Chapter 14 #4
I told them, “No… it’s fine. Bradford is not mad at me. That wasn’t about me at all…. so… out. It’s fine.” Chason and Fowler both frowned but left. KJ stayed a second longer glancing at Mike with realization dawning in his eyes then followed the others out.
I was going to have to bring a special lock down for this door. Mike asked, “Son, what’s wrong?” Bradford said, “The Ring attacked William, Preston, me and Arbor. I was shot because mom told them where we were going and when we were coming back.”
Bradford’s voice broke, “She used me, and I never saw it. I was injured and bedridden for a week. My Alpha’s were attacked, and I provided the information to the person who leaked it.
” I pointed out, “That wasn’t your fault.
Unless something is deemed need to know…
you had no reason not to tell a member of this pack. Why didn’t Xander or Haley heal you?”
Bradford snorted, “Alpha Alexander was on a mission and went dark, but something tells me you knew that.” Ok, so maybe I did. Maybe Hendrick was all over Xander… while he was dark, making sure my mate was fine.
Mike snorted, “Wow, you have no poker face.” Abigial cackled, “She really doesn’t.” Bradford jumped back in, “Luna Haley was in her concupiscence. I was healed when they both got back.” I frowned, “I'm sorry that happened to you.”
Mike shouted, “HANG ON! You’re saying Patricia gave the Supernatural Council this information, which led to the Ring getting it, which then got my son shot?!” I winced, “Yup.” Mike snarled, “I’ll reject her.” My eyes widened.
Sierra whistled over link, “Wow. That research you stole from Nathan Conners is actually going to be used.” I’d gotten it for her mom and Elena, but they didn’t want to leave their pups.
I’d done that with several other packs. Having one mate reject the other, than faking death.
The only ones that did it were ones with pups in adulthood.
Bradford said, “Dad.” Mike stood growling, “No, it’s over.
I know it can be done. She’ll sleep with someone, so I feel pain.
From what I know it’s not so bad. I’ll know but it wouldn’t take me down like it would if she wasn’t rejected.
She’ll never let me be with someone, or mark them, as long as she’s alive, but I don’t care. ”
I sighed, “Ok, so… that wouldn’t be problem, since Paige and I have those gummies.” Abigial said, “These packs don’t know about those.” I agreed, “True… but it’s not going to be a problem. Patricia is likely going to be dead within a decade.”
“She’ll be on trial in Faerie and probably the Hackura realm.
Eric will try here in this realm for her crimes against the pack.
So, Patricia won’t be around to stop you from being happy…
or umm… trying to get back at you… by being with umm…
someone else… but even she tried… I have the gummies to help with that… so… it’s fine?”
Bradford put his head in hands. I told him, “I honestly don’t think she sees it as her fault you were hurt. Patricia does love you in the way she is capable of, Bradford. She didn’t know her information was being taken by the Ring.”
Freya snorted, “In the way she is capable of was a nice addition.” Well, Patricia didn’t understand love, but it was in her own way. Bradford whispered, “My mom knows you’re the white wolf. She saw you.”
I shrugged, “The whole pack does, but I know she knows. Your mom emailed the Supernatural Council about it, but I hacked her already. Her email didn’t get read by anyone… well, except me.” And maybe Charles… but that was fine.
Bradford sighed, “They’ll kick us out for sure.” I argued, “No they won’t. They will not hold her sins against you. I believe you… and I’m going to have Cassie talk to you. She’ll confirm what I know, and they won’t question Cassie.” I quickly sent Cassie a text.
Me: Can you bring your Guard to ask Bradford and Mike if they know anything about what Patricia does before the meeting tomorrow?
Cassie: Of course. Why?
Me: Umm… reasons… that are important.
Cassie: LOL Sure. You sure aren’t boring Melanie. Thank god. No one asks me to do anything now that I’m pregnant. It’s like they go out of their way not to ask.
Me: That’s silly… and I won’t be doing that. Like I’m not going to ask you to fight someone… because I can do that myself so…there would be not point in asking….when you think about it.
Cassie: I’m all over this task.
Me: Cool… thanks… I appreciate it… and… uhhh I will continue to ask for stuff… because it’s not fair not to ask just because you’re pregnant.
Cassie: EXACTLY!
Well, I’d just have to ask her for stuff like this if no one was asking her to help.
You couldn’t cut an Alpha out like that.
I linked Abigial, “You need to sync with Gia because she needs to go talk to Cassie and get her tasks… people are not going to her because she’s pregnant.
