Herman hissed. Gage gasped down the link and I felt Phil’s fury. I raised an eyebrow saying, “I know you didn’t just hiss at my mother.” Herman spouted like a petulant pup, “She attacked me!” Mom angrily shot back, “You insulted my son. You are LUCKY I didn’t kill you for your disrespect.”
I glanced back and saw that dad had mom in his arms. Mom added, “Maybe if you pulled your head out of your ass and did you goddamn job, you wouldn’t be so embarrassed about the FACT my son stated.”
Herman scoffed, “Maybe if your daughter in law didn’t amass an army, we wouldn’t be here.” I snarled, “Be very care, Herman. You are very close to being an enemy of my family and our allies. As a strategist. I can tell you that’s a very serious error in judgment on your part.”
“You can’t beat us. Even before my mate joined us, you’d have gone down in flames. As you said, we have an army. You have minions who aren’t even loyal to you and can be bought. I have money. You have nowhere near the numbers we do.”
Herman told me, “I’m simply interested in why your mate has an army.” Oden snarled, “He’s lying.” I knew that. Alpha Tao walked up and said, “Because Luna Duchess Melanie saved us. She didn’t ask for an army or anything, really.”
Alpha Tao continued, “Melanie offered to help us and trained us. She has our loyalty because that woman is the one who offered us a helping hand while you turned your backs on us. You won’t find any love in this room. Particularly with how you’re speaking of Luna Duchess Melanie.”
Herman’s jaw ticked before he looked at me. Herman stated, “The Council received interesting information about your mate. We are summoning Melanie to come to us. Your mate will appear or we issue a warrant to arrest her.” I snarled at him.
Gage and Phil moved to my side ready to defend their Luna. EJ grabbed my shoulder before saying with full authority as the Lead Alpha of Black Mountain, “You can’t summon my sister in law. You have to go through the Werewolf Council first.”
My brother paused dramatically, then said, “As my dad hasn’t informed Melanie of such a request, because it’s a request, gentlemen, you’ve gone about this the wrong way. I’m sure our lawyers will have fun with that. You know how litigation goes. Now, you’re not likely to get an audience with Melanie for years. Because I pay our lawyers so much money. Enjoy your evening.” We walked away.
EJ told me, “They are baiting you. They want to take you in for striking them, so Melanie comes for you.” I snorted, “I don’t think they’d like how she’d come for me.” Elise agreed, “They absolutely wouldn’t. They would feel stupid, probably owe you an apology based on their own rules, and get their ass kicked. If they didn’t die.”
I saw my parents in a serious link conversation. I could tell mom was pissed. She was in a bad mood for some reason. I shoved that all aside. We spent two days making new alliances and meeting new people. I was mentally exhausted.
I’d texted Melanie but hadn’t gotten much out of her. Everyone here wanted to meet me. I’d met so many damn people because they were all curious about me because of who my wife was. When it was time to go, I couldn’t wait to leave.
We loaded up in the car. The closer we got the more I knew something was wrong. I began to tap my foot. The second EJ parked the car I was practically inside. What I saw stunned me. I yelled, “GRANDPA NATHAN!” I wrapped my arms around him, then smelled the amount of whiskey on him.
I startled, backed up, and took my grandpa in. Then took in the room of haggard, worried faces. I asked, “What happened?” Sierra ignored what I asked, “Nathan, here’s some coffee.” Dad came in and questioned, “Dad, what’s going on?” I looked around realizing who wasn’t here.
I growled, “Where is Melanie?” Grandpa Nathan laughed humorlessly, “Good question.” FUCK ME! I linked Gage and Phil, “WHAT THE FUCK?!” Gage said, “Hunting down KJ, Chason, and Fowler.” Phil replied, “Don’t bother, they aren’t here. They are looking for Melanie. Which I was just told about. Do make the gym schedule hell, Gage.”
