Bankhead Forest
Melanie could feel Freya anticipating her question about their heat. Freya, of course, knew the question already and I could tell she was waiting for me to ask about it. I was about to when Xander distracted me.
Who could resist this man naked? Who would want to? That nearly made me growl. Xander was mine. I pushed all my thoughts aside and lost myself in my mate until we both fell asleep. I woke up with a lot of anxiety. Freya groaned, “Why can’t you just sleep?”
I snorted, “You have my memories. You know exactly why I can’t sleep.” Freya sighed, “We aren’t in that former sad excuse of a pack anymore. Spear is making it into a good place as he always planned.” I knew Caine would do everything he’d said and make Black Path better.
I said, “Well, today… is the first holiday in six years that will be… what they used to be. I mean… not what they used to be because we will be in the Hackura realm… but my family didn’t even ask about plans… maybe that’s why they were trying to talk to me… and… hold on.”
I pulled up my computer and checked the messages on Tristan’s phone, then my parents. I told my wolf, “Ok… my family is coming to the Hackura realm… and…that’s good. Are we going to do any of our traditions?”
I questioned, “Are they all coming? Like Grandpa Ben and Grandma Esther? Do I have to talk to all of them? What do we do?” Freya sighed, “I guess you have a point, but I know that you could easily find out who is coming.” True.
Since I easily found Tristan, Everly, Kai, Jason, Addison, and my parents were.
I got up and quietly put my clothes on then jogged to the place where I liked to dance. I put on some music and lost myself in the movements. Once I stopped dancing I sat down. The sun still hadn’t risen yet, but I could feel the Hackura here with me. Likely Xander’s Guard.
I finally asked Freya, “Why haven’t we had our heat?” Freya chuckled, “Our heat will be more intense. We aren’t like regular wolves that go into heat soon after being marked. I don’t know when it will come, but it’s not some weird conspiracy.”
I sighed, “At least that’s one thing. What does ‘more intense’ mean?” Freya explained, “We will smell VERY strongly to everyone.” I sighed, “So you’re saying we are going to have to fight people off while feeling the pain of our heat?”
Freya snorted, “No, we are electric. Our body will fight people that aren’t our mate for us.
” I guess that was something. Here I was thinking it was some big, complicated thing.
At least the answer was simple. We aren’t a normal she wolf…
so we don’t have a heat on the same timeline as they do. I could live with that.
I went back to the house. Zoe smiled when she saw me teasing, “Of course you were outside.” Haley cheered, “Great! Let’s go make the greatest damn cherry pie of all time!” I laughed, “Alright.” What surprised me was my mom was waiting with them for me.
Haley opened a portal and we all stepped through. It was later in the Hackura realm, so they were all ready for us. Haley stood and watched me make a Cherry pie first. She only wanted to start with one. Logan came in, sat down, and smiled at me.
My mom asked for pointers on little things she was working on, so I’d offer my cooking tips.
I heard someone moan and turned around. Logan declared, “This pie is amazing, and now it’s mine.
I won’t share it or give it back. A bite was not enough, I want the whole thing. ” He got up and left with said pie.
Haley laughed, “Ok then. Let’s make more of that fucking pie.” My mother in law stood beside me and copied everything I did. I wiped my hand on my face. I asked, “Where’s the bathroom?” Haley snorted, “Which fucking one?” Valid point.
It was a castle and there were more than likely a lot of bathrooms. Freya said, “You know the answer.” They didn’t need to know that. I amended my question, “The closest one.” Haley smiled, “Tenth door on the right.” I gaped even though I knew that this place was huge.
I made my way out and found the bathroom.
I entered the guest bathroom and just stared at it.
My maps need an update because they did not do this place justice.
Freya snickered, “It’s nice.” I snorted, “Nice? It’s freaking wall to wall marble…
I could’ve lived here for the last few years…
. and been happy.” Freya laughed but I was serious.
When I left the bathroom, I made my way back.
I saw Queen Veronica exiting the kitchen.
My mate’s Grammy smiled at me, “I hear I have a belated thank you to give you.” I shook my head asking, “What? No… there’s no need for you to thank me…
you’re a Queen… former queen… you were a Queen…
so you’re a dowager Queen? I’m not sure what your title is right now. ”
Veronica laughed, “You are a talker, aren’t you?
Queen or not, I thank people when they help me.
