My dad shrugged, “I don’t think that qualification matters much on her wolf being suppressed. Melanie did not know she had a wolf at the time, nor could she feel her wolf.” True. My dad howled with laughter when Melanie assigned Bradford to re-plant the garden my mom had destroyed.
I looked out the window acknowledging, “It does need some work. It looks like a mess.” EJ was laughing but managed to say, “It’s just too good.” Bradford stormed out. Oden growled, “He disrespected mate!” I knew that.
Which meant Bradford and I would be having a chat. The dispute wasn’t settled yet. He had to stay and listen even if he didn’t like the outcome. My dad groaned, “Oh god. If Patricia ends up in there, your mother will NEVER let me hear the end of it.” I looked at EJ.
We both knew we could link Warriors to bar Patricia from entering, but this was interesting. Melanie took it a step further and ordered Mitch to work with Bradford to better understand how to work with all pack members.
I couldn’t help but growl at the implication that Charlene would’ve let someone hurt her. My mate wasn’t wrong, but that pissed me off. My dad said, “That was impressive, and your mate is not wrong. Having them work together wouldn’t have been something we considered, but it’s a good idea.”
“They don’t have to hang out or discuss anything outside of the gardening work. They will realize they can work together though. I sense some hard times for them at first, but they’ll figure it out. It’s very smart.” I beamed with pride.
Fowler linked me, “Patricia is about to interrupt a dispute hearing.” I replied, “So I see.” KJ linked, “Do you want us to stop Patricia?” I answered, “Nope. Let her hang herself, metaphorically.” He hummed in reply.
I stood announcing, “I’m not staying here to watch this. Patricia is going to say something really fucking rude. I see it on her face, and she’ll face the consequences from me for that.” EJ sighed, “Just don’t kill her, little brother.”
I shrugged saying, “I don’t intend to kill her. I intend to throw her in the dungeons for an undetermined period of time at this moment.” EJ and I popped outside the Luna dispute room and listened for a minute.
EJ gripped my arm when Patricia commented on Melanie’s lack of mark. I strode into the room barely containing my roar. My mom linked me, “Just hang back, son. Your mate has this shit fucking handled. I am so damn proud of her right now.” So was I.
Oden and I were furious about Patricia’s out of line comments though. Oden snarled, “We consider mate worthy, and I told Freya that.” Melanie was beyond worthy of me. I might not be worthy of her, but she was still mine. I’d try to be my best self for her for the rest of our lives.
Melanie tackled Patricia to the ground in a second. Fowler was chanting in the pack link, “Muffin Luna! Muffin Luna!” Several voices answered back, “I hope she kicks her ass! Patricia is so nasty!” It seemed to be a general consensus that Patricia was not liked.
Melanie ordered her to the kitchens and extra warrior training. My mate wasn’t wrong in either decision she made. They were Warriors, and they had potential but they both did the bare minimum. Bradford really did need to push himself, and I was about to be his strongest push.
I glared at Bradford, and he wisely shrank back. Good. I wasn’t surprised Melanie ordered both of them to re-learn the pack histories. I was stunned Melanie thought Patricia wanted Mitch whipped for a simple mistake. That wasn’t how things were done around here.
Traitors were whipped. That wasn’t a suitable punishment for anyone else. Surely Melanie was just projecting her Black Path experiences. Patricia certainly wanted a different outcome than she was getting, but a whipping? It would never happen.
I didn’t like the look on Patricia’s face when she boasted that the Luna’s around here believed people could change. Melanie didn’t care though because my mate claimed to be a realist. She had her eyes on Patricia, ready for a treasonous act.
EJ linked, “That seems a bit like an overreaction, but there’s no harm in Melanie keeping an eye on Patricia.” I replied, “Do you think we could stop her if we didn’t want her to? Because I have absolutely no doubt, even if we told Mel it wasn’t necessary, she’d still watch Patricia.” EJ smirked, “No, we absolutely not stop her.”
My mate ordered them to leave, but they didn’t until Freya came forward and ordered them to do so. Damn. Freya had a powerful aura and tone. EJ linked, “I’m half tempted to leave myself. What is up with her wolf? Are they just both so enraged they were kept apart that they are insanely fast and strong now?”
I answered, “Melanie has always been fast and strong ever since she was little. I don’t know about their aura together though. We will figure it out.” EJ nodded. I crossed the room and claimed Melanie’s lips for all to see.
I was possessive and she was mine. They had no right to doubt that. When I pushed myself away from her, I addressed everyone. I let them know why their Luna wasn’t marked. Honestly, they should already be fully aware of why.
There was no doubt Melanie was mine. The pack knew we were twice light bound. Melanie McAlister was mine marked or not. Oden said, “I reiterated that to all the wolves.” Good. Melanie being mine was not up for debate or doubt.
I gave them a warning so the next time someone said some stupid shit about not belonging here or being worthy I could seriously injure, kill, or banish them. I linked Fowler, KJ, and Chason, “Get Patricia and throw her ass in the dungeons. I’ve got my mate for now.” I needed her. Badly.
I could feel the need pounding in my veins. I dragged her from the room once my point was made clear. I wound down several halls, until I found a room I’d always come to, to clear my head and think. I couldn’t think about anything but being inside her.
Melanie had done so well taking charge, and it was hot. I didn’t know how I was going to focus when we fought together side by side. EJ linked me, “Our meeting is in fifteen minutes.” I could work with that. I was inside Melanie before I could hear about anything else. We both came and had time to get to the meeting. I wanted to take her upstairs and spend more time with her though.
EJ linked me, “Yeah, I know that emotion that you're feeling right now in the bond. So, I’ll go ahead and say do NOT disappear for hours with Melanie until after this meeting. After this meeting, it’s fine. If you and Mel aren’t here, we can’t decide anything about this company’s proposal. Then they will have to come back, and that leads to Elise losing her mind. Which leads to me losing mine.”
I sighed, “We are coming. We will make the meeting, big brother. Don’t worry. I’ll take you up on disappearing afterwards though.” I told Melanie why I wanted her in the meeting. Her perspective was unique and much needed here.
I popped us into the office. The second my mom saw us she promptly went off on a tangent about how she didn’t like Patricia. My dad linked me, “I knew she was going to say something about Patricia. I could literally feel her stewing about it.”
I replied, “I dare you to tell mom she was stewing about it.” My dad raised an eyebrow asking, “Do I look like a gullible person to you, son?” I answered, “No.” I needed to get Dylan to bring it up because he’d find mom’s reaction funny.
I linked Chason, “What did my mom do to Patricia?” Chason answered, “Before we left, Patricia was insistent there were mice after a piece of cheese. She seemed to believe if she cleaned the floor with a toothbrush that would solve the problem. Patricia’s literally scrubbing the floors of her cell screaming about mice every thirty seconds.” I barely managed to hold in my laugh.
All our allies were ready for the meeting. Melanie sat beside me as she was always meant to. I couldn’t help but enjoy having her right there with me. Buttercup tried to settle her bet with my mate, but that was quickly explained. Oden chuckled in my head.
