Former Forever Beta Dylan Frost
I laughed longer than I should have, then cracked open a bottle of vodka to debate his request. He did seem to like me. Besides, if anyone could keep everyone out of a workshop it would be Beta Dylan. There was just also a zero percent chance he wouldn’t put together who I was. I took a sip and continued to debate it, pulling up a spreadsheet to run probabilities.
Flashback Ends
Elise snorted, “All of our emails would’ve been worded differently if we had a single clue about what happened to you.” I nodded and changed the subject, “Are you still thinking about pups for your next heat?” Elise wiped her eyes, “I don’t know, Mel. After what happened to you…”
I snorted, interrupting her, “You think I’d let anything happen to your pups? I’m the GPS tracking Queen basically… and I kind of chip people and track them as a hobby, so… your pups will be fine and easily located at all times. They would be my nieces and nephews after all. Kai is very trackable. so… that’s a thing.”
Elise bit her lip, “You have me, Alexander, and EJ chipped too. Don’t you?” I nodded, “And technically Cassie. For her wedding I gave her those simple stud earrings she wears a lot… which the probability she would, was high… which is why I bought then altered them.” Elise snorted, “Of course you did.” I shrugged, “I wanted everyone to be safe.”
We sat in silence for a while. Elise asked, “What happened to your back?” I flinched, “What are you talking about?” Elise sighed, “It has to be something. Sierra would only approve dresses that didn’t show any part of your back for the pack party. I’ve only seen you in that dress and hoodies since you got here.” I looked away. Elise whispered, “Ladybug.” I told her, “I don’t want to talk about it.”
We sat in silence for a while. Eventually she asked, “Did you really tell people you’d die before being theirs?” I snorted, “More often than you would think.” Elise cringed, “I don’t like the imagery.” I shrugged, “I was only ever going to be Xander’s.”
Elise smirked, “I’m so glad he turned out to be yours.” I frowned saying, “I told you he was.” Elise laughed, “I know. Most of us were convinced. It just wasn’t official until you met. Which was how?” I told her, “I actually don’t know... he was just at a concert after it had finished. Xander wasn’t there when the show started, then the smell of a sugar cookie was drawing me in. He took me to Switzerland.”
Elise smiled, “It’s a very pretty house.” I admitted, “He taught me how to snowboard.” Elise laughed, “You took to it like a fish to water, didn’t you?” I shrugged, “I picked it up pretty fast.” Elise whispered, “I wish this had not happened to you.” I sighed, “It did, though. It is what it is.” Elise frowned, “Why haven’t you told us all of it?” I looked away and thought about it for several moments.
Eventually, I answered her honestly, “Keeping things to myself is how I have survived for a while now. What you all know has hurt you enough. The more you know… the more upset everyone will be. What’s the point in that?”
Elise answered immediately, “Healing. When it’s all out there the emotions, the hurt, the anger, the bitterness, the guilt it’s all out there. We can heal from there. You aren’t an island. You should’ve been protected all along. You don’t need to protect everyone alone now. We are here as we should’ve been all along, and I’ll never not be sorry for that.”
Freya linked, “I like her. I did from your memories, but this just reminds me of all those moments. Rhea is hilarious and I love her.” I answered, “So do I.” I told Elise, “I’ll repeat, you were running your own pack.” Elise shook her head, “Yes, but you have been and always will be like a sister to me. I’ve beaten that stupid fake you to a pulp and I still feel like shit about it.”
I laughed, “Is she still alive?” Elise packed a heck of a punch. Elise snorted, “EJ pulled me out of her cell before I could kill her. Your fake aunt is a piece of work.” I snorted, “She is.” Elise frowned, “Did she really almost kill you?”
I glanced at her sharply, “What?” Elise shrugged, “She told your mom if Mason and Hendrick hadn’t interfered, you’d have died at her hands.” I wryly said, “At her hands are strong words, and I seriously doubt it. Of all the ways I’d planned to go out… dehydration and starvation weren’t on the list. Stephanie said that to my mom?”
