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I linked Emmett Daniels, “Heads up, I’m crossing your border to find your younger brother.

” He replied, “I’ll assume you mean Keaton.

” I replied, “Since he’s the one not here, yes.

I need an assessment and he’s the best.” If he and I collaborated more I was certain we’d solve a lot of problems that would never have to happen, but he was a little shy.

I shifted back and walked into their house. I called, “Keaton.” He flashed in front of me. He questioned, “Uhh what are you doing here?” I answered, “I need you to do an assessment for me. Angela is mated.” He snorted, “I know.” I asked, “Then what do you think I want?”

He answered, “Probably a smattering of things, but at the top of the list would be someone studying Alania to see what she’d put in their path in case they met when she clearly never planned on Angela doing so.”

I nodded, “Got it in one. Uncle Aiden knows you have access to anything you need because of mom, but I’ll conjure anything you need on her for this.

I need to be prepared.” He agreed, “I’ll get it done.

” I hugged him, “Thanks and consider coming to stuff again. Even if you’re going without your girlfriend.

I’m always going solo myself.” He snorted but nodded.

I left, shifted back into Oden, then hit the gym. I’d been hitting the heavy bag for several hours when I heard a throat clear behind me. I turned greeting, “Uncle Bjourn.” He asked, “What’s going on? Is Melanie ok?” I answered, “Yes. She’s fine.” She was always fine.

Uncle Bjourn surmised, “So it’s something with Ashley that’s bothering you.” I snorted, “She was hurt. Supposedly, she was in a car accident. She’s gone off the grid though. I feel like shit about the whole thing. I am drawn in by everything Ashley, but Melanie…” I trailed off.

I admitted, “hearing her name still makes my heart skip a beat. Ashley’s name does something too though.

It’s just odd. It’s the same name as a character in Melanie’s favorite book series.

” Uncle Bjourn offered, “That could be your connection right there. You feel connected to her because of Melanie. They are both strong fighters.”

I agreed, “True. I miss her, which sounds crazy. How can I miss someone I haven’t met? Hell, I miss both of them because I’m an asshole. Ashley hasn’t emailed me back in a while and I miss her ranting little emails. They always make me smile. It makes me worry that she’s hurt pretty damn bad.”

Uncle Bjourn said, “I do keep tabs on her.” I asked, “You do?” Uncle Bjourn nodded, “I can tell you she’s hurt, but she’s recovering remarkably well.” I realized, “Then you know where she is.” Uncle Bjourn smiled saying, “There are very few people that can hide from me.”

I pointed out, “My dad is trying to find her.” Uncle Bjourn sighed, “I think your dad is waiting for her to come back rather than look for her, lest he find something he might not want to know about where she was.” I had no idea what that meant, but he left. So, I went back to my workout.

I hit the heavy bag some more before popping into my shower. I put Melanie’s hoodie on my second pillow and jumped into bed. Nope, there was nothing remotely creepy about this. Oden tiredly said, “It’s not creepy because she’s ours. This hoodie is the best I’ll get since SOMEONE won’t go get her.”

The next morning, I ran into the Omega Robert was dating.

Karina smiled offering, “Would you like some cookies, Alpha Alexander? I just made them.” Her peanut butter cookies were still to die for.

I teased her, “It was a bad idea to offer me these. I’ll take the whole plate.

” She laughed, “I’ll just go make more. My boyfriend loves watching me bake. ”

I snarfed the cookies down to avoid thinking about that. I wished they’d break up already. I hated seeing that guy around here because I still remembered what I’d heard him say to Melanie. He’d hurt her feelings and made her cry. He didn’t like that her stuffed wolf looked like me.

Oden perked up saying, “Mates toy does look like me. Elise said she calls him her Xander wolf.” He purred the name. I hated it when people called me Xander, but for some reason it always made me smile when I thought of Melanie calling me that nickname.

I found my family in the main room and sat down on the couch a moment before Lexi blazed in using her speed. She was on about some band I’d never heard of. How popular could they be? Micah knew about them though.

Oden offered, “Maybe the Hackura like them then and not wolves.” It sounded reasonable.

Lexi was perplexed by the situation. What shocked me more was that Micah seemed stunned that we didn’t know about this band.

He said they’d been popular for a few years, and that unless you had a connection; you couldn’t get into their shows.

