My dad said, “Yeah, I feel the same way guys. A fucking mated Alpha was coming at her. I can’t with this shit. Anyway, when Melanie declined, he tried drugging her so that he could rape her. Evidently, that was not an uncommon occurrence for her.”
I snarled, “What the fuck does that mean?!” Levi sighed, “She said they basically made a game out of drugging her and trying to rape her.” Drake was sobbing, “My pup. Oh god. What did they do to my pup?”
I emphatically stated, “They didn’t rape her. I can tell you that.” I saw Elise sigh in relief. EJ linked me, “You were her first then.” I answered, “Yes. Not only did she say it, but there was also physical evidence of that.” My dad added out loud, “That was stated by your mate as well, who literally cannot lie for shit. Along with some other words.”
I growled, “What words?” Tristan whispered, “She hates us and she’s right. We abandoned her and let a compulsion tell us Melanie was fine. When in reality that Alpha asshole has been trying to rape my sister since she was fourteen!”
I linked the wolves on patrol, “Someone get eyes on my damn mate and tell me where she is.” Fowler linked, “We are on it Alpha but damn, she’s fast. The patrol at the border is standing back to make sure she doesn’t cross. She’s heading in that direction.” Fuck me.
Drake spoke, “You saved her, Cayden. She said you did. That when she was unconscious you are the reason she wasn’t raped.” Cayden’s jaw ticked, “That’s true. I knew then I should’ve killed that prick bastard. Her friends asked me to get her out of there before she was forcibly marked. Ash, damn it! I mean Melanie didn’t remember what happened when she woke up. I still kicked his motherfucking ass.”
Drake cried, “She’s right. I failed her.” Ben was shaking saying, “She said I disowned her, but I didn’t. She said that we didn’t love her and wished her dead. You know we love her. I love her so damn much. She’s my grandpup. I would die before I let a damn thing happen to her.”
I reasoned, “She’s just upset. She didn’t mean that, I know she didn’t.” Levi commented, “I agree with Alexander. I think she’s a little bitter, and I can’t blame her. You guys haven’t really sat down and talked yet. Even when you do, her entire world was shaken to the core. You guys had each other, but she had no one.”
Sierra snorted, “Excuse me? She sure as shit had someone. Us. We were pups though. We weren’t raised like she was either. She fought the system by herself until she trained enough of us so that we could help her. Hendrick and Mason weren’t on her level, but they got there. They were there for all of us.”
I growled, “Was it a game? Did people really drug and try to rape Melanie?” Sierra sighed, “Most of the men in the pack had this desperation to possess Mel. They called her names because no matter what drug they tried her reaction just isn’t the same as the rest of us.”
I pointed out, “That did not answer my question, and I can tell while Melanie is guessing it’s a game you know.” Oden agreed, “She does.” Sierra admitted, “It was somewhat of a game to them to see if anyone could get the right dose. There was a pretty big pot of money on it.”
I roared, “I WILL KILL ALL THOSE FUCKING PRICK BASTARDS!” My dad grabbed my shoulder and squeezed, “She needs you right now, son. Melanie is what matters. Not some asshole who WILL get what is coming to him. That I promise you, son. Go to her.”
Fowler linked me, “She stopped at the edge of the territory. God, I might be out of shape.” I snorted appreciating that he made me snap out of my anger. I touched Tristan’s back saying, “I’ll bring her back. She’ll probably be upset with herself.”
Tristan stood asking, “Why? The only thing she said that wasn’t true was that we didn’t love her.” Ben huffed. Tristan added, “Well, and that letters were written, calls were made about disowning her, and that we wanted her dead. That’s not true, but the rest of it was.”
Levi disagreed, “You did not leave her to suffer, T. You thought she was living her dream.” Tristan cried, “I should’ve just asked you to follow up on it. We talked about how weird it was she wasn’t coming home.”
“Ladybug is right. She did get so homesick and I’m ready to throw up thinking how hard that was for her. She actually got sick a few times when she couldn’t home. How much did that happen? I was going to call and tell you about looking into it, Levi. Then I just didn’t.”
Levi hummed, “I know you sent me a text ripping me apart for bringing it up.” Tristan whirled around, astonished. He passionately declared, “No, I didn’t. I went for a run in human form, and I mentioned to some Warriors I might have you check up on Ladybug.”
Levi’s jaw ticked, “What?” My dad sighed, “When I find out who has fucked with our phones I will lose my goddamn shit. Levi and T get your phone to my Angel. She and Aiden found a charm that no one can pretend to be someone they aren't, their voice will come through unless it’s a modulator.”
“I don’t know how we fucking do that with texts. Haley and Aiden are still working on that one. Jesus fucking Christ. This shit is so goddamn aggravating.” I snarled, “We need to go after Alpha Ezra.” My dad asked, “With what? Nothing we have says he did this.”
I growled, “WHO ELSE WOULD GO AFTER A MCALISTER LIKE THIS?! He did this to hurt them!” Drake whispered, “Me. He did this to hurt me.” My dad sighed, “We don’t know that. Melanie hasn’t said that. Your Supernatural Council theory is still in play. So, we need Melanie to answer those questions.” I closed my eyes saying, “I’ll bring her back.”
I popped to Fowler. He tilted his head, “Alpha, she’s damn fast, cooks, and is vicious with her words. Rumor is she’s a hell of a fighter too.” I smiled acknowledging, “She is.” Fowler grinned, “Good.” I walked over and wrapped Melanie in my arms.
She was rubbing rings around her neck. I frowned because they looked like her parents' rings. I linked EJ, “Do Sam and Drake have their wedding rings?” EJ answered, “Yes. Why?” I explained, “Melanie has them too.” EJ snorted, “No, she definitely doesn’t. Maybe she bought duplicates to remind her of them.” That could be true.
Oden demanded, “Tell her nothing is wrong with her.” I knew that. My mate was hurting and trauma didn’t disappear. Oden said, “So, Freya thinks something is actually wrong. She was napping and said it felt like something took over Melanie.” Awesome. Another thing to look into.
I was barely holding Oden at bay when Melanie told me her list of people who hurt her was long. I had time. The look on her face told me she felt the same way. Fine by me. We could take down the people on her list together, but some of these fuckers were dying at my hands.
I linked EJ, “We need Corbin. Melanie and her wolf think dark things took over them.” He replied, “Well, he’s here so that’s good.” It was. I popped us back to the living room. I linked my brother, “Not everyone needed to be waiting for us.”
Before he could reply Corbin stood and sent a warning down the bond. Aunt Katie practically jumped to her feet. Oden growled, “I don’t like this.” Neither did I. I linked my brother, “EJ, what is this?” EJ answered, “I don’t know. It wasn't some type of plan.”
I raised my eyebrow as Corbin approached us like we had a bomb. He wanted the rings my mate was wearing. I looked at Melanie and followed her eyes. I closed mine as she realized the ones she was wearing never belonged to her parents. Hurt and pain swam into her eyes.
She briefly flicked her eyes to Chelsea, her gaze reflecting an intense betrayal. Melanie didn’t want to take them off. I sent them a warning now because Melanie was getting mad. She started to hyperventilate again.
I frowned and tried to keep her calm. Drake showed her his ring, and she angrily yanked the chain off her neck. A force knocked all the glass out of the windows in the room and then it struck Melanie. She fell to the ground, but I cushioned her fall.
I yelled, “WHAT THE FUCK?! CORBIN?! What is going on?” My cousin looked at me admitting, “I’ve never seen that kind of power. I just wanted her to take them off over her head, not break the chain.” I desperately felt for something to heal within Melanie, but there was nothing there.
