I’d been right. They were shocked by the things I’d told them which surprised me. They knew nothing about how pack life was really supposed to work. I set up times to train Dax and Caine and I worked with Mason and Hendrick in their diner. Things were not even remotely close to normal. Everything here was wrong.
I’d stopped the Alpha from beating pack members for minor infractions. Some weren’t even infractions. The Alpha, Beta, and Gamma, that were all mated, constantly wanted me to sleep with them. My creepy Uncle Ajax had me on edge every second of every day.
My calls with Jason and Peter were pointless and got me beaten. The worst so far was after Jason had sent all of my things to me. Walking into Mason and Hendrick’s house and finding all my belongings in the loungeroom was painful.
I was so grateful they’d manage to save them from Aunt Stephanie, who’d been dragging them to the trash cans. My home pack couldn’t know that though. They kept insisting I use their titles, and it hurt. Today, I was going to have a good day though. I’d found a plot of land and purchased it to use as a commemorative spot for my family. I didn’t get to go to their funerals, and I couldn’t’ go on pack lands… so here I was.
The guy who’d brought everything, including the stones with their names, asked, “Does it look how you want it to?” I nodded, “Yes, thank you.” He left and I sank to the ground. I apologized, “I’m so sorry. You shouldn’t be here….well you aren’t here….but you shouldn’t be in the ground somewhere. It’s all my fault.” I laid down on the ground and sobbed.
I stood, “I’ll find the man who did this. I will avenge you if Alpha Peter won’t listen.” It physically pained me to say it. The words burned. I added, “It’s not his fault really. They just don’t want to talk to me. He didn’t ask so he doesn’t know what happened.” I was the only one being punished for their death. I stood, “I have somewhere I have to be, but I’ll be back.” I touched each stone and went to my meeting.
The man there stood asking, “Are you sure about this? It’s a lot of money.” I shrugged, “I don’t need it.” I was starting several charities with the money I’d earned from investing. I was giving away most of what I had to other charities. Once it was all done, I left. I’d tied up what I had left in some stocks. I knew I’d get a good return and could put the money back into everything.
I went to a field I’d found and let myself loose it to the music. Eventually Caine shouted, “MELANIE!” I turned, “Oh, hi Caine…umm…we don’t have a training…” He winced, “No, my dad is sending you to a meeting with Addison and Sierra tonight.” I breathed a sigh of relief.
Maybe the Alpha wasn’t all bad then. He was giving responsibility to women which seemed to contradict everything else he’d done. Caine told me, “You’ll get through it.” I asked, “Huh?” He squeezed my shoulder and took me where Sierra and Addison were waiting.
They drove off and pulled into a place that set my teeth on edge. There was enough silver to kill us all. My bracelet turned brown too. Wolfsbane. I whispered, “We shouldn’t be here. We need to go.” Sierra told me, “We can’t go.”
A man laughed, “Our newest recruit.” Say what now? I grabbed Addison and Sierra and put them behind me. I shouted, “He’s a Hunter! RUN!” Addison told me, “We know.” I whirled, “You what?” Someone cleared their throat, “Dante, this is my group. You shouldn’t be here.” The person called Dante laughed, “I wanted to see her join us. How’s it feel?”
I asked, “Excuse me?” He grinned, “We killed your family and here you are, to join us.” I screamed and ran at him. I smashed my fist into his face over and over. I felt myself get shot with something, but I didn’t care.
Alpha Edward’s voice boomed, “Get off him.” I heard the Alpha Command behind it, but he wasn’t my Alpha. That wasn’t going to work. It took ten of them to get me off him. I screamed, “I WILL KILL YOU!”
Alpha Edward said, “Then Addison and Sierra die.” I jolted, “Excuse me?! SHE IS YOUR DAUGHTER!” He hummed while Addison choked out a cry. I stared at Alpha Edward and shook my head. Pain filled my entire being as he stood against his oaths.
Dante moaned and someone loaded him in a car and took off. I told Alpha Edward, “I will not work with people that killed my family.” He laughed, “You will.” I got away from those who had held me back. I noted the man who said he ran this group had Fairy blood. Interesting.
