Haley popped me away. I linked her, “Thanks.” She nodded, “I’d imagine you have other things you planned that didn’t happen.” I nodded. Haley bumped my hip, “Don’t think about that shit tonight. You are very talented and clearly have fun dancing and playing the guitar.” I acknowledged, “I do.” She nodded, “Then don’t ever give those things up.” I smiled, “I won’t.”
Someone cleared their throat, so I turned around. I felt myself pale. My Grandma Esther was behind us. Haley squeezed my hand and walked away. I downed my drink before saying, “Hello, Grandma Esther.” She fanned her face saying, “Ladybug, you are stunning.” I whispered, “Thanks.”
Grandma Esther pointed to some chairs, so I sat down. She studied me before declaring, “There is nothing in this world that would make me not love you. You are my grandpup. I may not agree with your choices or the things you do, but I will always love each and every one you.”
A drink was conjured into my hand. I took a big gulp. I nodded “Ok.” Grandma Esther squeezed my hand, “I’m glad you still found things and people who make you smile. Your grandpa tells me you are quite the shot, just like your grandma. You always were my most talented grandpup at our shooting lessons.”
I chugged my drink then asked, “Grandpa Ben said that….about me being a good shot?” Grandma Esther smiled like she had a secret. She added, “Yes, what you did here the other day was impressive. We will have to go to the range together again sometime.” I didn’t sigh in relief, but I wanted to.
I nodded, “We could do that.” The gun range was a safe place. It required protective gear…. and shooting. There were not a lot of heart to hearts happening on the gun range. She smiled and got up. Grandma Esther said, “I’m sure we’ll chat again, but I wasn’t letting another day pass without seeing you and speaking my truth.” She hugged me again then walked off.
I milled around and found TJ and Allison. I smiled greeting, “Happy birthday, Allison.” She jumped into my arms for a hug. Allison stepped back and squealed, “You’re so cool and awesome! Isn’t she, TJ?” TJ smiled at her lovingly, “Of course she is. She’s my sister in law.” I laughed, “I’m glad you guys think so.”
Xander popped behind me. I knew it was him from the scent. My mate said, “Your thirty minutes are up. Now you’re mine.” TJ snorted as Xander popped us away, gripped my hips, and grinding into me. He was definitely ready for sexy time.
Freya purred, “Finally.” Finally? We were crazed sex people last night! Xander nipped my marking spot which made me shiver. He trailed his fingers along my neck whispering, “Alone at last.” I smirked. I had a feeling this was going to be another crazy night.
Be Alert
Alexander listened to Melanie talk over the watches on our side. Mason was upset, but he could get in fucking line. He was going to kill people while I was stuck out here. Lexi announced, “Heath texted me. There were a few Coven members who tried to get through on their side, but he got them. A few are still inside, but they have seven of them.”
Dalton and I nodded to each other knowing they were ours. We watched Addison, Sierra, and Abigail carry Paige inside the pack house. Emmett said, “I told the women to let her in the safe room, Dalton.” I couldn’t help but be jealous.
Dylan snorted, “Now the Moody Triplet is jealous. His mate is commanding a different pack and she’s in the thick of the fight. Can we talk about how ALL Alpha Speedy Holf’s Warriors are just listening to her? Because I did not hear even one growl.” I sighed.
Dylan continued, “Not one ‘hey, I got this lady.’ Because that’s impressive since I see Killian Farmer in there who should be in charge if we were picking people given who is outside the dome. I’ve never had another group of Warriors just listen to me. I even sang for some.”
He turned dramatically to my dad, “Say Saint God Alpha Prick, that sounds like a power of yours. You’ve commanded other packs before, right?” My dad rolled his eyes but answered, “Not without their Alpha there, unless I was taking over a pack.”
Dylan snorted, “OH MY GOD! This is beautiful. Plus, she’s quite the strategist. Does anyone else think she needs to start singingThe Chainby Fleetwood Mac? I do.” Emmett asked, “Does anyone want to tell me how Melanie knows who Killian is on sight? Because I was under the impression she hadn’t met people from my pack, but her statements make me think otherwise.” No one said anything.
