They did have charms so any number they wanted to be able to text them would be forwarded from the old one. It was an impressive security measure that I really liked. I should do that… if I ever got my own phone… but my mom would eat her mom monster cookies…so I never got one.
Her argument mostly made sense because we didn’t go to an actual school until we were eleven years old for middle school.So, I was usually with family, and I really didn’t need a phone since I had my dad’s old one with all the music.
They definitely didn’t know all the things I had access to on my tablet. Which at this point, was definitely for the best… when you thought about it. I powered it down and took off. I was running along when I realized I was being herded. I was hit from behind then on front.
I screamed, “What are you doing?” They ripped off my brand new Xander shirt. Robert growled, “Next is that stupid stuffed wolf!” I screamed and punched him and kicked his other goon in the balls. I snarked, “You’d think you would learn, I’m better than you are.” This wasn’t the first time they’d pinned me down, but they’d never ripped off my shirt before.
He snarled, “I’ll rip that stupid wolves head off.” I screamed, “NO! HE IS MY WOLF!” I scooped up Xander wolf from where he fell and ran. Robert yelled, “Yeah, you’d better run! That wolf is going to be shredded next time. Don’t you dare tell a single soul about this.”
I snarled, “You’ve been trying for four years to tear him up and he’s still fine!” He growled, “But not your shirt.” Grandma Esther had bought me that shirt. Tears sprung into my eyes.
I found my dad’s shirt lying around when I got farther away. I knew, as they did, that I could outrun them. I put it on and let myself cry into my Xander wolf. I whispered, “What will I tell Grandma Esther?” I powered up the tablet and ordered a replacement shirt. I’d just keep it in my closet. I shivered remembering the look in Robert’s eyes when he ripped it off. He was officially unhinged.
I began to pace. Logically, the right thing to do was go to Alpha Peter… but they never believed me when I said I didn’t cross the border. Plus, this wasn’t really an emergency… when you broke it down. I needed them to believe me if something REALLY bad happened.
If my bullies were upgrading to ripping my clothes off and that was not a good escalation in pups’ behavior according to the papers Princess Luna Haley’s psychology group published. It wasn’t even just her that had written about concerning behaviors to look for and seek help on.
Literally all across the globe people were backing her up and conducting their own studies. Robert and his friends just made a very bad move in their progression to Supernatural’s who turn angry, bitter, and abusive.
The thing was those people were often… well more often than not… the ones that ended up getting killed because our way of life didn’t lead to everything being fine, if you were a jerk.
For example, if my Xander knew he was mine, Robert would’ve died for what he just did. I rubbed my face berating, “He doesn’t know though… and you need the adults to believe you if they do something worse… I have no bruises, and they definitely do. If they say that I did it… would everyone believe them?”
I had a dance competition I didn’t want to risk not going to. I’d invited Xander… and I wanted to win. I took several deep breaths, clutched my Xander wolf tightly, then began to run home. I didn’t hear anyone chasing me so maybe they gave up.
Once I got closer to my house a Warrior stopped me. He asked, “Ladybug, are you ok?” I squeaked, “Ok… huh… obviously … it’s totally…” He checked me up and down. He questioned, “Is this the Beta’s shirt?” I answered, “Umm well yes… it is… and….”
He grabbed my shoulders gently. He asked, “Are you ok, Melanie?” I had to decide right now if I was going to tell anyone. I nodded, “Totally… I’m so beyond fine… I mean… the Beta is my dad… so this is not weird….”
He frowned, “First, I know you’re lying because you’re bad at it.” I winced. He continued, “Second, you have no reason to change into your dad’s shirt that he lying around. I can smellthat shirt has been outside and you haven’t shifted yet. So, there is literally no need for you to find his shirt and put it on.” He made some very valid point.
He sighed, “I’ll escort you home. Ok?” I nodded and he jogged home with me. It was moments like this that made me love it here. Even though Robert was awful, and so were his friends; they were the outliers.
I nodded, “Thanks, Harrison.” He asked, “You know me?” I answered, “Yes because you train with top ranked Warriors… and I might… well… I kind of… spy… is a harsh word, but…” He laughed, “Come on and join us next time, Ladybug.” I squeaked, “Really?” He grinned and nodded.
I ran into the house past my mom who just laughed. It wasn’t uncommon for me to come home in a blur of movement. I burst into my room and checked my email.
I did a little dance because Xander had signed for the dance competition ticket I sent him. His signature wasn’t legible, which was odd for a supernatural, but he was probably in a hurry. I pulled up my app to talk to Tiffany. She answered my video call.
She greeted, “Hey Mel, I’ve got a few minutes before I have to go.” I whispered, “He signed for it.” Her face fell, “Ok, but he’s signed for several now.” I grinned saying, “I know but he could come this time.” She winced, “Just don’t get your hopes up.” I waved, “I know. He’s really busy and…” She cut me off, “He’s twelve.”
I nodded, “Yup… yup… I know. He’s got future Alpha stuff… training… He’s a double Duke… So, like I do get it and…” She cut me off, “You shouldn’t get it. He’s TWELVE therefore he has time.” I frowned, “I mean not really…” She jumped in, “Then stop saving your money and sending him tickets.” I shrugged because she didn’t know I invested my money. It wasn’t really…. in the realm of being legal.
I didn’t use the investment money to send him tickets though. I saved my allowance, which is what Tiffany was talking about. I shrugged, “It’s my money.” Her face softened saying, “And you work hard for it with all the chores you do. You should do things you really like.” I whispered, “I’m meeting him this week.” She rubbed her face, “I really hope you do. I hope those jerks don’t lie again.” They always did, then mom ate her mom monster cookies and stopped believing me.
I admitted, “I’m planning to throw the mom monster cookies away.” She laughed, “Then you’ll get grounded.” I muttered, “Not if she doesn’t eat them.” I heard a gasp and looked over towards the door. I told Tiffany, “I’ll talk to you later.” She waved, “See ya at our next competition!” I waved back and ended the call.
I went downstairs and found Mrs. Dutton there. I asked, “Where’s my mom?” She waved, “Oh, a situation came up and she and your dad went to handle it. Do you know why Warrior Harrison was trying to talk to the Beta before it all happened? My husband said Harrison said it was important before they got pulled away.”
I squeaked, “Huh? What? That’s… well…” She snorted, “Did you beat up one of the Warriors he works out with?” I answered, “No… but he did say I could come to practice…” She laughed, then Grandma Esther came into the house.
Grandma Esther announced, “I’ve got my grandpup, you can go on about your day.” Mrs. Dutton nodded and waved to me before she left. She warned, “If you go to that practice make sure you tell your brothers or your parents.” I was going to go and I would tell them. They were never weird about me practicing. They were proud of my skills.
I asked, “What’s going on?” Grandpa Esther answered, “Boring adult stuff. Which means we are having a grandparent’s night. Let’s pack your things.” I squealed and went upstairsto grab all my stuff. I packed an overnight bag and ran back downstairs. She smiled at me, “Let’s go, Ladybug.”
I took her hand. I asked, “So, you’re not going to tell me what happened either? Because… something did. I heard mom gasp and…” She paused and took me over to the porch swing and sat down and patted the seat next to her. I jumped up beside her.
She started to rock the swing back and forth. She said, “You know, you remind me so much of your dad. He was just so curious about life and able to understand things better than other people.” I giggled, “Because you do.”
