2

I begged, “Cass.”

Nothing. “Cassie, answer me. My Duchess. Come on Cass, say something! Please.”

She didn’t. Micah opened a portal that I went through it in the next second.The first thing that struck me was Alexander had a girl in his arms.

My bond and body told me it was, but it didn’t look like her. I saw a ring on her hand I’d bet had a charm on it. I ripped her away from Alexander and took it off. Her auburn hair was back, her appearance restored to her own.

My heart was pounding in my chest as I held onto her tightly. She was ok and in my arms. She told us where Aunt Astrid, Torvi and Milana were. People took off for them, but I couldn’t move. Eric asked her what happened.

I was shocked to find out she’d come to make a buy. Why the FUCK didn’t I know she was coming out into the field? The drug Rings were working with Fairies who’d told them she had a charm which was brand new information. So, they didn’t know who she was either.

We got some answers before my Uncle Bjourn opened a portal. I knew immediately it was him who had sent her. Micah linked me, “We had people going to ask him if he knew where she was. I’m guessing he felt the same thing from your aunt.”

I’m sure he did.

I saw Marcus come charging through the portal and go straight to Torvi. I couldn’t let go of Cassie. My arms literally wouldn’t move, and my heart was still pounding. My mate was still bleeding. My dad was sending me the intense need to know if I was ok. I definitely was NOT ok.

Thankfully, Alexander popped over and healed Cassie. He’d even made sure there was no blood on her shirt. I linked him, “Thanks, Alexander.”

He replied, “I didn’t like this anymore than you did.”

I was pretty sure that I liked this FAR less than he did.

I added, “I know you threw strength at her and took the pain you could. Words don’t really express my gratitude here.”

He replied, “I’ll always help my sister, and I know you know that.”

I knew that the two of us pulling her pain meant she was able to stand. One day I’d return the favor, somehow, with Melanie if she ever needed help.

Haley got the Conners out of there clearly knowing there was more to the story. Eric linked, “My Angel may be your realms Princess, but my little girl is MY Princess. I know from the look on your face you didn’t know about this. Keep eyes on her, please.”

I agreed, “I will.”He added, “And have a chat with her about communication. Haley is stubborn and my daughter got that from her mother and me. Alpha blood and all.”

I assured him, “I will.”

My eyes were still blazing when they left. She’d been hurt, and I’d had no fucking clue where she was. Cassie popped away. My Uncle said, “Not unlike her mother, she does not understand…”

Before he could finish his sentence Cassie popped back with some paintball style gun.

I linked Micah, “Does Max do this shit?”

He answered, “Yes.”

God damn it. I grumbled, “I can’t have him tell her then because he’d do the same thing.”

Micah sighed, “We need a Conners mate support group.”

I pointed out, “Eric has one.” We should definitely all join it. Or forge our own.

I studied the gun Cassie had brought to us. This wasn’t like the guns I’d seen our people collecting. I linked Micah again, “Of course The Resistance were here.”

He said, “That’s probably the least shocking information coming out right now.”

I linked my uncle, “How did The Resistance know who Cassie was? How did they know to call me?”

He asked, “Do you know they did?”

I replied, “Someone called me, and I heard the pounding of feet running away. Which means someone else was running away after calling me while Cass was passed out. Who would do that?”

The answer flashed in my mind. Ashley.

He said, “You seem to think you know.”

I replied, “The obvious answer is Ashley. That doesn’t answer how she knew Cassie was Cassie.”

He reasoned, “She might not have. She might have just thought it was a partial Hackura with Fairy and Wolf blood.”

I snorted, “Which leaves more than Cassie.”

He inclined his head acknowledging it was all the Conners and there were a lot of them.

Cassie walked everyone through what happened. Micah linked, “Ashley can ride a motorcycle.”

I pointed out again, “As I said, so can a lot of people.”

Micah reasoned, “But Cassie said Bravo One shot her with that gel pack paintball thing and her powers came back. Ashley rides a motorcycle and is SUPER into science.”

It was a stronger link, but not proof. Just add some more speculation to the pile.

Cassie asked more questions that made stronger links to Ashley. Micah said, “The links are getting stronger. Ashley is close friends with a Witch named Paige, Virgil, and Valentina.”

The last two were Demons not Witches.

Paige was rather talented in the Witch department, and I wanted to get her in touch with the Cambridge Warlocks, but she refused. I told Micah, “Again, a lot of people know Witches and Demons.”

Micah chuckled, “Yes, but the holoports everywhere reeks of Paige.”

It did. She might be the most powerful Witch I’d ever met. She had raw talent and was all self-taught since she had suffered from memory loss.