Cayden eventually answered, “She does that. Melanie just knows who people are. She knew who I was the first time we met without me telling her.” Emmett asked, “Are we not curious about that? Because that’s weird.” I snarled, “No, we are not.” Emmett raised an eyebrow, “Alright.”
Drake said, “We do teach our pups to know people in the Alpha line.” Emmet said, “Which would be me and my family, NOT Killian.” Drake reasoned, “Killian has Alpha blood and Melanie has always been an overachiever.” Sam agreed, “That’s true and she wanted to meet everyone.”
I changed the subject, “Where’s Alexandria?” Emmett sighed in relief, “Her and Emma are actually shopping in your territory. They are safe with some of my Warriors.” My dad linked me, “This is a pretty good strategy Melanie is implementing.” I nodded.
Dylan snorted, “A circle? So simple yet brilliant.” I said, “She’s been a Female Lead Warrior of a pack since she was sixteen. A pack she's basically been leading herself for four years.” Dylan nodded, “Wiiiitthhhhhh her counterpart. Those poor non-Alpha blood wolves running packs. At least she had Beta blood. Poor Lead Warrior Buck has some Gamma blood in his line, but mostly Warrior. The poor man needed our help before MelAshley turned sixteen. Though he got promotion. So he’s Gamma Buck now.”
Oden said, “That’s true. Buck was likely keeping that pack going all those years.” I didn’t currently care about that or Buck’s promotion to Gamma. Dylan continued, “To your point Moody Triplet, MelAshley did come up with several plans all on her own. Because I think we’ve established the man named Edward parading as her Alpha, when it wasn’t actually him, but was actually Alpha Peter followed by his sons, doesn’t do anything Alpha like.” Dylan munched on his popcorn.
He added, “So, Edward clearly wasn’t giving out battle plans for MelAshley or poor Bucky Buckaroo to follow. Can’t everyone just see MelAshley telling Edward his plan was cute and to shut up while she figured out a better one? Because I can.”
Micah snorted, “That’s not exactly how she’s said it before.” Dylan squealed, “Spill the beans, Micah!” My mom frowned saying, “He doesn’t have any fucking beans. He has inside information.” Dylan smirked agreeing, “Right you are, my goddess. Go on Micah, hit us with the deets.”
Micah snorted, “One time she told him to go tuck his tail in his office because his idea was crap and the adults were talking about what to do.” Dylan squealed, “I LOVE HER!” Tristan asked, “My sister called an Alpha’s idea crap to his face?” Micah answered, “Yes.”
Jason asked, “And what did Edward do in return?” Micah replied, “Went to his office.” Drake questioned, “He didn’t growl at her?” Micah said, “Nope. He just sighed according to Caine, and I watched it later. Edward pursed his lips. No one in the pack growled, including his pack leadership.”
Peter said, “You are joking. His wolf didn’t even growl?” Why were we talking about this? Oden grumbled, “I don’t know.” Dad said, “Going off of Theo’s reports their wolves never growled at her. He suspected it was because they respected her after she beat them in the fight. Now, I think it’s because they were grateful that she was protecting the pack they were meant to be defending.”
Emmett growled, “Why are they holding in the line? They need to attack.” My dad disagreed, “No, they don't. They are letting the rogues wear themselves out on the run to them.” Uncle Jackson laughed, “Ok. Now where have I seen that? I do believe you put out strategies in a paper to the Werewolf community from the Council, big brother. This strategy is one of yours.”
Dylan snorted, “Of course MelAshley is somehow your protégé without you knowing, SGAP. It’s why we call you SGAP.” My dad agreed, “It is one of mine, with improvements. The formation she has is better than mine, unless someone breaks the circle. If Melanie added a few wolves inside the circle, it would bolster that.”
Cayden interjected, “She usually does. Melanie has people assigned though. She’s kind of commanding on the fly right now though.” Emmett added, “And as Dylan pointed out everyone is just listening to her. They don’t even know Melanie.”
Drake said, “She’s my daughter and Alexander’s mate. If you were a Warrior, I’d think you would listen to her because of whose mate she is. Not doing so seems like a bad idea.” Tristan snorted, “No joke.” Emmett nodded acknowledging, “Fair enough.” Oden growled, “It is because I would TEAR THEM TO PIECES if they didn’t. She’s right anyway.”
