I linked Gage, “No.” He replied, “Uh huh. I’m already telling the Warriors it’s not commonplace. It will NOT happen. My eardrums can’t take that.” I shot him a look. KJ linked, “Next time I’ll be closer to her, Alpha Alexander. If that happens I’ll be in that damn dome with her.” Helpful but I wanted to be with her too.
Sam tilted her head rephrasing Drake’s question, “Ladybug, your dad was referring to the fact that you just took down an Alpha.” Melanie shrugged, “Well, it’s not the first time. I seriously doubt it will be the last.”
Jason put his finger up asking, “Can I just say, WHAT THE HELL IS HAPPENING?!” Dylan said, “You could say it quieter. We all have super hearing. Not the mini’s of SGAP super hearing, but still super hearing.”
He whirled around, dramatically pointing between Melanie and me. He squealed, “Also, now I must know who is here for the sparring challenge to end all sparring challenges between MelAshley and Mini Moody Prick over there. We could sell tickets. WE WOULD BE RICH!” Buttercup laughed.
EJ sighed, “We are rich.” Dylan sighed, “You are so like your father.” Melanie chimed in, “I need to go find Sierra, so…” I interrupted, “I can pop you to her. I just have to ask something.” She agreed, “Ok.” I asked, “How did Sierra’s mother allow that?”
Melanie snorted, “She was drugged… I actually need to look into that, because she acted like she didn’t know about it. Maybe they wiped her memories? I’m not sure… but they drugged Caine, Dax, Addison, Elena, and Eden. Sierra was drugged as well.”
My dad asked, “You’re saying they were letting pups be forcibly marked? It’s bad enough letting pups be marked at all. Please dear god someone tell me I’m asleep.” Dylan teased, “If you are, then you dream of me. LET HIM BE DREAMING!”
EJ answered, “You’re not dreaming. dad.” Dylan groaned, “UGH! Mini Alpha Prick, you have to have more fun in your life. You’ll die young if you don’t. You’ll probably only make it to three hundred or something. Then you’ll be known as Alpha Mini Prick Youngster who died too soon.”
Tristan asked, “Can we go back to the part of the story where my sister beat an Alpha and several people with Alpha blood at age fifteen?” Melanie laughed, “I beat my first Alpha at fourteen, Tristan.” Tristan flinched. I don’t think she’d ever called him his full name before. She was speaking to them though, so… progress? Oden said, “Freya said it is.” Good.
Melanie linked me, “I need to let Sierra know he’s gone.” I told the room, “We will be back.” Cayden smiled bragging, “Apparently, to talk to me.” Micah added, “And me.” My dad snorted, “I was on the list too.” Dylan shouted, “ME FOUR! I want on the list. We have to chat about adoptions and whatnot MelAshley.” Drake growled while Melanie laughed.
I quickly popped us out to Sierra. She was sobbing in the forest. Several Warriors had made up a perimeter. They nodded to me. Melanie ran to Sierra and grabbed her. Melanie declared, “He’s gone, Si. He cannot hurt you.”
Sierra cried, “I’m so weak. I saw him and I just flashed to trying to keep him from marking me on the lawn. I saw myself being beaten while daddy just watched and told me to stop fighting.” My mind blanked.
I nearly shouted, EXFUCKINGCUSE ME! Her dad said what?! I managed to keep it contained though. Gage linked, “My mate is linking me weird things.” I snarled, “I’m hearing horrible things so I’m sure whatever she’s saying is accurate.” He sighed, “I see.”
Sierra grabbed Melanie and clung to her, sobbing, “If you hadn’t got your hand in there, he would’ve marked me.” I snarled, “CLAY BIT YOU?!” A few Warriors whistled. One said, “Damn. There’s bad and there’s the secret trap door this bad guy fell down.”
Melanie shrugged, “Mmm he wasn’t trying to bite me… so… I’m not sure if that counts.” I replied, “It counts if HE BIT YOU!” She hummed, “Oh. Well… then it counts.” Addison snorted, “Melanie, he bit you so hard it went down to your bone.”
Someone groaned, “Did you have to say that? Like did you really?” Melanie said, “Uhh I didn’t say it so… well… you weren’t talking to me then.” The Warrior replied, “I was not.” I spotted KJ in the crowd wincing.
I linked EJ, “That fucker tried to mark Sierra in the front yard of her pack.” EJ said, “We knew that already.” I shouted, “Yes, well He BIT MY MATE SO HARD HE REACHED BONE!” EJ sighed, “Of course he did. Is there no level Black Path didn’t sink to? Peter, Dad, Drake, and Uncle Chase are losing their shit.”
I didn’t care, because currently I was losing MY shit. Melanie rocked Sierra back and forth. She whispered, “He’s gone. Phil has him now. Clay will never be a shadow for you again.” How many goddamn shadows did these women have?
EJ linked, “Dalton took the news about Paige being saved by Melanie just about as poorly as you think he did. Dakota is pissed too. Hell, everyone is angry wondering how many guys tried to mark their mates.”
Gage linked, “I’m sure someone has linked you. Don’t worry there’s nothing you can do. It’s a disaster in this room. There is not enough calm in the world, so do what you gotta do before you come back. You’re not the calm one anyway.” He had a point.
I sat down gently saying, “Sierra, you can take your friends back to your room.” She whispered, “I’m so cold.” That didn’t make sense because Werewolves didn’t get cold. Oden linked, “It’s shock.” I amended, “Or to a hot tub since we have several.” She looked at me like I had six heads.
I linked Rose, “I need you to check on Phil’s mate, Sierra. She might be in shock. She’ll probably be in a hot tub.” She replied, “I will do that.” Good. The women, except my mate, were still staring a me without speaking.
I linked KJ, “What did I say that was wrong? That’s usually why women stare at me without saying something this long.” KJ answered, “Nothing. They are listening to you and not shouting. I think they are surprised you’re looking out for them and that you care. Just keep talking.” I was going to take his advice.
I continued, “You guys can relax and have a drink. Rose, a nurse here, is going to come check Sierra out though. She will meet you wherever you end up though. That’s her.” I pointed over at Rose who had joined us and waved.
I added, “I need Mel for a little bit longer. Phil is still angry enough I feel it, but he’ll come to you when he’s calmer.” Sierra nodded, “He linked me. I know that Phil has a hot tub on his deck.” I snapped bathing suits to their hands.
I told her, “It’s your deck too. What’s his is yours now. You’re the Beta Female of my pack.” She smiled, “Thank you, Alexander.” I nodded, “Of course. You are safe here, I promise.” She laughed quietly.
Sierra’s eyes shone with tears asking me, “I really am, aren’t I?” I assured her, “You are ALL safe now.” The women seemed to collectively realize the truth of my statement, and one by one they started to cry. The instinctively reached out to hold each other, even Abigail.
Oden hummed, “The bond between these she wolves and Witch is unbreakable.” I couldn’t help but be glad they’d had each other in their very real version of hell. I just wished with everything in me they hadn’t gone through it at all.
Sierra stood and shook herself. Paige smiled announcing, “Someone is going to find me another cart of alcohol because the dick is dead. Or will be shortly. We are celebrating girls! I’ll have Mel’s drinks since she’s” Paige winked at Melanie, “busy.”
Melanie flushed while several Warriors chuckled. Her friends teased her a little bit more before they walked off. Rose joined them. I linked the Warriors, “Make sure they get to Phil and Sierra’s house.” They nodded and walked with them from a distance.
