He said, “I promise you that if you end up at that school and you don’t want to be there then I will bring you home.” Jason called, “Same!” Dalton and Dakota shouted, “What they said.” MaryBeth scoffed, “I have a whole plan if that happens, and it involves Dane, so he agrees.” Dane chuckled and pulled her in for a hug.
Cooper added, “I’d help too.” I shrugged, “Well, then know now I don’t want to go.” Jason argued, “You could change your mind.” I replied, “I won’t. I’ve already decided.” Tristan linked, “Don’t make that decision based on Alexander.” I wasn’t going to argue with him because it did have to do with Xander, but I also didn’t want to miss everyone here.
Out loud he said, “Jared would pop you back and forth with Rena and all their siblings. You could still live here and go.” I shrugged, “I still don’t want to.” He rubbed my shoulders, “Why don’t you focus your data sets on whether you should go or not?”
I frowned, “I obviously already did that… I mean… I’d think that was obvious… plus, dad doesn’t want me to go…” I trailed off when he looked away. I asked, “Right?” Everyone had stopped again. Jason said, “Dad wants you to be safe.” That was evasive which meant my dad did want me to go. He was the one adult in my data set that was on my side. My data was wrong. Tristan whispered, “Ladybug.”
I turned and ran from the group as fast as I could. They all shouted after me, but I was a lot faster than all of them. MaryBeth linked, “I don’t want you to go.” I couldn’t answer her because my chest hurt. Mom ate all those cookies, and sure dad did sometimes I wouldn’t deny it, but if dad wanted me to gothen I was getting shipped off to New York. No one could stop it because Elise was in her own pack now.
I went to my dancing area then climbed the tree I had hidden an emergency speaker in and connected my phone and began to dance. Everything swirled around in my head as I danced. My dad wanted me to leave. If he agreed with my mom, then I’d be gone. I’d miss everything here and my home. This was my home. Why did I have to leave when I didn’t want to?
I dropped to my knees feeling it hard to breathe. I got home sick on long trips, and they want me to go New York?! Suddenly out of nowhere Peter grabbed my face demanding, “Breathe right now, Melanie Jane.” I gasped, “I… can’t….” He Alpha ordered, “Breathe.” The confusion of that command not taking hold had me letting out a breath. Why didn’t that work? He was my Alpha.
He asked, “What are you doing here? I thought you pups were going on a hike.” I cried, “Daddy wants me to leave.” He jolted, “What?” I said, “They were all evasive which means it’s true. Daddy wants me to leave and go to that school and I can’t breathe… which makes… no sense… because there is air here and… I… don’t make me go. Please, Daddy Peter.”
He hugged me and rubbed my hair. He ordered, “Get out of here.” He must have been running a patrol. He said, “I will never have a pack member doing something they don’t want to or hate. Ok?” I nodded. He said, “If you decide to go, and you hate it I’ll bring you home.” I hugged him tighter.
Tristan said, “I knew you’d come here.” Peter turned around and I could see he was pissed. Tristan sighed, “Mel, it’s not like how you think it is.” I snorted, “So my data sets and telling people they are wrong isn’t getting me sent away?” Tristan flinched.
Peter asked, “What?” Tristan pointed out, “We didn’t know about that until the hike.” That wasn’t true at all. They did knowthat. I told people based on the math and science they were wrong… dang… ok it was a lot… but… I was just trying to help.
Peter announced, “Drake is on the way so you might want to speed this talk along, T.” I pointed out, “It’s not his fault… because… dad should’ve told me he didn’t want me here.” Tristan growled, “Melanie Jane, it’s not like that and you know it. He wants you to have the best opportunities. It’s not like everyone can just get into that school.”
I argued, “I don’t WANT the opportunity.” Tristan argued, “You could probably go to Julliard.” I replied, “Just because I enjoy dancing and competing…doesn’t really mean I want to go to Julliard. It’s unfair… on every level. Because a human would lose out… I’m naturally more inclined to be better at dancing than someone who works hard and…”
Tristan jumped in, “You work harder than anyone.” I disagreed, “I practice more. I do not work harder. Dancing comes easily to me.” My dad said, “And you shouldn’t have to settle and not take opportunities because that’s true. You compete against humans in competitions.” That didn’t make it fair.
