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Alexander is Twenty-Two Years Old

Alexander was worried. Everly McAlister was here in our pack with Kai. He was outside with my mom. She whispered, “I shouldn’t be here.” I replied, “Nonsense you are an ally of ours you are always welcome here.”

She admitted, “I went out early this morning to shoot some pictures of the sun rise in the place T told me Melanie used to love dancing in. It sounded perfect for the shot I wanted.” Oden purred in my head. I’d visited the spot in question.

In fact, I was in the process of having Phil acquire me a house in Red Run’s territory for me and Melanie.

Jason used to say she got home sick, so I wanted her to have somewhere to stay in their territory if she needed it.

It wasn’t in the area where all the pack houses were, but it was still considered their territory.

Oden said, “It does have a nice private area for her to dance into.” It was a mansion, and I planned to make updates to it. I thought it would be a good place for us to have our pups run around and until they came along, should she still want them, it was a nice place for us.

Oden said, “Jase said she wanted a big family like ours.” Yes, but a lot about her personality had changed in New York according to all of the McAlister’s.

Oden growled, “Well as soon as she gets away from all those bastards who think she needed to change she’ll be herself again.

I will not STAND for someone making mate be different. ” Nor would I.

Everly pulled me back to the conversation.

“I went by Jase’s place.” He’d gotten a cottage after the Hunters tortured him.

She sighed, “The therapy isn’t helping him.

I heard him screaming when I came back by.

It’s horrible.” Tristan had ordered him into therapy when it became clear Jason was struggling.

I told her, “Trauma can take time to get over.” She cringed, “He wakes up asking for Ladybug. He’s screaming her name and telling her to fight back.” I frowned, “But that didn’t actually happen. Melanie wasn’t there. No one hurt her.”

She sighed, “I know that, and you know that. He’s pretending to know that, but I don’t think he believes it. You should’ve heard him; it was so sad.” I told her, “I’m really sorry.” It had to be hard to hear. If I heard one of my in laws going through that I’d be furious.

She sighed, “I just don’t get it. I know T and I mated quickly, but I’m shocked she didn’t come back for our matin ceremony. I excused it because she was mad and hurt. I did stupid stuff at her age, but she didn’t really even try to come to our mating ceremony.” Oden growled.

She rubbed her face, “Now, she’s never even come to see Kai. I acknowledge she’s tried but it’s all so weird.” She was right. We needed to look into this. Karina came into the room and dropped off cookies. I took one and offered one to Everly.

She chuckled, “I do love these. We have them in our pack too, but Karina’s are better.

” Karina blushed and bowed her head. She said, “Thank you, Beta Female Everly.” She took a bite and moaned, “You are welcome. Please open a bakery. I’ll make my best effort at gaining weight eating all your creations. ” She giggled and left.

She sighed, “I swear Robert is bad for her ego.” I asked, “Do you see them together a lot?” She answered, “Here I do, but he never brings her to our pack.” I questioned, “Never?” She nodded.

I linked Gia, “You might need to talk to Karina. Robert has never taken her to Red Run and they’ve been dating for way too long for that.

” She replied, “I’ll do that, but Cassie has talked to her. ” I knew that.

I linked Gage, “Is Robert here?” He snorted, “He’s lurking.” I replied, “Make sure he stops.” He chuckled, “Happily. Normally Genevieve gets to have all the fun.” She would, as EJ’s Gamma. He had a short fuse for Robert being here.

Everly snorted, “I’m being silly. Melanie is living her dream.” Oden deflated in my head. I agreed, “She is.” She looked out the window watching Kai. She said, “She’ll meet him someday.” I agreed, “She will.” She admitted, “I think she’ll get into Julliard.” Oden grumbled, “She will.”

I replied, “I’m sure she will.” She sighed, “Then she’ll never come home.” Oden growled in my head. I assured her, “She will. She can’t stay gone forever.” I’d have a limit of bullshit I could deal with. Oden grumbled, “I’ve been at my limit for quite some time now.” He was and he wasn’t.

Some days we were in sync ready to just go find her. Then we’d remember that it was selfish, and she was living her dream. It was always the reality slap we needed. I couldn’t stop her from living her dreams. She was my mate and I wanted her to have everything she wanted.

I offered, “Why don’t you go ask Rissa if she’d come see Jase.

” She was his ex-girlfriend. They had been on and off dating since he and Cassie decided to just be friends.

Rissa was a big help to him with everything Melanie.

