I felt nothing but relief when Melanie was thrown a bullet proof vest to put on. I said, “Thank god for that company and those vests we all bought. I’m throwing more money at them when this is over.” Several people inclined their heads at me.
Once the rogues had done all the work running to Melanie’s circle, they were gassed. The attack went exactly how Melanie wanted when the pack jumped in with her friends to attack. Jason asked, “Is it me, or are the rogues avoiding Melanie?”
Dylan snorted, “Hey, even rogues have their moments of clarity. I would avoid her like the plague if were on the opposite sides. Though I am smarter than most. There you go Jase, a dumb rogue has been killed in three seconds by MelAshley in human form. Who needs a wolf? Not MelAshley.”
Cayden snorted, “I’ve said something similar.” Drake growled at them saying, “She’s always had a wolf!” My dad said, “But she didn’t know that and had to train like the wolf less and work to subdue in human form. It’s why we train pups even though they can’t shift.” He was right, but it still grated Melanie couldn’t shift with them when she should be able to.
TJ stiffened. I heard someone running towards us faster than any wolf could. I groaned, “Tell me that’s not who I think it is.” I heard someone trip. A man yelled, “GOTCHA, YOU LITTLE BRAT!” Allison screamed.
Chase snarled, “WHAT IS SHE DOING OUT OF THE SAFE ROOM?!” Emmett ground out, “The Warlocks opened the safe room in the house. We have people down inside. They tried to stop them from taking her, but Allison ran away.”
Melanie gave orders to stay put. Oden said, “I mean this is clearly a distraction.” I knew that. Emmett snarled, “THE FUCK THEY WILL!” EJ cleared his throat and pointed as Melanie took off while Caine and Dax covered her part in the circle. Yellow Hills wolves relaxed the second she took off. They all accepted she was coming to save Allison.
TJ snarled at the men who came into view with his mate. My youngest brother ordered, “LET HER GO NOW!” Allison cried out to him. My heart jolted in my chest. How many times did my mate call out for me and I wasn’t there? I knew of at least twice because of Robert. It would be more though.
Gage linked, “Cut it the fuck out.” I asked, “What?” He answered, “The whole you weren’t there when Melanie asked for you.” I replied, “I should’ve been.” Gage said, “And that sucks, but you had no way of knowing.” I didn’t like that my Gamma was right.
The Warlock laughed at my little brother before he said, “And let our leverage go? Well, I just don’t think I’ll do that.” My mom was holding onto TJ, but his eyes were locked with Allison’s. I raised an eyebrow when I heard Melanie jumping in the trees. She was pretty quiet, but my hearing was great.
Oden snorted, “Freya is not happy about them being in the trees.” Julian linked me, “So, your mate is a squirrel.” I turned and gave him a look before checking the trees to find my mate. Melanie fired an arrow at the man holding Allison.
Said man let go of my little brother’s mate, and Melanie then instructed Allison to run to Lexi’s Fairy house. Emmett said, “I still want to know how she can see that house.” Yeah well, I’d wanted to know longer. Oden snorted, “He wouldn’t believe me if I told him the answer.” I shot back, “I would.” My wolf chuckled.
Cayden had clearly wanted to know the answer the longest out of all of us though. It hit me instantly why he suspected in the first place. I turned to Cayden saying, “When Cassie went out and got hurt at the buy for a drug ring you think Melanie was there.”
Cayden snorted, “Now I know beyond a shadow of a doubt she was. Someone called me. It’s how I tracked Cass. My number wasn’t the first one on the phone. Yet someone, who I know was Melanie, knew to call me so I could get to Cass.”
Cassie said, “And before that, that same person knew to shoot me with Laxenread. That person had my six and called Cayden. They stayed back to make that call and risked me waking up and grabbing her. She risked everything to save me, including her identity.” Which my mate would do for my sister. I nodded.
Allison made it to Lexi’s protected house. EJ linked, “So, their spells aren’t working on Melanie.” I shrugged, “They could be the wrong one.” EJ raised an eyebrow. What? It was a possible explanation. Melanie killed them easily. Wolves stepped out next.
Emmett said, “I’m seriously intrigued by your mate, Alexander.” I snarled at him. Oden said, “I reject that even though Lightning is asking what our problem is.” EJ linked, “That’s not what he meant.” Emmett laughed, “Not in that way, and you know it. I’m happily mated. That was a spell to cause her pain, and it didn’t work.” He was right.
Corbin offered, “That spell is to cause a shifted Werewolf pain. Melanie is unique in that she now has a wolf, but she hasn’t shifted. It is possible her wolf took on the pain without her feeling it. Or because the spell presupposed a shifted wolf it doesn’t hurt her.” I could get behind that. Oden said, “It did not hurt Freya at all.” Good.
Emmett raised an eyebrow replying, “That’s supposition, not proof.” Cayden added, “You have no proof it was anything else, and Melanie is HELL on actual proof. It’s somewhat frustrating and DEEPLY annoying.” Tristan agreed, “Melanie has always been that way.”
My mom asked, “Wouldn’t you be if you were her? Melanie knew those cookies were fucking her over and no one believed her because of said magical cookie. I’d want a mounting pile of evidence for anything if I was my daughter in law.” Everyone winced but mom was right.
Melanie knew the wolves that came out into the clearing. I was not happy about any of this at all. I couldn’t stop my anger when they said they were going to mark her. Drake, Tristan, Jason, and Sam snarled along with all the Red Run wolves, but mine was the one that had people looking at our group.
Hands were holding me back. Melanie linked me to calm me down, but Oden was roaring furiously. My dad linked me, “It won’t happen. They will NOT mark her, son. I don’t care what magic your mother has to do she will do it.”
My mom was on her phone yelling, “Aiden you get your ASS here right now. NO ONE is forcibly marking my son’s goddamn mate. It’s a disgusting practice, and it is NOT happening. Do you hear me? You get people here because we HAVE to get in there.”
She paused then said, “No, I don’t think you do hear me because I don’t fucking see you yet.” My Uncle popped next to her replying, “I really do hear you loud and clear, little sister. Though from what I have learned about Alexander’s mate those against Melanie will lose this fight. It seems anyone who fights her loses.” Except me.
Tank offered, “That’s true and has been since she was a pup. She could always kick our asses. I’m the fighter I am today because losing to her made me better.” When did he get here? Tank squeezed Jason’s shoulder.
Tank had guarded Melanie at several competitions. He’d actually gotten a teacher of my mate’s fired according to Jason after the competition in California for something. I should’ve looked into that, but I didn’t hear about it until years later.
Melanie was going for the kill in her fights. Dylan sighed, “I mean MelAshley the paralyzer could throw us a bone literally and just paralyze someone for Moody Mini Alpha Prick to kill later. Is everyone ok over there?”
“I’d have tried to help calm him down, but I value my life and limbs. Do we need a doctor? Alpha’s man. You all have no self-preservation skills. Notice Mini Moody’s OWN Beta and Gamma were over with me like ‘Nah, I’m not getting in there.’ Because they value their lives.”
I rolled my eyes, “I’d never hurt my family, which include my Beta. Nor would I hurt Gage, and he knows that.” Dylan smirked, “Okay angry Moody Triplet.” Oden told me, “Fang says they do know that.” I knew he did.
Addison called over coms with a problem. Jason groaned, “Awesome.” Dylan snorted, “OH MY GOD! A rule. MelAshley is so adorable with her Beta blood. How anyone missed that sign even after she turned sixteen and her wolf was suppressed, I’ll just never know. I mean she has rules for battle. I’m just saying, the signs were all there. They are even flashing neon sign bright ones too.” I closed my eyes.
