2

Dang it, they were just too cute! Rhea agreed, “Ok, now how about pouncing on mate, since we are being told to leave”

I laughed, “Eric said to join the party, not disappear again.”

She grumbled, “Semantics. Part of the party is outside. We could get lost on the way there and lose some time due to pouncing.” I loved the way she thought.

I walked beside EJ and instantly spotted Landon Lyons and Melinda McAlister flirting. They always did. She had a serious crush on him. I linked her, “Get it, girl!”

She squeaked, “ELISE!”

I laughed, “He can’t hear us.” She shot me a look that had Landon’s attention. He winked at me and I just grinned.

Julianna popped over. She was very sweet and leaned into her Fairy side with her brother Jacob. Those two were always pulling pranks. If they teamed up with Haley, Angela, and/or TJ, it was war and you were on the losing side if they pranked you.

When Aiden Holloran joined us, I was on alert. I asked Rhea, “Doesn’t he seem annoyed but happy?”

She agreed, “He does. That’s an odd combination for him.”

It really was. Before I could ask another Fairy popped in. I didn’t recognize him, but the look on Julianna’s face told me he was her mate. Then things got crazy.

Alpha Lucas Lyons was pissed. I quickly walked over to my dad. I linked, “What’s Lucas’ deal with that guy?”

My dad snorted, “From the colorful commentary memo Drake got around eighteen years back before we even took over, I can explain in full. Fegle cheered up Emmaline when they were in a fight.”

I raised an eyebrow asking, “So?”

My dad tilted his head, “If a female Fairy cheered EJ up, would you like them?”

Rhea and I growled, “NO!” My dad smirked, “That’s the problem.” Angela tugged on my hand and inclined her head towards the door.

I smiled and followed her outside. She grabbed my hand and popped me further away. I looked around asking, “Is this your treehouse?”

Angela nodded, “Yes, only Alexander, me, and TJ can find it. I need your help.”

I laughed, “Me? I’m honored. With what?”

She explained, “Well, there are these two girls that are going to cause a scene. Alexander gets VERY angry about it. Not to mention you and EJ. Mom flies into a furious rage which means my dad does too. Basically, everyone gets mad. It’s a whole chain reaction.”

Since Haley was the only one mentioned who quite literally fly, I felt that meant she did actually go all Fairy winged pissed about something.

I raised an eyebrow, “What can I do?”

Angela smiled, “I’ll pop you to them now. You can stop them like you did the other girl.”

Rhea snickered, “I like her so much.” I smiled and told Angela out loud, “You and Melanie would get along really well.” Angela sighed, “If we ever meet her.” I gently assured her, “It’s going to happen one day.” I felt positive about it now unlike earlier.

I held my hand out for hers. She grinned and quickly took it and popped away. She pointed to my right side. She’d popped close enough to hear their conversation. I saw a few of my pack members, current and future, looking around nervously. I noted that they looked mad too.

A girl I’d seen around but never met was bragging to the group. “I made out with Alexander last year.”

Angela frowned. I was stunned. I linked, “Rhea?”

She replied, “Oden never said anything about that.” EJ didn’t mention it which meant Alexander didn’t say anything about it.

Another girl laughed, “Claire, he’d know if you were his mate.”

Claire shrugged, “I don’t have to be his mate. I could just be his first. I heard from the girls around here that he's waiting for his mate to have sex. I just need him to get drunk again.”

One girl in their group sighed.

Another one encouraged her, “You go for Alexander, I'll go for EJ.”

Several people growled. The girl rolled her eyes, “Calm down. He’s not mated yet. The goody two shoes Alpha pup wouldn’t get hurt from the mate bond.”

Ok, that was IT.

Rhea snarled, “PUP?!”

Yeah, that was all kinds of offensive. Along with saying this girl wanted to get Alexander as tipsy as he could get and try to sleep with him knowing his wishes. Rheas reasoned, “As Haley pointed out earlier that’s rape.” Agreed.

I stepped out and several people’s eyes widened. I asked the girl who wanted EJ, “And you are?”

She crossed her arms, “Morgan. Who’s asking?”

I snorted, “The goody two shoes Alpha pup. I prefer Elise though. My wolf prefers not to be called a pup. I’ll tell you once, EJ is MINE. Now, both you and that Claire girl, need to get out of here.”

Claire sneered, “Or what? Alexander wants me here.”

I laughed, “I’d know about you if he did. I’d imagine he was embarrassed seeing as how I have literally heard nothing about this supposed kiss you shared. His wolf didn’t tell mine either. Side note, he can’t get drunk and it’s god awful to suggest that’s how you get someone into your bed. It’s called rape, let’s not be a rapist. Now you and Morgan need to leave. Or I will make you.”

Morgan snorted, “You aren’t the Luna here yet.”

I shrugged, “And?”

