“I needed to help him and Jase. I had to keep them safe, and I really liked you guys... not in like a romantic way, just… you felt like brothers... like home... like T and Jase used to be.” Melanie put her head into her hands and cried. I rubbed her back.
Cayden gently said, “I should’ve kept you safe.” Melanie smiled, “You did.” Micah raised an eyebrow asking, “How?” Melanie smiled, “I know you kicked Trevor’s butt.” I snarled. She squeezed my thigh saying, “Your presence kept people on their toes. They thought twice about talking to me or coming at me. Most of the pack left me alone after you guys came around.” Cayden frowned, “It’s not enough.”
Melanie sat back replying, “You can’t help someone who doesn’t want your help. I didn’t want your help… other than to keep those I loved safe. I was scared of what that would mean. You guys gave me more than you know. Please don’t feel bad. You never knew me from before.”
Cayden admitted, “I’ll feel bad for quite some time.” Melanie insisted, “I don’t want that. It was my fault. I didn’t tell you the truth.” Cayden snorted, “It took me far too long to realize that you never told anyone your name. I should’ve picked up on that and I let so much go I never should’ve.”
Melanie frowned, “That’s…” Micah interrupted, “You aren’t going to get us to agree that it’s not our fault.” Melanie muttered, “Eventually, I will. I’ll wear you down.” Cassie linked me, “Red One. She certainly gave that up fast.”
I replied, “Mom was right and so is my mate. People will run up to her.” Cassie nodded. Max linked me, “Your mate is like some super genius on the side of good. She needs a superhero name. We need Dylan to get on that.” Oh god, Dylan. He would have so much to say. So very much.
Melanie took a deep breath, “I guess your dad is up next.” Cayden laughed, “This didn’t even scratch the surface of the questions I have, sister in law of mine.” She blushed and smiled. My mate nodded, “Sure, ok... so… later you have questions. That’s fair.” He laughed.
I kissed her forehead. I linked my dad, “Are you with Edward?” He grumbled, “Maybe I was dragged out of there after SHOOTING him in the KNEECAP for SHOOTING TWO FOUR YEAR OLD PUPS! It took your Hackura Uncles because the wolves were going to let me go off.” Fair.
I popped to my dad. He was sitting on the deck of his room with my mom. Dad asked us, “Did you have a productive meeting?” I nodded. Melanie linked me, “You can tell him. It’s ok.” I smiled saying, “With my mate’s permission, that I do have mom, she gave Cayden information on the Hunters and the list of people working against them. Along with the drugs they are pushing. Oh, and she’s Red One.”
My dad gaped then recovered, “I see you had a very productive meeting then. That’s all very impressive, Melanie.” She blushed, “Thank you, Sir.” My dad snorted, “Don’t call me sir. Just call me Eric, please.” She nodded and handed him a flash drive.
Melanie told him, “That’s everything. His books… his contacts… His dealings in drugs. Those he gave to people to be forcibly marked. I tracked some of them down… some of them are here.” She looked away and whispered, “Some were already dead.”
My dad said, “That’s not your fault. You were a pup. This is my job, not yours.” She shrugged, “I was everyone down there. If I wasn’t… people got hurt.” My dad sighed, “That never should’ve happened or been your job.”
Melanie acknowledged, “Nothing down there is how it should be.” My dad told her, “We will take care of it. I promise you that.” She nodded, “I know.” My dad added, “If I have questions about the data, I’ll come to you.” My mate nodded, “Ok.”
I grabbed Melanie and popped her to her friends. I kissed her saying, “I’ll be back.” My mate smiled. I snapped her into her swimsuit from vacation. She said, “Thanks, Xander.” Paige clapped asking, “How much sex does she smell like?” Avery snorted, “None.” Paige sighed, “Mel, we gotta talk.” I laughed, “She’ll smell like it later.” Melanie blushed as I popped away.
I found EJ easily. He nodded asking, “How did everything go?” Elise was by his side. The McAlister’s and Kyle’s were still here. I told them, “She admitted to me and dad she is Red One. I’m assuming Cayden probably knew that. If he didn’t, she told him and Micah too.”
