Oden snarled, “How DARE someone do this to OUR MATE! They said we’d reject her. She stayed away because of that lie.” EJ linked me, “We will find out who lied about that, brother.” Yes, we would. My dad linked, “We will find them all I swear to you they will pay for doing this to you both.”
Drake looked like he was being tortured. In fact, he looked like his soul was being ripped from his body as he watched Melanie. Sam was barely standing upright. The only reason she was because Drake had his arms around her.
That led to conversation about Dalton’s mate. What was Paige’s story? Melanie started to explain she’d saved Paige from a Coven. Phil linked, “Ok, I’ll ask. Don’t worry. I am here for you Alpha Cousin.” I noticed he didn’t say anything when I was told not to mark my mate.
Oden said, “Rocket said he had the gym being prepped for our impending arrival.” Fair enough. Melanie’s explanations about how life was in Nashville didn’t sit well. That was all about to change. I linked EJ, “My ears are ringing from rage. So, I’m hoping I misheard that. Did my mate just say Paige had been sold, to be forcibly marked by a Warlock?”
He answered, “She did.” I winced knowing we’d have to tell Dalton. They would have had to have bound Paige’s power to do that. Because any witch would fight back otherwise. That would have been quite painful for Paige.
EJ linked, “Me again. So, Melanie took on a Coven for Paige? That’s dangerous.” I was almost certain I was correct to think Melanie didn’t care about danger. She just started ranting how different it was fighting for the people in the pack.
I linked my entire family that was here. “THE PACK?! DID SHE SAY THE PACK?!” Max answered, “I heard that too. It’s weird though, right?” I was thinking it was not weird to Nashville. Oden was snarled, “HOW DARE ANY OF THEM CALL THEMSELVES ALPHA BLOODS! HOW DARE THEY FIGHT MATE FOR DOING THEIR JOBS!”
Micah and Cayden’s jaws dropped. My mom whispered knowing we could hear her, “She’s in shock still, so she’s probably going to keep talking.” Drake said, “Melanie does that not in shock.” It made my lips twitch because Melanie was just always herself.
My dad asked for clarification. I linked Phil, “It is an Alpha’s job to deal with attempted forced markings. Not the Female Lead Warrior WHO HAS NO ALPHA BLOOD!” He replied, “I know that as you do.”
My dad’s anger barreled into us when she confirmed she’d handled it. I nearly cracked a smile when my mom chose to blow up a pillow Cassandra had picked out for the couches. EJ linked me, “Dad should’ve seen that coming a mile away.” He was right, but dad probably did.
Oden said, “Even in shock mate is plotting out logical points of things people would figure out.” I was so proud of her. EJ linked, “She’s too damn smart.” She was. My dad linked me, “Her evidence is what you were going to give me after your mission.”
God, that trip when I’d called him felt like months ago at this point, but it wasn’t. I agreed, “It was.” He rubbed his face. Melanie snapped at Peter. I asked my dad, “Why didn’t he leave with everyone else? It feels like it might have been wise to do so.”
My dad answered, “Chelsea will be here soon too. She’s being popped in. Peter didn’t want to leave Drake like this. Nick and all Peter’s brothers went home so he stayed.” I nodded because I understood that. I wouldn’t leave if Phil was this upset.
My dad drew Melanie’s attention back to him. I was actually curious at this point how she’d answer what else he needed to know. Phil linked, “Any god up there needs to THROW ME A BONE!” Melanie stuck to the prisoners we had. She exchanged a look with Sierra.
Phil linked me, “GOD FUCKING DAMMIT! CLEARLY NO ONE UP THERE IN GOD AND GODDESS LAND IS LISTENING TO ME! WHAT DID THEY DO TO MY MATE?!” The answer was nothing good.
I linked Micah, “Did I hear that right?” He said, “If you heard her say she fought Jean because Sierra was almost forcibly marked, yes.” Phil roared in anger and Sierra started whispering in his ear that he could mark her tonight. Bastard! He could and I couldn't. I linked him, “No one will take her from you.” Phil agreed, “No they fucking won’t.”
My dad had follow up questions which Melanie evaded. My dad groaned down the link, “Oh good. Another person who likes to evade in this house. There weren’t enough of those.” I teased, “We gotta keep you on your toes.” My dad grumbled, “She’s a full blooded Werewolf.”
I explained, “She’s not great at lying.” My dad snorted, “That was the rumor and from what I saw when she met Corbin I agree. At least we have that going for us. KJ is back here, and he’ll watch her with whoever else you put on her.” KJ had been watching over the fake Melanie in New York. I replied, “Thanks dad.” He nodded.
Oden snarled, “I will kill every single Alpha blood who allowed unmarked pups to be marked or ANY forcible markings!” I agreed, “We will.” There was no way Melanie didn’t have a list going. She was a Beta Blood.
My dad was trying so hard not to get upset. I’m guessing my mom told him to be calm and not yell. Peter asked his questions too. I snarled at EJ, “They LET a FOURTEEN year old fight the battles of GROWN ASS MEN AND WOMEN!” He said, “It does sound like it, yes.” He was just as pissed about it.
She’d just been a pup fighting against Alpha bloods going against their oaths. Max linked, “I’m sorry there are packs out there that don’t know any member of any pack can file complaints with the Werewolf Council?! They are Werewolves!” I rubbed my temples while Oden growled.
Phil linked, “AWESOME! Anyone who spoke out was demoted.” My eyes slammed shut. That wouldn’t have worked on Melanie, because she wouldn’t have cared. EJ filled in the blanks and Sierra confirmed it never worked on Melanie.
Drake was gripping onto Peter’s shoulder for support. We all knew what that meant. It would be so hard for her as a Beta blood to go against the Alpha. How dare they do that to her. I linked EJ and my dad, “If they whipped my mate with silver there is no god or goddess that can save them from the torture I have planned.”
My dad was ready to eviscerate Edward anyway. Wesley snorted over Melanie’s comments. Max nudged Micah and whispered, “I see why you like her. She’s fun.” The conversation wound down, and the bond told me my dad was ready to talk to Edward.
I could tell everyone in this room was. I linked Phil, “I need her to be wrong. I want that asshole to hold something back. I need him to give me at least an hour of not being cooperative.” Phil linked, “Maybe he did something so bad he will hold back. Gage is on the ground by the way.” Good.
I linked EJ, “That rat bastard horrible excuse of an Alpha spelled his own damn mate?” EJ answered, “Uh yeah, he did. WHEW she had a lot to say once un-spelled. Like A LOT. Complete with her rejection.”
I kept the conversation going, “Melanie stopped the forced markings and killing of families. Was the weight of the whole world thrust at my mate when she was just fourteen years old?” He sighed. I warned, “I don’t actually need the answer. I know it was.” As a Beta blood. My poor mate.
Melanie kept ranting so I kissed her to stop, then made moves to get us upstairs. My mom cautioned everyone, “Alexander will be back sooner than he thinks. She’s dead on her feet. Who knows when that girl last got a good fucking night sleep before she met Alexander?” Sierra would. I winced knowing she still wasn’t sleeping great now that we’d met.
I linked Elise, “Will you stay with her while I deal with the pathetic Werewolves in the dungeons? I mean after she falls asleep.” Elise answered, “You don’t even have to ask. I’ll be there.” Knowing Elise would be here with my mate calmed that side of me desperate to keep Melanie in my arms.
The fact she wanted to ask me something was all over her face. Her question made me want to tear apart realms. Oden grumbled, “Someone will get their eyes gouged out for letting mate think we would reject her. WITH MY CLAWS!”
