Chapter 21 ~ Let’s Try That

Matthew’s POV ~

The next several days were spent planning the gala. Ella and I did experiment with the human. My blood makes his skin boil off.. but because humans struggle with believing supernatural beings are anything more than suped up humans…their minds are closed much tighter than werewolves. Ella only got a jumbled mess of pieces that didn’t fit together when she looked into his mind.

I was walking into the ballroom when I heard Calvin say “Oh my Goddess! I just got that reference! All this time! Now, it makes sense” and I look over at Ella standing up, from the fireplace.. shaking her head, ruefully.

I asked “What weird assed dank little rabbit hole is your brain spiraling down this time, Alice?” Calvin immediately claps back “Her name. Cinderella. Cinder Ella. I told Ella she had cinders on her face from the fireplace. Then everything clicked.”

Ella was doubled over.. holding her sides. Guffawing like a little old man telling a dirty joke. While I’m still as confused as a fart in a fan factory. I said “It sounded like you had solved the meaning of the universe. What about Cinderella?”

Calvin, in a voice like he would use on a confused toddler, explains “Luna was clearing ash from the fireplace. She wiped her face at some point. I said ‘your face is covered in cinders, Ella’ Cinders. Ella. Cinder. Ella. Cinderella.. because she was their housemaid.”

I actually groaned out loud. “Yeah. I’m having serious doubts it was only four times. I’m picturing them running to the second floor.. dropping you out the window just to see if you’d land on your head.”

He gasped and said “Well. That’s just mean! I have an ah-ha moment thinking Prince Charming’s wife struggled with not only being abused.. but an unfortunate name. To discover, all on my own, I might add, that her name was perfectly normal and just a compilation of her dirty face and her actual name. And you attack my intelligence. Mean!”

Hugging Ella close, I asked “How? How do you put up with his asinine chatter?” She giggled “He’s fun. He’s like a little kid when it comes to all things girly. He found out earlier that Dory only had a three second memory.. instead of amnesia.” I said “What? Who’s Dory? What caused her memory loss?”

Calvin rolled his eyes “She’s a fish. Not just any fish! But a blue tang! She doesn’t lose her memory. All fish suffer from memory retention.. right, Luna?” Ella nods, giggling again.. and I feel like I have entered an alternate reality.

I finished helping Ella clean the fireplace. We painted the inside a beautiful metallic gold and Ella arranged various sized candles with white flowers all around them.. placing a new all glass screen in front of it. I have to admit.. it looks classy and will add an elegant touch to the standard log fire usually there.. since it’s a fireplace.. and it’s supposed to have one job. Her ceremony. Her decision.

Mom came in, squealing and jumping up and down with Ella over the chic ‘new’ fireplace and will look beautiful with the royal adjutant pack colors. Busy. That’s what it’s going to do.. mesh right into busy. Too many rich colors. Emerald Green. Sapphire Blue. And Gold. Too busy.

I left them to finish their decorations.. because, quite frankly, it didn’t hold my interest long. While it may sound chauvinistic, I honestly do feel.. in my case.. decorating anything.. is definitely not my forte’. I appreciate things looking pretty.. Organized.. Colorful.. I just don’t care how those things reach that destination.

Maverick mindlinked me that Bernadette had notified him Willie contacted her. I went directly to my office to hear what he may have told her.

Dad met up with me and we walked to the office together. Maverick was waiting with Bernadette. I sat and asked “How did Willie get in touch with you? Link.. or in person?”

She immediately responded “Mind link. Which means he has to be close to the border. My mind link isn’t strong.. being an omega, I can only reach to the borders and he knows it. Being a warrior, his is stronger.. but he can’t hear me, unless he’s close.”

I inwardly groan. Dear Goddess! What is with everyone today? Incessant nonsensical chatter seems to be today’s format.. and I didn’t get the memo. Like I don’t know how weak or strong a mind link is.

Nonetheless, I smile and ask “What, specifically, did he want from you?” She nods, telling me “He wanted me to send Allie to the Den tonight. She’s supposed to meet some man there.. to get some bugs. I don’t know what kind of bugs. Or even why.. Willie knows an exterminator comes once a month. So even if she turned bugs loose in the pack house, they wouldn’t live long”

My eyes literally felt like they were going to pop right out of my face! Maverick ran from the office, choking on a laugh. My father.. bless his soul, had his face down.. shoulders shaking and both hands covering his mouth. Leaving me to deal with the fallout. Ass Holes!

Clearing my throat, I said “I believe the bugs he is referring to are listening devices that he wanted your daughter to plant around the pack house.. Perhaps to spy on us?”

She smiled “Oh. OH! That makes better sense then. I told him Allie is restricted to pack proper.. that you have forbidden her and Beth from going to town.. because they had been caught out with a rogue.”

Dad commended “Fast thinking, Bernadette. You did good. Thank you so much for coming directly to us. What did he say, after you told him?”

She gulped loudly “That’s why I am here. He said I have to do it. I told him I don’t know where that Den is. I have only been to town three times, in all my time here. I don’t even drive a car. He told me to run to town.. my wolf is refusing. Dreama said it’s betraying the Alpha and she won’t shift.”

I smiled.. her wolf is loyal! That’s good to know. I told her “If he contacts you again, stall him.. Tell him you can send someone to pick up a package to bring to you.. but your wolf isn’t doing well with the separation from her mate. That should stroke his ego enough to come up with a different plan.”

After she left.. and Maverick returned.. I let him know to get warriors stationed all around town.. send some to the Den. They are to hang out.. drink a few beers.. shoot pool.

Dad said “If Willie bites.. and agrees to a courier of sorts.. having the ones inside the bar creating a diversion.. would be helpful in deflecting unnecessary questions from the rogue.”

I agreed and responded “I doubt they will bite. I just want eyes on strange faces and boots on the ground. I want Willie and this Tyler bastard in custody.. it’s obvious Willie is working with the hunters. I want whatever information has been gathered from his journal. Today, Mav!”

He grinned “As luck would have it, Willie’s safe was gotten into not even an hour ago. We will have answers soon. Whether they are helpful or not, remains to be seen.”

I said “If not.. we stake out the Den.. and bring in anyone who looks suspicious, at this point.” Dad smiled “That might be a solid plan. Let’s try that!”