Place in This World #3
I sighed, “I know.” My husband tapped my nose saying, “I know you know. Your plan was a good one, but as your mate; I deserve to be brought up to speed on the plans you have. You know that I have an adept mind for strategies because I am an Enforcer.”
I whispered, “So… I do …know that but they want to hurt you.” Xander pointed out, “That doesn’t change if they have you.
They have the ability to crush me with you in their clutches.
Regardless, I still have a strategic brain when it comes to battles and physical warfare.
I’ve told you that I won’t take things away from you.
I just need you to come to terms with us being a team. ”
I sat back and ate my food knowing my mate wasn’t wrong. I was just… used to being alone. I had my friends, but when rubber met the road… I made decisions on my own. Xander said, “I know you got used to making the tough calls.” Ok… so he was going through the bond.
Xander continued, “I know you protected so many people including my cousin, Arlina, with your life. You have bled and been hurt for your plans. I can’t deny all of my plans will involve you never doing so again, because it’s been enough.
I can admit that you have a destiny though.
The catch there is I do as well, and it’s me being by your side. I need you to let me do that.”
I chewed my food contemplating his words. I agreed, “You’re right. I just have this…. default mode now… especially when it comes to protecting you.” My husband kissed me before admitting, “I’m so proud of you, and everything you accomplished.”
I asked, “Huh?” Xander chuckled, “Your army and people, they are impressive. You’ve united groups and given them a community. You’ve had them form their own families. I was terrified when you leaped into that helicopter because that wasn’t your rational mind or plan.”
“That was a drive inside of you to see and make someone pay. You are damn lucky there was a pond or you’d have been seriously injured. I’m sure one of your Vampires on the inside would’ve caught you or something, but that was….”
I interrupted, “I had to… do it. Slade couldn’t get away…
because if he did… it would’ve taken so much longer to get him…
Plus K would’ve caught me… like a thousand percent.
. K would’ve.” Xander studied me before he said, “You have someone inside the Hunters besides the people Cayden and Micah rescued. You would’ve known his location. ”
I sighed, “I could’ve gotten it…. yes. I’ve never asked because…. I didn’t want to act on it. It would be dangerous for her… and… said it was a certain family that gave me the information… also… umm about her.”
Xander interrupted, “She’s in the royal family of Hunter’s Cayden asked you about.
She has to be.” I said, “Well, yes but… that’s not what I was…
she’s… umm… I’m pretty sure she’s one of your brother’s mates…
. but she’s a good person… I swear. Really, Hunters history isn’t what they…
. or we… think. They aren’t supposed to hunt us and… ”
Xander asked, “Are you bringing her here then?” I sighed, “I’ll tell her…
yes….but she’s got her own goals.” Xander questioned, “How did you even meet her? Does she live here?” I snorted, “Oh no. She lives in Russia. We met… because she started leaking intel to the Resistance… and I backtracked her IP address.”
“To be fair… she had it going several places. If I wasn’t so good…. I wouldn’t have found her. I went with Val… and Virgil… to a meeting… with her… against…ya know… everyone’s advice… because I was right. That’s how I met her.” Freya snickered in my head.
I continued, “She’s trying to go up against centuries of indoctrination, misunderstandings, and hatred. I help her where I can, and she helps me. She truly wants to end the way Hunter’s go after Supernatural’s. She loves her family… and some of them… also help me… because they love her.”
Xander nodded, “Alright. We will protect her when she comes here.” It would be when…
. but it probably wouldn’t be like it was with Kingsley and Hastein.
This was going to be a longer… type of issue…
since… a Werewolf… and Huntress together…
might mean we have to declare the Conners our Royalty…
so they can approve. Well…that had merit. I could get behind that idea.
Anastasia was going to work overtime once I told her my suspicion. She would want her family to accept her mate… and not be worried he’d hurt her. Anastasia’s family wasn’t actually that bad… they were kept silent and out of the way.
Slade was the one running things. Her family didn’t actually have power within the Hunter’s group right now. Anastasia and I were working to install her oldest brother, Dimitri… as their true and legitimate leader though. We had a plan. A plan that Dimitri himself was involved with.
Xander pulled my hand and tugged me down into his lap, then buried his head into my neck. My mate said, “Just so you know, I’m over being separated from you. I’ve lived far too long without you and I won’t go back to that time in my life.” I blushed while Freya purred.
