I studied my mate realizing, “You’re serious.” She nodded. I snapped her into red yoga pants with a tight black workout top with a black and white striped design on the sleeves. She smiled saying, “This is perfect.” My dad linked, “I mean, I kind of like this idea.”
I popped her to the gym. My Uncle Bjourn raised an eyebrow and sent that he was surprised Melanie made an appearance. I introduced them, “Uncle Bjourn this is Melanie. Melanie, this is my Uncle Bjourn. Which you said you knew at the party.”
Melanie greeted, “King Bjourn, it’s a pleasure to officially meet you.” Oden hummed, “Officially is an interesting word choice.” I agreed and noted that she skipped right on past that comment about the party. I wasn’t the only one who noticed either.
Uncle Bjourn laughed, “None of that now. Please call me Bjourn.” Melanie flushed, “Ok.” She spotted Micah and called, “Come on Micah! You and me.” Micah smirked. “Let’s go.” Max raised an eyebrow asking, “You’re going to spar with Micah?” Melanie shrugged, “Sure. We have before.”
Max tilted his head, “Is that so?” Uncle Gunner smirked asking, “Who wins?” Micah laughed, “It’s either her or a draw.” Max gasped, “Come again?” Uncle Bjourn even raised an eyebrow. Micah laughed, “You should see her and Cayden spar. It’s fascinating.”
Melanie stuck her tongue out at him. They stepped into the ring and to my astonishment he tossed her a bamboo stick. My dad popped in with my mom. My mom snorted, “I really fucking like her, Alexander.” I replied, “I love her.” Mom squeezed my arm, “Go on. Fight out your anger.”
I watched Melanie and Micah for a second. Damn. She was as good with weapons as she was without. I saw Drake enter the gym with Tristan and Peter. All of them watched Melanie in astonishment. I fought my dad, Max, and Uncle Bjourn. It didn’t take as long for me to calm down as I thought. It might even be a record time for me calming down.
My dad laughed, “Never underestimate what the smell of your mate can do for you.” Uncle Bjourn grumbled, “I should’ve gone to get Melanie a long ass time ago.” My dad agreed, “You and me both.” Drake and Peter walked over to our group.
I asked, “Where’s T?” Drake tilted his head, “He wants to get in the ring with Melanie, but she’s fighting Micah and Prince Gunner now and I guess Levi joined. I’m not sure when my daughter became a ninja, but apparently she is one.” I looked over tensing.
Melanie was smiling and holding her own. She’d taken a few hits, but she was still standing. My brothers were all staring at her. EJ said, “I told you she was good as a pup, but I didn’t know she’d be this talented as an adult.”
Peter muttered, “Yes, well I spentcountlesshours being worried and concerned Melanie wasn’t training as much in New York. Haley did something to my phone and I spoke to that Alpha in the pack I thought was hosting her apparently for the first ever the other day. It was annoying to both of us that we were hoodwinked. He thought I’d told him Melanie needed a break from dancing because Tiffany was worried about her.
“In fact, Tiffany was so worried he reached out more than once over the years. I thought I annoyed the shit out of the man for almost seven years calling to make sure Melanie was training. I actually thought she was going to have lost a step or five because she had to be forced to go to train at all. I nearly got an ulcer for no reason because clearly she trained how she always used to then some.” Obviously.
I asked Uncle Bjourn, “How much has she trained with Cayden?” Uncle Bjourn answered, “I don’t know, but I will find out. I know he offered her a place with us. It’s a damn shame she didn’t accept.” I snorted, “No joke.” Uncle Bjourn yelled, “Good fight!” They all stopped.
Melanie turned to ask, “Are you getting in here, T?” Tristan replied, “Aren’t you tired?” Melanie tossed Micah her bamboo stick who was grinning. Melanie shrugged, “I’m fine. Unless you're scared to get your butt kicked by your sister.” Drake choked on his drink.
