It Doesn’t make Sense

Elise is Twenty-Three Years old

Elise played with her pencil. Rhea purred, “I feel mate’s eyes on us.”

I knew that. We were all waiting for word from Alpha Theo. Ashley hadn’t answered any of my emails in the last few days. I was worried she was hurt since their neighboring pack had attacked them.

Logically, I knew she was busy as the Lead Female Warrior. We just didn’t have any numbers on wolves who were injured or dead from either side. We were neither their friends nor allies, so the details were scarce. So, we didn’t know who was hurt.

Rhea reasoned, “We haven’t got word that a Lead Warrior was down. Eric and Thor should at least get that type of news if it had happened.”

I agreed, “Yes, but Black Path’s Pack leadership is worthless except for Ashley. All we know was that Black Path had won the fight and has taken over their neighbor’s pack.”

Rhea said, “Yes and we both know the only way they could win was under Ashley’s leadership.”

Her logic was sound, and I knew it. Ashley just had to be fine. She had to. Alexander linked me, “If you chew harder on that pencil, you’ll crack it and eat wood. Then I’ll have to heal you. I’m sure Ashley is fine.”

He was worried too. I replied, “I just wish she’d answer my email.” He nodded in agreement.

When Alpha Theo walked into EJ’s office I was relieved knowing he had answers. I linked Eric, “Thank you for asking him so quickly what happened.”

He replied, “I know you’re worried and you are a daughter to me. I know Ashley is fine though. Nashville would be in an uproar if she wasn’t.”

I smiled at him.

Honestly, both my in laws were amazing. I was lucky. Rhea told me, “Titan is excited about whatever he’s learned.”

Titan was Alpha Theo’s wolf. She didn’t need to tell me that because Alpha Theo’s eyes told me he was.

I linked Rhea, “He said versions of the story. That means one is Ashley’s. That means she’s ok and can talk. She’s not unconscious recovering from injuries.”

Rhea agreed, “Definitely. She will answer our emails soon.”

I’d even bugged Phil about this. He’d gotten in contact with his Warrior friend in Nashville. His friend believed she was ok, but Alpha Theo had confirmed with eyes on her. Rhea snorted, “You really just want to hear it from Ashley herself. That would be the best way to make us relax. I know how you feel because I want to see a ranting email from her too.”

Rhea was right.

I did want to hear it from Ashley. Rhea sighed when our invitation to meet her was turned down again. I hid my disappointment, but I couldn’t hide it from the bond. EJ send me his understanding. Alpha Theo started telling us what had happened in Black Path.

Rhea snorted, “Both the Alpha and Beta’s version of the event were pathetic. Beta my ass. Did they just pick a random guy and decide he would be the Beta?”

I replied, “You know he has Beta blood.”

Rhea snorted, “It sounds like his wolf is having a similar experience to one I had in a past life. I hated my last human before you. She was useless. The Moon Goddess did give me you afterwards though. I had to wait, but this life is much better than that one. God that woman was a witch.”

I snorted, “You still won’t tell me who it was. Or will you?”

Rhea laughed, “It’s not necessary information. Just know that I adore you. You could be full of yourself, but you’ve always been humble. I love you and you accepted our mate. My past human did not.”

That was abhorrent to me. How could she not accept a mate? Poor Rhea in that life. That would be so hard on the wolf.

Phil and Alexander’s exchange had me glancing over at my brother in law surprised. What about Melanie? As I thought her name my heart clenched. I knew she was going to get into Juilliard and never come home.

At this point, Cassie was going to have to go with her plan to hunt Melanie down and bring her home. I wanted her to live her dream, I did. I just wanted to see her in person too. On a computer screen wasn’t the same. She’d only have a few minutes here and there. It was depressing and I hated everything about it.

When I found out what Ashley’s versions of events where I had to smile despite my fury. She had a way with words. I even saw Eric’s lips twitching as he tried not to smile about the shit she gave people. Rhea growled, “I can’t believe the pack leadership hid from the fight. They left their pack to defend themselves, and they hid?!”

I agreed, “I will kill them.”

Rhea added, “That is pathetic on so many levels. How could they hide while their people were fighting for their lives?! Did they think that the office door would protect them if the other pack had won the damn fight?! They’d have broken down the damn door and killed their weak, pathetic asses. What kind of Alpha, Beta, and Gamma could live with themselves after that?”

I replied, “Their poor wolves. That must be embarrassing.”

Rhea agreed, “They are probably ready to move on just like I was. It’s hard when you get a shitty human.”

It probably was and she’d know best. I could help their wolves move on though.

I did feel like I could get down there and kick those pathetic pieces of shits asses myself. EJ pulled me onto his lap. Rhea linked, “I’m just saying Alexander looks ready to join us in our noble quest. Oden is growling pissed off. Honestly, I’m also team kick their ass. Ashley could kill them, but she doesn't. I find that odd.”

I did too.

I watched Alexander out of the corner of my eye. He was clearly interested in Ashley’s strategy to defend the pack. I couldn’t help but be proud of her all over again. She defended her pack and used tactical responses. She was just so damn smart, just like Melanie. That thought made my head hurt.

My eyes narrowed and Rhea growled when Alpha Theo talked about the future Gamma. I knew that Ashley hated Trevor with a passion. She never said why, but her hatred came through in the few times she’d mentioned him. She liked the rest of the future pack leaders though.

Alpha Theo description of Ashley surprised me. Was it just coming down from the fighting high? Rhea linked, “What do they mean her rage? They talk about that a lot, but it has never come across in our emails.” I agreed.

Her dislike for certain people did, but not rage. I genuinely wished she’d just leave that pathetic excuse of a pack. She’d been so upset she’d almost punched her Alpha which was a serious offense.

Rhea made a noise of disagreement before adding, “She did beat him and his wolf in a fight. He’s supposed to be her leader, and he hides. I’d punch him too. She’s having to act as the Alpha, and she doesn’t have Alpha blood. That very hard for someone to do. She’s overriding her own instincts to follow, which has to hurt her.”

That pissed me off, but I couldn’t understand it really as an Alpha myself surrounded by exceptional leadership.

I could tell Eric had half a mind to just wipe the current Alpha out. I was so on board with that plan, but Alpha Theo was the bucket of water to my fire right now. Rhea reasoned, “You know Ashley likes The current Alpha’s son.”

I wanted to groan, because I did know that Caine Davis was working to take over.

Ashley had told me Caine and the Beta’s son, Dax, were training with her now. She was a bit of a perfectionist about training. She truly rivaled Alexander in that department. They would get along really well if she would just come up here.

I told my wolf, “Well, of course Caine couldn’t learn how to fight from his dad. His dad’s instincts were to hide while his untrained son and his Female Lead Warrior fought for his pack. That complete and utter coward!

Rhea told me, “Why would someone who is a good fighter not want their son to be?”

