Changing #9
Drake picked it back up, “Yes, those rogue attacks on Lisa were orchestrated. She wanted Keaton over for dinner to get her blood in him.” Odette spoke again, “Not just hers. She had to use her great grandma’s, I think.
Or someone’s grandma because Lisa’s alone wasn’t strong enough.
Key was too strong for just her blood.” I was too strong? !
Channing agreed, “Damn right you were! Even without me, you were strong, Keaton.” That had a torrent of emotions rolling through me. Melanie picked at her sleeve again. I looked over at Grandpa Frank, at least he was blinking now.
Emmett rubbed his head, “Drake, just tell us why your daughter is picking at her sleeve. Or have the techy Luna tell us herself.” Drake explained, “Ladybug’s nervous.
She’s been looking into this since Odette told her about it.
My daughter wanted you to have all the information that she could find.
” Emmett nodded, “I’m sure she was through and used not legal means that I do not care about, just tell me. ”
I heard an angry growl which caused Odette to gasp.
I told her, “It’s Eric. He’s ok, he’s just angry.
” Drake cut back in, “Caspian is ready to perform a ritual to rid you all of Harpy blood.” Mom clapped, “I fucking KNEW IT! The men in this family besides Frank wouldn’t ever just kick her out.
That shallow, vapid, spoiled brat did something to them! ”
Drake nodded, “To everyone except Lexi and Frank. Neither Frank nor Lexi trusted Lisa enough to ever take food or a drink from her.” Emmett growled. Uncle Cameron spoke, “So, the Harpies wanted a powerful Alpha and because they couldn’t get to Eric, they wanted my dad?”
Drake said, “A Seer knew Eric would be powerful and told Cassandra. The Harpies wanted their piece of his power, and chose your pack when Cassandra shut them out. As for Cameron’s question, I only know they knew of the plot to take Reagan from you.”
“The Harpies figured if that worked out, they could put someone in front of you. After it didn’t work, they deemed it too risky to try for Reagan because someone else already had. Their logic doesn’t really make sense in most place, but that one does.”
Dad snorted, “I lost my mother on the flip of a coin.” Odette looked down when dad stood to pace. Eventually dad asked, “What the fuck am I supposed to say to that? They brought us Nadine, Susie, and Ollie.”
Melanie surprised us by saying something, “I asked Freya… about that… and Nadine was always in Frank’s path. Emma wasn’t supposed to be murdered though. Her death… wasn’t supposed to be like that. Freya doesn’t know what it was… but it wasn’t death by rogues.”
Grandpa Frank spoke while looking directly at Melanie, “Do you know who ordered the hit on my late wife? Do you know who did it? I thought we killed them. Did we?” Melanie shook her head, “No, you killed actual rogues…. that the Harpies left behind. They knocked rogues… out and they’d just woken up when your Warriors found them. ” Uncle Cameron winced.
Grandpa growled, “So, you know who ordered it then.” Melanie nodded, “I do. The question you actually want to ask is…. if they are still alive. Mostly…. they are. There was a group of four that helped kill Former Luna Emma…. and one was killed by Aiden after Haley was hurt. The other three…. are still alive. The person who planned it… is too.”
Grandpa growled, “I want names.” Melanie handed him an honest to god folder. Jesus Christ, she made a folder. I could see that Melanie actually had several and passed them to Isaac, Matt, Dad, and my Uncle Cameron.
Grandma Nadine whispered through tears, “Frank.” Grandpa held her against him, “You’re my everything, Nadine. I can’t imagine life without you, and I don’t want to. For the record, I hope all of you heard Keaton’s mate say my insanity over your security saved you.” Several people snorted.
Dad said, “You could’ve been less insane about it, and they still would’ve been fine.” Grandpa continued, “I have to avenge Emma, I cannot let this stand. Those Harpies killed her, which nearly killed me. I almost ended it several times. They altered my boys’ lives.”
Nadine assured, “I wasn’t asking you to justify your response, I just want to make sure you’re ok.” Grandpa smiled, “I know what you were asking. I just wanted you to know, I don’t regret anything about us. I love you and our life together. We will handle this as a family.”
Odette asked, “You’re not mad at my dad, right? Melanie said he didn’t know about the Harpy deal.” Grandpa snorted, “No, I’m not mad at Nathan. He had nothing to do with it. That man even picked me up a few times off a bar floor.”
“Hell, Nathan actually stopped me ending it all once. I’m not even mad at Cassandra. She was a new Luna and while she should’ve told her husband, who would’ve told his allies, to watch out for disgruntled Harpies. It wouldn’t have helped in this case though. We thought they were rogues.”