Claire snarked, “You can’t make us leave.” I laughed, “Actually I can and you’d probably prefer it. Since the current Lead Luna around here doesn’t mess around about her pups safety. She feels specific ways about rapist too.” Claire screamed, “Stop saying that! I’m not a rapist, it’s just to loosen up.” I snorted, “And if a male wolf said that about you? What would you call it?” She went to speak several times and stopped.

Rhea grumbled, “I didn’t get to shift last time. I’m just saying.”

I thought about it. I told her, “Well, they did call us a pup. You should prove to them we aren’t. Our mate would say that’s fair.”

I felt her happiness and again felt bad for her. She always expected me to say no because of a past human who never listened to her. That wasn’t our dynamic at all though. I knew it would take time, but she’d stop being surprised that I listened to her one day.

I shifted into Rhea and growled at them. They backed up. Claire smirked, “I’m a Warrior's daughter.”

Rhea snorted at them. Claire shifted and was visibly smaller than I us. Rhea linked me, “Are they high? They can clearly see we are an Alpha’s daughter.”

I replied, “They knew that before. They called us, an Alpha, a PUP.” She growled when I reminded her.

We circled each other and I lunged. I took her down easily. Her wolf submitted to Rhea. I shifted back and Angela snapped clothes on us both. I turned, hearing her clomping up behind me. I whirled and dodged her punch and decked her square in the face.

Loudly I declared, “You may be a Warrior's daughter, but you’re not a Warrior. Besides, I’m an ALPHA’S Daughter.”

Morgan tried to sneak up behind me next. Her words about bedding EJ rang in my ears. I flipped her over my back and rammed my knee into her chest. I knew she was having trouble breathing, but I didn’t care.

Rhea squealed, “You go human of mine!”

I snarled at Morgan, “Now that we’ve established I can wipe the floor with you, I suggest you listen. Honestly, I know a thirteen year old who gives more of a challenge than you two put together.”

I knew that was not really a fair comparison but practicing with Melanie was an edge I used. She made me work harder because she was so good. I reiterated, “Stay the hell away from what’s mine. EJ IS MINE! Are we clear, Morgan?”

Morgan whimpered but nodded.

I turned to Claire, “Do yourself a favor and stay away from Alexander. We have a rule about one crazy girl per night per Conners male and female, particularly a ‘c’ named she wolf. There’s already one here sentenced to death for trying to rape him. Do you wanna make that two?”

She screamed. I let Morgan up and they both fled.

Angela snapped me clean. She nodded, “The party paths are much calmer now. Thanks, Elise.”

I laughed, “Anytime.”

Liam and his son, Thaddius, walked up. Thaddius grinned, “Hey Slugger, nice one.” I flipped my hair, “Thanks, Thad.” He generally went by his nickname with friends.

Liam sighed, “Angela, you could’ve told me about this.”

Angela frowned, “That wasn’t as fun a path as this one.”

Everyone around us started laughing while Liam tried not to. Thaddius, on the other hand, lost it. Liam rolled his eyes, “Fairies.” Angela smirked finishing, “Are so much fun. You’d be bored without us.”

Thaddius threw out, “Dad, I have Fairy blood.”

Liam smirked, “I am aware. I have fun with the Fairies, son. Especially your mother.”

Thaddius sighed, “Yeah, unfortunately we all know that. As much as I try to not know that fact, I know.”

Liam rolled his eyes and addressed me, “Little Luna, you’d better go find the young Alpha before he realizes you're missing. I’ll make sure those girls get back to their territory.”

I asked, “Whose territory would that be?”

Liam sighed, “Alpha Theo’s.” Great. He’d probably say it was Blue Moon’s fault somehow. Their bad blood had waned since Haley worked on it, but they were still at odds.

I knew the story. Alpha Lucas had defended his pack member and had every right to. The Alpha he’d killed was Alpha Theo’s brother though. I’d heard Alpha Aaron, Alpha Theo’s brother, was actually close with Alpha Lucas. I couldn’t imagine the position Alpha Lucas was put in to end his friend’s life to save a member of his pack. That had to hurt. I sighed and went off in search of EJ.

I found him easily in the center of everything. Rhea purred, “He is just mmmm girl. We need to climb all over that.”

I pointed out, “We did earlier.”

Rhea snickered, “We need to all the time. Twenty-four seven. Let’s just lock ourselves away in a room.” That idea had merit.

I had to evade my exact whereabouts during the party. I was quite good at doing that at this point. I’d been taking lessons from his family my whole life. Tristan linked, “Yeah, I head you got a in a few fights from our Warriors.”

I replied, “Well, at least they know how to accurately portray things. It was two. Which is a couple and not a few to be technical though. I’ll give them a pass SINCE THEY SUCK AT REPORTING!”

Tristan made a face. Rhea snickered, “Good one. Apollo laughed.”

