2

Ashley stepped in front of Micah. She said, “I’ll drop you like a sack of potatoes if you try anything weird, Dante. I just told Micah you wouldn’t, and I meant it. Which you totally know because you laugh when I lie to you…”

Several people snickered. Maybe she wasn’t a Fairy.

Ashley added, “You don’t even like guys.”

Dante looked at her, “You rarely stick up for anyone. You barely have friends of the male persuasion. You hate most of the guys here. We have a pool about whether or not you're a lesbian.”

Gunner urged, “Drop him, Ashley.” I agreed.

Ashley snorted, “I totally have male friends… that’s a thing… that I have… just not here, because you suck! As far as you are concerned on my sexual preference... let’s go with that. It’s simpler. There’s one man I’ d ever let touch me in the way you all want to, and one man alone.”

We all asked, “Who?”

As if she could hear us.

Ashley continued, “So keep on dreaming. You all with your grabby hands have NOTHING that I want. I don’t want to be touched by ANY of you jerks, and you INSIST on trying knowing that… and that I can beat you. There’s a definition you should look up. Insanity.”

My eyes had to be wide as saucers by now.

Ashley pointed at my brother in law, “Micah here does swing the other way which means I don’t have to worry he’s going to try and cop a feel. He’s actually a good guy, unlike you tools. Come on Micah. Let’s go get some food and catch up.”

She paused, “Samantha and Cindy do you guys want to join?”

The two Werewolves we’d noted earlier nodded while glaring at Dante. Addison answered her, “Yeah, we’re coming. Dante, you know if you keep treating the new people like this they won’t join.”

Harper muttered, “Which should be what a Werewolf would want.”

He said it, but we were all thinking it.

Micah put his shirt back on. Dante cleared his throat, “We’d welcome you, Micah. I don’t lead this group. A man named Nate does and he will be back tonight.”

Micah said, “I was prepared to join, but after whatever the hell this was, I’ll have to think about it.”

I smiled, happy with that play. It was a good one. He didn’t want to appear over eager. Dante even seemed to relax at his response.

Dante nodded slowly, “Ashley, do tell him he could work with you if he joined, since you two know each other.”

Ashley snidely retorted, “Because he doesn’t have ears and can’t hear you himself? This isn’t kindergarten. Tell him yourself… which you did, so… I’m not your telephone. I swear you all are a bunch of pups with grabby hands.”

Which would say they knew she was a Wolf and they did nothing. She was still ranting as they walked outside.

Micah asked her, “Uhh have we met? Because I don’t think I was there.”

Ashley ignored his question and led him to a car. I raised an eyebrow because it looked like she intended to drive, and I knew she was fifteen. Micah followed, not having that information and got in. Ashley got in the driver's seat and took off.

Harper asked, “Did the law change here in this realm and I didn’t know?”

I replied, “Nope. She’s not supposed to be driving.”

I followed them at a distance.It must not have been far enough, because Ashley was trying to shake me. She was good too. In a few years, with more experience, she might have managed to lose me. Micah was clearly messing with me by not telling her.

Eventually he said, “That’s my backup you keep trying to shake. How do you even know to look for a tail?”

His voice was full of amusement. Ashley sighed, “Fine. I’ll stop trying to lose them then. Even though we are obviously not going to hurt you. It has to be obvious because I just saved you. There is no logical conclusion in which I hurt you after I save you. It’s not my style.”

Sierra said, “Ashley, you’re ranting.”

Why did that sound like a warning? Ashley sighed and stopped talking. I glanced at the laptop. Micah was looking at her, so I noticed she was literally biting her lip so hard she was nearly drawing blood. Not talking must be hard for her. I’d bet she was linking the other girls in the car, but her eyes didn’t look like it.

I followed her to the edge of Nashville and Franklin. Ashley took Micah to a restaurant called King’s Diner. No one was here except them and another car. She got out and called to the guy in the kitchen, “Hey Mason, we’ll be at the back booth.”