Grandpa ran a hand through his hair, “I want to know how Emma was lured out there, but we train our Warriors. We should’ve been able to protect her.
” Odette didn’t seem to agree but didn’t comment.
Grandpa added, “Don’t mistake me though, I don’t like Cassandra Conners.
There was once a time, I did. When her and your dad grew this place, she was a true partner to him. ”
I linked Keith, “Something about the look on Melanie’s face says Grandpa is dead wrong.
” Keith agreed, “Yes, I love the techy Luna’s expressions.
” Melanie actually rolled her eyes as Grandpa said, “Cassandra was once a nice person. Then when they started having success at growing their pack and turning it around, she changed.”
Grandpa huffed, “When they had Jackson, Cassandra was different and rubbed me the wrong way after that. I hate that this will hurt your dad. Nathan’s already hurting, and he doesn’t deserve that. Neither do your brothers. In fact, boys, we need to go assure them this changes nothing between us.”
Dad and Uncle Cameron nodded then they left the room together. The rest of us sat in silence soaking it all in. Isaac commented, “He handled that better than I thought.” Grandma Nadine sighed, “Frank still feels like he failed Emma.”
Grandma paused then admitted, “I think hearing that it wasn’t rogues he didn’t get to kill actually helps. There’s someone that he can make pay for Emma’s death. It just stings he didn’t know all this time, and that they got to Haley and Keaton because of that.”
Mom came over and hugged me. Emmett and Keith followed. Mom whispered, “I’m so sorry.” I snorted, “We didn’t have Sirens around to know there was Harpy blood in us. Is that something only they can recognize?”
Melanie answered, “Yes. Well…. Freya says I will one day too for shifters… mostly wolves… but I could suspect… for other types of shifters. So will Haley and Aiden as they grow more powerful, but right now just the Sirens can.”
Melanie looked at her phone then announced, “Caspian is ready for you guys.” Mom said, “Can you ask him for a moment? Introductions need to be made, officially.” Melanie smiled and squeezed Odette’s hand, who looked nervous.
I waited until the door closed and turned to introduce my mate to my mom but paused when the door opened again. Dad, my uncles, and grandpa entered the room again to be officially introduced to my mate.
I Have Love
Odette let Keaton’s scent comfort her. I didn’t want to think about having sex with my cousin. I couldn’t believe Luke was actually related to me. I’d seen people with their cousins, and a lot seemed like friends. Luke was mean and abusive. I’d made out, and slept with, my cousin. UGH!
I needed to stop thinking about this. That bath Haley mentioned was sounding better and better, and it was still warm. Fairies were officially in the running for coolest Supernatural in my mind. The alcohol drink and ice cream hit the spot.
Keaton jumped in with clothes on. The crazy man. Tatum purred, “Perfect man.” My mate made a move to kiss me and every part of me was relieved. Nothing in Keaton’s kiss was tentative, this was a man who still wanted me.
Tatum growled, “Of course mate does, he’s ours.
” I snorted, “We had sex with our cousin.” Tatum responded, “We did not know that. I didn’t even know when I came to you.
There was nothing to warn you about other than he was awful.
That can’t be held against us, and clearly mate doesn’t.
Channing has told me he doesn’t care.” Well, that was good.
Eventually, we got out of the tub and talked about marking.
Lisa knew Keaton was mine and she pulled all that crap!
Tatum growled, “We can kill her.” I snorted, “I was ready to kill her without you. Lisa probably trained though.” Tatum snorted, “She’s no Alpha wolf.
I have your memories so I know we could take her even without training. ” Good to know.
I was more worried I’d marked Keaton, but he hadn’t marked me.
I asked Tatum, “Does that mean he doesn’t want us?
” Sassy was sad now. Tatum snorted, “No. It had to be hard for mate not to mark us. Especially after we marked him, but he was trying to wait until he could explain it.” That lined up with what Keaton said as well.
I still wanted him to mark me though. Naturally, my mate wanted to do some big event around it. Keaton was so sweet. We fell asleep, then I woke up in the ocean. I sighed, “Argggg! I was already with Caspian.” Did I just say Arggg? What, was I pirate now?!
I groaned and swam down then paused because this wasn’t the normal door I saw. This one was very dark. I swam through and saw complete chaos. I knew this territory was Luke’s. THAT ASSHOLE! I stalked around. Several women were looking down but I saw the smiles they were trying to hide.