The Married Alpha and His Arrow

More Questions Pt. 2

        Susie sniffled, “Kincade is mad now too.” I said, “Kincade?” Susie nodded, “He’s beating up Beta Alfred. Chase already did. He broke the door again.” I laughed. The poor door. I said, “Alfred is a beta? That doesn’t seem helpful for him or his pack that Kincade can kick his butt. Can you really hear that?” Susie laughed, “Daddy explained Kincade has Alpha blood. I can hear them, but I know it’s Kincade because of the pack link.” I could guess what that was. I said, “You know what…. That makes a lot of sense.” I laid down on her bed with her. Susie started crying harder and Nadine hissed. She left quickly. I said, “I think your mom might go kick Alfred’s butt now too.” Susie said, “He said you’re not staying.” I said, “Hey…. he’s a dumb boy. What does he know?” Susie sniffled, “You promise? No matter what you’ll stay?” I said, “Some dumb boy not liking me won’t drive me away. I love your big brother with my whole heart. I love this family and you. I promise you even when Chase and I fight…. we will figure it out. I’ll never willingly leave you Susie. I swear. I have missions, but I will find a way to come back to you.” Susie wiped her eyes. She said, “Beta Alfred is a dumb boy.” I laughed, “You’ll meet lots of those. We can all be dumb. The important thing is to grow as a person.” Susie said, “Alfred isn’t growing. He’s insulting you.” I frowned, “Insulting me? Susie, that doesn’t bother me. He’s not the first person to insult me and he won’t be the last. I know who I am though. Alfred’s words can’t hurt me.” Susie said, “I think they would.” I frowned then said, “I’d get over it. Even if his words are hurtful…. I wouldn’t leave.” Susie nodded. I started playing with her hair and humming a lullaby my mom used to sing to me. 

            Susie said, “That’s a beautiful tune.” I smiled, “My mother used to hum it to me when I was upset.” Chase was suddenly in the doorway. Susie told him I promised I wouldn’t leave. Chase assured her everything was fine, and she got up to hug him. I couldn’t hear what she whispered to him, but I could read Chase’s lips when he answered her. His words about how I belonged here with them hit me. He was right. I felt a sense of belonging here that I hadn't felt with my own people for years. Nadine put Susie back in bed and Chase led me back to his room. I asked him if he was ok once we got into the room. Chase nervously asked me if I’d heard what was said. I smiled. He knew there was no way I heard it from where I was. I assured him I hadn’t heard anything about it. Only that it upset Susie. At least there was one pack who didn’t seem to know about Chase and me yet. That was something positive.

         I asked Chase why Alfred didn’t like him. I was sure I knew it had something to do with Sophia. That’s the territory I first ran into Alfred, and if he was the Beta; then it would make sense if things were tense between Sophia and Chase that things would trickle down to her Beta. I told him Susie told me about Kincade through the pack link. Chase smiled and said I’d be able to do that too. He actually seemed to get a bit wistful about it. I dragged Chase to bed telling him we needed to get sleep. He seemed surprised I wasn’t pushing him. Was he serious? My brother was the leader of our people. I knew if Chase wanted to talk to me about it… He would. Chase admitted Alfred was using me to get under his skin. I asked if his anger was really about me not being marked. Chase said it played a part, but he couldn’t handle Alfred disrespecting me. I pointed out Alfred didn’t know he was disrespecting an Alpha’s mate. Chase didn’t like that. I told him I was on his side not Alfred’s. I was just pointing out Alfred didn’t know that’s what he was doing. Chase was still upset. We just needed to go to bed and put today behind us. Chase held onto me as tight as he could comfortably. I fell asleep feeling very loved by not only but his family.

