“Melanie changed my life in every single way. Hell, I’m standing here ready to go toe to toe with the strongest Alpha Enforcer ever for her. This conversation we are having and my thoughts are not something I would’ve ever considered saying before I met her.”
I asked my wolf, “Is she telling us that giving her opinion wasn’t allowed before Melanie showed up? Because from where I’m standing Sierra is simply protecting her friend and she’s been pretty damn respectful to me about it.”
Oden admitted, “That is what she’s saying, and I’m with you. I haven’t felt offended. I’m just glad she’s such a good friend to mate.” I looked at Phil who looked pissed. Sierra continued, “I even know that I should be terrified because you’re even more predisposed to be offended than other Alpha wolves when it comes to certain topics.”
I asked, “What the fuck are you talking about?” Sierra grinned, “You’re a Hackura so disrespect is never taken lightly. Add in your Fairy blood that cares about what’s fair then your Alpha Wolf blood and it’s a whole combination of things.”
Phil asked, “Why do I feel like you have actual data and scientific data on that?” Sierra admitted, “Well, I don’t. I have access to the information because Melanie has read countless studies and done her own research. The way she loves her Xander cannot be overstated.” Oden felt deep and unadulterated pride that matched my own.
Phil linked, “Well, damn. I want that research. I want it so badly. NO, I NEED IT! Think of the knowledge Melanie has. She did that jewelry iron, wolfsbane, silver thing for you. Good lord, she probably has so much data and secrets in that head.” I boasted, “About me. She loves me.” He replied, “Duh. That was obvious.” Yes, but I enjoyed hearing it.
Sierra waved saying, “That’s not the point. Melanie is one of my best friends and she is quite literally my staunch defender. She’s done so much for me and everyone she’s ever met, and all she ever wanted was her Xander to give her chance. So hearing him say that just makes me really emotional and happy for her.” What the hell happened to Sierra Kiern and my mate?!
She paused then added, “And to be totally transparent, I’m really happy for you too because you could do no better than her. Mel is an amazing person and there is literally NO ONE in all the REALMS that could even touch the level of love she has for you.” Oden said, “She said realms. Mate loves us so much and everyone knows it.” He felt like he was ten feet tall.
I linked Phil, “I finally have a takeaway I like. The realms know my mate is in love with me.” He said, “I’m getting the impression, yes. I’m also getting an impression about what they will call you.” I asked Oden, “Does he mean I’ll be known as Ashley’s Alpha instead of Alpha Alexander until it’s circulated she’s Melanie? Because that doesn’t bother me.” Oden purred “Me either.”
Sierra boasted, “Mel’s so smart and passionate it’s astounding. I’ve seen the world try to beat her down in submission but she doesn’t give in. She’s got a Warrior’s heart and I need you never to break it.” I vowed, “I won’t.”
Oden told me, “I repeat, everyone involved in this dies. No, they die HACKURA deaths. They told mate we didn’t want her. They hid Freya from her. It was from the very beginning when she left. From the day she left Red Run they got their hooks into mate, and I want them to PAY!”
“Then they DARED to say we’d reject her. OUR MATE! They made her doubt us. They have TERRORISED her into doing their dirty deeds in the shadows. They made me feel that ache when they took Freya from her.” I was still pissed he’d felt such pain all these years.
I looked at Phil and Sierra. I told them, “She wants to stay in this bubble. So, that’s what we will do. She gets whatever she wants. I don’t know the whole story, but I will. When I find out the whole damn story, people will die. I’ve wanted her since I was fourteen years old, but I always wanted to know her from the moment she was born. She is MINE! They won’t take her from me.”
Sierra gaped at me before shrieking, “Did you say since you were FOURTEEN?!” I nodded, “Yes. My wolf was certain she was ours when I smelled her hoodie in the back of one of Red Run’s SUV’s going to a school dance. I questioned that since people tend to be possessive of Melanie. They have been since she was little. They hated her toy wolf.”
Sierra smirked, “Her Xander wolf. Yeah, it’s not popular in our pack either.” I snarled, “Your pack is a shit stain, but words don’t express how much I love that she still has that stuffed wolf.” Phil winced, “Hey now on the pack talk.”
