Alpha Kyle interrupted, “If you’d ever broken with our pack I’d have known. Or Dalton and Dakota would have. I’d have told your dad. You couldn’t have joined Black Path.” Dakota agreed, “You’re still in our pack, Ladybug. You didn’t join theirs.” But I had, through force, and I could link people in Black Path.
Haley cut in, “The person with those answers is in the fucking dungeons. The former Alpha, known as Edward, can answer that. Though calling him Alpha seems like big ass stretch.” I snorted, “Spineless coward is a more appropriate title. I have longer ones if you’d like them…but I haven’t called him Alpha in years….so…don’t feel the need to. He won’t even growl. His wolf is nice…but he sucks.”
Haley smiled saying, “Later I will definitely want those names. I love a damn good nickname. Why do you think Peter banished you?” I didn’t think he did. In fact, I could prove it. I didn’t know how he could link me, but apparently I could link people I shouldn’t be able to.
I turned to Xander whispering, “Pop us to your room.” My dad said, “Ladybug, please don’t go. I know this is so hard for you right now, but we need to talk. We have to find out what happened and where the enemies are.”
I told him, “We are coming right back. I’m going to prove to you all Alpha Kyle DID banish me.” Sierra linked, “Or you could show them using ILYX.” I was absolutely not going to do that. I asked, “Whhhattt? Who said I put them there? Not me…that’s who.” She groaned, “For god’s sake don’t lie. I know they are on the system, just not where.” Fair…I hid them.
Xander popped us to his room, and I found my stuff. I opened my old backpack where I had all my letters. I dug through it and found the one from Alpha Kyle. I turned declaring, “I got it.” He nodded, leaned down, and kissed me.
I dropped the letter and wrapped my arms around him. He slowly pulled back saying, “I just needed to kiss you.” I smiled, “Ok.” He conjured the letter to my hands and popped us downstairs. The question was who to hand it to.
Ultimately, I gave it to EJ since he was the Lead Alpha and we were in his territory. He frowned and opened it. Elise gasped, “But dad didn’t do this. None of this is true! OH MY GOD! EJ, they said….” EJ responded in shock cutting her off, “I see it, Elise.” He looked up at me with pity and shock in his eyes.
I shrugged, “That’s his handwriting and his Alpha seal. He DID write it.” Alpha Kyle charged across the room and took the letter. He started shaking in anger. Freya said, “Thunder is nearly forcing a shift.” That didn’t make sense because Thunder would know about the letter.
Mom whispered, “We had a party that got crazy. I had to order a new seal for Peter because we never found his after that. We didn’t think anyone stole it to write letters as Peter.” I snorted, “Well, that’s incredibly convenient.” Cayden winced.
Alpha Kyle studied me before he turned to Haley. He demanded, “Make me tell the truth, please. Ask me if I ever banished Melanie.” Haley raised an eyebrow asking, “Did you banish Melanie?” Alpha Kyle answered, “No. She’s basically my own daughter and I would never hurt her.” I honestly didn’t know what to say to that.
Addison, Sierra, Avery, and Paige gasped. Sierra broke first and ran to me. My friends all surrounded me. I hadn’t even realized they were here besides Sierra. I should’ve realized the other three were here since their mates were.
Tristan asked, “Can I ask a question now?” Xander chimed in, “That very much depends on your question. Buttercup, show Melanie and her friends our main office. I have some things to say about what this upcoming conversation entails.”
Buttercup stood while several people growled. Freya snarled back, not liking her mate being growled at. That shut everyone else up. Buttercup showed me the office. I smiled admitting, “It’s nice.” Paige linked, “You knew exactly what it looked like.” Ok, so it looked good in person. I stuck my tongue out her and she smirked.
Buttercup snorted, “It’s also soundproofed. So, they can’t hear us, and we can’t hear them.” I shrugged, “I need a mental break anyway.” Buttercup touched my hand admitting, “I can’t even imagine.” Addison squeezed my hand asking, “Mel?”
