2

Corbin exploded, “What’s the deal with the stuffed wolf? That’s what you wanted Eric to talk about.”

I explained, “Ashley Griffen shares a birthday with Melanie McAlister. AKA the day all Werewolves around the world went down when she turned sixteen and Ashley supposedly doesn’t have a wolf. She’s stronger than MANY Werewolves I know who have wolves. She makes things like the jewelry Eric talked about. Oh, and she HAS THAT DAMN STUFFED WOLF!”

Corbin pointed out, “Several people could have that wolf.”

I continued, “Ashley Griffen was sent to her aunt in Nashville the same timeframe Melanie supposedly left for New York. She’s nervous anytime you mention the Conners, specifically Alexander.”

He made a face.

I continued, “The closest she got to reporting that piece of shit that claims to be her mate was when Alexander told her to. We suspect Ashley is in The Resistance and they do A LOT of things for Alexander. It’s her, I know it. I just now think she’s somehow Melanie.”

Corbin gaped at me for several seconds. When he sat back, he said, “You’re right. If this is true, and thankfully that’s a big IF, this is war. Alexander will be out for blood. Why would Melanie or Ashley be the person the Ring went after? Because that’s the only group we’ve been up against who could pull this off that I know of.”

He paused when a soft knock I knew came.

I said, “It’s Cassie.”

He stood behind the door so she wouldn’t see him and faded back. Cassie left almost as soon as she came, but she conjured us dinner. After she left, I answered Corbin’s question. “It has to be Alpha Ezra. He wants revenge on Drake McAlister.”

Corbin laughed, “Unless he’s with the Ring he could not pull this off.”

I replied, “Maybe he is. It wouldn’t be that surprising.”

Only that he got away with it with my father in law watching him would be.

Corbin raised an eyebrow, “So Alpha Ezra told Drake McAlister his daughter was living her dream to get back at him? This sounds more like revenge on Melanie than Drake.”

I winced admitting, “They have Melanie working with Hunters.”

Corbin’s eyes widened, “Alexander’s mate is a Hunter AND A WOLF?!”

I shook my head, “No, not exactly. She works against them and gives the Hunter’s information to us, but they don’t know that. What if his revenge is to show Drake McAlister his daughter turned Hunter, and they took her wolf. Not only that but they have to think she’s working with Rings. The very thing he stands so adamantly against.”

Corbin conceded, “Ok, that’s something, but it’s still more about Melanie than Drake.”

My dad argued, “You are trying to apply logic to a group of people that are not logical. They lash out more often than not. They are methodical and well hidden, but they are not rational. Haley is proof that they strike at women.”

He was right.

He added, “Drake only has one daughter. It makes sense they’d go for her. I hate to say it, but you very well could be right, son.”

I said, “You think I am.”

He admitted, “I do. You’ve felt like she’s family this whole time. Her actually being family makes sense to me. Plus, I saw her on that video. Her description matches Eric’s. I’ve never met anyone with pale green eyes like that. It also makes everything involving her make sense. She’s scared and Melanie would have a reason to be if the theory you threw out about illusions is true. So, while farfetched, your theory makes sense.”

I just didn’t want it to.

Micah walked back in, “My dad said Levi looked into it, but Levi isn’t….”

He winced and trailed off. I finished, “Super techy like you guys. FUCK! Micah, dig into it.”

Micah sighed, “My cursory search is confusing. It’s like she’s there but she’s not. I’ll keep digging.”

That about summed up the last several hours of my life.

I asked, “Can we get a hold of Ashley?”

Micah groaned, “No. I called her, but Addison has her phone. The one we gave her and her other one.”

I sighed, “Perfect.”

Hendrix walked into my office. I said, “Get to New York and then Paris. I want to know where Melanie McAlister is.”

Hendrix shrugged saying, “That’s an easy assignment. Consider me on it.”

I snorted, “Someone bring him up to speed. I need to go see Cass.”

My dad asked, “Are you going to tell her?”

I snorted, “Tell her that this nagging feeling we’ve all had, THOSE DAMN MOTHER FUCKING HEADACHES WE GET when we THINK about Melanie McAlister too hard, could actually mean something? No. I have no proof.”

Corbin jumped in, “Excuse me? Headaches? What headaches?”

I shrugged, “We get headaches when we think about Melanie or Ashley sometimes. Said headache doesn’t go away until we stop thinking about their situations or Melanie altogether.”

Corbin stood angrily, “And you’ve never mentioned this because?”

