Page 261 of The Alpha and His Song: Volume One

Haley conditionally agreed, “I’ll warn Eric, then you can tell him Dylan. Molly is having the Daniels put in a conference room.” Emmett linked, “Lisa is missing and everything just got very cloak and dagger over here. What happened? Did you sneak off and kill Lisa? Because I find I’m not even a little upset about that.” I growled, “No.”

I linked Grandma Nadine, “You need to get to the Conners and find grandpa.” Grandma Nadine answered, “Ok, sure thing.” I instructed, “Bring May and Alexander too.” Grandma Nadine replied, “Keaton, you’re scaring me.” I told her, “It’s going to be ok, but what I just found out will rock the family.” Grandma sighed, “Ok.”

Matt was still frozen. Drake quietly said, “I’ll tell them, Matt.” Melanie literally exhaled. I actually think that she was worried she’d have to tell them and then break it in a way that would hurt. Honestly, Melanie’s way wasn’t bad; it was like ripping off a band aid.

Matt stood, “I should do it.” Drake disagreed, “No, you shouldn’t. Emma’s death affected your teenage years. You’re reeling, just as the Daniels’ will be. I texted your dad. Issac is coming with Ted, your mom, and Adlee. You need your mate, and Chase will need you too, just as he did then.” Matt nodded.

Matt actually knew Grandma Emma, whereas I had stories. Odette whispered, “Are you ok?” I nodded, “I didn’t know her. I’ve seen her picture and heard stories, but Nadine is my grandma. Grandma Emma will always be too, just as Grandpa James and Grandpa Allison are. I didn’t know her though. I hate that this will hurt my grandpa, dad, and Uncles all over again.”

Haley instructed, “Alexander, pop that group to the Daniels, and I’ll pop Dylan to the meeting and pop your dad out to warn him then come back. You can join us when you’re done.” Odette cried out, “Wait! Can Melanie come with us?” Haley agreed, “Of course.”

Melanie nodded to Odette which made my mate relax. They really had a deep bond. Channing agreed, “They do. Melanie saved mate.” Alexander popped us to the meeting, hugged Melanie, then popped out. Dad asked, “Keaton, what’s going on?”

Drake spoke, “Everyone needs to take a seat.” Dad looked around then frowned, “What’s going on? My son is pale, his twin was putting people on my mate, and my Beta is practically translucent.” Ted was fussing over Matt.

Matt looked at Chase then whispered, “You need to sit down, Chase.” Dad’s eyes drifted to me in a panic, “What’s wrong? Are you ok, Keaton?” I nodded, “It’s not about me.” Melanie said, “I mean… it kind of is… in… well… there’s the past… and… god… someone stop me. Dad?”

Melanie looked at Drake, who walked over and squeezed her hand. Drake declared, “I’ve got this, Ladybug. Just sit with your friend.” She sat down beside Odette. My mate took my hand and Melanie’s then turned her body into me. I could feel Odette’s fear in my chest; I just didn’t understand it.

Grandpa Frank demanded, “Someone start talking. What’s going on with my grandson?” Drake said, “Of course, but we are missing two people. I texted Jared to bring them here.” A pop sounded. My Uncle Cameron and Aunt Reagan were now here. That was good.

Melanie seemed to be taking notes about how her dad was handling this. Drake cleared his throat, “Now, we can begin. There seems to be a plot that goes back quite some time, Frank. When Odette was taken, they had the intention to wipe her memories.”

Channing snarled and took over to hold Odette tightly. Drake continued, “Obviously, they were not able to do so, given Melanie’s rescue and Odette creating a portal. They told Keaton’s mate about a plot that Melanie confirmed. This goes back to when Nathan was a future Alpha. Cassandra made a deal with Harpies to help Nathan defeat his dad.”

Frank snorted, “Nathan beat his dad alone.” Drake nodded, “Yes, which would negate any agreement, but it seems the Harpies didn’t agree. From what we just learned, they targeted a pack close to the Conners because they wanted to be powerful. Cassandra walled her family off from them.”

How did he know that? I looked at Melanie who was picking at her sleeve. How did she get that information? Mom threw a vase and it shattered against the wall. Everyone jumped. Dad asked, “Sweetheart?”

