Page 255 of The Alpha and His Song: Volume One

Uncle Eric put a hand on my shoulder. I somewhat teasingly, but seriously, asked, “Do you still like me?” Eric replied, “Keaton, you’re my godson and I love you. Let’s just never speak of the sexual things we’ve discussed about my sister.” I snorted.

Uncle Eric sighed, “In all seriousness, you know I’m always here for you and nothing will change that. If you need something, no matter what it is, I’ll be here. Maybe we just talk in code. I don’t fucking know. If you hurt my sister, I might punch you in the face first though.” I smirked, “Noted.”

Channing said, “Thor agrees.” I figured. Uncle Eric ran inside the room when he heard his dad growling. I knew Odette wasn’t scared though, so I stayed back. Haley squeezed my hand and smiled at me, “You are family to all the Conners, including Nathan.”

I replied, “Yeah, he’s not acting that way.” Aunt Haley acknowledged, “Nathan may struggle with the adjustment of being a dad to a teenage girl he’s now getting to know, but no matter what you need to know all of us love you.”

“No one is upset you’re mated to Odette because you’re exactly who she needs. You have been there for her, and we all know the young man you are. My sister in law is a lucky woman to have you as her mate.” Aunt Haley was easily going to be my biggest ally in all this. She would be able to talk the Conners down off the ledges they were going to find themselves on.

Caspian walked over, “So, next time you find your mate maybe say something to the community at large.” I snorted, “There is no next time. Were you looking for me too?” Caspian raised an eyebrow, “Yes, we even looked at you specifically and your brother as options for Odette’s Song. We just heard it wasn’t the case, and you didn’t announce you found your mate.”

I winced, “Sorry about that.” Caspian hummed, “I’m sure you’ll make it up to me, song boy.” I asked, “Song boy?” Caspian smirked, “It’s what my sister called you and it’s a habit now, I don’t think I can break it.” I told him, “I don’t really do nicknames.”

Lux snorted, “Sure you don’t, Key.” I growled, “That’s different.” Caspian laughed, “It’s just going to be song boy to us.” Channing grumbled, but Caspian had a point. If I’d announced Odette was mine, they’d have at least come to meet me.

I smirked, “Whatever you say, mob boss man.” Caspian smirked while Lux choked on his drink. I winked at him. Channing laughed, “I love it.” Yeah, they could give me shit but I’d give it right back. Just like how I used to, before the cloud that was Lisa invaded my life.

Uncle Eric came back out, and Aunt Haley went over to him before he joined our group. Alexander had Melanie over in a corner, and they were clearly linking. I tilted my head over in Alexander’s direction. Thankfully, Lux took the hint and looked.

Uncle Eric joined us. I asked, “What’s going on with that?” He snorted, “I’m sure we will be the last to know. What’s new?” It must be very disconcerting for him, since he was used to knowing things right away when it came to any type of situation.

Uncle Eric prided himself on knowing things, but Melanie threw a wrench into the plans with that. That woman had all these secrets that just kept growing. I told Uncle Eric, “Odette does this thing we should talk about.” Caspian quickly said, “We can discuss that as a group.”

I asked, “How do you know what I was going to say?” Caspian answered, “Because my sister told me about it on her birthday. I doubt she told you, which means she talks while she’s seeing the past.” Uncle Eric snorted, “I’m sorry, did you just say seeing the past?” I answered, “He did and she does.”

Eric rubbed his face with his hands as he groaned, “Of course she does. What did my sister see?” I said, “I only got snippets from what she was saying. It didn’t exactly make sense.” Caspian smirked looking directly at Uncle Eric, “She saw you.”

Eric asked incredulously, “Me?! She saw me?” Then it clicked for him, “And Jackson. Odette saw us both. Oh, god. When? What did she see? We were shits when we were younger.” Nathan joined us. Caspian said, “We’ll discuss this later.” Uncle Eric looked like he wanted to argue, but he didn’t.

Lux had slipped into the room where Odette was. Nathan came over, “Odette wants a clean slate with all of us.” Nathan whispered, “She doesn’t hate me. I can’t mess this up.” Uncle Eric assured him, “You’re not going to. We’ll get to know her as a group.”

Nathan said, “Odette needs a room in our house, Haley.” My heart stopped. I was going to be without her. How was I going to do this for a year? Channing whimpered, “We can’t because we are marked.” That was a valid point.

Aunt Haley replied, “Of course. I’ll get a room ready for Odette and Keaton.” Thank god for her. All of the Conners except Jackson and Eric tensed. Uncle Eric just nodded his head in acceptance. Nathan’s eye was twitching.

How was I going to be an Alpha of my territory in a different territory? I was really fast. I could probably make that work for a year. Channing snorted, “We can just rotate houses. Mate has been independent. I doubt she’ll want to be forced into something.” I would have to step in like Alexnader advised then.

Lux and Odette stepped back out. Thankfully, Aunt Haley took control of the conversation again. I knew Caspian needed to be debriefed on what happened. Hell, we had a lot to debrief on in general, but we had to keep Odette’s feelings in mind. Aunt Haley was the best person to make sure she didn’t get lost. Alexander gave me a meaningful look. I nodded in return.

Melanie announced that Odette was going to shift, and now Channing might never stop purring. I didn’t think I was going to be able to handle Odette in that kind of pain. It was going to break my heart. I was beyond relieved Freya and Melanie had done something so her shift would be painless.

Lux and Odette’s other Siren brothers didn’t want my mate to leave. It was written all over their faces. Aunt Haley agreed to bring them to her shift. I was team Aunt Haley in every tense situation. She was so calm, and considerate of everyone’s feelings.

It was such a strange thing since Aunt Haley often discarded her own emotions, but she certainly took care of everyone else. I watched Odette leave the room, everything in me wanted to follow her. Melanie linked me, “Haley and I’ve got this…..just slip out.”

I snorted, “You’re going to cause a distraction.” Melanie responded, “In case you didn’t notice…. causing distractions is kind of my jam. Lying… is a work in progress… but I’m killer at distractions.” I nearly laughed out loud then eased back. Melanie cleared her throat as I flashed out of the room.

Eric linked, “Alexander said you could link us all now. Is that true?” I winced, “Yup. Which you knew since he can’t lie.” Eric responded, “I just want to say, I saw that.” I laughed out loud then told him, “I’m not even sorry.”

Eric replied, “Make sure my little sister is ok. My Angel is right; this has to be overwhelming for her.” I promised, “I’ll make sure she’s ok.” Eric said, “Good. Melanie actually covered your escape quite well. I doubt anyone else clocked that.”

I made my way back to Odette’s room. I saw Caspian’s mate, Serenity. My one day sister in law smiled, “I wondered if you’d get away. Caspian must not have noticed, that’s quite the feat.” I smiled and flashed away from her and came back.

Serenity gasped. I winked, “I’m fast.” Serenity laughed, “I see that. Odette needs you.” I nodded, “She has me.” I walked into her room and stripped. Everything felt right standing under the water with Odette flush against me.

God, I’d missed her. I needed to be with her to center myself. I’d felt frantic since she was taken. Channing agreed, “I told you to claim mate before she met her family.” Well, that wouldn’t have been the wisest course of action.

We managed a quickie. Channing snorted, “Which is good. We’d have to get Lightning here to help us if Odette’s brothers decided to beat us up.” I snorted, “Speak for yourself, Channing. I can outrun them all and Aunt Haley would have our back.” Channing agreed, “That’s true.”