Page 53 of The Alpha and His Childhood Sweetheart (Ribbon #7)

The second his shield was protecting me I fell back down to the ground letting myself whimper. I needed EJ so badly. I lost track of time, but eventually I felt EJ’s hands on me. It was like ice to the fire in my veins. Thank god. I let myself go to the heat that was hitting me.

My heat was like a haze. I knew that he was buried inside me. I knew we’d had sex a lot and I knew it was EJ, but everything else was a blur. When the fire subsided, we went outside. We knew that we’d get a little bit of time before the rest of my heat kicked in.

I knew that his family wouldn't stand for what happened to me with those Warriors. Haley had taken an unpopular stance in our community when she found out it was just accepted that unmated wolves couldn’t control themselves. Not just wolves, every supernatural. It happened to her at her own wedding, and she said that was a bullshit excuse to be a shitty person.

She felt that they could control themselves, they just didn’t try. They used excuses to give in to their baser desires. It turned out she’d been right, and they could control themselves. It wasn’t easy, but they possessed the willpower to run away from a female in heat instead of attacking them.

Haley, Emmaline Lyons, Lexi Daniels and Maribella Tucker refused to accept the excuses and it changed everything. Rhea purred, “Mate is proud of us for fighting back.”

That was probably the last lucid thought for a while, so I let her bask in it.

Truthfully, I didn’t want to fight. I wanted to lie on the ground and whimper until EJ arrived, but I wasn’t just a Luna. I was also an Alpha, and I was not going to let a single member of my pack get away with attacking me. That was just not going to happen. If they were capable of resisting me, then I was capable of holding on until EJ arrived.

Rhea encouraged, “Talk to him about pups. We’ve thought about it a lot.”

I did and he was onboard. Rhea purred, “He is perfect.”

I teased, “You say that a lot, but it is true.” She retorted, “And you thought my last lucid thought would be about him being proud of us.” I chuckled in reply.

Ashley had actually helped me in her rambling way. She’d told me that I had a mate who loved me, and that I loved. If I was ready for pups, then we should go for it. Only if we were ready though. She’d said we’d have adorable pups.

Which had surprised me because she’d never mentioned she’d seen either of us. We didn’t talk for a while after that. When she had finally answered my next email, she didn’t answer how she’d known what we looked like and evaded the question. It was odd.

I had talked to Melanie via in email about pups too, but Ashley didn’t know us. She was impartial despite being my friend. Melanie had told me to do what I wanted to. Ashley said more about it. I just wished we could meet. I could tell the idea scared her, but that didn’t make sense. We were friends. Why would meeting me scare her? We talked a little bit more about Ashley and her friends.

The talking stopped the minute my heat hit me out again, out of nowhere. I let myself fully go to my heat this time since I was safe with EJ. I didn’t need to focus or fight anyone. I knew days had passed us by. I knew that we’d slept, and he’d made me eat. Which at the time annoyed me and amused him.

Eventually I felt like I’d woken up from a haze. I felt disgusting. Even my tongue felt gross. I sniffed under my armpit. I linked Rhea, “Oh god, that’s rank.”

She sleepily muttered something. I could smell the sweat and sex coming off me. I jumped off the bed and ran into the shower.

Showering barely won over brushing my teeth first. My breath could knock a skunk over. EJ joined me and I was a little surprised he didn’t insist on a hazmat suit. All I knew was that he could NOT smell my breath. That was not ok right now. I didn’t even want to think about my hair.

Unfortunately, curiosity got the best of me, and I looked in the mirror. The rat in my hair had friends, and they’d formed a pack all over my head. This was never coming out. This was going to take hours, and it was going to hurt like a bitch. I was going to need help. EJ simply snapped and fixed my hair. He would never know how my love for him just deepened. Like, tenfold.

I did several rounds of body scrub on myself. Eventually, I was satisfied that I didn’t smell god awful and stepped out of the shower to start on my teeth. Lord knows how many times I brushed them, but I was making up for lost time. Then I went to use the mouthwash until I knew my mouth was cleansed.

EJ snapped us food. I told Rhea, “I don’t know what I did for the Goddess to pair me with him, but I want to thank her from the bottom of my soul. Did you SEE my hair? He was even going to kiss me instead of getting a hazmat suit.”

She purred, “He is the most amazing man.”

My mouth was watering over the scent of the food he’d snapped me. He teased me about his clothes. I asked my wolf, “Does he really not see how hot he is?”