Elise nodded asking, “What did she do to you, Mel?” I asked, “That time? The one she’s talking about… she locked me in the cellar after I’d been punished.” I stood ready to confront that woman. Stephanie had NO right to hurt my mom.
I asked, “Are you coming?” Elise smiled and nodded. We quickly jogged to the dungeons. The Guards on the door to the dungeons nodded to us. They smiled greeting, “Luna Elise, Muffin Luna.” I tried not to smile too big while Elise smirked.
We went down into the dungeons. I kicked on the bars of Stephanie's cell saying, “It’s time for bitter old hags to wake up.” Stephanie startled then glared at me. I reached through and grabbed the collar of her shirt. I grabbed it and pulled her against the silver bars. She screamed as it burned her forehead.
I told her, “If you EVER say some dumb untrue comment to hurt my family again, I’ll beat you within an inch of your life. Do you understand me?” Stephanie screamed, “YES!” I sneered, “We both know you didn’t nearly kill me. Dehydrate me? Sure. Kill me? Please. You freaking wish, you bitter old hag!” I punched her in the head, and she dropped in a heap.
I turned to Edward and Jean warning, “The same goes for you two. Unless you are forced to tell the truth… don’t you dare say any of your typical crap, or even the truth, to hurt my family. You’ve done enough to us as it is. Are we clear?” Both men nodded.
Elise bumped me saying, “We’ve got to train together again. That was a heck of a punch.” I shrugged, “Sure. We could do that.” I squealed to my wolf internally. Freya chuckled, “I do recall how much you enjoyed training with her.” I did.
We walked upstairs together. Elise announced, “I’ve got Luna things to do. I want you to sit in with me next week on disputes.” I agreed, “Ok.” She took off. I told my wolf, “I played that so cool.” KJ said, “You’re talking out loud now and you squealed out loud about training with Luna Elise.” I grimaced, “I did not. Take that back, KJ! It was internal wolf/human squealing.” Several people snickered.
I heard a throat clear behind me. Claire was being wheeled away somewhere, in a bed, but my eyes landed on Alpha Theo Bartlett. I smiled greeting, “I thought you guys were coming tomorrow.” Alpha Theo smiled, “No, I got a text from a girl from Nashville I quite adore.” He adored me?
Alpha Theo continued, “With a far more interesting story than even I imagined. The memos Beta Finn and Dylan Frost have sent are next level about it. I asked Alpha EJ if we could do this today in the morning. He said as long as it was done before Allison Daniels birthday, he didn’t care.”
I saw Lux beside him. I greeted, “Hey, Lux.” Lux smiled saying, “You and Alexander are mates. Why don’t you just break my heart to pieces, Melanie McAlister?” I laughed, “You’ll find your mate, Lux. I have…umm…never mind.” Lux raised an eyebrow
I did have a thought about who he’d be cute with…but I didn’t know mate. So, I didn’t know why I was about to tell him out loud to find Scarlett Thunders….or give him the exact location I TOTALLY didn’t have. Freya snorted, “Now, you’re lying in your own internal thoughts? And poorly, might I add.” Ok, fine. I knew exactly where Scarlett was, but I didn’t know mates. I wasn’t a soul searcher.
Alpha Theo inclined his head, and we walked inside the main house together. Alpha Theo led our group to a smaller office. I asked, “What’s this?” I did have it on my schematics for the house, but I didn’t actually know what it was for. I had guesses, but I like having confirmation.
Alpha Theo answered, “It’s basically a meeting room. You said you wanted to talk in your text. Would that be about not telling me you were Melanie McAlister?” I shook my head replying, “No, logically you know why I didn’t.” Lux smiled saying, “I still like her, dad.”
Alpha Theo chuckled, “So do I. What did you want to talk about then?” I explained, “I gave you my word if I remembered the night of my accident, I’d tell you about it. I remember now and I know without a doubt Trevor tried to mark me. It’s superfluous… since he’s condemned to die already… but I’ll get you the paperwork as an official complaint against him.”
Alpha Theo raised his eyebrow asking, “You’re not going to give the paperwork to your future father in law?” I shook my head, “No, we spoke about this between us. I told you that I’d tell you which to me implies... I’d file the complaint with you.”
