2

They stared at each other, obviously linking, while others stood around observing.

Everyone was keenly interested in whatever was going on. Finally, my mom bent down and spoke to Angela. “Sweetie, why don’t you and TJ go outside with Klaus and his siblings. Parker, Cole, and Calvin will go with you too. You and Klaus should get to know each other.”

Angela wiped away tears whispering, “Daddy?”

My dad knelt down, “I’m sorry I yelled, Princess.”

He squeezed her tightly. She told him, “We are so happy together, I promise.” He nodded then kissed her cheek. He shot Klaus a glare and stalked towards his office.

My mom said, “Trixie and Farrin, if you’d join us with the horde of people that ends up in my office I’d appreciate it. I’m sure it will be most of my family. Aiden, you’re fucking coming too. So, don’t even think of staying out here. ”

Uncle Aiden popped over and smiled, “Truly sister, I would not miss this for the world.”

Brutus grumbled, “Couldn’t they have continued to not meet until later in life? We just talked about our lot in life as the older sibling. Angela and Klaus had to have been orbiting each other too, and not meeting. Why dear god why did that have to end tonight?”

I answered, “Because Angela saw the path where he came to the party. That’s why.”

He groaned feeling the truth of that statement in my soul.

Uncle Aiden hugged Trixie and Farrin. He held up his hand for a high five. I sighed and popped Elise and I into the office. My siblings followed us. Cassie popped in smiling. She looked at all of us, then frowned. She asked, “What did I miss?”

My mom walked into the room with her hands on her hips. She answered my sister, “Your father losing his goddamn mind that’s what you missed. Eric….”

My dad growled interrupting her, “NOT HIS SON! Not a fucking Fairy! NO!”

My mom reasoned, “Eric, you know Klaus won’t hurt her. He wasn’t raised the way Fairies have been in the past. Fegle has never hurt Julianna. It’s not like Angela is moving realms anytime soon either. She’s only ten and Klaus is thirteen. We will just get them together like we did EJ and Elise. You’ll get to know him.”

My dad growled, “HIS FATHER TRIED TO FUCK YOU!”

My mom rolled her eyes, “One time, and he didn’t fuck me. That feels like an important note. Plus, if we are getting mad about people fucking our spouse being mated into the family I feel I am ILL prepared to be made about our children’s mates. You fucked a lot people. Which, for the record, does not upset me at all. As long as our children are mated to people who love them, I’m fucking happy if they are.”

Thor took over, “HE TRIED TO AT OUR WEDDING RECEPTION!”

My mom counted out loud, “One, Two, Three, Four.”

She blew out a breath then pointed a finger at him, “Do you know how many people STILL try to fuck you?” He blinked at her. She insisted, “Do you? Because it’s A REALLY FUCKING HIGH NUMBER! I’m up to the ceiling in crazy ass she wolves. Farrin is happily mated. He didn’t even like me as a person until well after our reception. He was never cruel to me when I was a child, nor did he hurt me. Can we just take a fucking minute to calm the fuck down?”

My parents stood, staring at each other. My Grandpa Titus spoke, “If he harms one hair on my granddaughter’s head, he is a dead man.”

My mom put her head into her hands saying, “That is true for ALL your grandchildren and ALL their fucking mates. Can we all please pull our heads out of our asses right now?”

No one answered her.

She sternly said, “This is about Angela, and she is happy about this. You can all feel how excited she is. I understand the fear and trepidation in this room and it’s because of me. I get that but I will NOT allow ANY of my children to suffer because of the things that happened to me. Angela will not be punished for what happened to me as a child. By me or anyone else.”

She pointed at herself, “My fears are MINE. Not hers or any of my other kids. Aiden is not the same person he was back then. He is King and he ADORES Angela. He would not let that happen to her. Trixie raised her fucking children like a bad ass. They are respectful, kind, and do not harm innocent people. She has taught them to love their mates.”

She then nearly snarled “And FUCK each and every single goddamn one of you for making me say this next sentence.”

Brutus chuckled, “That was a good snarl.”

She had been living with Werewolves for quite some time now.