Tristan laughed, “You’re on, Ladybug.” EJ said, “Uhh is this a good idea?” My mom popped over declaring, “It will be fucking fine. I’m betting on Melanie though.” I said, “I think it would’ve been a big ass problem if Paige hadn’t done whatever she did with the black sweat thing, but Melanie believes in her wholeheartedly. So I do too. Paige fixed that problem, and this is fine.”
I heard cheers and looked up. Warriors from the pack had begun to trickle in. They started chanting, “Muffin Luna! Muffin Luna!” Which drew more people inside. My dad laughed, “I think your nicknames are catching on, Angel.” Mom argued, “Mine are different.” That was true.
Tristan and Melanie were trading jabs, but she was blocking his. Drake snorted, “You’d think she’d been training with him for years.” Peter offered, “She used to sneak in to watch him train.” After thirty minutes Melanie pinned Tristan.
Oden snorted, “Mate was having fun, or she could’ve done it sooner.” I knew that. Drake gaped. Tristan laughed, “You’ve got moves, Ladybug.” Melanie helped him up and the gym roared with cheers for their Muffin Luna.
The pack link was buzzing with news that my mate was a fighter like me. My dad snorted, “My god. You two together will be quite the force. Just wow. We’ll have to catch her up in wolf form. I was thinking that could take time, but I’m obviously wrong.”
Tristan and Melanie came over laughing. Melanie winked at me before she happily said, “Race you back to the house, Tristan.” He replied, “You’re on.” She patted his shoulder, “Hopefully your mate can ease the sting of losing to your little sister twice in one night.” Tristan laughed, “You wish.”
I could tell he knew he was going to lose, he just didn’t care. I warned, “She’s uhhh really fast.” EJ snorted, “She is.” Tristan replied, “She always was.” Fowler hollered, “Smoke his ass, Muffin Luna! Show him no mercy! I’ll know if you do!” Melanie laughed.
Uncle Bjourn smirked before shouting, “Ready, set, go!” Melanie took off. Tristan gaped before he took off after her. Peter mused, “Is it me, or is she faster now than she was as a pup?” EJ laughed, “Blame Alexander.” Everyone turned to face him.
Drake questioned, “Come again?” EJ smiled, “I emailed Melanie when I thought she was Ashley. She specifically mentioned Alexander’s workouts and the fact she does them religiously. She even commented on the amount of cardio in his plans. Then told me not to tell him part of why she mentioned it.”
I asked, “Why did she say that?” EJ answered, “That’s between her and I.” Suddenly we heard Melanie shout, “SLOW POKE!” Drake looked at his watch whispering, “She’s already at the house?” I popped to the living room.
No one but Melanie back yet. She was drinking a Gatorade and winked at me. Tristan ran in and she tossed him one. He raised an eyebrow commenting, “Ok, when did you get so good at fighting? And how did you get faster than you were as a pup?”
Melanie shrugged, “One has to be better and on top of things when in a pack without a wolf. I was also training others how to fight. I watched every video Xander put out. Plus, I fought with Micah and Cayden. Also, I do A LOT of cardio.”
Tristan snorted, “Alexander, you’ll have to give us your programs. I’ll have to review all your videos for the last seven years.” I bit my lip saying, “I can send them to you.” Tristan evaluated Melanie, “You really could kick Dalton and Dakota’s ass, couldn’t you?”
Melanie snorted, “Easily.” I felt her utter confidence in that. Tristan shook his head, “I’ll be damned. I think I believe her.” I chimed in, “You should. She took down a lot of the pack in Switzerland. Including their Male Lead Warrior, in seconds.” Tristan winked at her.
The larger group walked in. I told Tristan, “She also nearly beat me too.” EJ stopped to ask, “What now?” Max yelled, “HOLD ON! Melanie almost beat you?” I nodded. He clarified, “In a fight?’ I chuckled, “Yes.” He shouted, “YOU?” I nodded.
Max pleaded, “TELL me someone has it on video.” I shrugged, “Ask Phil.” Max took off running for Phil’s place. I rolled my eyes. Max yelled over his shoulder, “Micah, start hacking! I MUST SEE THIS!” Micah laughed, “Where did you guys fight?” I answered, “Switzerland. With the pack there. She beat everyone but me.”
