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Sierra linked, “Don’t you dare do it!” I gasped, “What?” She huffed.

Dax growled, “Melanie, I will be right there. Don’t leave and don’t break and enter when you are drunk into a house in a different pack!

” I asked, “When would I do it then? I don’t know if you’ve noticed…

but I drink a lot now.” He groaned, “We noticed.” Ok, then this wasn’t surprising.

Technically, I knew this was a bad idea. My friends said that I didn’t need to do this, but I knew that someone would send these recordings to Black Mountain. They would infuriate Xander and hurt a lot of the Conners. I couldn’t let that happen.

Really, if the Luna in Clarksville hadn’t just died it wouldn’t be urgent. Caine told me so he clearly, deep down, wanted me to do this…when you thought about it. Plus, the Clarksville Luna’s mate was vile. He’d send this to Eric to torture him.

I knew that and I hadn’t even lived here long. I’d been here for a whole seventy-two hours before I found out the Luna liked to spread around the things Cassandra said. Everyone around here hoped they got a Conners family member alone to make some jab about it. As if I would let that happen.

Ok, they didn’t know that but still. I wasn’t going to let it happen.

I winced when I jumped through the window.

My knee wasn’t fully healed, but that was ok.

This was for Xander. I quickly stole everything the Luna had in all her hides.

The thing about her having loose lips that was helpful to me was that I knew where she kept everything. I didn’t even need to look very hard.

I left quickly and got back to our holoport.

I walked into my secondary place. I needed to call Charles and thank him for helping me get this place.

I couldn’t stay with creepy Uncle Ajax all the time.

Sometimes a girl needed a shower without someone staring at her.

I shivered, still feeling gross about that.

I should’ve just moved in with Mason and Hendrick. I just thought it would be too hard to leave when I turned sixteen and Beta Jason let me come home. I took a deep breath because he was never going to do that now.

I looked around and snorted, “I beat Dax back. Look at me go. He thought I couldn’t break and enter drunk. He’s so silly.” I plugged in the tapes and played the first one. The Luna said, “Cassandra, how nice to hear from you. How are you?”

Cassandra huffed, “That wretched Fairy keeps ruining everything. My boys have never been closer. It used to be Eric and Jackson Then Darrin and Harold. I had them segregated. They of course hung out altogether, but Jackson and Eric were always the closet.”

She tisked, “Now, that blasted Fairy has them go on monthly brother retreats. Well, that’s not what she calls it. The girls always join them on the last day, now they are thick as thieves.” I had no idea what was bad about that.

The Clarksville Luna sighed and replied, “Well, maybe if you explained their purpose to them they’d listen.” Huh? Cassandra snorted, “They would take it wrong. Harold has always accused me of loving Eric the most.”

“The boys just wouldn’t understand. I don’t want anything to happen to my pups, I love them. It’s just their destiny to be lines of defense for Eric.” My blood boiled and I threw my headphones off. I screamed in anger. How DARE she!

My mom loved me and my brothers equally. She didn’t raise any of us to live but be ready to be a lamb to the slaughter for the others. How could she? I didn’t have pups, and if Xander rejected me I never would. Pain ripped through me and stole my breath.

I took several deep ones before I acknowledged that I’d imagined our pups in my head.

Our family was beautiful, and I already loved them.

I would love them with everything in me if I somehow that dream became a reality.

How could she say these things about her sons?

! Nathan would be furious if he found out.

Addison came in, “Hey, ok you’re still here. Dax got pulled into something. Look I know you’re upset that we don’t think you should steal those…” She trailed off seeing me surrounded by the evidence I had in fact stolen.

She groaned, “Oh my god! You went anyway.” I snorted, “And they are worse than you think. She was the biggest snake of all time.” Addison replied, “You’ve always said that. You didn’t like her even when you were three years old.” I snorted but she was right, and she knew that because I’d told them.

I hated Cassandra even though I had never met her.

I harbored a lot of anger and bitterness from the stories I’d heard.

Plus, my mom said she’d visit when I was pup so Cassandra might have met me but I couldn’t be sure.

My mom was also convinced Valerie Bishop met me and I knew she hadn’t. There was no picture.

I explained, “I heard Jason talking about how Xander offered to heal Cassandra so she could have a pup she didn’t want.” Addison winced. It wasn’t a secret down here that Cassandra had not been trying to have a pup.

