3

My mind literally blanked. Brutus grumbled, “The pack link is oddly quiet.” Ok, then.

Jayden continued, “Said girl kicked another girl's ass over him. By the time I got there he and the girl were gone. No one, including Dylan Frost, has anything to say about it. Which means Alexander told them not to.”

I clarified, “Alexander brought a girl home then left? What was her name?”

Jayden asked, “You do realize I referred to her as ‘a girl,’ yes?”

I muttered, “I did hear that.” He nearly shouted, “I don’t know her name. I just know there was a cat fight over my cousin that doesn’t date. Now, no one wants to talk about it and my curiosity is peaked.”

I assured him, “I’ll call him.”

Jayden snorted, “Hopefully he answers you. He didn’t answer me, and his link is also blocked out. Quite harshly according to Basque.”

That was his wolf. Which meant Oden and Alexander were doing it.

He added, “I even had Julianna try and she got nothing.”

I said, “I’ve left messages but haven’t heard from him. I’ll kick his ass since he’s running around our pack.”

I hung up. I called him again, but he still didn’t answer.

I left him a message just growling. Brutus linked, “Oden is just purring away.”

I asked, “But you got through to him.”

He said, “Oden never blocks us out like that.” It was true, we’d never done that to each other. Even with blocks up people can reach us.

I debated how to continue then decided to call Wesley. Wesley answered, “Hey, EJ.”

I asked, “What the hell happened with Alexander today?”

Wesley sounded nervous, “That’s certainly a question, big brother.” I glared at my phone, “And the answer is?”

Wesley sighed, “I honestly don’t know where I would start that explanation. I needed his help, so he popped in. Things got weird after that.”

I sighed, “The beginning of a story is usually a good place to start so you were on the right track with you asked for his help and he popped in.”

Wesley growled, “I know that.”

I somewhat demanded, “Then start talking.”

Wesley took a big breath before saying, “Alexander wants to talk to you about it himself.” I grumbled, “Then he should answer his damn phone.” Wesley sounded like he was wincing, “He doesn't have his phone, it's here. That's why he didn’t answer any of our texts.”

I threw my head back shouting, “You’ve GOT to be KIDDING ME!”

Brutus growled, “Is he for real right now?”

I replied, “I know you mean Alexander since Wes is just delivering his words, but he appears to be.”

Wesley rushed out, “He said as soon as he gets back from his Hackura mission he’s going to talk to you. He even left a note for Toby to clear your schedule and that no one else can be in the meeting.”

I was immediately concerned, “Is he ok?”

Wesley snorted, “He’s more than fine and you know that because you feel him. That asshole, I was worried.”

I asked, “Tell me more about the girl he brought home. Can you at least tell me her name?”

Wesley snorted, “That’s up for debate apparently. I’m not part of the debate so I just know it’s debatable.”

I groaned, “How on god’s green earth is that possible? Did you meet her?”

Wesley sighed, “No, I did not meet her, but I saw her. What I can tell you is she’s fierce.”

I sighed, “This is easily the least helpful conversation I’ve had in a long time.”

Wesley ground out, “I promised him.” I sifted through out bond finding that he truly felt like he was between a rock and a hard place. He wanted to tell me, but he couldn’t.

I groaned, “Fine. If you think of anything else, can you tell me who else can I pester?”

Wesley sounded frustrated, “No one. Not a lot of people were here, and Alexander used an Alpha Command on everyone who wasn’t me.”

I smacked my own face

Elise asked from the doorframe, “What did Jayden want?”

I answered, “It’s a long story.”

That I did NOT want to get into. I questioned Wes, “Who was the other girl in the fight?” Wesley sighed, “EJ.” I sighed, “Seriously? You can’t even tell me that? This had better be the BEST sibling heart to heart Alexander and I have had in years.” Wesley snorted, “I think it’s got to be pretty damn good.”

I gently asked, “Did Alexander help with whatever you needed him for?”

Wesley answered, “That I can tell you. Yes, he did.”

I closed my eyes, “When I get home in a few days, someone is going to answer my questions.”