I shrugged, “I thought about it sometimes but then I’d have a cookie and realize that would be silly.”

He stared at me as if I was insane. Now that I said it out loud it kind of did sound that way.

Corbin told me, “That sounds like magic. For the Conners to be affected it would have to be dark magic. POWERFUL dark magic.”

I reasoned, “Wouldn’t you sense magic on me or Cass?”

Corbin frowned, “It depends on how you’ve been spelled. Currently you seem fine.”

I acknowledged, “I do get headaches at their house most often.”

Corbin said, “Let’s go check your house to make sure it’s not there.”

We walked over to my house. He instantly walked in like someone was going to jump out at him. I rolled my eyes, but he picked up the plate of cookies. I warned him, “I wouldn’t eat all of those. Cassie loves them. In fact, those are the Conners kids’ favorite cookies. They are pretty good.”

Corbin snorted, “They all eat these?”

I nodded. He shot back, “Aunt Haley hates peanut butter.”

I shrugged, “Which is why she doesn't eat them.”

Corbin told me, “I’ll take them.”

I shrugged, “I guess you can. Hopefully, Cass never saw them. They are pretty good.” Corbin frowned at me while he put them in a baggie. He was being weird, they were just cookies.

We checked the rest of the house but that was all he took. He left and I went to the castle. I frowned when I walked inside. I knew there were more guards here than there usually were. I instantly faded into the background and found Ghiza. I faded back in and raised an eyebrow at him.

I asked him, “What are you doing here?”

He answered, “The Duchess wants us close by.”

I was on immediate alert, “All of you?”

Ghiza nodded. I asked him, “Why?”

Ghiza replied, “She did not say. Does that mean you don’t know either?”

I blew out a breath admitting, “I don’t know. I know there’s something she wants to tell me, but I’ll figure it out. Stick close to her. Make sure nothing happens to her. Are we clear?”

Ghiza nodded and I walked into the dining room.

Aunt Astrid was shooting me a look I had no idea how to interpret. I was trying to hide my annoyance and grim outlook on the future. I was not doing it well. Uncle Bjourn linked me, “What’s wrong?”

I said, “I’m getting some things put together.”

He replied, “I’m always here for you.”

I knew that.

Honestly, if I could just go talk to Ashley, I’d be alright. I’d ask her directly if she WAS Melanie McAlister. She was a horrible liar, and I’d have an answer in seconds. BUT NOOOOO she was gone on vacation. At the same time Alexander was somewhere with Melanie McAlister. How convenient. That did line the stars up even further.

Uncle Bjourn pressed, “You do look like you need an ear.”

I did but I couldn’t bring this to him. If I was wrong, this was a massive alarm to send out. I told him, “If I’m right you’ll be the first person I’m coming to. Well, if I can’t get the reason for behind it all.”

If I could grab Ashley, who was probably Melanie, then I would go to her first.

Cassie was worried and I hated that. I was bothered by myself at this point. Why couldn’t I let this go? I didn’t want Cassie in a war, but I knew her she’d be right there beside me. I’d never forgive myself if this was true. I’d had Ashley right there the whole time. Alexander’s mate was in front of me, and I’d let them both down.

Micah was right. Her being mated to someone I’m related to makes sense given how I feel about her. I should’ve protected her better and I should’ve known that’s what it meant. I knew how I felt about my brothers and sisters in law.

I should’ve said fuck it and brought Alexander, or even Cassie, to meet Ashley as a surprise. No, just Alexander. It should’ve been him. He’d at least gotten Ashley to fill out the paperwork against Trevor. Or was it Melanie? That was going to be an adjustment if I was right.

Damn it if it didn’t feel right. Cassie started to cry again. I didn’t want to scare her, but I could feel that war was coming. If they did this to Alexander’s mate, if they managed to kill or suppress her wolf, we’d be at war. There was just no way around it. We’d have to protect the Werewolves if this knowledge existed.

I’d keep Cassie safe because no way, no how would ever take Rain from her. I would never let that happen. Sadly, the longer I was out here, the surer I became. The question was, could someone REALLY do this?

Why would anyone have looked for a way to suppress a wolf? Ashley said all she remembered from the night she turned sixteen was being in extreme pain for a long time. Would some really do that to a teenager? I knew there was evil in this world, but to take the very thing from someone that made them supernatural and offend a Goddess in such a way was a bold move.