Mason laughed, “Four burgers and fries coming up.”

Ashley paused then said, “You’d better make it five, Mace. There’s an extra person who is likely to join. Whoever it is followed us all over the place… it would be a waste for them to sit in the car and miss out on your burgers. They can totally hear me too… so they will come for the burger.”

Mason nodded. Oh really?

Well, if she knew I was listening, I might as well join them. I walked inside and was spotted by the girl in question immediately. Ashley’s eyes widened for a minute then she seemed to nod to herself. I raised an eyebrow because I could clearly tell she recognized me too.

I linked Micah, “What the fuck?”

He replied, “I have no idea, but she knows both of us.”

Someone from Missouri? How? I walked over and sat down as Mason came over with five burgers and fries. Ashley smiled, “Thanks, Mace.”

So, she was nice to some people. It didn’t seem getting on this girl’s bad side was a good idea.

He grinned at her, “You know that I’d do anything for you. Hendrick and I are just waiting for you to move out of your aunt’s and in with us. We love you, Ash.”

This was going to get confusing. My best friend was Hendrix and she knew someone named Hendrick. Awesome.

Ashley blushed as he walked off, the longing clear on her face. Why wouldn’t she take him up on it if she wanted to? I reasoned with myself that she could have abandonment issues. Who could blame her? Her brother deserted her. I took a bite of my burger acknowledging it was good.

Eventually Addison asked me, “Who are you?”

I raised an eyebrow, “Who are you two?”

I pointed at Addison and Sierra. Addison said, “I’m Cindy Blake and this is Samantha McLean.”

I nodded, “Sure and I’m Santa Claus.” Ashley muttered, “He’d know you both, by your faces… so…” How did she know that?

Addison frowned questioning me, “Who are you again?”

Ashley snorted, “He’s Cayden Crawford, The Commander of the Hackura Army and Alpha Duchess Cassie Conners’ mate.”

Micah linked, “What is happening?”

I didn’t answer because I didn’t know.

I raised an eyebrow then asked, “And how would you know that?”

Her face flushed, “Lots of people around here know that…”

Her voice actually raised sixteen octaves and squeaked. It was the worst attempt at a lie I’d ever seen.

She rambled, “I mean everyone knows the Hackura Army Commander is mated to Alpha Duchess Cassie Conners and everyone knows Cayden Crawford is the Commander of the Army…. Well, everyone paying attention anyway...”

I stared at her as she got back to her regular tone using those facts. She changed the subject, “Do you like the burgers? They are the best around… people say… I mean… everyone around here… they are good though… and…”

I cut her off, “You talk a lot.”

Sierra agreed, “She does.”

I commented, “You’re a terrible liar though. I can see why you’re so evasive, but you don’t have Fairy blood. I’ve been around enough partial Fairies to spot even the smallest speck of it. Since you appear to know my mate, I’ll call her and have her join us.”

Ashley’s panicked squeaking, “Huh? What? Cassie… I mean Alpha Duchess Cassie… she’s totally busy… that’s thing that she is. Plus, I’m a Werewolf. Lots of people think the Fairy thing though. I just know a lot about Fairies.”

Micah injected, “Why?”

As Addison and Sierra rubbed their temples. This must happen often with Ashley.

Ashley answered, “I studied them a lot in my old pack… not like studied like they were test subjects… I mean more like researched…. There are some partial Fairies around here that I talk to now, that I live here. I teach them how to fight and hold classes for those who haven’t been taught. It’s sad that they just want people to be defenseless around here.”

I said, “Back to Cassie.”

Ashley jumped back in, “What? Cassie? I mean Alp…”

I waved trying to stop her, “I know her title.”

She chattered on as if I didn’t say anything, “ha Duchess Cassie… here? No… I’ve never met your mate, no need to meet her now. We… well... I’ll just go… probably I mean....”