The Resistance must have holoports set up all over the damn place at this point. Were they for when Virgil and Valentina couldn’t shimmer them in and out? Of course they’d have escape plans for their escape plans. Why was Ashley so goddamn smart? One mistake was all I needed. Just one. For god’s sake when could I catch a break?!

I linked Uncle Bjourn, “If this was Ashley, and I think it is, then there will be nothing of the evidence variety for you to find to prove who was in the Resistance. She wouldn’t have left it behind for Cassie to pick up if there was. Plus, leaving it was intentional.”

He replied, “Your number isn’t the first option on that burner. Mine is.”

I could work with that. I said, “I can use that. Plus, our burners don’t have our names in them. Just numbers. She’d picked mine out of those numbers to call.”

He nodded and I knew he agreed.

There were four numbers programmed into burners, and mine was not first on this one. Bravo One knew my number and I knew Ashley also knew my number. Ashley loved to memorize things just in case. She’d called me to get me here and rescue Cassie.

Uncle Bjourn was trying to corral us home. Cassie’s feelings told me she felt she should help with the cleanup. Oh hell no. Micah linked, “Maybe say no with some chill.”

I didn’t. He replied, “Or ya know, go all Commander on her.”

I planned to. She did go through the portal, so it was victory.

I pulled her down into my lap while she was debriefed. We went over her story so many times I knew it by heart. I’d asked her leading questions along with Uncle Bjourn. I even asked Aunt Astrid a few.

The facts and story remained that Cassie’s eyes never blazed. There was no goddamn reason for Ashley to think Cassie was anything other than a Fairy.

There was more than one Fairy that could shoot sunlight from their hands. She didn’t look like Cassie when I saw her. How did Ashley know who Cassie really was? If she could see past that stupid Fairy charm, then we couldn’t send Cassie out on missions associated with the Ring if the charms weren’t working.

On the one hand, Ashley knew who Cassie was. So, she did know what she looked like. The problem with that was Cassie was well known. She looked just like Haley, and everyone knew what my mother in law looked like. It would be easy to link her and Cassie together.

That drew me back to the thought that Ashley saved my mate then called me. She knew Cassie was Cassie. But how? I asked if she ever took off the charm, but she said no. She said she’d felt someone watching her the second she’d stepped up to make the buy. She would’ve felt them sooner while she was doing recon if they’d been there.

Which led me to believe a Demon shimmered them in. I was going to go insane. How the FUCK did Ashley know Cassie was there? Gunner walked in with a report that had all my connections sending me calm. They could fuck off with their calm and I let them all know it.

The Ring tried to paralyze Cassie with their bullets. Based on the dose, they truly didn’t know who she was, or they would’ve used something else. That just circled back to the questions pounding in my head. We hadn’t known the drug rooms were monitored by multiple supernatural groups. Now we did.

That would not be a mistake any of us made ever again. We had gotten actual eyes on The Resistance, instead of just a card with a blue circle with a line drawn through it. Cassie had seen three of them. That was pretty big.

Once we’d wrapped the meeting in the castle, Cassie and I walked side by side the house. Then got into an argument.

I deserved to know that my wife was in the goddamn field. I had never stopped her from doing anything, and all of a sudden, I was out in the cold on her life?

Knowing that she was out there so I could be prepared was crucial. Mostly so that I didn’t scramble sending people to multiple places. Her phone being off sent me over the edge because that’s not how one should discover their mate was in the field.

I could literally not think of a less fun way to find out that my wife was out there than feeling her fight. Compound that with finding that out was followed by feeling her pain and knowing there wasn’t a single goddamn thing I could do about it.

I understood why Uncle Bjourn sent her out. I just should’ve been told before she left. I understood they wanted the Conners brought into this. Cassie had a personal stake in it since she was boxing out her family and her own pack leadership. She had her own Beta and Gamma, and I knew that was hard on her. Truly.

Aunt Astrid, Torvi, and Milana said they weren’t close enough to see the Resistance. They saw the girl on the bike, but that was it and she was driving away from them. She couldn’t have seen them or their blazing eyes to know Hackura were there.

Which led me to believe there was something was wrong with that Fairy charm. That meant Cassie was out there was bad equipment and that pissed me off. What was I supposed to do with that? I can’t assign Cassie to anything in the field if we needed to be sure people didn’t know her if someone could see past a Fairy charm. If Ashley could tell, who else could? Was Cassie ever safe out there?

We weren’t getting anywhere in this argument, and I needed to get some air. I was too pissed off right now. I took off running and promptly lost track of time. I felt like such a failure. My own wife didn’t tell me where she was going. She’d fought and been hurt without me by her side.

