I snorted, “How?” Robert smirked, “Fighting.” I snarled, “You’ve seen my mate actually fighting in the Undergrounds?” He snorted, “I’ll admit I’ve made and lost money on her fighting. I went to see Melanie’s first fight thinking she’d finally see her place, but she won. I did get to see her get beaten to shit though, so it was worth it.” I lost all sense and beat the ever loving fuck out of him.
I didn’t stop until I felt a hand on my shoulder, “Son.” I turned to face my dad. He tilted his head saying, “Let the doctors tend to Robert so you can keep him around. You are going to take a walk with me.” My hands were shaking with rage, but I nodded and walked out.
We walked for about a mile before my dad said, “Your mate is not your mom.” I replied, “I know that.” My dad sighed, “But when people say they are going to take Melanie from you, you flash to knowing your mom was taken from me.” I cringed because he was right.
My dad sighed, “Your mom had trust issues, not unlike your mate. The difference is who Melanie would turn her back on. I don’t think there’s a single person who has Melanie’s trust that would betray her. Hell, I don't even know if she’d turn her back on someone she trusted.”
Melanie had to me, but I’d never hurt her. Oden said, “Mate knows that.” Dad continued, “She seems fairly hyper aware of what is going on around her at all times. Your mother, beneath all her layers of mistrust, holds a deep trust for those she loves.”
He reiterated, “Melanie is not your mother. They have some of the same ghosts, and I’m damn sorry about that; however, I won’t watch you go through what I did. I can’t. Your mother is on a warpath about that. I think she’ll ask your uncle for a Guard for Melanie by the end of the week. We won’t let the Ring take her again. You two have been kept apart long enough.
“History is not going to repeat with that scenario. I don’t care how badly Robert claims the Ring wants Melanie. At this point, they don’t want her more than they want your mother, Cassie, or Angela. Their plans with Melanie didn’t work out. That’s just a fact.”
I sighed, “It feels like every time I turn around something or someone else surfaces, and I know it’s not the worst of it.” My dad acknowledged, “I sense that as well. Whatever it is, you’ll get through it, and she will too. I realize that she’s gone through it already, but that doesn’t mean she’s dealt with it. Our family and the McAlister’s will do what you need here.”
I growled, “She’s been shot a lot.” My dad sighed, “People opposed to the Resistance shoot at the them, and you know that.” I conceded, “You’re right.” He said, “That knowledge doesn’t help though.” I agreed, “It doesn’t. She did dangerous things for us. How do I reconcile that?”
Dad answered, “By knowing she loves you and contributed in the ways she felt she could. Melanie was trying to respect something you never said.” I growled, “If one more fucking person says reject in terms of my mate I may lose my mind.”
He replied, “That’s fair and also why I didn’t say it.” I sighed and gave my dad a hug. He said, “I love you, pup.” I whispered, “I love you too. I feel like every damn time I turn around someone is trying to piss me the fuck off again.” Dad chuckled, “Don’t worry, Dylan is sending a memo about what a bad idea it is to piss you off. Good. I popped us back to our dungeons.
Sam McAlister was walking out of Stephanie McCann’s cell. Stephanie sneered at Sam, “I should’ve killed your little brat when I had the chance. I almost did, ya know? Mason and Hendrick interfered, or she’d be gone!” Sam whirled around wide eyed.
I looked around and spotted who I was looking for. I asked, “Mom?” My mom sighed, “Just because this bitch thinks it’s true doesn’t mean it is. I’m sure Fabian would tell people he almost killed me, but I’d disafuckingree.”
She waved her arms, “People like this Stepsycho have an inflated sense of ego. She wouldn’t have fought Melanie because she’d fucking lose. She can’t fight for shit. So, whatever Stepsycho did, I seriously doubt it would’ve killed Melanie.” Sam ran out of the dungeons crying. Drake snarled at Stephanie while Jason punched her in the face.
Elise offered, “I’ll ask Ladybug tomorrow. You’d better get on your damn knees and pray she disagrees with you, Stepsycho.” I questioned, “When are you going to ask Melanie about that? I’d imagine the band is going to be rehearsing since their practice went off the rails.”
