Changing #3
Emmett snorted, “I tried to come. Dylan is forlorn that he’s not there.
” Of course he was. I replied, “I think we are coming back after Nathan meets Odette, but I really don’t know.
I’ll link you.” Emmett told me, “I’d really like to see you again today, Keaton.
We are all a little unsettled.” Weird but ok.
The second the Sirens led Odette away, I was going after her. I snarled at one guy that was still looking at her, and luckily for him he quickly looked away. Channing growled, “Let’s shift and rip him to pieces.”
I saw Darrin Conners make his way in that direction. I told Channing, “It’s handled. We need to get to our mate.” Channing agreed, “Yes, get to mate and claim her.” Channing was practically jumping in my head once he saw her.
My wolf told me, “I can’t wait to run with Tatum.” Odette’s eyes flickered back. Channing purred, “Mate. My turn.” I let him come forward and our wolves introduced themselves. Which I found odd, given Channing already knew her name. He’d told me what it was.
I let Channing have a minute before I came out to meet Tatum. Odette figured out May and Keith were mates when she took back over. Something briefly made her sad, but then she felt resolved. Eric, Jackson, Harold, and Darrin came in first to meet Odette.
I could feel how much their acceptance meant to my mate. Eric raised an eyebrow when Odette said she knew Jackson. She must have seen them in the vision she had of the past. Which Melanie clearly knew, because she tried to deflect. Wow. We might actually have to give Melanie lessons on lying.
Eric had a few tears he wiped away when he hugged Odette. Eventually, it was Nathan’s turn. I was going to leave, even though I felt my mate’s unease and worry since she wanted privacy. The thing was Odette had a vice grip on my hand.
My mate was worried Nathan would reject her, but I knew he wouldn’t. I could feel all her worries swirling in my chest. It was almost overwhelming. I began to hum her song that she always hummed around me which calmed my mate down.
Channing told me, “Mate wants us to stay, but she also wants to meet Herb alone. She’s been dreaming of this moment for years.
” Ok, conflicting but Odette should have this moment.
I stepped outside and spotted Nathan. I told him, “Odette wants to meet you, Nathan.” He steadied himself and walked inside.
Uncle Eric put a hand on my shoulder. I somewhat teasingly, but seriously, asked, “Do you still like me?” Eric replied, “Keaton, you’re my godson and I love you. Let’s just never speak of the sexual things we’ve discussed about my sister.” I snorted.
Uncle Eric sighed, “In all seriousness, you know I’m always here for you and nothing will change that. If you need something, no matter what it is, I’ll be here. Maybe we just talk in code. I don’t fucking know. If you hurt my sister, I might punch you in the face first though.” I smirked, “Noted.”
Channing said, “Thor agrees.” I figured. Uncle Eric ran inside the room when he heard his dad growling. I knew Odette wasn’t scared though, so I stayed back. Haley squeezed my hand and smiled at me, “You are family to all the Conners, including Nathan.”
I replied, “Yeah, he’s not acting that way.” Aunt Haley acknowledged, “Nathan may struggle with the adjustment of being a dad to a teenage girl he’s now getting to know, but no matter what you need to know all of us love you.”
“No one is upset you’re mated to Odette because you’re exactly who she needs.
You have been there for her, and we all know the young man you are.
My sister in law is a lucky woman to have you as her mate.
” Aunt Haley was easily going to be my biggest ally in all this.
She would be able to talk the Conners down off the ledges they were going to find themselves on.
Caspian walked over, “So, next time you find your mate maybe say something to the community at large.” I snorted, “There is no next time. Were you looking for me too?” Caspian raised an eyebrow, “Yes, we even looked at you specifically and your brother as options for Odette’s Song.
We just heard it wasn’t the case, and you didn’t announce you found your mate. ”
I winced, “Sorry about that.” Caspian hummed, “I’m sure you’ll make it up to me, song boy.” I asked, “Song boy?” Caspian smirked, “It’s what my sister called you and it’s a habit now, I don’t think I can break it.” I told him, “I don’t really do nicknames.”
Lux snorted, “Sure you don’t, Key.” I growled, “That’s different.” Caspian laughed, “It’s just going to be song boy to us.” Channing grumbled, but Caspian had a point. If I’d announced Odette was mine, they’d have at least come to meet me.
I smirked, “Whatever you say, mob boss man.” Caspian smirked while Lux choked on his drink. I winked at him. Channing laughed, “I love it.” Yeah, they could give me shit but I’d give it right back. Just like how I used to, before the cloud that was Lisa invaded my life.