I answered, “Because he doesn’t want his son to be able to take over his pack. Which doesn’t make any damn sense since he wasn’t even going to defend it if they were attacked. No Alpha would be able to look him in the face once this got around.”

It pissed me off because my dad would NEVER do this. Alpha Theo’s comments about Ashley’s rambling put a smile on my face. She rambled in emails so I wasn't surprised Ashley kept talking in person until someone stopped her.

I loved that about her because it reminded me of Melanie, before a manners and etiquette coach changed her. I wondered if Melanie still rambled when she was mad. Rhea told me, “What we need is for Melanie and Ashley to meet. It would crack the etiquette training she went through. Then we could all be blessed to watch that interaction. Solely to hear how much they talk.”

My head began to pound. Rhea whimpered in my head. I shoved those comparisons out of my mind. I linked Eric, “There was no need to ask who killed the other Alpha. It was definitely Ashley.”

He replied, “She shouldn’t be able to do that.”

I replied, “But she definitely did.”

Alpha Theo confirmed my belief. Eric linked, “I thought maybe she held him down and Future Alpha Caine did it.”

I paused because that would make more sense. Caine would have the brute strength. What kind of workouts did Ashley do?

Rhea chuckled, “And can we get them? We’d be the unstoppable Alpha and Luna dream team with EJ.”

I replied, “I mean, we already are.”

She purred, “True.” I voiced my concerns about Ashley’s living situation. She told me that she had a relative in the pack and that’s why she was sent there. The thing was, we couldn’t find a single shred of proof that she had a blood relative there. Ashley didn’t like to talk about it either.

The Warriors Alpha Theo named did give me a sense of relief. I knew those names because they’d been recruited by packs in this area, but they’d never accepted. I didn’t know that Alpha Davis didn’t approve of them being gay. Fury slammed into me that was a combination of EJ’s and mine.

I told Rhea, “That guy needs to die. He needs to be tortured for being a hateful, bigoted coward. He’s a pathetic excuse for an Alpha!”

She agreed, “He is but I am glad they’d stayed in the pack all this time. I am glad Ashley has them.”

Rhea had a point because I could tell she was a little lonely. It tugged at my heart strings.

Eric linked me, “Is Theo wrong? Could Ashley have an authority problem?”

I replied, “She’s never rude to any of us. I think it’s a matter of respecting the person in the position if they deserve it, as opposed to giving someone respect because of their title.”

He nodded his head, “That makes sense. Around here Alpha’s deserve the respect that comes with their title, but where she is they don’t.”

I added, “I know she feels betrayed by her old pack. She’d been close with the Alpha’s family, and he turned his back on her. She was really hurt by that. So, she’s a little jaded about pack leadership.”

He snorted, “Then the situation was compounded because she got sent to the worst pack on the planet.”

I hummed in agreement.

What I didn’t understand was why she didn’t just tell Alpha Theo everything. He could help her, and she knew it. Rhea replied, “We all could. She just wouldn’t let us.”

Which was annoying. Why was she so stubborn?

Rhea linked, “Did Alpha Theo just say the boys in the pack fawned over her? She never said that.”

He did say it. I knew without looking at him that Alexander was mad. My headache came back with a vengeance. Jesus. Melanie and Ashely had so much in common.

We hadn’t heard about any problems with Melanie in New York though. Those problems seemed to end for her in New York. Maybe Ashley just needed a change of scenery. I’m sure her pack see a strong female in their pack now. That has to be new given how their pack used to treat women.

My heart felt frozen in time when Alpha Theo said someone was claiming to be Ashley’s mate. I frowned because Ashley told me she thought her mate was someone from back home. She said that after everything happened, he hated her just like everyone else.

Rhea said, “She still loves him though.”

It was true and came across in her emails. Her heartbreak over his feelings for her made me want to punch him in the face. I linked Rhea, “TREVOR?! The stupid Gamma’s son is claiming to be her mate?!”

Rhea sighed, “That’s what he said.”

I shouted, “But she is repulsed by his presence and feels nothing for him.”

Rhea argued, “I think it’s more of disdain, but definitely nothing positive.”

I wanted Trevor dead for his lies. How could she not tell me this? I would’ve been there in a second.

Fury lit through me. I linked Dalton, “I FUCKING HATE PEOPLE!”

He replied, “I didn’t do it.”

I snarled, “I know that! HOW DARE he claim he’s her mate, and that she doesn’t know because she has no wolf. That is just insulting. He is throwing her lack of wolf in her face even though she is clearly stronger than he is. No true mate would EVER do that.”

He asked, “What are we talking about? I mean clearly you mean Ashley Griffen, but who else?”

I didn’t answer his questions, “Every wolf knows it’s hard to be wolf less even if you expect it. For her, it had to be a sore subject, because we’ve never talked about. I can just tell she doesn’t want to. How the FUCK could someone claim to be her mate, and then callously throw her lack of wolf into her face?”

He replied, “Because they are uneducated on the mate bond. WHO told Ashley that?”

I snarled, “That whole scenario is complete and utter BULLSHIT! I want to kill him. EJ is going for punished. Be on MY side about him dying.”

Dalton shouted, “WHO?!” I answered, “Trevor McCann.” He replied, “Oh yeah, he could die. I’m down.” Yes! One person on my side.

Eric linked, “You’re asking your brother to kill him?”

I replied, “No, I asked my brother to be on MY side about killing him. Punishing him means he lives. I don’t like that scenario.”

He agreed, “When Ashley files and we get to have a paper trail I’ll push for his death.” I told him, “I love you so much.” He chuckled in reply, but I was happy he agreed with me. EJ would get on my side.

Rhea purred, “Let’s use sexy fun ways to get him on our side.”

I teased, “It’s such a hard life we lead, but I suppose you’re right. I’ll make my points and sex him into agreeing.”

Rhea cackled, “That’s the spirit.

Despite our banter my fury could not be matched at this moment. Before this information I thought I’d wanted Alpha Davis dead most out of them all, but now I’d changed my mind. The lying sack of shit Trevor McCann, he had to go down first.

I stalled those thoughts when Alpha Theo said Ashley wouldn’t file the necessary paperwork with him so they could look into it. What? No! She had to! That was disrespectful to the Moon Goddess, Ashley, and Trevor’s real mate.

Rhea linked, “Not that we care but also to Trevor himself. His wolf could be pissed. If he agrees then he’s a bad wolf.”

I snarled, “I could care less about him. He’s a super slimy bastard.”

Honestly, I was just so disgusted that someone would ever do such a thing. I took out my phone and started to type.

Ashley,

First off, I am glad you are ok. Alpha Theo is here and now I understand why you haven't had a chance to check your emails. Once again, I find myself feeling so proud of you. I want you to know that none of the things that happened would have happened to you here in our pack. EJ, I, and the other Alpha’s, Beta’s, and Gamma’s would proudly fight by your side.

