Chapter 12 #7
It was… it just stung hearing Dalton defend someone as family when no one did that for me. He was even supposed to. I was supposed to be here when he took over. Cassie wrapped an arm around me. Zane added, “Plus, you upset Ladybug. We just got her back and you people aren’t ruining that for us.”
Dalton agreed, “You aren’t. You had her in that pack. You are old enough to know you should’ve reported her treatment to someone, even if you believed you were her foster pack. My allies have been talking my pack leadership down from killing off everyone your age in your pack.” They had?
Dalton warned, “Want to bet if Alexander agreed with me everyone else would? He doesn’t currently know about the discussion, but I could tell him.” They all paled. Cassie laughed, “My brother wouldn’t care about a groups decision anyway.”
Dalton hummed, “No, he probably wouldn’t.” Cassie declared, “You could tell Alexander you felt that way about their age bracket, and he would simply kill all of them. Which I’d have to help with because he’s about as subtle as a wrecking ball.”
Hastein and Gabe came over to our group.
Gabe said, “I told you, brother. I knew if we hung around here something interesting would happen.” Hastein snorted, “You did not say it would be because of Alexander’s mate.
” Umm… the odds were actually solid it would involve me.
They were even high. Freya pleaded, “I beg of you to say that out loud.”
Gabe retorted, “With all the Fairies running around here, how was I supposed to guess that?” I answered, “Umm because of who was getting married, me being in my home pack again, and the drama that happened the last time I was here.” Dalton snorted.
I asked, “What? There was over an eighty percent chance the drama would involve me.” Dalton and Zane smirked at me looking deeply amused by that accurate statement of facts.
Dylan Frost jumped out of an SUV and yelled, “MelAshley is right! PICK ME CREEPY NINJA ASSASSIN PRINCE! I knew that the drama would’ve involved her.
I would’ve told you that, but I didn’t know you were invited. ”
Hastein shrugged saying, “I don’t tend to need an invitation to the places I want to go.
” I wanted to glare at him even though he was right.
Hastein didn’t need an invitation, but he kept not being where he was supposed to be.
Which meant getting Kingsley and him together was practically impossible because he was rude…
.with his schedule changes at the last minute.
Dalton linked, “Whoa there on the annoyed glare with the Hackura Crown Prince. Why are you annoyed with him?” I answered, “He… is annoying… and I tried… and he didn’t…
ugh. It’s complicated.” Dalton nearly laughed but advised, “Just cool it on the gaze. I’m sure whatever you want to happen you can work out now that you’re Alexander’s. ” That was true.
Dylan snorted, “I love them and the superiority they exude because Creepy Ninja Assassin is right. No one in their right mind would kick him out. Or try to but if they did, I’d better have FRONT ROW seats!
” Hastein laughed, “We are simply here because of how the other mating ceremony went.” His eyes went to mine.
Well, that wasn’t my fault… at all….but it was in my percentages of why this one would be interesting. So… Hastein wasn’t wrong.
I blushed saying, “Well, this seems to be under control… so Virgil, go find your seat… and I’ll just… umm go.” Cassie popped us back near my friends. My future sister in law asked, “Why were you sad when Dalton defended Avery?”
I explained, “It wasn’t because he defended her… it was because he never defended me. Those two people out on that border hate me. A lot. Avery’s dad said a lot of things to me and… it’s not really… you know… umm… today isn’t about me. I just wished he would’ve backed me up… a lot… but he didn’t.”
Cassie gently said, “Dalton would’ve been on your side and defending you if he’d known.” I nodded, “I know… plus he said it…. after Zane did… so… that’s all true. It’s just so hard sometimes… because he’s exactly who I thought he was… he never changed… I did.”
Cassie reasoned, “We all grow up and change. Everyone here still loves you.” That didn’t exactly make sense… because they didn’t know me anymore… but I loved them, so maybe it did. Cassie had just walked back into the room when Xander linked me about Buck.
Of course he’d go talk to Cayden and Micah. Was he insane?! I sighed, “Be right back.” Avery yelled, “What’s wrong?” I snorted, “Wrong? Why would you say that? Who said anything was wrong? No one… that’s who. You’re talking crazy… someone get the bride a drink… or some coffee… definitely coffee.”