My mom took another deep breath, and I nearly laughed because I could tell she really didn’t want to say whatever she was going to say. She rolled her eyes, “Farrin has shown his kids how to be a real mate. He leads by example with Trixie. He loves and respects her. He has not been with another person since they met because it’s what Trixie wanted. That’s respect.”

“That’s not what he was taught. He does it FOR HER! He’s a good man and dad. Will you all calm down so I can stop listing off nice fucking things about Farrin?! FARRIN FOR CHRIST’S SAKE! You know I hate it when you do this shit.”

Farrin laughed, “I knew you liked me, Princess.”

My mom glared at him. She turned to the room, “Do you see what you have done? Now, he’s going to talk about that forfuckingever.”

Trixie giggled. My dad hugged my mom, “I have no problem with the Trixie part of this situation. It’s him.” My dad pointed at Farrin.

Alexander linked me, “Did you know that Farrin tried to take mom at their wedding to have sex with her?”

I replied, “I don’t think I did know that.”

It meant Farrin was someone like those men who tried to attack Elise because they ‘couldn’t help it.’

Brutus linked, “I do know that he was taught he couldn’t control it. He clearly used what happened then and chose to be a better person.”

I asked, “Whose side are you on right now?”

He answered, “Snow’s.” That was Angela’s wolf.

He explained, “She’s very happy and a little sad that we might not let them be together.”

I argued, “I’d never keep her apart from her mate, that’s cruel.”

He advised, “Then this meeting is pointless.” Damn it. He was right. I shouldn’t need him or my mom to tell me that. I reasoned, “We didn’t growl.” He chuckled, “I know.”

Cassie put her hands on her hips, “I think we learned it’s better for us all to know when mates meet. They didn’t try to sneak around. Angela could’ve popped to him without us knowing. She could’ve been going between realms with only TJ knowing. Instead, she included us all. Let’s remember that.”

My dad yanked Cassie into a hug and she kissed his cheek. She whispered, “I love you, daddy.”

He replied, “I love you too, Princess.”

She popped to Grandpa and kissed his cheek. She smoothed her skirt and said, “Now, I’ll leave mom to straighten you all out. I’m going to meet this mate of my little sister’s.” Cassie turned to leave.

Then I felt mischief in our connection. Cassie casually added, “I think you guys are worried about the wrong thing here. Angela is mischievous on her own and I’ve heard the same comments said about Klaus. Just THINK of the trouble those two will get into.”

My jaw dropped. I linked Alexander, “Fuck us all with that parting line.”

Alexander winced, “I already hate it.” Cassie winked at me and popped out.

My mom snorted when my dad growled because Dylan Frost burst into the room. He turned around and said, “Do you see now, Lucas? You show up late to the Conners functions and you miss the sky falling! I MISSED MY MOMENT! Angela has a mate. A FAIRY MATE AND WE MISSED IT LUCAS! SOMEONE tell me it was on camera. If this was not recorded, I SHAME you all. Former Beta Caleb buddy old pal of mine, I see you hiding over there in the corner, tell me all the details.”

Before Caleb could say anything Dylan powered on, “Was it filmed? Did my goddess have to bring Saint God Alpha Prick back from the brink of death after he had an aneurysm? Because in my head, that is one hundred percent how this went down. Has anyone checked to make sure he didn’t pop a blood vessel? Is he having a heart attack? CALL EVERYONE! We must save our Saint God Alpha Prick!”

My mom raised an eyebrow, “Eric is physically fine.”

Dylan clucked his tongue. He sighed, “No, that won’t do. The memo needs to say something about bursting a blood vessel. Come on Saint God Alpha Prick, do it for all of us in the memo verse. Your goddess will heal you right up.”

My dad growled, “Dylan, there have been fewer times in your life that is has been exceptionally dangerous to be you in my presence. You sent me a memo SECONDS before he popped in. You knew and waited this ENTIRE time. Don’t you fuck with me.”

Dylan said, “My next statement is clearly not related to that implied threat in any way shape or form. Toodles everyone!”

He ran out of the room.