That was something we had yet to come across. Then again, they got away with it. Were they doing it to other people then? Cassie was wrecked and worried about losing me. I had no intention of dying in this fight. We had centuries together, and even that might not be long enough with her.

This would send all of us into a state of paranoia. I don’t know if I could ever trust anything ever again. I should’ve told Levi to fuck the promise he made Tristan. I should’ve sent EJ to check on Melanie since he’d actually met her.

I knew Eric would lose it, but he didn’t top the list. Alexander did. He only let this go because she was living her dream, but even that wasn’t like him. Something was done to him, but he was going to care that something was done to Melanie.

If Ashley was Melanie, she was so far from her dream it was insane. She was trapped in a nightmare. Cassie was rambling about the timing. It wasn’t great, but Ashley would only be gone for two weeks. I knew Cassie’s need to be near me post concupiscence would be gone by then. My phone beeped.

Hendrix: There is no record for Melanie McAlister as a passenger out of New York to Paris. Which is odd because I’m looking at a passenger list with her on it. Micah said it’s wrong though. I’m coming back and I would like some answers.

Him and me both. I left Cassie on the beach and ran back to my office. Micah was there waiting. He was typing furiously on his computer. I asked, “Did you confirm Melanie’s admission to Julliard?”

Micah answered, “No. I’m hitting walls that I should not hit. I DID find a GED for Melanie McAlister in Tennefuckingssee.”

I closed my eyes muttering, “Isn’t that just PEACHY?! FUCK!”

Hendrix came through a portal and Micah held out his hand. He studied Hendrix’s information then pulled up the manifest. He turned his computer around and I saw she was never on the flight. There was never a ticket purchased in her name.

I summarized, “So she’s on the flight, but she’s not?”

Micah answered, “Yes, which means she’s not on the flight.”

I ordered, “Micah, pull up our footage we have from Ashley’s pack.”

Hendrix asked, “Why?”

I said, “I want to know if this is the girl you saw.”

Micah pulled up static. He clicked several buttons and then began typing. He asked no one in particular, “What the hell?”

I groaned, “You’ve got to be kidding me. Ashley and her friends know these are there, so they didn’t do this. What about the old files we have?”

Micah whispered, “They are all corrupted.”

I questioned, “Is that possible?”

Micah snorted, “With magic, yes. Fuck me.”

I sighed, “Work with Corbin and your dad. See if we can’t get that cleaned up. Hendrix, go to Black Path. Try to track down Ashley’s hide. Her house with the King’s doesn't have pictures of her anywhere. Which is weird.”

I shouted, “FUCK! Try to find something. Levi met Melanie. He’d know.”

Hendrix left after putting a hand on my back.

Cassie felt ill in our bond. I told Micah, “Cassie needs me.”

Micah nodded, “Go.”

I left my office at a dead run. I found Cassie with Levi. She had figured out my suspicion. She was too damn smart. I hugged her while Levi gave me a measured look that I met it head on.

Cassie was crying and complaining about her head. I reached for my phone to call EJ but stopped. He was on vacation so I couldn’t bring this to him now. Levi knew the headaches were always about Melanie. Good god. We were going to war.

Why was Ashley/Melanie so important to whoever did this? Did they know she was Alexander’s? Was this a direct slap in the Conners face? Or was this just some massive revenge plot to stick it to Drake McAlister? It was serious overkill if it was.

If Ashley was Melanie, she’d been working against the Ring from the start. They brought one of us inside and Ashley had begun to dismantle the whole thing. Their revenge plot might be the worst one of all time if that’s what this was.

All at the cost and detriment of Ashley herself. Fuck me. Maybe that was the plan. Ruin her and paralyze Red Run and their allies with indecision. Hell, not even them. Us. We could never hurt Alexander’s mate and that wasn’t a secret.

Levi wasn’t happy when I told him what I knew. His reactions confirmed that even if I was wrong, this was done. I was bringing Ashley here even if she was kicking and screaming. I wasn’t leaving her in their hands anymore.

I took Cassie home. She was pretty tired in the following days. I wished Beagan was around to come see her, but she was in Faerie with JP. Cassie spent a lot of time resting. Hendrix and Levi had both gone to Paris, but they couldn’t find Melanie anywhere. Despite Levi getting where she was staying from Tristan. Who had spoken to her but obviously, he really hadn’t.

The apparent answer was we couldn’t find Melanie in Paris because she wasn’t there. She’d probably never been there. My Uncle Bjourn walked into my office and sat down. I looked up dreading this conversation.

