EJ smirked and I saw the signs that Elise had come outside. I turned and did a double take. Melanie was in a fitted, black long sleeve casual dress. I growled at several people who looked at her too long. EJ clapped me on the back, “The pack is curious about your Luna.” They could be curious without lusting after MY mate.
Whispers were going around. I heard the words ‘Red One’ a lot. I walked over to Melanie and tucked her into my side. Several people ran over and hugged her. They cried, “You saved us! You are the new Luna? Alpha Alexander, she’s amazing!”
Several asked what her real name was. The pack was whispering like wildfire about my mate being the famous Red One. People began to filter around. Many stopped by to greet Melanie. KJ came over and introduced himself, “Hello, Melanie.” She replied, “Hi.” He said, “I’m KJ.” Melaine offered, “Melanie, except you said that so… you knew that. I’m just… ummm…awkward…like that…which your face says you already knew about.”
She kissed my cheek smiling, “I’ll be right back. I’m going to grab a drink… and figure out how to be less awkward.” She walked away. KJ said, “I’ll keep guarding her. The real her is a lot more like the file I had on her than the fake her.” He turned and walked with her.
I turned and growled when I saw the woman who had joined the party. EJ turned where I was facing and sighed, “Her again?” Amy Polseter was here all the way from Montana. I saw my mom tense. Melanie was standing by her and noticed so she turned around too.
We all listened to Amy greet dad, “Oh hi, Alpha Eric!” I heard Elise snort. My dad smiled politely, “Amy, what brings you here?” My mom grumbled, “You.” Amy smiled saying, “Oh, well I was around, and I remembered you said to stop by if I was in town. I bought a car.” She started talking about it.
EJ questioned, “How doesn’t dad see she’s flirting?” Elise snorted, “The same way you and your brothers miss it when it happens to you.”
We all looked over when a portal opened. I linked EJ, “Why does Cassie have a fairy charm on?” The woman with Cayden had brown hair and didn’t look like Cassie. Our family knew it was her from the bond though. He answered, “I have no idea.”
I linked Cassie, “What’s with the disguise?” Cassie answered, “Cayden is testing a theory.” I asked, “What theory?” Cassie smiled, “You’ll find out.” Cayden and Cassie separated. So that was clearly part of theory being tested. It would be obvious it was Cassie if they stayed together.
I asked EJ, “Did you get the same answer I did?” EJ nodded, “I’d imagine so. Did she tell you it was theory of our brother in law is testing?” I hummed, “Yup.” Everyone's attention went back to Amy and my dad when Melanie’s voice said, “Hi Eric…. and you are?” Melanie’s face told me she knew the answer.
Amy frowned answering, “Amy. I didn’t realize your pack was so informal in addressing Alpha Eric without his title.” Melanie shrugged, “I didn’t realize there was a decent pack around that believed it was acceptable to waltz into a territory and flirt openly with the former Alpha in front of his mate, and his children…..but here we are.” I wasn’t the only one who spit out their drink.
Melanie wasn’t done though. She continued, “How long have you known Eric?” My dad was surprised but amused. Amy was scarlet red. She answered, “Five years. We are just friends. You are clearly just misunderstanding the….”
Melanie laughed interrupting her, “I’m going to stop you right there because I know so many things. I understand exactly what you’re doing…I’m an actual genius…so I understand a ranging variety of complex topics. Here’s what you’ve failed to notice in the five years you’ve known Eric.”
EJ snorted, “This ought to be good.” Dylan squealed, “I love her! She’s amazing. No one try to change MelAshley ever. Or I will SIC my wind up toys on you. There will be no etiquette teachers lurking around. Or I’ll get them good.” I watched Melanie noting KJ, Chason, and Fowler were all near her ready to act, if necessary, to protect their Luna.
Melanie held up her index finger. Dylan clapped, “A list! She has a list. Beta blood for the win people!” Melanie said, “First, in five years he’s not given you permission to call him Eric. I had permission before I formally met him. Within hours of first seeing his face even… well in person… so… that’s not the point.” It felt like it could be the point.
