Changing #16
Haley said, “So, this is not our decision. Odette can decide when she wants to be marked. It could be tonight, tomorrow or in a year. That’s just not up to us.
This is her body, her relationship, and her choice.
Enough of her choices have been taken away.
Odette gets to fucking choose.” YES! Clapping was probably inappropriate right now.
Dad went to speak, but Melanie stood. My friend cut in, “You have no idea… what you’re asking here, Nathan.” Everyone turned to her. Melanie continued, “You have no idea the rejection…. you and your wolf feel…. when you want to be marked and your mate… doesn’t do it.” What?
Melanie continued, “There’s little cracks that begin in your heart… even when you know there’s a reason. It would kill Keaton…. because he could see it.”
“He’d feel it too because… he’s marked…. I actually don’t think Channing would stand for it. The point is… it would make Odette feel like…. he didn’t want her… even if she knew it wasn’t true. You can have the most valid reason… for not marking each other, but it hurts.”
“It… just… Odette shouldn’t have to feel like Keaton’s rejecting her… when he’s not. On the other hand…. Keaton shouldn’t have to hold himself back…. from doing what is natural to an Alpha with his mate… just…” Melanie’s eyes filled with tears.
I frowned because I could see Melanie’s mark on her neck. What was going on here? Drake whispered, “Melanie.” My friend shrugged, “Just don’t make Odette… feel that way. She doesn’t deserve it… and neither does Keaton.” Her Xander held her tightly.
Melanie muttered, “Plus…. I’ll just help Keaton plan it out… if they say no…. and no one will find them… because my plans are better than everyone… else’s… Ok I can’t say that out loud… because it’s definitely rude… even though it’s just the truth.”
I was not alone when I laughed. Melanie looked around at people confused then muttered, “I’m not sure… why anyone is laughing… I know it’s not a laughing matter, Freya… I’m not the one laughing.” Tatum commented, “Thank you for having inside thoughts.”
Dad asked, “Odette, what do you want?” I told him, “Honestly, this is all really confusing. I don’t know how my living situation is going to work out. I want to get to know everyone, but I understand Keaton has responsibilities.”
I looked at my mate saying, “I still want to live in all three places at times. While that is confusing and messed up, it’s what I want. Mom robbed us all of this time we should’ve had together. While everything else in my life is confusing, what I DO know, is that I want Keaton.”
“I want him to mark me. I’ve asked him when I didn’t know that’s what I was asking for. I think it’s already been hard enough on my mate. I think you should thank Keaton, because he could’ve marked me after I marked him.”
“I wouldn’t even be mad at him right now. I know Keaton’s it for me. He didn’t mark me out of respect to me not knowing about the Supernatural. I know you’ve known Keaton his whole life, and I hate that I’m coming between whatever relationship you have.”
“I know this is weird for all of us, I really do. But my relationship with my mate is not up for discussion. Not even one small aspect of it. This is not a group discussion. We have been living together, and that’s not changing. Regardless, it’s between Keaton and myself. End of story.”
Keaton came and stood beside me saying, “I’m sorry if you’ll hate me for this, Nathan. It will hurt me because I do love you as family; however, I won’t make my mate feel like I’m rejecting her. I love Odette.” Dad let out a big breath.
Eventually dad nodded, “No, you’re right.
Everyone is. God. I feel like I have a foot permanently in my mouth.
I’m messing everything up. Haley and I had this talk.
I was prepared to say nothing, then you said it and my fur raised.
I’m sorry. I don’t know how to be Odette’s dad, but I could never hate you, Keaton Daniels. Not ever.”
I took dad’s hand, “You are my dad. I guess that’s how you do it. We are all new to this.” Dad smiled at me, “You’re wise for your age.” I shrugged. I didn’t say that I had to be because I raised myself once Lux was gone. I was pretty sure that would hurt my dad’s feelings.
Melanie had been furiously typing on her phone. My friend smirked, “Alright… so, not to like enjoy … breaking up this awkward moment… that I hate I was a part of…. but suit up honorary Resistance member…. and Malachi.” Emmett asked, “Say what now?”
Melanie said, “Oh… right. I’ll have to give Malachi an outfit.” That was not what Emmett meant at all. Haley snapped her fingers and Keaton, Malachi, and Melanie were in all black with masks pulled over their heads.
Keaton asked, “Uhh where am I going?” Melanie answered, “Well, it only seemed fair…. that the honorary member… come with us. Since you’re going to get in trouble…. for being an honorary member, you might as well go out on a mission… with me.”