I told her, “I didn’t know that last part at the time, but I DID know it would hurt any Healer’s feelings to have their healing denied over and over again. They are sensitive, and she didn’t care. She never thought of anyone but herself.”

“I never bought that she wasn’t the world’s most selfish person. I’ve listened to two minutes. TWO! Which is how I already know I’m right. She fooled so many people, and maybe most of all herself. She was a horrible person, but she couldn’t see that about herself. She thought she was just great.”

Addison snorted, “Yeah, well delusional people are everywhere. My dad and Beta Jean think they are great. They seem to think that their actions make them good Alpha’s, and maybe that is because until we met you, we didn’t know Alpha’s behaved differently.”

I frowned, “But your dad definitely does.” She nodded, “He has to, which makes it weird. He thinks showing my mom affection would show his weakness, but according to you; the most powerful werewolf in the world adores his mate. Basic logic dictates my dad is wrong.” He was about so much.

I huffed, “Alright, well I’m going to get back to those tapes.

Don’t mind my screams of fury.” Addison snorted, “Just play them out loud so I can understand how awful she is.” It would be normal to her though.

It was just annoying for me because this would hurt Xander and the people he loved, and I couldn’t have that.

I ended up screaming more than once. Even Addison agreed that Cassandra was awful. I didn’t understand why she seemed to believe her sons purpose was to die if Alpha Eric needed them to. It was weird because he’d never let it happen. It was on my list of things to figure out.

One day after the other kept going. I was in the office with Buck when Edward came in.

He announced, “Your brother is the Beta and a father.” I jolted, “What? He’s what?

Did you say a father? He said that right…

you heard that?” Buck said, “He did say that.” How was that possible?

Everly didn’t look pregnant when I saw her.

He hummed, “Yes, well apparently Everly was kidnapped and healed. It sped up her pregnancy.” He started to leave. I stood asking, “What’s his or her name? When did Everly give birth?” He replied, “I couldn’t be bothered to care about either of those things.” He left me behind utterly shocked.

I left the office and went to my closet… they said office, but it was a closet. I could barely be in here because of the lack of space. I called Beta Jason. He answered, “What?” I said, “Umm... I just…I heard that…” He growled, “Spit it out.”

I rushed, “Congratulations… I heard that I have a niece… or nephew.” He said, “Nephew. His name is Kai.” I touched my chest. I whispered, “Kai. Can I come meet him? Just once… I just…” He cut me off with a harsh laugh.

Tears filled my eyes. He said, “I will NEVER let you within one hundred yards of my son. He will never even know about you. If he does, it will be as the person who killed his grandparents and Uncle.” I cried, “Jase…” He shouted, “BETA JASON!” Then hung up.

I quickly called Everly. She sighed, “You have some nerve calling me after upsetting my mate.” I explained, “I just want to see Kai and…” She cut me off, “Are you insane? No.” I pleaded, “Can I just have a picture of him?” She sighed, “No. Stop being such a selfish brat. This is such an amazing time for us, and you ruined it. Again.” She hung up.

I stared at the phone. Melinda called. I answered “Aunt Melin…” She cut me off, “You stupid SELFISH bitch! HOW DARE YOU CALL AND RUIN EVERYTHIGN AGAIN! God, why can’t you just die!

” I heard voices I knew in the background, yelling, “Die! Murderer! Family Killer!” That was Grandpa Ben, Grandma Esther, and MaryBeth.

Jason snarled, “Leave us the fuck alone! No one wants you, not even Alexander.” I sobbed, “I just wanted to see Kai’s picture… I’m sorry… I…” He cut me off, “Yeah, you’re always sorry. If only you could just die.” I gasped for breath, “Jason…” He shouted again, “BETA JASON!” He hung up.

I couldn’t breathe. I ran to my second place and got Jason’s watch. I ran through our holoports and tossed it over the border. The note was brief but it’s what he’d want. ILYX had biometric monitoring. It would keep him safe.

I ran back to my place and started drinking. Caine linked, “Buck is worried about you. Which worries me.” I didn’t answer him. I ordered, “ILYX, lock everyone out.” He replied, “Ok, Melanie Jane.” I cried listening to my mate’s voice. I pulled up his workout videos and watched him.

I drank more and touched the screen, “I would be the best mate. I would.” Edward called me. I answered, “What?” He said, “Pick up our order from the coffee shop.” He hung up and I dragged myself out of the building and ran there.