He said, “You’ve got people in New York, Paris, and Nashville.”

I nodded, “A few.”

If his sister wasn’t a partial Fairy, I might have gotten away with the evasion. My Uncle commented, “Two make sense. You called and asked Eric about Melanie McAlister. He called asking if I’d asked you to ask him. Melanie is supposed to be in Paris, but she’s not because she’s with Alexander. What are our people doing in Nashville? Is Ashley ok?”

I shrugged, “Ashley is on vacation.”

Bjourn raised an eyebrow, “And you need to talk to her?”

I nodded, “I do.”

My Uncle studied me, “Why? What happened? You bolted out of my office as if the hounds of hell were after you. Astrid saw you leaving and told me you are faltering in the bond. You feel dejected and worried. You feel like a failure, and I want to know why because you are not one.” I was.

I closed my eyes saying, “I can’t talk about this yet. It’s a bell that can’t be unrung, and I could be wrong.”

It was slim at this point, but there was still a chance. My Uncle snorted, “I know you, Cayden. So I know that you don’t think you are wrong. Have you connected Ashley and Melanie? Do they know each other? Did Melanie stay away because she was recruited by The Ring Resistance?”

I evaded, “It’s possible.”

Uncle Bjourn read between the lines and called me on it. “But that’s not what you think.”

I looked away answering, “No, it’s really not.”

My Uncle asked, “Why do you need to be more certain than you are now?”

I explained, “You’ll declare war and so will EJ for Black Mountain. Eric will as well which means all Werewolves, and Aiden will have Faerie follow that lead.”

My Uncle’s eyebrows hit the roof. He eventually questioned, “You’re certain of that?”

I nodded, “Yes. Of all the things I am uncertain about, I know that beyond a shadow of doubt. The war between the light and the dark will be officially waged. Actually, it’s already waged they just didn’t tell us it started. If I’m right though, we have a HELL of an edge that the dark itself gave us. All wrapped up with a nice little bow. A little bow I could’ve done without, but we will have everything we need to take them down. The question is when we will get it.”

He asked, “Why is that the question?”

I acknowledged, “Because of the hurt and devastation this will cause. There will be three of us that are everyone’s hope.”

My Uncle said, “And who would that be?”

I said, “Me, Micah, and Alexander.”

My Uncle commented, “An interesting group.” I nodded, “Yes, it is.”

Uncle Bjourn said, “My sister will be a source if you somehow want Ashley to open up. No one can relate better than my sister to suffering, unfortunately.”

I nodded, “True.”

And Ashley, who is possibly Melanie, would want Haley to like her since Ashley/Melanie loves her son.

My Uncle left my office, then walked right back in. He declared, “I’m coming to a point where I don’t care how certain you are. When I ask you next, I want to know what this is. You are my nephew, even if it’s not by blood. I love and trust you, but I get the sense you’re right. Which means I need to be prepared.”

I nodded, “Yes, Sir.”

He left my office.

The next time I looked up Cassie was walking in with a water bottle. She handed it to me and her timing couldn’t have been better. I saw words at the bottom written before I processed what they said. Then promptly choked on my water. How was this possible when she was on birth control? My mate was pregnant?!

She confirmed it and threw another surprise at me. It was twins. It made more sense that her pregnancy was why she had been so tired and quick to tears. I quickly proved how happy I was about it.

When we finished Cassie started to leave, but I couldn’t let her. She needed a desk in here. I needed her in my eyeline. Now I understood why her guard was around. She mentioned her family and I knew when my news dropped, she’d push off telling them.

I hated that but she didn’t want to say anything until EJ and Alexander were home, which meant my news would land before this. At least telling my parents would be easier. I led her out of the gym appraising it for vulnerabilities I hadn’t considered before.

I wasn’t covert about it, and Hendrix raised an eyebrow at me. I winked at him, and he shook his head. I ran us to my parents’ house. My excitement grew with every step, and I sent them my joyous feelings. My mom was beside herself with the news.

My dad hugged me, “I’m so happy for you, son.”

I clapped him on the back. I had the best example of a good father. I whispered, “If I’m half as good a dad as you are my kids will be just fine.”

He was deeply moved by that comment.

I found Ghiza later. I told him, “The rest of her guard can be in the shadows, but you stick by her side. She’s pregnant with twins.”

Ghiza’s nodded, “Alright then.”

I snorted, “You figured that out.”

He replied, “It made the most sense.”