Angela explained, “It was the only path this worked out on. I’m sorry, Alexander. It’s blurry, but it was the best way.” I asked, “What was the best way? WHERE is Melanie?” Odengrowled “That’s why Freya has been quiet! She was keeping where Melanie was a secret. OHHH when we get our hands on our mate. She’s in for it. Again.”
Sierra said, “We don’t know where Mel is. She umm….” Sierra trailed off then winced saying, “went after someone that was in trouble.” WHO?! Before I could ask Keaton Daniels burst into our home. I snapped shorts on him. I heard Emmett yelled, “KEATON, just wait a second!”
Keaton’s eyes narrowed on Sierra. The Alpha who had gotten his swagger recently asked, “Where is Melanie and where is MY MATE?” I asked, “Wait, what?” I linked Preston, “Your friend is admitting his girlfriend is his mate?” Preston answered, “It looks like he finally is, yes. That makes sense if she’s in danger.” Yeah, it did.
To my shock, my grandpa growled at Keaton. Dad asked, “Dad, what’s wrong? Why are you growling at Keaton? Don’t growl at my godson.” The Daniels filled our hallway. Emmett said, “Apparently, our pack was attacked. Keaton’s mate, thanks for the heads up little brother….”
Keaton growled interrupting him, “Shut up. You knew she is mine. We need to find her!” My grandpa growled again while everyone stared at him oddly. Emmett said, “Anyway. Our pack was attacked and Keaton’s mate showed up. She didn’t know about Supernatural’s.” Oh shit.
Emmett continued, “She showed up to see Keaton for some reason when he was not there. Allison was being attacked by a rogue. Katie, whose name is not actually Katie, shot the rogue who turned back into a human.”
“Not Katie, as we call her, helped the pack fight then took off. She was apparently very freaked out after seeing wolves turn back into people. Also, not Katie was calling herself a murderer. So that’s going to be fun to explain.”
I asked, “What’s her real name?” Sierra answered, “Odette. Her name is Odette.” I gasped, “No way! Lux’s sister was here the whole time? Is it that same Odette? It has to be, right? That’s not a common name.”
Keaton, who clearly didn’t hear me or was ignoring me, asked, “How do you know her, Beta Female Sierra?” Sierra sighed, “Odette’s our friend. She used to sing with The Rebels sometimes.” Oh shit. Keaton closed his eyes saying, “I had no idea.” My grandpa snarked, “Clearly.”
Keaton snapped asking, “Who peed in your Cheerios? You know what? I don't care. We need to find Alexander’s mate to find mine.” Mom pointed out, “Nathan doesn’t have any cheerios. Why would anyone pee in cheerios? That’s disgusting.”
My grandpa poured a drink and said, “She’s my daughter.” Mom gasped as my jaw felt like it dropped so low it hit the floor. Dad jumped back into the conversation, “I’m sorry. What? You have a daughter? I have a sister? And…” Dad trailed off then shouted, “WHAT?”
Keaton disagreed, “You can’t be Odette’s dad, Nathan. Odette doesn’t have a wolf, and you don’t have a blood disorder.” Sierra winced, “Oh boy.” Grandpa Nathan whirled around growling, “How did you not smell the wolfsbane and silver on those pills, Keaton Daniels? We’ve had them tested. That’s what was in them.” Keaton faltered.
Sierra huffed, “Hey now, let’s not do that. You’re going through a lot, Nathan, but what we aren’t going to do is blame people who don’t deserve it. Paige said there were very powerful spells to conceal the smell.”
“No one in this room, who was around those pills, could smell those scents either, including your super scenting grandpups. Someone told us about the silver and wolfsbane. Even touching them didn’t burn or hurt us. I know you are very rightfully upset, but this is not Keaton’s fault.”
Dad yelled, “HOLD THE FUCK ON!” I could feel his hurt in our bond. He asked, “You have an eighteen year old daughter?! What the fuck, dad!” Oden commented, “Thor is reeling. He knows how old Keaton’s girlfriend is.” Yeah, I knew that but clearly his mind overloaded.