         I woke up and left the house the next day with Ted. Our protection detail was in the car behind us. Ted said, “Ok…. why do we have a meeting with Beta Alfred? And how will our protection not find out about it?” I said, “Good point.” I pulled out my phone, “Hey Sally.” Sally said, “Hi Lex.” I said, “I need breakfast in my office. Really soon.” Sally laughed, “You’re in luck. I’ve been having trouble sleeping. I’ve been cooking up a storm. Breakfast will be waiting when you get there.” I smiled. “Handled.” Ted said, “Ok…. That was completely clear on your plan.” I laughed. Once we arrived. I had to laugh. Sally had put out enough for our clients too. I turned, “How about you guys take this to your office. Kevin and Kincade since Carry isn’t here today why don’t you go drop her a plate? There’s more than enough and I don’t want it to go to waste.” Kevin looked suspicious but Kincade quickly put a plate together. Kincade said, “We’ll just drop it off at her school and come right back.” Kevin rolled his eyes and followed his brother. Joanie raised an eyebrow but took a plate and followed Mark into their office. Ted bowed down to me. I laughed. A few moments later Alfred stepped into my office. He eyed the food. I said, “It’s not for you.” Alfred said, “You smiled when we first met. I liked that better than your anger.” I said, “I liked you better when you didn’t make little girls cry and make her think I’d leave her.” Alfred blanched, “That wasn’t my intention. I shouldn’t even be here.” I said, “Why?” Alfred said, “My Alpha commanded me to leave you alone, but since I wasn’t seeking you out…. you wanted this meeting. I’m not actually breaking the command.” I said, “Then I’ll say this quickly. I’m sure you’re busy. Do not EVER upset Susie Daniels again. I don’t care if you like me or not.”

        Alfred frowned, “I do actually like you. I’d like to date you. I can give you things Chase can’t.” I shook with anger, “ALPHA Chase. Don’t you DARE address him improperly in my presence. You can give me nothing he can’t. He gives me everything.” I punched him in the face, “That’s for disrespecting Chase.” I kicked him in the groin. “And that’s for waking Susie up and making her cry. Ted, get him out of this building.” Ted hauled Alfred up and zoomed out of the room. He was back seconds later, “It was far too fun dropping him in the field outback. I gave him a swift kick in the ribs because…. I hate him and his Alpha.” I laughed, “I can’t say I like him either.” I walked into my office. The letter from Queen Alania was staring at me. My hands shook slightly as I reached for it. Ted said, “You should sit down. Just in case.” I said, “Let’s sit on the couch so we can read it together.” Ted nodded and we both sat down. I took a deep breath and opened the letter.

Lexi Scott, 

I know I’m one of the last people you’d like a letter from. I know how you feel about my darling girl. I saw many paths for us to meet. If you are reading this then the one, I dreaded came to pass. I am no longer with my children. It does mean I’m with my darling boy Arion again. I must say though none of the paths I saw where we met were kind on your end. I did wish to meet you. They were definitely entertaining encounters to say the least. You appear to pack a mean punch my dear. I’ve seen you do not like Cassandra Conners. I do have to say…. I love that you give her hell. I know you think I don’t….and I know that even my darling girl doubts my love for her right now; but you are both very wrong. I do love her. She’s my little girl, and I will always be her mother. I’d ask you to punch Veronica too, but I saw in our encounters where we met in person you broke my nose for the question. You love her as my Haley does. I digress from the point of this letter. I know my darling girl reads this though, so I do want her to understand my love.

This letter is about your family though. Seeing many paths is a hard thing to do. I’m not supposed to interfere, but I knew what you would mean to my daughter. She didn’t have friends in Faerie. Once I saw you two together it was certain you’d be friends no matter the path. I couldn’t stop myself from seeking out more about you and your journey. I was horrified by what I saw. I knew I needed to help for my darling little girl’s sake. I hoped it would prove my love to her or guide us back to each other’s lives. If I was still alive...it would have. I hate that our last words were not kind. It was my fault you see. She was not quite herself yet, and I pushed her because I did not want to die. I think the least selfish thing I did with her was not telling her about tying my life force to her uncle. Though…. I fear had she not banished me...I shamefully would’ve put her in that spot. I digress again. I put myself into your parents’ path when they were trying to find somewhere safe to store information. They were such kind people. It pained me to know what their end would be. They did not deserve it. They tried so hard for you and your brother, but rage is a strong motivator. As one of my grandsons will find out. Probably. His mate’s path seemed quite set. Poor thing. Her rage does make her quite the fighter. My grandson will be quite proud of how formidable she is. You can help her though. One day if things go a certain way. She will be in your territory. If you get my grandson to her that day…. she will be spared some pain. I’m afraid I can’t give you more details. I know this will upset my darling girl, but she does not understand the responsibility that comes with sight.

