I didn’t need a bond to know Melanie’s anger snapped. Addison gasped, “Oh god.” Caine said, “Holy mother of….” Melanie let loose a scream of anger, whirled, and took off like a shot. I yelled, “Melanie, wait!” I couldn't deny it felt good to say her name when she could hear me.
My dad asked, “Where is she going?” Caine sighed, “To the pack to her ...” He trailed off, “Well to her not Aunt Stephanie’s house.” My dad paled clarifying, “Stephanie McCann?” Caine nodded. Buck said, “So, Stephanie’s dead. Melanie never really needed a reason but managed not to kill her all these years. Oh well. It won’t be a loss to literally anyone.” He certainly had a rapport with Dax and Caine in an almost Gamma way. I wonder if he was about to get promoted.
Avery cleared her throat, “Melanie said we should hear your sides of the story.” It would be one she wasn’t expecting to hear. Avery continued, “She said that we should give you a chance because that’s what we fight for around here. My wolf agrees with her, but I’ve been determined to not like you for a long time.”
Paige sighed, “Same. Though ours are less to blame than him.” She pointed at Jason. Addison whimpered. Jason snarled, “I don’t understand what the hell is going on!” Addison gently said, “We all just need to sit down and talk once we get Mel situated. She’s not going to want to talk to you just yet, but I want to hear your side of this. I want to know what you guys are talking about.”
Jason nodded agreeing, “Whatever you want, Addison. I’ll tell you everything I know.” Caine said, “He’s right Ads, you get whatever you want here.” Buck asked, “Did y’all ever pay attention when Melanie talked about her brother? Because I can tell you EXACTLY what somehow not the Beta Jason wants. His mate and he always has.”
Caine admitted, “Maybe we didn’t listen because we don’t like him.” Buck inclined his head. Dax said, “Excuse you, but I listened. I’m a Beta blood so while I did know that Jason McAlister does in fact want his mate, I was not saying it for obvious reasons.” Ok then.
I didn’t have time for this. I popped to the pack. With the barrier already down here, I was stunned by the sight before my eyes even though I’d seen it in pictures. My mom gasped, “What the fuck is this shit stain?!”
I was about to explain when I heard several people gasp, laugh, and holler, “GET HER, MEL!” Melanie screamed, “YOU LYING WENCH! I popped to the crowd. There she was, beating the ever loving shit out of a woman who could barely put up a fight.
Sam yelled, “Melanie, it’s ok!” Melanie finally broke and spoke to her mom, “OK?! I’m glad YOU think it's ok, but it IS NOT OK!” She turned back and rammed Stephanie McCann’s face into the brick wall of a house. Drake went to stop her, and Melanie’s Warriors stood in his way.
He raised an eyebrow, “I could easily get by you.” They shrugged. One offered, “We are her Warriors. She’s our Female Lead Warrior, and you are not from here.” My dad advised, “Let her do what she needs to Drake. You might get more information this way.”
Drake nodded and watched Melanie with pained eyes mixed with pride. Melanie screamed, “YOU SAID JASON DIDN’T WANT ME! YOU SAID HE HATED ME! YOU SAID YOU WERE MY AUNT! YOU ARE A LIAR!”
Eventually I stepped in and touched her shoulder. Stephanie had long since lost consciousness. Melanie whirled and turned into my chest. She cried, “It hurts.” I whispered, “I know. I’m so sorry.” I rubbed her back.
Finally, she whispered, “Is it true?” I asked, “About your family?” She cried harder. I pulled back so I could look her in the eyes. I said, “I’ve known who you were from the moment I smelled you in Louisiana. I have always wanted you and I still do. You are mine and I am yours. Your family is not dead. I promise you we will figure this out and anyone who hurt you, emotionally or physically, will die.”
She looked into my eyes and nodded. She whispered, “I don’t know what to do. My place is with you, but I fight here.” Oden growled, “She is OURS.” I replied, “She did say that, but I think the comment is coming from fear. Fear of leaving her friends and fear of the allies for so long.”