I’d bet any of us could get in if we wanted. Our family was definitely well known, powerful, rich, and popular. People wanted to meet us. Oden snorted, “Except Ashley.” Except her. I couldn’t figure that out. She did want to meet us, she just also didn’t.

Max was startled to realize Micah and Cayden had been to the concerts several times. I leaned forward in my chair when Micah said he couldn’t talk about it. That meant he had a source in the band. I was not getting a good feeling about that.

Elise jumped in and said the only person Micah had said that about was Ashley. How did Elise know that?! What the ever loving shit?! Was Ashley truly a consistent source for the Hackura?! Oden growled, “Evidence says she is.” It really did and I couldn’t figure out why.

Why wouldn’t she talk to the Werewolf council instead? That’s who she should trust. I mean Cayden and Micah were trustworthy, but she was a wolf. Plus, how did she know that she could ask to keep us locked out? What was going on? My heart stopped as I put it all together.

Ashley was not only their consistent source, she asked for us to boxed out. That’s why Uncle Bjourn knew where Ashley was and her status. Brody was with her. I linked Phil, “You were right. Ashley is the source Cayden was going to have me come heal. Damn it! I was so close to meeting her.”

Phil replied, “That was my guess honestly. Not that it makes ANY sense WHATSOEVER unless your dad is right and Black Path is doing naughty things.” I rolled my eyes replying, “Just come into the room and sit down. There’s no need to hide around the corner.”

I added, “Plus, my dad is rarely wrong. If she has proof of Black Path being shitty, the Werewolf council would EAT it up. Why would she go to Cayden? HOW did she go to Cayden?” Phil came in and sat on the edge of the couch.

He replied, “Those are good questions. I have no answers. I am remiss and adrift without a purpose as a Beta.”

I linked Gage, “Are you up?” He groaned, “No, leave me alone.” Fine.

I linked Phil again, “Seriously though, how the hell is Ashley managing to be a Female Lead Warrior, running a pack, and participate as a lead role in a band?” I had to admit that was a girl who didn’t like to sit still.

Just like my Lovebug. My head pounded with pain. I shook that thought and sat back.

Phil linked, “I don’t know.” I felt like an ass for not knowing about this.

I should’ve mentioned Ashley’s band in our emails.

I jolted hearing that she played acoustic and electric guitar.

Melanie played both too. Tristan told me he taught her, and she took to it easily.

Plus, Jason had bragged about how Melanie could play both acoustic and electric guitar several times.

I rubbed my head wondering why I always compare them. Probably to feel less like a jerk about the whole thing. Ashley might be the only werewolf around that didn’t want to meet our family. I had no idea why that bothered me so damn much, but it really did.

I remained quiet while more details were thrown around. I’d ask Ashley about the band too, but I liked to have our emails remain private, just between us. I wasn’t going to share any of it with Lexi. I had no idea why, I just wasn’t going to.

Somehow the discussion turned to headaches.

My mom got pissed when she realized we’d been getting these headaches for a while now.

Oden whimpered, “Always about mate.” I winced.

Was he right? Why would thinking about Melanie give us all a headache?

I nearly threw up when I tried to connect the dots.

I had to stop thinking about this. She was living her dream. I was being possessive and selfish again. I wanted the headaches to be about her so I could go meet her. I shook myself because I wouldn’t stand in the way of her dreams.

Was I really though? I could pop her back and forth. She could do both. My head was pounding with pain now. No, I was being selfish that’s all it was. Phil ran into the room. I’d been so in my head, I hadn’t even noticed he’d stepped out.

He was frantic and that was never good. EJ and I popped into the office. I shoved every other thought out of my head. I needed to focus right now. The McDermont’s Beta was on the phone. He said their Luna was dead. WHAT THE FUCK?! EJ popped out.

I linked my men, “GATHER OUTSIDE RIGHT NOW!” I popped to them.

Once I’d gathered our men I popped to EJ.

I glanced at my watch noting it had taken five minutes.

We were running drills again. That was an unacceptable amount of time for my brother to be fighting with his Luna without me and our men.

They needed to get it under three before I would be happy.

I shifted and fought with EJ then shifted back once the fight was over. Theo, my brother named after my dad’s friend, popped in surprised we’d never met this pack before. EJ and I had met them, we just didn’t see them too often.