I didn’t understand Buck. He didn’t mark Paisely, which many did forcefully. I usually had to stop that, but he didn’t do it. He’d even kept her in his house, but she’d left it for something… and his men were going to hurt her. He was there and looked pained… it’s why I got her out.
I was marginally worried because Micah had seen Paisley from a distance and heard people talking about her. She was an Omega, but we changed her hair before she left so I hoped he didn’t notice her in Black Mountain.
What was Buck’s deal? I stared at him as if he was a puzzle, but he just gave me a blank look back. Booker snarled, “My fight is next.” I clapped, “YAY!” He snarled and charged at me. I dodged him, to his surprise. I mocked, “Sloppy.” I kicked at his knee and watched delightedly as he went down.
See, I might not be able to come in the doors, but I watched the gym like a hawk. I knew he had hurt his knee before my birthday and his wolf never really seemed to heal him fast. Not that I blamed his wolf… his human sucked. I elbowed him in the cheek and locked him in a headlock until he passed out.
I asked Edward, “So… do I fight Jean next, until he comes Booker here comes to? Because you said I had to fight his wolftoo. I’m just not sure on the order… since you didn’t say… because for some reason you thought those two women could take me.”
“Which is sad considering you’ve seen me fight. One could say you set all these people up. I’ve beaten Alpha’s while injured worse than I am now. At least they landed some hits. This is probably boring for everyone…”
He ordered, “Buck, get your Gamma off the mat. Jean, take her down.” I laughed, “Yeah, Jean. Let’s see your feeble attempt to take me on. Do you think you know all my fighting secrets too?” Jean asked, “What the hell is wrong with you today?”
I snorted, “You cannot be serious. You just can’t…” I turned towards Sierra and Dax. I asked, “Is he?” I winked at them both knowing their dad would attack while I was looking at them. In fact, I was planning on it.
The second he was close enough I bent down and grabbed his arm throwing him over my shoulder and pinning him on the mat. I warned, “If you move, you’ll break your shoulder. I’d tap out if I were you… since you want me to fight your wolf… and that would be hard for him with a limb out of socket. Well… not that you care about your wolf… at least I don’t think you do… because…”
He cut me off with black eyes saying, “I concede the human lost the fight.” Edward snarled, “You can’t do that! You’re the wolf!” Jean’s wolf replied, “And he lost.” Edward growled, “Jean has to say that.” The wolf mocked him, “Jean’s not here right now.” Interesting. His wolf didn’t like Edward either.
He tapped out and I got off him. He shifted and linked me, “I have Jean blocked out. There is so much I cannot tell you that I wish I could. All I can say is look into things because they aren’t as you think. You do not deserve this.” I replied, “It’s ok.” He added, “I was Alpha Commanded to fight you.” I again assured him, “It’s ok.”
He ran at me, and I matched his speed. He jumped and I went under him and jumped on his back, then put him in a headlock. When he passed out, he shifted back to Jean. I called, “Ohhhh Buckkkkkkk, there’s someone else for you carry off the mat.” He did but when he grabbed Jean, he subtly pointed to my left with his index finger.
I heard the snarl and snorted. I turned, “Booker, Booker, Booker. You just can’t help yourself… you had the element of surprise and gave it away because you’re horrible at your job… and at being a person… and wolf apparently.” I guess his wolf wasn’t like Jean’s.
His wolf snapped his jaws at me. I punched him in the mouth with an upper cut. He tackled me and I quickly wrapped my legs around his middle and squeezed. He whined in pain and flipped us. I put my elbow roughly across his windpipe. He scratched my side, but I barely felt it. Vindication was flowing through my veins.
I asked Edward, “Does this make me your Gamma? Because historically… oh no… I could be either your Beta or Gamma and…” He snarled, “You don’t have Gamma or Beta blood!” I replied, “But I beat them both… and…”
He cut me off, “Your challenge was for Lead Warrior.” I hummed, “True… plus I don’t want to be your Beta or Gamma. I dislike you.” Which hurt. He was supposed to be a true Alpha, and he wasn’t.
