Jason snarled, “Causing a scene?! They jumped her!” Micah put his hands up, “It’s just something in line with what I see now that we know about what they have done to her. I don’t know what actually happened.”
Tristan sighed, “If we hadn’t promised to not ask Ezra we could find out. He’d know.” I told them, “We can’t do that. We can’t go to him every time we have a question about Melanie.” Jason snorted, “You can. We cannot since we promised.”
I shrugged, “I’m still not doing that. It’s my mate’s story, and she needs to tell it in her own time.” I had just finished my drink when I heard a van in the distance. I looked at EJ asking, “Are we expecting anyone?” EJ frowned, “No.”
I heard a motorcycle revving and glanced back at EJ again. I questioned, “Does that sound like a car chase to you?” Max offered, “I’d more go with a van and motorcycle chase than cars, but yes.” EJ jumped up, “SHIT! Elise just linked me. Something happened at girls’ night.”
Micah said, “Correct me if I’m wrong, but I do believe the only one of those girls that knows how to operate and ride a motorcycle is…” I growled interrupting, “Melanie.” I took off running. I linked my dad, “GET OUT HERE NOW!” I shifted into Oden on the fly. My wolf could run faster than I could because he had four legs.
I snarled at what I saw when I came over the hill. I shifted back and snapped myself clothes. This was one of our weaker zones in our territory. A van was zooming around and Melanie was chasing it. I yelled, “MELANIE!” My mate stood up on the bike, and I swear my heart stopped as she jumped off it.
I gaped at my Fiancée. I said out loud, “Aesir, please help her.” My mate grabbed onto the van’s door handle and smashed the window with her elbow. The scent of her blood filled the air. It snapped me into action. I took off running, growling at the van. I was about to reach it when it disappeared.
I snarled, “KIDNAPPERS HAVE A FUCKING HOLOPORT IN OUR GODDAMN TERRITORY?! WHAT THE FUCK, EJ?!” Another car slammed on its breaks. The other women piled out of the car. My gaze zeroed in on Paige while Dalton ran to her.
I asked her, “Where did they go?” Paige marched towards the holoport while she answered, “I don’t know yet. Give me a second.” Cayden linked me, “Does anyone want to count to one? Just for fun.” I rolled my eyes.
Paige started chanting. EJ grabbed Elise and Cayden already had Cassie. I asked, “Are you alright, Cass?” My sister admitted, “I wouldn’t have been.” Cayden glared at Cassie’ Guard. My brother in law asked, “What the fuck does that mean?”
Cassie explained, “I was drinking water. Addison and Sierra here filled us in that Hunters have a special type of drug they use. I know what it smells like now, but Melanie and her friends have been around it, so they already know the scent. Melanie knocked the drink out of my hands and then… it all went to hell. I guess technically it went to hell before then.”
I asked, “Who is in the van?” Cassie winced, “MaryBeth and Emma.” I heard two growls of anger behind me. Dane snarled, “WHERE IS MY MATE?!” Finn asked, “Who took my mate? Who would DARE to do that?”
Dylan said, “Ohhh now they are asking for it. LSGAP activate your legends and your powerful pups. My daughter in law has been taken and I need you to assemble your collected Pokémon to battle!” I retorted, “My mate is already with them.”
Dylan took out some popcorn, “Oh. Then why are we worried? MelAshley is LITERALLY electric. We just need tofigure out where they are. LSGAP, hold on assembling our troops.” Dakota’s phone rang and he quickly walked away to answer then jogged back to us a minute later.
Dakota announced, “They are in Red Run. Melanie just got MaryBeth and Emma to the hospital.” Avery said, “Then there’s cleanup to do. Mel would’ve killed everyone in the van besides MaryBeth and Emma.” I popped to the hospital.
I saw several crying faces, but I didn’t see Melanie. The rest of the group popped in. I grabbed a doctor, “Where is Melanie McAlister?” The pack doctor frowned, “We tried to get her to stay, but Ladybug just took off. She’s sick though.”
I growled, “FUCK! Of course she is.” Paige sighed, “She’ll be able to be here tomorrow. I’ll bring the brew by.” I took off outside and ran into Nick Kyle who was on the phone. He hung up frowning. I asked, “What?” He sighed, “Ladybug was really sick, but she just took off running away from me. She’s so damn fast.”
A Warrior came up to Nick. The Warrior said, “Umm I think Ladybug might have destroyed the former Beta’s home. It’s been vandalized.” Nick frowned, “I seriously doubt that. For several reasons.” I added, “I agree. That’s not like her.”
Tank chimed in, “She definitely didn’t. Melanie didn’t have time, and the sight of that house rocked her.” I growled. We walked up to the McAlister’s house together and went inside. Pictures of the family were smashed all over the place. Melanie’s room was a wreck. I walked back downstairs and picked up a picture doing a double take.
EJ asked, “What?” I turned the picture around, “I can see Melanie in this picture.” I looked at the other photos. I added, “I see her in all the pictures now.” My dad added, “So do I.” EJ nodded confirming, “Me too.” Paige explained, “I did that. It was this whole complicated mirroring type deal. The point is itwas complicated, and I fixed it. Let’s go with that. Just pop to Melanie, Alexander.”
I pointed out, “I can’t.” Paige sighed, “Yes, you can. One of the spells on the rings was to prevent popping or portaling EXACTLY to her location. You could have gotten near her, or around her, but if you tried to go directly to her it wouldn't work. Now, you can.” I was gone in the next second.
I was pleasantly surprised I actually ended up right next to Melanie. Good to know. I could finally pop to my mate. That would be handy. Apparently, the guy Melanie had was the one who’d vandalized her parents’ house. That made more sense. I seriously doubted she would do that.
Melanie knew this guy which raised my hackles. Oden snarled in my head, “If he’s from Black Path I will lose my shit.” I warned my wolf, “He probably is.” The asshole turned out to be one of Trevor’s friends. Because of course he was. I could smell Melanie faintly on Francis.
I looked down and pulled out her old hairbrush. Fury lit into me. They were going to use Witches and Warlocks to pull my mate to them. Oden snorted, “It wouldn’t work, but they would start to get the clue that she wasn’t a normal wolf.” Great. Just great.
I linked EJ, “Pop to us. We have the culprit who wrecked the McAlister’s house.” EJ popped in with Elise. I walked over to Melanie. Her skirt was still messed up from riding the motorcycle. Freya took over and taunted Francis saying his plan wouldn’t have worked.
Francis was stunned her wolf had actually come out. Apparently, they knew the plan. Oden was furious, “This WRETCH knew they hid my mate away! HE HURT MATE!” I got that. Melanie wanted answers, but Francis claimed he didn’t have them.
I actually believed him, and it appeared Melanie did too. Great. Just another person to worry about popping up. I needed another one of those obnoxious people to look out for. Melanie didn’t want me to kiss her because she’d been sick.
I pulled her skirt down and her reaction told me that she’d forgotten all about it. I nearly killed Francis when he made a comment about her ass and called her Ice Queen. Luckily for him, I had to assure Alpha Raven’s wolves I was not here for them. Which they damn well should know since we were allies.
I popped Melanie and I home in the next moment. We had so much to discuss. The need to claim her was pounding in my ears, but that wasn’t what needed to happen right now. Oden growled, “She smells like other men.” True.
That was solvable. My mate could shower, brush her teeth, and I could go for a run. I took off outside, running past everyone in the living room without a glance backwards. I shifted the second I was outside. I could hear someone behind me.
