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Oden growled, “This isn’t over.” It looked over until I spotted the pack’s Beta crawling towards the forest. That was not going to be good. I saw his mate trying to get a Warrior out of her way to get to him. I saw his son, but I didn’t see his daughter. Oh god no.

The Beta announced someone took his daughter and the Alpha’s. Fanfuckingtastic. EJ tried to pop to them and so did I. We were thrown back, but neither of us got hurt. EJ wanted to lead a scouting party. I spotted Theo, who was sniffing the air. I raised an eyebrow at him.

When he asked if we smelled ‘that’ my heart plummeted.

Oh no. Please no. I nearly closed my eyes in frustration when a Warrior walked out with a hoodie.

My brother snarled, “MINE!” Oden said, “Hmmm how odd he can tell from a scent on a hoodie. I myself told you the SAME THING when we found a hoodie in the back of an SUV YEARS AGO, yet you doubt me.”

I replied, “Now is not the time. That hoodie was brought out to track the girls. Theo’s mate is missing.

Ours isn’t, she's just not here.” Oden grumbled but accepted I was right.

It ended up being Jane McDermont’s hoodie.

She recently turned eighteen. So, when we got her back, she’d be moving in with us at least. She’d be safe.

Theo kept trying to pop to her. I knew I needed to stop him, but I didn’t know what to say. I’d do the same thing if I was him. Angela eventually popped in and got him to stop. EJ led the search even though Angela said the girl had gone through a holoport.

While they were gone, I grabbed Theo and pulled him into a hug. I linked him, “We will get her back, little brother. She will be by your side as she’s meant to be. Alright?” Theo cried, “I already failed her. I should’ve protected her.”

I reassured him, “You had no way of knowing. You got here when you could. She was gone before we were even called. You couldn't have done anything.” Theo didn’t feel any differently, and I still couldn't blame him.

Maverick popped in, immediately hugging Theo.

He offered, “It will be alright, brother.” Theo asked, “How, Mav? They took her. I don’t have her or a lead.

They have her and she doesn’t know I’m coming.

” Maverick said, “We are the Conners Family. They made a serious mistake taking her and they are going to know that. We protect what is ours, and we will protect Jane.”

Theo still didn’t calm down. I knew he needed to hit something, but he was waiting for EJ to return. He returned without Jane, which we knew was going to happen. Now, Theo was past reason. I got him to come with me, but it was a fight.

I walked into the gym and ordered, “Everyone out. We have drills starting bright and early tomorrow. You all took five minutes to get to me and that’s unacceptable!” Everyone left. Only a few grumbled about tomorrow.

I turned to Theo ordering, “Get in the ring.” We stepped up and we fought. It took hours for him to calm down. When we stopped Maverick popped to his side. I linked him, “Mav, it’s going to be ok.” Maverick argued, “He’s devastated.” I knew that.

My empathetic connection with my siblings' emotions, be it emotional or physical hurt, was incredibly strong. I knew how upset Theo was and I hated it. I wished I could take every single bad emotion from him and give him only good ones. I couldn’t though.

I popped them to the house that was oddly empty. I knew Maverick was staying with Theo in his room tonight. I popped to my room. I couldn’t stop myself from writing an email. I needed something to do because Theo’s devastation felt so acute it was practically ringing in my ears.

Ashley,

You mischievous little wolf. I hear you are in a VERY popular band.

I feel horrible about the fact that I did not know about it.

I’d love to come watch you play. Maybe I could buy tickets for Elise at least. I’d love to surprise her with them.

She’d die of excitement. She really wants to meet you. Hell, I want to meet you.

The offer of you training our wolf less still stands. I’d love to host you for an event. It would be popular because YOU are popular in the werewolf community. We could swap tips too. I’d still love to spar with you sometime.

I heard you were in a car accident. I’m not sold on that being what happened. That’s just based on the rumors my Beta heard. I stand by my emails to you Ashley. If that ass wipe marked you against your will, I’ll kill him. I’ll find out too.

I truly hope you are ok because I am genuinely worried about you.

I don’t know what’s going on, but I want to help you.

No, I NEED to help you. I can’t even tell you why, but I know that I do.

Please let me help, Ashley. I’ll go around the Werewolf council, my brother, and anyone else you want. I just want to help you. Please.