I cut her off, “No wait, don’t go. Cassie doesn’t have to come join us. I thought you might know her since you know who I am. Since you don’t know her, how did you know who Micah and I were? You knew he’d killed rogues.”

Ashley snorted, “Of course he has. He’s Alpha Duke Max Conners mate. Logic dictates he’s been around Black Mountain when there’s been a rogue attack… not like that… I know that because I broke into files on Edward’s computer and read them. That’s not a thing that I did or do currently…”

Sierra groaned, “Oh my god.”

Micah linked, “She called him Edward, not Alpha. Yet both our mates got full titles.”

I replied, “Somehow that’s not on the list of things I’m curious about.”

Ashley continued, “He’s also definitely fought with an allied attack. He’s killed a Werewolf. That’s just basic logic…that one would have without reading files one does not have access too.”

I stared at her before linking Micah, “Sweet baby Jesus. She is the worst liar of all time.” He laughed, “I know. It’s great, right?” I don’t know if I’d say that.

She winced adding, “By the way... having someone who people KNOW is a Conners’ mate just waltz into a Hunters den… is such a bad call.”

Addison hissed, “ASHLEY!”

She cleared her throat, “Bad call, dudes. Very bad call.”

Sierra hit her head on the table.

Ashley asked, “What? I said dudes like we are friends. Just like he said to!”

Sierra asked, “Dear god, who said that?”

Before she could answer Addison jumped it, “Her strange way of pointing out Duke Micah shouldn’t come back is right. They knew her was coming and who he was.”

I disagreed, “Dante suspected. Ashley, and possibly you two, were the only ones who knew for sure. Which brings us back to how she knows me and Micah. I’ve never met any of you. We did surveillance on Black Pack two years ago and Ashley didn’t live there at the time.”

She frowned, “I do now. I was sent packing…which is a nice way to describe my…”

Sierra cleared her throat. Ashley waved, “after my parents died. My brother blames me for their deaths. It's a lovely pack full of wonderful people.”

Now her tone dripped with anger and derision.

Micah and I laughed. I reiterated, “You’re a bad liar and clearly you hate Black Path. You used the Alpha’s name earlier without the title.”

What was surprising was that Addison and Sierra agreed with her.

Ashley sighed, “Yes, I hate it and him. He doesn’t deserve the title of Alpha because he’s abysmal…. It’s kind for when you think about. Except for a few bright spots of wonderful people, the packs sucks... As a whole… the pack lands itself are…”

Sierra chimed in, “Ashley.”

Ashley grumbled, “The current pack leadership is spineless. Their future leadership is different. The current one isn’t even…”

Sierra butted back in, “Ashley.”

Micah linked, “They should just let her talk. I want to know the end of that sentence.” So did I.

She moved on, “But the current leadership is doing shady things…”

Addsion warned “Ashley.”

I shot them both a glare. They needed to stop interrupting her. Ashley groaned, “Their Lead Warriors are crap. They think just because they are wolves they don’t have to train. I can beat all of them in a fight.”

Sierra jumped in, “Ashley.” What was wrong with that? Other than the obvious fact that it shouldn’t be possible.

Ashley rambled, “I’m fifteen… and they aren’t… so that’s just sad. When I get my wolf, I’m going to challenge the pathetic excuse of a Female Lead Warrior for her spot. I’ll win easily… she’s practically a figurehead.”

Sierra groaned, “Ashley?”

She asked, “What? She is and…”

I actually knew why they wanted her to stop talking that time.

I interrupted her, “At sixteen years old? What about school?”

She shrugged, “I have a GED…. so I don’t go to school.”

Micah frowned, “What do you do during the day?”

Ashley looked away and Addison reached for her hand and squeezed it.

Sierra answered, “They have her doing chores.”

Ashley added, “I work on projects in my spare time. Like hiding your mark.”