Rhea growled in my head, “He doesn’t see all those who want him. We have to work overtime because he’s so sexy. It is worth it, but that he doesn’t see it makes me worried about him. He’s lucky he knew us our whole life. The poor sap would be a fish out of water in the dating pool.”

I nearly laughed out loud, but she was right.

EJ brought up the fights from the Summit. He had no idea how much it set my wolf off. Rhea snorted, “Because they were bitches. Those she wolf bitches wanted what was ours! They planned to flirt with him in front of us. What were we supposed to do? Smile at them?! NO! My way is better, and you listened. Which I cannot overstate how much I love you for.”

I snorted, “We compromised at kicking their asses. Killing them was one of the original plans. So, we were kind really. I would just like to state that for the record.”

Rhea agreed, “A Hackura definitely would’ve killed them.”

I replied, “Not our mother in law.”

She cackled in reply which told me I missed something about how Haley handles things. She was stealthy. I needed to consult Cassie about the she bitches since she was the stealthiest out of all her siblings.

We got on the subject of his other sister, Angela. I asked Rhea, “How on earth does one test with sight?”

She replied, “I don’t know. I’ve never been paired with a partial Fairy.”

That was fair. I was inclined to let Angela do her thing where Alexander and Melanie were concerned and told him so. That thought didn’t actually give me a headache. Thank god. I was all for Angela figuring this shit out.

Honestly, however those two met at this point was just fine by me. If that was through Angela, great. If not, then it would be another way. I was just tired of all this. My head started to hurt. My brain whispered she was living her dream. I was so sick to death of this feeling.

I wished I could punch myself in the head so that it would stop whispering those words to me. It doesn't make sense. Rhea agreed, “It hurts but we need to ask. Why does living her dream mean us not seeing her?”

I felt that with my soul. Why was that a thing? Was this just going to continue once she got into Julliard?

We switched subjects which eased the pain in my head. We were back on having pups. I knew I loved pups, and I loved babysitting Kai. Rhea agreed, “And we have a good handle on the pack.”

Yeah, then there was the whole image I had in my mine of little mini EJ running around. I didn’t care if we had a boy or girl; I just wanted a healthy pup.

I didn’t deserve him, but I loved him with my entire being. Rhea squealed, “Mate’s hand is starting to glow.”

I stared at him in shock when he put his hand on my chest. A euphoria shot through me. I couldn’t stop myself from lowering onto him.

This time was slow and unrushed without my heat haze. I knew we were now twice light bound now. Rhea teased, “Seeing another us in the Ribbon would be trippy but fun.”

I agreed, “We know it’s not a guarantee though. Not all twice light bound couples enter the Ribbon.”

Rhea chuckled, “I doubt we will be. I’d be surprised, but it would be cool.” Yeah, it would.

At the same time, I kind of hoped we didn’t go in since EJ could end up there without me. The non Fairy didn’t always get pulled with the Fairy from what I’d seen with his parents. I’d worry about him. Rhea pointed out, “Mate has a good thought. We could fix things for Melaine and Alexander.”

I replied, “Yes, but that would be a reason for them to be in it, not us.”

She conceded my point.

I told her, “I’m a little shocked EJ shared his light again. We both know his Fairy side isn’t his dominant side.”

She purred, “I know. His wolf side is, and Brutus is so powerful.”

She was right. It wasn’t that I doubted my mate’s love for me; I just never thought his Fairy side would really get around to how EJ himself felt about me. I still wondered if Cassandra had something to do with him sharing his light. I bothered me sometimes when I was certain she did.

He was always more serious than his siblings, needing them or me to tap into his fun side. That even that side of him was in him enough to do this made me feel giddy. Fairies shared their light with their mate more often now, but rarely twice.

We popped to the beach, and I found myself feeling grateful for the balance we’d found working with his brothers and their mates. We had breaks knowing they were important, so no one got burnt out. I asked Rhea, “Did you have a thought on how many pups you want to have?”

She answered, “I’m more than willing to push out as many as Brutus wants.”

Yeah, well we’d find a balance between that insanity and reality. She huffed at me.

I was open to a big family. Not twenty like EJ’s though. Rhea teased, “Never say never. We are going to live for SUCH a long time. Twenty won’t seem so crazy in two centuries.”

She needed to stop with her insights. She cackled knowing my thoughts.

I jolted with Rhea when EJ confessed he’d read the Ribbon journal and learned more about other realities. Rhea groaned, “I know those realities suck, I do. Doesn’t it feel like ours could be the worst one? Like not that everything is bad, just a lot of bad things happen.”

