Another thought came to me. The Ring intentionally only targeted Jason… they never went after someone I thought was dead. Why wouldn’t Alpha Peter send Tristan or my dad out? Everyone else went out. I’d never looked into their death because I saw it. It burned. The Ring didn’t know I was looking out for them, but they avoided them just in case word spread. It annoyed me on a deep level.
I put a batch of muffins into the oven and took out my phone. I knew Tristan’s number by heart… I’d memorized it a long time ago. Well… unless he changed it. I debated on calling him after typing in the number for probably ten minutes.
Freya took over and hit call before I was thrown back to the front of my mind. I shouted, “FREYA!” Freya sighed, “You want to talk to him… so talk to him. If you don’t want me to hit the call button, might I suggest sleeping.” I bit my lip because saying I’d tried probably wouldn’t count to her.
Maybe my brother wouldn't pick up the phone. Freya snorted, “A Beta not answering a phone call? Sure.” My wolf was right, but it was early in the morning. I heard the phone connect and some shuffling. I heard a door open and my brother’s feet hitting the steps.
My brother whispered, “Hello? Who is this?” I sighed, “Umm... I shouldn’t have called. I woke you up... I’m sorry.” Tristan immediately responded, “Ladybug? No, no. It’s fine. I’m up. You can always call me, you know that.” I sighed because I used to.
Tristan asked, “What’s wrong? Where’s Alexander?” I spoke answered, “He’s sleeping… because he’s normal…. and I’m… well… ummm… You know what? I’m fine.” Tristan snorted, “You’re still a bad liar, Ladybug, even over the phone. I have to admit it’s nice that you are still you.”
I glared at my phone annoyed he was calling me out on being a liar, but also nearly correcting him about not being who I was before. Eventually it just spilled out, “I just… How didn’t I know?” I started crying. Tristan asked, “How didn’t you know what?”
I wiped my tears explaining, “I was in a part of the Ring. Not the normal one… but I’m… some experiment for them. Jason was listed as the Beta in Edward’s files… I never found your name anywhere... but I didn’t look… because I saw you die… I’m supposed to be a genius.”
Tristan replied, “Ladybug, you are a genius. There was magic involved in this deception and not a small amount. You saw us die, and I am SO sorry for that. I never wanted you to know even a second of pain.” Well, he did not get that wish…. at all.
My brother continued, “I am so sorry I didn’t protect you. We were seeing and speaking to this girl who wasn’t you. It’s all messed up.” I cried, “Why did you believe I wouldn’t come home? I barely made it through long competitions. I wanted to come home. I hated it there.” I could hear Tristan start to cry.
Eventually he composed himself and said, “Any time we questioned things the compulsion made us repeat that you were living your dream. We all would then feel guilty for being selfish and standing in your way.” I was going to get that Vampire. Freya said, “We should since he’s clearly not dead.” That was the logical conclusion.
Tristan explained, “It’s not that we never tried to see you. Hell, dad bought a ridiculous amount of plane tickets for you to come home to see us all the time. Something would come up, even on your first shift. We just got a call that you’d had plane trouble and barely made it to pack lands. Jase and I were waiting for you at the airport.”
He added, “Dad was drinking all the time thinking he ruined our family by not believing you. Hell, we all were. After that fight from the night we thought you left, we thought we’d finally hurt you enough that you’d snapped. We all just felt so guilty for holding you back, and fuck Ladybug, I’m so sorry.” I didn’t say anything for a while.
I heard Everly whispering to Tristan. Great. Now, I had woken them both up. I wiped my tears and grabbed my muffins out of the oven. I told him, “You guys were in your own hell. It still hurts me though. I feel like a bad person because I’m so mad you guys had each other. I made friends… but I’ve been on what felt like an island for a long time.”
Tristan sniffled, “You’re not a bad person. I’d trade places with you in a heartbeat, Ladybug. If I could give that to you, I would.” I shook my head even though he couldn’t see me. I said, “No, then you wouldn’t have Kai. He’s a sweet pup… and he is someone the world needs here.”