It is not normal for leadership to hide away. That shouldn’t happen, and I find myself again offering you a safe place to land. Here. In Black Mountain. Please consider this offer more seriously than in the past. You don’t have to say yes or no right now. Just think about it.

Now, onto this matter about Trevor McCann I just found out about. I know why you didn’t tell me, but this is serious. I am worried about you. He could try to forcibly mark and mate with you. To claim to be your mate and use the fact that you do not have a wolf is reprehensible. No true mate would say those words. He would want to comfort you and be proud of you. I strongly urge you to file with the Werewolf Council. They will protect you because it’s their job.

The mate bond is a powerful force. It is a spit in our Goddesses face to claim to be your mate when he is not. We both know if your mate was Trevor then you’d feel sparks when you touched each other. He would smell nice to you. I know you believe your mate is someone back home. I urge you to go see him and find out. I don’t think he will reject you because he would be crazy to do so.

I am yet again sorry your pack leadership is trash. Neither EJ nor I would ever let this stand here. That is unacceptable and your Alpha should punish him for this. Please get out of there. Even if you choose not to come here. There are safer places to land. Alpha Theo genuinely likes you and would offer you a place in his pack if you wished. I would love to have you here, but your safety is paramount. I do not feel you are safe there given all this information. If you want to bring others with you, I know they will be accepted. Just think about it.

Alpha Theo seems to think you and Trevor have a past. It was alluded to in front of him. Did you date him? Did he get obsessed with you? I am truly worried about you, Ashley.

Elise

My heart flew into my throat and tears filled my eyes when Eric mentioned rape. Rhea snarled, “He wouldn’t dare.”

Alexander linked me, “She’d tell you.”

I’d like to think that was true. I quickly thought over his words and heard the menacing anger behind them. Did Alexander like Melanie and Ashley?

Rhea linked, “I don’t think she’s been raped. She told us she’s never had sex.”

I sighed in relief when Alpha Theo confirmed it. I knew Ashley well enough to know that she wasn’t a liar. It would have devastated me if all this time she’d been suffering being sexually abused that way and I never knew. At least my instincts weren’t totally off. I knew I was missing something about Ashley though.

EJ asked about her brother. I’d asked him to track him down because I wanted to bring him here and talk to him myself. Or get Haley to. I knew he was angry but taking it out on Ashley was not ok. They needed each other and he just callously pushed her away.

I linked Eric, “You found him?”

He replied, “He’s never there when we are.”

Rhea snarked, “Isn’t everything about this just incredibly convenient? I swear to God anytime we made any sort of progress with anything BAM. We hit a wall.”

I knew Missouri was full of bad people, but so did everyone else. It was believed that the vast majority of Missouri were corrupt. Similar to the undergrounds, we just couldn't prove it. I voiced my concerns because I felt it in my bones someone didn’t want us to dig into Ashley.

It felt like someone was intentionally putting blockers into our path. But why? My head began to feel like a spike was going through it. I knew my physical pain didn’t reach EJ though because our bond showed no concern. Good for me figuring out how to do that. Rhea grumbled, “We can’t do that.”

Yet we were, obviously.

Alpha Theo held back on taking out the leadership of Black Path because Ashley asked him to. Rhea reasoned, “Thor assured me they are watching the pack.”

I asked, “How closely though? We don’t have a source inside their pack. We only have Phil’s Warrior friend in a neighboring pack, and they still aren’t our allies. They just lived in the same place.”

It clicked that Alpha Theo wanted Ashley as a source. Rhea mused, “She is the most obvious choice. She hates that pack, and she doesn’t bother to hide it.”

I replied, “So, why doesn’t she tell any of us stuff?”

Rhea didn’t have a reply to that.

I knew Ashley trusted me, but she didn’t like to talk about leaving Black Path or things her pack leadership did. I didn’t push her because I was taking a page out of my mother in law’s book. Ashley was skittish and we all knew it. Wasn’t I the smartest choice to get Ashley to be our source though?

Eric linked, “Theo is just another line we have with her. I think if she’s going to be anyone’s source it will be yours. We are playing the long game.”

I wasn’t surprised because he always was. Logically, Ashley was too smart not to see the signs of the bad things Black Path was involved in. Especially since she was now the Female Lead Warrior.

Why wouldn’t she tell me though? Rhea sighed, “Not to disagree with Alpha Theo, but Ashley isn’t really the blackmailing type.”

I didn’t know about that. Everyone had that inside them, especially supernatural’s. Ashley just wouldn’t do it for the reasons other people did. The loss of her family drove her, but it might be heading into reckless abandon at this point.

Which means that whatever this pack was doing she was working to bring them down herself. She had trust issues, and for some reason she did not appear to trust the Werewolf Council. Taking Black Path down on her own was more her style than blackmailing Alpha Davis for anything in my opinion.

EJ offered the idea that Ashley could be playing Alpha Theo. I nearly smacked his shoulder but refrained. Rhea huffed, “Ashley isn’t like that, and he knows it.”

I was just as annoyed as she was. That idea was quickly tossed out as an option. Which they should be grateful for. I was ready to go in on them.

Which circled my thoughts back to there being so many parallels between this girl and Melanie. If we ever got them together, they would probably take over the world. That wasn’t even an exaggeration. If they fought side by side, woe be it for anyone who stood in their way.

Melanie had assured all of us she kept up with her training. My brothers got the report from the Alpha in New York now. They hadn’t been able to pin him down for a phone conversation, but he emailed them the reports. She was just as good as she ever was.

We listened to the conversation. Rhea hummed, “It’s true Ashley would be a crowd pleaser in the undergrounds we see.”

I asked, “You don’t think she’s in the real ones. Do you?”

Fear gripped me hard. Rhea replied, “If she is, she wins. Shady people would mark her if they pinned her to tame her.” I didn’t like that thought at all.

Rhea agreed, “I don’t either, but I’ve seen that side of the world in my past lives. I don’t think, even as good as she is, Ashley could withstand the toughest fighters they have for this long. She’d be dead or marked. Unless she has some insane strength we don’t know about.”

What a happy thought.

Haley and I had invited Ashley to represent Black Path at the Summit. Alpha Davis turned that down. I told Ashley that I’d been disappointed at their pack’s refusal. She told me she hadn’t even heard about the offer.

Rhea snarled, “Alpha Davis really has to die soon.”

Seriously, I didn’t know why I didn’t just march down and punch him after that ordeal. Why hadn’t I? He didn’t even give her the invitation. He didn’t have the right to turn it down without her knowledge. My head was going to explode with pain.

I startled, realizing more people had reach out to Ashley than I’d thought. I linked Eric, “You talked to Ashley?”

He admitted, “I did.”

