Paige linked me, “Did you send Ryan the mom the monster cookies?” I answered, “I attempted to… frequently, actually.” She assured me, “I will be all of ANY peanut butter cookies in our pack. I’ll snap them up. In fact, I’ll order them all to be brought to me for inspection. Since I can do that as a Luna.” She knew that because I’d tested her on her knowledge of packs…that I taught her in the first place.
I replied, “Definitely do that. Just don’t mention them to my parents…or brothers…or your in-laws.” Paige snorted, “Yes, well evil cookie makers should beware. I love peanut butter cookies and they’ve dared to taint them for my best friend. They will rue the day they were born.” I did not doubt that.
Luna Emmaline popped the Bishop brothers out. Corbin teased Paige and she snarked back at him. I was going to have to explain the Hackura to her again. I was sure her parents had before me, but she didn’t remember that. She was laid back with Cayden and Micah because they were always on our side.
Paige was sassy and fun. She didn’t mean any disrespect with her actions. Paige just treated everyone the same. I envied that about her. Sometimes I held my tongue and yelled at people in my head. Paige would never do that. You always knew how she feels about a situation.
No one has to make her nervous, angry, or any other emotion for her to say it how it was. She’s just a straight shooter. Dalton appeared to misinterpret Corbin’s intrigue for flirting. I knew Corbin had a girlfriend… or...well... maybe… his mate.
I’d covered him a few times and he was usually with this one woman. I’d seen them making out a lot. Did no one else know that? Paige started on a tangent about how her last name would be Kyle and that would be weird. That’s true… she used to talk about hexing them… A LOT.
She’d been determined to hate them, but I was pleased that she didn’t stick to that. I could see how happy she was with Dalton. Which made me happy for her. She deserved every happiness. Katie wanted the rings, so Paige gave them over. I nearly laughed at their expressions. They had a lot to discover when it came to Paige.
I personally didn’t think that the Warlock who was trying to forcibly mark her, would've been able to. Paige was too smart and powerful to have her powers bound by them for any length of time. Paige had never agreed with me though. She said it could happen to anyone.
Paige did agree her powers were bound for a shorter timeframe than most Witches, but she believed it was possible they could’ve made it longer if she’d been with them. I taught her how to fight just in case she ever didn’t have her powers.
Former Gamma Female Sharon popped in to get Dalton and Paige. Awesome… Yet another person I didn’t know how to act around. Great. I hadn’t even talked to Jared yet… and we were close at one time. I was the closest to him out his whole family…and I’d missed him a lot.
Sierra linked me as people began to leave, “You don’t have to do this tonight, Mel. You can just rest.” I asked, “Do what?” Sierra gave me a look retorting, “I know you. You want to apologize and talk to your family.”
I replied, “I need to apologize. I told them they didn't love me.” Sierra sighed, “Everyone knows you didn't mean it.” I looked at my family, knowing she was wrong. I argued, “No, they don’t know that, and I need them to.”
Sierra groaned, “Alright, but just relax.” I snorted, “You know where I’m going after this.” Sierra muttered, “Gym rat.” I teased, “Whom you love deeply.” Sierra agreed, “Yes. I do. Link if you need me and I’ll come running.” I replied, “Love you, Si.” Sierra chuckled, “Love you too Melanie.”
Once she left, it was the right group remaining. I couldn’t even look at my family I felt so bad. I could hear and feel my brother’s hurt from my earlier statements. I may not understand a lot about how they let all this go, but I did know they love me.
I always knew I loved them. I may have my moments of doubt, and I absolutely thought my dad's side of the family didn’t love me; however, I never doubted the core group of my family. Especially those I thought were dead.
Alpha Kyle linked me, “Do you truly understand I would’ve NEVER asked for you to be physically injured?” I answered, “Yes, I do. You only treated traitors that way and you didn’t torment them by having them around the pack.” He pursed his lips.
It was true though. Traitors were in the dungeons until they died. They weren’t allowed to walk around the pack like I was. Alpha Kyle’s version of a punishment was so far away from Edward’s scale.
I thought they should’ve asked more questions about the fake me in all these years. I still felt they should. Alpha Kyle was my Alpha. Apparently until Dalton and Dakota took over, he had been the whole time. He should’ve been there for me. If I was anyone else… he would’ve been.
I didn’t understand why I was their exception. Freya said, “We could call him Alpha Peter as he requests.” I closed my eyes, pissed at myself because it’s something I should’ve questioned harder. He did go by Alpha Peter whereas Nick went by Alpha Kyle. Why didn’t I question that? He would’ve asked anyone to call him Alpha Peter.
I also flashed to the time I’d called and begged him to let me come home. I’d called him Peter. I took a nap and woke up to silver chains holding me down. It didn’t burn me like it should’ve, but I couldn’t get out of those chains.
Trevor and Booker beat me badly for calling him Peter. I really didn’t know if I could call him that. After I was bruised and bloodied, they threw me into the hole and left me there. The same thing happened when I referred to Jason as Jase.
I talked to him more often on the phone and it was a hard habit to break. I’d always called him Jase since I could first remember. It took a long time for me to break the habit completely. I tried to explain everything, but I was certain it wasn’t the best since I was hiding things….all so I didn’t hurt them.
Things changed completely after my tournament. What else could they take from me? I had no wolf. The man I believed was my father... wasn’t. Grandpa Ben’s emphatic statements nearly broke me. Freya said, “Forrest said we are his grandpup and he does love us.” That was my Grandpa Ben’s wolf. Maybe mom’s parents really did hate me instead of them. They hadn’t even come to see me and they were closer than Grandpa Ben and Grandma Esther. I hadn’t talked to her, but I had seen her.
Black Path’s leadership tried for so long to break me, and I just became so angry and bitter. I didn’t want to be there anymore, and I was devastated because I’d been such a daddy’s little girl. I couldn't keep it together anymore.
Freya said, “It’s ok, Melanie. No one expects you to.” I did but it hurt so bad remembering everything. Remembering every horrible thought I’d had in that hole. Every spiraling thought about not being a real McAlister.
When I was all alone, I spiraled. All the self-doubt and hate I’d spat at myself… was all over a lie. I felt like I could feel the literal wounds on my soul. I felt my dad's arms around me and stiffened. My dad whispered reassurances to me along with apologies.
I buried my face into his neck and cried. I’d cried for him so many times, and now he was really here. He was my biological dad, which was everything….so of course I’d never been more embarrassed in my entire life when my dad talked about Xander being the only guy I’d slept with. STUPID WITCHES!
I gave my sexual history to my family. COME ON! That was so uncalled for. Freya said, “All of them are truly glad for this information according to their wolves. Pepper is beyond grateful they know you weren’t raped. He said it would’ve haunted them.”
That made two of us. I’d endured a lot, but not that. I honestly couldn’t imagine it. My dad started to cry, and it tore at the strings of my heart. He couldn’t even keep talking he was so broken up about it. I linked him, “I’m ok dad.”
My dad replied, “I should’ve been there for you. No one should’ve hurt or drugged you. No one should’ve ever been able to drive a wedge between you and Jase. No one should’ve used my death, your mothers, or T’s against you.”
