I could barely keep my eyes open when we stopped. I woke up with a start. I sighed when I looked at the clock. It was four in the morning, but I wasn’t tired. I’d trained myself to survive on little to no sleep. My body just had an internal alarm now because I had to serve Black Path their breakfast on time or there was literal hell to pay.
I quickly grabbed my leggings and went down the kitchen still in Xander’s hoodie. I was talking to Jason today. To say I was nervous was an understatement. He had to be more upset than mom, dad, or Tristan were, and he had every right to be.
I’d believed he didn’t want to see me and wanted nothing to do with me. That he’d wanted me as far from him as he could get... in a pack he hated. Great. Jason had every reason to really be pissed with me this time instead of a fake him being upset.
I decided I needed crepes and got to work. Freya linked, “Non sleeping weirdo, Thor is coming. Now Freya is going back to sleep.” I smiled at her tone. I could hear him coming so I was more aware today. I got a plate out and put it on the kitchen counter with a fork.
I heard him chuckle, “I thought it was you down here.” I turned saying, “I know you could smell it was me long before you got in here…so you knew it was me.” Eric smirked, “That’s very true. Why do you wake up so early?”
I shrugged, “It’s an internal alarm at this point. Today I woke up later than normal. I’d be running behind in Black Path.” Eric told me, “You don’t have to cook here. You know that, right? No one will hurt you if you don’t. You could leave the kitchen in shambles, and no one would give a damn. It would just get snapped back at some point.”
I nodded, “I’m… well… it’s… you know… I’ve grown to like cooking. It helps calm me down.” Eric raised an eyebrow as I put all the crepes out. Eventually he asked, “What are you nervous about?” I answered, “Jason wants to talk to me today… and he has every right to be mad. I would be if I was him.”
Eric nodded, “I see. If you’re not ready to talk to him alone, that’s ok. Haley would join you and so would I. Or I could clear Alexander’s schedule so he could as well.” Warmth filled me because I knew he meant that.
I replied, “That’s very kind of you to offer. If the letters I have were actually from him… I’d take you up on it. I told my friends to listen to my family and the Kyle’s side. It’s only fair that I do the same. I just know and acknowledge Jason has every right to be upset with me. Like I said…. I would be if I was him.”
Eric was quiet for a moment, so I kept cooking. Eventually Eric spoke again, “Fair is not really at play here. This is about what you need. Jase may have the right to be upset, but he was not ripped from his family as a teenager in his formative years.”
I admitted, “I can’t remember the last time someone said that to me until I came here.” He asked, “What part?” I snorted, “All of it… but I meant you saying it’s about what I need. I haven’t thought about my needs for a long time.”
“Maybe my friends, Cayden or Micah said it once… before that, I’m pretty sure it was before I left home. I think I do need to hear what Jason has to say. It’s just easier with Tristan because I thought he was dead. There were no harsh words exchanged, be that false words or not.”
I winced, “Those words were still said or written…..so I still heard or read them. I don’t really know how to get past that, but I know that if I don’t talk to him we won’t. I was there for him when I could be. Or I tried to be.” Eric raised an eyebrow casually asking, “What does that mean?”
I sighed, “I’m sure you know what it means. You know I’m Red One. You know Jason was taken by Hunters. I helped get him out… once I was told he was there… which was NOT when I would’ve liked it to be.”
Eric nodded, “Yes, I did think that was likely. Which gives me more conclusions to draw because he came back with a Resistance card in his pocket. So it stands to reason, you know them.” I made a face. He clarified, “I mean you know someone in the Resistance.” I agreed, “It does stand to reason that I do…that a logical conclusion.” That was true….it was and I knew everyone so…I did know someone in it. Everyone…. Evasions were my bread and butter.
I was certain Eric suspected far more than he said from his gaze, but he was right. It would stand to reason that Red One worked alongside the Resistance. Or that I was a part of the Resistance myself. I just wasn’t going to confirm which one that was.
Eric smiled, “Whenever you are ready to talk about that, my door is open.” I nodded, “Ok.” To my surprise he didn’t push. That was odd. Why didn’t he ask? Zoe came in and started cooking beside me. She watched and eventually started handing me ingredients as I kept cooking.
Eric’s brothers came in next. Jackson greeted, “Good morning, Melanie. I’m Jackson.” I nodded, “I know.” Freya chuckled, “I love when you do that.” Jackson snorted, “Of course you do.” Darrin asked, “Who am I?”
I spoke over my shoulder flipping more crepes, “Former Alpha Darrin Conners.” Darrin snorted, “Just Darrin will do.” He kissed Zoe on the top of the head greeting, “Good morning, beautiful daughter in law of mine.” Zoe smiled, “Morning, dad.”
Harold said, “Before you even say former Alpha Harold, I’ll tell you to just call me Harold.” I smiled, “Ok Harold and just Darrin.” They all chuckled. Jackson moaned, “Good god, you’re an amazing cook.” I blushed.
EJ walked in muttering, “I can smell that all the way upstairs. Gimme one.” Xander’s brothers all started to file in. Xander popped in as I was about to set a plate on the counter, so I handed it to him. I wondered if they didn’t run today because Eric wasn’t waiting outside for them. They ran when I made the muffins. So, he must be key for the run.
I saw my family snag some crepes. Jason and Addison were popped in. Sharon again smiled at me warmly. I nodded at her before she popped out. My dad linked me, “It will be ok, Ladybug. We will find a new normal.” I nodded and kept cooking.
Zoe helped me until I relaxed. They were really going to be awed when Sierra was in the mood to cook for them. EJ seemed really excited about whatever meeting he and Xander had coming up. They all left, leaving me, Addison, and Jason in the kitchen.
Addison kissed Jason on the lips which made her shirt move and I saw her mark. I couldn’t help but smile. My friend hugged me when she broke apart from Jason. I whispered, “I’m happy for you, Ads.” Addison squeezed me and linked, “He makes me really happy.”
I replied, “Good, or I’d have to punch him in the face.” Addison squeezed me again, before saying, “Thank you for this. For talking with him. He’s been nervous since you agreed.” She turned to Jason announcing, “I’m going to find Si.”
Sierra linked, “I’m not hard to find and she can totally smell me.” I agreed, “She definitely can.” My brother kissed her again before Addison bounded off with a plate of crepes. I handed him one and he in turn pushed a plate with crepes at me. I felt nothing but trepidation.
Jason said, “You will not get in trouble for eating with me, Ladybug.” I quietly admitted, “Sometimes it’s just that … umm habits are hard to break.” I still sat down next to him. He started eating and eventually, I ate too. I only ate one since my stomach was churning.
We sat in silence until Jason said, “Let’s go into the living room.” I nodded then followed him in and sat on the chair while he sat on the couch. Eventually Jason said, “Thank you for agreeing to speak with me.” God gosh… that was so formal.
I pointed out, “You’re my brother.” Jason asked, “Do you know what Alexander has to tell the group about that chick fight you had?” I snorted, “I was challenged by sixteen girls…in a way. I broke one’s back because she was awful…. and she hurt him with the dome.”
Jason laughed, “Whose Alpha is mad then?” I answered, “I seriously doubt anyone’s. Alpha Theo likes me….and he doesn’t like her.” Jason snorted, “It was Claire then.” I growled, “Yes. The wanna be chosen Luna of Xander’s.” Jason said, “Hey, don’t be upset. He was never going to do to take a chosen.”