She held up her second finger, “Second, you’ve seen him glancing over at his mate. I know you noticed the difference in his looks between you and her because you did light little touches to try to bring his attention back to you.”
“The difference in how he looks at you and her is astounding and you know it. He looks at you politely, with a bit of annoyance…which is fair…I’ve only heard you for a few minutes and I’m annoyed. He looks at her like she’s his whole world.” Dylan squealed with delight.
Melanie held up a third finger, “Third. You walked up saying he invited you to stop by. He clarified that you asked him if you could come by some time and he said if you were in the area. As someone who grew up with two brothers, that’s not an invitation, it's a blow off. A polite one even… but it’s still a blow off.”
Melanie’s friends were laughing now while Drake looked amused. Dylan said, “If any of you no fun fuddy daddies EVER tries to make her leave I’ll dump a whole truck of popcorn on you and bury you in it. MelAshley is the best.”
I growled, “Anyone who tries to make my mate leave dies.” Dylan clapped, “Yes Mini Moody Alpha Prick! You tell them. Give them the business. Don’t make me wind up my toys! It would be so easy to detonate that particular one.” I looked at the sky and blew out my breath.
Melanie held up a fourth finger, “Fourth, you walked up here disrespecting Eric, his mate, and his children. One of whom is my mate… and I don’t really react well… when people do that… and I’m trying to make sure this pack like me so… I’m going to need you to stop… before things get physically violent.” Several people out right snorted they were laughing so hard now.
Melanie growled, “You are disrespecting the mate bond between Eric and Haley. Here’s my advice, leave. Go get in that car and go…anywhere but here. This is as nice as I’ll be… and my friends will tell you this is so beyond nice for me….it feels like personal growth.”
Avery snorted, “She hasn’t even raised a fist yet. She’s being so nice.” Paige replied, “Her fists are balled and ready to fly.” Sierra said, “But she hasn’t punched her. She really is going for the whole good impression thing.” Melanie could kill that woman, and no one here would care.
Melanie continued, “If you insist on sticking around, I can’t say I see good things for your life expectancy when I say what else I know. You seem like an intelligent, beautiful woman…not too intelligent…since you’re doing this…but somewhat…you are in a business that makes a profit. So, raise your standards.”
“There is a pool of unmated men out there who would want to be with you. It’s better for your self-esteem too, because chasing a man who will never want you hurts. So, save yourself a little dignity and go. I’m being so nice…and you should run with that.”
Cassie linked me, “Ok, I love your mate so much.” Elise finally broke down and laughed. Buttercup whispered, “Wes, the way I’m holding back clapping right now deserves one hell of an orgasm later.” Jane was snickering and Micah took twenty dollars of Max.
Amy glared at my mate growling, “You don’t know anything little girl.” Melanie snorted, “Alright, then…that was choice….one would call bad…but…. I did warn you to leave, so… this is really on you.. when you think about it…and does not reinforce my decision on starting out nice…being the right move.”
Dad said, “One second, Melanie.” She nodded. He grabbed Amy by the throat warning, “None of that had better be true. Because if you did any of that to my mate, you’re dead. If you speak to my daughter in law like that again I’ll rip your head off. Are we clear?” Amy sputtered but managed to nod. He let her go.
Melanie squeaked, “Uhh what? Me? Wow… uhhh, she wasn’t even that mean. Like people are SO much… yeah… ok….” She turned and looked directly at Cassie, “Hey Cassie, can you do your truth seeking thing? Your mom should stay ALLLL the way over there… even though she could make her tell the truth from there….but I doubt Amy is going to be honest without it.”
Amy frowned asking, “Cassie who?” Melanie turned around looking even more offended than she had six seconds ago. She answered, “Umm Cassie Conners. His daughter who is the spitting image of her mother. How well do you know Eric? Jeez. You don’t even know who his pups are.”