Apollo was Tristan’s wolf.

EJ pulled me against him, and I melted into his strong embrace. Did he HAVE to be so distracting and sexy? Rhea answered, “Yes. Yes, he does.”

Our group headed off to deal with Charline. I looked at my dad when the door opened because I could scent someone down there with Charline.

Rhea groaned, “Sadly, we know her shrill scream. She does it so often.”

I knew that scream and the smell down there with her was clearly Haley Conners. EJ popped away and so did Alexander. Eric sighed, “I’m going out on a limb and saying my Angel beat us here.”

Beta Jim Kruthers snorted, “A limb? It’s not a limb, Eric. We can all smell her, and you feel her. Limb my ass.”

Bjourn laughed, “She’s down there, but so is Blade. He’s faded back. I just know this report from him is going to be funny.”

Eric shrugged. I could tell he was proud of his mate, as he should be.

When we got down there, I had to laugh. I wanted to be Haley Conners when I grew up. The amusement I felt that Charline thought she had snakes all over her couldn’t be contained. I linked my mom, “You helped Haley Conners torture Charline?”

My mom snorted, “That’s certainly a way to put it. I gave her information. To be honest, I’d have helped her torture her if she’d asked. I didn’t know that’s where she was going with said information she asked for, but I should’ve guessed.”

Haley had certainly done a number on Charline. Rhea was cackling in my head looking at her. Charline was bleeding from shallow cuts all over her body. If I wasn’t mistaken, Charline had been waxed too. With wax that was entirely too hot.

Aiden popped in and shot me a wink before he set Charline’s hair on fire. The smell of burned hair and skin was not one I care for, but I was going to be EJ’s Luna. I could handle this stuff. Rhea agreed, “The smell is quite awful, but we can do this.”

She always gave me the confidence I needed.

I quickly realized Alexander wanted to kill her himself. Rhea agreed, “He does. Oden said so. He’s quite upset and snarly.”

Alexander announced it not long after. My dad linked me, “Does he often request to do this to people who hurt him?”

I acknowledged, “He usually lets Haley do it if she’s this mad.” He hummed in reply. I knew he was amused like me. This was about Melanie more than Alexander to the man himself.

Haley was muttering under her breath about amazing new nicknames. I linked my mom laughing. She replied, “You and your dad are laughing. Sam said Drake is too. What’s so funny?”

I answered, “Haley has a new name for Charline.”

My mom asked, “What is it?” I laughed, “Charlooney.” My mom started laughing too. Haley Conners was a national treasure and no one could convince me otherwise.

Charline’s plan was completely deluded. Rhea scoffed, “As if she could outsmart our dad. Thunder is too smart to fall for her bullshit.”

I knew that. My dad and his wolf were smart. I replied, “She’s insane. She truly believes Alexander won’t let her die.”

Rhea chuckled, “Yeah, Oden’s never been more ready to go for the kill.”

I groaned, “If only he would admit why.”

I wanted to scream, “IT’S BECAUSE OF MELANIE MCALISTER!” but I didn’t. Which felt like great restraint on my part.

I felt bad for my dad when she appealed to him. He hated being betrayed, and he was her Alpha. We felt a responsibility towards pack members. I knew without asking that he hated that someone my age was going to die. He’d tried so hard with her though through the years. She was responsible for this.

Rhea snarled, “She gave up her friends without a hand being raised to her.”

I told her, “Yeah, she’s pathetic.”

I was relieved that her friends were going to get another chance. Maybe they would be better without their crazy ringleader.

Charline actually looked disappointed they weren’t immediately sentenced to death. She was horrible. When Charline started taking jabs at Melanie, I stepped closer to EJ knowing we’d be leaving. I wanted to taunt her about Melanie being a literal a genius, but I didn’t. I had such self-control today. I quickly left knowing I didn’t want to know what Alexander was going to do.

The second we got up to the top and shut the door, Haley and EJ’s eyes blazed. My dad linked me, “That’s not their anger, is it?”

I answered, “No, it’s definitely Alexander’s.”

Haley was confused. Bless that woman. She was so observant and not at the same time. Her respect for others was off the charts though. You had to admire that. She believed Alexander would tell her his story in his time.

I couldn’t wait to tell Melanie that Charline’s had a new nickname. It was gold and she’d love it. Rhea linked, “Plus, said she wolf is dying tonight. There’s no way Charlooney will be breathing by the time Alexander gets up here.”

I agreed, “Especially if he pushes at her. If he heard a quarter of what she’s said to Melanie, she is done for.”

Rhea hummed in agreement.

My dad and Drake started to leave. I linked my dad, “Can’t I spend the night?”

He reasoned, “You’ll be moving here soon.”

