2

Julie said, “I just wanted to tell you I’m disappointed to see you here yet again this year.”

Haley snorted, “If only I gave a shit about what you thought, that might matter to me, but it really doesn’t. Run along now so my family can get back to brunch.”

Julie sighed, “How many of us have to tell you? You’re not good enough for Alpha Eric. Just leave. No one wants you here.”

Blade appeared beside Haley sword drawn. Micah had a dagger in his hand. Rhea linked, “It’s about to go down.”

I linked EJ warning, “So, there’s a slight problem.”

EJ replied, “At brunch? How is that possible?”

I snorted, “Crazy she wolves who want your dad.” EJ was stunned, “You have got to be kidding me.” I assured him, “I’m really not.”

Haley held up her hand indicating for Blade and Micah to back down. She snapped her fingers and a mason jar filled to the brim containing a cranmosa appeared in her hands. She slammed it and stood. She cracked her neck by tilting it from side to side. Rhea squealed, “IT IS ON!”

I bit my lip.

Haley sighed, “Julie, Julie, Julie. I see you’ve decided to bring your comments into a public fucking space. Not that every female here didn’t know about the shit you say, but now the males will hear about this. I knew you’d fuck up spectacularly eventually. How fortunate for me you did so in front of all these witnesses.” Uh oh.

Julie snorted, “They agree with me.”

Lexi Scott yelled, “No, we don’t.”

Julie sneered, “The she wolves do.” My mom argued, “Yeah, neither do we. It’s just the crazy few.” Sam agreed, “It really is and we are sick of you all making us she wolves look bad.” I raised by glass to them.

I linked my mom, “GOOO MOM!”

She laughed in reply. Julie looked around the dining room but no one met her eye. She scoffed, “Well, I guess these people won’t say it to your face, but they say it behind your back.”

Haley asked, “And how is it that you think you’re so much fucking better than me?”

Julie curled her fist and launched it at my mother in law. I stood in shock, but Haley caught her fist and slammed her own into Julie’s face. Julie screamed bloody murder. Haley rolled her eyes. Julie shifted right as a portal opened and Cassie’s mate walked through.

He apologized, “Sorry I’m late I…”

He trailed off and yelled, “What the fuck?!”

Blade answered, “Is crazy she wolf… again.” Cassie’s mate started laughing. Haley was taking on Julie and winning easily. Everyone gave them a wide berth.

EJ popped in with his brothers, sisters, and Eric. My father in law immediately snarled. Haley pinned Julie and said, “I should really just kill your pathetic ass, but now you can answer to your own Werewolf council why you attacked me in a hotel where a human could’ve seen. You’re welcome to keep them out by the way, someone will have to get the surveillance footage.”

She threw Julie at Liam, our Lead Male Warrior, and said, “Please do something with that bitch.”

She kissed Eric passionately then pulled away. He growled and reached for her, but she popped back to her seat.

She said, “Now, where were we?”

Eric was stunned, “You cannot be serious.”

Haley frowned, “Of course I am. These brunch’s are important. Google says so.” I heard Dylan Frost say, “Yeah SGAP. Google says so.” I couldn’t stop my laughter.

Everyone else started laughing too. The guys stepped out of the restaurant. Cassie’s mate took his seat. He whispered in my ear, “You just can’t be late for these things, can you?”

I laughed, “No, you really can’t.”

Flashback Ends

I shook that memory away still loving that Haley INSISTED we have our brunch afterwards before dealing with the fallout. She was just like that. Rhea chimed in, “Epic fallout.”

Yeah, it was pretty up there in glorious falls for a bitchy she wolf.

EJ was still chastising the girls who just weren’t getting it. Rhea snorted, “Told you we should’ve just killed a bitch.”

She might have a point. Rhea purred, “Progress. I am making progress. I can feel it.”

EJ ordered our Warriors to make sure the girls left the territory.

Rhea was victorious, “Ohhh he wants a quickie too. If only you two were down to stay right here so those catty bitches could hear our screams of ecstasy as they fled. It would be beautiful sexual justice.”

I shrieked, “RHEA!”

Rhea sighed, “I’m going to keep working on this with you. I’ll bring you out of that shell of yours.” I rolled my eyes.

EJ popped us to one of our treehouses. It wasn’t exactly a quickie, but it wasn’t long either. Rhea purred, “No complaints from my end.”

I reasoned, “I’m not complaining either.”

EJ and I teased each other about it. Rhea huffed, “We can’t link him every time these she wolves give us trouble.”