Wesley urged, “Just wait for Alexander. He’s the one with the answers.”

I sighed, “I heard you father in law was there. He has answers, I know he does. This is just incredibly frustrating. UGH!”

I hung up. Wesley felt somewhat frantic over my last comment.

I asked my wolf, “I’m sorry Dylan FROST is going to keep a secret?”

Brutus reasoned, “He keeps a lot of them to drop at the right time.”

The right time was the literal second I got home. Elise asked, “What’s going on?” I snorted, “There was apparently a cat fight over Alexander in our territory. With whom, you ask? I don’t know. Why? I don’t know that either. Alexander used an Alpha Command on everyone except Wes.”

She started to say something, but I charged on. “Why not Wes? I’m glad there is a question I can answer being asked. Because Wesley PROMISED not to say anything.”

Elise frowned, “Just ask one of your other siblings.”

I explained, “None of them were there today except Wes. Even Toby and Genevieve are gone. I don’t know where Phil is, but I assume it’s wherever Alexander is.”

Elise reasoned, “So call Alexander.”

I snorted, “He left his phone at home.”

Elise gasped, “He what?” I nodded, “Yup.” Elise sighed, “Well, that’s weird.” I added, “Alexander and I have a meeting when he gets back. Just us.” Elise grimaced, “That sounds serious.”

I snorted, “Did you not hear me say the words cat fight? There was an actual cat fight over him.”

Elise frowned, “Mel will be furious.”

She would be then she’d probably fight both the girls. Brutus muttered, “Unless one was her.” That thought pulled me up short because it was correct.

I warned my wolf, “If he met her and said nothing, we may have to pummel him.”

Brutus snorted, “He can beat us in a fight.”

It was true, but only if he wanted to. Elise asked, “What do Alexander’s feelings tell you?” I answered, “That’s he’s really freaking happy, but he’s also just got this underlying confusion. Charity!” Elise frowned, “I assume you mean your cousin and not that he’s doing charity work.” I nodded.

I called Phil’s older sister Charity. Jeffery would be out for Uncle Bjourn so he’d be busy. She answered, “EJ.”

I asked, “What does Phil feel like to you?”

Charity said, “One second.” She paused then said, “He’s really happy yet confused.” I said, “Interesting.”

Charity asked, “Why?”

I snorted, “I think he’s with Alexander who feels the same way. Do you know where they are?”

Charity chuckled, “I don’t. Sorry cuz.” I told her, “That’s fine.” I hung up. I tried going through my bonds to hers. I noted that while she didn’t sound it, she was worried about Phil but trying not to be. I searched out Phil’s deciding his feelings mirrored Alexander’s exactly. They were definitely together.

Elise smiled saying, “Don’t worry about it. I’m sure Alexander’s fine.”

I thought he was fine too. My question was what girls? What fight? Why did they fight? And what the HELL is going on? Brutus muttered, “I still think Melanie has to be one of the girls.”

Yeah, I’d like that very much. I trusted Brutus I just wasn’t holing out too much hope. I’d been burned by the Alexander and Melanie meeting bridge too many times.

The longer we were here, the more I questioned. While everyone was sleeping, I called Toby again. He answered angrily, “I don’t know anything about the damn fight. No one is talking and it’s DRIVING ME INSANE. Dylan Frost is HIDING from me. Genevieve can find him either.”

He shouted, “I tend to think that means the apocalypse is upon us. I even texted HIS Beta group chat. ALL of us want answers and he’s weirdly absent and silent. It’s unusual and we all agree. Travis Frost is looking for him, but if he found him he didn’t say.”

I said, “I feel the same way you do about all those words. I wasn’t going to ask though. My question is if we’d gotten anything on Ashley yet.”

Toby sighed, “Not really. We, and I’m using the Royal we since it’s me, are being quiet. If I could be louder about it…”

I interrupted, “No, we can’t be. My theory would upset Elise. I need to be certain before I say anything.”

Toby reasoned, “EJ, I think we have enough to say, at minimum, that Ashley is part of the Resistance. We should at least TALK to her. It’s circumstantial but it’s there EJ.”