I wondered out loud, “If Alpha Kyle never banished me… how did I join Black Path? I can link everyone there. I never tried to link the pack leadership… but I had to have joined… except Alpha Kyle’s telling the truth. If that letter isn’t from him… are any of the letters real?”
Sierra said, “I don’t think they are. They all seem genuinely confused.” I started to cry, “Why would someone do this to me? Is any of it real? Is anything I know real?” Paige grabbed my hand stating, “We are real and forged in fire. You said it yourself. I don’t know about the massive, complicated plot going on out there.” She waved her hands around.
She continued, “I do know there’s a lot of love for you in that room. None will shine brighter than ours though.” I laughed. Sierra snorted, “Heck yeah girl. If I don’t hear a Melanie rant in person for a few days, I’ll hunt your ass down. Which will be easy as your Beta Female. The only way that could remotely happen is if I was on vacation.”
Addison laughed, “Same.” Avery smiled, “Exactly. Who can live without a Melanie rant. Even before we were friends, I wanted to be around to hear your rants. They were educational and hilarious.” Well, that was new information.
I looked at Paige, “No one can see me in pictures.” Paige argued “I can see you in pictures.” Buttercup offered, “No one but Black Path and Red Run can then.” Paige sighed, “I’ll look into it and fix whatever is going on.” I nodded knowing she’d figure it out. She was easily the most talented Witch of our generation, if not all of them.
Paige asked Buttercup, “Do you know any good Covens around here?” I laughed, “The Bishop siblings Coven is in Red Run. You’re the Luna of the pack there…so they will let you in. When they discover how good you are they’ll die of joy.” Paige winked, “You’re biased.”
I rolled my eyes disagreeing, “I’m not.” Avery chimed in, “She’s not. You are good, Paige.” Buttercup smiled announcing, “I want in your Badass Girl Gang. We have one here too. You guys will join, but you have this super close vibe that Haley, Emmaline, and Lexi do. I so want in.” I laughed, “Umm… sure.”
Buttercup clapped, “Good. Elise will want in too. OHH and Emma. Zoe too. We’ll get the new crop of Badass Girl Gang going. Haley will be ecstatic.”
Sierra asked, “The what?” I told her, “It’s a group of women that hang out and are friends…I know what it is because my mom was in it.” Buttercup paused and Addison cringed. I whispered, “I mean she is.” Well…one could always count on me to make things awkward. Freya said, “It’s not your fault.” It easily was. I’d misspoken.
Avery spoke first, “That’s an adjustment that will take time, Mel. It’s been years, and you saw it happen.” Buttercup sighed, “Well, I can’t snap it done, but we clearly need drinks.” She walked over to the closet and pulled out a drink cart.
I laughed, “Ummm someone snapped it done.” Buttercup winked before saying, “I linked Wes and told him we needed drinks. He said we had the time to drink them and snapped it done. Wes said Xander told him this is your drink.” I grabbed it and threw it back. She laughed and handed me another.
Buttercup winked, “I also said it was a double kind of day.” I laughed, “I like you.” Buttercup beamed replying, “Good. I like you too. Us Beta daughters have to stick together. Now we’ve got Sierra here too.” I whispered, “Am I? I am…right…this proves it….doesn’t it?” Freya linked, “You are. I promise.”
Addison had tears running down her cheeks. Buttercup frowned asking, “Huh?” Sierra rubbed my arms. Paige said, “Let me at that cart.” She grabbed the drinks and passed them around. She quickly made me another after I slammed the second.
She raised a glass toasting, “To the icicles forming in hell because I don’t hate Dalton Kyle and he’s DAMN fine. For reasons that are clear, I want to kiss him so badly. Melanie’s family is alive and that’s just something our girl has wanted since we met her. I can’t believe it’s happening, and I may hate them forever, but we are being open minded. So, here’s to hearing sides and shit.”
Addison snorted, “To hearing sides and shit.” I laughed and we all drank. Buttercup said, “Well, for what it’s worth Paige on the whole you want to kiss Dalton deal. I promise if you jumped Dalton, he will be into it.”
