Page 22

Alexander is Sixteen Years Old

Alexander was annoyed. I threw the Thoroughbre d series book down I was reading. I started it because I heard Elise say Melanie read it. I rubbed my face and pulled out the Long Falls Dance Competition hoodie.

It barely held her delicious, tantalizing strawberry scent now, and I was certain I imagined that it still had it.

It mostly smelled like me but for a while our scents mixed on the material.

Which made it the best smelling object to ever grace any realm.

The day I’d found it was permanently in my mind.

Flashback

Alexander questioned why he was even here.

Oden snorted, “No you don’t. We hope to meet Melanie.

” He was right, I did. Plus, EJ met her.

I knew he did. I stole his shirt when he came back from going to Red Run.

I’d surmised he learned how a dance for Elise, but her scent captivated me from the brief hint of it on his clothes.

I’d been consuming strawberries because I hoped the scent would stay on the shirt, which was literally insane. Since they didn’t have the exact same scent, it was just what I had. I got out of the car and barely held my shit together.

Oden howled, “MATE!” I reasoned, “You don’t know that just because she smells good.” He snorted, “Good? The air is permeated with strawberries. I could find her room so fast.” I reasoned, “That would make us weird.” He snorted, “No, it wouldn’t since she’s ours.”

I groaned, “You are a new wolf, so you don’t know that.

” He retorted, “I know how every older wolf, including Thor, described the smell of their mate over others. It’s intense.

” He was right, but at the same time we weren’t the only ones who liked Melanie.

There had been problems her whole life with possessive men.

Oden growled, “Then get inside and you’ll stop doubting me.” I barely managed to walk inside instead of running. I could tell EJ was suspicious. Oden snorted, “Yeah, Brutus noticed us sniffing the air.” Damn it! Be stealthy Alexander. Oden huffed, “We don’t need to be stealthy about our mate.”

We walked inside but Melanie’s scent was faint here. Oden reasoned, “She might be at her house.” Yeah, but the sinking feeling in my guts was saying something else. The McAlister’s knew I was coming. What if they got her out of here?

Oden asked, “Why would they do that?” Because they know we could take them if we wanted her.

He growled, “We would never do that.” I sighed, “That was an internal thought, not a conversation. Also, just because WE know that doesn’t mean THEY do.

” That upset us both because we loved Red Run and them thinking badly of us chaffed at me.

Drake said, “You boys look nice. Cassie, wow, you look beautiful.” She really did. My sister, bless her, asked, “Where’s Melanie? Elise said she’d be here today.” Drake sighed and I knew it was coming. Oden whined in my head. He announced, “She’s at a competition with her mom.”

I couldn’t stop myself, “What? I thought you said she didn’t have one tonight, Jase?” He didn’t miss the accusation in my look or tone. My dad’s curiosity was spiking over my feelings. My mom had her walls down, but I could feel the guilt and the debate she was having right now.

She wanted to come to me because of what I was feeling. I sent her the feeling to stay put. She practically pursed her lips, but she was respecting what I wanted. I needed to collect myself.

Jason held his hands up saying, “She didn’t, then one came up.

” One came up? Came up? Oden growled, “How dare they keep her from us!” I whispered, “What if she’s not ours and we are just a possessive asshole like the rest?

” He insisted, “We aren’t! I know it.” But people we loved and respected didn’t.

EJ was studying me, but I didn’t have the mental energy to spare him a second in my mind.

Keeping the facade and secret about liking Melanie from him was exhausting and I was tired and hurt.

I just wanted to end the constant adrenaline state that was thinking I’d meet Melanie that always ended in disappointment.

Meeting her was LITERALLY the reason I was here. I’d lost all interest in this dance. When Jason said, “You look beautiful, Cass. I’m a lucky guy.” I smarmily agreed, “Yes, you are.” Oden had a bit of bite, so I practically growled at him which drew several concerned looks.

Peter Kyle stared at me in surprise then looked like he was trying to solve a puzzle.

Oden scoffed, “Thunder will have no luck with that if Pepper doesn’t help and Pepper is confused.

” Drake did look perplexed, and Pepper was his wolf.

That would mean he didn’t know why I was mad though.

Was Sam the one keeping Melanie away from me then? Why would she do that?

