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My heart literally faltered in my chest. I could feel my heartbeat in my ears. My mom popped beside me. She urgently grabbed my hand, “Alexander.” I couldn’t pop to Melanie? Oden growled in anger. He’d been silent until now. We’d been trying to meet her for years to no avail.

Oden snarled, “We will just have to go the dance. Elise said that Warrior’s daughter wants to go with us.

Accept.” I was actually thinking it was the only choice.

Preston asked, “Why?” My dad explained, “He doesn’t want his pups to rely on magic.

They don’t have any and he wants them prepared to act without it. ” That made sense and didn’t.

Cassie said, “They have a Fairy family in their pack. Their Gamma’s even.

” My dad nodded, “This went out to all the packs, and they don’t want to discuss us.

” Too fucking bad. I asked, “Are you saying I can’t ask Jase what the fuck their problem is?

” My dad nodded and I could tell he felt it was bullshit.

I pointed out, “He is my friend.” EJ said, “Elise is my mate, and I won’t hide a damn thing from her.” My dad replied, “I very much doubt she’ll say anything about it to you, but if she does I am not going to police the conversations you have with your mate.”

I scoffed, “Just us our friends.” He winced. My mom said, “It’s not his fault and I know you understand that, but you will not talk to your dad with that fucking tone. Do you hear me?” Guilt flared up in me. It wasn’t his call, but I took it out on him. I nodded, “Yes, mom.”

I set my brothers down and popped to him.

I whispered, “I’m sorry, dad.” He hugged me tightly.

When I pulled back, he looked into my eyes worriedly.

He said, “I don’t give a shit who relies on magic or not.

I would never ask this of you guys. I just can’t tell someone how to raise their pups because I sure as shit won’t listen to anyone else about how to raise mine. The McAlister’s aren’t in our pack.”

Maverick said, “But they are in our sister in law’s pack.

” It was an astute observation. My dad nodded, “And this promise doesn’t involve Elise.

” But it did include Melanie. Julian glanced at me then asked, “And if someone in this family ends up mated to Melanie, should she exist, then what?” My mom scoffed, “She’s a damn prank they won’t let go of. ”

Julian pressed, “But if she IS real.” My mom snorted, “If Melanie is mated into this family, I will personally hold Drake’s feet over an actual fucking fire until he releases all of us from that promise.

It won’t happen because she’s a damn prank.

I’m very sorry they are putting this on you guys.

They seem to think they can take the prank master title from me. ”

She scoffed again, “They are going on about this one and it’s not even fucking funny. Eleven fucking years and they use insulting reasons as to why we haven’t met her.” I agreed because several of their reasons insulted our intelligence, but she was real. I knew she was.

Oden agreed, “She is real.” I agreed, “I know buddy.” He whispered, “But we can’t pop to her and she’s probably ours.

” I reasoned, “Mom will fix it.” He said, “I know this hurts you a lot.” It did.

Theo said, “Well, I’ve never popped to them or their damn house.

So, I promise not to pop to a McAlister or their house unless it’s declared an emergency. ”

One by one my siblings all agreed and left the room.

All were offended and hurt. Cassie begrudgingly agreed as did EJ.

Both shot me glances before they left. My mom ground out, “Eric…” He cut her off, “They are our allies.” She said, “Alexander, please give us a second.” I stood and went outside the door.

When she was angry enough my mom forgot I could still hear her even if I left.

She hissed, “Don’t make him do this.” Dad sighed, “I don’t want to make any of them do this.

It feels like bullshit. I don’t understand where it came from.

It feels like there’s a threat I don’t know about.

The McAlister’s asked for me to say they all promised. ”

She yelled, “SO FUCKING LIE! You have the ability to do so. Alexander doesn’t want to do it.

He can just give us his mother fucking word that we both believe in.

He can’t lie so if he says he won’t go, he won’t.

As I said multiple fucking times not having us be able to pop to them unless ONE goddamn fucking person says so is a bad… .” She trailed off then groaned.

She continued, “That’s not a good enough word, catastrophic is.” My dad agreed “Yes, but none of our Fairy relatives are making this promise. I have to go ask the Henderson’s, but no one asked Aiden. He could go to them if they needed help.”