I told him honestly, “I’ve missed you my whole life. It was more of a longing when I lived in Red Run, but in Black Path… it was like missing a piece of my soul.” Xander nuzzled me before promising, “Never again, Lovebug.” We sat like that for several moments.
Xander sighed, “We should get back.” I asked, “Where are we?” Xander laughed, “My secret place. Well, now it’s our secret place.” I asked, “Which is… where?” Xander smirked, “It’s our home in Red Run. I bought the place because I knew you got homesick. So, I planned for us to stay here.”
I gasped, “You what?” Xander smirked, “I always wanted you to be comfortable.” I took a deep breath as tears sprang into my eyes over my mate’s thoughtful gift. Without thought I wrapped my arms around him, throwing myself into kiss him.
My husband popped us home to Black Mountain while I reeled. Xander bought me a house… on land even… because I used to get homesick. Ok… I still did… I just hid it from people… and things. That was the sweetest thing of all time for my husband to do.
I heard, “Well hells bells! Someone popped Ashley’s cherry.
Good on you, man! Now the rest of us can have a turn.
” Oh boy. Freya sighed, “Here you thought you were the only one who couldn’t keep what should be inside thoughts to yourself.
That man is about to find out he should work on that. ” I nearly laughed out loud.
Xander snarled, flicked his hand calling the wind, and threw Butch into a tree. I quickly said, “Butch, this is… .my mate.” Xander roared, “MINE!” EJ popped next to us and promptly looked at me. I shrugged, “I was just standing here… actually… I was kissing Xander.”
EJ snorted, “It’s not your fault. Butch should’ve watched his mouth.” Tristan and Jason joined us. I rolled my eyes, “I’m fine. He’s just… well… crass.” Tristan punched Butch, warning, “Don’t you ever talk about my sister like that again.”
Butch held up his hands apologizing, “Sorry, man. She’s always been single.
” Xander growled, “You can see the mark on her damn neck! SHE IS MINE!” Butch spoke softly, “I couldn’t see her neck when you popped in all wrapped around her making out.
Now I see it. No harm, no foul.” He muttered, “Except to my back and face.” I added, “Butch is harmless.”
Xander stalked back over to me and slammed his lips on mine in a possessive kiss. We lost ourselves in the passion. Someone cleared their throat eventually. Xander broke the kiss warning, “I swear to god if that wasn’t someone I know, they are dead.” Someone laughed.
EJ offered, “It was Jase. Butch ran away the second you turned your back on him.” Xander growled, “Then he better have run really fucking far.” I told my husband, “I’m only yours.” He growled and pulled me closer against him.
Jason said, “Yes, we know. Side note, because a bunch of new Alphas took their place when Mel sent out her bat signal, there’s a big Alpha conference and meeting in a few weeks. It’s in May, right before graduation for the high school seniors.”
Xander commented, “Well, Mel and I will be there.” Gage literally yelled from across the yard, “I told you he’d say that.” EJ sighed, “It’s Alphas and Betas only.” I offered, “I mean technically I am a Beta too, so… I can come.” EJ chuckled.
I added, “Plus those new Alphas are my friends.” Freya added, “Who will easily listen to you.” Exactly. EJ said, “Yes, well the Supernatural Council will be there.” Xander stiffened. I asked, “So?” Tristan snorted, “Due to that factor, we want you as far away from them as possible.”
I asked, “Huh? What? Why? I already… blackmailed them… they won’t bother me. So… I can come… right, Xander?” My husband groaned, “I don’t like it either, but I do want you very far away from them.” Gage commented, “Predictable!”
Freya grumbled, “We could just electrocute them all.” I said to the group, “Ok… weird… but ok. The Supernatural Council will figure out I'm the White Wolf eventually… if we don’t kill them right away… which isn’t the plan.”
I winced admitting, “Probably sooner than later since…. Sherman suspects. He might leak it that it’s possible to them. Which means they’d ask to see me shift… and then people would be mad.” Xander snarled, “Which means I’d rip their heads off.” Freya purred while Gage groaned.
I shrugged, “Eventually, everyone will figure it out.” Xander said, “I’d prefer if that happened later.
” I muttered, “Well… not to be… like… a downer… but nothing we want with like big stuff… and secret keeping ever really happens. Nothing really ever seems to go our way.” EJ sighed, “Sadly, my sister in law is not wrong.”