Chapter Seventeen - Hello daughter
The link came through…Alpha, your presence is requested at the Northwest border. Rafe sends back asking if everyone is okay.. a short, curt yes was the only response. He turned to Andrea and said “I will be back as soon as possible “ She said “ that’s great! I’m coming with you.” He said baby no! It could be dangerous. She turned and looked over their pack. She said “Madi…please get all the women and pups inside the bunkers. Gavin grab the elites and be ready to pound ground on our signal Damon, get snipers and archers in the trees in a semicircle at the border. We will keep whomever it is entertained and distracted long enough for you to get them up. Gavin, four elites will hang back with me so I remain unseen, unless it’s necessary to show myself “
Rafe stood there, staring at her gape-mouthed and astounded! He grabbed her and kissed her deep. And said “Okay! I take it back! THAT was the hottest thing I have ever seen!” She laughed and said “not everything I do can be the hottest, my love! But let’s go greet our guests..keeping them waiting is considered bad form” and giggled when he scowled. As they approached the border, she could smell him. She linked her mate..it’s him, it’s Armand. Rafe nods.
She hung back while Rafe stepped into the clearing. I could see Armand holding close to the river. Probably so he could make a run for it if things go south! Coward! As soon as he laid eyes on Rafe he said “Allow me to introduce my” Rafe interrupted and said don’t bother. “I know who you are Hellier. What I don’t know is what you want “
Armand was offended. People were not allowed to be rude to him! How dare this pup! Armand stepped a little closer and Rafe held up a hand “ah ah ah! And closer and you cross my border and there is not one thing on this planet that could stop me from killing you. Now what the fuck do you want!? I am missing my Luna celebration.” Rafe spotted movement behind Armand and a familiar face came into view… “Oh hey Duncan! Did you come to join our celebration? I was talking to your sister earlier…she sure misses you!”
And Rafe just grins his shit eating grin the whole time. Andrea keeps looking at the men behy Armand.. they were edging closer. She links Damon to have a sniper put a round in a tree next to the man 5 meters from the border to the left. We heard a thwack sound and watched a man jump about 3 feet in the air and a What The Fuck filtered through the air. Armand roared.. “You’re trying to kill my men and all we want is to parlay? Where is your honor?” Rafe points to the sky and says “There it goes…along with the few fucks I had left to give. This confab in over. I wasn’t trying to kill your man! I was warning him. When I actually do kill your men, trying will be unnecessary! State your business or be gone! I am a busy man!”
Armand said “you have something that belongs to me. And I want it back” Rafe says “I have nothing of yours. I have never met you before this moment “ “My daughter is here. I want her back.” “Now you see…why don’t I believe you? I have been told by several people your daughter died at birth. So which is it? She is dead…or I have her?” Armand said “. I had to say she died….she has…issues “
Rafe said “Issues? Daddy issues? Abandonment issues? What?” Armand said “I demand my daughter! You can’t hold her!” Rafe rolled his eyes. “You really are quite dramatic, aren’t you? But, I’m feeling magnanimous and believe in choices. So let’s see how Ariadne feels about this.. Ari baby, come here” and she stepped into the clearing beside her mate. Armand said Hello Daughter.
Ariadne stood there a moment.. looked over her shoulder… looked to the side and pointed a finger at her chest and asked Me? Armand said “ I always knew you were stupid. Now get over here so we can go home.” She laughed! She looked at Rafe and said “and he called Me stupid “ to Armand she said “You have me confused with someone else. You see, my father died in childbirth. And I would never accompany you anywhere. This is your last warning to leave our packlands and territories. You are not welcome nor are you wanted. Go home with you? Home?? You don’t have a home anymore you dumb fuck! Even they couldn’t stand you!”
Armand roared and his group all surged toward our border. Another shot from the trees kicked dirt up at Armand. He stopped..holding his hand up to his men. He said, “I will give you 72 hours and you will come with me or I will kill everyone you hold dear” She rolled her eyes and said “ yeah, yeah.. I’ll get right on that” then she spotted a familiar face…she waved and shouted “Hiya Elliot! Want me to say hey to Caroline next time I’m in the cells?” He just turned and walked away. She looks at Rafe and huffs. She said “Rude!!” And Rafe laughed. Armand turned to walk away saying “72 hours, girl”
They walked back to the packhouse and everyone was out of the bunkers and partying like it was spring break in Daytona. Rafe spun Andrea out on the dance floor. Bruno Mars Just the way you are was playing and Rafe began to sing to her. She laid her head against his chest and knew he is her forever. He is her everything. The song ended and they sat down to grab something to eat. She asked him how he and Jax became friends. And he laughed. Looking over at Jax..he says “I don’t know, to be honest. We met the first day of kindergarten. I was, even at 5 years old, a little too cocky..a little too Alpha’s son..and Jax…well, Jax was the class clown. He has a brother..couple years older than him. They didn’t get along. His brother would bully him..or set his friends to do it, while he laughed at his little brother’s tears.. We were friends, but not brothers. Not until about 3rd grade, I’m thinking. I had just been dropped off by my mom..walking my little brothers to their classes when I heard quite a bit of noise coming from the courtyard. I went to investigate..because what 8 year old isn’t nosy..and curled in a ball, on the ground, was Jax. And over him..kicking the shit out of him, was his brother. I ran and shoved his brother away from him and helped him to his feet. As we were walking away his brother tackled me, but I didn’t fall down and I shoved him back. From that day..that’s when we became brothers all because I got into a fight with his brother “
Andrea said “That is such a great story.. you got a lifelong friend all because you beat up his brother for him” Rafe laughed “Oh! I didn’t beat his brother up. Oh no. His brother kicked the shit out of me but I shifted focus off Jax and I was good with that.” Andrea laughed. She asked where Jax’s brother is now and Rafe said he made Alpha of YellowRiver Pack when Jax was 16. His first act as Alpha was to banish his own brother out of fear Jax wanted to be Alpha. My father immediately brought Jax into our home and instead of the three musketeers we became four and my brothers were fine with that.
She looked at him..wide-eyed, she said “have I met your brothers?” And Rafe let go a roar of laughter that startled the whole pack. He linked his brothers to come to their table. As Damon and Gavin walked up to Rafe, he said “Baby..let me introduce you to my brothers. Gavin…the middle brother…with almost no common sense..but fighting skills that go on for days. And Damon..our baby brother who has a thing for the ladies, he just doesn’t know what to do with it. I am so sorry. With everything happening so fast, I haven’t realized I didn’t introduce you properly.”
She jumped up from the table and ran around to the guys..squealing the whole way. First she jumped at Gavin…who barely caught her, he was so stunned. And she burst into tears. Gavin linked Rafe asking what’s happening. Rafe just shrugged. She leaned away from Gavin and then hugged Damon. And she said “I guess I need to work on remembering your name. I can’t call my new brother Sparky” and they all laughed