No, we couldn’t because he’d never get anything done. Plus, these catty bitches needed to spread the word that I could take them all on my own. Haley never ran to Eric when the crazies came for him. She slapped them, sometimes literally, into their places. I could handle it.

EJ brought up the party. Rhea cackled, “Should we tell him about our theory?”

I wanted to sigh but didn’t. Buttercup, Micah, and I had a meeting yesterday. Cassie’s mate called in, but he wasn’t worried about Cassie’s reaction. Honestly, neither were we. We knew that we would be the ones with the problem if Angela’s mate popped in.

Tim and Brady were probably going to be the most sensitive about it since they’d just turned sixteen and heard about Haley’s past. Parker, Cole, and Calvin were still sensitive about Fairy things too. Rhea encouraged, “We should give him a heads up.”

I took her advice and that had us discuss avoiding the Cassie situation. The whole thing was ridiculous, but I knew EJ still felt bad about it. Rhea groaned, “Come on! They were joking around. It wasn’t their fault. They had no idea. UGH. I CANNOT get into that again.” No joke.

I teased him that we needed to get back. He snapped us into our clothes and popped us to the party. I linked Buttercup, “Did we miss it?”

Buttercup gave me a look and then glanced around the room. She asked, “Do you think you did?”

I bit my lip acknowledging, “As no one is losing their mind, I’m going with no.” Buttercup winked, “Exactly. You didn’t miss a thing.” I asked her, “Is your dad here yet?” Buttercup snorted, “Nope. He’s going to be so upset if he misses this moment.”

I linked Haley, “Maybe getting Grant, Bryce, and Bradley out of the immediate area would be good.”

Haley’s Fairy past was bound to come up if all of us speculating were right about Angela. Haley replied, “I have them ready to bring Angela’s present that I put in the Hackura realm. They promised only to pop or portal in when I tell them to come.”

She was always seven steps ahead.

Angela popped over to Haley. Buttercup linked me, “Explosion in three, two…”

She trailed off then groaned, “Ohhh Wesley’s already mad. He figured it out. Defcon five everyone.”

I mean it was obvious now. Angela asked about a Fairy family.

I could feel the war happening in EJ’s emotions. He was upset, but he was trying to remain calm. At least I had that going for me. Rhea linked, “Brutus is not happy but he’s not just growling so that’s a bonus.”

Maybe this would be ok on my end.

Almost a minute later Trixie, Farrin, and their kids popped in. Angela immediately blushed and introduced herself to Klaus. He was only three years older than her. Rhea linked, “The Moon Goddess is good. That age is workable.”

No age would really matter, but it would be easier for us mates to sell to our partners. Plus, they were so cute.

Buttercup linked me, “Awww, look at them.”

I agreed their interaction was adorable. I got so lost in it that I actually jumped when Eric lost it. Maybe we should’ve warned him. Buttercup linked me, “We can’t do anything about him.”

I gaped when Haley yelled at him. I linked Buttercup, “Hell just froze over, but Haley’s got this.”

Buttercup bit her lip, “I’ve never heard her yell at him like that.”

Neither had I. Well, they argued when people weren’t around.

Rhea linked, “Something has obviously gone down with Farrin and Haley. That’s why she’d stopped him from talking.”

Micah linked me, “I want to look away, but I can’t. I have never been more interested in a silent link conversation between two people. If only I could write a code to crack it so I could listen in.”

I bit my lip so I wouldn’t laugh.

I linked my mom, “What’s the tea?”

She laughed, “I couldn’t ruin the moment you find out.”

I groaned and she just laughed. Dakota linked, “How dare you not tell me this beef! What’s happening?” I admitted, “I have no idea what’s going on.” He said, “I’m siccing Cooper on dad. He’ll get it out of him. Link me or Dalton if you find out.” I wanted to laugh but I liked the plan.

Haley took control of the room. Angela was near tears, but Eric quickly got her back to being her happy self. She skipped outside with Klaus. The rest of us went to the office. Cassie popped in and Haley took everyone to task. Buttercup linked me, “We were worried for nothing. We should’ve just left it all to Haley.”

I joked, “You and Micah need to stop making me almost laugh. It’s not the time.”

Buttercup smiled at me. Haley refuted all of Eric’s points about the newly mated pair. I linked Dalton when I found out what happened with Farrin.

“Brother, I hope you are sitting down. Eric’s problem is that Farrin tried to have sex with Haley at their wedding when she went into her concupiscence.”

