Tristan continued, “You think you’re not right because you’re not the Soul Searcher and because, for so long, you thought you’d messed up with me and Everly. It’s time to come around to some facts. You were right about Everly and I. Plus, you’re the white wolf. It’s fair to say you know some things intuitively.”
Maverick begged, “Please, Melanie, just tell me about her. What is she? What’s her name?” Melanie said, “Just…” Sierra jumped in, “She has Fairy blood mixed with Werewolf blood. She doesn’t have a wolf, but she was enough of a mix for the Rings to be interested in her.”
Melanie sighed muttering, “Because it’s very powerful Fairy blood… based on what she can do it’s Earth blood… I’m just saying… it’s very powerful.” Uncle Aiden stiffened. Maverick smiled asking, “Is it sad I hope that someone comes for me soon so I can find her?”
Mom replied, “Yes, because logic would dictate you wouldn’t find her. Go about it another way, Mav.” Mom turned to Melanie, “How many partial Fairies are in your damn network? Because that would make two very powerful ones.”
Melanie looked at the floor and I felt her hope my mom wasn’t mad at her. I linked my wife, “My mom is not upset with you.” Melanie’s eyes jolted to mine, and I squeezed her hand encouragingly. Melanie answered my mom, “I tell them all you’d meet and train with them. There’s around thirty in my network give or take a few. Some have come to work with you.”
My mom sighed, “How fucking obnoxious! How are they still in the Ring? Aiden fixed that shit in Faerie!” Melanie explained, “They have other blood in them and they weren’t in the Fairy Ring.” Aiden sighed, “How annoying.”
Uncle Bjourn said, “Look at that, we finally agree on something.” Uncle Aiden grinned, “He likes to pretend we don’t agree on as much as we do. I think it annoys him.” Dylan shouted, “PICK ME! IT DOES! IT SO DOES!”
Melanie started to laugh. Drake asked, “How many times have you been hurt?” Melanie squeaked, “Whhhatttt? How would I know that?” Drake answered, “Because the blood that flows through your veins is mine and I know you kept track.”
Sam tried to joke, “Hey, my blood is in there too.” Drake said, “And I know that you know our daughter knows the answer.” Melanie hummed, “I mean… it’s… I’ll just send you the spreadsheet… at some point.” The bond told me that it would not be anytime soon.
I said, “Ok, we’ll keep our meeting and everyone can think of all their questions for my wife. Now, I need to get my mate to bed.” I popped her upstairs. Melanie groaned when she laid on the pillow. She asked, “What are the odds I actually get to sleep?”
I laughed, “I’m not sure. What Ribbon did you go to?” Melanie winced, “It was after my accident… with the whole Trevor ordeal.” I sighed, “I should’ve just popped to Cayden. I strongly considered it at the time. I’m certain I ate a cookie and calmed down.”
Melanie groaned, “It was definitely the cookie… that was also NOT how I wanted us to meet. Of all the ways I’d thought of that going, I was conscious. I’m sure that me is slightly annoyed, but overall happy… if not confused.” I held her around the waist.
I asked, “How exactly did you imagine us meeting?” Melanie snorted, “Which time? Because there were a lot… I mean mostly, I thought we’d meet when I came here to see you. I wasn’t goingto put it off much longer. My friends could run the Resistance if your rejection had killed me… I had it all set up for K to run.” I growled. Oden snarled, “I dislike this topic, a lot.” So did I.
Melanie quickly said, “Those were just my thoughts at the time.” I growled, “I don’t like it. For many reasons, one being I would never reject you. Two, I dislike the thought of dying.” Melanie snorted, “I wasn’t exactly a fan of the thought. I just thought that’s how it would go. I was convinced we’d meet at the border. Or your men would drag me to the dungeons because… of who I was.”
I argued, “They absolutely would not have done that.” Or they’d have died at my hands. Melanie shrugged, “In my mind… well and I was told… by people pretending to people I loved and respected… that you all said that I couldn’t come to your territory.”
“In fact, I was told if I crossed the border I was to be put in the dungeons. I was thinking I’d go with saying Ashley Griffen was here to see you. Sometimes I figured I’d set up an appointment and just wait at the border.”
“Then I thought if I had an appointment, your men would lead me into the gym or the house. Then Elise could see me before I explained. Sometimes I thought about sneaking in so that couldn't happen. You guys are hard to sneak around, though.”
“One could get an ulcer trying to sneak into this territory…. I could do it though. It would just take a lot of planning and then there’s the whole time commitment. It was a whole ordeal. My brain is a strange place to be.”
I kissed her then pulled back arguing, “I wouldn’t call it strange.” Melanie shrugged, “You’re biased.” I laughed, “Not really.” Melanie disagreed, “Ummm yes… we are mates.. and you love me.” Tears pricked her eyes. I asked, “Lovebug?” Melanie admitted, “I’m just tired… and your love in the bond… isoverwhelming. Because I thought I’d only ever have you putting up with me.”
I told her, “That was never going to happen. I have loved you for so long.” Melanie sniffled, “I know. I can feel it in the bond… it’s just that for so long… I’ve been told how difficult I am to be around.” I snarled, “By fucking idiots. Don’t listen to them.” Melanie snuggled into me while I contemplated how to hunt down everyone who’d made her think that.
We fell asleep shortly after that. I woke up alone, which was not surprising. I went out thirty minutes later for my run with my brothers and caught them easily. When we got back, I teased them, “I’ll have to give you guys a longer head start.”
Maverick snorted and walked into the house. I asked Theo, “How’s he doing?” Theo shrugged, “He’s pretty convinced the woman looking out for him is his mate. How do you think Mav is?” I nodded, “I’m convinced she’s his mate and I haven’t seen the dates.”
Theo pointed out, “We just need to get your mate to bring the woman in. Maybe T’s appeal of her being right about other mates convinced her.” I snorted, “I’m sure there’s already a plan, without T’s words, to bring the woman to Maverick.”
Theo smiled, “I hope so. Mav’s curious whether or not she’ll get a wolf once he marks her since that’s happened with other Fairies.” I shrugged, “We will find out I guess.” Gage scoffed, “You guess?! Alexander, are you new here? Melanie united H and his mate and that was sticker than Maverick’s deal.” My Gamma had a solid point.
We walked into our office. I told Phil, “After the first of the year, I am taking Melanie away. Commit it to memory. You too, Gage.” Phil snorted, “I’m writing it in my physical calendar. No one can take this from me. I will NEVER be hacked again.”
Gage said, “I accept I will be hacked by Melanie, but I’ve made a deal with my mate in case I forget things like that. It’shandled.” EJ agreed, “Gage is right, Phil. You’ll be hacked, you just won’t have anything deleted from your physical calendar. Unless you lose the calendar.”
Phil snorted, “Fine. I meant my calendar being hacked, but I have three copies of my physical calendar. One is in a safe that I update at the end of the day. One I carry around and the third is in a super-secret location.”
I asked, “How does that one get updated?” Phil answered, “Your mom put a charm on this one to update that one.” I questioned, “Why didn’t you do that for all three?” Phil explained, “Because I didn’t think of that at the time. I was DISTRAUGHT I had been bamboozled.
I laughed, “Alright then. Fair warning, my mate will find the secret location if she wants to. I think you know that though.” Phil said, “I do know that. I have plans on plans. This is merely one I will mention out loud. On another note, where are you going to take Melanie on your honeymoon?”
I answered, “My wife wants to go to the library in Faerie. So, I thought I could show her around there. Uncle Aiden has a lot of houses there, and I plan to use one.” Someone clapped and I felt an explosion of excitement in the bond.
