End of Flashback

Micah brought me back to the present saying, “Ashley is not hurt. She is going on a mandated vacation by her friends.”

I snorted, “What? Ashley is going on vacation? Ashley Griffen?”

He nodded, “After their show in Louisiana with Sierra.”

I sat back asking, “Come again? The girl who refuses to take her foot off the gas of life is going on vacation. You’re serious?”

Micah snorted, “Yup. She’s really bummed about the Odette thing.”

I sighed, “Where are we on that?”

Micah admitted, “Dead in the damn water.”

I ran my hands through my hair, “Of course we are. I need to go see Cass.”

Micah nodded, “I’m off to my man myself. Hopefully, there are some peanut butter cookies around because I need one.” I snorted, “Yeah, no joke. See you later.” He portaled out.

Hendrix and I walked towards my house. Hendrix commented, “This stuff with Ashley is not your fault, you know? You’ve been trying.”

I tersely replied, “I know.”

It just didn’t really feel like it wasn’t my fault. It felt like several times I was on the cusp of it all, but answers escaped me every time.

When Ashley had woken up, she only recalled pieces of what happened. She did remember being in a car accident and being in a fight. Several even. Brody had told me that her lack of memory was perfectly normal given what she went through. He said it could come back but her mind might block it forever. Considering she refused to go to therapy, I was going with her mind would block it forever.

I rubbed my temples saying, “Last year while she was out of commission things went to shit. Theo’s mate got kidnapped and we had NO leads. Then Ashley gets better and BAM the sniper calls.”

Hendrix laughed, “I don’t think people say BAM anymore. You need to keep up with the kids or you sound old.”

I snorted ignoring the jab, “How is that not evidence she’s the sniper?”

Hendrix raised an eyebrow replying, “You know that answer, it's supposition.”

I took a deep breath, “It’s going back in the box of shit I’ll figure out later. It’s been going on too long. She’s twenty years old now. How the fuck haven’t I fixed this?”

Hendrix pointed out, “She’s not Hackura, nor one of the members of the army. It’s not like you have something like that to use.”

I sighed, “I know.”

We parted ways and I walked into the house. Cassie was on the phone with someone talking about telling me something. That meant the person was Angela. I cleared my throat. Cassie evaded with me, and I quite enjoyed the flush on her cheeks. It made me want to throw her down.

She offered a run to distract me, but I could use one myself. It was going well until she collapsed. I caught her and yanked my dad to me. I wasn’t sure what he could do, but surely something. Cassie’s family ran towards us.

My dad hung back. I linked Uncle Bjourn, “She’s calling Alexander. She thought this was a prank.”

He admitted, “I thought it was about Melanie. Angela has been trying to figure that all out.”

Well, then what the hell had my mate COLLAPSING and calling her brother?!

I looked at Gunner who was furiously typing on his tablet. He cursed, “Fuck! Alexander is just like his mother. His phone is at home, and I’ll just bet he’s not there.”

Cassie called Angela. I linked Uncle Bjorn. “Her annoyance at being questioned is coming through loud and clear.”

Uncle Bjourn replied, “Be grateful the phone is on speaker, or it wouldn’t.”

I knew he was relaxed because Angela would tell them to go to Alexander if it wasn’t ok.

Cassie was still frazzled though. Cassie’s description of Alexander’s emotions were out of character. The man was always calm, cool, and collected on the outside. Even if he was fighting, he was either angry or excited.

When EJ called my mate, I watched my uncle. He was on his own phone. Gunner showed him something that had Uncle Bjourn raising an eyebrow but nodding. I linked him, “Is Alexander out for you? Because he’s not out for me.”

He replied, “He’s not.”

Thank god.

Uncle Bjourn offered to go find Alexander. How was he going to do that? Alexander didn’t wear a tracker anymore and he didn’t have his phone. Then it dawned on me when I looked at Gunner, who smirked. The only other thing Gunner could monitor was security at the Conner’s houses.

Alexander must have entered his code for one of them. Cassie and I continued our run while my mind was working through options. What did Angela do to Alexander? Was Uncle Bjourn or Cassie right? It couldn’t be a prank, or it was a hell of one he didn’t spot. Why would meeting Melanie sent him and my mate into a spiral though?

We eventually ended up back at our house, where Cassie snapped almost as much food as she ate on her concupiscence. I glanced at the clock noting Ashley was officially on her vacation. I went over the Odette situation with my mate. To my abject horror Cassie started to cry. What the fuck?! I might need to call Beagan to come over because I was stunned.

