Plus, I was much faster. Freya agreed, “A lot faster.” Right? I told her, “I know, it sounds like I’m bragging but…” My wolf cut me off, “It’s not bragging. It’s just a fact. We will save that Luna and her pup. Those rogues will die for what they are attempting here today.”
Luna Anne was running with Mae, who was screaming for Lux and her dad. I ordered Luna Anne, “HIT THE GROUND NOW!” Luna Anne did without question. I jumped over her and snapped the neck of the rogue about to pounce on her.
Luna Anne yelled, “Run, Mae! RUN!” I turned shouting, “NO! Wait!” I quickly killed another rogue. Harrison Bartlett, the brother Lux was waiting on to take over with, reached Anne and shifted back. He took her bridal style and ran. Luna Anne screamed, “MAE! THEO GET TO MAE!”
I took off running after Mae… because… again, I was faster than anyone else here. A rogue jumped on Mae just as I dove and blocked her neck with my arm. His teeth sank deep into my forearm. I screamed in pain.
The Warriors that had come out with me roared in anger. I punched the rogue between the eyes and used his stunned demeanor to snap his neck. KJ’s wolf appeared a second later with an annoyed look. What? Freya snickered in my head.
I grabbed Mae telling her, “I’ve got you, it’s ok.” Mae gasped, “You fast.” For a two year old... in this realm … putting two words together was pretty good. I snorted, “I am.” I ran her to Alpha Theo. He shifted back and hugged her tightly.
I told him, “You lead your pack while I get her to safety... I swear I’ll keep her safe.” Alpha Theo looked at me as several emotions crossed his face. He eventually nodded then said, “Thank you, Melanie.”
I took Mae back and ran to the pack house. I picked up another pup who was trying to run to safety and threw him over my shoulder as I ran. I dashed into the pack house and a hidden door flung open. Luna Anne grabbed Mae, and another woman grabbed the boy.
I ushered them back into the safe room, pulling the door closed. I quickly ran back outside and killed several rogues that were trying to get in. KJ reached the last one before I could and again gave me another look. What?
I surveyed the battle playing out. Valentina was setting people on fire left and right. Lux and his brothers were putting up a hell of a fight along with their Warriors. Wave after wave of rogues kept coming.
Cory’s wolf… and I was pretty sure it was Chason and Fowler, made it to me and KJ. I took out my handgun and shot ten of the twenty wolves that were engaging with Lux. His wolf turned and shot me a smirk. I actually laughed knowing Lake, his wolf, was just as much of a flirt as Lux was.
I took out a knife and began to kill rogues with that. Lux shifted back to ask, “Melanie, how many god damn rogues are coming?!” I winced answering, “A few more waves.” Unless... I bait Alpha Ezra. KJ’s wolf groaned. I asked, “I said that…out loud... didn’t I?” The wolves near me nodded.
I looked at Fowler saying, “I’m pretty sure you’re Fowler.” He nodded. Freya said, “I could’ve told you that.” True. I told Fowler, “If you could….please…ask the trackers if they found what I asked about.” I probably could... but who had the time for them to freak out that I was talking to them? Not me... that’s who.
Fowler nodded then shifted back. He told me, “They found three.” I nodded, “That will be all there is. You’re going to hate this so… sorry?” Fowler sighed, “I already knew I hated it. Just be careful, Muffin Luna.” I said, “Ummm… I mean… I’ll win, it’s fine.”
Fowler snorted, “Your wound may have healed, but Alpha Alexander WILL smell your blood in this field. We are already fucked. Also, you do not sound even remotely sorry about whatever plan you have to bait Alpha Ezra.”
I snorted, “Xander will be more upset with me than you in a minute so… it’s ok.” Cory shifted back asking, “Did anyone else hate the sound of that?” KJ shifted back, “I did. I also find it VERY concerning the ease of which she put her hands between a wolf’s teeth and its target.” I hummed, “I did do that a lot… so…” They all groaned.
I smiled saying, “Remember I make you delicious muffins.” They all snorted at me as I walked to the edge of our fighting line. Freya linked, “Mate is here.” Great. He was going to be so mad. Fowler agreed, “He definitely is.” I huffed, “How do you have inside thoughts? Like in your head… can you teach me?” KJ said, “I’m going to go on record and say he cannot.” I grumbled, “Ugh. Fine.” They snickered.
