Page 169

I heard the most beautiful voice tell me I was ok. I’d believe that voice any day. Whoever it was… sounded like a god himself. Who could doubt him? Why was that voice familiar? Did I care at the moment? Nope. Not me.

I wasn’t going to doubt him either… maybe if Selene sounded like that, I’d believe her too. I nearly laughed at my own joke. I’d never believe a word out of her mouth at this point, even if she dared to speak to me.

Someone sighed, “Finally.” Who was that? Wasn’t I with Sierra? That wasn’t her. I felt so comfortable and safe. Those were odd feelings I’d not felt in six years. Why did I feel this way? I could’ve opened my eyes, but I didn’t want to. I wanted to stay here forever.

Eventually someone said, “Open your eyes right now.” Demanding and rude…. What an obnoxious annoying voice that I didn’t recognize. I wanted to stay in the warmth with the god-like voice….that my brain was nagging me I knew…the nagging and the demanding voice needed to cut it out.

She growled, “Open your eyes.” Ugh! I said no nagging. FINE! I opened my eyes and inhaled. Sugar cookie….that was right! I needed to find the sugar cookie! That’s what I was looking for. I jumped up and looked around.

I found Sierra….but we were definitely not in the place I remember us being in. What the heck happened? She linked, “What the hell happened to you? You went down and screamed. I’ve seen you whipped without screaming that loud.” Huh?

Well…to be fair it did hurt…a lot. Did I get shot in the head? That would’ve been….no…I touched my head but didn’t feel a wound.

The nagging voice sighed, “Look AROUND the room. Remember the Sugar Cookie. I know you smell it. Come on you can do this. Spot the sugar cookie smell.” Who was that and why were they nagging me?

Sierra linked, “Mel, get it together. No one besides me is talking.” Rude…someone definitely was. The nagging voice sighed, “I know this is new and all but don’t be a crazy person. LOOK for the sugar cookie.” Again with the demands with no explanations.

Then Phil Kruthers spoke. I whirled and found him. It all came back to me….that was real….he was there and Sierra was his….but that meant….I turned and found Xander. His eyes looked worried but not angry…some god answered my prayer about that picture being far away and when I was younger.

The nagging voice purred, “MINE!” I screamed and covered my face. MY WOLF? MY WOLF HAD BEEN TALKING?! I looked at Xander wide eyed. I linked my wolf yelling at her, “WHERE THE HELL HAVE YOU BEEN?”

She answered, “Trapped in your mind. It was NOT fun. Let’s not do that again.” I questioned, “How were you trapped? Is that even possible? I mean…it clearly is…since…we are here. Seeing Xander unlocked you…that’s….something…and weird….but you’re here… Oh gosh…what’s your name?”

She chuckled, “Yes, let’s start this over. I’m your wolf, Freya. I don’t know how it’s possible the event is all fuzzy to me. I do feel there was magic involved but we will remember more now that I’m able to reach you as I should be.” Magic.

Now that she said it was pretty obvious. I had suspects but they weren’t powerful enough…even combined. Freya quietly said, “It will probably come slowly. I’m going through your memories right now. I’m so sorry. I know you needed me.” Tears filled my eyes.

I replied, “You told me to fight and I failed you. This is my fault.” She disagreed, “You did fight. You are the perfect choice and fit for me.” At least she didn’t blame me. I had her now thought and that meant everything…. could all be different. I had a wolf.

Jason could…..well he could take everything he’d said back…this was proof…I was his full blooded sister. Xander and I could be together. I could still stay out of Jason’s way if that’s what he wanted but…...I could be with Xander.

Xander spoke soothingly, easily figuring out why I was panicking. My wolf was talking to me. Yeah….that was a bit of a shock after four years of NOTHING! Freya snorted, “Hey! That wasn’t my fault! It wasn’t your fault either, but it wasn’t my fault either.”

I agreed, “I know it’s not our fault. Am I going to shift tonight?

” Freya sighed, “I’m too weak right now.

I’m getting stronger though.” Oh no. A horrible thought came to me.

I blurted out, “Will we shift? Like ever? Or are you trapped in my head….like you were without being able to talk to me?” That would be horrible for her.

Freya replied, “We will shift. I just don’t know when.

I do know we need to stick by mate though.

” I replied, “You know that we can’t do that long term…

if you’re going through my memories. He doesn’t actually want us.

I go by Ashley Griffen….and the odds are that’s who he thinks I am. Sierra would’ve called me Ashley.”