I agreed, “Yes, but not for a long time here.”

She didn’t feel like she agreed, and I wasn’t so sure I did either. But I was right, wasn’t I?

Rhea told me, “I agree with mate. We are on the cusp of something, and I feel it’s going to rock the allies.”

I asked, “Good or bad?”

She sighed, “Maybe I’m pessimistic from my last human, but I just feel something bad is going to happen.” Goodie.

We totally needed an impending sense of doom with our headaches. She snorted, “That doesn’t put our pain in the bond. EJ would’ve asked us. Brutus doesn’t even hint that he knows.”

Yeah, so that wasn’t great. Was I sick? Rhea scoffed, “No.”

I told her, “I hope whatever is coming isn’t something that would haunt us once we DID figure it out.”

Rhea didn’t have a response for me. We ended up just holding each other listening to the waves before EJ popped us home.

The second we were back I knew something was wrong. I could feel it. I asked, “Rhea, is this it? What we felt?”

She replied, “I doubt it.”

When we walked into his office several of EJ’s brothers and his dad were in the waiting. Buttercup ran up to me.

She linked, “Are you ok?”

I answered, “Of course. What’s going on?”

She replied, “You’re not going to like it, but everything is ok.” I told my wolf, “That seems ominous.” She replied, “Not enough for the feeling we have. Everyone is ok.” UGH! I could not do doom and gloom. I hated feeling that way.

Were we attacked while EJ and I were gone? My knees nearly gave way when Alexander said Red Run was attacked by rogues. Rhea linked, “Our family is ok. I would’ve felt a break with the wolves.”

It had been so long since there’d been a rogue attack in my home pack, perhaps we’d become complacent.

The first one was a few months after Melanie left and truth be told the pack wasn’t prepared. Some of the pups had never even seen a rogue attack. I knew my parents would’ve been at the cabin, but my brothers would’ve been in the pack lands.

Rhea reminded me, “Alexander said everyone was ok and he can’t lie. Oden confirmed it too.”

I snarked, “Well, thank God Jase called declaring the attack an emergency. If he had, it obviously was. Stupid ass rule. We need to talk to our mate about that. Why haven’t we?”

Pain hit my head so hard I let that thought go for later. I grabbed a cookie that was sitting there on a platter. Karina’s cookies always seemed to make everything feel better, she was a god send. Then I asked my wolf, “Why were the Conners all still in here then? What were they trying to figure out?”

She replied, “Because it’s not all that happened.”

She was right.

My parents had been attacked at their cabin. That felt like something had been taken from me. The cabin was our family’s safe space. My heart raced at the thought of Hunters finding my parents. They had all better be dead. Or Rhea and I were going hunting ourselves. How did my parents escape? Rhea said, “The answer is obvious. Our sniper. She got them out.”

Alexander confirmed it was her and her team. I linked Buttercup asking, “What isn’t he saying?”

Buttercup sighed, “The sniper is angry with your dad. Like, really angry.”

I faltered, “Why?” Buttercup admitted, “We don’t know, but I don’t think she saved his life for him. Well, Haley thinks she did. She thinks that the sniper feels betrayed by your dad, but also loves him. She also said that she thinks the sniper sees herself as weak for that.” Something pricked in my head about that wording.

EJ took me to my parents because I needed to see them. I threw myself at my mom the second I saw her. She linked me, “Calm down, sweetie. We are fine.”

It still brought tears to my eyes. They could've been gone.

Once I pulled back from my mom, I flung myself into my dad’s arms. Tears coursed down my cheeks because they were ok. Cooper linked, “I would’ve been there waiting to see you if something bad happened.”

I replied, “Something bad did happen. Are you ok?”

He sighed, “Yeah, I think so. They took our safe place from us.” Yeah, they had, and that stung.

I didn’t know how long it took for me to calm down, but my mom led me outside to our backyard. I closed the door. We sat down on the porch swing in silence until I asked, “Who is it, mom?”

My mom frowned, “The sniper? I honestly have no clue. Your father is a fair man and a good leader.”

I whispered, “I don’t understand.”

My mom admitted, “None of us do. Whatever it is that she’s upset about she still saved us.”

I hugged her, “I need you guys. You can’t die.” My mom hugged me, “We are still here with you pups.”

I wiped my tears, “What if she decides that she doesn't like dad enough to save him again? How did the Hunters even find the cabin? It’s a secret.”

