I only thought about that in my dreams, so I shoved it from my head. I got up slowly and Hendrick sighed, “I wish you wouldn’t let them hurt you.” I shrugged, “I’m going to run to the diner. I’ve got some stuff to work on.” He just tilted his head knowing arguing wasn’t going to do anything for him.
I got dressed and found Hendrick waiting in his car. He gestured me over. I asked, “What’s up?” He said, “Let’s compromise. You ride with me and run back.” I’d planned to run both ways, but this would make everyone happy, so I nodded. He sighed in relief.
He drove us to the diner where I was immediately under scrutiny. I sighed knowing it was because I’d been punished a few days ago. I sat down in my booth and pulled out my laptop. I started checking all my programs.
Addison said, “You don’t have to be on twenty-four seven, Ash.” We were in public, so they often referred to me by Ashley because they weren’t allowed to say Melanie. My brother and old Alpha, actually the whole pack, didn’t want to hear about me.
Honestly, that hurt worse because when I lived in Red Run we never heard things about Nashville, which was where they sent me. So why did they think they’d hear my name? if I had a wolf, she’d probably point out the entire Werewolf community was talking about Ashley Griffen so they would’ve heard my name if they didn’t make me change it. I shoved that aside.
I reasoned, “I was not on for two days.” Caine snorted, “Recovering from a beating doesn’t really count as being off. I still don’t understand how that Alpha got a single hit on you. He came to our training, and I beat him. You train me.” I’d fought in the Undergrounds before I got punished.
The workshops I put on helped a lot of future leadership get training they were denied. That Alpha’s son was forced to fight in the Undergrounds because he refused to be a bad person, and it irked me. A lot. He hated it and it wasn’t right.
I picked at my sleeve saying, “You have Alpha blood… And… well I don’t… which you know… so.. how he got a hit…is answered with his blood.” Caine told me, “That’s bullshit, Ash. You taught me and I can’t beat you yet. Also, you can’t lie for shit, so stop.” I immediately countered, “You’re getting so much better though!”
Caine leaned forward, “I know. Dax and I both are. My point is unless you let him, that Alpha couldn’t have hurt you.” I shrugged and looked away. Caine instructed, “Give us a second here, Addison.” She nodded and went to the back.
I told him, “I’m fine.” Caine retorted, “Being fine isn’t letting people beat the shit out of you because your shit piece of brother and old Alpha told you to do so.” I frowned, “I mean… Beta Jason isn’t a bad brother… we have really good memories for fourteen years and…”
Caine interrupted, “It doesn’t matter. When you needed him, he abandoned you and let you think you deserve all the punishments you get down here. When in reality he has no ideahow our pack runs or does anything. He doesn’t know what he’s asking for.”
He paused adding, “In my opinion, that doesn’t matter much. You’re his little sister and he should protect you. You’re letting people beat you up before you win.” I picked at my sleeve again. I muttered, “I didn’t say that…”
Caine whispered, “You didn’t have to. I have half a mind to just tell Cayden you’re fighting in the Undergrounds.” I gasped and looked up, “You can’t! They… it could mess up everything.” Caine frowned, “You seem to think I care about messing up everything and I don’t. I care about you. I care about my mom, sister, friends and pack.”
“My wolf and I are protective of you, Mel. I’m getting closer to being ready to challenge my dad. I want to make you my Gamma when that happens, but I can’t have you letting yourself be beaten to a pulp. I won’t be popular with my dad’s friends when I take over.”
He reached over and took my hand saying, “I need you. I need you to be at one hundred percent. That might not be fair, but I will need you. I also don’t care about being fair like the partial Fairies you befriend.” Tears filled my eyes.
I whispered, “You’re going to make me your Gamma? I don’t have a wolf, Caine.” Caine rolled his eyes, “I don’t give a shit if you have a wolf or not. I won’t have anyone named McCann be my Gamma. I also don’t care if your old pack wants to hear your name or not. I’m listing Melanie McAlister as my Gamma.”
I gasped, “You can’t do that.” Caine shrugged, “I’ll be the Alpha. Which I’ve been told many times means I can do that. I will too. Now, let’s go meet the gang at Paige’s place so everyone can see you and know you’re ok.” I nodded.
I told him, “If you make me your Gamma; I won’t let you down. It’s an honor you’d even think of doing that.” Caine said,“I wouldn’t dream of having anyone else. Plus, I think that would bring certain people to our pack borders.”
He winked adding, “Along with the fact that I’d keep you as Female Lead Warrior because lord knows you get bored doing just one job. I’ll have Ashley Griffen listed as my Female Lead Warrior, and Melanie McAlister as the Gamma.” I’d say I couldn’t do both, but that would be a lie. I easily could.
He continued, “If anyone wanted to say anything about that; well, they’d just have to come say it to my face, wouldn’t they?” I snorted, “You’re being very Alpha blood-like today.” Caine winked, “And it feels so good.” I would imagine it really did.
We got in his car where Addison was already waiting. I didn’t know where his plan to make me the Gamma would play into being Xander’s mate. I’d have to let Xander reject me so he could move on. I just didn’t know when that could happen. I’d have to figure it all out because I wouldn’t let Caine down.
I also didn’t know if Xander’s rejection would kill me or not. The projections weren’t solid one way or the other. I didn’t have a wolf, so it was possible. Would it even work now since I wasn’t eighteen? It wasn’t like Caine was taking over tomorrow… so… this would be fine.
Caine snorted, “Your mind is thinking far too hard over there.” That was not possible. My phone rang and I answered, “Tao, how’s…” He cut me off, “Don’t ask how I am! I hurt you.” I hummed, “I still beat you in the fight… so…technically I hurt you…when you think about it.” He growled, “What the hell was that fight?” I got out the car at Paige’s and walked away.
I told him, “It’s how…” Tao growled, “Yeah, I asked around. You fight that way all the time. Why?” I whispered, “I can’t really talk about this right now and…” He disagreed, “You are in fact going to talk about it right now because it doesn’t make sense to me. You come here and you help us. You’re training me to take over from Alpha Ezra.” He didn’t call him dad, which was fair.
Alpha Ezra raped his mom on her heat while her mate was sedated. He tried to make Tao bad like him, but it wasn’t working because his mom taught him the right way to do things. Her mate, his father in every way that mattered, did as well.
I admitted, “Getting something over on Alpha Ezra and making him mad… kind of makes me happy …and by kind of I mean it’s literally one of the things I look forward to the most so….” He cut me off, “You’d do it even if he wasn’t my dad.” I would, that was very true.
He snorted, “He’s trying to push me to take a chosen mate already.” I hummed, “You just turned nineteen… so that’s really fast and…” He interrupted, “I’m not going to do it. I think I know who it is.” I knew that too. They were cute together.
I asked, “Isn’t she on the list? She’s a Warrior’s daughter and… they don’t really care about age.” He snorted, “She’s headstrong.” I reasoned, “As most Luna’s are… they care about the pack… which Talia does… and…” He snorted, “And Alpha Ezra hates that. There’s nothing he can do though when she’s eighteen.”
That wasn’t true, but I had plans just in case. I would be listening for chatter next year when Talia turned eighteen. Ok, I was actually already working on them now because it’s possible Alpha Ezra suspected they were mates. He’d have to stop being a self-centered egotistical jerk for five seconds, but anything was possible even if the probability was in the negatives.
Tao said, “I’ve been told I’m done fighting in the undergrounds. They won’t accept any more fighters from dad anymore. Do you know why that is?” I answered, “Uhh… well… logically speaking…” He cut me off, “You did something.”