She beamed at me saying, “That’s a brilliant idea.

” I winked at her, “I’ve been known to have those. ” She laughed and left.

I grabbed some food from Nana Blanch. I kissed her cheek, “Love you, Nana Blanch.” She grinned at me and pinched my cheek. She said, “You have a heart of gold, young man.” I laughed, “I don’t know about that.” She shrugged, “You go ahead and not know. I’ll just be over here knowing.”

We walked outside together and heard two pack members whispering, “It was the best damn muffin of MY LIFE!” Nana Blanch stopped and I knew they had her full attention.

The girl said, “It was good, but they said they stole them. Plus, we weren’t supposed to be down there.

They don’t sell them regularly and they literally pushed us out when we asked who made them. ”

I asked, “Where were you?” The girls squeaked. I greeted, “Hannah and Kaia, how are you?” Nana Blanch grumbled, “After eating the best muffin you’ve ever had.” I bit my lip. Oden chuckled in my head, “Now, they’ve done it.” Yeah, because Nana Blanch took pride in her cooking.

Hannah sighed, “Can we not answer that?” I replied, “Not a chance.” She groaned, “We took a road trip.” I jumped in, “I am aware.” She blushed, “Well, we needed supplies and gas.” She winced, “Maybe I didn’t look at the gas tank to notice how low we were.

Which I do know is bad. My dad warned me a million times to check it and keep the music down so I could hear when the ding for the low gas light went off.

We were jamming pretty loudly to music the whole time. Please don’t tell him.”

I reasoned, “So far in this story there is no reason for me to tell him. Just be careful when you road trip. We don’t want you stranded.

” Oden reasoned, “You should tell them what to do if they are.” He had a point.

I added, “If you do though, link my mom or any of us that can pop. We will come help you. Ok?” They both nodded.

I urged, “Continue.” Kaia winced, “Ok, so we noticed we were nearly out of gas when we were going through Nashville. We were close to Franklin, but we didn’t think we’d make it gas wise.” I wanted to groan.

I linked EJ, “We might get a call from Alpha’s in Nashville about pack members being there.

” He asked, “OUR pack members?” I answered, “Uh huh.” He groaned and I understood that.

We never enjoyed getting those calls because they were ridiculous.

I said, “They had to stop for gas.” He snorted, “I better not get a damn call about people needing fucking gas. I will break a phone.”

Nana Blanch questioned, “How does this relate to stolen muffins that are the best you’ve ever had?” I laughed then teased her, “You are stuck on that.” She retorted, “And I’ll be making muffins today.” I grinned at her.

Hannah said, “So we were walking by this bakery, and a wolf was running towards them with a basket. It just smelled so good.” I shrugged.

She continued, “So we walked in and asked to buy them. It was weird though because people were waiting for them. We heard them whispering about how they stole them from some drunk girl that was making them.”

I asked, “Did they say who she was?” They shrugged, “They called her Ash and said that if she found out they stole them she’d kick their ass.” Nana Blanch snorted, “So the wolf less Female Lead Warrior ALSO cooks?! My plump behind needs to get to the gym.”

I laughed, “I’m sure there is more than one Ashley and you’re incredibly fit.

” Oden was purring. Nana Blanch cooed, “Oh you flatter you.” I snorted, “I cannot lie.” She winked at me.

Hannah said, “Well they were saying she made so much they just knew she wouldn’t notice, but several people disagreed.

We bought them and they practically shoved us out the door calling us outsiders.

We didn’t tell them what pack we were from, and we left. ”

I asked, “Did you pay for the gas with a card or cash?” Kaia admitted, “Cash. We didn’t want our parents to know about the whole ordeal, and we had emergency cash.” Oden hummed, “Smart.” It was. Hannah shrugged, “They were SO good. They had this fudge center.”

Nana Blanch gasped, “I can make a fudge center muffin too.” They glanced at each other and Nana Blanch left in a huff to go make muffins. They both winced and I could tell they were worried.

I asked, “What’s wrong?” Kaia whined, “They were so fluffy and it’s not that Mrs. Blanch’s muffins aren’t amazing, they are. Everyone know that.” I agreed, “Yes, they do.” She practically whined, “These are just so good!”

Hannah said, “I guess this Ash makes them for her friends, and one of them told her to when she was super drunk. She doesn’t make them often, but I tell you that woman could open a bakery I mean it. I also mean it when I say I would drive there specifically to buy them.”