My mom cringed saying, “There’s only one way, someone told them. Which means we have a traitor.”

I growled, “I will RIP THEM APART!”

My mom levelly said, “Not if I get to them first. I would rip people to pieces for you pups and your dad. Someone tried to make me watch him die, and that won’t go unchecked.”

I hugged her promising, “I’ll destroy them for this mom. Dante is going down.”

My mom squeezed me, “Yes, he is.”

We walked back inside. Tristan had joined the group. I hugged my dad and then both my brothers. Drake and Sam stormed into the house. Where had they been? I was annoyed when I found out. Rhea huffed, “Is anyone going to tell us things? They went to celebrate Melanie getting into Julliard. Where was our text? Hey, Ladybug got into Julliard. I mean it’s not surprising but still.”

I linked Dalton, “There was a massive attack when they decided to go see Mel? Our parents almost died because the McAlister’s wanted to surprise her?”

He said, “I mean it’s a coincidence because that makes no sense.”

He was right, but the whole thing seemed off.

When EJ popped out, I had no doubt I knew where he was going. My dad asked, “Did he go to the cabin?”

I nodded, “I’m sure he will make it so no one but us can get in. Then he will fix everything that got ruined. I’m assuming he at least needs to replace the windows.”

He was giving my family back our place of peace and I found my love for my mate knew no depths.

Drake asked, “So from the links I got I hear the sniper is mad at you, Peter.”

My dad sighed, “I guess.”

Drake pressed, “But why? Why let you know they are angry without admitting why?” My dad rubbed his temples, “I’ve been thinking really hard about it and I just can’t think of anyone who would be so upset with me.”

Jason growled, “Whoever they are, they can’t disrespect you like that.”

My dad dismissed that notion, “We will get this figured out. I always admit when I’m wrong. If I’ve hurt someone, then it’s up to me to fix it. We just need to talk to the sniper once we get a hold of her. We’ll figure this out on that day.”

Tristan snorted.

I grumbled, “We won’t get ahold of her if she doesn't want us to.”

Drake frowned. Dalton said, “I want to get ahold of her. She’s nice to the Black Mountain Alpha’s when she helps you guys. We get chastised. Now it’s both the current and former Alpha’s. What the hell did we do?!”

No one said anything. My dad finally said, “I just don’t know, and I hurt for this woman. If she sees me as someone who should know her, I don’t. I’m sure that upsets her even more.”

I linked my brother, “Did T and Jase go through the files? They may see something we might not.”

He scoffed, “Every single one of our allies have been through our files. We’ve brought in Omega’s adept at psychology all the way to Alpha’s. Even Haley went through them and we got nothing.”

I frowned.

He continued, “Haley’s amendment to this note tells us about who the sniper is. She thinks the sniper will be more upset that we don’t know who they are. She thinks the sniper will believe our pack is pretending not to understand.”

That could turn bad fast. A sense of impending doom descended on me because Haley was rarely wrong. EJ popped back to us, and then popped us home.

When I woke up the next day, I went to lead a training session. Haley and Molly had started this tradition, and I’d decided to keep it going. Both women still attended. Shana and Jessica did when they had time, but Haley and Molly always made sure to be there.

Haley asked, “How are you doing, Elise?”

I shrugged, “I’m fine.”

Haley nodded but I could tell she knew it was a lie. I lost myself in training. Afterwards, I decided to run several laps on the track. Then I made my way up to our bedroom. I quickly showered then headed down into the office. I sat at my desk and before I got into my work, I replied to Ashley’s email.

Ashley,

I find myself baffled that you’d stay in a pack where you don’t consider the Alpha yours. I think that should tell you that you don’t belong there. Who is the Alpha you’d consider your Alpha? I think that’s the pack where you belong. I’d love it to be here, but you need to be somewhere you are treasured and cared for.

It’s not just your job to protect people. It’s the job of both your Alpha and Luna to protect you. That should not all fall onto you. You deserve to be protected too because that’s what a pack is supposed to mean.

In all our email exchanges, you have never been one to take crap from anyone. Why are you letting people make you feel you deserve their treatment? You don’t. You are extraordinary. I may not have met them, but I know your parents wouldn’t want you to suffer like this. Neither would your older brother. I say this as the oldest sibling myself. I would not want for even ONE second, for guilt to stop my siblings from living their best lives. Just think about that please.

