I turned asking, “Mom?” Mom squealed, “That’s perfect! Melanie can wear my outfits to show off the designs for my new store there!” I laughed, “I was going to ask you about outfits. Since you know there are a lot of events in Faerie after the first of the year, I was thinking I’d put in an appearance with Melanie at a few of them.” Mom squealed again and popped away.
I couldn't help but smile because I loved how easy it was to get my mom excited about things. Our group worked until lunch time. I didn’t feel Melanie close by in our bond though. I frowned. I asked Oden, “Where is our mate?” Oden snorted, “I’m not a GPS tracker, Alexander. I know mate isn’t here.” I rubbed my temples.
Phil said, “Don’t frown, Melanie is not out for the Resistance. My mate told me so.” Gage chimed in, “Mine too. They are all together.” Fair enough. Melanie usually told me when she went out. I didn’t get a link like my Gamma and Beta though.
I linked Chason, “Are you with my mate?” Chason answered, “Yup. She and the Beta Female and Gamma Female of your pack are meeting up with a woman at a small coffee shop in no man’s land. It’s just outside Alpha Emmett’s territory.” I instructed, “Alright. Keep me updated.” Chason said, “Of course, Alpha.” Who were they meeting?
I asked Phil, “Do you know who Sierra, Abigail, and Melanie are meeting with right now?” Phil pulled up Sierra’s calendar. My Beta announced frowned, “It’s blocked off. What do you know about said meeting?” I answered, “That they met up with a girl outside the territory.”
Phil stared at me. Gage commented, “Dude, come on.” EJ asked, “What?” Toby snorted, “It’s so obvious.” I retorted, “Break it down for the non- Beta bloods.” Phil explained slowly like I was a pup, “I’d bet they are meeting up with the woman who insisted on taking over Maverick’s security.”
I sat back and thought about it. I agreed, “You’re probably right.” Phil snorted, “I’m probably right. Honestly, Alexander.” He smacked me on the head with his planner. I playfully growled at him. Gage said, “I’ll just be alerting Mav’s Beta and Gamma to his mate’s impending arrival. I have to help my siblings out since NO ONE ever tells a Gamma.”
After lunch, Phil and I headed down to the gym. What surprised me was finding Maverick and Theo there too. I asked, “What are you guys doing here?” Maverick shrugged, “Being in the gym helps you focus. I thought maybe it would take my mind off things. It’s helping. Surprisingly.” I laughed, “I could’ve told you that.”
Maverick shrugged, “I figured it out all by myself.” Phil asked, “Did you? Or did someone with Beta blood give you the tip.” Maverick smirked, “Dylan might have suggested it through my own Beta.” I started on the heavy bag.
Eventually, I saw groups of people slowly leaving and the gym started to empty. I linked Phil, “What the hell? Why are people leaving?” Phil groaned, “Oh my stars and garters, Alexander. The woman that Maverick wants to meet doesn’t like crowds. Maverick is now twitchy, and people are leaving. I have laid out all the pieces for you to discover why would that be.”
I whirled around and studied my brother. Maverick was really hyper in our bond. I linked Melanie, “Are you about to walk in with the woman that handles Mav’s threats?” Melanie answered, “Well, we are in the main house…Val is going to shimmer us in.”
I replied, “I know you were on the fence, but I’m pretty sure she is Mav’s mate.” Melanie said, “I kind of hope so. She’s got a serious crush on him… that some other people pointed out to me… before I saw it myself.”
I linked Phil, “They are about to get shimmered in.” Phil raised an eyebrow at me. I snorted, “Raise your eyebrow all you want. I’m who you want fighting by your side in battle.” Phil nodded, “True. People give your mate shit about not figuring people out. I think people should loop Alpha’s into that group.” I saw the shimmer start.
Gage nudged his brother as Maverick began sniffing the air like a crazy person. Phil linked me, “Tell me we didn’t look like that when we smelled Sierra and Melanie.” I answered, “I don’t have a single clue if we did or not. We were focused on the scents that appealed to us.”
