We’d have to have the car detailed and cleaned. Valentina drove while I held the gauze over my grandpa’s wound. He whispered, “Check on Nick.” Nick chimed in, “Nick is fine. You hang on, Ben. Just stay with me buddy.”
I turned to Nick and glanced at him. I told him, “You do not look fine.” He really didn’t. He looked very pale. I told Valentina, “Call our guy.” Valentina turned, “The Werewolf? But he’s in…” I cut her off, “I know where he is just get us to him. He’s the best and they need the best.” Ezekiel worked in a hospital just not the pack hospital which would work in our favor…hopefully.
Valentina nodded and opened her phone. He was in Black Mountain since that’s where I’d sent him, and he’d thrived with his family. Just like I knew he would. He and Ethan got along really well. This was going to be ok…it had to be.
I checked on Nick’s wound. I quickly changed his gauze and smelled that they’d been hit with silver. I pulled out the antidote for the silver out of a kit in the car. I injected Grandpa Ben, then Nick. Within seconds their color was better.
Grandpa Ben whispered, “My granddaughter comes up with stuff like this. You two would get along.” I choked out a sob. He called me his granddaughter. Grandpa Ben continued, “She’s a tinkerer that one. Loves to mess around and figure out stuff like that. Damn if I don’t miss that girl.”
I tried to suck in a breath, but I couldn’t. I bent down trying to breathe when I felt my mask being pulled off. I whirled around and looked into the stunned eyes of Nick Kyle. He yelled, “HOLY MARY MOTHER OF GOD! MELANIE JANE MCALISTER WHAT THE FUCK IS GOING ON?!”
I pulled my mask back from him and put it on. They were delirious so… when you thought about it, no one would take their word seriously. I climbed into the passenger seat. Grandpa Ben asked, “Ladybug, what’s going on? Why are you hurt? No, who hurt you? I’ll kill them with my bare hands!” I didn’t say anything.
Grandpa Ben continued, “What’s going on? How are you our sniper? Are you our sniper? All these inventions and serums, they were your tinkering experiments? Why are you so upset with Peter, Dalton and Dakota?”
I didn’t answer him. I just stared straight forward. We hit the holoport into Black Mountain. Nick wouldn’t let it go though. He asked, “Why is your heartbeat so fast, Melanie Jane?” Well, because I let you get the jump on me and pull off my mask. Because you’re acting like you care and I feel like my heart is being ripped out.
Freya said, “I was unaware you could talk in your head.” I rolled my eyes, but she did make me manage to smile while I continued to say nothing. Eventually Nick spoke again, “Answer us now, Melanie Jane McAlister.” It was an Alpha Command, and I literally itched to answer him, but I couldn’t. They abandoned me. They didn’t deserve answers.
Grandpa Ben begged, “Mel, please. What’s going on?” Valentina snorted, “It’s funny what happens when you turn your back on people.” Both men shouted, “WHAT?!” simultaneously. Grandpa Ben demanded, “Melanie Jane, you explain that right now.” How dare he! He turned his back on me, and I saved him. He had the audacity to say I need to explain myself.
Nick Alpha Commanded me again, “Young lady you start talking this instant!” We pulled up to the hospital. Valentina shot them with a blow dart gun containing a sedative while I ignored the pain of not listening to an Alpha Command. It was practically a chronic pain to me at this point.
I raised an eyebrow at her. She smiled innocently, “What? It was the easiest way to do all this. We can’t compromise our guy.” I shook my head. Ezekiel came running out. His eyes widened when he saw who was with us.
He asked, “Is this…?” I answered, “The former Alpha and Beta of Red Run, yes. We… were late. We had to save the Luna of Black Mountain.” Ezekiel closed his eyes before he assured me, “I’ve got them. I’ll have to call the Alpha of Red Run.”
I nodded, “I know…just give us five minutes.” He agreed, “I can do that.” I told him, “Don’t let anything happen to them.” Ezekiel studied me then said, “You know them.” I watched my grandfather being rushed inside on a gurney.
