About That #14
I asked him, “Why does everyone think the Resistance is bad? We do a lot of good things… And I mean… it’s dangerous… but I usually take all the danger I can… so… I keep people safe.” Aiden smiled, “No one thinks they are bad.”
I disagreed, “Taking advantage of someone is bad.” Aiden reasoned, “Every leader has taken advantage of someone or something. The problem everyone you know has is that they believe that someone was you.”
“You are smart and talented and developed things that your family, and mine, believe you were used for. I, of course, have always known, as do they, that you had your own motivations for doing these things. The love you have for my nephew is your driving factor. Even when you did not believe Alexander would be with you. I think you actually thought he’d kill you. ”
I muttered, “I mean…him…no…I wasn’t sure if his rejection would kill me or not.
” Aiden nodded, “Exactly, but everything you did was still to avenge your family and to protect him.” I emphatically stated, “I love him.” Aiden smiled, “No one doubts that. Just consider telling my nephew you are the leader behind the curtain.”
I sighed, “I consider telling him all the time. How exactly should that come out? I REALLY don’t want to have a giant conversation about it. I thought it would be funny to set up a meeting with my boss and everyone who wants to talk to said boss…that is me…and then just walk in.”
Aiden laughed boisterously before urging, “Dear sweet girl, please do that.” I shrugged, “My personality is more like I’ll blurt it out… in some type of fashion.” Aiden laughed, “Either would be funny. Seriously consider the meeting though.” I sighed, “Alright.”
Aiden surprised me by kissing the top of my forehead. He said, “You carry the weight of the world on those shoulders, and you expected nothing in return from us. You have saved my family so many times. You even protected Aiylee and my son Fenilton.” He winked at me.
I blushed because he was right. I had saved Fenilton and Aiylee in the field, but I didn’t know my mate’s uncle figured that out. Aiden added, “I dare say your family would be more upset about those measures you took to save people.”
I snorted, “There are plenty of things they could be upset about. The things they’ve seen me do aren’t that bad.” Aiden snorted, “I believe that. I think they know that too, they just don’t want to admit it.” I shrugged.
Aiden popped out and I grabbed my computer to start running multiple searches. I emailed Kingsley a coded message with my theories and Aiden’s thoughts. She might be able to get confirmation. I clicked on the email from Tao.
Melanie,
These are files Ezra had encrypted. I can’t crack them, but I knew you could. Things are going well here. Talia is thriving in her Luna role, as I knew she would. I have a mentor and I’m keeping up with my trainings.
Thank you for all you have done for us. Have fun cracking these and using them to break Ezra into tiny little pieces for whatever horrible things he’s done. One of my half siblings hopes it’s not bad, and for her sake I wish it was true.
I think you and I both know that won’t be the case. I don’t know if I’ll even need to know what lives in these files. I trust you to let me know if I do.
Alpha Tao
Freya said, “You are well respected for an Alpha to let you decide who to disseminate the information to.” I reasoned, “I trained him. So… it makes sense.” Freya snorted, “Not exactly but I see your logic. You are impressive.” That made me blush.
I quickly started running my code on them in the background. I took a deep breath, then blocked off EJ and Xander’s calendars for the end of the week for a meeting with my “boss.” I added Cayden, Bjourn, Eric, Haley, Elise, Aiden, and Micah too.
Freya said, “I approve.” I knew she did because she knew I planned to tell Xander before the meeting. Then I probably needed to tell Cayden… because that was only fair. Micah too actually. I was not sure how I was going to do that.
Elise linked me, “You’re going to get us a meeting with your boss?
!” I replied, “I mean getting… is a word… the wrong one… since I already did it.” I asked myself and decided it was fine.
I sent out an email to my friends that knew I was in charge, letting them know.
I was suddenly exhausted. I let my search keep running and I closed my eyes.
I heard beeping and the squeak of shoes on the floor. What the hell? I woke up in an empty hospital bed. COME ON! I linked Freya, “The Ribbon again? Did we get some all-star goddess pass?” Freya snorted, “Maybe.” I was not amused in the slightest.
I quickly made my way out of the room and found a computer, spotting the date. They day of my accident. I easily made my way to my room. Mason and Hendrick were outside the door talking to Cayden and Micah. Crap.
I made my way over and pushed Mason and Hendrick inside. Everyone whirled around. Mason whispered, “What the shit?” Micah asked, “What the actual hell? CAYDEN!” Cayden glanced at Micah then me.
Addison screamed, while Paige looked back and forth and Avery passed out cold causing me to
wince. Cayden ground out, “Son of a bitch! You’re in the Ribbon. The ONLY fucking family in the Ribbon are my in laws. Who is it?”