Whoa. Did the whole Conners family reach out to Ashley without my knowing? She’d refused to meet him too. I was so beyond annoyed now that I needed a run.

I glared at EJ when he asked if Ashley was rude to Eric, but he didn’t see it. Ashley wasn’t like that. Eric linked me, “Hold up there, killer.”

I replied, “She’s a nice person.”

He agreed, “She did seem nice.” I calmed down a little.

I linked Rhea, “Why are we so irritable right now?”

Rhea felt twitchy. She answered, “Maybe we just need a run.”

We would get one as soon as this meeting was over. Alexander wanted to talk to Ashley, fighter to fighter.

Rhea snicked, “Ashley might just die if he reached out to her.”

That was true. She’d implemented his techniques in her pack. She thought Alexander was practically a god himself. No one else realized that Ashley could fall over dead from a heart attack if Alexander emailed her.

From the look in my brother in law’s eyes, I knew he was going to. Rhea linked, “She’s mad at the Moon Goddess.”

I replied, “I picked that up from what Alpha Theo is saying. Honestly, I might be too if I was her.”

I felt my wolf flinch, but it was true. She probably felt abandoned.

I only wished I’d realized that before I included it in my email to Ashley. I hoped that so many people reaching out to her didn’t completely overwhelm her and make her retreat. She could feel like she was backed into a corner. That could push her to silence. Rhea reasoned, “She will always talk to us.”

I asked, “Why are you so confident?”

She admitted, “I don’t know, but I am.” Well, ok then.

Alpha Theo dropped another bomb. Rhea snarled, “They call her ICE QUEEN?!”

That pissed me off so bad I nearly shifted. Dakota linked, “Dalton said you were mad.”

I replied, “Now, I’m even more mad. ICE QUEEN!” He told me, “I need more context.” I snarled, “They call Ashley Ice Queen because she won’t fuck them!” He growled back, “What the hell?!” I scoffed, “RIGHT?!” At least I knew everyone around me agreed.

Rhea snarked, “What a bunch of narcissistic shitheads!”

I agreed, “No woman has to do anything with any man that she doesn’t want to. She DOES NOT deserve to be ridiculed for that.”

My mom linked, “So, your brothers said you are ready to rage and rightfully so.” I snarled, “People in Black Path can get fucked!” She agreed, “They could probably use that. Orgasms help make us more centered.” I nearly spit out my water.

I linked, “MOM!”

She replied, “What? It does.”

I told her, “Well, I’m going to finish out this meeting and go for a run.” She laughed, “You know I have lots of orgasms, sweetie. Well, I guess you knew I had sex because you and your siblings. Your dad is generous in…” I cut her off, “Mom, no please. I heard you growing up.” She shot back, “Yeah, I heard you and EJ a time or two as well.” I shut that link hard.

Rhea linked, “In the spirit of thinking of something else; maybe Ashley is waiting for the guy she likes to come get her.”

I replied, “Bless you and this subject change. She could since he had to know where she was. We need his name then we could talk to him.”

Rhea asked, “Do we really want it? The guy is crazy and Ashley is amazing.”

True. EJ got me out of my head and admitting that I felt like a failure to Ashley and Melanie. He disagreed with me, saying Melanie was living her dream.

I threw my pen because I was sick to DEATH of people saying that. So what? So what if she was living her dream? Was she even? Alexander was her dream, and I knew that because she’d told me so herself once. My headache was back with a vengeance. I literally felt my brain whispering that she was living her dream.

EJ switched the subject to Ashley. I asked Rhea, “Why can’t I convince her that her parents death wasn’t her fault?”

She admitted, “Because she was a pup, they had for two years before we contact her. She was vulnerable and they preyed on her and beat her down. Now, it’s engrained in her psyche that it was her fault.”

Well, that just sucked.

I linked my parents, “You guys would give your lives for me, and if anyone told me it was my fault you’d rise from the grave to haunt their asses. Right?”

My dad snarled, “I’d find a way to kill someone. I’d make a deal with Iblis himself.”

Iblis was friends with EJ’s Uncle Bjourn, who just so happened to be the Ruler of the underworld.

My mom replied, “I would appear to you in dream after dream to make sure you knew that was all lies. I’d give my life for any of you. I know this about Ashley, and I agree her parents would be aghast over what they’ve done to her.”

Well, that made me feel better.

I wished Ashley’s parents would find a way to reach her like I knew mine would. I told them, “I love you guys.”

They replied, “As we love you.”

My dad said, “In all seriousness, if someone ever happened to me all I want is for you to be happy.” I teared up, “Well, nothing gets to happen to you.” He chuckled, “I plan to be around for a long time.” Good.

I knew Haley and Eric would do the same as my parents. Except Haley would go farther than anyone else. She was a force to be reckoned with and had a lot of magic for anyone to contend with. I would stake my life and reputation on that fact.

What had me thinking about Ashley’s brother again was mine and EJ’s siblings. They’d never treat their sibling this way. Rhea agreed, “We could set him straight.”

We could. Then I’d go after his mate because she just went along with it.

I gave her a little grace because she sends Ashley pictures of their son but agrees she can’t see him in person. They refuse to let her come home and see him or even meet her in the middle. It breaks my heart for her.

That got me thinking about Melanie. She hadn’t even made it home to meet Tristan and Everly’s son Kai yet. Kai made me think I could be ready to have pups in a couple of years. He was so adorable. I just wanted to curse all the gods.

I mean a hurricane in New York?! COME ON! Snowstorms, hailstorms. Any type of storm you can name it’s happened. Even A TORNADO! The Gods and Goddesses were mocking us all. I just didn't know why. My phone dinged. Excitement filled me. It was from Ashley.

Elise,

I am sorry you were worried.... that… I didn’t mean… to… not answer…. It’s been a hectic few days. This is actually the first time I’ve been home since the attack… because… Well…. someone I consider family was injured. I couldn’t leave the hospital… I just couldn’t…. not until I knew he was going to be ok… I was prepared to put everything on the line…. and call in a favor to be healed…. if he took a turn but which… I mean… I would’ve given anything to make sure he was ok… …he’s fine, thank goodness.

Honestly…it’s for everyone’s best freaking interest that he’s fine…. I’m apparently ‘snarky’ right now… screw them and their labels…. that’s not the point right now… I again find that your pride means the world to me.

Thank you for your kind words of encouragement. I mean I do know not all packs are like this one, but without me… innocent people would die. It sounds boastful… but it’s true… I am needed here… the bigger point is I deserve to be here. I don’t deserve to have a good life… everyone has made that clear…. and really… I already have more than I deserve.

As far as Trevor McCann… the dirty dog smelling LIAR… he’s lying and… well…. Everyone knows it. They just claim that they can’t prove he’s wrong… which is lie… and you know that so saying it is not necessary… at all.