I sighed, “Tell Drake McAlister to come to our house earlier than my mom told him to.”

Toby snorted, “Your mom already told him that before her concupiscence started. She wants him and the rest of the McAlister’s here before dark. Why? I don’t know. I just don’t get to know things anymore. I feel very out of sorts. I’m supposed to know things.”

I snorted, “You and me both, man. I pride myself on knowing things, but this entire vacation I have seen things I should’ve years before now. Is Micah around?”

Toby answered, “He’ll be available a few hours before you get back.”

I groaned, “That will have to do I suppose.” Toby asked, “Why?”

I explained, “I need him to look into a few things for me.”

Toby questioned, “What things?”

I paused. Brutus said, “He’s our Beta. He will help us.” I huffed answering him, “Ashley and Melanie.” Toby asked, “Melanie McAlister? What about her?”

I rubbed my temples, “I want him to look at the videos on Alexander’s computer of her dancing. Yes, he has them. Don’t ask. I want to know if they had been tampered with.”

It sounded crazy and I wasn’t even done. I really didn’t want to say it.

I sighed, “I’m probably being a heavy conspiracy theorist. I just think that things don’t make sense Toby. I need to know if I’m right.”

Toby whistled, “Ok. I’m getting the sense you suspect Melanie isn’t where we think she is.”

I winced, “I don’t know. I’m not certain, and I know it sounds crazy.” Toby whistled again then was silent.

Eventually he said, “It doesn’t sound crazy at all at this point. Maybe she’s doing some secret wolf thing she can’t talk about. She’s a bad liar, by all accounts, so that could be why she doesn't come home.”

I snorted, “That’s better than my theory. It’s probably that.”

Brutus argued, “You don’t believe that. You just think it makes more sense.” Did he have to hold up a mirror in my face right now?

Toby asked me, “What do you think?”

I ran a hand through my hair, “I want to be wrong.”

Toby clicked his tongue, “You asked about Alpha Ezra. You think he’s running some long con on us and the McAlister’s? That somehow involves Melanie and New York.”

I snorted, “It sounds crazy unless he joined the Ring to get back at Drake. Or he was in with them the whole time. I just don’t know.”

Toby reasoned, “He would’ve had to be really fucking careful about that for our dad’s not to sniff him out. They watched him closely. It’s possible though. I don’t think it’s crazy either. I think you’re right to be worried.”

I was surprised.

He acknowledged, “Hell, I’ve been worried for a while. It’s just when you say anything about Melanie and people bite your head off about how she’s living her dream. I’ve even thought it myself more than once.”

I closed my eyes, “That’s the concerning part. Why does everyone say that? Why did it take me leaving and getting some distance from our territory to question all this? What is going on? And most importantly, is Ladybug ok?”

He didn’t answer but I didn’t think he would have one.

I whispered, “If I have failed her all this time, I will never forgive myself. She was just a pup when she left.”

Toby sighed, “Yes, but a pup not in our pack.”

I snorted, “She’s likely my brother’s mate. I should’ve known better. Dad has someone following someone that I’m not convinced is her at this point. If someone is impersonating her this is a long con.” Toby shouted, “HOLD THE PHONE!”

I snorted, “I can’t believe I had to tell you.”

Toby ranted, “I mean I just thought he liked her and wanted to meet her. You’re saying he thinks she’s his. Damn. So many things make sense. I’m going to give this one to you. I can’t believe you had to tell me either. Damn. Just damn. Also bless you. I have questions that are answered in these dark times of no answers. I needed this.”

Elise came outside and I noticed it was morning. I told Toby, “I’ve got to go.” I hung up.

Elise sat down in my lap. She cupped my face asking, “Will you tell me what’s going on?”

I evaded, “I’m worried about some things. Some things I should’ve seen. I don’t want you to worry unless it’s necessary. I hope to all the gods and goddesses that I’m wrong. I would never forgive myself if I worried you about nothing. Nor will I forgive myself if my speculations are right. I will tell you if and when I know I’m correct.”

Elise sincerely told me, “I’m here for you. You’re my mate and I’ll be there now if you need me.”

