The Alpha and His Childhood Sweetheart

Toy Wolf Pt. 1

Elise is 8 years old

            Elise couldn’t wait for EJ to come over. She was getting all her chores done. I found my brothers in the living room. I smiled, “Hi guys.” Dakota and Dalton smiled at me. Dalton said, “Wanna play hide and seek Elise?” I nodded, “Sure!” They smiled, “You go hide and we’ll find you.” I snorted, “Oh No. I don’t think so. You guys hide for the first round, and I’ll hide you.” They pouted. When I closed my eyes and started to count, they took off running. They were loud. I smiled. When I opened my eyes my dad was standing there smiling at me. I ran to him and gave him a hug. He laughed, “Good morning sweetie. I see you’re playing with the twins.” I nodded. He smiled, “Have fun. Keep them out of trouble.” I snorted, “I am only one person dad. They need an army of watchers to stay out of trouble.” My dad laughed and went to his office. As I walked out the door my dad’s Beta ran in. I smiled, “Good morning Drake.” He smiled, “Good morning Elise. My boys have joined your hide and seek game. So you have two more to find than you thought.” I frowned, “Melanie didn’t join too?” Drake shook his head, “She went with her mom to the toy store. She’s been begging since she spent time with you yesterday.” I wondered why. I shrugged and walked off the porch.

            It didn’t take me long to find my brothers. We found Jason and Tristan last. I smiled, “Tristan….you are too good at this game.” Tristan snorted, “I know the secrets. You can’t just ride and hide. You have to mix your scent with other things, guys.” I rolled my eyes. Dalton and Dakota said, “We hunt next.” I sighed. Nothing good would come of this. They ran into the house to count. Jason, Tristan, and I split up. After twenty minutes of waiting to be found I stood. I started walking towards the house. Tristan jumped out from his hiding spot. He smiled, “This doesn’t seem good….” I snorted, “Is it ever with those two? You’re their future beta...you have to anticipate these things from them.” Tristan laughed. Jason answered, “I’m with Elise. Nothing good is happening.” We ran back to the house. I could see flour and what looked like more flour on the floor. The smell told me it was powdered sugar. Tristan said, “Uh oh.” Jason snorted, “I’ll go get Jared. Maybe he can snap it clean before your mom sees it.” I ran into the kitchen. I hissed, “WHAT are you two doing?” Dalton frowned, “He started it.” I said, “I’m ending it! Start cleaning this up right now!” Dakota threw flour at Dalton. Tristan said, “Guys….you’re mom’s coming! Hurry!” My mom rounded the corner as Dalton retaliated with more powdered sugar. 

            She gaped, “WHAT IS GOING ON?! PETER KYLE! YOU GET OUT HERE RIGHT NOW!” My dad came running with Drake right behind him. Ray came running into the house. I smiled at my guard. He was actually from my mate’s pack. Ever since the fairies showed up things were different according to my mom. It was my normal though. I’d known since I could remember that EJ Conners was mine and I was his. Ray was sent here to protect me by Eric Conners. My dad nodded to Ray. My mom told me that when I was almost kidnapped when I was little my dad was eternally grateful to Ray. My dad had been fighting with my mom. The rogues came in the middle of the night. I didn’t wake up when the alarms went off. One rogue made it to our house while the others caused a distraction. He’d almost grabbed me when Ray burst into my room and killed him. Four more came and he killed them all to save me. I think until then my parents thought Alpha Eric Conners, EJ’s dad, was being overprotective for nothing. I would’ve been taken if Ray wasn’t here though. He was like an Uncle at this point to me. 

            My dad started laughing when he saw what Dakota and Dalton had done.  So did Drake. Ray was barely keeping it together. My mom sighed, “Don’t you dare laugh Peter! Look at this mess? Why do you two have to say for yourselves?” Dalton said, “I was just fighting fire with fire.” My mom said, “There’s some logic for you.” My Dad’s Gamma Garrett ran in with his oldest son, Jared. Garrett started laughing, “Those two. What can you do?” Jared snapped his fingers, and the kitchen was clean again. My mom sighed, “Thank you Jared. You two….get to your rooms right this second! We do not throw powdered sugar or flour around the house. Do you two understand?” Both groaned. Dakota whined, “Daaddd!” My dad raised an eyebrow, “You heard your mother. Go to your rooms.” Both of them put their heads down and started to walk away. I turned around to see that Ray had gone back outside. I heard a booming laugh I recognized as Ray’s. I walked outside. My eyes went wide, “Uhhh dad….Drake….you’re going to want to come out here.” 