Trevor McCann showed up with fifteen pups. Sierra screamed, “DAD!” Beta Jean growled, “Shut up.” I asked, “What’s going on?” Trevor shot one pup. I screamed and ran for them to get tackled by ten people.
Alpha Edward asked, “Will another pup die for your insolence?” I shouted, “MY INSOLENCE?! YOU… YOU…” I stared at Beta Jean and Gamma McCann. I screamed at them, “Do something! This is your oath and blood on the line.”
I stared at Alpha Edward, “Especially yours! They fight against us. They KILL us!” He said, “They don’t do that with us. Our unshifted pups work with them. You will as well, or I’ll gather up more pups to shoot.” I pushed people off me and threw a knife that hit Trevor square in the wrist.
He screamed like a stuck pig. I warned, “You’d better get him to the doctor, or he’ll never regain full use of his hand.” They all stared at me. Gamma McCann snarled, “You bitch.” I replied, “Your son killed a pup in cold blood… of the pack he’s supposed to take over. You’re working with Hunters…. and you’re calling me names?!”
Sierra said, “Dad, you knew better than to blindside her.” Alpha Edward said, “She needs to do things the right way.” I shouted in my head, “No, you do.” Hurt built inside me like a physical ache I didn’t understand. I stared at him waiting for the Alpha in him to do the right thing, but he walked away.
He turned back saying, “Every time you are asked to come here, you will. Or the death of a pup will be on your head. That one’s family will be told this was your fault.” I snorted, “Even your backwards thinking pack will blame Trevor. I don’t understand how you…”
He cut me off, “There we agree. You don’t understand. You could make things better for yourself, but you don’t.” The man running things cleared his throat, “This is my meeting, and I need to speak to my new recruit.” If not for the Fairy blood running through him, I’d kill him. Xander wouldn’t like that though. I needed to flip this guy for the allies instead.
Beta Jean asked, “Why didn’t the wolfsbane and silver hurt her?” I stared at him like he was insane. Alpha Edward answered, “Adrenaline.” I scoffed, “Adrenaline doesn’t affect any Werewolf getting hit with silver, let alone wolfsbane. I clearly didn’t get hit with that…” I trailed off noting the darts sticking out of my skin. I plucked them out.
The leader grabbed me and ordered, “All of you get inside.” He led me into a room that had my instincts screaming at me to run. He led me to an office. He announced, “You’ll work on missions with us.” I replied, “I’ll kill every single person you put me with.” He chuckled, “That’s not the smart way to do it.” I frowned at him.
He said, “This room is soundproofed.” I rubbed my temples, “I don’t understand why wolves would even work with…” He cut me off, “I’m not a wolf.” I agreed, “No, but you….” I trailed off then studied him. I admitted, “I’m pretty sure you’re in a pack… not like mine… but you have a pack… so what the hell… Plus… you have other stuff…”
He replied, “Fairy blood. I am aware. The Ring took my sisters. A Werewolf pack adopted me and Hunters with the Ring took my sisters away. I came back during a school break and found the ashes they left behind. The survivors told me what happened. I got them help and I joined the Hunters.” I jolted, “You’re a mole… and you’re telling me… what you’re doing? You don’t even know me… that’s… a horrible plan on your part.”
He admitted, “I’ve never been as hopeful in my search for my sister’s until I heard your name.” I asked, “Uhhh what? Why? That’s…” He cut me off, “We come from packs where we know this shit isn’t normal. We know it’s wrong. What that Alpha did was appalling.” I scrunched up my nose. A pup was dead on his orders. The Alpha. I nearly crumpled with the pain.
He offered, “We can work together. You can’t kill the Hunters in this sect, but we work with others that are smaller. I can get you on those missions and we can save people. I just don’t know where we will put them.”
I answered, “ That’s actually easy. We send them to the allies… because… well… obviously.” He frowned, “I don’t have that kind of money.” I waved, “Leave it to me. I’m good at making money… I did kind of give a lot away today… but that’sfine. I’ll make it again and… I’ll do this with you.” He nodded and our alliance was formed.
I went back to the pack and was beaten and thrown into the hole. They covered the top of it, and I began to panic. I tried to climb the walls, but I’d slide back down. I lost track of time, but a water bottle was hurled down and hit me in the head. I drank it slowly. I was going to go crazy down here.
