She pointed at me and my siblings, “My kids cannot be compelled. Something else is going on here, but I’ll figure that shit out too. You’re right in saying that what you have is moving forward. The past is just that, the past.”
“We will find a way to move on from this with time. That’s a bitch and a half too, but I’m sure my brothers would be willing to speak to you about that. They are the most amazing group of men about giving space and time.” Drake wiped his eyes again, “I’ll give Melanie anything she needs.”
I linked Cayden, “You still think that’s what the letters from Jase said, don’t you? About wishing she was dead.” Cayden asked, “Don’t you?” I acknowledged, “Yeah, I do. I think they might even say something worse.” Cayden winced before replying, “Probably.”
Jason looked at me beseechingly, “Can you ask them to come back out? I’ll side with dad. Hell, I’ll do whatever I have to do because I need to be in my sister’s life. I have to tell her how damn sorry I am. I was supposed to protect her. How could Ladybug think I wouldn’t want her if everyone was gone? She has to know that’s not true.”
Tristan assured him, “We will get answers. We all agree with you, Alexander. Ladybug can come to us on her own terms. Unless someone else gets kidnapped. Then I’ll have a come to Jesus meeting with my little sister about the things that I know.”
My mom raised an eyebrow, “Exfuckingcuse me? What does a come to Jesus meeting mean? I know you don't want to kill her. That’s how those who believe in Jesus would meet him, right? By dying?” I laughed, “Mom, I love you so much. He means he will sit down with her and tell her what we know.”
My mom frowned in confusion then laughed. She looked at Tristan saying, “I seriously doubt if anyone goes missing that you’ll be able to find her. She’s the Resistance’s best asset by far. If someone is missing, who are they calling? Because I know who it would be if I ran that shit.”
Tristan paled and I growled. My mom reasoned, “She’s perfectly fucking capable, Alexander. With a brand new mindset even. She was punishing herself, but now she’s out to punish those that did this to her. I’m just saying I don’t think you’ll find her for that chat if shit hits the ceiling.”
Uncle Marcus offered, “Not the saying little sister. It’s shit hits the fan.” My mom groaned, “The fucking ceiling is HIGHER than the damn fan! If the shit hit the fan, it could still be fucking worse because there’s some space it could continue to go before coming down to get hit by the fan and sprays the room.” I bit my lip.
EJ linked me, “You just have to love her.” Phil linked, “Are we talking about the tattoos? And the electricity thing your mate does?” I answered, “Not with the larger group, no. I’ll tell EJ and my parents. They might know something about it. We’ll have to read Gage in too, but until we know what’s going on that’s not a larger group discussion.” Phil sighed, “Alrighty then.”
Zoe stood, “I’ll go get them.” I nodded, “Thanks Zoe.” She kissed my cousin, Dana, then walked out of the room. It was tense waiting for them to come back. Jason, Dalton, Dakota, and I relaxed the second the girls stepped into view.
Tristan asked his question. I nearly roared at his mention of Trevor. The only thing that stopped me was my mom’s link, “Alexander Conners, I swear by all that is good and green in this world if you so much as fucking HUFF right now at the mention of that horrible child’s name I’ll get you good. You and me young man, we are going to have ourselves one HELL of a FUCKING of a chat later.”
I replied, “Yes, mom.” Oden said, “Thor is not happy he’s part of the reason mate didn’t file against Trevor.” Well, that response had stunned our group. My dad rubbed his head. I linked him, “Having a good reputation isn’t a bad thing.”
My dad snorted, “Only when it’s used to manipulate teenagers into thinking I’ll excommunicate their only living family as my ally if I find out what happened to them.” I pointed out, “Looking at it from her perspective she’s right, which she’s smart enough to know. That’s exactly what all of us would’ve done IF the situation had happened as she thought it had.”
