Page 59

He painted the symbol for squadron leaders on my arm. He declared, “Dux tuus novus Squadron, Dux Alpha Alexander (Your new Squadron Leader, Duke Alpha Alexander).” The crowd erupted into cheers and the parade started.

The crowd was already raunchy. My own family was getting into the mood. Elise and EJ were making out. I scooped up Angela and TJ, popped them inside, and conjured ice cream. TJ asked, “Aren’t you going outside?” I replied, “And give up this moment with my youngest siblings? Nope.”

Angela replied, “He goes to gym after we eat ice cream. Dad convinces him to put in some face time at the parade before he goes back to the gym.” I laughed, “Do I eat cake?” She replied, “That’s how dad gets you to show up for a bit.”

I winked, “Well, I think we all know what dad’s busy doing right now. So, we should eat our ice cream.” Angela wrinkled her face, “I’m sorry you’re disappointed someone wasn’t here.” TJ asked, “Who?” Angela grumbled, “The blur.” I told her, “It’s fine.”

Her feelings told me she did not agree. TJ grumbled, “I want to know.” Preston popped to us and conjured his own ice cream. We ate in silence. I asked, “So, what trouble are you two going to get up to?” Angela gasped innocently asking, “Me?” I snorted, “Yeah, you.”

TJ grumbled, “I should be the one to gasp. It’s me who gets taken along for the ride all the time.” Angela rolled her eyes before she said, “You love my type of trouble.” I told her, “Maybe you should focus on Kade.” She shrugged, “Mom and I talked about that already.”

I asked, “So, what’s the problem?” She admitted, “I don’t know but I know that the way that’s solved are blurry. It’s very annoying.” I ruffled her hair, “You’ll figure it out.” She made a face, and I felt how much the blurry visions annoyed her in the bond.

Preston asked, “Can I talk to you, Alexander?” I agreed, “Of course.” Angela looked sad. I linked TJ, “I know her blurry visions upset her so do whatever crazy thing she wants to cheer her up.” He laughed, “I was going to.” I knew that and sent him my love.

I walked off with Preston and he popped us to his wing. I asked, “What’s up?” He replied, “I don’t understand something.” I pressed, “What would that be?” He said, “Your deepest fear changed, and I don’t get why.” Oden grumbled, “I do.”

I questioned, “What’s my greatest fear?” He answered, “That people you love will see you as a monster. You know that’s not true.” My heart sank into my feet. I evaded, “Fears don’t always make sense, little brother.” He shot me a measured look.

I asked, “What? They don’t.” He pointed, “I am a Fairy too.” I grinned, “Gosh, I’m so glad you told me that. I missed it.” He growled, “You’re being sarcastic with me.” I grabbed him, “Hey, let’s go for a run. You can let Bernard out with Oden.” Oden perked up, “Yes, a run would be nice.”

Preston sighed, “Fine but I still don’t understand.” I admitted, “Some days, little brother, neither do I. Actually, more often than not I feel like I don’t.” He paused then I felt him accept that answer for the truth it was. He popped us to the Manning’s area. We shifted and ran around.

I popped us back to the gym and grabbed shorts. A woman came up, “Duke Squadron Leader Alexander, I would gladly service you.” Preston snorted, “Service him? Jesus Christ.” I declined, “Thanks for the offer, but I’m good.”

She frowned, “You have to have excess energy. We all get raunchy.” Yes, but she wasn’t the right person, and I had three sides to myself. I told her, “I plan to let off that feeling in the gym.” She sighed but walked away. Preston snorted, “Service you.”

I replied, “People say shit like that all the time to us.” He pointed out, “But you never engage. Who exactly are you waiting for? Because I have figured out based on the bond you are waiting.” I winked, “I’ll know the second I see her.” He nodded, “Your mate then.” I confirmed with a nod.

He shrugged, “Fair enough.” Oden snorted, “If only he held onto the bond a second longer to know that there was a specific person we were waiting on. Mate.” It’s not that I didn’t find other women attractive, I did.

The woman who came up to me was attractive, but it all felt like cheating on Melanie.

Oden grumbled, “Because she is ours.” I sighed, “We will see.” He groaned, “We get so close to break throughs and then they stall out. I am right.” We’d know when we met her, but he knew that’s how I felt. I didn’t doubt him. It was me that I wasn’t certain about.

Egres joined us in the gym. I commented, “Those clothes look new.” He snorted, “Shut up.” I asked, “And who did you enjoy the parade with?” He laughed, “Another Guard.” I asked, “Any mate or chosen on the horizon?” He replied, “I have not met my mate yet. I would tell you if I did.”