Tristan pursed his lips, “So that’s fair game to talk to her about now?” I nodded, “She knows we have to tell everyone.” Tristan nodded. Sam started crying. I added, “She gave my dad everything she has on Hunters and the drugs they run.”
EJ nodded, “So we have things to coordinate. That will be a big effort.” I agreed, “I got that sense, yes. I’m sure Micah will let us know. Or Max. Micah was going to go through the data.” EJ asked, “What had dad storming out and shooting Edward?”
I ground out, “He had Trevor shoot a pup in front of Melanie when she refused to work with Hunters. Her next visit Edward shot two more just because. She was already there.” Drake roared, “HE FUCKING WHAT?!” I replied, “I’m inferring he blamed her for it too but she said they had more pups to shoot if she refused.”
Jason snarled, “That sick fuck!” I agreed, “He is. I know that mom is going to charm the shit out of him.” I linked her, “I need you to think of something to do to Edward for those pups that died.” She replied, “I’m already working on something for that fucking waste of space.” Good.
We headed to the office to work for a while. Phil came back so I went with him and Gage to our mates. Dalton, Dakota, and Jason joined us. When our women saw us, they all smiled. I snapped them dry when they stepped out. Abigail ran into Gage’s arms, and he scooped her up.
Jason whispered, “Hey, Ladybug.” Melanie nodded, “Jason.” He smiled a little because she’d dropped the Beta title. He cleared his throat, “So, I’d like to talk to you. Just us.” Melanie asked, “When?” Jason quickly answered, “Whenever you want.”
She thought about it before answering, “Ok, I assume you’ll be here Monday so… Monday?” Jason smiled, “That’s great! Monday. Definitely Monday.” Melanie bobbed her head up and down. Addison squeezed her hand and mouthed, “Thank you.” Before they walked out.
I popped Melanie and I upstairs. I asked, “Do you want to talk about that?” Melanie shook her head, “No.” She pushed me back onto the bed. I’d intended to take her several times, but after the first time we came, she started crying.
I frowned asking, “Did I hurt you?” She shook her head and cried, “Freya said… we should wait to mark you until you can mark us. I just wanted to mark you…. I don’t understand. Why can’t anything be easy for us?” I put my forehead on hers, “Hey, it will be ok.”
Melanie was just so frustrated. I told her, “In a way, I have marked you.” Melanie startled, “You did?” I smiled explaining, “When we met, our first time having sex I shared my light. It wasn’t intentional, it was simply my light’s reaction to what I wanted.”
Melanie practically beamed with joy while asking, “You shared your light… with me?” I nodded, “Of course I did.” She rubbed my chest before saying, “You look tired.” I snorted, “I didn’t sleep last night. I don’t need much sleep, but I didn’t sleep well without you either; after I left you in Louisiana.”
Melanie urged, “Let’s go to bed.” I told her, “There’s a party tomorrow.” She smiled, “Ok. Maybe Elise can help me with what to wear.” I smiled and snapped, “There are plenty of clothes for you to choose from in the closet now, Lovebug.” She playfully smacked my chest, “You’re just… too much.”
I laughed, “Nope. That was hot earlier by the way.” Melanie asked, “What was?” I answered, “You taking on all those wolves. It was terrifying because I couldn’t fight beside you but hot.” She tapped my nose, “You might want to start doing searches on out of town wolves and assess them for weapons before meetings.”
I laughed, “We do. I’ll add rocks to the list. No rocks will be allowed into our office from now on.” She smiled and faded to sleep. I was not kidding about the rocks, and I think she thought I was. I would not be on the outside of one of those stupid bubbles domes again. I passed out quickly afterwards.
I woke up without Melanie. I sighed, “I hate that this is a common occurrence. Oden, wake up when she does, will you?” He snorted. Melanie walked in with a breakfast tray. She frowned, “I thought I’d be back before you woke up.” I smiled at her.