Mom whirled to Drake, “Lisa! That VAPID BITCH has Harpy blood! She did something to my son, didn’t she?” Drake nodded, “Yes, but that was the third attempt to infiltrate your pack.” Emmett frowned, “Third?”

Isaac whispered, “Oh god no.” Grandpa Frank asked, “Isaac?” Drake sighed, “It would appear the rogue issue you’re having now where Malachi suspects they are not rogues is true. It’s calling into question a lot of rogue attacks on your pack, but one we now know was not a rogue attack was on Emma Daniels.” The air felt like it left the room.

Drake continued, “Melanie was up late looking into it. Emma wasn’t merely attacked on the border by chance. The former Luna of Yellow Hills was lured out there with the pups. She wasn’t killed by rogues, but by Harpies who work with someone else.”

“Melanie is working on tracking it all down, but they are the ones who killed Emma to try and get someone in her place as your mate, Frank. The Harpies wanted to rise to power in this realm and they decided to use your pack to do so. I’m so sorry.”

Grandpa Frank was frozen in his seat, and Mom had a hold of my dad. Keith and I locked eyes. I glanced at Emmett; my big brother was stunned. Isabella put her head in hands and started crying. Dad didn’t even seem to realize he was crying.

Odette whispered, “You saved Nadine though, Frank.” Channing purred, “Mate is perfect.” Yes, she was. Every eye snapped to Odette. My Song gulped then continued, “And someone named Susie. The Harpies wanted to kill them both, but you kept them close. They couldn’t get anyone inside to get to them. They said you never wanted anyone they put in front of you, then Nadine came along. I’m so sorry.”

Emmett quickly voiced, “You did nothing wrong, Odette. You just told us that we have a death to avenge that we’ve let go far too long.” Grandma Nadine got on her knees in front of Grandpa Frank who still hadn’t even blinked.

Drake continued, “That plot continued on, and they turned their sights to Lexi. Odette can see into the past.” Dad growled, “We know.” Drake nodded, “Well, it turns out the spell on Haley was supposed to kill Lexi so they could get someone in front of you; except Haley took it instead.”

Odette interjected, “They said it should’ve killed Haley, but that they doubted her capacity for love.” Lexi snorted, “People always underestimate Haley.” Dad yanked mom into his lap, inhaling her scent. Dad growled, “When they missed my mate, they just gave up and went for my son?”

Cameron growled, “That doesn’t make sense. I’m glad they didn’t try for Reagan, but why Keaton? He has older siblings, and I have sons older than him.” Emmett snarled. Drake locked eyes with Melanie until she looked away while picking at her sleeve.

Odette offered, “Aiden knew it was Harpies. The guy I talked to, said the Fairy King went after them, and then Cambridge’s figured out why he. Which set the Cambridge’s after them, and eventually Eric figured it out too. The Harpies were being heavily persecuted, so they had to draw back. That’s how Lisa got brought in. Because of that.”

Drake picked it back up, “Yes, those rogue attacks on Lisa were orchestrated. She wanted Keaton over for dinner to get her blood in him.” Odette spoke again, “Not just hers. She had to use her great grandma’s, I think. Or someone’s grandma because Lisa’s alone wasn’t strong enough. Key was too strong for just her blood.” I was too strong?!

Channing agreed, “Damn right you were! Even without me, you were strong, Keaton.” That had a torrent of emotions rolling through me. Melanie picked at her sleeve again. I looked over at Grandpa Frank, at least he was blinking now.

Emmett rubbed his head, “Drake, just tell us why your daughter is picking at her sleeve. Or have the techy Luna tell us herself.” Drake explained, “Ladybug’s nervous. She’s been looking into this since Odette told her about it. My daughter wanted you to have all the information that she could find.” Emmett nodded, “I’m sure she was through and used not legal means that I do not care about, just tell me.”

I heard an angry growl which caused Odette to gasp. I told her, “It’s Eric. He’s ok, he’s just angry.” Drake cut back in, “Caspian is ready to perform a ritual to rid you all of Harpy blood.” Mom clapped, “I fucking KNEW IT! The men in this family besides Frank wouldn’t ever just kick her out. That shallow, vapid, spoiled brat did something to them!”