Micah asked, “Let’s talk about that. How did you do that?”Micah moved his collar down. I glanced over to see that his mark didn’t show on his neck at all. His wolf tattoo was completely gone.

Ashley smiled, leaned across the table, grabbed his arm, and peeled something away. I almost gagged because it looked like his skin was coming off. I wasn’t squeamish but Micah was a brother to me through marriage in our realm. I looked again and his mark was back.

Now I asked, “How did you do that?”

She grabbed a beat up purple backpack and slid it toward me. I told her, “You need a new backpack.”

She shrugged, “This is all I’ve got.”

The need to help this girl hit me very strongly.

I opened her backpack. In several packages were circular objects that looked like small band aids. I swore there was a stuffed animal in the bottom too. I couldn’t make out what it was without taking it out, but I could see black fur on whatever it was. Maybe even a hint of white.

She encouraged, “Put one on.”

I put it on the back of my hand. If I hadn’t known exactly where it was, I couldn't have seen it. It matched my skin the second I put it on. I moved it to my mark and pulled down the collar of my shirt. Micah announced, “Your Hackura and Wolf marks, along with the tattoo of Rain, are gone. That’s wicked cool!”

I asked her, “What the heck are you three doing with Hunters? They will kill you if they find out you are Werewolves.”

Ashley snorted, “As if they could. They wish they could fight half as well as I do. Plus, they know.”

Micah yelled, “THEY KNOW?!”

I wasn’t surprised by that since she said pups and they didn’t bat an eye. She nodded.

I linked Micah, “What the fuck?!”

He replied, “I have no words. Maybe it’s a ‘we are watching you’ kind of thing.”

I asked, “And they used their own daughters? They are cold hearted.”

He agreed, “They are.” I asked, “Do you feel protective of Ashley? Because I do.” He admitted, “I have since I saw her.”

Addison laughed, “They do wish that they could fight like her. Several have even said that out loud.”

Micah said, “They aren’t good at fighting. They are Hunters, they hunt.”

That was very accurate. I frowned, “Why does your pack have you with them?”

Ashley said, “We could talk about that… or you can take what’s in the backpack for your people. It would help you on missions. Especially if you’re trying to get involved with Hunter Rings.”

I sat back pondering my choices. I wanted her to trust me, but part of me screamed to throw her over my shoulder and get her the hell out of here.

I mused, “We can just take out Dante if he’s in charge.”

Ashley looked murderous explaining, “He’s not in charge, he’s just a figurehead. He just thinks he’s amazing because he’s the face of the Hunters now… but really, he’s just a moron. Everyone knows you go for who you think is in charge. He thinks he’s special, but really those in charge are hoping people come to kill him instead of them.”

I asked, “Who is in charge then?”

Ashley’s face darkened with hatred. She spat out, “Slade Carter.”

I frowned, “Never heard of him.”

She muttered, “Few have. It’s his whole annoying plan to stay off the radar. I’m really ticked about the fact that it works… he’s annoyingly smart… not me smart, but smart.” I questioned, “How do we get to him?” Ashley snarked, “You won’t, because I’ll get to him first and kill him.”

I sat back and ate some of my burger. I mulled over everything I knew about her in my head. I concluded there was only one logical reason for her to be so determined. I said, “You think Slade Carter killed your family then.”

Ashley frowned, “I know he did. I’ll find him... and he will pay for what he did to me.”

Whatever her pack thought she was doing with the Hunters, she clearly wasn’t. It was all over her face that she wanted Slade.

I reasoned, “We could help you.”

Ashley looked away for several moments. When she looked back at me, I saw a clear decision in her eyes. Along with a need to help that I did not fully understand. She reasoned, “It would be more beneficial if I helped you. Micah doesn’t have to join the Hunters if you have me. It’s safer too, especially for him… he’s not a Werewolf but they are suspicious of him.”

She was right.

I told her, “I trust Micah implicitly.”