Anyways, I took your parents to the secure Fairy vault. Though you already know that. Aiden will get you in eventually. He does so want his sister to forgive him for the past. Poor boy doesn’t realize she already has. He’s determined to be the big brother he believes he should’ve been all along. He’s such a good strong leader. They have a power between the two of them that will be unstoppable. I am so very proud of them. GODDESS I am getting off track. There is another who can help. Should you figure out who she is... that can get you to the vault sooner than my son can. She is connected to me, and no it’s not Haley. This person will have to find her key to the puzzle. More hurt will come from it….and some joy. My sister’s vampire will help you. She gave him a parting present he does not know about yet. I know he will be very happy about it. I should have given it to him long ago, but I didn’t. Things cannot be changed. Right that wrong for me Lexi Scott. Not for my sake but for Sir Arthur’s. Though…. I believe you know him as King Arthur. It took a great deal of magic from myself and my sister to keep things as they were until she was ready to return to him with her present. Be prepared to be shocked. I’ve seen all of your faces when his gift is discovered, and it’s something.

Your parents did truly love you in an unconditional way I was jealous of. They were not jealous of their lives at all. Especially your mother. She was ready to lay down her life for her family. Your father would not let her give herself up. He loved her too much. I do hope you figure out who holds the key. There is information that will help you. Among other things the box contains pictures of the man you desperately long to know the identity of. Your mother’s ex. Be very careful Lexi. You do know him. If it’s any consolation I have seen that you do not die anytime soon. My darling girl…. she’s far more powerful than I’d dreamed. On a few paths she brings you back from things…. even I am astonished by her power. She truly is something. I know you know that though. Now I need you to repeat these words. Meself canabe protected  da  addto point canbe    simy da  ina the  addto  meself grant own the protections ina the kingdom ina faerie to guide addto  own. Repeat them twice. It is a gift to you and my daughter. I couldn’t prove to her in my life that I do love her, so I’m doing it from the beyond. 

Alania

 Queen of Faerie A daughter of the Sky and Earth

        I sighed. I repeated the words she’d written twice. I was lifted into the air once I’d spoken the last words and green and blue ribbons surrounded me. I was gently sat back down. Ted’s eyes were wide. “What the hell Lex?” I said, “I don’t know.” Ted hit my arm, “NO! What if that was a trick? You just say the words without calling Haley to translate.” I said, “She wouldn’t hurt me. Haley could make a witch hold a seance so she could her mother’s ass. She wants to prove to Haley she loves her. Hurting me doesn't get her that. We do need to call her though.” I took out my phone. “Haley.” Haley said, “Hey Lex.” I said, “I need you.” A pop sounded and Haley was beside me. I handed her the letter. She snorted. She hissed. Then she gasped. She looked at me, “Did you say this?” I nodded. Ted said, “What does it say?” Haley said, “It’s protection from the queen. It’s…. more powerful than any protection I can give. It’s close to a goddess’s level of protection. It says I am protected by a queen and that is powerful beyond compare as a child of the earth and sky I grant you the protections of the kingdom of Faerie to guide and keep you safe.” I said, “What does that mean?” Haley said, “It means…. the earth and sky will protect you. It could even bring you to Faerie to the healing waters if I couldn’t get to you.” I gaped, “I could be transported realms by her protection?” Haley nodded, “Yes.” 