I shook myself, “Tell me something happy.”

Elise smiled, “Ashley is on a vacation with one of her friends. She’s actually taking a break for herself. Her friends had to brow beat her into it, but after the last Rebels concert she went on a vacation.”

Brutus stilled in my head. I casually asked, “That was around when we got here, right?”

Elise nodded, “Yup.”

I sighed, “Good for her. I’m sure she’ll tell you all about it.” Brutus linked, “That lines up with when Alexander was worried and happy. He’d be worried if he was introduced to Melanie as Ashley. He knows what she looks like.” He shouldn’t have been that worried unless she was hurt. Brutus said, “We think Ashley is Swiffer. She could’ve been hurt.” FUCK MY LIFE.

Elise clapped, “I can’t wait to swap vacation stories with her.”

I smiled and kissed her. I told her, “I love you, Elise.”

If Melanie wasn’t in New York, was Ashley really Melanie? That would explain why she didn’t come here, but her family was very much alive.

Brutus linked, “But we think Ashley fights in the undergrounds. What if Alexander saw her after a fight? He’d be worried then.”

I argued, “Melanie has a wolf, she has to. Drake has pictures of her wolf.”

Brutus shot back, “That we haven’t seen.” That was sadly accurate.

I reasoned, “Yes, but T has said she was a pretty wolf.”

Brutus sighed, “Our theory makes sense.”

It did and it didn’t. If that crazy theory was right, Ladybug and I had some chatting to do. The email exchange I’d had with Ashley floated into my mind. She’d said Elise brought a sense of home and normality to her days.

I circled back to thinking it made sense, but it didn’t. Why would Melanie think she wasn’t welcome? It would make sense about Alexander though. Melanie McAlister had always been about my brother. What if Melanie and Ashley were friends? What if Melanie was really in the Resistance? Why wouldn’t she come home though? Why wouldn’t she talk to me? None of this made any damn sense.

The vacation flew by. The Kyle’s and even MaryBeth had a great time. I was a mess of emotions, and I knew Elise was worried about me. I could tell in the bond. On our second to last day, we almost cut the trip short.

Drake had called. Kai had been kidnapped, but by the time they told us, Blue Moon had news. He’d been dropped off in their territory with a card from the Resistance. Kai didn’t remember much, or so he claimed, and he wouldn’t talk about who saved him.

Then we found out that earlier that day Jason, Jayden, Finn, and my little brother, Theo, went to a supernatural mall in Missouri to bait a group of the drug ring members. My dad was going to be pissed right alongside me at them for that.

They got shot at. Someone saved them yelling for Jason to duck before rapid fire shots were fired. They did not catch the shooter of course. Finn was also there and said the shooter was fast. Peter told Drake the next time he’d better call THE SECOND something happened to someone.

Elise called Everly and talked to Kai herself. She was worried but he said it wasn’t a big deal. He was saved. Another rebuke for the Kyle’s was delivered in his rescue message. Our sniper really was pissed at them. It wasn’t their fault the play date had gone awry.

I called Jayden. He answered, “Yeah, I know.”

I growled, “Do you? You don’t go off to Missouri without me.”

He admitted, “Honestly, Jase needed the distraction, man. He’s a mess. A literal mess. His sorrow nearly drowned me and we had some intel. I was prepared, just not as prepared as the trigger happy sniper. To be fair, she seemed to be flying by the seed of her pants. She was terrified when she screamed at Jase too.” We discussed it a little more before we got off the phone. What if she was so scared because her brother was being shot at? It made sense and it didn’t.

Our last day here, I snapped us all packed. I texted Micah.

Me: Get on Alexander’s computer and check the videos of the girl dancing. I want to know if they were tampered with.

Before he could answer Elise’s confusion and then fear slammed into me. I popped to her. She was standing outside staring at her phone in horror. I touched her on the shoulders, but she didn’t respond. I asked, “Elise?”

She turned around with tears in her eyes.

I looked over at her family who was coming outside. Elise rubbed her head and went to her knees. I grabbed her shouting, “Elise, what’s wrong?”

