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Freya disagreed, “He’s worried about you.

He doesn’t care about the pans. Those rat bastards shouldn’t have done that to you.

You were a teenager who had never cooked before.

You didn’t know those things. It was unfair and they are unworthy of their titles for doing that to anyone. ” Well, she and I agreed there.

Xander spoke in a soft and comforting tone.

Maybe he wasn’t mad about the mess then.

Sierra linked me, “It’s really ok. We aren’t at home.

” I was being pathetic. I was a Female Lead Warrior for goodness sakes.

I could beat up Alpha’s... Beta’s… Gamma’s…

the list went on. Yet here I was losing it over dirty dishes.

Freya offered, “You’ve been physically and emotionally abused. Just because you are a badass doesn’t mean that doesn’t have an impact on you.” She was very wise for a wolf who had never had a human before.

Freya snickered, “I told you, I’ve been around for a while and I’m an old wolf.

I was just waiting for you.” I still had no clue what that meant.

She told me, “Now is really not the time for that conversation. Before you ask, I don’t know when will be.

Your life was not to be this way. I need to figure out a new plan for us and our path. ” Ok, fair enough.

Sierra suggested sitting outside. She knew being outside calmed me down.

Xander hung back and comforted me again.

I was really wishing he hadn’t noticed the near panic attack over the dishes.

Freya chimed in, “For the love of god. You can’t lie and that panic attack over the dishes was obvious. You weren’t even lying.”

I replied, “I didn’t say that much… about it…

mentally I thought it, but I didn’t say it.

” She blew out her breath. “Melanie, I feel you think you pull off things you don’t.

You were not calm. He is an Enforcer with amazing hearing.

He could hear your heart betting erratically. ” Ok, well that was true.

Xander’s story about his mom was super sweet. I had heard she baked things for Alpha Eric before though. I was from Red Run. They talked about it a lot. My mom even had some of those recipes. I changed the subject to his favorite foods.

Freya snorted, “You already knew his.” I replied, “I had a logical guess based on his ordering history. I did not actually know.” She laughed in my head. Mason had taught me how to cook steak. I was pretty good at it.

Xander’s favorite dessert made my heart skip a beat. I smelled like strawberries. Could he know? He had to have smelled my stuff before... right? But then he would’ve known I was his before I left. Wouldn’t he? The answer was he would so he didn’t know I was Melanie.

Freya sighed, “You really are going to be very stubborn about this. You knew his favorite dessert too.” I grumbled, “I had a logical guess based on the data of his orders.” I practically felt her purse her lips at me.

My thoughts startled when he asked me in return. I honestly hadn’t thought about my favorite food in years. Mason’s burgers were good. I also loved sugar cookies though, not the evil cookies. Freya agreed, “Those peanut butter cookies do seem to be our enemy.”

I was glad she was on my side about that.

No one else used to be and it was VERY annoying.

I sighed because if I could have my family back, I’d bake them their weird cookies every damn day.

Which probably meant figuring out where the HECK they came from but I could do that now.

I had skills I didn’t then. Charles had really improved my dark web hacking skills.

We joined Sierra and Phil. Freya seemed excited about the hike and I found I was even smiling about it myself. Maybe Xander would shift for me. Freya purred, “Yes, I want to see Oden.” I did too. Oh gosh…I needed to hide my Xander wolf at the bottom of my bag.

Freya asked, “Why?” I replied, “He would see it.” She chuckled again offering, “He’d be flattered.” I replied, “But he might recognize it… and that’s problematic.” She hummed.

Sierra linked, “Are you ok? You mentioned T was going to teach you snowboarding.” We never got around to it, but he’d planned to teach me in Black Mountain’s territory one day. I replied, “I’m fine.” She reached over and grabbed my hand. I smiled at her. I reiterated, “I’m ok.”

We sat there drinking for a bit in silence…

which bothered me a lot. I was biting my lip, so I didn’t fill it since I’d already embarrassed myself over dirty dishes.

Freya disagreed, “You have nothing to be embarrassed about. The reprobates that are the reason you have trauma associated with dirty dishes do.”

Sierra announced, “Ok, we are going to shower. You guys do the same. Alexander, please conjure a few outfits of Ashley’s to my room. We will meet you downstairs in a half hour.” Xander pulled me into his lap and kissed me. He agreed, “Alright.”

Sierra led me to where Phil’s room was. I told her, “I don’t know how I can hide my scars…

. I have some of my mark concealers… they don't make the words disappear though.” Sierra knew that already.

