3

They mirrored my own thoughts during the conversation which settled me about the whole thing. Micah took out his computer. Ashley sat forward suggesting, “You should use Atom instead. It’s easier to use.”

I’d like to say I knew what that meant, but I had literally no clue. I watched them both carefully. Ashley tugged on her sleeve looking nervous.

Micah looked up, “I normally do. I just have a few codes I write in Sublime Text.”

She moved to his side of the booth looking cautiously excited. She added, “You should change that to a three... and that one to a plus… if you want it work…”

Sierra groaned, “You can’t just tell people they are wrong, Ash.”

She frowned, “But it is wrong. I guess it was rude though… but I didn’t mean it to be. I was trying to help.”

Micah studied her before looking back at the screen. He yelled, “Cayden, just a warning that I’m never letting her go! This fixes the problem my dad and I have been having! You just inverted the…”

I tuned them out immediately. I had a healthy respect for the technological people, I just wasn’t one myself. My phone buzzed.

Gunner: Oh my god! She’s right.

Harper: He’s geeking out as hard as Micah is. I’ve lost him to coding babble.

I watched with a smile on my face as Micah and Ashley came up with some kind of code together. I studied her, thinking something didn’t quite add up here. A kid with a GED who had these contraptions she called concealers should be competing for grants. Colleges and supernatural’s should be tripping over themselves to work with her, but no one knew about them. Did her old pack not understand how valuable she was? She was talking code like it was her job.

Eventually, I rejoined the group and handed her a burner phone. I announced, “You can contact us on this. I’ll let you know if we are moving forward with you as a source.”

She smiled, “You’re going to say yes. It’s written all over your face. You like me… umm wait. Not in a weird way. Oh gosh... you’re mated. I meant… you think... like…”

Micah was biting his lip trying not to laugh as Ashley kept on talking.

I teased, “Do you ever stop talking once you start?”

She whispered, “No.... not really. I was just trying to clarify I didn’t mean that you like me like me, like anything more than a person. Most people like me in a different way. They are possessive…. and weird…”

Addison jumped in, “Ashley.”

She ignored her, “One could even say creepy.”

I frowned, “Excuse me? You said that earlier too.”

She shrugged “People are always saying I’m theirs. They want to have sex with me… most want to possess me… I’m too much, I guess… it’s a popular opinion down here.”

She was too much because she talked a lot? The urge to get her out of here was growing.

I frowned, “If you become our source and you are ever in danger we will come for you, Ashley. We protect our own and our sources.”

Ashley laughed, “I have yet to come across someone who can beat me in a fight. That sounded boastful… but it’s also true.”

Addison slammed her head down onto the table. Ashley asked, “What? It is!”

I gave them an out, “You’re right though, about me liking you in a non-romantic way.”

I didn’t think it would help to say I felt a brotherly connection to her. Her brother was an idiot so that might freak her out. I hadn’t spent much time with her, and I wanted to protect her more than most of the sources I had.

Hell, it might be more than I wanted to protect all of them. Some I’d even known since I was ten. We got up to leave and waved goodbye as we walked out the door. Ashley was already writing in a notebook she had while the others tried to pull her out of it. It didn’t look like it was going to go well.

I drove Micah and I back to his fake apartment. I told him, “We’ll keep this apartment for you since Ashley is likely going to be a source for us. I’m certain that Uncle Bjourn will agree.”

Harper walked into the apartment nodding. He agreed, “He will. He would without me recommending it, but I absolutely intend to do so.”

Gunner and Micah started talking about the code Ashley had changed. I asked them, “What’s Atom? I assume you do not mean the basic unit of a chemical element. It’s a program of some kind, right?”

They both laughed but didn’t answer. Harper said, “It’s best to just let them discuss it.”

I looked at him stating, “I’m worried. She’s fifteen and doing chores according to the Alpha’s daughter.”

Micah said, “She called herself Cindy though.”

Gunner added, “They have no background whatsoever. Dante isn’t too paranoid if doesn’t run even a basic background check. The diner you went to belongs to Mason and Hendrick King. They are ostracized in their pack for being gay.”

I frowned “I thought Werewolves were past that.”

Gunner sighed, “Not all of the packs, apparently. They are fated mates too.”

That was simple minded thinking. Even if they weren’t fated mates, the heart wants what the heart wants. Assholes.