I glared at him saying, “They are a shit stain. They ONLY good thing about their pack is Ashley Griffen and she DOESN’T ACTUALLY EXIST! It’s an ALIAS! Melanie is the LITERAL reason anyone ever talks about them in a good light. The world just thinks her name is Ashley.” Sierra agreed, “That’s all true and we know that. My brother and Caine will fix it.”
I told her, “If your dad is party to this, I’ll kill him.” Phil linked, “You remember the plan was that we were going to ease into that.” Sierra snorted, “Can I watch?” We both stared at her. She shrugged, “I’ll find a way to watch if you say no. Maybe my mom will get a good second chance mate. Lord knows she deserves one. Maybe she could even come with me to Black Mountain.” She looked wistful.
I replied, “Your mother is welcome if she is not part of this.” Sierra smiled assuring me, “She’s not. Her and the Luna are under an Alpha Command. They fight it as much as they can.” Phil said, “I’m sorry. I’m going to need you repeat that. The Alpha put his OWN Luna under an Alpha Command? That shouldn’t even work. They are equals.”
He snorted, “Not to mention his own Beta Female, which would obviously work because he’s the Alpha, but it’s a shitty thing to do. Hell, I’d kick Alexander’s ass for doing that to you. Unless it was one hundred thousand percent necessary and all three of us agreed.”
I chimed in, “I wouldn’t do it. I trust you as my Beta, and you know that. Her word would be enough for me.” Sierra sighed, “There are reasons it works.” I surmised, “Reasons you won’t tell us.” Sierra sighed, “Look, that’s a conversation for another day. This is Mel’s show. Things sucked in our pack until she showed up. If not for her, I can tell you I wouldn’t be standing here.” Phil snarled.
I linked, “Uh huh, nice snarl. What happened to being calm?” Phil snarled, “I was already on your level inwardly. Now I’m just outwardly on your level.” Sierra sighed, “Melanie changed things. Big things. She’s a force to be reckoned with and people don’t know how to deal with her.”
I frowned asking, “What does that mean?” Sierra attempted to explain, “That they don’t know what to do with her. They can’t beat her in a fight because she’s stronger and better trained. She’s made the pack better. Anyone who wants to train can now with her. Even if they don’t want to be a Warrior.”
I linked Phil, “She’s saying that like it’s revelational instead of standard.” He replied, “I think it is revelational to them.” Son of a bitch. Sierra continued, “Even if they want to train in secret because the stubborn old families can’t admit their way of life sucks. She bends over backwards to protect people. She’s who people look to in a crisis in our pack. They look right past my dad and the Alpha.”
That wasn’t good for a Beta blood. That should not have been put on her. Oden growled, “It would’ve hurt her, even without Freya, to take the role of Alpha as a Beta. She could easily take a Beta role, but to be both because someone was failing their blood would hurt her!” I knew that.
Phil semi-shouted, “Time out. Can I FINALLY call you Sierra?” She purred, “Yes, just not around Mel.” Phil zipped his lips then unzipped them, “Whatever my Sugar Lips says.” Then he zipped them back.
She laughed, “How did you know my name?” I linked Phil, “She knows the answer. I see it on her face.” He said, “I think she wants to confirm it.” I told her, “We knew the whole time. We know what you and Addison look like. I know the Beta and Alpha families of everyone in the state. Even if we aren’t allies.”
Sierra’s jaw dropped, “Damn. That’s different. Dax thinks Melanie is just being her perfectionist self and going overkill with their tests.” Phil asked, “Tests?” Sierra snorted, “Melanie has tests for them. All of us really. She made flashcards for other packs future and current leadership and quizzes them.”
Which is exactly what we do. The future Beta’s were supposed to make them to help their Alpha. They didn’t make tests though because the pack had them. So not only was Melanie taking on the role of Alpha and Beta she was their teacher. Fuck everything and everyone.
I asked, “Why don’t people look to your brother and Caine in a crisis? Why do they look at her?” Sierra sighed, “Until Mel showed up, neither Caine, nor Dax, were trained. The Warriors were told not to fight them for any reason. So, they fought each other.”
So, two wolves with no training were trying to train each other. Great. Oden snorted, “Such sarcasm for my partial Fairy human.” Yeah, well that’s all I had. This was literally insane and it made no sense.