Chelsea yelled, “ELISE!”

Elise looked at me pleading, “We have to go home and you have to talk to Drake. I think something’s wrong with Melanie. We have to go see her. No, we NEED to! I need to see her! I’m so worried. Melanie remembers everything. She doesn't know what Plan Z is! She doesn’t know our code word.”

I frowned completely lost. Brutus told me, “Rhea is howling in agony. Do something. NOW!”

I asked Elise, “What is Plan Z? What code word?”

Elise cried, “Can we please just go home?” I carried her back inside. Drake McAlister and I were going to have one HELL of a conversation.

Everyone in our group was looking worriedly at Elise. They put a hand on me, and I popped into our home. My dad called, “EJ? Elise? You’re early.”

He stalled then asked, “Elise, are you alright? What’s happened?”

I felt him frantically searching his bond with me to find out if something happened to me.

I looked at Drake McAlister, “I need to take her to see Melanie. This shit ends. NOW.”

Drake frowned, “I haven't ever stopped Elise from going to see Melanie.”

I snorted, “No, just me and my family. I don’t have time to get her a flight. I want to pop to Melanie. Is this all really about Alexander? Is he right? Because he better not be. I stood up for all of you, so help me god you’d better say I’m right and he’s not.”

Tristan asked, “Wait, what? Why would this have anything to do with Alexander?”

I glared at Drake saying, “My brother thinks you are keeping Melanie from him because you think he’s just another in the long line of possessive men that likes Melanie. Is. He. Right?”

Elise tightened her arms around my neck, and I felt her distress in the bond. I just needed this answer.

Brutus linked, “Pepper is in shock.”

I relaxed slightly. Drake was taken aback, “Alexander likes Melanie?”

I raised an eyebrow, “He more than likes her. He thinks she’s his mate. The ONLY reason we don’t know for sure is because you all have some excuse for Melanie not showing up at ANYTHING!”

Drake gasped, “Really? Ladybug and Alexander?”

His eyes filled with tears. Sam shrieked excitedly and hugged Drake. She cried saying, “Our pup will come home. She’ll come home. Oh god. She’s coming home.”

Jason asked, “What the hell?! Why would Alexander think we would keep them apart? He’s not some weirdly obsessed wolf about her. He would never be mean to her. Those guys were mean to her. Holy shit! He ripped Two Peaks apart because of Ladybug?”

I snorted, “Yes. Keep up. So, this isn’t about you keeping them apart?”

Drake wiped his eyes, “Why the HELL would I do that?”

I yelled, “I DON’T KNOW! Why don’t you have a SINGLE picture of her? Why don’t you want us to pop to her? These are answers I don’t have! You have them.”

My dad linked, “Son, let’s take a breath.”

I replied, “I’ve taken too many. I want answers.”

Drake frowned, “We have a million pictures of Melanie.” My dad snorted, “No, you really don’t. I’ve never seen her.” I looked around asking, “Where’s mom?” My dad answered, “Waiting for Sir Arthur, Robert and Breanna to get to their house. Once they get there, she’s bringing them here, for some reason.”

Drake cleared his throat, “Eric, you were at our anniversary party our pups threw. HOLY SHIT HER STUFFED WOLF! Oh my god! Has Ladybug always liked Alexander?”

Tristan snorted, “Good catch, dad. Very slow on the uptake.”

My dad nodded, “Agreed. Let’s focus on the party. Melanie wasn’t in the pictures there and everyone thinks it's weird.”

Elise frowned, “Yes, she was.”

Emmaline cleared her throat. I hadn’t even seen that Blue Moon was here. I linked Jayden, “Hello to you too.”

He replied, “This is crazy, and I have no words yet.” Fair enough. Emmaline declared, “Eric is right. Melanie wasn’t in the pictures. I thought it was weird, but everyone from your pack acted like it was a joke. I thought it was a prank to keep Haley believing Melanie wasn’t real.”

She added, “Even when I popped into the Kyle’s house after Elise declared it an emergency and walked to your house. There were no pictures of her there either.”