So, I failed as a mate and a Commander. Plus, I couldn’t get Ashley to open up. Was I even fit to be the Commander at this point? If I couldn’t do something so simple as communicate with my wife, how could I lead people into battle? I couldn't get a source to open up. I couldn't even get my wife to trust me enough to tell me she was going into the field.

My lungs were burning when Cassie linked me about going to her parents’ house. I knew she’d be safe there, and I was still angry. I needed to calm down, so she went without me. I loved her more than anything and just wanted to keep her safe. Why couldn’t I do that?

Hell, how was I supposed to do that if I didn’t know where she fucking was? I could feel Cassie was upset. I hated that feeling even more. My phone rang. I answered, “Micah, did you get to Ashley?”

Micah answered, “In a way. She’s meeting me in an hour or two. She was vague but she’s busy right now.”

I questioned, “Did you do recon?”

Micah answered, “Yup. I don’t know where she is, but it’s not in Black Path.”

I groaned, “Alright. I’ll catch up with both of you tomorrow. I want to talk to her.”

Micah said, “I’ll let her know. I’ll just be here, eating a burger. Mason has fully recovered and is back on the grill.”

I heard Hendrick say, “The stubborn man IS NOT fully recovered. He’s mostly recovered and determined to run me into an early grave.”

I laughed. Mason said, “You kept me in that newfangled bed Ashley got us.”

Hendrick retorted, “It’s comfy and you ADMITTED that.”

He growled, “Staying in bed twenty-four seven is not the life I want to lead.”

I laughed again and hung up.

Cassie felt more settled, so I kept running. Eventually my dad showed up literally standing in my path. I stopped on a dime, breathing hard. I commented, “Dad, you’re blocking the path.”

My dad said, “When your son is running for several hours, putting his mother into quite an anxious state about his emotions, you run along until you find him. What’s going on? I obviously know what went down with my daughter in law, but she’s fine.”

I retorted, “My wife was out there, and I had no idea. How can I be fit to run the army here when my wife doesn’t tell me things? I can’t get an eighteen year old girl to open up to me! I couldn’t even when she was fifteen. It’s been three years, and I am nowhere with her.”

I ran a hand through my hair, “I can’t even get her to leave that stupid pack! Now there’s a guy who she hates, HELL I’ve run into him ONCE and I hate him, who is claiming she is his! He’s tried to forcibly mark her, and I can’t do anything about it.”

My dad snorted, “But you have. I do believe Silas has been spending time in Nashville. What’s he doing there?”

I admitted, “After Trevor tried to drug Ashley, mind you Ashley didn’t tell us, Addison was worried and told Micah, I sent Silas to beat the shit out of him. He says because Ashley doesn’t have a wolf, she doesn't feel the mate bond. That’s bullshit. Every partial Werewolf, wolf less or not, I’ve EVER met feels the connection. It’s humans who have to be marked. They still feel a pull though. I can’t help Ashley, and I failed Cassie today.”

My dad argued, “You are an excellent Commander. You spent most of your youth going on missions to learn what you’d be sending people out on. You understand what you are asking of people. You took Cassie with you when you met her because you knew you’d be worried after that whole debacle. You make good calls every day and I’m damn proud of you.”

He squeezed my shoulder.

He added, “Until I saw Ashley fight today, I wasn’t so sure about the ones you’ve made with her. She clearly has good intel. It’s obvious they have some inside knowledge we don’t. I understand why you are cultivating trust instead of forcing her to give you answers.”

I didn’t fully understand it, I just knew I had to.

“As far as my daughter in law, she loves you. Your mom will tell you herself it’s not an easy balance to figure out being the Commander’s mate. Cassie has added pressures your mom did not. She’s still an Alpha of her pack, but your lives are mainly here.”

I knew that.

He continued, “She’s the Duchess of this realm, and your mate. She wants to lead by example. She just wanted to do something to help you and thought this was the way. She should’ve told you, and I’m sure she knows that now.”

Based on her feelings that was true.

He wasn’t done though. “Your mom and I went through this too. You guys are young, and I have every belief you’ll figure it out. You’re justified in being upset, but one thing I know I didn’t teach you was to walk out and leave things unresolved.”

I flushed.

My dad chided, “You stay, and you talk to her even if you are mad. Or you go on a run together or to the gym. You do not just storm out of the house and go off for hours.”

I sighed, “Yes, Sir.”

My dad rolled his eyes, “Now, go home and see Cass.”

I muttered, “She’s at her parents’ house.”

I frowned feeling Cassie’s emotions in the bond. Feelings I did not care to feel twice today. I yelled, “OH COME ON! She’s fighting again!”

I called Micah. He answered, “Ashley isn’t here yet.”

I said, “Track Cassie’s cell. NOW!”