He shouted, “WHAT?!”

Buttercup and Micah linked me at the same time, “NO FUCKING WAY!” I would not have guessed that.

Rhea agreed, “He never seemed attracted to her.”

There were Fairies who were overt and obvious about their interest in Haley. Farrin never seemed that way. Haley made excellent points in her rebuttals. I linked Dalton, “You cannot imagine the drama in this room.”

He snorted, “Based on what you said I kind of can.”

Cassie smirked and linked me, “Some days I consider going by Veronica, but then I remember the real reason my name is Cassie.”

I replied, “She doesn’t mean you anyway.”

I teased, “Aren’t you happy you didn’t miss all this?” She agreed, “I definitely am.”

The guys did eventually calm down once Haley reminded them this was about Angela’s happiness. I felt for Haley in this situation. She worked really hard to overcome her demons. She even went to Faerie frequently with the Conners pups.

Sometimes I could tell when a bad memory was surfacing. She would freeze, but her face was a vault. She did a lot better there now though. I’d seen a few genuine smiles from her. The mood took a turn for the better. Farrin and Haley were even bantering.

When Cassie jumped in with her comments, I agreed with her wholeheartedly there. We needed to avoid that again. Rhea cackled, “Cassie and Rain just popped out with that parting line.”

Yeah, I was all for her comments until that line.

Buttercup linked me, “I could’ve done without that parting comment.”

I bit my lip at the look on EJ and Alexander’s faces. Say what you would, but the Conners women knew how to make an exit. Rhea linked, “Fang incoming.”

Dylan stormed into the room, but Eric had him running right back out in under five minutes.

Aiden looked ill when Haley pointed out TJ and Angela’s sibling bond would help her in Faerie. His face told me he wished Haley herself had that sibling bond at the time to lean back on when she was young. I shot him a sympathetic look.

That sparked a guard discussion. Buttercup linked me, “Eight guards my butt. He’ll have that number to ten, minimum, by the time negotiations are done.”

I barely kept my laugh in. Haley delivered one HECK of a parting speech about how they were trying to take a happy moment from Angela with their selfish emotions. She even slammed Farrin. I needed this talent to deliver parting lines like her, Cassie, and Angela. They were just the clear parting line winners.

Rhea linked, “When is the best time to tell Angela her father in law tried to have sex with her mom?”

I answered, “Never. I don’t want to know about the guys that wanted my mother before my dad came into the picture.”

Oh god, now I was thinking about my parents having sex. Or the guys that could have leered at my mom wanting to have sex with her. EW!

Rhea shouted, “Stop that! Turn back around and get off the train!”

I teased EJ about erasing that from my memory. Rhea agreed, “I’m on board. I like this plan. I know you were teasing but, seriously though. These images they gots ta go.”

EJ distracted me. He clearly linked his brothers because they all looked happier about this situation. Rhea snorted, “Wonder what he said.”

I warned, “I don't know that we want to know at this point.”

Aiden was overjoyed about Angela and Klaus. I think he’d been disappointed that Julian hadn’t found his mate yet. Everyone thought his mate would be a Fairy. Rhea reasoned, “It’s not like he’s met all the Fairies yet.”

As soon as we made sure the party was moving along fine, I stepped outside and walked over to Angela. I hugged her, “I am so happy for you.”

I smiled at Klaus, “I’m one of Angela’s big sisters. I’m Elise Conners.”

He nodded respectfully, “Luna Duchess Elise, it’s nice to meet you.” I laughed, “None of that just call me Elise.”

Angela smiled telling him, “Elise is super cool. Just like Cass.”

Klaus nodded, “It’s a pleasure to meet you, Elise.”

Angela whispered, “Is EJ upset?” I assured her, “He’s not upset with you or Klaus. It’s more of him pouting about his baby sister finding her mate thing. They weren’t ready or prepared. He’s happy that you didn’t just pop to Faerie and meet him. He’s glad he knows. They’ll calm down and adapt. It’s not like EJ has any room to talk. He knew I was his before I was born.”

Angela giggled, “That’s true.”

I kissed the top of her head, “If you need to talk to someone, you know I’m always here for you. I know all the stages you’ll go through with this. You've one upped me though. You live in different realms. That’s something.”

She nodded.

I smiled, “I’ll give you guys some space, and I’ll send some of the guys out. They will be nice because your mom gave them one of her signature speeches.”

Angela smirked, “I know, I saw it.”

I laughed, “Of course you did.”