Dylan was biting his lip. I did not care for that but at least he’d emerged.

The Daniels were quiet, but that wasn’t odd. Sam said, “But you’re all wrong. Melanie was in all those pictures.”

Elise confirmed, “She was.”

I sighed, “Ok, someone pulled a prank or used magic then. Drake, give me permission to pop to Melanie.” Drake frowned, “Shouldn’t you ask your dad?”

I snarled, “OH MY GOD, I DON’T HAVE TIME FOR THIS! GIVE ME FUCKING PERMISSION! Declare it a damn emergency! SOMETHING is going on! Release me from the promise and let me go to New York! I know where her apartment is.”

Drake was confused, “What promise? You were the ones who said we couldn’t have you pop to US unless it was an emergency.”

I countered, “No, you made us promise not to pop to any McAlister unless YOU said it was an emergency.”

Elise gasped.

Drake disagreed, “I never said that.”

My dad said, “Yes, you did. I even called you and we discussed it. You said you didn’t want your pups to not do things for themselves. You didn’t want them to rely on people for things, especially given EJ would be around a lot because of Elise.”

Drake gaped, “Eric, we never talked about this. You texted me saying you didn’t want to discuss it. I NEVER talked to you on the phone. I didn’t say any of that.”

My dad frowned “We talked about it again when Melanie and Sam got into that car accident. Haley was upset you wouldn’t let her heal them.”

Drake shouted, “EXCUSE ME?! It wasn’t offered! I did NOT want to watch my mate and my young pup in pain.”

Eric frowned, “Then who the FUCK did I talk to?!”

Drake snorted, “I don’t know. Who the hell texted me about this? Where is my daughter?!” He held his head and shouted in pain.

Brutus said, “We don’t have time to figure that out. Let everyone else. Mate NEEDS to see Melanie.”

I looked at him, “Drake, just give me permission to go to her apartment in New York.”

Drake sighed, “I release you all from a damn promise I didn’t make you make. Go. Please! Get Melanie and bring her home.”

I popped with Elise still in my arms hearing him scream, “SHE IS LIVING HER DREAM.”

Brutus linked, “That was weird.”

That was a word for it. I set Elise down and looked around the apartment that was supposedly Melanie’s. Elise started crying because the place was bare. The desk where Melanie sat when she video called was against a wall.

Where the camera would hit on the wall held the only decorations in the whole apartment. The computer wasn’t even on the desk. Elise sobbed, “Where is she?”

I tried to pop specifically to Melanie and was thrown back hard.

I shouted, “You’re fucking kidding me!”

I grabbed Elise and popped to the arts high school Melanie went to before Julliard. I walked in and looked around, until I found an administrator. I smiled, “Hi, I’m looking for some information on one of your former students.”

She smiled apologizing, “Oh well, I’m very sorry, but we can’t do that.”

I linked Theo and Maverick, “One of you pop to me.”

A second later Maverick walked around the corner. I linked him, “I want information about Melanie.”

He smiled at the administrator and used his influencing power. “You want to tell us all about your former student Melanie McAlister.”

The woman smiled, “I sure do.”

She typed then tilted her head, “Huh. That’s odd. We were looking at her as a potential student. She never attended this school though.” I yelled, “WHAT?!”

Maverick frowned, “Are you sure?”

She nodded, “Yes, I am quite certain.”

Elise had gone past sobbing and was crying silently, holding her breath. I picked her up and carried her to an alley, then popped us to the registration building for Julliard. Maverick was right behind me having guessed where I’d go next.

He asked, “EJ, what the fuck is going on?”

I growled, “I don’t know, but I’m not liking the picture that’s forming.”

We walked inside. I inclined my head to the lady at the front desk. Maverick spoke, “Hello beautiful lady, you want to give us all the information about a current student of yours.” She smiled, “Yes, I do. Who?” Maverick replied, “Melanie Jane McAlister.” She typed into her computer.

She sighed, “Such a shame really. She got in twice but she’s not a student.”

Elise shrieked, “NO, SHE HAS TO BE!”