Micah said, “One second. Thank the gods her phone is on. She’s in Red Run.”

I replied, “Thanks.”

I hung up lamenting, “Twice. That is TWICE today she’s fighting without me by her side.” My dad urged, “So go to her.”

I opened a portal and stepped through. A massive rogue attack was going down. I saw Cassie in wolf form. She was taking on rogues by Jason fucking McAlister’s side. Cassie jumped on a rogue and I screamed out a war cry. Her Beta and Gamma’s wolves gave me amused looks. Yeah, I knew that they knew I was annoyed because she was by Jason’s side.

Several rogues looked in my direction. I didn't even bother to get out my knife to end their lives. I ripped through every rogue that got in my way as I worked my way through to Cassie. The three of us worked together when I reached them.

Cassie stayed on my six and I couldn’t help but be smug about it. Jason McAlister needed to find his mate yesterday. The fight died down quickly after Haley and Eric joined us. No one was surprised we won. It didn’t make sense they’d attacked Red Run this hard. It was suicide. Though, I guess rogues were going crazy.

The second Cassie shifted back I pulled her into my arms. I hated her fighting without me, and I was going to make sure it stopped happening. Especially today. I was definitely maxed out for the day. There would be no ‘third time's a charm’ shit happening with this.

When Cassie jerked her head to the side, I kept a firm grip on her. Something caught her and Alexander’s attention. I studied the man down by Alexander being healed by Haley. To my surprise it was Tristan McAlister. He’d taken a few bites to the side.

I frowned when I saw his son crawl out from under their porch. Tristan must have been guarding the house. Were the rogues after Kai or Tristan himself? Before I could get those answers, Cassie and Alexander were popping into another fight. With guns. Yay.

My family felt the intense sarcasm of my joy in the bond and were sending their curiosity. We’d popped to Peter and Chelsea Kyle. They’d looked better. They were unkempt and in a state of disarray. They’d been caught in the throes of passion, but I could tell none of the blood on them was theirs.

Chelsea was in shock, and Peter was on his way there. His adrenaline was clearly fading. We got the rundown on what happened. They’d been warned to get out. The blood on them was from the Hunter waiting out back to ambush them.

I linked Alexander, “Wouldn’t only the pack know about that cabin? And when the Kyle’s would be there?”

Alexander replied, “Yup.”

I frowned. Great. There was a traitor running around. Maybe that’s Ashley’s concern with the council. Not the specific people on it, but their packs. We’d been looking at Peter Kyle, who was just a ridiculously good guy, instead of running down pack members. Dammit!

The Kyle’s were visibly shaken, and I couldn’t blame them. Without the warning, and the backup from The Resistance, they might not have made it. I linked Alexander again, “The sniper is here.”

Alexander groaned, “The sniper is likely gone. I don’t hear any more shots being fired.”

Just one time, I wanted to catch a goddamn break. Alexander was shifting on his feet. I questioned, “What’s up with you?”

Alexander shrugged, “Oden was restless. He’s better now, but during the fight he was on edge. He was ripping through people because he wanted to run in this direction, but he didn’t know why.”

I raised an eyebrow because that was weird.

Alexander didn’t get feelings like Haley, or even Cassie. Why would Oden want to run this way? Alexander and I were going to look around the area. We might as well find what The Resistance left behind. Maybe if we ran fast enough, we’d find them. Haley had popped Eric in, and we took off. I found it odd that Alexander was moving with a purpose.

I looked over at Eric who just shrugged. We both followed Alexander, who led us right to the sniper spot. Alexander smiled saying, “I knew it.”

I asked, “Uh how? There is literally no smell. Their lack of scent is still weird and annoying. Yet you knew this was the spot.”

The scent deal pointed back at Ashley too, but I couldn’t prove it.

Alexander reasoned, “I’ve studied the sniper.”

I said, “So have I.”

Backwards and forwards. I had Micah running probabilities through his algorithms. There was no rhyme or reason to the sniper hides. Eric cautiously chimed in, “Son, there is no pattern.”

I’m glad he said it.

Alexander shrugged, “I just knew. This seems like a spot our sniper would like.”

I looked at Eric. I linked, “That’s really weird.”

He agreed, “It is odd.”

We let it drop though. His wolf was being weird and now so was Alexander himself.

I linked Eric again, “He said Oden wanted to run this way, but he didn’t know why.”

He asked, “When?”

I answered, “During the fight.”

He reasoned, “Oden could’ve had a sense another Alpha was in distress.”

He could’ve, I just didn’t think that’s what this was.

We walked around, then went inside. Eric whistled, “Damn.”

I said, “It was more than one shooter this time. You can tell who killed who based on the kill shots.”

My phone beeped.