            They walked outside. Drake took off running to his youngest child. His daughter Melanie. She had the most unique eye color. It was a pale green. I’d never seen anyone else with eyes like that. She’d always had a lot of hair. Mom had laughed at all the hair Melanie had as a newborn. She had a full head of black hair. It was already pretty long too. It was past her shoulders. See was crying holding her new stuffed animal. Robert, one of the warrior's sons,  was on the ground holding his shin and….I flushed and turned around. Tristan came outside and winced, “Mel kicked him in the balls? Dang! What did that jerk do to my sister?” He ran off the porch to Melanie. Jason was right behind him. Sam ran out of their house. 

            She looked at Drake. Sam said, “We’ve only been back for ten minutes. I was just running inside to change. I left her alone for a few minutes. What happened?” Drake knelt down, “Ladybug….what happened?” Melanie cried, “He’s mean! He threw…” Robert said, “I threw her toy in the mud and she kicked me in the shin then the balls! Then she pushed me into the mud!” Drake said, “Why would you throw her toy into the mud, Robert?” Sam sighed, “Melanie, go to your room.” She said, “That’s not fair! He…” Sam said, “You don’t just hit people.” Melanie crossed her arms, “I didn’t! He …” Sam said, “Melanie Jane McAlister! Inside now!” Melanie clutched her stuffed animal. It looked like a wolf. She ran into their house crying. Drake raised an eyebrow at Sam. Sam said, “Well, one of us has to discipline her….we know it won’t be you. You’re wrapped around her little finger.” Tristan said, “Stay down Robert, or I’ll put you back on the ground.” Robert coward until he saw me standing on the porch of my house. He straightened out but stayed on the ground. Ray snorted. 

            Drake said, “Don’t bully my daughter Robert. Stay away from her.” My dad asked me, “Did you show Melanie the self defense moves you’ve been learning?” I shook my head, “She goes with her mom to the gym though. She sees training while she colors.” My dad snorted, “I see a future female warrior already.” My mom said, “So do I.” I turned. Sam had gone inside. We all went back inside. I grabbed a book I’d been reading. Sam walked into our house twenty minutes later. She sighed, “Elise….could you go talk to Melanie. She won’t tell me why she’s so upset. I can’t get her to stop crying about the wolf.” I closed my book, “Yeah, no problem.” I heard my mom ask, “Didn’t you just get it?” Sam sighed, “We just got it this morning. She was single mindedly focused on what she wanted. I tried to get her a red wolf. She refused. The guy working got this one from the back. She wouldn’t let it go. I have no idea why she’s so attached to this toy. She knew what she wanted though. She wasn’t going to leave with any other toy in her arms.” My mom laughed, “She’s such a cutie.” Sam laughed, “She is. She’s a little stink pot.” I laughed, “I’ll be back.” Sam said, “Thank you Elise.” I walked out of the house. Tristan and Jason were outside playing. I walked inside and up to the second floor. I knocked on Melanie’s door. She didn’t say anything. I said, “Mel, it’s me.” She opened the door. She was still crying, and she was covered in mud. I frowned, “Mel...what’s going on?” She walked away and went back to the bathroom in her room. I followed her. She had the stuffed wolf in the sink. She was trying to wash all the mud off. 

            I wordlessly helped her wash it off. I raised an eyebrow. It was a black wolf with white paws. I washed its chest off next. The chest was white. I tilted my head. Melanie had asked about the Conners’ wolves the other day. I’d described them all to her. Most were all black. Cassie and Alexander weren’t though. This wolf looked just like Alexander’s wolf. We got all the mud off. I went and got Sam’s hair dryer and we dried her wolf off. She clutched it to her chest. I smiled, “What’s his name?” She smiled, “This is my Xander.” I bit my lip, “Oh yeah?” She nodded. I asked, “Did you get this wolf because he looks like Alexander Conners wolf?” She nodded. I smiled, “Why?” She said, “Cause he’s my Xander. Robert is a meanie head! He just took him from me and threw him in the dirt! He said that Alpha’s were all black and humans were dumb. He said I should get a real wolf.” I said, “So you kicked him because he threw your Xander in the dirt? She nodded, “And said he wasn’t an Alpha wolf. He is….He is an Alpha wolf.” I smiled, “He is.” Melanie smiled, “Jason said his wolf is pwetty.” 

