Gage laughed, “We would’ve been comically confused. Gunner would’ve clued into it being a hacker though.” I knew that. Uncle Gunner would’ve been going toe to toe with mymate. Dalton snorted, “My dad’s surprised she didn’t tank our businesses given what she thought we did. I would’ve if I could’ve and I was her.”
I shrugged, “She still loves you guys, man. Mel’s hurt, but she does love you all.” Dalton sighed, “It’s killing my parents. Hell, her not calling Jase and T their preferred names is killing them. Ladybug called my Beta T the other day though so that’s twice now. He feels solid progress is being made. Ben has been moping around. Well, MaryBeth has been too. Uncle Dane’s not happy. Alright, so Landon and Melinda have been upset from what my sources say.”
EJ sighed, “It’s just not how any of us pictured Ladybug’s return. We all had ideas, and this was not even on the list.” Dalton agreed, “No, it really wasn’t. I thought she’d be feeling guilty and apologizing to T and Everly for missing everything from their mating ceremony to Kai’s birth.”
My friend punched the wall growling, “I would’ve led an army to bring Ladybug home if I’d even suspected something happened to her. I’d have ripped those assholes apart to kingdom come for this. Those guys are lucky Mel was there to point out the good guys from the bad, along with the fact that finding my mate distracted me. Because I might have just ripped through the pack if those weren’t factors.”
I shrugged, “Melanie’s Warriors wouldn’t have fought you, so it wouldn’t have been much of a fight.” Dalton ran his hand through his hair and sighed, “I might have felt like I’d done something if I’d fought anyone who offered resistance.”
I felt shame and sadness flood through Melanie. I linked her, “Are you ok?” My mate answered, “I guess.” I asked, “Do you need me to come back?” Melanie replied, “Not just yet.” I frowned. EJ asked, “Is everything ok, little brother?” I shrugged, “I don’t know.”
Dalton offered some insight, “Jase wanted to see her back.” I winced, “Melanie must have agreed to show him then.” Dalton inclined his head, “Ladybug said she would if he gave his word he wouldn’t go to Ezra for information about her. The McAlister’s had a family meeting and agreed. Honestly, so much hasn’t been on Melanie’s terms, and they want this to be.”
I nodded, “I agree. It’s the right thing to do. I just don’t know if Ezra is going to give them that. Or my mate. He wants to hurt them.” Dalton smiled, “Which is why Ladybug specified they couldn’t seek Ezra out. I think she must know it’s inevitable that Ezra will say some shit.”
I sighed, “Maybe I could find a charm or Corbin could find a spell that won’t let him. It’s only fair.” EJ said, “Agreed. We don’t need any more lovely gems being dropped into our lap like Edward gave you when you pushed.” I snarled in anger.
Dalton wiped a tear away. EJ clapped his hand on his shoulder. Dalton shrugged, “Mel’s like a sister to me. I can’t believe that happened to her. Part of it was on my watch with Dakota. I’m supposed to protect my pack and my people. Yet I failed one of the pack members closest to me because of magic and shit.”
Melanie spoke, “I don’t really blame you, Dalton.” Dalton whirled around. My mate sighed, “I was mad at you... and Dakota… even Cooper….ok all the Kyle’s…except Elise…but her name changed…so that doesn’t count. I blamed your dad and Uncle’s though. Logically, you could’ve brought me home when you turned eighteen… but because there’s a lot of red tape to go through to remove a banishment…. I didn’t blame you. I was just hurt and upset with you.”
Dalton winced, “Dad and my Uncle’s really didn’t….” Melanie held her hands up, “I’m aware.” Dalton frowned, “But you’re still upset with them.” Melanie admitted, “Yes, I am. Your dad waslike a second dad to me in a way… he was basically an uncle to me.”
“He was supposed to protect me. So were your Uncle’s…they were family. It’s part of my problem with my parents too. Nothing that was going on about me was considered weird. I was never breaking the rules, but I was always punished for breaking them. I suffered for that. It’s hard to reconcile that in my mind.”