Tristan was quiet then he said, “You saved him.” I flinched squeaking, “Says who?” Tristan snorted, “Me. That necklace he wears that’s from you tells me too. I bet it has a GPS locator in it. I know you found him and brought him home.”
Yet another thing that hurt my entire being. If I’d watched Kai after he’d walked into that diner, I would’ve seen Tristan come to get him. I’d just left once my nephew was safe. I whispered, “That’s a guess. You don’t know that.”
Tristan sighed, “I do know that deep down in my bones, Ladybug. One day, we will talk about that. I will never be able to thank you enough. You saved my son. I don’t know why they took Kai, but I know they’d been trying for a while. There was a massive rogue attack.”
I knew what night he meant. We’d missed the rogue attack because the hit on Chelsea and Peter had gone out first. Tristan continued, “They were coming for Kai, I just don’t know why.” I did. I cried, “Me. They were going to take him to try and make me behave. They had nothing else to threaten me with. I defied them and challenged Edward all the time... they were trying to take him to have something over me. I’m sorry, Tristan. I’m so sorry.”
Tristan immediately said, “Hey, that’s not your fault. You did what was right, and they never got him. So, you’re telling me your fake pack was involved with the Ring and Hunters?” I snorted, “There was not an evil deed Edward wasn’t involved with.”
Tristan sighed, “We could use whatever information you have on the Rings, Mel.” I told him honestly, “Everything Edward did is on a flash drive in Eric’s possession. Including Black Path’s Ring activities.” All of it was in Edward’s code... but it was there. I wasn’t ready to give them what I had as the Resistance leader.
Tristan sighed, “You can trust us, Ladybug.” Could I? That was the question. Trust was a thing I didn’t have much of. I was trusting Xander with everything in me. I didn’t know if I could spare any for my family or former pack.
Particularly the latter… or I guess current pack since I hadn’t joined Xander’s pack, and Black Path was never mine. There was a brain teaser... what pack is actually my pack? One where I had love as a pup? Or one where my future was?
Freya said, “He’s asking for trust though. Not the name of your pack.” I knew that. But trust was something that had been beaten out of me. Eventually I said, “I’m trying. I really am... it’s just hard.” Tristan whispered, “I know. I’m still so sorry, Ladybug. We should’ve saved you.”
I replied, “I saved myself.” Kind of... I guess. I definitely saved others. Tristan cried softly, “You shouldn't have had to.” I sighed, “People do things they shouldn’t have to all the time.” Tristan asked, “Will you ever call me T again? I hate hearing you call me Tristan.”
I bit my lip because I hated that I was causing him pain. I wiped my tears saying, “Probably… one day. I really am trying. This is just… I wished for everyone back. It was all I wanted and now….” I trailed off.
Tristan sighed, “You feel betrayed and think we left you behind.” I cringed, “I don’t want to… but it’s not exactly like you left me behind. More like you forgot me.” Everly said, “Not to chime in on a sibling call, but everyone in this pack talks about you. They did the whole time you were gone and they still do. Adeline was pissed you never answered her emails other than to say you were busy. Tank found it odd, a lot. He emailed you too. A lot of people did.”
I asked, “Adeline emailed the fake me?” Everly said, “A lot of people did. Mrs. Dutton and I included.” I actually missed Mrs. Dutton a lot. I snorted, “Well… I have to say… you’re nicer than… well you’re being like Tristan said you were… which was nothing like the fake you in your letters… or on the phone calls… so… I know… you probably don’t get the looks I give you… but…”
Everly cut me off, “No, I do get it. I hate them, but I get it. You didn’t know my handwriting and…” I cut her off, “I looked it up. Someone in your home pack… had to give someone a sample of your writing because your Beta Female duties are done electronically in Red Run.”
Tristan asked, “And how do you know that?” I squeaked, “Uhhhh I’m… the Female Lead Warrior in Black Path… or… I was… gosh… who took my spot? I’d say Addison… but obviously she’s Jason’s… and Avery is Dakota’s… so… gosh… who took it?”