            I asked, “Have you met him?” She shook her head. I knew that. EJ teased me that Melanie was imaginary. I asked, “Have you seen him?” She nodded, “Pictures.” I smiled, “Do you have a crush on Alexander?” She blushed, “My Xander.” I tilted my head, “Why do you call him that?” She shrugged, “Cause….he’s mine.” I smiled, “Did a fairy tell you so?” She shook her head, “I just know.” This was the cutest thing ever. I said, “You’ve seen EJ, right? I’ve seen your curtains move when he’s around.” Melanie nodded, “Your EJ.” I smiled, “He is my EJ. We’ll just have to see if Alexander is yours. I’m sure you’ll meet them soon.” She sighed, “He is my Xander.” I laughed. She looked, “Don’t tell! T and Jas would tease me.” I smiled, “I won’t tell them.” She held up her pinky, “Swear? You won’t tell.” I took her pinky in mine, “I won’t tell anyone, I promise.” She sighed, “Gwonded.” I laughed, “You got grounded?” She nodded. I said, “Hey….We’d all have done the same thing.” A knock came on the door. I could smell it was Drake. I opened the door. He smiled, “Hi Elise. Hi Ladybug.” Melanie squealed, “Daddy!” He laughed as he picked her up as she ran to him. 

            I smiled, “I’ll see you later Mel.” She said, “member….you sweared.” I laughed, “I remember. I won’t tell.” Drake winked at me. I walked outside. Jason and Tristan were waiting for me. Jason said, “What did the sack of s**t’s warrior’s son say to our sister.” Sam yelled from my house, “LANGUAGE!” Jason sighed. My mom and Sam walked over. Ray had moved close enough to hear. He liked Melanie a lot. He said she reminded him of the daughter he lost. I smiled, “I pinky swore I wouldn’t tell. She had every right to kick him though.” Everyone groaned. They knew I wouldn’t tell them what happened. I saw Robert standing off with his friends. I marched up to him with Tristan on my heels. I crossed my arms, “Robert. I know what you did. Unless you want to get your butt kicked…..I wouldn’t say it ever again.” Robert paled. He knew what I meant. Everyone knew Alexander had white markings and that Cassie was red and black. If what Robert said about Alpha’s got back to the Conners family Alexander and EJ would beat him up. Cassie would be sneakier, but she’d get him too.

            Robert frowned, “It’s just a stupid stuffed animal!” I said, “Then why did you toss it in the dirt after you took it from a three-year-old?” Robert snorted, “She was in our way.” I growled, “She was playing outside her house. Stay away from her Robert.” He stepped back, “Oh come on Elise...it was harmless.” He stepped towards me, and I stepped back. I scoffed at him, “You’re a bully.” He looked as if I’d punched him. I turned and walked away. Tristan said, “You just punched him in the heart.” I rolled my eyes, “He doesn’t like me.” Tristan laughed, “Yes, he does. He needs to do a better job at hiding it...or your mate will make his head explode.” I smiled. Not because I thought he was right but because EJ would do that. I told Tristan, “I can take care of myself. Robert is lucky he didn’t do that to me….or EJ would get what was left of him after I kicked his butt.”

             Robert could also consider himself lucky that Melanie’s Xander didn’t know about it. If Alexander was her mate then Robert would be very dead for what he just did. All the Conners were already good fighters, but there was an intensity Alexander held. I just had a gut feeling….he’d be a strong fighter. I knew EJ would be amazing too. He was a strategist. I’d heard my dad say the Alpha’s all thought EJ would be the head of the packs. Alexander would be an Alpha too, but most likely the enforcer. He’d be EJ’s right hand like Jackson is Eric. Everyone could change their minds, but I’d known the triplets my whole life. EJ was the strategist, Alexander was the intense one, Cassie was the one that would covertly get you. She was just as deadly as her brothers with an innocent face. EJ and Alexander would get in your face, but Cassie….you’d never see her coming. 