My dad sighed, “Yes, it is. I would’ve taken over their pack and put a new Alpha family in charge because what she believed happened to her was insane and over the line.” I knew that. Melanie was clearly upset that no one in her home pack had reached out to her. She’d wanted them to know it was her. Based on all the sniper notes that was abundantly clear now.
I could hear someone shifting and grabbing clothes. Dane yelled, “MaryBeth, wait!” MaryBeth squealed, “Not a single chance! Melanie’s home, you slow poke! AND she’s mated to Alexander! We need drinks! Celebrations need to be going on, and I need to hug my niece! So, come on you poky puppy.”
I linked Phil, “You need to stop them.” Phil sighed, “I can try but...” He trailed off, “Well, we are too late.” MaryBeth and Melinda burst through the door. They ran to Melanie who jumped away from them. Then her friends formed a literal wall in front of her. Oh goodie.
They glared at MaryBeth and Melinda, both of whom were confused. Ben McAlister had them walk over to their side of the room. Dane and Landon were not happy at the turn of their mates' moods. I shot them a warning glare, which they really didn’t understand. That was fair, because right now nothing really made much sense.
Landon linked me, “What the LITERAL fuck is going on?!” I answered adding Dane, “Some shit is going on. Nothing was what we thought. I’m pretty sure Melanie has letters from both your mate’s saying they hoped mine died. Which are obviously fake, and I know she has the letters. I just don’t know the content. It was mean though.” Landon physically jolted along with Dane.
Phil linked me, “Ok, officially hating the letter writers, because now I think Melinda and MaryBeth sent them too and they were mean based on my mate’s face.” I replied, “Yeah, that would track and it’s what I just told Landon and Dane my guess for content.” Phil rolled his neck.
Melanie tried to play Ben’s question off about their family as if it didn’t hurt her feelings that they’d disowned her. I could see it on her face and feel it shoot up my foot. It had devastated and crushed her to a degree it nearly brought me to a knee.
My parents shot me concerned looks with my siblings. Probably because some of it felt like me in our bond. The fact there was the hurt in Melanie’s tone and her demeanor hurt me. Hell, all of it showed it had hurt her deeply.
Melinda and MaryBeth instantly started crying. I could tell Ben was about to follow that up. He was hurt and angry himself. I growled to remind him she had questions too. Melanie took a deep breath before asking her question. My heart broke for her when she asked Drake if he was her biological father.
Several people in the room teared up. Her voice sounded so small and fragile, yet hopeful. I linked Micah, “I thought that transition to call her Melanie rather than Ashley would take you a while.” Micah replied, “Honestly, it probably will. I’ve been practicing. I should’ve done more for her.”
I disagreed, “You did everything you could for her, with the information that you had.” Micah looked away from me and answered, “If only that were true.” So much guilt was in this room you could practically swim in it. Drake was beyond pissed off now and Sam looked devastated.
Meanwhile, Tristan and Jason looked ready to destroy something. Melanie interjected in a more broken voice that shattered everything in me. She looked and sounded so small. She desperately wanted the confirmation that Drake was her biological dad.
EJ linked me, “They will die horrific deaths for this, little brother. They do not get to slither into the shadows. They die.” I scoffed, “You’re preaching to the choir, big brother.” Drake assured her it was never in question that she was his daughter.
Melanie couldn’t hold it together anymore. She went down so hard I wasn’t prepared. She sank to the ground and hugged herself, sobbing. I felt like I could feel the fractured pieces of her heart she was trying to put back together with that information.
Her family started to move, but her friends stood in their way. Paige whispered, “I mean this as nicely as possible but hell to the fuck no on you guys hugging her right now. You have NO idea what that lie did to her. None. So, just stay in your spots. Link her wolf. Give Mel a goddamn minute and let her Xander pick her up.”
I did just that, ready to pop us out. This conversation was over. My mom said as much out loud, then linked me, “Not just because I know you were about to pop out, because I did. Or because I’m you’re fucking mom. It’s because she needs a break.”
