and joy out of me sometimes by being such a smarty pants.” I stuck my tongue out at her.
We walked into the room where everyone was sitting. I couldn’t believe I’d never seen Nathan’s picture. Then I locked eyes with the man who must be Nathan Conners, and it hitme there was a reason I’d never seen his picture. Definitely a magical reason that I blamed Selene for.
I felt the breath leave my body as soon as I saw Nathan’s face. How did I not see it? His prominent zygomatic features were clear on his son’s face, and another face I knew so well. Freya snarled, “Magic. That Witch helped somehow. I KNOW IT!”
I gasped and my drink fell to the floor as everything moved into slow motion. Everyone looked at me confused, but my eyes didn’t break from Nathan Conners. My mate’s grandpa asked, “Have we met before? I’m certain I would’ve recalled if we had.”
I whispered, “No, but I know what you were doing seventeen years ago.” My friends gasped and jumped up. It felt like a weight hit my chest as tears filled my eyes. I said, “She doesn’t have a blood disorder… oh my gosh…. her mother is poisoning her! Oh god… we have to find her, Si! We have to find her right now!”
Nathan asked, “What in the sam hill are you talking about? That’s Melanie McAlister, right?” Zoe answered, “It is, but I don’t know what she’s talking about.” I ignored them continuing my thoughts, “She didn’t want Odette… around us because eventually we’d figure it out. Her father didn’t abandon her. He doesn’t know about her… He has no idea she exists!”
“No Alpha would ever leave their pup out there abandoned. Alpha pups…. need an Alpha in their lives… and all Alpha’s know that. That’s what Cassandra knows! She knew Nathan had a daughter, and she didn’t tell anyone. Gosh… she’s the worst… and…”
Sierra covered my mouth warning, “You need to stop talking.” Freya was oddly quiet. Sierra knew I hated it when covered my mouth like this, so I licked her hand. She jerked back from me while Abigial cringed.
I said to my Beta Female, “You promised not to do that anymore. I’m right, I know it… I can feel it… It all makes sense…and….” Nathan interrupted, “Sierra wanted you to stop talking because of the look on my face. I’m going to contradict her comment and order you to keep talking.”
Oh… yeah. He heard all that… ugh. Crap. I shot Sierra a look who made an ‘I tried to stop you’ gesture. Nathan asked a valid question, “What do you mean I have a daughter? A daughter my dead mate knows about.” Sierra shot me a look again. Oops.
Freya told me, “I don’t think ‘oops’ will work here.” Well, I didn’t say it out loud. Crap… Did I? Freya answered, “No.” Ok, good. I said out loud, “Umm… well… it’s just… she….” My phone beeped, drawing my attention.
I muttered, “Excuse… me… this could be… important… uh huh… Obviously… so very important.” Sierra groaned. I saw an alert for Katie Karlton, she’d had gotten a driver’s license. I said, “This is actually semi important… because it’s… annoyed me… I couldn’t find Katie’s picture. One second.”
It was good for Katie to have an official driver’s license since she’d been arrested for driving Keaton when he was hurt… which should not have counted. I opened my phone to see the full picture and promptly dropped my phone.
The picture of Katie wasn’t Katie…. It was Odette. I said, “She’s here. Odette’s been here all this time! I told her… Yellow Hills was safe… and she came. We have to go get her!” Nathan Conners growled and everyone quieted down.
My mate’s grandpa asked, “What are you talking about?” Before I could say anything a beaten up wolf ran into the room. Uh oh. I told Freya, “Clearly, I’m going to have to fight someone and I was left behind to do so… which you have to tell Oden… was not our fault.” Freya laughed.
The Warrior wheezed, “Yellow… Hills is….” I was already running out the door when I heard him get out, “under attack.” Abigial yelled, “Mel, wait!” Sierra groaned, “She won’t. Come on.” They were way too far behind me though.
I made it to Yellow Hills in seconds. Allison Daniels was sitting on the ground surrounded by broken glass and dead bodies. It looked like a bomb went off. When Allison saw me, she screamed, “MELANIE, you have to save her.” That was kind of my thing. I just needed to know who.
Allison continued, “She stopped by to see Keaton….” Oh no. Odette. Allison cried, “she saw the rogue shift back into a human. She saved me but she’s freaking out! Keaton is going to be so upset.” I asked, “Are you talking about Katie?”
They might not know her name was Odette… but Keaton definitely did. My honorary Resistance member was a good mate. The probably was actually ninety-five percent Allison knew, but I didn’t have time to explain this if she didn’t know.
Allison whispered, “She told Keaton her name was really Odette. Some guys took off after her.” I growled, ran to an SUV, and took off. People did NOT get to KIDNAP my friends. Freya whispered, “Melanie.” I shouted, “IT IS A RULE, FREYA!” My wolf didn’t say anything.
I was only a few miles down the road, between the high school and the packhouse, when I saw a car in a ditch. I jumped out and yelled, “ODETTE!” I smelled her and ran to the car. There was blood, but Odette was nowhere to be found. I sniffed the air, scenting rogues and something else I was certain I knew.
I studied the ground discovering tire tracks. I wasn’t far behind them. I got back in the SUV and drove until I hit a holoport. I put my hand out, curious if I could go through. My hand disappeared. Well then, game on. I vowed, “I’m coming, Odette.”
I went through without hesitation. Xander was going to be so pissed at me, but he’d have to get over it … since I was saving his aunt. I knew… Nathan was Odette’s father… and that he was drinking a lot around the time she was conceived. Morgana usedhim… but he knew now. I was going to bring my friend home; I could feel it in my bones.