            I went back inside. I looked at the clock. I went outside right off our back deck and sat down under a tree. Ray came and sat down, “So….what happened with Mel?” I laughed, “I can’t tell you.” Ray sighed, “If not for your troublemaker brothers….I’d know. I missed the beginning of it by a few minutes.” I laughed, “He deserved it.” Ray said, “I don’t doubt it. Steer clear of that kid.” I frowned, “Not you too.” Ray said, “He likes you….far more than he should. He thinks he’s better than the Conners.” I frowned, “No one thinks that.” Ray laughed, “Plenty of people think that. It doesn't make them right. Keep your eyes open around him.” I frowned, “Why, you do?” Ray nodded, “I do. I’ll be doing it for the foreseeable future. I just want your eyes opened too.” I shrugged, “EJ would never throw a child’s toy into the mud. Even if I wasn’t EJ’s….I would hope the moon goddess wouldn’t give me a mate like that.” Ray snorted, “He’s a dumb kid.” I smiled, “But EJ isn’t.” Ray smiled, “You guys are so cute.” He tapped my nose. He said, “I’ll just have to watch out for our little spitfire ladybug.” I smiled, “That would be a full time job Ray.” Ray smiled, “It’s so peaceful around here lately….I’m sure I have time.” I smiled, “That’s true.” We hadn’t had a single rogue attack in years.

            Ray got up and went back a few feet. I read my book until I heard a pop. I threw my book down and ran to EJ. I could tell something was wrong. He was upset. He held his arms open, and I ran into them. He was possessively growling that I was his. Oh my gosh! Did someone tell him about Robert?  I told him I was his. Once I felt him settle, I pulled back and asked him what was wrong. He said it was his grandma. I sighed. Cassandra Conners was not someone I cared for. She hurt EJ’s feelings. She hurt all the triplets' feelings. She seemed to disapprove every time EJ, and I did something. I didn’t understand her. My mom said she was a traditionalist. Whatever that meant. I’d heard Sam call Cassandra a b***h several times though. EJ said Cassandra hurt Cassie’s feelings. I wondered when. Cassie and I were really good friends. I knew that Cassie had overheard Cassandra say some pretty mean things about her mom. Which made no sense. Haley was nice. She always told me I could call her whatever I wanted. Whatever I was comfortable with. She even said mom was fine because one day I’d marry EJ. She was always supportive. She was always available if anyone wanted to talk. Even me. Ever since I was little she would always listen if I wanted to talk. She was really nice. 

            EJ was upset he’d missed the signs that Cassie’s feelings were hurt. It wasn’t his fault. EJ told me he wanted to hear about my day. I blushed when he called me his girl. He always did. I loved it. I told him all about my morning with my brothers. He teased me about Melanie. It was just a weird series of coincidences that he hadn’t met her. Drake was super protective of her. She’d never left the territory. My dad said he’d lighten up one day. There was something they were worried about. They said I wasn’t old enough yet to hear the story. Tristan and Jason had been training to fight since they could walk. They didn’t even know what their dad was so worried about. My mom said it was probably nothing. There was just an incident with Drake’s sister that Drake took care of. They were just being cautious. Paranoid seemed like a better word. Ray joined the conversation saying he’d been waiting for EJ to get here. I smiled. I couldn’t break my pinky promise. Especially not to EJ. He could tell Alexander and then Melanie wouldn’t talk to me anymore. I really did see her, Melinda, and MaryBeth as the little sisters I didn’t have. 

            I told EJ about Robert. He immediately tensed. I rolled my eyes as Ray gave me a knowing look when EJ said Robert wanted me. I don’t know why everyone thought that. Robert wasn’t even overly nice to me. Now, he was just all the way on my bad side by picking on Melanie. EJ wanted to go ask her himself….oh gosh...she’d die of embarrassment if I did that. I told him she was in timeout. EJ asked why Melanie was so upset. Part of me really wanted to tell him. I knew Alexander really wanted to meet his mate like EJ had. Alexander was more reserved, whereas Melanie was more outgoing. They would match each other fairly well. As much as you could know at this point in our lives. I couldn’t tell him though. I’d promised. I was going to be a Luna. I needed to keep the secrets people trusted me with like mom did. Plus….Melanie was like my little sister. She’d cry if she was wrong about Alexander. It was just a crush. She’d probably grow out of it. Ray tried to get it out of me again saying this was how he had fun now. He said she had no attachment to the stuffed animal.