Addison linked me, “What happened?” I sighed, “I have to go stop Micah and Cayden from kicking Buck’s… butt… or killing him. I don’t really know which…feels like old times though.” Addison snorted, “You didn’t stop either of them from killing Buck the day of that incident.”
I gasped, “Well, I was….angry….and…I didn’t them specifically…
I meant keeping Buck alive… from people attacking…
.that’s a thing I did a lot…ok he’s helpful…
but I still saved him, several times…Booker was probably trying to get people to kill him because he’d be a good Gamma…
now that I’m thinking about it.” Addison admitted, “That actually has merit.” I knew that.
Before I reached the door someone, I assumed it was Cassie, snapped me into my dress for the ceremony. It was really pretty. Avery had good taste. I linked Caine, “Why are you LETTING Buck talk to Cayden and Micah?! That’s a horrible idea.”
Caine replied, “Because he has become a fast friend as my Gamma and Buck felt like he needed to do this.” I replied, “No, he doesn’t! They could KILL him.” Caine replied, “I wouldn’t let that happen, nor would you.” UGH!
I easily spotted the group I was looking for, but I couldn’t hear them.
I linked Max, “Please include me in the space unheard chant.” Max snorted, “You want to defend him, and I don’t think I like him.
” I sighed, “Ok… Buck is complicated. But you would like him… eventually. Besides, today is about Avery.” Max rolled his eyes and included me in the chat.
I quickly asked, “Buck… why?” Buck sighed, “I needed to thank them and apologize.” I gaped at him before saying, “This is your sister’s mating ceremony, not the time to go through all your steps of apologizing for your behavior.
Find them another time… like any other time.
You guys will see them a lot now… you’re the Gamma…
and Black Path is allied with all of us… so there will be other times.”
Micah snorted, “You wouldn’t be here another time to save him.” I rolled my eyes saying, “Buck didn’t think that I would save him now.” Buck chimed in, “Buck knew you would, but I don’t need it.” Ok… so he was more observant than I thought.
I grumbled, “Whatever… Look, Buck is complicated… like I told Max… but he’s changing to the guy that does all the things he used to do in the shadows, in the light.
If you want to punch him later… for not saving Avery himself that one time…
even though he orchestrated me saving her…
then do so after the ceremony…. where he is walking Avery down the aisle.
Preferably after the reception when she leaves with Dakota. ”
Buck smirked. I continued, “Look… he did all that because he loves her… and while I think he could’ve just stood up and said stuff… he did take punishments for his mate before she… uhh left?” Buck snorted, “You can say rejected me.” I winced, “Umm… so before that.” Freya huffed in my head.
I waved, “And Buck set up the whole me finding Avery that day thing. He made sure I did by taking my motorcycle and driving it out of gas….which he totally never put back in the tank…I’m just saying.” Buck threw his head back and laughed.
I grumbled, “Well, you didn’t… but he did what he could to protect Avery. I was the best way to do that. So while all of us would’ve had different ways of doing that… Buck used what he could, given the way he was raised.”
Max said, “Hold on. He’s your counterpart.
Or he was and you call it complicated?” I nodded, “Well… yes… he is. We worked together and I saw more of him… it helped me understand him better. I didn’t agree with all the things he did…
and he didn’t agree with what I did so publicly.
Buck can’t help how he was raised. He was doing better in the years we worked together… and he helped me if he could.”
“He gave me a lot of rides for the coffee pickups I did… he dropped me off before anyone saw… but he still did it. Buck tried to stop me from challenging for the Female Lead Warrior position while still injured. He wanted me to heal. Buck is good… he just needed a way to show that and he’s getting the chance as the Gamma “
“So, I need Max to promise not to say anything to anyone but Micah or Cayden… until after the festivities. Today is all about Avery…and I have a lot of plans for not letting anything go wrong… on days that are special to her… and all my friends… but today is Avery’s day…
so… let’s not be a problem. I already fixed one of those…
people might have died… probably not… but it’s possible. ”
Buck tried to cover his laugh. Max said, “Ok, fine. I promise because my mom is all about the bride getting her way. Back to you not defending your former counterpart with these two… you just don’t want them to hit him now. You’re cool with it happening later.”
I hummed, “I mean… there is no way I could stop them… in theory. Cayden is the Commander of the Hackura Armies… Micah is stealthy… I can’t be guarding Buck twenty-four seven… and the man is a bit of a masochist… clearly.”