Cassie was often overly emotion after her concupiscence, but to cry about the absurdity and lack of luck on our side about the situation with Ashley seemed off. I relaxed when I realized it was about her worries for Alexander.

If it made her stop crying, I’d personally go myself to check on him. Or send my best friend. Hell, I’d do anything. Nothing got to me more than her tears. My Uncle Bjourn linked me, “I’m calling you in a second with news.”

Thank god. My phone rang in seconds, so he’d meant that literally. I answered. Uncle Bjourn said, “I need you and Cassie up in my office.”

Cassie popped us in.

Uncle Bjourn announced without preamble that Alexander was fine. It made sense he was with Melanie McAlister. He’d been head over heels for her for a long ass time. It confused me this all meant Angela’s blurry visions were about Melanie. Why would a woman pursing her dreams of dancing be blurry to my sister in law? She had the strongest sight Faerie had ever seen.

Uncle Bjourn and Cassie were really excited, but I was getting a bad feeling in the pit of my stomach. I was ignoring it because the obvious was staring them in the face. For once, I didn’t have a headache about it. I watched them ignore it and it felt almost painful to me. Did I look like this to other people?

I tried to cling to the news that this was good. My brother in law had his mate and was his long time crush. That he’d never met, just smelled. Why the hell didn’t Alexander track her down before now? He’d know that scent was his mate. He’d been giving her space because she was living her dream. That didn’t make sense though. She could have both. He’d never have made her choose.

My dad was sending me concern over the descent into crazy town my mind was doing. My feelings had taken a dive, but Cassie was on cloud nine. I pushed our bond down so I wouldn’t ruin her mood. I knew if she tapped into it, she’d be asking questions. I wished, for the first time in my life, I could shut people out like Haley did.

I tried to be cheerful, but I couldn’t stop the nagging feeling I was missing something. I casually asked questions about Melanie. My heart sank as they described her because they were describing Ashley. While that gave me a lot of questions, it answered several others. It didn’t make sense, but at the same time it made perfect sense.

I made my excuses and got out of there. I called my dad the second I was outside. He answered, “Son, what’s wrong?”

I demanded, “Get to my office.”

My dad wryly replied, “Hello to you too. I’m fine, thanks for asking.”

I shouted, “OFFICE!”

I hung up.

I called Micah next. He groaned, “Cayden…”

I knew that meant he was about to have sex, but I didn’t care. I ordered, “Get back here. NOW!”

I hung up and ran the whole way to my office instead of portaling. I needed the extra time to think. Because it was crazy to say Ashley was Melanie, yet it wasn’t.

My dad was waiting with Micah when I got there. I began to pace. Micah asked, “Uhh, Cayden, what happened?”

My dad was sending me his concern in the bond. I turned around asking Micah, “How would you describe Ashley if someone asked you to?”

Micah raised an eyebrow but answered, “Uhh I’d say she has black hair, pale green eyes. No, I’d say somewhat unique eyes really.” No joke.

He continued, “She’s toned and about five foot eight. She’s kind of got the build of a dancer. I’ve never seen her dance though.”

I closed my eyes because he was right. Melanie danced and would have a dancer’s physique. Everyone knew that. I covered my face with my hands as every single answer I’d wanted for years danced in my mind. Everything made sense now.

My dad questioned, “Son, what is it? You feel devastated and like everything makes sense but doesn’t.”

I frowned admitting, “This is crazy. The amount of effort and planning this would take is literally insane. Why would anyone go to the trouble? But they did, didn’t they? No, it’s not possible. I think it might be, though. Is it?”

They looked at me like I was crazy and in truth, I felt crazy.

Micah said, “Not to be that guy, but we can’t answer that question if you don’t tell us what’s going on.”

I sat in my office chair and stared at the door. Finally, I said, “Uncle Bjourn went to check on Alexander because Cassie went down from feeling his emotions. Uncle Bjourn just told Cassie and I that Alexander is with Melanie McAlister. How he AND Cassie described her is almost word for word how you just described Ashley.”

My dad said, “It’s a coincidence then.”

I winced. He asked, “Right?”

I shook my head, “I don’t think so. God. Shit. Fuck. This is crazy but damn it if it doesn’t make sense.”

Micah gently said, “Break it down for us. Because I’m with you here and I don’t have all the details. We both feel a sisterly connection to Ashley and being Alexander’s mate would make that connection make sense.”

I shouted, “FUCK! They have the same birthday. Why didn’t this click for me sooner?! Melanie NEVER comes home from New York. You’ve heard Elise, even on skype, they only talk for a few minutes at most. Eric’s guy can’t get a picture of this girl.”

Not even just him.