I addressed Ezra. When my dad screamed my name, I wanted to wince. I knew where Ezra was though. I was not going to show that man an ounce of weakness. Freya warned, “Ezra is not moving to accept.” I wanted to groan, but I knew how I could get him moving.
I challenged him. Fowler whispered, “That’s the plan?! You meant you were going to WIN a CHALLENGE against him?” I whispered, “I mean… the first plan was to get him to come out… but he wasn’t moving… the challenge was the most likely scenario to work though… so… it wasn’t… not the plan?” Fowler groaned, “Is that a question?” I whispered, “NO.”
I added, “If it makes you feel better, he was going to send his pack in without him along with the rest of the rogues.” KJ asked, “Why would that make ANYONE feel better?” I reasoned, “So you know I have a reason… to kill him… or fatally wound him… the plan is taking him alive if possible… Xander will be less upset that way.” They all snorted at me, but the data supported me on that thought being right.
Ezra finally stepped forward. I linked Freya, “That was his pride.” The Alpha pretender was staring away from me. I quickly glanced towards what he was looking at. Freya growled in my head because Ezra was looking at my dad. As if this man didn’t cause our family enough pain. He had no right to look at my dad in human or wolf form.
My eyes were drawn away from them by Valentina’s stance. It made me do a double take. I whispered, “Val?” My Demon friend replied, “He’s mine.” I looked across to who she was staring at. I told her, “That’s Julian Conners.” Valentina wiped a tear away.
Julian was staring at her as if she hung the moon. Valentina said, “Everyone said his mate would be a Fairy.” KJ asked, “Do you girls just want us to get beat up?” I asked, “How does her stating a fact do that? People do say that. Anyway, Val… people are wrong. I actually thought you guys would be cute. I should’ve set you up.” They all glanced at me, but I was right.
Ezra FINALLY accepted my challenge, drawing my attention back to him. Freya snorted, “He can’t make the challenge to the death because he didn’t issue said challenge.” I assured her, “I’m aware…. Don’t worry… he’s always this unintelligent.” My wolf admitted, “So your memories tell me.”
Ezra sent his pack out with the remaining rogues. I ran at him while he was distracted and knocked him to the ground. We both did a roll to get back onto our feet. Ezra tried to shift but couldn’t. I laughed, “Your wolf doesn’t agree with you, does he? That’s the problem with shoving your wolf down with magic. They fight back when they can.”
Ezra simply glared at me… so I did the logical thing. I decided to make upset him even more. I told him, “You can’t change the challenge to a fight to the death. As an Alpha…. and mind you, I don’t consider you one… but I know you make crap up in your pack… combined with the fact you can’t beat me in a fight let alone kill me; however, the fact remains I issued the challenge which means I set the rules. You absolute colossal moron.”
Ezra snarled, “I’ll finally hurt your dad in the way I wanted. He will watch you die... or at least he will think he does.” I snorted, “It’s always good to announce you’re planning to fake my death near so many people with superior hearing. Honestly, how are you still in charge of your pack? Did ALL your brain cells die in the last five minutes? I didn’t tackle you that hard.”
Ezra growled at me then raised his voice, “The Undergrounds miss you and all the money you make them.” JERK! I snorted, “I’m sure they do.” I looked around seeing if now was the moment for the rest of the Warriors to attack. Ezra’s pack was in the thick of it with the remaining rogues, so it was go time.
I shouted, “BLACK MOUNTAIN, ATTACK!” The rest of the Warriors stormed out of their hiding places surrounding his pack. Ezra snarled at me, but I simply smiled. I asked him, “You didn’t think I only brought fifty Warriors with me, did you? That would be a strategic error, and I don’t make those.”
Freya warned, “His Beta is sneaking up on us.” I snorted, “I know. His scent is one I’m aware of.” I kicked out behind me and the Beta went down on his knee with a knife in his hand. Freya sighed, “Wolfsbane. Is this pack full of idiots? Ezra knows that doesn’t work on us.” Fowler jumped on the Beta with Chason, Cory, and KJ.