Uncle Eric came back out, and Aunt Haley went over to him before he joined our group. Alexander had Melanie over in a corner, and they were clearly linking. I tilted my head over in Alexander’s direction. Thankfully, Lux took the hint and looked.
Uncle Eric joined us. I asked, “What’s going on with that?” He snorted, “I’m sure we will be the last to know. What’s new?” It must be very disconcerting for him, since he was used to knowing things right away when it came to any type of situation.
Uncle Eric prided himself on knowing things, but Melanie threw a wrench into the plans with that. That woman had all these secrets that just kept growing. I told Uncle Eric, “Odette does this thing we should talk about.” Caspian quickly said, “We can discuss that as a group.”
I asked, “How do you know what I was going to say?” Caspian answered, “Because my sister told me about it on her birthday. I doubt she told you, which means she talks while she’s seeing the past.” Uncle Eric snorted, “I’m sorry, did you just say seeing the past?” I answered, “He did and she does.”
Eric rubbed his face with his hands as he groaned, “Of course she does. What did my sister see?” I said, “I only got snippets from what she was saying. It didn’t exactly make sense.” Caspian smirked looking directly at Uncle Eric, “She saw you.”
Eric asked incredulously, “Me?! She saw me?” Then it clicked for him, “And Jackson. Odette saw us both. Oh, god. When? What did she see? We were shits when we were younger.” Nathan joined us. Caspian said, “We’ll discuss this later.” Uncle Eric looked like he wanted to argue, but he didn’t.
Lux had slipped into the room where Odette was. Nathan came over, “Odette wants a clean slate with all of us.” Nathan whispered, “She doesn’t hate me. I can’t mess this up.” Uncle Eric assured him, “You’re not going to. We’ll get to know her as a group.”
Nathan said, “Odette needs a room in our house, Haley.” My heart stopped. I was going to be without her. How was I going to do this for a year? Channing whimpered, “We can’t because we are marked.” That was a valid point.
Aunt Haley replied, “Of course. I’ll get a room ready for Odette and Keaton.” Thank god for her. All of the Conners except Jackson and Eric tensed. Uncle Eric just nodded his head in acceptance. Nathan’s eye was twitching.
How was I going to be an Alpha of my territory in a different territory?
I was really fast. I could probably make that work for a year.
Channing snorted, “We can just rotate houses. Mate has been independent. I doubt she’ll want to be forced into something.
” I would have to step in like Alexnader advised then.
Lux and Odette stepped back out. Thankfully, Aunt Haley took control of the conversation again.
I knew Caspian needed to be debriefed on what happened.
Hell, we had a lot to debrief on in general, but we had to keep Odette’s feelings in mind.
Aunt Haley was the best person to make sure she didn’t get lost. Alexander gave me a meaningful look. I nodded in return.
Melanie announced that Odette was going to shift, and now Channing might never stop purring. I didn’t think I was going to be able to handle Odette in that kind of pain. It was going to break my heart. I was beyond relieved Freya and Melanie had done something so her shift would be painless.
Lux and Odette’s other Siren brothers didn’t want my mate to leave. It was written all over their faces. Aunt Haley agreed to bring them to her shift. I was team Aunt Haley in every tense situation. She was so calm, and considerate of everyone’s feelings.
It was such a strange thing since Aunt Haley often discarded her own emotions, but she certainly took care of everyone else. I watched Odette leave the room, everything in me wanted to follow her. Melanie linked me, “Haley and I’ve got this…..just slip out.”
I snorted, “You’re going to cause a distraction.
” Melanie responded, “In case you didn’t notice…
. causing distractions is kind of my jam.
Lying… is a work in progress… but I’m killer at distractions.
” I nearly laughed out loud then eased back.
Melanie cleared her throat as I flashed out of the room.
Eric linked, “Alexander said you could link us all now. Is that true?” I winced, “Yup. Which you knew since he can’t lie.” Eric responded, “I just want to say, I saw that.” I laughed out loud then told him, “I’m not even sorry.”
Eric replied, “Make sure my little sister is ok. My Angel is right; this has to be overwhelming for her.” I promised, “I’ll make sure she’s ok.” Eric said, “Good. Melanie actually covered your escape quite well. I doubt anyone else clocked that.”
I made my way back to Odette’s room. I saw Caspian’s mate, Serenity. My one day sister in law smiled, “I wondered if you’d get away. Caspian must not have noticed, that’s quite the feat.” I smiled and flashed away from her and came back.