My mom hugged my dad. She told him, “She will not have the life I did. We raised her to be strong and capable. She would not take that type of shit from anyone. She would tell us, or her siblings. Especially TJ. Our son has never kept anything that could hurt her a secret. Hell, we’d have to join him in a killing spree. We know he’d be too mad for us to control.”

She turned to glare at my Fairy Uncle. She demanded, “Aiden, say any fucking words.”

Uncle Aiden laughed, “I don’t know that your husband will listen to my words on this topic.”

My mom glared at him until Uncle Aiden popped over and kissed her on the head.

He turned to my dad, “You have my word that no harm will come to Angela through Klaus. Anyone who tries to harm any of my nieces or my nephews will be met with my full wrath. We are growing and changing as a people, and I will not tolerate that.”

My dad studied him, “You don’t think Alania set up some shit for the two of them? She could have those still loyal to her in Faerie. They could just waiting for Angela to be alone there. We have stopped more attempts than I can count together. She is highly sought after.”

Uncle Aiden acknowledged, “That is true, but no Fairy in their right mind would be working for my mother at this point. We would find out, and when we did there’s no one to protect them. As my sister said, Angela is not moving tomorrow. The Fairy Goddess in all her wisdom,”

I could literally feel my mom’s eye roll in her emotions.

Uncle Aiden continued, “allowed us to know this pairing well in advance of her moving to us. We have years to prepare. Her Hackura guard will of course be welcomed. They can go in and out as they please.”

Grandpa Titus declared, “There will be eight guards on her at all times in the shadows if she is in your realm. I will make the additional assignments today.”

My mom bit her lip but it was her only show of emotion. Her walls had slowly come up in the bond. I glanced at Alexander wondering if he had more insight. He wasn’t looking at me though, because he was focused on our mom. It was technically my Uncle Bjourn’s call as King, but the bond told me he agreed with Grandpa.

My dad backed down, “I’ll somewhat calm down about this then.”

My mom said nothing for several moments, then spoke, “Fine. Whatever. If that will make you all calm the fuck down, and you won’t ruin this moment for Angela, agreed. I also don’t want TJ to have to calm you down. That’s not fucking fair to him.”

I felt how chastised those statements made everyone in my bonds feel.

My mom warned, “Later, we WILL have a chat about trying to ruin my baby girl’s first moment with her mate. Don’t think ANY of you are getting away with that fucking shit. She can feel each and every one of you, and you let your own feelings get in the way of a huge moment for her.”

That was a gut punch to all of us. I didn’t need a bond, nor did I need to look around, to see the guilt my mother’s words brought. I even felt bad, and I hadn’t said anything. Mom made a blanket statement, “You all owe Angela and Klaus an apology.”

Brutus huffed.

Farrin smirked, “What about me? I think I deserve an apology too.”

My mom whirled, “Are you fucking serious, Farrin?! What do you want from me? I already complimented you. What else could you possibly want? What my husband said was accurate.”

She pointed, “You used the excuse of being unable to control yourself like every other fucking supernatural group used to. You didn’t try to stop yourself and you did try to take me from our wedding. I don’t recall you EVER apologizing for that, come to think of it.”

Farrin winced when Trixie smacked him on the arm.

My mom continued, “Fairies are JUST as responsible for controlling themselves as wolves are when a female enters their heat or concupiscence. You have grown from the man I grew up with and I fucking acknowledged that. Trixie brought out the best in you. No one in this damn room owes YOU an apology. They owe it to my baby and your son. YOU, not so much.”

She addressed the room, “Everyone stays in this office until you remember my rule in this territory.”

Which one?

She answered sending her annoyance that we all wondered which rule it was. She threw out, “It’s obviously the rule about people who ACT like assholes, get treated like assholes.”

She popped out in a huff.

Wesley sighed, “She just sucker punches you with her speeches.”

Max laughed, “I have never heard her yell at dad like that in front of anyone.”

My Uncle Aiden chuckled, “She only yelled at him so he wouldn’t blurt out Farrin tried to have sex with your mother in front of Angela.” My dad flushed.