On a lighter note, you were right about pups. I think when I turn twenty-five, EJ and I should try. Our allies, my home pack Red Run, Beta has a little boy. His name is Kai. He’s just so much fun. I love babysitting him. It’s strange to think I could have a little combination of EJ and I running around soon. I know I am ready for that step thanks to you and your advice.

Not to say I don’t have fears, I do. I worry about the undergrounds and the Ring. I know they are lying in wait for EJ and me to have pups. They want my husband’s family. The undergrounds wouldn’t want the attention kidnapping my pups would bring, but the Ring wouldn’t care. I just can’t be scared anymore. You know? I’m taking my own advice. I can’t let fear keep me from living my life the way I want, and neither can you.

Anyway. I hope that you have had a good few days. I myself went through my heat, then my old pack was attacked. My parents were almost killed. I’ve told you before we have people who help us. They won’t tell us who they are, but they are mad at my dad. They still saved him though. I guess that’s what counts.

I just can’t help but wonder what he did. Or what someone thinks he did. He’s such a kind man. My heart breaks that someone is hurting. Our allies, my home pack, and trained psychologists have been through the pack files, and we can’t figure out who it is. These people think my dad did something to them, but I know he would never intentionally hurt someone. He’s distraught and devastated.

I hope things went smoothly taking over that other pack for you. If you ever need help, don’t hesitate to ask us. We will be there no matter what. I will come for you personally if you ever ask. Maybe even if you don’t. You are my friend, and that’s what friends do.

Elise

I sighed and shut my laptop. I started on the disputes I handled for the pack. I didn’t have that many today. I was able to knock them all out fairly quickly. I was rather proud of how it had become second nature to me now.

I glanced up surprised when a knock sounded. I yelled, “Come in.”

I raised an eyebrow when a Warrior, Fowler, walked into the office. He didn’t look particularly happy. Fowler handed me a note. I asked, “What’s this?”

Fowler shrugged, “Someone wearing a hood left this on our border. He or she was gone before we got over there. We went through protocols. Nothing in this will hurt you, or you’d never see it.” I nodded. I didn’t doubt that for one second. I opened the note.

Elise,

I know it’s not your birthday yet, but I wanted you to have this. I hope you have an amazing birthday. You deserve it.

Ashley

I stared at it. Ashley came to our borders and didn’t say hi?! Rhea said, “I mean that’s not overly surprising, given she doesn’t want to meet us.”

It was annoying is what it was. If only someone had caught her. EJ walked into my office.

He asked, “What’s that?”

I answered, “An early birthday present from Ashley.”

I opened it and inside were two black wolf charms. EJ said, “It’s us.” I nodded, “Yes, I think that it is.” Alexander commented, “They will fit on your charm bracelet too.” When did he get here?

The two wolves would go nicely on the bracelet Melanie had given me. I never took it off. I admitted, “I was hoping Ashley would come to my party this year.”

Alexander winced, “I asked her if she would when I reached out. I swear to god, something about me makes her nervous. She jumped around in her thoughts in the email.”

I bit my lip knowing EJ felt how amused I was.

Alexander chuckled, “It was pretty adorable actually. It was almost like she was both nervous and giddy. It came through the tone of the email somehow.”

I explained, “She admires you. She’s told me that before.”

Alexander smiled, “Well, that’ very flattering.” EJ jumped in, “Did she say anything else to you, brother?” Alexander frowned, “We talked about defenses and different workout drills. Her personal one is pretty intense. I was impressed.”

I snorted, “You might have killed her if you told her you were impressed. She has you on the Warrior pedestal.”

He rolled his eyes, “She was fine, and I definitely did not kill her. I told her she should file a complaint about Trevor. I haven’t heard from her since I said that though.”

I sighed, “She won’t do it. She told me she could handle him.”

Alexander frowned, “Maybe one of us will get through to her.”

EJ grumbled, “Hopefully.” Rhea replied, “It seems unlikely.” While that had merit, something told me if anyone could, it would be Alexander.

That fact prickled at my brain again, but I shoved it down. I was tired of headaches. I grabbed a Karina cookie that was sitting on a plate in my office. Bless whoever brought them in here. Once I’d eaten it, I felt more settled and much better.

I added the two black wolves to my charm bracelet. They were perfect. I kissed EJ then linked him, “We will get everything figured out. It’s all going to be ok.”

Karina’s cookies always made everything better including my confidence. EJ agreed, “Yes, it will be.”

I nodded and hugged him. We could do this. I knew we could.