Darius was another one of my cousins. Aunt Katie and Uncle Logan’s had a lot of kids, but Darius leaned into his Warlock powers. He was also their youngest child at the moment. Phil gasped, “Oh come on, Spencer! Don’t leave us in suspense.” Spencer messed with him, “Whatever do you mean?”
Phil demanded, “Show us the pictures already! I have too many questions and I can’t take anymore.” Spencer took his phone and showed us. I felt white hot rage burst through me. I didn't need to look over to know my cousin's eyes were blazing gold just like mine. Their houses were literally in tatters. Elias let a growl go as I did.
I asked, “Where’s the Alpha’s house?” Spencer showered us and that had Elias and I snarling again. He spoke first, “How dare that Alpha! I want a piece of them, Alexander.” I nodded, “I have no problem with that. It might be after the fact because if we have to move fast, I won’t have time to call you.”
Phil agreed, “He won’t. He’s bad at that, but he definitely plans to keep him alive for a while.” Elias agreed, “I hope you do. He deserves to suffer for going against his blood and oath like this.”
I turned to my cousin, “Spencer, this is good work.” He hummed, “That timeline you asked for is tight with this. It needs to stay that way.” I agreed, “It is firm. I’ll try to wrap my mission at the speed of light too. Stay on Trevor. Find anything and everything you can. When I get back from my mission we take them down hard.”
He nodded, “I’ll be copying Uncle Bjourn and Uncle Eric in on these findings.” I agreed, “Great. I’ll show EJ everything. Our allies will agree to act with us. We will take Black Path down, and we show no mercy to those in charge.” Everyone nodded.
I told Elias, “I need to go to your gym.” He admitted, “So do I.” I popped us all to the gym. Spencer stayed to fight us for a bit. Then he headed back to relieve Darius who had to rotate off watching and gathering intel on Trevor duty. We’d fought for hours before I calmed down. Phil was not much better.
When we popped back to the house, I expected our mates to be asleep. I did not expect to hear Sierra consoling Melanie while she sobbed. The sobs made my heart clench because I had no idea what happened to upset my mate so badly.
I took off running and found Melanie sitting outside on the deck sobbing her heart out. She reeked of vodka. I growled, “What the hell happened?” She couldn’t even answer me, she was so upset. I looked at Sierra repeating, “What happened?”
Sierra sighed, “It’s just…” She trailed off then said, “complicated. We just need to get her to calm down. That’s the priority.” I raised an eyebrow agreeing, “Fine, but I want answers. She’s….” I stopped myself from saying heartbroken but that’s what she was.
I should’ve been here to know what was going on. I held her in my arms, and she eventually passed out, or fell asleep. I wasn’t sure which. I growled quietly, “What happened?” Sierra looked like a deer caught in headlights. I didn't care because I wanted answers.
Black Mountain
Melanie slept deeply and soundly, the most amazing scent surrounding me. Sugar cookies. I smiled without opening my eyes knowing it wasn’t a dream this time because I’d never known his scent. I was still with my Xander. After all this time we were together, finally.
Plus, he didn’t even hate me yet. Granted he didn’t know who I really was... but still. He definitely didn’t hate me. Freya offered, “He won’t hate you. We just need to trust him.” I assured her, “I do trust him...I’m…” Well, I wasn’t sure how to finish that sentence.
Freya filled in the silence after I trailed off, “Scared. You’re scared because of a letter from Jason.” I admitted, “I want this time with him. He’s… I don’t know what will happen if he turns his back on me. I love him, Freya… and I just got you… everything… is perfect for the first time in a long time and… I love him….I really do and…”
Freya interjected, “I know that you do. He loves you too.” Well, it was far too soon for that kind of talk. He didn’t really even know I was really me. He couldn’t love me. Even IF, and that was a big if, he knew about the Melanie McAlister I used to be… I wasn’t her anymore. I had physical and emotional scars.
Freya told me, “Mate can help us heal from both.” Well, that was silly. The physical scars were magically there to stay literally. It was magic keeping them from getting messed up. I’d tried everything to get them to go away, but I could only remove the whipping scars.
They were ugly. To be honest, I’d never really cared about the scars. People asked but… some looked at me with revulsion. They were my scarlet letter. I didn’t care what anyone else thought of them… but Xander was different. I didn’t want him to look at me like that.
I shook those thoughts off and stretched. I asked Freya, “Why am I so tired? I never sleep this much anymore.” Freya explained, “You’re adjusting to having me. I’m also getting stronger, but it’s a process. It’s supposed to happen when you're sixteen. Your body was prepared then.”
She added, “Something feels weird about it too. Like I’m being kept from getting too strong. It’s weird. I also wouldn’t have been weakened when you were sixteen. I was at full strength when I came to you.” I apologized, “I’m sorry this has been so difficult for you.” Freya gently said, “As I am sorry for what you have suffered. It was not meant to be that way.” I wondered what she meant.
I looked over to study Alexander. I was surprised that he was already awake because it had been a long time since I was the last person awake. His ocean blue eyes felt like they looked into my very soul. He had the bluest eyes I’d ever seen. I blushed, remembering how we ended up here together. I was still half naked, and he was completely naked.
I told my wolf, “He should stay like this. He looks amazing without clothes.” Freya agreed, “He does. Jump him.” Then I started talking to him. Oh my gosh! I frantically asked my wolf, “Did I just say I loved him?! OUT LOUD?! Why did my filter vanish? Aren’t you supposed to stop me from doing stupid crap?”
Freya laughed, “First, I feel the need to point out you don’t have a filter. It’s honestly adorable that you think you do. Second, I would stop you from doing something unintelligent. but that wasn’t bad. He loves us too. Look into his eyes.” I argued, “He doesn’t know us.”
Freya cautioned, “Don’t be so sure.” She could not be sure all she wanted. I knew Xander didn’t know. He definitely wouldn’t have sex with me. He’d probably be repulsed like those girls said he would be.
Freya asked, “Why do you still think that? He already said that was a lie because we were his first and only intentional kiss.” That was right. He did. Why did it still feel real to me? Because it did. I still wanted to reply and say he’d been with other women and was experienced when he wasn’t. He’d said so.
I was about to run and hide when Xander caught me before I even made it out of bed. He kissed me as if his life depended on it. Freya chuckled, “See? I told you he loves us too.” Gosh, there was nothing more I wanted in this life to be true than those words. I wanted to curl into him and never let him go.
The fact remained the same though, he didn’t understand. I was the source of pain for an entire pack. A pack Xander himself was close with. In fact, his whole family was. His sister dated my remaining and only living brother when they were younger.
I knew Cassie and Jason were still friends. Jason and Alexander themselves were best friends when I lived in Red Run. Plus, Elise was his pack’s Lead Luna and she obviously loved her brothers who ran Red Run.
Alexander listed things about me, but none of them were Melanie things. Freya snorted, “Yes, they are. You ranted, fought, danced, multitasked and you could play guitar before you left Red Run.” She was right.
Freya sounded smug, “Of course I’m right. You may be scared to let him know you are actually Melanie, but that doesn’t mean he hasn’t put it together. Your dancing ability alone would tell someone as smart as our mate.” She was right and wrong.