Elise shrugged, “I know there’s a pond near your treehouse that she’ll like. I bet Mell will be dancing early in the morning. I’ll find her then talk.” Elise spun on her heel and ran out. EJ sighed and I felt his conflict. I urged, “Go to your mate, I’m ok.” My big brother nodded then popped away.
I beat up several of the Coven members before Dalton and I killed them. Paige was waiting up top for us. I snapped Dalton and myself clear of blood. Dalton told her, “I thought you were sleeping.” Paige sighed, “You asked me to think about the Witch who could’ve started the wolf suppression being a possible thing. Well, Corbin did. It has to be Valdoma. She’s evil to the core. She’d be the only person to come up with it. Apparently, I’m related to her.” I raised an eyebrow.
Paige sighed, “Melanie looked and even though Valdoma changed her name and buried it, it didn’t hide from Melanie. Valdoma has been taking Vampire blood and is several great’s ago for me. Valdoma is evil and rotten. I would bet she did this to Mel.”
Dalton admitted, “We got her name from the guys down there.” Paige sighed, “I really didn’t want to cross her again, but I guess we don’t get what we wish for.” Dalton snorted, “I’ll give you everything you wish for that’s in my power to give you.”
Paige laughed, “You mean that, don’t you?” Dalton nodded. Paige muttered, “Who would’ve known? Not me, that’s for sure. Me and Dalton Kyle. Damn.” Paige turned to me warning, “Don’t hurt Mel.” I assured her, “I have zero intention of hurting my mate. Nor did I ever.”
Paige frowned, “Mel almost made it to you once. We were trying to get her to come to you when she turned eighteen. We were drinking and she decided to do it. She said she was just going to go to the edge of the territory, but I knew you’d sense her. Which meant you’d find her.”
Paige admitted, “I just wanted you to be the man you are. I didn’t know then that you were, but of course one hears rumors. I really wanted you to protect her. I had spells ready to curse you if you rejected her though. Don’t think I didn’t.”
I laughed, “That sounds about right. I wish she’d made it.” Oden growled, “Ask what happened and why mate didn’t.” I followed his advice, “Why didn’t she?” Paige angrily answered, “Trevor. We should’ve gone with Mel. I almost did and I’d have cursed their asses.”
“They drugged her drinks. I found her outside my house when I went to practice spells. Mostly, I lived with Mel, but she wanted me to have a space just for me. I get caught up in my spells and practicing them sometimes. I went to look for her when Trevor’s beaten to hell friends showed up dragging his unconscious ass behind them. I should’ve just taken her to you.” I wished she had.
I told Paige, “Melanie is here now, and she’s not going anywhere.” Paige nodded, “She’d always find her way home to you if she went somewhere. You’ve always been her Xander to Melanie. She’s called you that since I met her. She may be younger than me, but sometimes I wonder if age means a damn thing.”
“Everyone, including the people around here and in Red Run, believe that Mel had a crush that worked out but I don’t. I’ve always sensed this serious power in my friend. I don’t know how, but I know that Mel truly knew you were her Xander.”
She paused then added, “People listen to and follow her like it’s innate. They want to. Melanie sees the people who oppose her, but I see the people who wish they were her. Those who are jealous she took a stand when no one else did.”
“I see those who secretly applaud her actions. They were just scared to agree with her publicly. More people like her than she thinks do. I’m sure you noticed in Black Path, people like her. Yet she thinks they don’t. More people follow her than you could possibly think.”
Dalton raised an eyebrow. I asked, “How many?” Paige smirked, “You’ll be stunned when you find out. It will come out eventually because she’ll tell you everything. Melanie would do anything for you. In fact, most things she does are for you. That’s another reason I always believed her. She always spoke with such conviction about her Xander and never wavered. She acted how a fated mate acts where you were concerned.”
“When I met her, she just wanted to prove herself so her brother and you would be proud enough of her to accept her when she was eighteen. She knew you’d know before she turned eighteen, but Mel thought if she could make Jason proud then you’d be proud too.”