The woman frowned, “She’s not. As I said she got in twice. Her Aunt called the first time and rejected her spot due to funding. We tried to tell her we had financial aid that Melanie qualified for, but she said no.” They had more than enough money, and Allison thought she was here so there was no aunt declining the spot.

The woman continued, “When Melanie applied again the following year, we thought her financial situation had changed. Then her aunt called and said Melanie’s mental stability wasn’t good enough to come and rejected the spot a second time. Melanie hasn’t applied since.”

None of that was true.

Brutus linked, “If she’s Ashley she might not be mentally stable. She’s fighting and nearly letting herself die, over a lie.”

Yes, but there’s no way she didn’t believe it. She’d come see them if she thought that. Which meant if Ashley and Melanie were the same person she believed everything in Ashley’s background.

The woman drew our attention again, “If you’re friends are with her, tell her to apply again. She’s older now than most applicants but her talent captivated the admittance committee. Her file is earmarked in case she ever decided to reapply.”

I could hear my heartbeat in my chest.

Maverick grabbed my arm. He smiled, “Thank you, ma’am. We will just be on our way.”

She giggled, “I love an accent that’s not from around here.”

Good for her.

I called my dad. He answered, “Do you have Melanie?”

I snarled, “Have your man grab the girl he believes is Melanie McAlister. Mav will stay behind and bring her home.”

My dad asked, “Thinks?” I snarled, “She’s never even fucking been here. Where is Alexander?”

My dad answered, “He left on the mission for your uncle yesterday. He’s dark, but I’ll call Bjourn. I know your feelings say we need someone to get him and bring him home.”

I hung up. I told Maverick, “Pop to dad’s guy. Bring the Melanie McAlister imposter to our dungeons. I have questions she’s going to answer.”

Maverick nodded asking, “Is Melanie really Alexander’s mate?”

I answered honestly, “I think she is, but we don’t know.”

Maverick’s eyes went gold, “They will pay for this.” I agreed, “Yes, they will.” Whoever the fuck ‘they’ was.

I popped back home with Elise. Drake frowned asking, “Where’s Melanie?”

I growled, “I don’t know. What I do know is she was NEVER in New York. She never went to high school there, and she NEVER went to Julliard.”

Sam started sobbing, “What are you saying? WHERE IS MY PUP! SHE’S SUPPOSED TO BE LIVING HER DREAM! WHAT ARE YOU SAYING?!”

Elise pushed off me, “I have to get out of here. I need to run.”

I offered, “I’ll come with you.”

Elise ran outside growling, “ALONE!” I winced. Brutus whined, “Rhea agrees. They need space.” Fuck space.

Drake announced, “My dad’s not answering.”

Brutus asked, “What does that have to do with anything?”

I didn’t know. Peter explained, “He’s with my dad. They have a meeting with a drug dealer later, so they won’t have their phones on.” Drake cursed, “FUCK!”

Micah came quickly into the room wide eyed. He said, “Uhh EJ, we need to talk.”

I frowned, “I already know those tapes are messed with.”

Micah nodded, “Yes, but it’s just the backgrounds. The girl dancing in them is there but not where the background was. That’s NOT what we need to talk about.”

Dylan said, “We need the Moody Triplet.”

We all turned to him. Drake growled, “Why?”

Dylan sighed, “We just do.” I pressed, “Dylan?” Micah yelled, “EVERYONE JUST SHUT UP!” I turned to him astonished. He grabbed me and announced, “We will be back.” Then he dragged me out of the main room, down to my office and shut the door.

I asked, “What’s going on?”

Micah questioned, “Why does Alexander have these? And WHY does Jason McAlister have them for him to have?”

I explained, “They’re videos of Melanie McAlister dancing. Alexander has them because Melanie is his. Or so I’m convinced. Jason has them because she’s his sister.”

Micah gaped, “THIS?”

He flipped the computer around, “This girl is Melanie McAlister? That’s what you’re saying?”

I nodded. He was about to say more when I fell to the ground in pain, and it felt like my heart stopped. My mate was hurt. I screamed, “ELISE!” I had to move so I gathered my strength and ran out the door.