” Abigial saluted me and went to find Gia.
Xander called. I linked, “FREYA! Why can our bond make him jittery? We don’t even have the Hackura bond yet!” Freya replied, “Our bond is stronger but mate is fine. Oden said they are using it to fight.” Well… I still felt bad that I’d forgotten that if I had a strong enough emotion, he’d feel it.
Ok… I had to counteract this. I could switch between decaf and real coffee… I could try that. I switched to decaf. Sierra snorted, “You’ve got to be kidding!” I told her, “I wasn’t trying to make Xander jittery. I just need fuel.”
Abigial came back in linking, “Mission accomplished. Gia went to the Hackura realm. Charity opened a portal for her and she’s going to find Cassie.” Good. Mike declared, “We won’t tell Patricia why we are meeting with you all tomorrow. I do appreciate the heads up.”
Bradford sighed, “I’m sorry about this. I didn’t know she would try to hurt you or the pack.” I shrugged, “It’s fine….since I did know. Plus, she’s your mom not mine. You want to see the best in her. Also… I read that report on the attack against you, Preston, and William and the other Warrior.”
Bradford asked, “What about it? Trust me, I know every detail of that file.” I asked, “So you know you’d be an excellent Tracker? You smelled something wrong before the Conners did… and they have an enhanced sense of smell. Your instincts and scenting abilities were on alert before theirs.”
Mike’s eyes quadrupled in size and Bradford looked like I’d slapped him. I hummed, “I can see it didn’t occur to you. Think about it. If your passion isn’t being a Warrior… you’d be an excellent Tracker… I could actually see you being the Male Lead Tracker.”
“Or if you don’t like being a Warrior at all… there’s no shame in following your own path. Doing what you want to do makes you happier and in turn, everyone else. Or doing a blend of both. I have your Warrior schedule done, but… if you want to take a few Tracking trainings… I can work that in.”
“Like I said, you could do both. I just don’t want you to think you have to be a Warrior if you don’t want to. A Tracker with Warrior skills would be highly coveted by both groups and packs actually… because you can do it all.”
Mike turned to his son saying, “Patricia always said being a Warrior is what you wanted to do.” Bradford shrugged, “Mom always said I was born to be a Warrior. So, I was one.” Mike groaned, “Do you even like it?”
Bradford nodded, “I do like it, but I don’t love it. Tracking though, I do think it’s interesting. It’s nothing I’ve ever considered though.” I told him, “There’s nothing wrong with exploring things to find your passion.”
“I’ll redo your schedule and send it to you. If you decide you’d rather be a Tracker… I’ll keep up your Warrior training with you outside your schedule, so you don’t lose your skills. I’ll repeat, there’s nothing that says you can’t be both a Tracker and a Warrior.”
Mike raised an eyebrow at me saying, “I don’t think Alpha Alexander would like you training Bradford one on one.” I snorted, “You do know I have access to my mate’s calendar? Xander has one on one sessions with both Male and Female Lead Warriors.”
“So…. he can’t be unhappy if I work with people in the same way he does. That’s not Bradford’s problem either. I want him to be happy and successful here. I think he has the capacity to do both positions if he wants.”
“I think the problem your son has been having in Warrior training is it’s not something he’s actually truly passionate about. No one puts their full effort behind something they were driven to do by someone else. As a Tracker who can fight, he’d be in a unique class all his own here.”
“I had people doing that in Black Path. They could go on border patrols and pick up things others didn’t. That’s actually how we were prepared for a few attacks. I’ll clear my plan with EJ and Xander… but I know they won’t care…. and if they did Elise would back me up.”
“So would Buttercup, Jane, and Micah. It’s our job as Luna’s and the Alpha Male, to see to the happiness of the pack. That includes Bradford and this pack is all about following your dreams. Not the dreams forced upon you by a parent.”
Bradford studied me before saying, “You’re different. It’s not bad though. You just see things a different way.” I shrugged, “I am aware. Should you have friends that were…pointed in a career direction…have them come see me. I’ll help them too.”
“I’m a schedule master. I can help them dabble in what they think they like. Even if they end up hating it… then they’ll know what they do and don’t like. Just like if you hate the Tracking training…. we will drop the classes.”
Sierra said, “That’s true. No one can make a schedule like Melanie can.
” Mike asked, “Do you sleep?” I shrugged, “Sometimes.” Bradford snorted, “You’re serious.
” I nodded, “Of course I am. Anyway… pass the word along. If anyone knows the people not doing what they love… it would be you. Like-minded people… find other like-minded people.”