Freya growled, “That’s not true. Oden and Xander want us. Your memories are strange, but the loophole of being with us is there if he even made that promise which I doubt.” She was technically correct being Ashley Griffen was the loophole.

I was drowning in Xander’s ocean blue eyes.

I wanted to stay with him…forever. Freya said, “And we will.” She was confident…

that was good. Sierra appeared in the way of my staring contest. She linked, “Tori contacted Freya! You really have a wolf, Mel.” She’d known how obliterating and hard it was for me not to have one all these years.

I didn't know what was going on and my emotions all came crashing down. It was all for nothing. All the horrible things Jason had said to me after my birthday….being banished…it was for no reason. The McAlister’s had all abandoned me…but they were wrong.

Jason wasn’t my half-brother. He was my full on brother. Drake McAlister was my father. It was as if several pieces of me clicked back into place. Freya whispered, “I’m so sorry you suffered so much Melanie.”

I cried harder because she was in pain this whole time. She was with me but couldn’t talk to me and that was horrible. How could someone do this to me? How could Selene let this happen? Freya whispered again, “I don’t know.” It seemed to genuinely bother Freya that Selene let us hurt this way.

Xander wrapped me back up in his arms. I was now hysterically sobbing because I never wanted to leave his embrace, and I’d probably have to. The odds were that he’d hate me when he found out the truth of who I was.

I asked my wolf, “Did it hurt you to be locked away?” Frey seemed to cringe answering, “You suffered, as did I.” I cried for both of us. I told her, “If I knew you were locked away inside me…..I’d have found a way to bring you out.” Freya replied, “I know.”

I asked her, “It’s because of Xander you’re with me now, isn’t it? You were freed because of him.” Freya purred, “It does seems likely. Wouldn’t you break any hold on you to get to him?” Yes, I would but she knew that because she had my memories and knew what I’d done for him.

Freya laughed, “Oden is actually pretty funny. You should say something to our Xander. He is very worried about you.” I looked up into his eyes and the concern I saw reflected back melted me. It had been a long time since someone looked at me with that much love and concern in their eyes.

It made me feel like a fraud because he didn’t know me. All the cute things I’d planned over the years of what I’d say to him….flew out of my head. I simply said hi. HI?! After YEARS of planning our first meeting….I went with hi? Open up the heavens and take me now.

Sierra linked, “That’s so not on the list of the things you planned to say to him.

” I replied, “Please kill me here and now…Did I really just SQUEAK hi?!” She answered, “Yes, but he finds it adorable. Let’s consider it a win you’re not ranting nervously.

This is such progress for you and I’m so proud of you right now. ” I wasn’t!

When he called me Ashley Freya and I growled.

I didn’t like another girl's name coming out of his mouth. I linked Freya, “DANG, FREYA! Be cool! We are Ashley…too….so…he means us.” Freya growled, “No. WE are Freya and MELANIE!” I reasoned, “He doesn’t know that.” Freya disagreed, “I wouldn’t be so sure. ” I was sure.

He’d freak out if he knew I was Melanie McAlister.

No one knew Ashley Griffen was Melanie McAlister outside of Black Path.

He would leave and reject me. Freya snarled, “No, he wouldn’t.

” I replied, “Just be glad he clearly has a picture from far away…obviously in full dance makeup mode to give to those model like girls he sleeps with.”

She snarled, “I will rip all their lying heads off.” I replied, “That’s hardly …

well…they….liars?” She scoffed, “He has no chosen mate. So, clearly they lied.” I offered, “Or it fell through… not that I found any paperwork….about them staying in the Luna suites…and I looked.” She growled, “Liars.” Maybe.

I linked Sierra, “You heard him say Lovebug, right?” She answered, “Yes, and it’s the most adorable thing I’ve ever heard.” It really was. My eyes filled with tears. Because the endearment matched with what people called me for fourteen years. I used to be Ladybug.

My heart clenched at the loss of my family, but it wasn’t as bad with Xander here.

Phil was talking, but I couldn’t hear him.

My own thoughts and being lost in the fact that Xander really was here with me.

We were together. I couldn’t stop myself from touching his face…

it was hardly my fault…. He was so beautiful.

I was in his arms. This was real. I had a wolf… .maybe…..maybe this could work out.

Xander conjured our things and mine to his room. Holy crap. Freya purred, “Good.” Sierra linked me, “Hey, this is a good thing. You can finally live out those fantasies we’ve caught you masturbating to. Except this time Xander will be there.”