I wiped away tears, “I do. Nothing can happen to him. Or Nick.” Ezekiel assured me, “I’ll get them through this.” I told him, “Nick’s shot to the shoulder wasn’t a through and through, neither was Ben’s. The bullets had silver, but I gave them something for that.”
He reiterated, “I’ll take it from here. Get out of here.” I whispered, “I will.” Yet I didn’t move. Ezekiel hugged me, “You saved my girls so I’ll save them both of those men for you.” I replied, “Thanks.” I winced at the pain in my back. He frowned and then saw the back of my shirt.
Ezikiel said, “I can treat you first.” I shook my head, “No, you can’t. You’ll get in trouble.” He reached into his bag and handed me medicine. I frowned saying, “You know this doesn’t affect me the same.” We’d worked together on some things.
He smiled replying, “You are not the only one who likes experiments. You gave me your blood, and I worked up something. You’ll remain alert, but the pain recedes.” I took the bottle before saying, “Thank you.” He said, “We will never be even. You literally saved my family. Get out of here.” I waved, “See you around.” Ezekiel smiled, “I certainly hope so.”
I got in the car and quickly took the pill he gave me. Within minutes... the pain had gone away. I sighed in relief. To my surprise, so did Valentina. She snorted, “You act like I like you being in pain.” We hit the holoport to take us back to Nashville.
We went to my place where I had her disinfect my back and do what she could for it. She cried, “I can’t believe they did this.” I snorted, “The things they do have ceased to surprise me.” Even if it hurt my soul.
I asked, “Do we have any movement on Ariena?” She’d gone quiet and it irked me. Valentina answered, “She’s still underground.” I scoffed, “She’s so annoying. We hurt her so she disappears for years. Well, I’ll get her!” Valentina replied, “I believe that.” I grabbed my black pants and a tight black t-shirt and a wine colored leather jacket.
Valentina questioned, “Who are you challenging?” I turned around answering, “Jean.” Valentina’s eyes widened. She shouted, “What? WHY? OH MY GOD! Sierra found her mate too? I’ve GOT to go on vacation with you guys.” I laughed, “Yes, you do and yes Sierra did.”
Honestly, it wouldn’t shock me if Valentina was matted into the Conners family. I nearly said who my guess was, but that wasn’t nice. I couldn’t give her false hope about Julian Conners. Even though, they’d look super cute together.
We walked outside and went through the holoport that would put us in Black Path instead of her place. She walked me back from the direction of the punishing grounds. The pack was on the lawn when I walked up. My friends smiled at me.
I walked up and announced, “Sierra found her mate.” Everyone stiffened. I looked Jean dead in the eye, “Are you challenging me for her right to be with him?” Beta Jean’s jaw flexed. He glared at me as if I personally mated them myself.
Sierra spoke, “I want to be with him. He’s a Beta too.” Sierra’s mom fanned her face, “Oh my baby! That’s so wonderful!” Jean stood announcing, “I’ll challenge you, Melanie. She’s my daughter and I have the right to say no.”
I told him, “First, no you don’t have the right to say no. Second, you shouldn’t want to since Sierra wants to be with him. Third, you’ve never acted like she was your daughter a day in your life. Fourth, a fact that should also be pointed out is her mate also wants to be with her.”
Jean ignored me saying, “You’re injured. I’ll win.” I laughed, “That doesn’t matter, and you know it. Plus, even if you managed to beat me… her mate would kill you for trying to keep her from him. Trust me when I say… he could. You would bring a weight down upon yourselves you couldn’t possibly imagine.”
Jean paused then asked, “Who is her mate?” Freya scoffed, “He asked that far too late for a Beta blood.” Yeah, maybe we should question his bloodline and not mine. I retorted, “That is one of the questions that should’ve been asked previously. You already challenged me before asking who he was and what pack he was from. You make such non Beta blood mistakes.” Jean grimaced.