Oden said, “There’s more there to that statement.” I agreed, “There is.” EJ said, “That’s not it either. That upsets you but you have an answer to that. You’re mad Peter was a good Alpha to the pack, and you thought that’s how all packs operated, then you were around shitty ones.” My brother was absolutely right.
Dalton’s head whipped to EJ, and I saw that explanation made sense to him. Melanie acknowledged, “It... well it felt like he lied to me… but all the Kyle’s too… I don’t know. It’s hard to explain.” Dalton asked gently, “Can I give you a hug Ladybug?”
Melanie subtly glanced at Paige, who looked hopeful. Melanie agreed, “A quick one.” Dalton walked over and wrapped Melanie in a hug. EJ linked me, “Does your mate ever do anything for herself?” I replied, “Asking for her back to healed. Other than that, I really don’t think so.” Oden growled, “We need to make sure she’s taking care of herself. That’s our job.” I agreed.
I linked my mom, “Can you pop to me?” After a few moments my mom popped in smelling very much like my dad. I laughed when my dad came running down the stairs in a pair of shorts. Mom blew him a kiss while dad playfully growled at her.
My mom kissed my cheek asking, “What do you need, Alexander?” Melanie blew out a breath, “I mean... it’s more like... what I need... I guess... I think… oh god... he might actually need something else.” I cut her off, “No, it was about your request.”
Melanie sighed, “Ok... then I was umm….” My mom popped to her saying, “Let’s go somewhere less fucking crowded.” Mompopped away and I popped right with them. After several moments of silence my mom asked, “So, is someone going to say something?”
Melanie started playing with the sleeves of my hoodie she was wearing. My mate put on leggings at some point. My mate whispered, “I was just wondering… if you guys would heal my back.” My mom assured her, “Of fucking course we will.”
Melanie nodded and quickly took off her hoodie before I could tell her she didn’t have to do that for us to heal her. My mom’s anger barreled into me and her eyes blazed gold. My mom ground out, “Oh that motherfucking tiny ass little Trevogre!” Melanie managed a laugh at the nickname.
Oden growled, “I hate that pup.” I did too and approved of Trevor being called a pup. Mom ranted, “What the motherfucking hell is this shit?! I will have Bjourn do TERRIBLE things to Trevogre. Yes, I will. My big brother will have to do all of the worst fucking things he can think of, or has ever done, to this wretched excuse of a person.”
I told her, “Uncle Bjourn will have to get in fucking line.” Melanie started to cry. I went over to her promising, “Trevor will pay for this, I swear.” My mom coughed, “Trevogre.” Melanie whispered hopefully, “But you can make them go away now that Paige removed the magic, right?”
I nodded, “My mom and I can. My other reality Uncle said so, and he cannot lie. Nor would he give false hope in that situation. We will heal this, Lovebug.” My mom sniffled, “That’s such a fucking sweet nickname.”
I advised, “Why don’t you sit down somewhere you are comfortable, Mel?” My mate looked around my mom’s treehouse and sat down on the couch facing the armrest. I asked my mom, “Should we start together?”
My mom nodded, “Yes. You’ll have to channel a different side of your light than normal. These are scars, not somethingthat needs to be healed as a physical injury right now. Just communicate with your light and it will understand the difference.” I nodded to her.
We both held out our hands over my mate’s back. I was pretty in tune with my light, so it wasn’t hard to understand that it understood my intentions. I could feel the difference in this healing light and my normal one. I’d never had to use this one before.
It felt somehow more powerful. The only time I’d felt more power from my healing light was when mom and I healed Jason. That’s just because of how badly he’d been injured. I started to feel drained. I linked Oden, “How long have we been doing this?” Oden answered, “A few hours.” What?
My mom linked me, “Step back and conjure yourself food. I’ve got this.” I answered, “Ok, but I’ll be conjuring you some food too.” The only I obeyed that command was because I was raised to respect my mom. I wanted to keep helping her, but I knew she was right. I needed fuel.
I stepped back and conjured myself some pizza. When I finished my two boxes, I noticed the signs my mom was about to finish healing. I conjured some pizza for her and Melanie. When my mom stepped back, I helped her sit on the couch and handed her a pizza box.