I groaned, “HENDRIX couldn't get a goddamn picture of her. What if it’s NOT her? What if it never was? What if there’s magic involved, and the girl pretending to be Melanie can only hold said magic for so long? What if Ashley is scared of the Conners, of meeting Cassie, because she THINKS they are mad at her?”

My god this was a full on conspiracy, but the more I said it aloud the truer it felt.

“What if someone has convinced Melanie that Drake McAlister is not only dead, but that he’s not her father? She thinks one of her brothers is alive and I’m betting it’s Jason. The only way that’s possible that I know of is an illusion. What if the night she “left”

she never did? She was put in an illusion and thinks Drake, Sam, and Tristan are dead.”

My dad’s jaw dropped but I could feel he thought there might be something there.

Emboldened by that feeling, and the look on Micah’s face that he agreed, I charged on with my insane speculation. “Ashley woke up in a hospital in Nashville and was told her family died. Think of how that would shake Melanie McAlister, because it damn sure seems like she’s Ashley with her reaction. FUCK! She’s not some standout star that never learned to fight from Missouri. She’s from fucking Red Run who have long since talked about her fighting abilities.”

I clapped my hands, “She even has a stuffed wolf. I’m pretty sure it’s black and white too.”

Micah paled, “It is. It looks just like Oden. I saw it last week and thought it was weird.”

I nodded, “Someone has told her that Alexander will reject her. THAT’S why she doesn't want to meet him.”

My dad snorted, “He WILL kill someone for that, if you’re right.”

I pointed out, “He won’t be alone. This is a girl who has been beaten and he won’t care that we can’t prove it was the pack leadership. God PLEASE don’t tell me Alexander’s mate is in the fucking Undergrounds.”

He would go nuclear, and I wouldn’t blame him if he punched me in the face.

I grabbed a pen off my desk and tapped it, going through everything I knew about Ashley. I mused, “Melanie McAlister can’t be wolf less. Is it possible they did something to her wolf?”

Micah frowned answering, “Not that I know, but I can look into that.”

I instructed, “Do that but quieter than you EVER have looked into anything in your life. That’s a rock we don’t ever want overturned if possible.”

Killing a wolf but not the human would devastate any wolf. My dad advised, “Call Corbin and have him do it.”

Brilliant.

I did as he suggested. Corbin answered immediately, “Hey, Cayden.”

I asked, “Are you in the Hackura realm?”

Corbin replied, “Yeah, why? What’s up?”

I somewhat demanded, “Get to my office.”

A portal opened and I shook my head.

Corbin smirked, “I was on the other side of the realm. This was the fastest way to get here. It sounded urgent.”

I admitted, “It is. I need you to keep this in confidence.”

Corbin sounded confused, “Umm ok?”

I asked him, “Hypothetically, is there a way to kill, or I don’t know hide a wolf from its human half?”

Corbin raised his eyebrows stating, “Aunt Haley could take a wolf. Surely you know that since she’s your mother in law.”

I shook my head, “No, that’s definitely not what happened. She’d have a reason.”

Corbin nodded, “I vaguely recall my mom and uncle’s looking into something like that when I was little. I could sneak around and see if I could find that research. Why?”

I closed my eyes, “Aesir above, don’t let it be possible.”

We’d failed her if this was true. If this was true, then we were at war. There was no way around it. I knew my uncle and my father in law. Hell, I knew my brother in law.Alexander would declare first whether anyone agreed and they would.

This would be some massive plot of epic proportions and technically someone would’ve declared war on us without a declaration. Who had a secret war with people? The only people I could think of were the Ring, but what did that have to do with Black Path? Were they involved with them? Surely, Ashley/ Melanie would’ve told us that.

The comment Paige made about losing me and Micah last year replayed in my mind. It was weird Brody only used his scanner. Did they do something to us? We all got headaches. Shit. I told Corbin, “It’s probably nothing.”

My dad sent me the fact that he didn’t believe that. Yeah, I didn’t either. Not even kind of.

Corbin snorted, “Do I look like an idiot to you?”

I shook my head, “Not but it’s war if I’m right. We are at war and have been without knowing. We’ve been attacked and bleeding, yet no one noticed.”

I didn’t fucking notice what was right in front of my eyes.”

Corbin gasped, “Over a wolf?!”

I nodded, “Yes.”

Micah chimed in, “He’s right, Corbin. If what he suspects is true, us, the Fairies, Wolves, and even the Covens who stand with your uncles will go to war. Jesus Christ.”

I muttered, “Again, someone started it without declaring they were at war with ALL those groups of people.”

To attack Alexander’s mate was to attack all those groups and everyone knew it.