        Ted said, “Any ideas on who holds the key?” Haley said, “Obviously, it’s Bex.” I gaped, “How could she hold the key?” Haley said, “Well...I don’t know. I don’t know if Bex knows about some key. She….is going to have to go through her mother’s things and look for it with these cryptic ass hints.” I said, “Do you have any idea on the present for King Arthur?” Haley hissed “s**t! I’m going to have to call him. It could be so many things. I have an idea, but…. surely….no they would do that.” Ted said, “What?” Haley sighed, “No… let’s just not put that out into the universe. Maybe it’s some silly fairy trinket.” I laughed, “You don’t think it is.” Haley said, “No…. but it could be.” She took out her phone and called Bexley. Bexley was distraught over the lack of guidance but agreed to take her girls and Liam to Faerie to look through her mother’s things to help. I said, “Thank you Bex.” Bexley said, “Of course Lexi. Haley….do you want me to call Arthur?” Haley said, “I’ll do it. It was probably my mother’s damn idea.” Bexley said, “You don’t think….” Haley said, “I do. We could be wrong though.” Bexley said, “I kind of hope we aren’t.” Haley said, “There better be a note to go along with this. A just in case note. Or… Jesus f*****g Christ. Can everything just calm the f**k down?!” Bexley said, “You know whatever was upsetting you yesterday…. I’ll listen.” Haley said, “Not saying that s**t out loud. No matter what Alania says.” Ted said, “Again… she said it again.” I said, “I don’t think she’s going to call her mother any time soon.” Bexley hung up after Haley said goodbye. Haley left a message for King Arthur with his day person to call her.

        Then she began to pace. I said, “Haley?” She held up her hand. Then said, “It has to be Alexander. I know I’m going to have more children…. but that warning...it just feels right that it’s for Alexander’s mate.” I said, “Why?” Haley said, “I don’t f*****g know why I just know. When I go through names I like, and ones Eric and I have talked about. I feel nothing. When I say Alexander’s it just…. rings true. It’s his mate. f**k ALANIA! That’s my son…. She’s going to put that cryptic s**t out for us to figure out when it’s about MY SON! f**k HER AND f**k THIS s**t! How am I supposed to protect him?! How am I supposed to protect his mate?! All I know is that she will be in your territory at some point. HOW THE f**k IS THAT HELPFUL?!” I said, “I don’t think it is. Now that we are fairly certain it’s Alexander…. Maybe I can get him here in time.” Haley said, “How? Are you just going to call him every time some unmated woman shows up? THIS IS NOT f*****g HELPFUL ALAINA!” Haley shouted at the ceiling. Ted said, “I don’t think she can hear you.” Haley said, “OHHH she can.” I said, “Let’s go get a drink.” Haley said, “All the f*****g drinks.” Ted said, “It’s noon.” Haley said, “And?” I said, “Yeah, it’s five o’clock somewhere.” Haley said, “Again… WHY DOES THAT MATTER?” I laughed, “Let me just do one thing.” I poked my head out, “Haley and I going for drinks.” Kevin looked startled. I was just glad they’d already gotten back from dropping food off for Carry. Kevin said, “Where are you going?” Haley said, “Lexi’s.” She grabbed my hand and popped us out.