I’d tried to get the formula perfect, but those marks…

the words Trevor carved into my skin… they wouldn’t go away. Freaking Trevor.

Freya growled, “He will die.” I agreed with that. I had several plans on how to arrange it. She snarled, “By my claws sounds good.” Well, I could come up with more and new plans since I had her. Sierra rubbed my arms saying, “Your Xander won’t care.”

I snorted, “He will absolutely care.” Freya agreed, “Yes, he will. He’ll go full Hackura golden eyed Alpha Duke Squadron Leader about it.” Yeah, he would. Sierra sighed, “Just get in the shower and we will figure it out.” I quickly followed that directive.

Once I got Sierra wiggled her eyebrow suggestively. She commented, “You still smell like him. Did you get you some of that? I did, not your mate obviously. I meant mine. WHEW! That man…” She trailed off amending, “I mean my man knows what he’s doing in bed.”

I blushed, “Umm well... we... you know… did... things… and stuff.” Sierra snorted, “You had sex.” I nodded. Sierra jumped out of the shower and hugged me. She squealed. I quickly sorted through the stuff Xander had conjured in here.

I grabbed black skintight leggings and a green shirt with a black vest and gray beanie.

I quickly did my makeup with my red lips.

Sierra got dressed. She grabbed my hands saying, “It’s going to work out, I just know it.

It’s you and me and once Caine and Dax take over, we’ll get Avery and Ads to Black Mountain. ”

I asked, “Uhhh what about Paige? We will…” She snorted, “Paige will literally just follow you. She will curse Edward if he so much as tries to say a word to the contrary. Virgil and Valentina will shimmer wherever you are, and Crush will follow Virgil. So, that side of the group is handled.” I smiled, “That would be perfect.” Except I was certain some of my friends would be perfect with some people from my past in Red Run. I shoved all that from my mind.

Everyone could get to the allied territories and then I could find Odette and life would be rainbows and roses. Except my life was never rainbows or roses. Freya chimed in, “It will be now. Mate will make it so.” That just wasn’t my reality anymore. My life was dark, dreary, and cold.

We ran downstairs and Xander’s eyes instantly found mine. He looked upset about whatever he was discussing with Phil. Phil quickly hung up his phone. Freya asked, “Who do you think they were talking to?”

I answered, “Gage. Xander’s Gamma. Easily…

it was definitely him.” She chuckled, “I’ll go with your guess.

” She could ask Oden. She hummed, “You are correct it was Gage and he’s intrigued I knew that.

Don’t worry, I blamed you.” I bit my lip so I didn’t laugh.

Our interaction practically struck me in the chest. I’d missed out on moments like this with her… .but I had her now so…it was ok.

I asked my mate, “Are you ok?” Xander kissed me possessively until Phil cleared his throat. He broke apart from me. It looked like it took effort for him to say, “Let’s get going.” Sierra linked, “Look at you having sexy girl mojo! I knew you had it in you.”

I asked, “Huh?” She snorted, “You kiss so well the man wants to claim you.” I blushed.

The truth was I’d read a lot about kissing.

In book and how to’s. I didn’t want to be completely unprepared…

.just in case I did convince Xander to give me a chance.

Or in case the mate bond just demanded he kiss me.

Xander popped us on a mountain that overlooked a beautiful town and lake. I gasped, “It’s beautiful.” Phil announced, “We will meet up for lunch. Are we doing that at the usual place, Cousin?” Alexander answered, “Yup.” Phil opened a portal and he and Sierra stepped through.

I practically shrieked, “Did they just go to the Hackura realm? I just... seriously? They did… they totally did…” Xander laughed, “No, they didn’t. They briefly stepped through it. Phil likes that mountain.” He pointed to one that was three mountains away from us.

I asked, “Will you shift for me? I want to see your wolf.” Freya purred, “Oden. You want to see Oden.” I replied, “I know that….but he doesn’t need to know I know his wolf’s name…

I’ve obviously known forever…but he doesn’t need to know that.

” She reasoned, “A lot of people know his wolf’s name. ” Fair.

I amended, “Oden. I’d like to see Oden.” Xander’s eyes went black. Oden asked, “Would you, little mate?” I nodded, “Yes… but I’m not really little… so…” He chuckled, “You are smaller than me.” I asked, “So… what you’re saying is everyone is little to you. Because you’re a giant… got it.”