I shook myself thinking that being here was making me a little loopy. My brother’s wolves had no way to know a wolf that was a legend. The white wolf didn’t actually exist. I told Apollo, “Maybe when T joins me here… you can come back. I’m sure he’d love to see you.” Apollo put his forehead on mine.
I cried, “I miss you and T.” Apollo whined. He pulled his head back and howled in agony. Ajax was next. I hugged him, “I’ll protect you, always Ajax. You and Jason. Help me keep him safe, ok?” Ajax nodded then howled in a combination of anger and desperation. It hurt to them leave them.
I managed to stand. The white wolf seemed to be talking to both Ajax and Apollo. They still looked sad. I urged, “Don’t be sad. Maybe we can do this again.” Both wagged their tails. The white wolf nodded, and they howled with delight now.
I couldn’t help but laugh. I was sure it was easier to get Apollo here if he wasn’t attached to a human. Jason must be taking a nap or something. Or this was Ajax’s subconscious….Tears wanted to come but I wasn’t letting them. This moment was everything I’d wanted now that Charmeine was gone.
I slapped myself lightly in the face knowing I needed to get it together. Apollo and Ajax weren’t actually here. This was my own subconscious. Good gosh. Get ahold of yourself, Melanie McAlister. I smiled when I thought the name.
For the last four years, I wasn't sure if that should be my true last name, but now... now, I knew it was. I had a wolf. Drake McAlister was my father. In every way that mattered and biologically. Everyone would know that before I was done with my life’s mission to protect the forgotten. No one would wonder ever again who my father was.
All of Red Run would know they’d turned their backs on me, and I’d never deserved it. The Kyle’s and all of the McAlister’s would regret what they’d done. To honor the memory of my parents and my oldest brother… I’d try with Jason. It would not be an easy process, but he was my brother.
Despite the fact that he hadn’t had my back all this time… I’d had his. That really wasn’t helping tip the scales in his favor right now. It was making me angry though. Ajax and Apollo disappeared in a burst of white light. My heart hurt instantly because I already missed them.
The white wolf ran in the opposite direction. I sighed and took off after her. We eventually arrived back at the creek. It was how I first got here. So, I laid down in the water and felt like I was floating. I felt arms around me and smelled Xander.
I opened my eyes and looked at him and our intertwined bodies. He was perfect. Maybe Charmeine was telling the truth. Maybe…just maybe he really wouldn’t reject me. Freya whispered, “He won’t.” I hoped she was right.
I slowly extricated myself from him because I needed to work off some energy. I went outside and put on my music to dance. I lost myself to my craft that had always been there for me. It was healing to me. Most people would probably be worried if they’d told a goddess off and been rude to one, but I wasn’t one of those people.
I wasn’t worried at all. They sucked at their jobs. They couldn’t smite someone for telling the truth. That would require them to do work, and if there’s one thing knew... it was that the goddesses couldn’t get off their butts to do anything.
More people could tell them off and all they’d do was cry about it. Maybe even complain about how it wasn’t fair that someone was mad at them for being bad at their jobs. One thing I knew about not being good at your job… was you could get hurt for that.
Their inaction had led to so many people getting hurt. Their callous and horrible decision to shield truly awful and evil people had consequences. Sierra, Addison, Avery, Caine, Dax, and pretty much everyone in Black Path who didn’t do a good job got hurt until I took over as Female Lead Warrior.
The goddesses never so much as batted an eyelash at their mistakes because people were afraid to upset them. I’d lost that fear a long time ago. What else could they do to me? They took my family. They ripped my home and everyone I knew away from me. They made everyone hate me
Heck… they basically took my Xander from me. I’d known he was my mate, and they’d let rejection be thrown in my face. They let my wolf be taken from me. They’d made her grow weaker inside me unable to help.
They took the rest of my living family from me. Maybe not directly, but they could’ve stopped it all. They chose to do nothing. They were weak willed…and had no idea what their job was. Nothing should’ve EVER been allowed to happen to Freya. She never should’ve been locked away. Forgotten packs shouldn’t exist. This was THEIR fault.
I visualized the moves in my head before I made them. I didn’t know how long I had been dancing... I did know that I’d seen the sun rise. It was well over my head now. Eventually I heard Sierra ask, “Are you gonna stop angry dancing anytime soon? The guys are worried.” I shook my head indicating I was not.
I heard Phil call, “Don’t you need food? Shouldn’t she be hungry?” I didn’t bother answering… especially because the second one wasn’t directed at me. Besides, there were some days I only got to eat once, if at all. I didn’t like it, but I could handle not eating. I tried not to make it a habit though.
Eventually, arms I knew came around me and I felt tingles. What surprised me was that his arms weren’t stopping me. Xander was dancing with me. It was more of a freestyle dance, but it could work with two people. We were connected in some type of way in this dance because he was anticipating my moves somehow. So, we were completely in sync.
When the song ended, he dipped me and pulled me back up an inch from his lips. My eyes zeroed in on them. The next song didn’t come on which meant my playlist had apparently reached the end. I cringed internally. That meant I’d been dancing for around six and a half hours….maybe more.
Xander lowered his lips to mine. I was positive I tasted like sweat and salt, but he didn’t pull back. Eventually someone’s throat cleared which made Xander growl. Phil sighed, “Not to be that cockblocking guy, but she does need to eat something.”
Xander asked me, “What kind of pizza do you like?” I shrugged answering, “I like meat lovers.” Xander conjured several pizza boxes. I sighed, “I’ll just go shower….” Xander grabbed me with one arm saying, “I don’t think so. Eating takes a much higher precedence than showering.”
Phil added, “Plus there’s a pool we haven’t used. I’m just saying is all. We could just all go change into our suits and jump into the pool. The indoor or outdoor one.” I smiled because honestly that sounded really nice.
Sierra squealed, “A POOL DAY! YES! Say yes, Ash!” I laughed, “Fine, Samantha. A pool day would be fun.” She winked at me. I ate almost an entire pizza before I was satisfied. Sierra snorted, “You see what happens when you miss breakfast and lunch? This is almost dinner.” I rolled my eyes, “You all must have missed lunch too then.”
Sierra smirked saying, “We ate a late breakfast. Your Xander offered to conjure us all food, but I wanted to show off my cooking skills to my man.” I smiled, genuinely happy for her. I wondered if Xander and Phil had figured out every female in Black Path could cook.
Men there tended to hammer it home with the women that all they were good for was cooking and sex. I’d corrected that… harshly…some would probably say too harshly… but it needed to be done. Women could do more and neither of those things made anyone stand out when everyone did it.
I believed everyone had something about themselves that made them stand out. We all had something unique inside us. The men of the pack were just scared for the women to discover their power. For reasons I did not understand. A pack should complement each other with their strengths and weaknesses.
I complimented her, “Then I’m sure they had an amazing brunch.” Sierra nudged my shoulder teasing, “Not your crepes and muffins good, but I do alright.” Phil snorted, “Alright? You guys are the Queens of breakfast. You’ll have to teach classes. The whole pack will be jealous unless they get some. Our allies will beg and plead for recipes. The Conners boys will LINE up for your guys’ food”
He paused then added, “The Hackura are going to try to steal you two to cook with Cindy. Though apparently, they’ve been trying to steal Shley already.” I flushed red while Xander growled. Phil smiled asking, “Care to share Shley? We already know you were offered a spot in the army. As someone who lost a fight to you, I understand why. Who, pray tell, offered a spot to you?”