I can handle Trevor… easily. It’s sad how easy it is to beat him in a fight…. really and truly sad …you’d never know he had Gamma and Alpha blood…. So… he won’t forcibly mark me because he’d have to beat me, and he can’t do that… or even land a hit… unless I let him… and I won’t feed his ego like that… ever….

Really… there is only one man whose mark I’d ever bear… and I do dream about that… it’s just that… it won’t happen. He despises me… which is fine… I’m obviously fine and not crying while I type that… I’m so beyond fine that he hates me… It’s totally fine….. I’ll just be on my own… never being anyone’s mate ever…. it really wouldn’t be fair to anyone else… since my heart belongs to someone else. I will always be his. That is just what it is.

I’ve thought about going to see him many times… I have plans on plans… I actually got in the car a few times… it’s just that… I can’t… so I stop… and turn around. I know it doesn’t make sense… or maybe it does… I can’t see the hatred and repulsion in his eyes. I can’t be rejected by him. It will kill me. Literally I think it would.

That’s probably really selfish… no it definitely is… because I want him to be happy. It’s just that right now, I have things to do. One day… I’m not sure when but one day… I think I have a timeline then things happen… the point is… I will go see him once this all is settled and those that I am protecting can protect themselves. He will always be the man I love, but I will accept his rejection and die… if that’s what he wants. I’d do that for him. I just can’t leave these people like this right now.

Alpha Theo is not my Alpha… it sounds rude but it’s true. Again, I know that there is only one person that could ever be my Alpha… which probably doesn’t make sense… but it’s how I feel. As far as Edward Davis... he is no Alpha of mine.

Really… the fact of the matter is that he shouldn’t be an Alpha to anyone. He is the worst. I have a position of leadership here, but that does not make him my Alpha… well… that I accept or choose… I swore no allegiance to him when I joined the pack… because… well, he is reprehensible. As far as my safety… well… I am not safe anywhere. I’m not popular… which is fine. I know my purpose.

Trevor and I have never dated. That’s just… eww… He was involved in a situation… well, we hate each other… I don’t know why he’s claiming to be my mate… it’s baffling since he hates me just as much as I hate him… maybe it’s because I refused him? That has merit. He is insipid enough to think that he could claim to be my mate… then I’d just magically fall into his bed. His dad is just like him…. Those two are the most obnoxious jerks… his mom and siblings are great though… but I mean everyone knows I’d feel sparks and he wouldn’t smell like a literal wet dog to me. Nor would I feel abhorrent disgust I have always felt for him.

You shouldn’t worry about me… that’s wrong… I’m fine… and I know where my place to stand is…which I mean… it’s protecting the innocent who cannot protect themselves. Giving them the tools and the strength to stand and fight. It’s a process… it’s taking more time than I thought… that’s for sure. It’s not an easy path, but someone needs to do it. They just need someone… and that has to be me right now. They are who I stand for and defend.

Your offer means a lot more to me than you will ever know… truthfully there is a very large part of me that cries out at me to take it… I wish it was possible… but it’s… it wouldn’t… work out.

Talk to you soon,

Ashley

I threw my phone in fury. I rubbed my face thinking I had a clue. Was the boy she liked one of the Alpha’s sons? UGH! This was such bullshit. I needed more information. She was in danger, and I needed to do something. Ashey was right that she was doing good. Nashville finally had good Warriors and women that were finally involved in their packs as more than breeding machines.

Rhea linked, “What if we just attack their pack? Ashley would probably let us in. If her Warriors didn’t fight, then we’d easily win.”

I snorted, “We would win anyway. They’d just give a fight.”

She agreed with me, but EJ had to be logical about it all. Stupid freaking rules we followed. If only I could get Ashley to open up, then we’d have our proof. Before EJ and I could get busy someone interrupted.

Rhea groaned, “Fine. If we can’t have sex, I need to run.”

We definitely needed to do that. The second I got outside I shifted. I let her drive for a while since my mind was going in circles and my persistent headache was right there just waiting. I could feel it.

I was a pretty good distance away when I took back over. I shifted and found a shirt of EJ’s in the area he kept out for me when I went running alone. I quickly put it on and just laid down on the grass. Rhea told me, “This is not your fault. We are doing everything we can. You’ve done a good job taking over as the Luna here. You watch out for your people, and you try to watch out for even more than that. It’s not your fault Ashley won’t accept your help. There’s nothing you can do.”

I sighed, “I wish there was. It feels like there’s something obvious I could do.”

Rhea admitted, “I know the feeling.”

Suddenly fire ripped through my body, and I screamed in pain. Rhea whimpered, “Mate. We need mate.” I heard several growls that I knew were not my mate. My brain was hazy trying to focus.

I watched in a detached way as three men approached me. One inhaled, “She smells so good that I can’t resist.”

I gaped at him. I snarled, “Yes you fucking can, you asshole.”

I pushed Rhea back in my mind. I couldn’t block her right now, but I could hopefully wait for EJ to get here. I’d fight until he did.

All I knew was that I was not going to have some unmated male touch me. One reached for me, and I punched him right in the face. I needed to link someone but focusing was so hard right now. I craved EJ and his tough to make the pain go away.

I warned the men, “I am your Luna, and you WILL find the ability to control yourselves!”

One growled, “How are you even standing enough to fight back?”

I snorted, “I’m not just part animal. I can control myself as can you!” EJ and Alexander popped in.

The second his shield was protecting me I fell back down to the ground letting myself whimper. I needed EJ so badly. I lost track of time, but eventually I felt EJ’s hands on me. It was like ice to the fire in my veins. Thank god. I let myself go to the heat that was hitting me.

My heat was like a haze. I knew that he was buried inside me. I knew we’d had sex a lot and I knew it was EJ, but everything else was a blur. When the fire subsided, we went outside. We knew that we’d get a little bit of time before the rest of my heat kicked in.

I knew that his family wouldn't stand for what happened to me with those Warriors. Haley had taken an unpopular stance in our community when she found out it was just accepted that unmated wolves couldn’t control themselves. Not just wolves, every supernatural. It happened to her at her own wedding, and she said that was a bullshit excuse to be a shitty person.

She felt that they could control themselves, they just didn’t try. They used excuses to give in to their baser desires. It turned out she’d been right, and they could control themselves. It wasn’t easy, but they possessed the willpower to run away from a female in heat instead of attacking them.

Haley, Emmaline Lyons, Lexi Daniels and Maribella Tucker refused to accept the excuses and it changed everything. Rhea purred, “Mate is proud of us for fighting back.”

That was probably the last lucid thought for a while, so I let her bask in it.

Truthfully, I didn’t want to fight. I wanted to lie on the ground and whimper until EJ arrived, but I wasn’t just a Luna. I was also an Alpha, and I was not going to let a single member of my pack get away with attacking me. That was just not going to happen. If they were capable of resisting me, then I was capable of holding on until EJ arrived.