My mom snorted, “Sure, because they can link YOU and you can link our sons. All that can be done without a FUCKING PHONE! They have to hope they can get ahold of us, because my brother is NOT answering their calls. Then get Drake TO AGREE before they can pop there. Do you know what that means? SOMEONE COULD FUCKING DIE!”

He whispered, “Come here.” She must have popped closer to him.

She cried, “He doesn’t want to say it, and I may not understand the feelings behind the why of it; but it’s important to him.

So, I can’t ask him to do it. We shouldn’t be asking any of them to do this.

It’s wrong. Popping into their home, fine.

Them personally? I just don’t understand what the fuck is going on. ”

It had to be me. Maybe they suspected I’d be possessive of Melanie like the other guys.

Oden growled, “That’s not true.” It had to be what they suspected though.

I hated hearing my mom cry. My dad whispered, “I don’t want to ask him to do it either.

” I could feel he truly hated asking all of us to do it.

Oden was quiet in my head letting me think through it all.

Dad said, “I can’t let relations with us and Red Run go sour because of EJ and Elise.

” My mom argued, “That’s exactly why it won’t go bad.

Elise and EJ are mates.” He replied, “But if we balk then other allies could and that could affect their relationship with Red Run. I can’t have Elise in jeopardy. ” Shit, that was a good point.

My mom repeated, “So fucking lie. You can.” I came in saying, “I won’t make him do that.

” My dad stood, “Son, I’ll lie for you pups on any day ending in Y.

” My mom snorted, “That’s all of them.” She blinked then said, “Oh, well I agree with that sentiment. Fucking A.” She smiled at me, “You young people say that, right?” I bit my lip.

I nodded, “I have heard that around my school.” My dad asked, “Where did you hear that, Angel?” She replied, “He just said the teenagers say it at that human school they go to now for high school.” That was evasive but mom had some sources in the pack.

It stood to reason one was a teenage pack member.

I whispered, “I promise not to pop to the McAlister house or…” I trailed off. My mom jumped in, “That’s good enough and I will fucking fight anyone that says otherwise.” I grimaced, “Or the McAlister’s themselves.” I popped out right after.

I felt my dad yank at me to come back. My mom was more understanding, leaving me to my feelings. I stalked into the Hackura gym. Cayden glanced over but didn’t really take me in. He greeted, “Hey, Alexander. Is Cassie with you?” He looked over when I didn’t answer. He blinked, “Holy blazing eyes.”

Aaron whistled then said, “Ok, Cayden get out on your mission. I’ve got Alexander until the Royal family portals in.” Uncle Bjourn said, “I’m already here.” He hugged Cayden and turned to me. He ordered, “Walk with me.”

I argued, “I came here for a fight.” He agreed, “You did but I have a partial Fairy sister. From what I understand that’s the side of you hurt right now. Which means we have other priorities before we get in that ring.” I glared at the ring but nodded.

He portaled us to a bar. I asked, “What’s this?” He answered, “Cali and your mom’s new business venture.” I conjured us whiskey and slammed mine. He followed my lead, and we kept drinking. He easily matched me. I asked, “Why are we doing this?” He simply shot back, “You tell me.”

I whispered, “I promised not to pop to her.” He blinked several times then sat back. He said, “Since you are not talking about a mated woman, this is about Melanie McAlister.” He tapped his chin, “Your wolf has a different reaction to her wolf looking like yours I take it.”

I conjured another glass of whiskey then confessed, “Yes, but it’s more than that.

” He inclined his head and waited. I slammed another drink before saying, “You can’t tell anyone.

” He raised an eyebrow telling me, “All of you know you can tell me anything and I won’t share that if you don’t want it shared.

I am not only your Uncle, but your King.

As long as you aren’t in danger, it’s between us. ”

I admitted, “Since the day she was born, the world changed for me.” He asked, “In what way?” I shrugged, “I don’t know.

No one else felt it besides dad and Grandpa Nathan.

It felt different to them than me. They felt something change, but to me it was the whole world.

Then Jase called and told me his sister was born the very second I felt everything change. ”

He whispered, “Alexander, why have you not said anything?” I snorted, “Because I assumed, like an idiot, I’d meet her.

” He put a hand on my shoulder, “Hey, you’re not an idiot.

” I snorted, “Aren’t I? What if they are scared of me meeting her?

” He questioned, “Why would that scare them?” I snorted, “Think about how many people are possessive of her.”