I pushed that question off, “We need to all go to your realm. Quickly. Then I’ll explain… because I clearly have to.” Micah announced, “I’m all over the AMA’s.” Cayden ordered, “Tell me who you are mated to.”
I sighed, “You already have a guess, I’ll bet. For starters, my legal name is not… Ashley Griffen. I was forced to choose a name.” Micah dropped his phone and Cayden closed his eyes. When he opened them, they were gold. I knew he wasn’t mad at me, but it was intimidating all the same.
I told him, “You should probably have someone collect Trevor and his friends… for reasons… that are probably clear to you.” Cayden asked, “Anything else?” I frowned, “Yeah… a few things. Let’s get to the Hackura realm with… your me first.”
Cayden opened a portal as Micah turned off the monitors before he gently picked me up. Once we went through, Cayden gestured to a bed to put her on. My brother in law then opened the door and yelled, “I NEED HELP IN HERE NOW!”
I urged, “Call him, Cayden.” Cayden snorted, “You know who I would call?” I sighed, “I mean… yes. You only have one him in your family who heals… besides…. my name is Melanie McAlister.” My friends sucked in a breath.
Cayden clarified, “Melanie McAlister, as in the dancer who is in New York whose brothers brag about her every chance they get about how good she is? The one who got into Julliard. That Melanie McAlister?” My friends gasped.
Cayden continued, “Or the woman my brother in law has been patiently waiting to come home from New York to determine if you are his mate? Which clearly, you are.” I winced, “Umm yes… I am that Melanie McAlister and so is she.” Marcus and Brody ran into the room not paying attention to anyone but the patient, which was me.
Marcus frowned, then he and Brody got to work. Bjourn shouted, “What the fuck is going on?” Probably because he was staring at me… not the me on the bed. Me. Marcus and Brody paused then Marcus did a double take.
Brody groaned, “Shit. Is this one of our cousins’ mates?” Cayden angrily retorted, “Evidently.” Cassie ran in next and promptly screamed when she saw the me on the bed. Bjourn said, “Why are you with Melanie McAlister, Cayden?”
I felt I should be on his side here. I quickly said, “He didn’t know he was with me… well… obviously, he knew he was with me… but he didn’t know my real name is Melanie… so… that’s a thing.”
Bjourn questioned, “What does he think your name is?” I said, “The look on your face… says you figured that out.” Marcus sighed, “Oh god.” Cassie gasped, “Oh god, no.” Micah answered, “We know her as Ashley Griffen.”
Cassie said, “You have a wolf, and I can sense her. So, our Melanie has to have a wolf.” I sighed, “Ok that’s a whole barrel of cats…
you should call Xander to heal… his her…
but the long and short version of this story is my wolf was suppressed.
The only thing that can bring her out is looking into Xander’s eyes.
Which she needs morphine for, because… it hurts… a lot.”
Cassie had tears running down her face. Cayden wrapped her in his arms and took out his phone. He ordered, “Alexander, pop to me now.” He hung up and said, “Cassie, pull your family to you. At minimum we need your parents and EJ.” Cassie nodded.
Marcus gasped. Brody practically shrieked, “Holy mother of god. WHAT THE FUCK?!” I turned to see what they were looking at then winced. Brody said, “I wasn’t going to look at her back but….” He trailed off.
Marcus’ eyes blazed as he asked me, “Do you have these words on your back?” I winced, “Not anymore. Paige has to do a spell to reverse… the spell keeping them there… then Haley and Xander can heal it.” Paige said, “Excuse me?”
I sighed and pulled out one of the ports from my watch. I handed it Bjourn. I explained, “Everything you need to know is on there.” I grabbed a piece of paper and wrote down the spell for Paige. Paige read it, then snorted, “Easy.” Then she started to chant.
Xander popped in apologizing, “Sorry for the delay I had to dismiss…” He trailed off then all out roared, “MINE! WHAT THE FUCK?!” Xander popped to his me with tears pouring down his face then kissed her.
Xander whispered, “It’s ok, Lovebug. I’m here. You’re going to be fine.” He started to heal her. Haley, Eric, and EJ popped in. I offered, “Haley, you’ll have to help him.” She glanced at me, startled. Haley asked, “Eric, is that the imaginary person I’ve been fucking convinced is a prank?”
Eric answered, “It is.” Haley said, “Huh and she’s mated to Alexander. Who knew?” She paused and looked around the room questioning harshly, “Why doesn’t anyone look surprised? This is brand fucking new information. Isn’t it?”