Rhea encouraged, “Talk to him about pups. We’ve thought about it a lot.”

I did and he was onboard. Rhea purred, “He is perfect.”

I teased, “You say that a lot, but it is true.” She retorted, “And you thought my last lucid thought would be about him being proud of us.” I chuckled in reply.

Ashley had actually helped me in her rambling way. She’d told me that I had a mate who loved me, and that I loved. If I was ready for pups, then we should go for it. Only if we were ready though. She’d said we’d have adorable pups.

Which had surprised me because she’d never mentioned she’d seen either of us. We didn’t talk for a while after that. When she had finally answered my next email, she didn’t answer how she’d known what we looked like and evaded the question. It was odd.

I had talked to Melanie via in email about pups too, but Ashley didn’t know us. She was impartial despite being my friend. Melanie had told me to do what I wanted to. Ashley said more about it. I just wished we could meet. I could tell the idea scared her, but that didn’t make sense. We were friends. Why would meeting me scare her? We talked a little bit more about Ashley and her friends.

The talking stopped the minute my heat hit me out again, out of nowhere. I let myself fully go to my heat this time since I was safe with EJ. I didn’t need to focus or fight anyone. I knew days had passed us by. I knew that we’d slept, and he’d made me eat. Which at the time annoyed me and amused him.

Eventually I felt like I’d woken up from a haze. I felt disgusting. Even my tongue felt gross. I sniffed under my armpit. I linked Rhea, “Oh god, that’s rank.”

She sleepily muttered something. I could smell the sweat and sex coming off me. I jumped off the bed and ran into the shower.

Showering barely won over brushing my teeth first. My breath could knock a skunk over. EJ joined me and I was a little surprised he didn’t insist on a hazmat suit. All I knew was that he could NOT smell my breath. That was not ok right now. I didn’t even want to think about my hair.

Unfortunately, curiosity got the best of me, and I looked in the mirror. The rat in my hair had friends, and they’d formed a pack all over my head. This was never coming out. This was going to take hours, and it was going to hurt like a bitch. I was going to need help. EJ simply snapped and fixed my hair. He would never know how my love for him just deepened. Like, tenfold.

I did several rounds of body scrub on myself. Eventually, I was satisfied that I didn’t smell god awful and stepped out of the shower to start on my teeth. Lord knows how many times I brushed them, but I was making up for lost time. Then I went to use the mouthwash until I knew my mouth was cleansed.

EJ snapped us food. I told Rhea, “I don’t know what I did for the Goddess to pair me with him, but I want to thank her from the bottom of my soul. Did you SEE my hair? He was even going to kiss me instead of getting a hazmat suit.”

She purred, “He is the most amazing man.”

My mouth was watering over the scent of the food he’d snapped me. He teased me about his clothes. I asked my wolf, “Does he really not see how hot he is?”

Rhea growled in my head, “He doesn’t see all those who want him. We have to work overtime because he’s so sexy. It is worth it, but that he doesn’t see it makes me worried about him. He’s lucky he knew us our whole life. The poor sap would be a fish out of water in the dating pool.”

I nearly laughed out loud, but she was right.

EJ brought up the fights from the Summit. He had no idea how much it set my wolf off. Rhea snorted, “Because they were bitches. Those she wolf bitches wanted what was ours! They planned to flirt with him in front of us. What were we supposed to do? Smile at them?! NO! My way is better, and you listened. Which I cannot overstate how much I love you for.”

I snorted, “We compromised at kicking their asses. Killing them was one of the original plans. So, we were kind really. I would just like to state that for the record.”

Rhea agreed, “A Hackura definitely would’ve killed them.”

I replied, “Not our mother in law.”

She cackled in reply which told me I missed something about how Haley handles things. She was stealthy. I needed to consult Cassie about the she bitches since she was the stealthiest out of all her siblings.

We got on the subject of his other sister, Angela. I asked Rhea, “How on earth does one test with sight?”

She replied, “I don’t know. I’ve never been paired with a partial Fairy.”

That was fair. I was inclined to let Angela do her thing where Alexander and Melanie were concerned and told him so. That thought didn’t actually give me a headache. Thank god. I was all for Angela figuring this shit out.

Honestly, however those two met at this point was just fine by me. If that was through Angela, great. If not, then it would be another way. I was just tired of all this. My head started to hurt. My brain whispered she was living her dream. I was so sick to death of this feeling.

I wished I could punch myself in the head so that it would stop whispering those words to me. It doesn't make sense. Rhea agreed, “It hurts but we need to ask. Why does living her dream mean us not seeing her?”

I felt that with my soul. Why was that a thing? Was this just going to continue once she got into Julliard?

We switched subjects which eased the pain in my head. We were back on having pups. I knew I loved pups, and I loved babysitting Kai. Rhea agreed, “And we have a good handle on the pack.”

Yeah, then there was the whole image I had in my mine of little mini EJ running around. I didn’t care if we had a boy or girl; I just wanted a healthy pup.

I didn’t deserve him, but I loved him with my entire being. Rhea squealed, “Mate’s hand is starting to glow.”

I stared at him in shock when he put his hand on my chest. A euphoria shot through me. I couldn’t stop myself from lowering onto him.

This time was slow and unrushed without my heat haze. I knew we were now twice light bound now. Rhea teased, “Seeing another us in the Ribbon would be trippy but fun.”

I agreed, “We know it’s not a guarantee though. Not all twice light bound couples enter the Ribbon.”

Rhea chuckled, “I doubt we will be. I’d be surprised, but it would be cool.” Yeah, it would.

At the same time, I kind of hoped we didn’t go in since EJ could end up there without me. The non Fairy didn’t always get pulled with the Fairy from what I’d seen with his parents. I’d worry about him. Rhea pointed out, “Mate has a good thought. We could fix things for Melaine and Alexander.”

I replied, “Yes, but that would be a reason for them to be in it, not us.”

She conceded my point.

I told her, “I’m a little shocked EJ shared his light again. We both know his Fairy side isn’t his dominant side.”

She purred, “I know. His wolf side is, and Brutus is so powerful.”

She was right. It wasn’t that I doubted my mate’s love for me; I just never thought his Fairy side would really get around to how EJ himself felt about me. I still wondered if Cassandra had something to do with him sharing his light. I bothered me sometimes when I was certain she did.

He was always more serious than his siblings, needing them or me to tap into his fun side. That even that side of him was in him enough to do this made me feel giddy. Fairies shared their light with their mate more often now, but rarely twice.

We popped to the beach, and I found myself feeling grateful for the balance we’d found working with his brothers and their mates. We had breaks knowing they were important, so no one got burnt out. I asked Rhea, “Did you have a thought on how many pups you want to have?”

She answered, “I’m more than willing to push out as many as Brutus wants.”