Aunt Torvi laughed, “I do suppose that’s not information Angela needs about her mate’s dad today.”

Elise snorted, “Or ever. I’m sure guys wanted my mom before my dad met her. I’m not interested in hearing about any of them. Ever. Because ew. I’m leaving. God, EJ, erase my memory so I can stop thinking about such things.”

I laughed and kissed her, “Let’s go.”

I snapped my dad, uncles, and grandpa whiskey. Grammy Veronica laughed, “Where's my whiskey, young man?”

I smirked, “You don’t need to take the edge of grammy, they do. Or they will never make it back out to the party.”

I linked my siblings, “Watch Angela closely. Klaus gets to earn our approval. We can get that while being happy for Angela.”

They all brightened and nodded. My dad raised an eyebrow as we left the room. Uncle Aiden was skipping.

I snorted, “Can you tone it down?”

My Uncle Aiden laughed, “No, I cannot. I have been WAITING for one of the Conners brood to be mated to a Fairy. There are twenty of you. It’s ONLY fair to have one of you in my realm permanently. I am very excited that this means I will see more of you all in Faerie.”

He lowered his voice, “It also means your mother will have different memories there. I’ve been building new ones for years. She will always have echoes, but finally the happy moments might be stronger than the noise of the atrocities that occurred in our home.”

“Klaus will not harm Angela. He does not even know of that cruel tradition I did away with. Cassie is right though, he’s a mischievous little man. I wish you all luck with that. Those two together, yeesh. We are not prepared.”

He popped away.

The party had gotten back to its regular flow. Elise ducked out to go see Angela as soon as we got back. When she came back inside, she linked me, “Go see your sister. She’s worried you’re mad.”

I sighed, “Alright but she can feel I am not in the bond.”

She chided, “Gee, it’s almost like meeting your mate and your family being dicks is emotionally frazzling. Go. See. Her.” I chuckled, “Of course, babe.”

Brutus purred, “She’s so hot.”

Yet again, I agreed. I popped to Angela and Klaus. He held out his hand, “Alpha Duke Conners, I don’t honestly know which one you are yet, and do not want to offend you guessing. I believe you are EJ though.”

Angela laughed, “It is EJ. You’ll learn to recognize him. You don’t need to use his title either.”

Klaus smiled at her, “I’ll call him Alpha until he agrees to otherwise.”

Dammit. This kid was going to make me like him. Angela shot me her big puppy dog eyes that I was incapable of saying no to.

I groaned, “Please call me EJ, Klaus.”

He nodded. I hugged Angela, “Congratulations on meeting your mate. Should you two ever want to talk about how hard it is to be apart and not be together twenty-four seven now that you’ve met, Elise and I know a thing or two about that.”

I ruffled my sister’s hair, “Angela, you know I’ll always spare time for you. Klaus, the same goes for you. You will have to earn my respect because I won’t just hand it to you. I have no problem starting that open door policy with you.”

Klaus puffed up, “I will earn the respect of all of you. Goddess Azoney has paired me with Angela and I will be a good mate. For now, it is friendship that I know one day will bloom. I have always been intrigued by her name. The stories I have heard about her have always made me curious. I was most excited when the invitation to her birthday party arrived. Mysteriously, the other event we were talking about going to got cancelled.”

Angela smiled.

I laughed, “Little one, what did you do?”

Angela winked, “I told Uncle Aiden the event was on mine and TJ’s birthday and some of our guests wouldn’t be able to attend. So, he fixed it.”

I laughed, “You are diabolical.” She shrugged, “I knew Uncle Aiden wouldn’t mind even if meeting Klaus wasn’t why I wanted that event cancelled.”

I snorted, “Uncle Aiden is on cloud nine.”

Angela frowned, “But daddy is upset.”

I explained, “Dad is grappling with his little girl having a mate and mom’s past. It’s not about you.” Angela smiled and squeezed Klaus’ hand.

She told him, “Don’t worry Klaus, my dad comes around.”

Klaus smiled brightly at her, “Well, who could worry if you tell them not to Ang?”