Astrid and I would’ve been fine entering that bar, but we would’ve been unaware of the issue we were walking into.
We could’ve been hurt. Not to mention you saved my grandchildren and my children.
So, thank you for watching out for our family. ”
I blushed, “Umm you’re welcome… it’s no big deal.” Veronica smiled, “On the contrary, it’s quite a big deal.” I had no idea what to say. Veronica gave me a hug saying, “Alexander has longed for you for quite some time.” Freya cooed, “Awww.”
Veronica continued, “I am glad you are finally here to celebrate one of Haley’s holidays with us.
You also brought several of my other grandsons their mates.
You are something else, Melanie Conners.
Thank you for everything you’ve done for this family.
” She kissed me on the cheek and walked away.
I stood there with my jaw on the floor because that was surreal.
Someone cleared their throat. I turned around and blushed harder. I greeted, “Hi, Mom.” Mom smiled saying, “She’s right, you know? What you’ve done is impressive. We want to talk to you about what we’ve learned.” I asked, “From who?”
My mom answered, “Several prisoners. I just want to state here and now that I do not care what happens to me, Melanie. I will never want you to let someone hurt you to punish yourself for anything that happens to me.” Oh god.
I sighed, “Are we having this conversation right now?” Mom raised an eyebrow before replying, “No, I just wanted that reiterated after what I’ve learned.
No matter what, my wish and dream for you is to live a happy life.
For you to accomplish your dreams and your goals.
I want you to be happy, Ladybug. I don’t want you to live some half-life because something happens to me. Ok?” I nodded.
Mom led me back into the kitchen. Everly and Kai were here now. Kai smiled and ran over to me squealing, “Hi, Aunt Ladybug.” I smiled, “Hi, Kai.” My nephew pouted, “Mom said I can’t have a cookie until it’s time for dessert.”
I reasoned, “Moms say things like that. At least they aren’t peanut butter cookies… or I’d burn them all… probably… definitely… so there’s that.” Kai giggled, “Yeah I know.” Haley snorted, “Peanut butter cookies are fucking banned.” Good.
We got back to cooking. I linked Kai, “Come over here and take a chocolate chip cookie.” Kai gasped, “Wait, wait? You said moms say no cookies before food.” I explained, “Mom’s do… Aunt’s do not.” Kai snickered and came over to stand by me. I slid him a cookie and he took off.
Everly yelled, “No running in the hallways, Kai.” Kai didn’t reply.
Haley winked at me linking, “Very fucking discreet. I almost missed it.” I reasoned, “Well… I’m his aunt.
Aunts have to be fun.” Haley laughed, “I know. I’m absofuckinglutely a fun aunt.
” I believed that with every fiber of my being. She was absolutely the fun aunt.
Everly carefully said, “Melanie, I’ve been meaning to thank you.
” Good lord. It really was the day of thanks.
I asked, “What for?” Everly answered, “A lot of things. You coming to see T meant the world to him. I know we discussed you saving Kai, but my gratitude will never be expressed enough for that.”
“Even though you thought that you were being excommunicated from our lives, you communicated with Kai. I wish I’d known, but I am glad you guys had that. I’m damn glad you gave him a necklace with GPS and were able to locate him. I was so frantic when we got the call.”
“They had no idea how long he’d been missing, and we had no leads. No one saw anything. Until we got Al’s call. God, I don’t know the last time I’d been so scared. No one could even pop to him. Sharon was being thrown back.”
My sister in law shivered, “We all know that means the Ring is involved. I think I lost twenty years off my life in that time frame. If not for you, I don’t know what would’ve happened to Kai.
So, yes. Thank you doesn’t really suffice.
Even though we already had a conversation about this, given what you were suffering. ”
“You saved me when I was pregnant with him, and you saved my son when we couldn’t. There are literally no words to say. One day when you have your own pups, you’ll know that there is no greater fear than something happening to your pup.”
Haley snorted, “Afuckingmen.” Everly smiled at her. Haley added, “By the way, that never goes away. I still worry all the damn time about my kids.” Everly smiled, “Of course it doesn’t. Kai will always be my pup even when he’s grown up.”
“I just felt such overwhelming anxiety during that ordeal. That panic and all the bad thoughts of what my pup could endure, and I wasn’t there with him. God, I was in a bad place. T was out there looking for our son.”