        Haley snapped us each four drinks. She slammed all of her, so I did as well. She snapped us more. We followed that pattern for several hours. At a certain point we decided the house was an inferno. We both stripped down to our underwear. I said, “Are we talking about yesterday?” Haley said, “What’s there to talk about? Alania is a b***h. It was true yesterday, and it’s true today. In a shocking turn of events...I bet it’s f*****g true tomorrow.” I snorted, “I’ll drink to that.” We kept drinking. My mind was swirling. I said, “She could’ve saved my parents.” Haley said, “She could’ve. f*****g bitch.” I said, “Agreed. I need to call Heath.” I dialed but it went to voicemail. As I was leaving a message he called back. I laughed, “I was just leaving you a message.” Heath was quiet. Then asked, “Are you drunk?” I hiccupped, “No... you’re drunk.” I started laughing. Heath said, “Lex….” I said, “I opened the fairy queen’s letter. Bex is trying to find some key to get us in that vault thingy sooner.” Heath said, “Okkkk….” I said, “She could have saved our parent Heath. She saw their death, and she did nothing. Haley’s right…. Alania is a bitch.” Heath said, “Was that ever up for debate? She was a fairy…. the queen actually.” I said, “Haley’s not a bitch.” Heath said, “Haley’s a partial fairy.” Haley’s phone rang. She answered her phone, “Eric.” I snorted. Heath said, “So you’re with Haley.” I said, “Yup. We both got letters. I can’t imagine hers was any more fun than mine or had any actual answers. I actually thought I’d get some damn answers. Now I have more questions. I have so many questions in my life Heath. I’m tired of them.” Heath said, “Understandable. Remember who you are with though.” I sighed. He was talking about Chase. Specifically about Haley not officially knowing I’d met him. “I feel like s**t about that.” Haley hung up her phone frowning. I said, “Gotta go Heath.” 

        Haley said, “You feel like s**t about what?” I said, “Secrets.” Haley laughed, “Sometimes…. we have to keep secrets. No one I know can even argue with me about that anymore.” I laughed, “I’ll bet Cassandra would argue with you.” Haley snorted, “She could try. She can keep a secret. If she thinks she can saddle her hypocrisy horse and ride it, she’s got another thing coming.” I laughed so hard that some of my drink came out my nose. That set us both off. Her phone rang again. She sighed, “I have to go.” I laughed, “Eric?” Haley smirked, “I might have been teasing him…. for a few hours. He’s reached the end of his rope. Which is too bad…. because it’s catch the fairy time.” She popped out. I laughed. I turned up my music and made myself another drink and started to dance. I turned when I heard someone come in. Not like I needed to be worried. It could only be so many people. I smiled when I saw it was Chase. He looked worried. He shouldn't wrinkle his face. His face was too beautiful to be worried. I told him he’d just missed Haley. I wished he had been a few minutes earlier then I would feel like less shitty of a friend. I told Chase I had so many mysteries to solve. Well...I didn’t want to solve the mystery of Chase’s situation. I wanted to remain firmly in the dark there. Stupid former fairy queen and her dumb letters from the beyond. Chase was asking me something, but I couldn’t focus. Then I blacked out. 

        When I woke up the next day. I felt fine, and I told Chase I didn’t want to talk about it. We could talk on our getaway. I didn’t want to think about how Haley’s …. i sighed. Haley was right. Alania was her birth mother. She wasn’t her mother. How Haley had any of that woman’s DNA was beyond me. She always helped people. That b***h let my parents die when Haley would’ve done everything in her power to stop it from happening. I didn’t understand the fairy queen. She couldn’t even have just given me the damn key to getting into the stupid vault so I could know who my mother’s f*****g ex was. Time began to fly by. Haley dropped off an invitation for Emmaline’s birthday party. I briefly stopped by to give Emmaline a calling card. I hoped she didn’t need to use it, but I wanted her to have it just in case. I was leaving when Heath texted me. He said since I was already in my BA gear, he wanted me to finish off the coven in Alpha Raven’s territory. Apparently, they’d come back after I’d killed their new leader. I rolled my eyes. Couldn’t he have decided that the first time around? I found them quickly and killed them all. No one screamed this time to alert anyone, so I got out quickly. Chase and I’s getaway was quickly approaching. He wanted to take me out for a date before he hunkered down and focused on work so we could slip away. He got a call in the middle of our date. I sighed when he said he had to go somewhere. That’s the hard part about being an Alpha I suppose. My job could be that way too. My phone alert went off. s**t! I read the readout. BAGGE...My heart dropped. I'd just coded that one. It stood for Bad Ass Girl Gang Emmaline. The dot showed she was in California. How the HELL did she get there? Chase asked where I was going. His call was about Emmaline too. I couldn’t tell him…. I could leave my phone out.