I ordered, “No one touches her. Ever.” Ghiza nodded, “No, they will not.”

That taken care of, I was satisfied. Then I’d gotten stuck in a meeting and missed Alexander returning to the realm to talk to Uncle Bjourn by a hair. My Uncle Bjourn raised an eyebrow at the look on my face. I’m sure I looked like I sucked on something sour.

Uncle Bjourn said, “I didn’t know you wanted to speak to him.”

Cassie came in a few seconds later and he looked ill. Cassie didn’t catch it, but I think Uncle Bjourn had caught onto our suspicions. I walked out and called Micah.

He answered, “Hey.”

I asked, “Is Ashley back?”

Micah snorted, “Not yet. Addison said that they should be home soon.”

I hung up. An hour later, Levi came running up to me outside breathing hard. He announced, “Kai McAlister has been kidnapped.”

I shouted, “WHAT?!” I catch onto the possible Ashley/Melanie connection and her nephew is kidnapped?! FUCK! Did we tip someone off?

Cassie stood, “I need to go to Jase.”

Over my dead body. Her perfect, pregnant ass would be right here. I grabbed her, “Hell to the FUCK no you don’t. We don’t know what this is. Which means we don’t know if it’s safe. Let me help the McAlister’s.”

She made a face but stayed by me.

I kept my eyes on her asking Levi, “When?”

Levi admitted, “They don’t know. It could’ve been five minutes, or it could’ve been a half hour ago. He was at a playdate. Suddenly, the mom realized he was missing.”

I groaned, “You have GOT to be kidding me.”

Levi picked up his phone, “T, Cayden is going to...”

He trailed off then yelled, “WHAT?!”

Levi locked eyes with me trying to convey something I didn’t get. I did understand that it was significant. Levi said, “What does he know? Ok, no, that’s great that he’s back.”

Kai was already back? Did he just wander off?

Levi hung up and explained the situation seemingly resolving itself. I was fuming pissed because it correlated to my theory. Alexander was back which meant Ashley/Melanie is back and now The Resistance is off saving her damn nephew! He’s not fucking saying who saved him, probably because his aunt asked him not to. Awesome.

We talked over theories then Cassie started talking about a watch. She ran to our house and came back with the watch Ashley had given me. I linked Micah, “JASON HAS THIS WATCH?!”

He asked, “Huh?”

I said, “My watch that I got as a wedding present. Cassie says Jason McAlister HAS ONE TOO.”

He whistled in reply. I found it to be a lackluster reaction at this point.

It made sense to me. Ashley had to believe Kai was Jason’s son That’s why our sniper, who had about a billion names at this point, was PISSED at Everly. Because she believed Everly sided with Jason over everything in Melanie/Ashley’s mind. Great. That was just great.

Micah called and told me, “Ashley isn’t here and she’s the only one that isn’t. Sierra just got back. They are frantic about something, but not frantic enough to tell me what they are so damn worried about. I’m not a rocket scientist or anything, but they are clearly worried about something Ashley did or is doing. They told me she’d be back.”

After we hung up Micah sent me a text.

Micah: FYI Max just filled me in. Earlier today, there was a shootout in a supernatural mall in Missouri. I know you’re wondering why you’d care, I’ll tell you. Finn, Jason, Theo (yes, our brother in law Theo) and Jayden tried to set up a trap. They were warned by someone screaming at Jason to get down. The warning was a distorted voice, then shots rang out and bodies dropped around them. Everyone is fine.

I sighed and related that to Cassie. I linked my brother in law, “Really Theo?!”

He replied, “I had to do something. I know something is off with Alexander and we were covered. These people hurt Jane, Cayden. I can’t do nothing, and I feel like that’s all I’ve done. We killed those holding her in that cell, but the Undergrounds still exist. I have to do more.”

On the one hand, I got that. On the other he needed to tell me so I could be in the frigging loop. I shouted, “YOU WERE COVERED BY THE RESISTANCE! If you want to do shit you tell me, so I can have your goddamn six.”

He agreed, “Ok.” Good.

I needed to talk to Paige. She was the one likely to give something away if she thought it was best for Ashley/Melanie. Paige could help them get around with holoports to get to Kai and Jason. Or Valentina or Virgil could shimmer them.

Eventually, I had to send Micah home because Max was worried which stressed out Cassie. I was not about to have that, so I sent Silas to watch for Ashley. I told him, “It’s utterly urgent the second you see Ashley to call me. I need to talk to her.”

He nodded, “You got it.” He left.