She blushed. Ok, that settled it. I couldn’t be here anymore. I kissed her cheek and said, “Come back to your party when you are ready.” She nodded. Brutus said, “Snow is very happy.”

Well, I felt like I’d aged three years when I walked inside. Alexander now had a glass of whiskey himself. It wasn’t a bad idea so I grabbed one too. Angela and Klaus didn’t separate until the last possible moment.

Mom and Trixie had already arranged when they would see each other next. My mom had gotten Angela a phone to talk to Klaus on. It was for Klaus and emergencies. She already had all the important numbers in the phone.

My dad had come around before the end of the night. Mostly for Angela, but he was still pouting because she’d found her mate so early. He’d gotten a break with Cassie since she’d been older. I took Elise up to bed once everyone left and promptly passed out.

The next day we were all being lazy in the family room together when Lexi Daniels blew into the room. She spotted my mom, “You will NEVER believe what just happened to me.”

My mom waited several moments but she didn’t continue.

Mom asked, “Did you want me to guess?”

Aunt Lexi nodded. Mom guessed, “A green unicorn was conjured into your territory? I would never guess that.”

Aunt Lexi laughed, “Thank you, Haley. I needed a laugh. I would’ve LOVED if that had been what happened. No, that’s not it.”

Mom was about to guess again but Aunt Lexi continued. “Ted and I were in a meeting with a new client. They asked if we could get them The Rebels for a party. Does ANYONE in this damn room know who The Rebels are?!”

I shook my head with most everyone.

Aunt Lexi threw her hands up, “Ted and I were flabbergasted and confused. Nothing came up on my google search. They don’t even have an Instagram. No Twitter, and don’t any of you kids say ‘it’s X’ it’s forever Twitter to me. Anyway they also don’t have TikTok, Facebook, or Instagram. They have NOTHING. No social media platform WHATSOEVER!”

I asked, “Who are they then?”

Aunt Lexi flopped down onto a chair admitting, “I don’t know.”

Micah answered, “It’s a band. A VERY popular all supernatural band.”

Aunt Lexi bolted up, “YOU KNOW THEM?!” Micah gaped at her, “Yes, because everyone knows them.” My mom said, “I’ve never heard of them.”

I echoed her sentiments, “Me either.”

All my siblings agreed. Elise and Buttercup spoke up at the same time, “Not a clue.”

Aunt Lexi clapped her hands, “THANK YOU!” She turned on Micah, “So you are the only one who knows. I am THE party planner in this area. How could you not tell me about this band? What do you know? When did they become the supernatural it band? Is this a other realms have this band thing they don’t advertise in the human realm? Is that why there is no social media?!”

Micah answered, “They originated their band in this realm, and to my knowledge have never played in a different realm. The band have been popular for a couple years. Their gigs are virtually impossible to get into without a connection.”

Max clapped, “Wait, you've been to several of their concerts! It’s coming back to me. You and Cayden both have gone.”

Aunt Lexi squealed, “Do you have a connection with the band, Micah? I need to get in touch with them. I know they’ve never been in this area.”

Micah winced, “I can’t actually talk about that.”

Elise gasped, “No freaking way!” I frowned, “What?”

Elise locked eyes with Micah but didn’t say anything. Aunt Lexi demanded, “One of you say words!”

Elise smirked, “The only person Micah has ever said he can’t talk about is Ashley.”

I jerked my head, “You mean Ashley Griffen?” Brutus purred, “Mate figure it all out.”

Elise nodded, “One in the same. Ashley is in the band, isn’t she Micah?”

Before he could answer Alexander snorted, “Is this girl superwoman? She’s the Female Lead Warrior of pack, that she’s basically running, and in her spare time she’s in a super popular band none of us have heard of?”

Aunt Lexi frowned, “Don’t you just KNOW your dad has heard about this band.”

My mom snorted, “He has. I just linked him about it, but he didn’t think it was a big deal.”

Aunt Lexi gritted her teeth, “Which means Chase knows. Ohhh! His ass is grass.”

My mom rolled her eyes, “That’s makes no fucking sense, Lex.”

Aunt Lexi laughed, “But it does, Hales.”