Melanie winked at me when she appeared. Julian popped in and grabbed Valentina around the waist. Maverick whirledaround growling, “MINE!” The woman put her hands to her mouth. She was pretty and would suit Maverick well.
From what I could sense the girl would probably get a wolf when she mated with Mav. The Earth blood flowing through her veins had to be from the Royal Earth line. Someone was getting a talking to from Uncle Aiden whenever this woman was ready to talk to them. Mom would make sure that didn’t happen until Maverick’s mate was ready.
Melanie said, “Maverick, this is Olivia. Olivia, you’ve seen him around quite a bit, but this is Maverick.” My brother popped to her right as my parents popped in. Mom jumped up and down clapping while my dad smiled and wrapped her up in his arms.
EJ linked me, “Mav feels so happy and possessive right now I didn't have to search him out. What’s going on?” I replied, “The woman who has been looking out for him is here. Her name is Olivia, and they are mates.”
EJ popped in with Elise. Maverick greeted, “Hi, Olivia. That’s a beautiful name for a beautiful woman.” My sister in law blushed furiously and answered, “Hi, Mav. Can I call you Mav? A lot of people do, and it just suits you. Plus, I’ve been calling you that for a while now.” Maverick laughed, “You can call me whatever you want.”
Theo said, “Hi, I’m…” Olivia interrupted, “You’re Theodore Conners, but you go by Theo. Your Mav’s twin and your mate’s name is Jane. I’ve actually met her. I managed to get her food before Mel came back, so we could save her and her friend Madeline. How is she doing? She’s not in the packs around here anymore.”
I answered, “Madeline’s in the Hackura realm. Her mate was also there that day we saved them, and she decided to stay there.” Olivia smiled, “That’s good. Thank you for that tidbit of information, Melanie’s Xander.” Melanie flushed and bit her lip.
Phil linked me, “I like your new title. Melanie probably knows more people than we do and ALL of them are going to call you her Xander.” I shrugged because I didn’t care. I was hers and that was irrefutable. It didn’t upset me in the slightest.
Gage linked, “I have to say, I agree with Phil. So many people are going to call you that.” I looked back and noticed he’d scooped up Abigail in his arms. Olivia told my brother, “I had no idea that we were mates. I never got that close to you. Melanie taught me how to shoot, and I’m pretty good.”
“I’m also really good at getting away from people. I’m small so people don’t tend to notice me. Plus, you know I tend to be further away and hours ahead of people since while I can shoot, I stick to poison. Melanie and I made it hurt too, because anyone coming after you deserved the pain.” I nearly snorted out loud.
Melanie linked me, “What? It’s true. Bad people deserve the pain.” I agreed, “That they do.” Mom smugly said, “I told you guys they were protective like mates.” She had. Maverick said, “I’d have noticed if I ever saw you.” Olivia blushed.
Maverick continued by teasing her, “So you insisted on being in charge of my security, did you? I think we should go over your plans. You’re clearly very good at it. My guard wants to meet you and discuss that as well, but they will have to wait.” Olivia smiled brightly at his compliment.
Melanie chimed in, “Olivia came up with all the plans, I just approved them. She’s very bright, and adept at strategy… and well…. poison….because obviously we worked on that… together.” Olivia beamed. It was clear Melanie was her idol.
Maverick held his arm out to his mate saying, “What do you say about getting out of here, Olivia? We can go somewhere private and talk. Have you eaten lunch?” Olivia admitted, “No I haven’t. I was too nervous. Melanie made me eat a scone at the coffee shop, but I couldn’t eat anything else.”
My mate made Olivia eat? This from the woman who mainlines coffee and doesn’t eat when she’s in the zone. Sierra linked me, “Obnoxious, isn’t it?” I snorted, “It’s something.” Abigail linked me, “I have to admit, I laughed out loud. Melanie didn’t get it though.” Of course not.
Maverick and Olivia popped out together. Theo smiled at Melanie saying, “You certainly have a way of getting mates into this family.” Melanie shrugged, “I know a lot of people. It’s not surprising that some of them are mated to your family members.”