My throat closed a little realizing I had a finite amount of time left at my home. I was ready, but moving was still a big life moment. I’d lived with my family my whole life. I couldn’t think about that, or I might cry. Growing up was hard sometimes.

I linked Tristan, “You guys head inside. We will be in once Alexander calms down.”

Tristan snorted, “See you in the next life then.”

I bit back my laugh, “Who knew you had jokes?” Tristan winked at me and walked inside with his brother.

I physically took a step back and Rhea hunkered down in my head when Alexander popped up to us. I could honestly say this was the angriest I’d ever seen him. Bjourn took him away after discussing Sunday dinner. I knew that dinner was going to be interesting.

Rhea purred, “Because mate told us everything.”

She was right, I knew EJ wanted to discuss Alania with his family this Sunday. I knew their suspicions. I’d gently pointed out the family didn’t want his mom to know. He agreed and decided to find out why before he told his mom their theory. He got stuck on how to suitably distract her until Cassie came up with a plan. It was safe to say Haley would be busy while EJ got his answers.

By the time everything settled it was almost time for me to go home. Tristan teased me. I linked him, “Watch it, T. I’ll tease you when you find your mate.”

He winked before EJ popped me home. We were making out on my porch until Ray cleared his throat.

Amusement danced in my eyes when he said he wouldn't take a night off if I turned into slugger. I asked, “Rhea, did you tell Ray what happened?”

She replied, “Are you kidding me? No. I didn’t tell him or Karl.”

Karl was his wolf.

I grumbled, “Yeah well, those girls will stay away from what was mine if they know what’s good for them.”

She reasoned, “If he knows already said she wolves took our message to heart.”

Time would tell. EJ wanted answers so I threw him off in the best way. I called him my boyfriend.

Ray managed not to laugh out loud. EJ didn’t like it when I called him my boyfriend. Rhea snorted, “Because he’s so much more.”

I agreed, “I know.”

Rhea purred, “Last time you said it the sex we had after you called him boyfriend was life changing. New plan! Let’s change his name to boyfriend in our phone. Someone will tell him and GOD.” She flashed images in my mind.

I quickly shut them down. She pouted, “No fun!”

I replied, “He’s leaving, and our parents are inside. They don’t need to hear EJ taking me on the deck with everyone out here.”

She grumbled, “He has Hackura blood. It’s workable.” I wanted to laugh really badly. I managed to get inside before Rhea had me ripping his clothes off on the front lawn.

The next day I went to see Melanie because Sam said I could go up to her room. I found her quietly reading her Thoroughbred book series. I laughed, “How many times have you read through those?”

Melanie smiled and shut her book. “A few times. Ashleigh Griffen is my favorite character….Well, no…but also yes. Honestly, I’d say Melanie but that seems vain.”

I laughed, “It’s a character, it's not vain.”

She just smiled. I asked, “How long are you grounded?”

Melanie shrugged, “They said if I admitted I did it that I’d be free, but I’m not admitting to something I didn’t do.” I wouldn’t either. I nodded, “Fair enough.”

She asked, “Is my Xander ok?”

I assured her, “He’s fine. Charline has a new name. It’s Charlooney and she’s also never coming back.”

She snickered, “That’s the best nickname ever… well… ever is a long time… but, it’s up there… it’s got to be in the top five and…”

I cut her off, “I hear you talked to him.”

She blushed, “Yeah, I texted him. He believed me…. right off the bat no questions. He even made me a promise… which was like… WOW… because he has Fairy blood… he promised we’d meet someday and that he’d be ok. So, I guess… I did know he was ok… technically speaking… because promises…. and whatnot.”

I nudged her with my elbow, “Well, he can’t break a promise.”

Melanie sighed, “He wouldn’t be specific though… and I was texting him because… well, I don’t think I’d have told him why I called and we’d still be on the phone… I know he’d make me nervous…. and Jase says I ramble around my points sometimes, which is true… especially when I’m nervous. It’s just that Fairies live for a very long time and saying we will meet some day is not specific enough…at all.”

I laughed, “But now you know you’ll meet him.”

Melanie nodded, “I know. Because… well… he did promise… plus ya know… he’s mine.”

I nodded, “I hope so.” Melanie muttered, “He is. I know it.” We hung out for an hour before Sam told me I had to go.

I changed quickly before EJ arrived to take me to Sunday dinner in the Hackura realm. Ray came with us of course. Now he was just never going to let me go anywhere alone. Even though I handled myself just fine. EJ’s family was here, minus Cassie. I didn’t expect her though.

While EJ was talking to Max I shot a look at Angela. She just sent me her megawatt smile at me. I’d noticed Micah was never around if Max was. Angela was setting them up to meet. I stiffened. Were they mates? I raised an eyebrow at Angela who just kept grinning. Rhea said, “You cracked it. I’m so proud of us.”

Maybe I had. Time would tell us the answer quickly.