I nodded, “Good because I want you to take the mate bonding time when you do.” He laughed, “I will be sure to do that.” We fought. I felt Preston sneaking up behind me and took out his legs. He grumbled, “It’s so damn impossible to surprise you.”

Eventually my whole Guard trickled in. They always knew where to find me during the orgies that followed any event here. I didn’t get my energy out the same way because Melanie wasn’t here. Something I think they knew, but didn’t acknowledge because we didn’t talk about.

Oden said, “Because you’re trying to kill me.” I snorted, “You’ve been with me my entire life. There is no me without you. I’m not trying to kill you, and you know it.” He agreed, “I do know that, but I don’t think the situation with mate needs to be so complicated.”

I reasoned, “Well, Elise lives with us now. When Melanie comes home, they will do whatever she wants because she’s done this whole thing.

” I already knew the McAlister’s were ready to give her whatever she wanted if she’d come home.

Oden said, “I wonder if she’s talking to other people in her family more than she was.

” Jason had mentioned she wasn’t really talking to him.

I felt bad for him on the one hand, but I felt worse for Melanie.

I couldn’t imagine having one of my siblings as upset at me as Melanie was with Jason.

Oden grumbled, “They shouldn’t have made her feel that way.

Plus, their pack disobeyed protocol.” That part of it still pissed me off.

They let a pup leave without talking to the parents.

Oden scoffed, “After not letting her leave without Warriors since her birth they thought Pepper found some damn chill and was letting her go to New York by herself. That’s just madness.” It really was. I still didn’t understand how that happened.

I knew that when they told Drake he’d rightfully lost his shit in front of everyone in our pack. The McAlister’s were all inconsolable the night of Elise’s Luna Ceremony. Drake got so drunk Ethan had to monitor him for a bit.

Egres landed a shot. He asked, “What’s got your distracted?” Preston grumbled, “Who is distracted?” Egres replied, “Him.” I shook myself and focused back on our fight. He urged, “Come on, tell us.” Preston popped in front of me, and I blocked his punch.

He told Egres, “The bond says he’s not going to say which means he was distracted. Why can’t you be a normal distracted person, brother? You can fight better than normal people when you’re distracted.” I laughed, “We have never been normal, brother.” He conceded, “That is true.”

My dad agreed, “You all are better than normal. Why don’t you boys come join us? It would mean a lot to your mom and there’s cake. None of us can have any until you do, son.” He was looking at me. I snorted, “Didn’t you tell mom it’s not a wedding or my birthday?”

He shot me a look. “Do you think I can convince your mom that person of honor for an event or parade shouldn’t have the first bite of cake?

” I answered, “Let me guess, she believes it’s a tradition.

” Egres commented, “Since you love being fair, it’s kind of a tradition.

” I snorted, “This is the first time we’ve ever celebrated a Squadron Leader like this. ”

Dad commented, “The precedent is still set. Come on, the cake looks and smells delicious.” I winked, “Anything for you, dad.” He chuckled knowing I was dead serious but teasing him right now.

He replied, “I don’t know why I bothered to have this conversation.

Angela told me I just had to show up and say the word cake. I guess you talked to her.”

I laughed, “TJ, Angela, me, and Preston had ice cream together after the ceremony.” He hugged me and linked, “You are such a good brother and man. I’m so proud of you.” I threw my arm around him, and we walked outside.

People literally parted for us and started cheering.

I linked my dad, “How damn good does this cake smell?” He answered, “It’s mouthwatering.

” Then the scent hit me. Strawberry. I spotted the giant ass cake in question.

Oden purred, “I am on a layer of that cake.” He was.

It looked like he was running around the bottom tier. That was cool.

There were swords and shields on another. It would actually probably feed the whole realm, it was that big. My mom popped to me. She asked, “What do you think?” I could feel some nerves in the bond but not like I could with every other bond I had.

I told her, “That this is the most amazing cake I’ve ever seen.” She beamed at me saying, “I hope it tastes really fucking good. Isabella did the top of the cake for me.” She grabbed me and flew to the top with her wings. I linked, “Your wings are still really fucking cool.” She smiled at me.

I spotted Chase and Lexi Daniels in the crowd. I waved at them, and they waved back. My mom landed us on a cloud that was waiting for us at the top. I laughed asking, “Why didn’t you have the cloud bring us up here?” She shrugged, “Your dad thought me flying you would be more fucking fun.”