I turned back to Harper, “If they are prejudiced like that could they be treating Ashley as a pack slave?”

Harper frowned, “Yes, they could be. I could have Eric check on her. I just need to think of a way without tipping our hand.”

Micah pointed out, “She’s challenging to be a Female Lead Warrior when she’s sixteen. That would be an obvious time for the council to check in. It’s standard to wait until she’s eighteen to have the time to do the job because of school.”

Gunner agreed, “He’s right. That would make the most sense.”

I didn’t like it, but they were right.

Harper nudged me, “You gave her the phone so she could call you if she needs something.”

I said, “She’ll reach Micah when she calls since I put his number in there. They bonded best with their coding deal, and she saved him. It stands to reason she’d be the most comfortable with him. I think we can get more than Hunter and drug rings if we can get this girl on our side.”

Harper nodded, “I do too. Eric has long suspected that pack of doing bad things.”

They left soon after that.

I told Micah, “Get some sleep. The four of us will tackle the drug shipment tomorrow.”

Mentally I told myself when it turned out to be good intel, I’d get Ashley a new backpack. I tried to take my own advice and get some sleep, but my own thoughts plagued me. Ashley looked haunted and angry. Was she really in love with my brother in law? Her tone when she said his title said she might. I shook that off. She didn’t know him.

The next day we took several people prisoner and intercepted a very large drug shipment that had been infiltrating Black Mountain Pack, and their allied areas. Micah happily announced, “Her intel was good.”

I acknowledged, “Yes it was.”

I stopped and took us into a store I knew would have what I wanted to get. I saw a multicolored purple backpack I bought for her. I told Micah to meet up with Ashley and let her know she was in, then give her the backpack. I was beyond confident Uncle Bjourn would agree.

I waited for him guessing it would take longer than normal if Ashley got to talking. When he got back, he told me, “I found her at King’s Diner. I was just going to give it to Mason, but she was there working in her notebook. She cried over the backpack because she was so excited and happy. She hugged me as if it was the best thing she’d ever gotten.”

I frowned, “It’s just a backpack.”

Micah winced saying, “I think it’s about someone being nice to her. There were some pack members there calling her a curse.”

I snorted, “Probably because she’s a better fighter than they are. They must be jealous.”

Their pack wasn’t great at training anyone.

He added, “I asked her why she didn’t just buy a new backpack, and she said her money goes into other things more important than a backpack.”

I theorized, “She probably uses what she can on things like this.”

I held up the concealers.

Micah nodded, “I guess. Someone has to be funding that kind of thing.”

The blue circle group was my biggest suspect. I opened a portal, “I’m going home. Are you going to Black Mountain?”

Micah answered, “I’m coming with you to grab some things from mine and Max’s place in our realm before I head to Black Mountain.”

I portaled us right outside my home. I waved to Micah before walking inside and threw my stuff down. I needed to protect Ashley. Getting her to trust us could go easier than I thought. Or much harder. Something told me the backpack would at least get us something. I had a sinking feeling that trust was a thing of Ashley’s past. I hoped I was wrong though.

Cassie walked in interrupting my thoughts. She had goals in her mind, clearly. I had a meeting, but I could be late. I was surprised she was being very possessive and attacking my mark with her teeth and setting a fast pace.

My fiery redhead was quite commanding today. Then I heard three distinct gasps outside our window. Oh, hell to the fuck no. If we were outside in an orgy and people watch us that’s one thing. I was not about to deal with peeping fucking toms into our goddamn home.

Once they were gone, I studied my mate. She’d known the whole time and wanted whoever was outside to hear me say I was hers. I also knew she wasn’t going to tell me who it was. We stayed in the shower far longer than we should’ve. God, I’d missed her. I hated that knowing what I was doing meant hiding things from her family. She was adamant she needed to know and didn’t mind. When she said things like that, the words ‘marry me’ almost came out of my mouth.

I broke the situation down for her. We both agreed it would be huge if I could get us a meeting with the circle group's leader. Along with the intel she already agreed to provide our side would finally have an advantage instead of playing catch up or shut down to their evil deeds.

I left to meet with Uncle Bjourn. I was late but I was also sure he suspected I would be. I ran to the palace directly to his office. Harper and Gunner were already there waiting. My Uncle Bjourn said, “You and Micah got us an in with the Hunters.” I nodded.

