I was pulled up and whipped by Gamma Booker. He thought I was passed out and said, “Our people are moving. Alpha Alexander is as good as dead. They left our territory five minutes ago.” He kicked me and left. What people? I stood up gingerly, shook it off and took off running.
How was I going to find people after Xander? I could just call and warn him if I couldn’t find them. Then I spotted a camp. Ok…that was oddly easy. Maybe Selene was FINALLY watching out for me. These were lone wolves working together.
I quickly climbed a tree. One asked, “Do you smell that?” One waved, “Who cares? We need to focus. Taking out Alpha Alexander is going to be tough.” I jumped down offering, “Impossible even.” They jumped.
One frowned asking, “Pup, what are you doing here?” I answered, “Stopping you. Or… just… leave. Don’t do this. It’s silly.” One took out a knife, “Killing her would be a kindness. Look what they did to her.” Another said, “Or she can join us. She’s clever.”
I replied, “I won’t let anyone hurt Xander.” A woman laughed, “Oh, a pup with a crush. Honey, he’s dead whether we do it or not.” I screamed, “NO!” I jumped on her and snapped her neck and they came at me.
I was stunned when Hendrick’s wolf jumped in and helped me. He shifted back, “Melanie, what are you doing?” I blinked answering, “I think I just found my purpose. I can honor Mom,Dad, and T by… stopping this… I already have a deal with the Hunter guy….”
My brain wasn’t working but I knew that was from lack of food and water. I explained, “This will help.” He asked, “This what? Let’s get you to my place.” I argued, “We need to set them on fire… so…” We pushed the bodies on their campfire. He ended up carrying me to his place where Celia was waiting. She gasped, “These cuts are infected. Get her inside.”
Addison’s eyes widened when she saw me. Dax and Caine growled. Sierra ran over and took me into the bathroom. She called, “Ads, come on.” Addison whispered, “They are so mean to her.” They had to drain the tub four times before I was clean.
It was a haze but when I came out of it, I got to work. Because I had a new purpose. I whispered, “I’ll make the world my dance floor for you guys.” I was going to change everything.
I started my plan by bugging Alpha Edward’s office. It was very easy actually. Bugging his, Beta Jean’s, and Gamma Bookers phones were also really easy. I followed all of Prince Gunner’s tips to the letter then went to Mason and Hendrick.
Honestly, I hadn’t been here that long, but it really felt like an eternity. I knew this idea I had was crazy, but I could do it. I had the plans drawn up for Hendrick and Mason. I just needed some start up cash since I’d given up most of my money.
I planned to show them how quickly I could return the loan. I’d started my new investment profile. I just needed some cash to get everything going. I even had a symbol for our group. It was quite clear what our name was too.
It was a ring with a slash through it. Obviously, we would be the Ring Resistance, but we could just call it the Resistance forshort. People could remember it either way, but studies showed shorter names were more memorable.
Hendrick and Mason walked into their office in the diner. Mason said, “Caine is standing guard with Dax, but he doesn’t know why.” I took a deep breath, “So, I have a plan… and it’s just that I need your help to put it in motion.”
“I mean I could wait… but then people could get hurt… being here I’ve got intel that I can act on… People need the Ring to fall…. But they can’t do that because they are in the light… if we move in the shadows like they do… then…”
Mason asked, “You want to stop the Ring?” I nodded and showed him the logo design. I explained, “This is the simple logo I chose for the group… there were some more complicated ones, but they aren’t as easy for everyone to draw as these…”
Hendrix chuckled, “Circles are easy to draw.” I frowned, “It’s a ring… which is a circle, but it’s supposed to be a ring with the slash through it. So obviously everyone would know our name is the Ring Resistance. But we can drop the Ring and be The Resistance since the logo obviously shows a ring so that’s implied.”
Mason grinned, “Obviously.” I continued, “The thing is I just need some start up capital.” I handed them everything I’d prepared. I said, “I can pay you back in a few months. I know it’s a large loan, but I can guarantee the returns with interest in…”
Hendrick said, “We don’t need all of this.” He put my plans down. Mason agreed, “We don’t. We will give you anything you want. You are family to us.” It was a lance to my heart while simultaneously being the healing balm I needed. We’d forged a quick bond, and it felt like a betrayal to my family, but they’d abandoned me.
He continued, “We honestly want you to live with us instead of your wretched Aunt. Who I CANNOT believe never lorded itover everyone her sister was a Beta Female of a famous allied pack with Black Mountain.” I cringed.
Hendrick said, “Of course we will give you the money with one condition.” Mason raised an eyebrow. I asked, “What’s the condition?” He answered, “That you include us. We want to be a part of your group. We need to know what’s going on and how to help you.”
I muttered, “Well... I already planned to ask you because you guys are a great fit and good shots. We definitely need snipers and stuff. You know how to fight, and you need to see what your investment is for. So logically… like that’s not really a condition then since I was already going to do that. Do you want something else?”
Hendrick replied, “No, we just want to be a part of it. It shouldn’t take a fourteen year old pup to stand up and let us know we can too.” I argued, “I mean you’ve been fighting this your whole life. The fact you are together proves that. I’m sure there are many who gave up a fated mate and are miserable because they are now marked to a man or woman they don’t love.”
I continued, “Actually… I know that’s the problem a lot of people have with you. They are rude because you were brave where they were not. That’s hard to do. You guys are reminders that they didn’t do what they should’ve… which makes them mean and hateful to you… which is obviously wrong.” Mason interrupted, “Who do you think feels that way?”
I answered, “Well obviously Avery’s dad.” Hendrick snorted, “I’m sorry obviously?” I nodded, “Sure… when you aren’t watching he looks at you guys with such jealousy… I asked around. Buck and Avery’s mom isn’t his fated mate.”
Mason agreed, “She’s not but I never heard about him finding his. He didn’t date though. He is incredibly hateful toward and about us.” I shrugged, “Kind of proves my point. Most wolvesdon’t care if wolves of rank aren’t gay. I mean allied packs don’t care about rank, well not anymore, but down here they clearly do… and it’s confusing because Buck’s dad didn’t have a rank…”
Mason interrupted, “He used to. He was the Lead Warrior once upon a time.” I nodded because that made sense to me. I was also excited because now the Ring Resistance could truly start. Dax and Caine came in.
Caine declared, “We’re in.” I grinned, “Really? Are… you sure? Because we are going against your dad’s and…” Dax cut me off, “You’re training us and doing more than anyone ever has.” I hummed, “And you’re great! Have you been watching Xander’s videos?” They confirmed that they were. That was good. It would be better for Caine to learn from him as an Alpha, but he was stuck with me.
Addison and Sierra joined us. They said, “Obviously we are in too.” Dax and Caine made a face. Addison looked at her brother whispering, “Please.” He nodded, “We all need to fight back.” I grinned, “All it takes to start a Resistance… is one person. We are going to do this. We will take them down.”
Mason asked, “Do we have a first assignment?” I answered, “Hendrick and I … well… we kind of did one… because they were going after my Xander.” Hendrick declared, “I stepped in because you were in danger. I tracked you, not them.”