Dax linked, “Let’s just ease up there, killer.” I asked, “On what? I’m already off Booker.” He replied, “The snark.” Yeah, I didn’t care about that anymore. That was the old Melanie’s problem, she cared. Currently, she was crushed inside me right now and new snarky Melanie didn’t care.
Edward stood, “I’ll end this.” I hummed, “Doubtful.” He came at me, and I put all my anger into my swing. I hit him and he swayed. I screamed and launched myself at him. I hit himover and over, “You’re supposed to protect people! YOU ARE SUPPOED TO BE GOOD!” At some point his face turned into Alpha Peter’s and I hit him with all the hurt I felt.
Caine grabbed me around the waist and pulled me off him and tears streamed down my face. He linked, “I’ll be the Alpha one day. I believe you. I’ll be the good one who does what’s right. I will protect my people. His reign will end and that will be that. Honestly, I’d let you kill him but he Alpha Commanded me to stop you if it got close.”
Sadly, there were others like Caine out there. Sons who hadn’t been trained. Alpha Peter let me believe the lie that Alpha’s were good people. That they had a duty to protect. I never knew in the shadows under the Supernatural Council that wasn’t the cases in packs.
Everyone let me believe a lie then dumped me here to let my perception of reality completely warp. It felt like the floor beneath me fell out and I was all alone. They had their façade going in their packs, but mine was shattered and nothing was the same anymore.
Edward came around and he shifted. His wolf said, “I blocked him out. Like my Beta there is much I cannot tell you. Please tell my pup to move and I love him.” I linked Caine, “Your dad’s wolf asked you to move. He also said he loves you. I think something is wrong with your dad’s wolf.” He didn’t look right. Actually, neither did Jean’s. Maybe that’s what they wanted me to look into.
Caine raised an eyebrow but moved. Edward’s wolf linked, “He didn’t Alpha Command me to fight you and I will not.” He stood there as I went over and gently pinned him. Booker snarled, “FIGHT!” The wolf snarled at him until he bowed in submission. The pack watched in awe.
Edward’s wolf linked, “I’m going to lose control to him again, but thank you for everything you’ve done. I’m sorry. You needto move.” Buck announced, “Melanie won.” I got away from him and Edward shifted back.
He growled “What did he say to you?” I asked, “Why doesn’t anyone know their Alpha’s wolf’s name?” He replied, “Several people do.” I replied, “But the pack doesn’t… and that’s weird.” He shouted, “I don’t care about what you think is weird!” Ok.
Edward snarled, “Francis, get in here.” He gasped and groaned, swaying on his feet. He asked, “Do I have to?” Booker answered, “Your Future Gamma isn’t here because of your future Alpha.” Caine snarled.
I replied, “Please. He’s so not the future Gamma…. he doesn’t even train. He’s not coming because he knows I’d kill him.” I would too. Today especially. Booker growled, “As if you could.” I replied, “I could’ve killed all of you so far. Caine only stopped me from killing Edward because… well…. his dad made him and….I’m not an Alpha blood. I can’t actually be an Alpha and that’s what killing the Alpha makes me… though I suppose…”
Booker snarled, “You cannot be an Alpha.” I wasn’t going to say I could be one permanently. Obviously. I snorted, “I’d be better at than him…if we are being honest.” Everyone gasped. I asked, “What? Is that news? I don’t think it is… a REAL wolf with no human would be a better Alpha than Edward.”
Francis sighed, “Fine. I’ll get my ass kicked next.” He barely swung before I knocked him out. Booker snarled, “Dax.” That fight was actually a challenge because I’d been training him. I linked, “I’m sorry.” He replied, “Do it.” I took him down using a move Xander put out in his workout videos.
Francis came back in wolf form. I asked, “Uhh is his wolf ok? Or is he drunk?” His wolf was stumbling around. I shot Dax a look and he shrugged. I took his wolf down. Francis shifted back, but I didn’t smell any alcohol on his breath.