Yeah, well we’d find a balance between that insanity and reality. She huffed at me.

I was open to a big family. Not twenty like EJ’s though. Rhea teased, “Never say never. We are going to live for SUCH a long time. Twenty won’t seem so crazy in two centuries.”

She needed to stop with her insights. She cackled knowing my thoughts.

I jolted with Rhea when EJ confessed he’d read the Ribbon journal and learned more about other realities. Rhea groaned, “I know those realities suck, I do. Doesn’t it feel like ours could be the worst one? Like not that everything is bad, just a lot of bad things happen.”

I agreed, “Yes, but not for a long time here.”

She didn’t feel like she agreed, and I wasn’t so sure I did either. But I was right, wasn’t I?

Rhea told me, “I agree with mate. We are on the cusp of something, and I feel it’s going to rock the allies.”

I asked, “Good or bad?”

She sighed, “Maybe I’m pessimistic from my last human, but I just feel something bad is going to happen.” Goodie.

We totally needed an impending sense of doom with our headaches. She snorted, “That doesn’t put our pain in the bond. EJ would’ve asked us. Brutus doesn’t even hint that he knows.”

Yeah, so that wasn’t great. Was I sick? Rhea scoffed, “No.”

I told her, “I hope whatever is coming isn’t something that would haunt us once we DID figure it out.”

Rhea didn’t have a response for me. We ended up just holding each other listening to the waves before EJ popped us home.

The second we were back I knew something was wrong. I could feel it. I asked, “Rhea, is this it? What we felt?”

She replied, “I doubt it.”

When we walked into his office several of EJ’s brothers and his dad were in the waiting. Buttercup ran up to me.

She linked, “Are you ok?”

I answered, “Of course. What’s going on?”

She replied, “You’re not going to like it, but everything is ok.” I told my wolf, “That seems ominous.” She replied, “Not enough for the feeling we have. Everyone is ok.” UGH! I could not do doom and gloom. I hated feeling that way.

Were we attacked while EJ and I were gone? My knees nearly gave way when Alexander said Red Run was attacked by rogues. Rhea linked, “Our family is ok. I would’ve felt a break with the wolves.”

It had been so long since there’d been a rogue attack in my home pack, perhaps we’d become complacent.

The first one was a few months after Melanie left and truth be told the pack wasn’t prepared. Some of the pups had never even seen a rogue attack. I knew my parents would’ve been at the cabin, but my brothers would’ve been in the pack lands.

Rhea reminded me, “Alexander said everyone was ok and he can’t lie. Oden confirmed it too.”

I snarked, “Well, thank God Jase called declaring the attack an emergency. If he had, it obviously was. Stupid ass rule. We need to talk to our mate about that. Why haven’t we?”

Pain hit my head so hard I let that thought go for later. I grabbed a cookie that was sitting there on a platter. Karina’s cookies always seemed to make everything feel better, she was a god send. Then I asked my wolf, “Why were the Conners all still in here then? What were they trying to figure out?”

She replied, “Because it’s not all that happened.”

She was right.

My parents had been attacked at their cabin. That felt like something had been taken from me. The cabin was our family’s safe space. My heart raced at the thought of Hunters finding my parents. They had all better be dead. Or Rhea and I were going hunting ourselves. How did my parents escape? Rhea said, “The answer is obvious. Our sniper. She got them out.”

Alexander confirmed it was her and her team. I linked Buttercup asking, “What isn’t he saying?”

Buttercup sighed, “The sniper is angry with your dad. Like, really angry.”

I faltered, “Why?” Buttercup admitted, “We don’t know, but I don’t think she saved his life for him. Well, Haley thinks she did. She thinks that the sniper feels betrayed by your dad, but also loves him. She also said that she thinks the sniper sees herself as weak for that.” Something pricked in my head about that wording.

EJ took me to my parents because I needed to see them. I threw myself at my mom the second I saw her. She linked me, “Calm down, sweetie. We are fine.”

It still brought tears to my eyes. They could've been gone.

Once I pulled back from my mom, I flung myself into my dad’s arms. Tears coursed down my cheeks because they were ok. Cooper linked, “I would’ve been there waiting to see you if something bad happened.”

I replied, “Something bad did happen. Are you ok?”

He sighed, “Yeah, I think so. They took our safe place from us.” Yeah, they had, and that stung.

I didn’t know how long it took for me to calm down, but my mom led me outside to our backyard. I closed the door. We sat down on the porch swing in silence until I asked, “Who is it, mom?”

My mom frowned, “The sniper? I honestly have no clue. Your father is a fair man and a good leader.”

I whispered, “I don’t understand.”

My mom admitted, “None of us do. Whatever it is that she’s upset about she still saved us.”

I hugged her, “I need you guys. You can’t die.” My mom hugged me, “We are still here with you pups.”

I wiped my tears, “What if she decides that she doesn't like dad enough to save him again? How did the Hunters even find the cabin? It’s a secret.”

My mom cringed saying, “There’s only one way, someone told them. Which means we have a traitor.”

I growled, “I will RIP THEM APART!”

My mom levelly said, “Not if I get to them first. I would rip people to pieces for you pups and your dad. Someone tried to make me watch him die, and that won’t go unchecked.”

I hugged her promising, “I’ll destroy them for this mom. Dante is going down.”

My mom squeezed me, “Yes, he is.”

We walked back inside. Tristan had joined the group. I hugged my dad and then both my brothers. Drake and Sam stormed into the house. Where had they been? I was annoyed when I found out. Rhea huffed, “Is anyone going to tell us things? They went to celebrate Melanie getting into Julliard. Where was our text? Hey, Ladybug got into Julliard. I mean it’s not surprising but still.”

I linked Dalton, “There was a massive attack when they decided to go see Mel? Our parents almost died because the McAlister’s wanted to surprise her?”

He said, “I mean it’s a coincidence because that makes no sense.”

He was right, but the whole thing seemed off.

When EJ popped out, I had no doubt I knew where he was going. My dad asked, “Did he go to the cabin?”

I nodded, “I’m sure he will make it so no one but us can get in. Then he will fix everything that got ruined. I’m assuming he at least needs to replace the windows.”

He was giving my family back our place of peace and I found my love for my mate knew no depths.

Drake asked, “So from the links I got I hear the sniper is mad at you, Peter.”

My dad sighed, “I guess.”

Drake pressed, “But why? Why let you know they are angry without admitting why?” My dad rubbed his temples, “I’ve been thinking really hard about it and I just can’t think of anyone who would be so upset with me.”

Jason growled, “Whoever they are, they can’t disrespect you like that.”

My dad dismissed that notion, “We will get this figured out. I always admit when I’m wrong. If I’ve hurt someone, then it’s up to me to fix it. We just need to talk to the sniper once we get a hold of her. We’ll figure this out on that day.”

Tristan snorted.