Truthfully, I need to help someone. That’s probably selfish to put on you, but I can’t do anything to help my little brother at this moment. His mate was kidnapped. He found out tonight that she’s his. When we were going to track the two girls taken.

The Luna of Gray Stone pack is dead. Their Alpha is a wreck, and so is my little brother. His mate is going to be devastated when we bring her home because her mom is gone. My brother Theo, his full name is Theodore, but we call him Theo. He’s beside himself.

I don’t know how to make him feel better other than get him in the gym. My connection with my siblings' emotions make it very hard to process. I want to burn the world down for him.

I hope to talk to you soon, and I wish you a speedy recovery.

Alexander

P.S. I could make it an incredibly fast recovery for you. I’m just saying, I’ve got healing hands.

I hit send. Then cursed myself, “I have healing hands?! GOD! Oden, why didn’t you stop me from saying that?!” Oden snickered, “I liked it and it’s true.” I closed my eyes and went to sleep. I told myself we’d have everything settled soon.

I was wrong. Weeks passed by with nothing but us being on the kidnappers’ tails. I ran drills with our Warriors. We’d gotten our response time where I wanted it. I hadn’t heard back from Ashley though, which was putting me on edge.

The only thing that kept me calm was re-watching videos of Melanie dancing.

She was truly mesmerizing. The way she moved was incredible.

I was so frustrated with our lack of progress on finding Jane.

It was clear Theo’s mate had been taken into the Undergrounds.

The real ones not the ones we had been to.

We’d found her blood at different places. Theo was in the gym more often with me than he ever was before. The only good news was we were finally on their tails. I needed to see Melanie. I locked my door and watched her dance.

As soon as the dance ended. My email dinged. I smiled when I saw Ashley’s email address. I read the first line.

Alpha Duke,

I snorted because no matter how many times I told her to call me Alexander. Ashley called me Alpha Duke. I started to get hard and cursed myself. I kept reading.

I am in a band. I thought you knew that. We are kind of popular. Well I mean... pretty popular. Obviously not like crazy popular if you don’t know us. I mean you guys know everything. So probably not super popular at all.

We do ok. We sound good…. if I do say so myself. I mean my bandmates are talented. That’s what I mean. Not like I sound good. I’m not bragging I swear… My bandmates though… They are great. We are more like family…than just bandmates.

I don’t think we’d be Elise’s style. I mean we play a broad range of music. I could send you an audio clip of us performing…. I could do that. That’s a thing I could do. Does that work as a compromise? Please say it does. I don’t want you to be mad.

Honestly….our shows are fairly private, and the band is… particular... me... well... all of us... mostly me. .Just… let’s say that. I’m weird. Let’s move on.

As far as what happened to me, I don’t really remember the accident. I remember there was one, but not the accident itself. It comes to me in weird flashes. My doctor said that was normal. My friend was UNHAPPY… so very unhappy. Said friend wanted more details.

I wished I had them. I’m trying to piece together what happened.

None of my other friends are talking about it.

So, it’s probably bad. I mean it’s fine.

.. totally fine… Why would I say bad? I don’t know…

I’m just talking crazy over here. They probably don’t want to push memory issues… Yup that’s totally it. Nothing bad.

I’m not marked so there is no need to sharpen your broadsword or anything. Or I mean… any type of sword you want. You could obviously use any type of sword… and that would be fine. You can do whatever you want.

I don’t want you to get in trouble for me.

I couldn’t live with it if you did. You’d hate me once you knew, and I can't do that. I can’t…

not you. I know you love your brother and your dad.

I can’t let you do that for me. I’ll be ok.

I can handle stupid jerks. I’ve been doing it my whole life. I’ve got a system.

I’m very sorry about your brother. I cannot imagine his pain or yours. I’m sure you will find the women that were kidnapped. Nothing can stand in your way when you set your mind to it.

Ashley

I was a little sad because normally I got a P.S. I sat back thinking over her email. She’d said broadsword. Did Cayden tell her about me? I did favor a broadsword. My email dinged again.

Alpha Duke,

OH MY GOSH! Stupid computer! I was not done… and it sent… I don’t know why it does that. I wasn’t ready to hit send. I am VERY good with computers. I’m so nice to them and then it goes and is mean to me.

I am hurt by my computer’s actions… .it will go into a time out after this. Gosh... not like a real time out... I’m not a crazy person who puts inanimate objects into a corner… OH my gosh! I swear I’m not a weirdo.