My dad frowned saying, “I don’t know if what you’re talking about is possible. This would be a massive plot.”

I knew that. I reasoned, “Well, I think it is a massive plot. We already know Red Run has a traitor. We know that. I need to talk to Levi. Or I can talk to someone else, but it’s a bad idea.”

They all looked at each other. I groaned, “Do I have another option?”

I answered my own question, “No, not really. Rock, hard place here I come.”

I closed my eyes and made the call. Eric answered, “Cayden, you have good timing. I just wrapped a meeting. I was about to go find Haley.”

I replied, “I won’t take up much of your time. I was just curious, and you're the person who’d have some of the information I want.”

Eric laughed, “What information?”

He wasn’t about to be laughing after this call. I took a deep breath, “What can you tell me about Melanie McAlister before she left for New York?”

Micah raised an eyebrow, but he knew why I was asking. Eric was quiet, probably wondering why the hell I was asking.

Eventually he said, “She’s a dancer, talented, and smart as a whip. You know she made that jewelry Cassie and all my pups have, as well as myself.”

Micah clapped his hands over his mouth. Ashley came up with things like that too.

Eric continued, “I knew she had a stuffed wolf before I saw it in pictures.”

I winced, “What does the wolf look like?”

Eric was quiet then answered, “Like Alexander’s wolf. Why?”

My dad gaped at the phone. Corbin was looking between us all clearly putting pieces together he didn’t like. He could join the club.

I winced telling my father in law, “I can’t tell you yet.”

Eric said, “We strongly suspect Melanie McAlister is Alexander’s mate. She’s supposed to be in Paris. Are you saying something happened to her plane? Or her?”

I said, “I don’t think anything happened to the plane.”

Nor did I think she was anywhere near Pairs.

Eric was silently waiting for me to tell him more. I wished with everything in me I could, but I couldn’t put this on him. I was the one in Ashley’s life. If she was Melanie, then this was on me and me alone. I said, “I’d tell you if I could. It’s just a theory right now.”

Eric assured me, “My guy watched her get to the airport.”

I asked, “How does he describe her?”

Eric answered, “Dark hair, green eyes, and always wearing red lipstick.”

I questioned, “Dark hair? I thought her hair was black.”

He stalled then replied, “It is. He’s always said dark though. Most people describe Melanie as being Raven-haired. I’ll have to ask KJ about that.”

I asked a different questioned, “How tall does he say she is?”

Eric answered, “Almost six feet tall.”

I asked, “Does that fit with how you’ve heard her described prior to her being in New York?”

Eric said, “People usually say she has pale green eyes, but my guy isn’t close to her that often. She wasn’t that tall when she left, but she could’ve had a growth spurt.”

I could tell he now didn’t believe that.

He added, “I’ve got him in the distance. In truth, we all know I shouldn’t even have him on her. She is taller than I thought she’d be, but that’s not a big deal. Is it?”

I sighed, “I don’t know. I could just be crazy.”

Micah linked, “You’re not. This feels like the best lead on anything surrounding Ashley ever has.”

Corbin crossed his arms, and my dad winced. He didn’t want to think I was right, but he did.

Eric snorted, “You are many things Cayden, but crazy is not one of them. When you can share, I’m all ears. Should I dig into this myself?”

He was going to anyway. I said, “I think you should, but we knew you were going to anyway.”

Eric agreed, “You’re right, I was. I’ll do what I can. Goddess help us all if something is going on here. My Angel will kick all our asses.”

I winced saying, “Let’s hope I’m crazy then.”

Eric groaned, “Great. That’s just fucking great. You’re not crazy and I know that without the details. Call me if you get anything else.”

I agreed, “You’ve got it.”

I hung up.

I turned to the group, “I’m going to tell Cass to eat with her family I’ll be back.”

Corbin yelled, “SERIOUSLY?! I HAVE QUESTIONS.”

I replied, “I’ll be right back.”

I ran to the house, but she wasn’t here. I texted Aunt Astrid.

Me: Can you invite Cass up for dinner?

Aunt Astrid: Of Course. Are you ok? You ran out of the castle like you were on fire.

Me: There’s just a lot going on.

Aunt Astrid: Ok. I’m here if you want to talk it through.

Me: Thanks.

I went back to my office. I looked at Micah, “How hard a look did you take at Melanie getting into that art school and Julliard?”

Miach answered, “I didn’t look at all.”

I stalled, “Umm, I’m positive someone on our side looked into that. I swear I’ve heard a Conners say that.”

Micah shrugged, “I’ll call my dad, but I didn’t hear that.”

He stepped out.