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She kissed my head, “No matter how big you get you’ll always be my baby. All of you will. Even though I have to fly up to kiss your heads or cheeks when you don’t bend down. I have wings so I’ll use them to my fucking advantage.” I laughed, “That’s so you, mom.” She hugged me and held me tight.

Somehow, despite the fact that she reeked of my dad and I could smell what they’d been doing, I finally fell asleep with her holding me tight. When I woke up, I could smell my parent’s scent strongly in my room.

I opened my eyes a slit and my mom smiled saying, “I conjured you breakfast.” We ate it together before they went on about their days. Everyone always thought they couldn’t pay attention to all the pups they had so far, but everyone was wrong.

No one managed their time better than my parents. I loved my family and knew they’d have more pups because my second sister wasn’t born yet. I was more than happy to have more siblings. All of them were great.

I got up and ran some laps. Theo, my little brother, joined me. I winked, “Hey, little brother.” Oden grumbled, “We should run with Barker.” That was my brother’s wolf. He was actually named after Alpha Theo because he was friends with my dad.

It did confuse people because we had a lot of people with the same names running around. Which all of us with Fairy blood found deeply amusing. We messed with people about it too.

Theo greeted “Hi, big brother. Why are you so keyed up?” I winked, “I’m excited for the big picnic later.” He gave me a measured look, “Umm ok.” I asked, “Do you want to go for a run? Oden wants to run with Barker.” He grinned, “Let’s go.”

We barely made it outside before our wolves ripped out of us ready to run.

Brutus joined us and so did Leif, my brother Julian’s wolf, and Morris, Maverick’s wolf.

Maverick and Theo were twins. Oden howled happily that Lief was out here.

Julian leaned more Fairy than the rest of us, so he didn’t run as much here.

He usually shifted in Faerie. Leif howled back and we ran together.

When we arrived, several people were pretty somber.

I linked EJ, “Who peed in the punch?” He replied, “I don’t know.

” He went and found Elise, she’d been here all day but he’d left her to join us, who he got to smile before he shifted back.

He popped her away and I felt his incredulousness along with intense disbelief. They popped back.

I teased, “Hey Elise, where is the imaginary Melanie?” I was trying to goad her and the other Red Run wolves into producing Melanie. I didn’t actually believe that she was imaginary like my mom did. Oden purred, “Because she’s probably ours.” I really hoped so.

Elise sighed, “Well, she’s not coming.” Oden muttered, “Of course not.” EJ shot me a look over my disappointment in the bond. I didn’t bother addressing that. I tapped my chin, “Let me guess, she’s getting the Nobel peace prize. What about some science or math award?” EJ snorted, “Alexander.”

I said, “No, she’s getting a Pulitzer winning literature prize.

” The science and math award had been mentioned for her absences.

Oden chuckled in my head. Wesley said, “Come on, Alexander. You know it will be a competition she entered in last minute.” I snapped my fingers, “There it is. A good old classic, Wes.” Several people snickered.

Elise winced, “She’s grounded.” I asked, “For? Because this will be good. I’m expected a top tier excuse.” She winced, “She crossed the border.” Even Wesley snorted with me this time. I teased, “Oh come on, you can do better than that.” She frowned, “Huh?”

I said, “No pup would cross your border after what literally happened last night. Let alone the Beta’s daughter, who was probably told what happened.” Elise admitted, “She was told.” I snorted, “So, that’s a bullshit excuse. What else you got?”

She insisted, “Some older pups said she crossed and a parent confirmed they saw her headed in that direction.” I asked, “Why would anyone believe that? No pup crosses right after a rogue attack, let alone a genius.”

She rubbed her temples, “Well, Mel doesn’t really get social cues sometimes.

” I raised an eyebrow. Wesley asked, “Does she have survival instincts?” Elise went to answer but he held up his hand, “It’s a rhetorical question because all Supernatural’s do.

I’m merely pointing out this excuse is insane and inaccurate. ”

My mom popped over. She asked, “What’s going on?” I said, “We are trying to help Elise come up with a better reason Melanie isn’t here.” She waved, “It’s because she’s damn prank and they won’t let it fucking go.”

She kissed my head, “Don’t feel bad they got you. They are just being sore losers because I’m better at pranking them. They might want to watch it because I’m going to go Fairy Hijinks on their ass because they won’t let this one go.” She popped away.

Elise insisted, “She IS real.” Oden said, “Push her on the subject! She’s so annoyed right now.