“All newbies go with me first… and then you’ll just be…
. A regular member. I’ll have to find a new honorary one…
that was a fun facet of the Resistance… when that happened…
and it was connection… to my old life… which I super appreciated Keaton for…
it’s like we friends… aligned on a goal…
. I definitely need a new honorary member.
” I knew she didn’t mean to say that part out loud.
Emmett asked, “Where exactly are my Beta and brother going?” Matt said, “I have the same question.” Malachi avoiding answering, “Have some faith, I volunteered to go.” Melanie’s Xander growled, “Why can’t I come?”
Melanie kissed him, “We will be in and out. Val is shimmering us in. We’ll be back in… like ten minutes. Twenty tops. I really think it will be ten though… Easy peasy.” Aiden laughed, “Of course you will.”
Valentina shimmered in, waved at me, then shimmered out before Alexander could say anything. My nephew growled, “Where did they go, Uncle Aiden?” The Fairy King smiled, “To retrieve a Fairy and a wolf.” Eric growled, “What wolf?”
I whispered, “One I saw in my vision.” Matt asked, “Who?” Caspian cut in, “Since the wolf will be saved and brought back, let’s talk about what you saw at the Wedell’s, Odette.” I spat her name out, “Lily was there.”
Eric asked, “Who is Lily? Why do we hate her? Are we killing her? I’m not opposed.” I hissed, “My sucky grandma and we are TOTALLY going mob on her ass.” That made several people laugh. Tatum growled and it slipped out. Caspian nodded. I frowned “You knew that’s where she was though.”
Caspian said, “Yes, you told Serenity which place you saw her at.” I frowned, “Why did Serenity make it seem like they were worse than the Merrick’s? They seemed way nicer. Like worlds nicer. It cannot be overstated how much nicer they are.”
Caspian sighed, “The Wedell’s are stronger too.
They are the second largest clan in the seas.
” I frowned, “Why didn’t mom go to them then?
” Caspian sighed, “For the same reason you’ve stated, they are nicer.
King Wymore would never have plans to kill you.
” I noticed, “He did say it was a stupid plan to have me killed, so that tracks.”
Caspian continued, “He’d immediately tell me he had you. King Wymore wouldn’t let me storm in with armies. You would’ve liked Prince Delmar, he’s charming. You might have even wanted to stay with him.”
Keith growled, “No way!” Caspian reasoned, “If Odette hadn’t met her song boy, it could work. Prince Delmar is genuinely nice and charming. He’s been wronged and that’s why he’s with the Wedell’s. Other clans would not have joined my cause to get Odette back.”
“Especially if Delmar liked her. The Merrick’s would’ve mistreated Odette and many clans would’ve come to aid me to rescue my sister. If we went to war with King Wymore, we would have big losses on both sides. I wouldn’t have left you with them, Odette, but I might have been more diplomatic.”
Cython snorted, “Uh huh. You don’t like them.” Caspian smirked, “I like them more than the Merricks, but no I don’t. They are still dark Sirens. We kicked them out for a reason. They’re just not the worst of the worst.”
I said, “We are cousins.” Caspian said, “We don’t talk to them much.” So, they disliked them for no reason?! Tatum said, “That does seem to be what we are saying. Even though, I don’t like the Wedell’s or their plans.”
Cython rolled his eyes, “Everyone hates the Merrick’s the most.” Caspian added, “And you aren’t related to Delmar.” I knew that. I shrugged, “Lily gave me to them. Why do people keep giving me to people? I’m a person not a thing to be given.”
Dad snorted, “I don’t care who she is she can’t give you to anyone. I’ll kill her.” Good. Tatum said, “A lot of wolves are expressing that sentiment to me.” Chase growled, “Over my dead body will a Siren take my son’s mate as his own.” Tatum teased, “And you were worried they didn’t like us.”
Emmett said, “We’ll go Hood on their ass.” I asked, “Do you know that means something very different to humans?” Emmett smirked, “We do know that.” Caspian gritted his teeth, “Lily officially offered you to the Wedell’s? What were her exact words?”
I shrugged, “It seemed like it was a done deal. Lily said mom was useless and she couldn’t contact her. Lily thought I was back in Nashville further away from my dad, and that Keaton and I were in a long distance relationship.”
“Wymore tricked Lily saying now that I knew we were related they needed to give me to someone other than her plan. When dear, sweet, lovely grandma left the Wedell’s laughed at her for not knowing Prince Delmar was the one they intended me to be with all along.
The other man said he would never have sex with his cousin.
Prince Delmar planned to be nice to me. It sounded like the opposite of Luke’s plan. ”