I grumbled, “We won’t get ahold of her if she doesn't want us to.”

Drake frowned. Dalton said, “I want to get ahold of her. She’s nice to the Black Mountain Alpha’s when she helps you guys. We get chastised. Now it’s both the current and former Alpha’s. What the hell did we do?!”

No one said anything. My dad finally said, “I just don’t know, and I hurt for this woman. If she sees me as someone who should know her, I don’t. I’m sure that upsets her even more.”

I linked my brother, “Did T and Jase go through the files? They may see something we might not.”

He scoffed, “Every single one of our allies have been through our files. We’ve brought in Omega’s adept at psychology all the way to Alpha’s. Even Haley went through them and we got nothing.”

I frowned.

He continued, “Haley’s amendment to this note tells us about who the sniper is. She thinks the sniper will be more upset that we don’t know who they are. She thinks the sniper will believe our pack is pretending not to understand.”

That could turn bad fast. A sense of impending doom descended on me because Haley was rarely wrong. EJ popped back to us, and then popped us home.

When I woke up the next day, I went to lead a training session. Haley and Molly had started this tradition, and I’d decided to keep it going. Both women still attended. Shana and Jessica did when they had time, but Haley and Molly always made sure to be there.

Haley asked, “How are you doing, Elise?”

I shrugged, “I’m fine.”

Haley nodded but I could tell she knew it was a lie. I lost myself in training. Afterwards, I decided to run several laps on the track. Then I made my way up to our bedroom. I quickly showered then headed down into the office. I sat at my desk and before I got into my work, I replied to Ashley’s email.

Ashley,

I find myself baffled that you’d stay in a pack where you don’t consider the Alpha yours. I think that should tell you that you don’t belong there. Who is the Alpha you’d consider your Alpha? I think that’s the pack where you belong. I’d love it to be here, but you need to be somewhere you are treasured and cared for.

It’s not just your job to protect people. It’s the job of both your Alpha and Luna to protect you. That should not all fall onto you. You deserve to be protected too because that’s what a pack is supposed to mean.

In all our email exchanges, you have never been one to take crap from anyone. Why are you letting people make you feel you deserve their treatment? You don’t. You are extraordinary. I may not have met them, but I know your parents wouldn’t want you to suffer like this. Neither would your older brother. I say this as the oldest sibling myself. I would not want for even ONE second, for guilt to stop my siblings from living their best lives. Just think about that please.

On a lighter note, you were right about pups. I think when I turn twenty-five, EJ and I should try. Our allies, my home pack Red Run, Beta has a little boy. His name is Kai. He’s just so much fun. I love babysitting him. It’s strange to think I could have a little combination of EJ and I running around soon. I know I am ready for that step thanks to you and your advice.

Not to say I don’t have fears, I do. I worry about the undergrounds and the Ring. I know they are lying in wait for EJ and me to have pups. They want my husband’s family. The undergrounds wouldn’t want the attention kidnapping my pups would bring, but the Ring wouldn’t care. I just can’t be scared anymore. You know? I’m taking my own advice. I can’t let fear keep me from living my life the way I want, and neither can you.

Anyway. I hope that you have had a good few days. I myself went through my heat, then my old pack was attacked. My parents were almost killed. I’ve told you before we have people who help us. They won’t tell us who they are, but they are mad at my dad. They still saved him though. I guess that’s what counts.

I just can’t help but wonder what he did. Or what someone thinks he did. He’s such a kind man. My heart breaks that someone is hurting. Our allies, my home pack, and trained psychologists have been through the pack files, and we can’t figure out who it is. These people think my dad did something to them, but I know he would never intentionally hurt someone. He’s distraught and devastated.

I hope things went smoothly taking over that other pack for you. If you ever need help, don’t hesitate to ask us. We will be there no matter what. I will come for you personally if you ever ask. Maybe even if you don’t. You are my friend, and that’s what friends do.

Elise

I sighed and shut my laptop. I started on the disputes I handled for the pack. I didn’t have that many today. I was able to knock them all out fairly quickly. I was rather proud of how it had become second nature to me now.

I glanced up surprised when a knock sounded. I yelled, “Come in.”

I raised an eyebrow when a Warrior, Fowler, walked into the office. He didn’t look particularly happy. Fowler handed me a note. I asked, “What’s this?”

Fowler shrugged, “Someone wearing a hood left this on our border. He or she was gone before we got over there. We went through protocols. Nothing in this will hurt you, or you’d never see it.” I nodded. I didn’t doubt that for one second. I opened the note.

Elise,

I know it’s not your birthday yet, but I wanted you to have this. I hope you have an amazing birthday. You deserve it.

Ashley

I stared at it. Ashley came to our borders and didn’t say hi?! Rhea said, “I mean that’s not overly surprising, given she doesn’t want to meet us.”

It was annoying is what it was. If only someone had caught her. EJ walked into my office.

He asked, “What’s that?”

I answered, “An early birthday present from Ashley.”

I opened it and inside were two black wolf charms. EJ said, “It’s us.” I nodded, “Yes, I think that it is.” Alexander commented, “They will fit on your charm bracelet too.” When did he get here?

The two wolves would go nicely on the bracelet Melanie had given me. I never took it off. I admitted, “I was hoping Ashley would come to my party this year.”

Alexander winced, “I asked her if she would when I reached out. I swear to god, something about me makes her nervous. She jumped around in her thoughts in the email.”

I bit my lip knowing EJ felt how amused I was.

Alexander chuckled, “It was pretty adorable actually. It was almost like she was both nervous and giddy. It came through the tone of the email somehow.”

I explained, “She admires you. She’s told me that before.”

Alexander smiled, “Well, that’ very flattering.” EJ jumped in, “Did she say anything else to you, brother?” Alexander frowned, “We talked about defenses and different workout drills. Her personal one is pretty intense. I was impressed.”

I snorted, “You might have killed her if you told her you were impressed. She has you on the Warrior pedestal.”

He rolled his eyes, “She was fine, and I definitely did not kill her. I told her she should file a complaint about Trevor. I haven’t heard from her since I said that though.”

I sighed, “She won’t do it. She told me she could handle him.”

Alexander frowned, “Maybe one of us will get through to her.”

EJ grumbled, “Hopefully.” Rhea replied, “It seems unlikely.” While that had merit, something told me if anyone could, it would be Alexander.

That fact prickled at my brain again, but I shoved it down. I was tired of headaches. I grabbed a Karina cookie that was sitting on a plate in my office. Bless whoever brought them in here. Once I’d eaten it, I felt more settled and much better.

I added the two black wolves to my charm bracelet. They were perfect. I kissed EJ then linked him, “We will get everything figured out. It’s all going to be ok.”

Karina’s cookies always made everything better including my confidence. EJ agreed, “Yes, it will be.”

I nodded and hugged him. We could do this. I knew we could