” I teased, “Sure, she is.” She shouted, “SHE IS!” Wesley jumped in clearly picking up on my feelings.

He said, “I dunno. You want us to believe a genius has zero supernatural survival skills or that she can’t cross a border without getting caught.

Humans can do that. She’s supposedly a genius. ”

Elise retorted, “She’s LITERALLY a genius.” Wesley grinned, “Then tell us the real reason she’s not coming. Because it’s not that she crossed the border. Literally no one believes that.” She stomped her foot, “That’s what my dad said the reason was.”

EJ growled, “Guys.” He knew we were pushing but Elise was getting agitated, and I didn’t actually want that. I said, “Sorry, Elise. I’ll leave you to your prank ponderings. You should warn your pack, my mom really will get you guys.”

She sighed, “It’s just a weird coincidence you haven’t met her.” Wesley said, “I mean she’s supposedly seven, so it’s past weird coincidences and now is in the quite intentional realm.” I tended to agree with that.

Oden huffed, “Who cares? Let’s just leave. It’s a picnic like any other and we’ve been to those.” I wandered away from the group and ended up in the gym. Liam joined me. He questioned, “Alexander, why aren’t you enjoying the picnic?”

I hit the bag grunting, “What’s to enjoy?” He answered, “The sunny day and your Earth side.” I grunted and hit the bag again. He got behind it and let me continue to hit it. My dad came in and took his place.

I commented, “You’re supposed to be out there.” He chuckled, “I don’t actually do what I’m supposed to most of the time. I do what’s right and I don’t care what that looks like.” Dylan yelled, “HE SO DOES! HE HAS BEEN BUCKING TRADITION SINCE HE WAS A WEE PUP!”

My dad groaned, “Will you just go back to the party?” Dylan huffed, “Fine. I’ll leave you to your moody pup who is a member of the OG triplets.” Oden snarled at him. He pointed, “See? Moody.” I rolled my eyes. He called, “Catch ya later, Moody Triplet.” I glared at his retreating form.

My dad asked, “What’s going on?” I shrugged, “I don’t like being lied to.” He tilted his head, “Neither do I.” I said, “Then you get it.” He disagreed, “I don’t think I do.” I snorted, “Did you hear why Melanie isn’t here?”

He sighed, “Uh huh. Your mom asked when they got here and she linked me for thirty minutes full of cursing about how pranks are supposed to be over at some point. She also claims if certain people can’t get a handle on that she will launch a longstanding prank war the likes of which we have not seen. ”

I stalled my hit, and he nodded. He commented, “Yeah, words do NOT express how much I don’t want that to happen.” Oden said, “I kind of do. Then they’d have to produce Melanie.” That was actually true.

My dad pointed at me warning, “Don’t you dare push her into doing that. I feel you thinking it’s a good idea to nudge her into doing it.” I laughed, “They’d bring Melanie then to prove she’s not a prank then though. Wouldn’t they?”

He agreed, “Yes, but eventually she has to show up to things. Elise considers her a sister.” I asked, “What do you really think is going on?” He replied, “I think Drake is very nervous about Melanie’s safety and the Warriors and other pack members pick up on that.

They all worry for her because they do love her, and they are doing what they think is best.”

I gasped, “You think they are lying.” He shrugged, “Pups are curious. I’m sure she has crossed a few times, but she got caught. Do I think she crossed today? No. Literally no one thinks that. Sam and Drake have trauma associated with crossing the border. So, I think they believe it.”

I asked, “What trauma?” He answered, “Deaths in their family prior to you or your mom coming into our lives. It happened more than we cared for it to. They get so triggered about it because it’s happened to them before.

Both of them having those stories make them react harsher.

Sam saw her family members’ bodies, and she’s been on scene at several pups in Blue Moon dying.

One of her best friends did run away at one point and keep everyone at arm’s length before she left. Sam has a lot going on.”

I snorted, “That’s not Melanie’s fault.” He agreed, “It’s not but something I have come to understand is it’s very important to talk about your trauma because it shapes our reactions to things.

I don’t even know if Sam could control that response at this point.

She’s afraid for her pup and she’s seen the aftermath.

Considering it was right on top of what happened yesterday, I wish those that reported it had used a different made up offense. ” Me too.

It was insulting they believed it. Oden grumbled, “That means Melanie is probably insulted too.” I didn’t like that.

My dad said, “Let’s head back out there.

” I nodded and walked back out into our pack.

I’d try to have fun, but it didn’t hold a candle the excitement I’d had thinking I was going to meet Melanie today.