He continued, “And we won’t have to use Micah undercover.”

I nodded, “That’s correct.”

He grinned, “Plus, you’ve come back with new gadgets. On top of busting up a drug shipment. That’s quite a successful mission.”

I agreed, “Yes it was. All because of Ashley Griffen. She wants to be an anonymous source for us. She knows a lot about us for only having ever met one full blooded and a partial Hackura. Maybe she dated someone. We’ll have to ask around.”

My Uncle nodded, “I know. Harper told me about it. Hopefully, we can build trust with her, and she’ll change her mind. Harper seemed to think she has a connection to the Conners themselves.”

I shrugged, “Cass said she’d never met her, and Ashley said the same.”

Harper pointed out, “You didn’t ask if she’d met them all, just Cass.”

I conceded, “That’s true. She has some hero worship for Alexander, based on her tone. It’s confusing because Ashley knows a lot about us and Fairies.”

My Uncle nodded, “Something the Conners have in them.”

That was true.

I threw out, “She likes fighting. By all their accounts, she’s good at it. She could look up to Alexander and Eric for that reason alone. Eric is a legend and Alexander is on his way to legendary status himself. If you were good at fighting, that’s who you’d pick to look up to. Especially if you were in a shitty pack.”

My Uncle nodded, “That’s true. I heard you bought her a backpack.”

I sat down rubbing my temples. I told him, “I can’t explain it, but I feel a need to protect Ashley like she’s family. She needs someone in her corner. I know she’s got her friends, but…”

I trailed off before acknowledging, “I can’t explain it. I just have that connection with her. I think Micah would say the same.”

Gunner chimed in, “He would. He said the exact same thing. He did add it felt like his connection with Elise and Buttercup.”

I mulled that over before concluding, “Actually, that’s exactly how I would describe it.”

Uncle Bjourn rendered his decision. “Alright. She’s already proven she’s a good source for us. I’m fine with keeping her anonymous. I hope we can eventually gain enough trust with her to at least let us go to Eric with what she knows. I do understand her plight though.”

I sat forward in my chair asking, “Huh?”

Because I was lost. Uncle Bjourn sighed, “Teenagers long for acceptance. What she’s doing by working with Hunters would be seen by a lot of Werewolves as a traitor.”

I snorted, “I don’t think she cares. She said her pack was awful. It’s clear she hates Black Path more than anyone we know. Which is quite a feat. Chase Daniels loathes them with a burning passion, but it pales in comparison to hers. It’s clear as day on her face and in her tone. The surprising part was that the Alpha and Beta’s daughters agreed with her. Whatever Ashley is doing, I think they are all in on it. What do we have on Slade Carter?”

Uncle Bjourn sighed, “Very little. We wouldn’t have suspected him as a Hunter. It’s brilliant though. He travels a lot and is a bit of recluse, but Gunner and Micah are on that.”

I nodded, “Maybe their new code with Ashley will help.”

Gunner chuckled, “It’s not for that type of situation. Micah could talk to her about it though. She might have a different algorithm to run. A three and a plus. Who would’ve thought?”

Harper said, “I speak for us all when I say literally no one.”

I laughed, “I’m going to get back to Cass.”

I called Micah on the way. He answered, “Hey, Cayden.”

I instructed, “Text Ashley’s burner and let her know she’s in.”

He replied, “I already have it drafted waiting to send. I was just waiting on the official word.”

We hung up and I knew he’d be on that.

I ran back to the house and when I walked in, I found Cassie deep in thought about the name Ashley Griffen and the other characters from a book. I wanted to scream and rage at all of Black Path calling them sons of a bitches. That’s why they don’t have backgrounds. They’d picked book characters.

Aesir above, their pack leadership could pretend to give a shit about them and give them fake backgrounds. Jesus Christ. Cassie was enraged by their actual identities. I don’t even think she noticed her eyes were blazing at the thought of the pack using kids to infiltrate a Hunters ring. They’d get the shit fined out of them if Eric ever found out.

We needed to put it aside and go to bed since she had a big day tomorrow. I knew she’d altered her outfit because I knew her. It was going to test me, and I knew it.

My Duchess always had to push at the tethers of my restraint. I fell asleep with her in my arms thinking about her tournament. That had me dreaming about the day I became the commander.