            I couldn’t stop my laugh. I think she had quite the attachment to her Xander. EJ asked what her attachment was. UGH! Leave it to a fairy to ask a good question. That was the other thing about the Conners. All Eric and Haley’s kids were skilled at asking questions in unique ways. They spent a lot of time around fairies. EJ said he’d buy Melanie a basket of stuffed animals. I laughed again. It wasn’t about the stuffed animals. It was about her black and white wolf. He asked if she was already training. I told him that she watches training. I could tell he was impressed she was able to imitate the moves without ever having physically performed them. Melanie was really smart though. She just thought about things in a way that other people didn’t. Ray said she was going to be smarter than us all in a few years. I didn’t think he was wrong. Ray also thought Melanie should’ve been a redhead. Ray snorted when he said that. He simply told us she should’ve been. I didn’t think so. Melanie only got mad if someone picked on her. Now, we’d added bad mouthing her Xander to the list. Either the stuffed toy or Alexander himself. 

            I sighed. I actually really loved Melanie’s thick black hair. EJ told me my blond hair was perfect. I didn’t have thin hair, but it wasn’t thick like Melanie’s. My mom walked outside and announced it was time to eat. EJ took my hand and popped me back into the house. It was just normal for us. He’d been popping me around for as long as I could remember. Ray yelled that we did it to annoy him. I laughed. EJ had popped around to annoy Ray a few times. This time had nothing to do with that. My dad walked out and said hi to EJ. EJ still called my dad sir. My dad said he’d break him of the habit eventually. My brothers came to the table with their heads down. I’m sure they were hoping if they were good they’d get to go play. Melanie’s grandpa walked in. My grandpa’s Beta, Ben McAlister, was asking where my grandpa was. I smiled when they said outside with Dane. I was sure Christopher was with Brooke somewhere. My Uncle Dane was younger than me by a few months. He was MaryBeth’s mate. It was so fun spending time with Emmaline Lyons. She just knew who people’s mates were. Ben went to go find my grandpa.

            We started eating. My mom cleared her throat and said she heard EJ’s mom almost fought someone. What? She was a few weeks away from her due date. Who in their right mind would fight her? EJ’s dad was very intense about his mom. All Alpha’s were with their mates, but EJ’s dad….might just rip out someone’s heart right out of their chest for trying to fight her. My mom teased my dad about what he would do if someone wanted to fight her. I bit my lip as my dad growled. Mom was pregnant, but even if she wasn’t….dad was protective. I looked at EJ….The only times I’d seen Haley upset with Cassandra was over the kids….He’d said when he got here that Cassandra hurt Cassie’s feelings. Oh no. My dad asked what was wrong. I’d better be wrong….or I’d have Cassie help me find some fairy prank to play on Cassandra. Why couldn’t she just stop hurting my mate and my friends? My mom was shocked when I brought up that Cassandra could’ve been the one Haley was going to fight. EJ sighed and said his mom challenged his grandma. Well….hello can of worms. Mom looked like she’d been sucker punched. My dad was visibly shocked.

            I heard my grandpa and Ben stop walking when they came back in. They must have heard him. Dane got grandpa moving again saying he wanted to see MaryBeth. They were both looking at each other. I sighed. Cassandra made lots of people give that look. It was a look of pity for Eric and the kids. Sympathy for Haley. Most people thought EJ’s mom was a saint for dealing with Cassandra the way she did. I’d heard Sam say on more than one occasion she’d rip her eyes out if she was her daughter in law. I took EJ’s hand and asked what happened. EJ walked us through the whole thing. My dad was gripping the arms on his chairs tightly. I knew he felt bad for Eric. He looked up to him as an Alpha. To have his mom behaving this way over his Luna….I looked at my mom. I was really glad she got along with my grandma. I wasn't surprised Prince Bjourn said he’d fight her instead. What was Cassandra thinking? Fighting her son’s mate and Luna….while she was pregnant. That alone was enough to make someone back off. The fact that Haley was a princess of the fairies and Hackura…..Cassandra just wasn’t smart.