Before I could say anything Caine said, “Your time to fight here is over. Those you were fighting against are out of power, and Dax and I are taking over. We can form an alliance with Black Mountain now. We will turn this pack around.”
Melanie whispered, “Ok.” She looked at the man beside Avery then said, “I think you should keep Buck on.” Everyone looked astonished while Avery smiled gratefully at her. Melanie continued, “He’s changing. I think under the right leadership… he could be a good Lead Male Warrior.
“Actually….he should be your Gamma, Caine….there are several other people who could be your Male Lead Warrior…but no one else who could be your Gamma…and their family line does have Gamma blood. He’s never going to be my favorite person, but you need good people right now. I think he could be one.”
Caine laughed, “And you’re taking so many with you, but I’ll talk to Buck about the position he wants. I don’t want to force anyone into anything.” Buck asked, “You’d ask me to be your Gamma?” Caine answered, “You’ve been on the list that Melanie has pushing in my face for years. I wanted her but obviously she’s going elsewhere. You were my next choice.” Oden said, “Mate is NOT his Gamma!” I knew that.
EJ linked me, “I think we need to get home and have a group talk. I’m leaving Warriors behind to help Caine, Dax, and apparently Buck. So is Phil’s friend, Walker’s, pack.” I linked Melanie, “We are leaving people behind to help them. Let’s get you packed and home to Black Mountain.” She nodded and led me towards a house.
She walked in and started crying. I snapped her stuff packed. She knelt by the floor and opened up a safe. She grabbed several things out of it including her Xander wolf. Mason spoke from behind us, “I found your bag in the car. I knew you’d want him safe.” She got up and ran to the King’s.
I looked out the window and saw Drake watching them with pain in his eyes. Melanie said, “I can’t go without you guys.” I offered, “We can help you keep the diner open here. I can have one built for you in our territory. It would be built quickly or conjured. I told Melanie you could come already.”
Hendrick squeezed Melanie and Mason in their hug. He agreeing, “Sign me up. We stayed for her. Where she goes, we go.” I nodded, “If you want to come with us now….” Mason interrupted, “No, we will stay and help the boys for a few days. We’ll be up by the end of the week little Mel.” She nodded.
Mason threw her keys. She laughed and asked me quietly, “Do you want to take a ride?” I replied, “With you? Always.” I conjured her things to my room. We walked out into the garage. I didn’t have to ask which vehicle was hers. It was quite obviously the shiny red bike. She hopped on and handed me the helmet.
I snorted, “I don’t think so. You wear the helmet.” I conjured my own helmet. Melanie smiled then put hers on, and I got on behind her. The bike roared to life and the garage opened. She ripped past her family, all waiting to talk to her.
Oden linked, “I’m talking to Freya. She sounds stronger now that we are together again.” My dad linked me, “So, you’re biking back to Black Mountain?” I told him, “I think we are going to her other place.”
My dad groaned, “Oh good. She has two places. That’s just great.” I told him, “We will be home tonight.” My dad pleaded, “For my sake, son, please do. I can handle the McAlister’s Your mom though, that’s another story. She has things to say.” I replied, “I’m sure she does.”
We made it to Melanie’s other place in no time. She went into the garage. I wondered how many people were living in this building. I didn’t hear anyone else, but there were a lot of cars down her to indicate that other people lived her.
Melanie went over to the elevator and punched in a code. It took us to her floor. There were pictures of her family everywhere. I asked her, “Why aren’t you in these pictures?” Melanie muttered, “I’m in most of them.”
I looked around admitting, “I don’t see you in them. In fact, I’ve never seen you in a picture.” Melanie frowned, “Things aren’t what they seem.” I nodded agreeing, “Evidently. How are you?” Melanie whispered, “Numb. Confused.”
She picked up a picture of her family and cried, “Why didn’t they come for me? Why did they leave me here? I don’t understand. What did I do wrong? Was I too annoying?” I growled, “You did NOTHING wrong and you are not annoying.” Melanie sniffled, “I am.”