Ashley sighed, “We want the same thing here, Commander Cayden. To bring the Hunters… down… well that’s complicated.... You have to take them down. for Alpha Duchess Cassie… but there’s more to it than...”

Sierra cleared her throat and shook her head.

Micah linked, “They want to do something else with the Hunters. But what?”

I replied, “Isn’t that the question?”

I raised an eyebrow questioning Ashley, “Which brings us back to how on Earth you know all that.”

Ashley shook her head, “You keep those concealers, and I’ll give you information on a drug bust you can hijack. We could totally just… forget the conversation about how I know things. I will be a source for you on the drugs, and the Hunters. I just want to be an anonymous source.”

That she even knew to ask for that filled me with more questions.

I frowned, “Why?”

Ashley shrugged, “It’s the only way I’ll do it. No Werewolves, even partial ones, can know I’m helping you.”

Micah argued, “Shouldn’t you prefer the Werewolf council?”

Her jaw ticked and her eyes lit with despair.

Addison interjected, “It’s a good deal and you know it. She’s offering more than she has to.”

I nodded, “And I’m wondering why. The only conclusion I can come to is that this is about my in-laws. She knows a lot about the Conners.”

Ashley muttered, “Most people do... they are pretty famous in Supernatural and human circles. Human because they are billionaires so… yeah… super famous. You have the most powerful pack being taken over by childhood sweethearts and an Alpha Enforcer.”

Well, the tone of how she said Alexander’s title told me a lot.

Micah linked, “She’s in love with Alexander.”

We exchanged looks. I reasoned, “In love might be a stretch. Her tone was wistful.”

With a touch of longing. I rubbed my head, starting to get a headache. She added, “Their dad is the strongest Alpha around and their mom is a double Princess… everyone knows about them.”

Not everyone knew who I was though. My name, sure. What I looked like? No. I studied her, thinking yet again over my options.

Rationally speaking, her age played in my favor. She was only fifteen years old. If we built trust with her, she could explain more. Something told me she knew a hell of a lot more than she was saying. I’d bet she knew the blue circle group people. If I were them, I’d recruit the shit out of Ashley Griffen. Irrationally, I clenched my fists to resist ordering Micah to open a portal and take her home with us.

I nodded, “I agree temporarily. I’ll have to confirm with my King. For obvious reasons, we do not tend to close the Conners out of things.”

Ashley argued, “But in special cases you do, and the Princess understands. She was raised that way and understands how things work…”

I cut her off, “The more you ramble the more I wonder how you know these things. Do you know a Hackura?”

She muttered, “I met one… a full blooded Hackura… once… before… and a partial one….”

I sighed, “You really are evasive like a Fairy.”

She actually blushed and looked proud of herself.

We finished our burgers, and she slid information over to me. Reading over it I could see she was giving us a shipment to stop. I took out my phone and moved a few booths away. I began coordinating. Gunner and Harper had texted several comments throughout the conversation in a group chat.

Gunner: She knows more than she’s saying.

Harper: Do you want to throw her through a portal to our realm and protect her? Because I do.

Gunner: I know, I’m keeping you here.

Gunner: Black Path has them working with Hunters knowing they are Werewolves?

Harper: So, maybe Black Path is trying to let Hunters see Werewolves aren’t all bad. There was clearly more to the plan than Ashley said. They stopped her. Could they be trying to flip Hunters? They really should use the Werewolf Council for this. It’s dangerous.

Gunner: Wow, she loves Alexander.

Harper: Shocking. He has another fan. Maybe she watches his videos and that’s where she learned to fight so well the Hunters are jealous.

Gunner: She knows we do anonymous sources? I’m having IT flag her name. Maybe someone ran across her in Missouri before she moved.

Harper: Can she be a little less smart?

Me: I agree with all of the above. I think if we build some trust with her then she could tell us more.

Gunner: She has to know that blue circle group. I’d want her if I was them.

Me: Agreed.