Jason looked taken aback, but he always did when I was snarly with him.

So, was he clueless too? Or a good actor?

He was supposed to be my friend. Why would he keep Melanie away from me?

I know seeing your sister mated would be hard, I did.

I was worried about Cassie’s mate, but I was confident Aesir would make sure he was worthy of her.

I’d also seen him with his tongue down my sister’s throat so what the hell was his problem?! Oden said, “Ajax is asking if we are mad at them. He’s also going over everything they could’ve done. Nothing with mate is in the list.” Ajax was Jason’s wolf so maybe he really didn’t know.

Oden was now dead set Melanie was our mate. He growled, “Because she is.” I worried my crush had influenced him as a new wolf and I’d set him up for heartbreak. He insisted, “You didn’t.” Maybe I did. I was so utterly dejected right now I wanted to pop home. That wasn’t fair to Charline though.

My dad linked, “Son, are you alright? Your mom is ready to wage war and come to you.” I replied, “I’m physically fine.

” He snorted, “I know that’s an evasion.

If you need to leave, I’ll call and lie about needing you home.

” It warmed my soul that he’d do it too.

He’d take the heat for me backing out of the dance.

I said, “I’ll be fine. It’s just a dance and I agreed to go with Charline. ” Like an idiot.

I told Charline, “You look lovely.” She blushed but didn’t reply. Ok? Maybe she was just nervous. Oden huffed, “Her wolf is already apologizing for what this evening will be. Her human thinks we will fall in love with them and make her ours.” I wanted to cringe. Not that I wasn’t used to that.

My last name came with people coming for us. No one was deterred by the fact that we knew if they were our mate, or not, the second we met them. It’s why I tended to be a recluse in the dating world to a degree. The other part of it was because of Melanie.

Ever since I heard her name, I was intrigued. Being with someone else didn’t appeal to me but right now it felt disingenuous. I felt like a total ass because Charline was into this date already and I was merely physically present. She didn’t deserve that.

Oden snorted, “Her wolf said she kind of does.” Well, I didn’t agree. I should’ve known better and not come. She had false hopes. I steeled myself to be a good date. She deserved that and my parents raised me to be a good person.

Drake said, “Alright, let’s load up. I’m your driver for the evening. Drop off and pick up.” Maybe if I showed him what a good date I was, he’d let me meet Melanie. Oden scoffed, “He knows we are a good man.” I wasn’t so sure he did, but at this point I had no idea what was going on.

The excuse about a dance came up out of the blue was new. Melanie had competitions months, almost a year out, in advance. Yet they wanted me to believe this competition came up right around when I asked Charline to the dance.

Oden conceded, “That is suspicious.” I knew that.

Chelsea yelled, “Wait! Drake, you can’t go yet.

We have to take pictures.” I groaned because I didn’t need to commemorate the moment at all.

Charline nudged me, “It will be ok. Plus, it will look cute in the future.” The future of what?

Oden said, “Obviously, we will look cute in the picture in the future. We are handsome.”

I linked Phil, “Question.” He snorted, “Are you going to explain your emotions? Or are we still pretending I don’t know.

” I huffed, “Say what you want to say.” He took a beat then said, “I’m sorry Melanie isn’t there.

Why isn’t she there?” I answered, “A dance competition came up.” He shouted, “ARE YOU KIDDING ME?!”

I snorted, “Nope. It’s bullshit. She has events on her calendar almost a year in advance. The ones that come up come up months in advance. I ask Charline to the dance and a random competition opens up.” He replied, “That can’t be it.”

I asked, “Do you have a better reason?” He insisted, “It has to be a coincidence.” I reasoned, “Well, Elise was telling EJ how excited Melanie was to be here and meet us. She wanted to see her in her dress.” He groaned, “I don’t know what their problem is.

What was your question? Because I know it wasn’t about that. ”

I questioned, “Why would someone say pictures will be cute in the future? She’s attractive and I’m obviously handsome. They will be cute now.” He snorted, “Charline is hoping to show your future pups.” I reasoned, “She’s not my mate.”

He groaned, “I swear you all need a manual for life. Let me tell you from the depths of her soul, she doesn’t care. She wants you to fall madly in love with her. I know you’re not going to, but I’ll say this directly. Don’t have sex with her. She’d take it the wrong way.”