I walked back inside and got EJ moving. When he went to see Angela, I walked over to Tristan, Everly, and Jason. Jason looked tired. Rhea linked “Ajax doesn’t sound good either.”

That was Jason’s wolf. I frowned calling out, “Jase?”

He looked startled, “Huh? What? Oh, Hi Elise. I’ll be back.” He took off.

I looked at Tristan confused, “Did I spook him? Have I offended Jase in some way I’m not aware of?”

Tristan grimaced, “He’s having nightmares.”

Everly cringed, “They are awful.” I asked, “About what?” Tristan answered, “He’s still got this idea that Ladybug saved him from those Hunters. Now he’s saying he’s getting flashes of her spraying him with something and dosing him with a syringe. Then he gets a flash of being strapped in a tree as people searched for him.” My jaw dropped.

Tristan ran a hand over his face, “He wakes up screaming for Ladybug because he said she was being punished. She took the punishment from these two guys for him escaping. He sees her being whipped. Then he says he saw her strung up and shocked with a cattle prod. Honestly, it switches between what he thinks he sees.”

I frowned, “Did he call and talk to Ladybug?”

Tristan nodded, “It’s the only thing that calms him down. Plus, they would’ve smelled him.”

I mused, “We don’t smell the snipers. What if they have something…?” I trailed off then waved my hand dismissively, “No that’s silly.”

Everly caught onto my train of thought. She shook her head, “No, it’s not silly. That makes sense. They made that Fairy antidote. Why not a spray to conceal scents?”

Tristan jumped in, “Maybe she had dark hair so he’s picturing Ladybug.”

I nodded, “I learned that today actually. The girl saving those Omega’s from hunters has black hair.”

Tristan sighed in relief, “There it is. Maybe he’ll sleep better with that information.”

Everly frowned, “That woman still took a beating for him. I don’t know if he’ll let this go. He’s snappy with everything lately, T.”

Tristan frowned, “Not with us or Kai.”

Everly sighed, “No, never with Kai.”

I squealed, “Show me new pictures of Kai!” Everly smiled and pulled out her phone and showed me a lot of pictures I’d never seen. Jason never came back, but the party wound down at the same time he reemerged.

I listened to Haley and Trixie figure everything out for Angela and Klaus. Haley conjured a phone for Angela with all the numbers she’d need including Klaus. She really was a good mom. I had great role models to look up to when EJ and I started having pups.

EJ was on emotional overload, and honestly I was too. I was really worried about Jason. He looked like he was barely sleeping. I shoved all that aside as my own exhaustion overtook me and we went to bed.

EJ and I woke up late the next day. The pack was always lazy the day after a party. Alcohol was always flowing, so we tended to be a bit groggy. We were having a lazy family day in the main room when Lexi Daniels flashed in. Buttercup linked me, “She has too much energy for the day after a Conners’ birthday party.”

I groaned, “Agreed. She left early though because she and TeleTed had a meeting with a client.”

Buttercup sighed, “Still. I need her to bring the energy level WAY down. I’ll sic my dad on her. I’ll do it, Elise. I’ll fight fire with fire.” I grinned at her.

Lexi was upset about some band she didn’t know about. Rhea muttered, “The Ring Resistance and now The Rebels. Someone was into R names.”

I didn’t care at this point because I’d never heard of this band. No one had, except Micah.

My gaze narrowed when he said he couldn’t talk about them. Rhea chuckled, “Someone is interested now.”

Yes, because the only person he ever said that about was Ashley. I knew Ashley was musically inclined. She told me she played the guitar.

I asked Micah some questions. Rhea gasped, “How could she not tell us she was in a band?”

I didn’t know. I knew the name of the girl they were talking about that sang because Ashley told me about her. Her name was Odette, but only her friends called her that. Her registered, legal name wasn’t Odette for some reason.

Rhea boasted, “They don’t know her name, but we do.”

That was true and it made me ridiculously happy since I didn’t know about the band. I almost told them about her, but it felt wrong. Ashley trusted me with Odette’s name. I’d just keep it to myself.

Rhea scoffed, “Odette’s mom is a wackadoodle.”

She was. Ashley had said her mom left her in a building that should be condemned. They’d got her into a different place and Ashley was teaching Odette self-defense moves. She said Odette was a natural.

My understanding was few people had met Odette, but now I knew most didn’t know her name. Micah would’ve if they did. Rhea reasoned, “She does sound a bit shy, but she’s latched onto Ashley.”