He continued, “You also do supernatural competitions, and you win. You are immensely talented.” I wiped my tears saying, “You want to send me away.” He wrapped me up in his arms. He cupped my chin and said, “No, I’d wrap you up here in bubble wrap if I could. That’s not fair to you though.”
I muttered, “Neither is acting like you aren’t letting me go to compete for a spot then… just… telling everyone else you want me to go for my safety.” He snorted, “I think someone has been eavesdropping then, Ladybug.” Tristan said, “Yeah, Jase and I have.”
My dad jolted then growled, “You told her?” I answered, “No, they evaded because I was so confident you didn’t want me toleave.” He repeated, “I don’t want you to leave, but I don’t want you to miss the chance to make the world your dance floor.”
I cried, “I could do that here.” He said, “But you could do it there too. We have Fairies who could bring you back. There are planes, trains, and automobiles that could keep us together. My insecurities about you leaving this pack have kept you here a lot. This is a big opportunity for you, and I can’t hold you back as much as I’d like to.”
I asked, “So, if I don’t want to compete, I don’t have to then.” He replied, “I think you should compete.” I continued, “Then I can decline the spot if I win.” He winced, “I think you should give it a chance. There are times when you’re young you make decisions, then live with what if’s. I don’t want that for you.”
I asked, “What’s your what if then?” He locked his jaw. I nodded, “You don’t have one.” He reasoned, “Just because I don’t doesn’t mean other people don’t live with them.” I whispered, “I’m an annoying know it all who rambles and talks to much… I get why you want me gone.” It just hurt.
He snarled, “T, WHAT THE FUCK DID YOU SAY TO HER?” Tristan growled, “I didn’t say anything like that!” I agreed, “He didn’t.” Peter asked, “Is this about those bullies you didn’t tell us about? They filled your head with that bullshit? Because that’s exactly what it is.”
I frowned, “I do ramble and talk a lot. Plus, not to brag… but like, I am right a lot.” They all busted up laughing and I actually smiled. My dad said, “I would not change a single hair on your head or anything about your big brain. All pups talk a lot and blurt things out. It’s part of life.”
He tapped my nose, “You are different. You’re a literal genius and your brain doesn’t work like ours. Even mine. You’re smarter than me and I’m damn proud of you for it. Everyone in the pack is.” I mean that was definitely not true. Robert hatedthat I won stuff, but for the most part my dad’s statement was accurate.
My dad said, “I don’t want you to hate me later for holding you back.” I gasped, “I could never hate you.” He laughed, “You could.” I said, “Holding grudges and hating people takes effort. It’s silly to waste time on it.” Tristan pointed out, “She does say that a lot.”
Because I was right. I would have to REALLY hate someone to decide keeping the grudge and hating them was worth the effort. Like the Ring. I hated them for how much they were trying to hurt Xander. That was worth the effort, but that wasn’t something I needed to say. Since technically speaking… I wasn’t supposed to know they existed since I was ‘just a pup’ or whatever.
My dad said, “I don’t want you to think anyone WANTS to send you anywhere. I want you to take on the world and conquer it. I want you to have zero what if questions about opportunities. I want you to have the world if that’s what you wanted.” I wanted to meet Xander. That’s what I wanted.
Tristan said, “That’s what we all want, Mel. We just want you to be happy.” I repeated, “I’m happy here.” Peter said, “That doesn’t mean you won’t be happy there.” My dad admitted, “Knowing people don’t treat you well here did influence my decision.” I gasped, “That’s not that many people. Statistically…” He laughed, “I know the numbers, I just hate it for you.”
I hugged him, hoping I could change his mind. He asked, “Will you at least compete?” Mom was dead set on me going. I pursed my lips. I said, “If I get to decide if I accept the scholarship or not, then yes.” He sighed. I pointed out, “We can afford the school without a scholarship. They would invite me to come dance even if I didn’t compete.” I could afford it myself, but they didn’t know that.
He said, “I’ll talk to your mom about that.” I groaned “So, no.” He cupped my face, “I love you so much and if it were up to me, you’d stay here forever.” I shrugged, “Ok, let’s do that then… when I meet...” Tristan jumped in, “Your mate might not live here.” He didn’t.
My dad chuckled, “That’s true. Your mom told me about the dress you want for your mating ceremony. I may have had to sit down thinking about it, but it sounded beautiful.” I couldn’t stop myself returning to that day in my mind.
