I felt in my connection it was EJ. I ran for a few miles and shifted back. I snapped myself clothes, punched a tree, and turned around. I demanded to know, “What do you want?” EJ snorted, “What do you mean what do I want? You took off like a bat out of hell. Of course I followed you.”
I sighed, “It’s been a fucking day.” EJ acknowledged, “I know.” I growled, “My mate shifted alone again. How many times can the universe victimize Melanie? Even if it took a few seconds, someone should’ve been there. I should have been there.”
EJ said, “I know that, and I agree. The thing is we had no way of knowing when she would shift.” I snorted, “Selene just keeps proving she’s a shitty goddess. I don’t know why this continues to surprise me at this point. I expect this out of Azoney, but I’m done with all of them. All the goddesses are dead to me.”
EJ agreed, “Me too. This has hurt you, mom, and Elise. I’m done too. We have Aesir, and that’s good enough. Selene allowed a wolf to be suppressed. I don’t care if it hadn’t been someone we knew who is your mate.”
“No one should have to deal with that as a sixteen year old kid. That’s wrong. Now, that knowledge is out there. We can protect our pack, but what about the ones Melanie knows about that can’t protect themselves?”
I sighed, “I think she took ten years off my life tonight.” EJ snorted, “So you are changing the subject, I see.” I put my head in my hands, “My mate is strong and I know she’s capable, but when Melanie jumped off that bike onto a van and went through a holoport bleeding I froze. Melanie is in the Resistance, and she hasn’t even told us that yet.”
“I don’t know how to handle her going off for them because she will. She runs off into the unknown and always has. I just didn’t know that. This whole time I thought she was safely in New York dancing her heart out I was wrong.”
“Instead, I find out that’s not true at all. My mate has been running around and in danger. She’s got to be on so many people’s most wanted list, and not for anything good.” EJ said, “They don’t know who she is though.” I snorted, “That doesn’t really make it better.”
EJ sighed. I threw my hands in the air, “Melanie’s the white wolf, big brother. THE white wolf is REAL, and she’s my mate. What the HELL do we do with that? I told her I’d protect her. Can I even do that? It will hurt me if I ended up lying, and she’ll be the one who feels bad about that.”
EJ answered, “Of course you can. Besides, you can’t lie. You’re my Alpha Enforcer, Alexander. You are also a Squadron Leader for Cayden. Additionally, you are an Alpha. Plus, Melanie is not now, nor has she EVER been, defenseless.”
I yelled, “That’s not the point! I know she’s not defenseless. My mate is now like this super Werewolf. Mel was already insanely good without a wolf! Now she has one and Freya is the freaking white wolf. We should’ve known that for four years. We should’ve had four years to plan. Now, we are scrambling, and I feel unprepared to protect my mate. I already feel like a failure at every turn with her.”
EJ interrupted, “You aren’t a failure.” I raised an eyebrow arguing, “I let some stupid cookies convince me Melanie was fine MULTIPLE times when my instincts were SCREAMING at me that she wasn’t.”
“I was drawn to Ashley from the first time Phil said her name. Her emails to me furthered my need to know her, but did I go see her? No. Because I felt guilty because I believed Melanie was my mate. I could’ve saved her so much pain had I simply satisfied my own curiosity about her. Or had Phil go do it. Hell, I could’ve had Levi go or even you. Or if I’d had her brought up for Elise’s party. There was even a plan!”
EJ tilted his head, “Ok, I did not know there was a plan for Elise’s party. Technically the plan would be called kidnapping. It’s probably for the best that you didn’t start your relationship out that way. I don’t know if that would’ve ended well for anyone you sent to get her.”
I sighed, “I feel so helpless and….” Oden and I stiffened. EJ asked, “What now?” I frowned telling him, “Something is wrong.” EJ sighed, “Not much has gone right lately but….” I shifted and took off back towards the house before he could finish that sentence.
EJ yelled, “Wait for me!” I was not waiting, and I was much faster than my big brother was now. I ran back into the house. My dad raised an eyebrow. The McAlister’s were all here too because of course they were. I ran past them all and their questioning gazes.
I ran into my room with my dad and EJ right behind me, but Melanie was still gone. I turned asking my dad, “Did she come by you guys downstairs?” My dad shook his head, “No, she didn’t.” I linked Julian, “Where are you?”
Julian answered, “With Valentina and her brother. My mate wanted to come see him after the whole night went to crap.” I asked, “Have either of them left?” Julian answered, “No, why? What’s wrong?” I answered, “Melanie is missing.” Julian speculated, “She could be in the Ribbon then.” I closed my eyes knowing he was right.
My mom said, “If Melanie feels near but far away then she could be in the Ribbon.” I sighed, “We haven’t had our Hackura bonding ceremony yet. It’s probably going to be this weekend. That’s what she said when we talked about our Mating Ceremony.”
My mom smiled encouragingly saying, “That’s great!” I tried to smile. My dad said, “Melanie will be ok, Alexander.” I snorted, “We don’t know if she went off for the Resistance or if she’s in the Ribbon. We can’t ask her friends directly because they don’t know that we know they are in the Resistance.”
EJ said, “I seriously doubt she went out because Ladybug was clearly exhausted. I could see that on her face and she’s had a hell of day.” My mom snorted, “Then it’s settled. She’s absofuckinglutely in the Ribbon. She’s had a whole ass day. I think we all have, but more than anyone else she definitely has. The Ribbon is crappy with its timing.”
My dad snorted in derision and added, “Your mother is right.” Elise said, “I’m sure her friends would have an excuse ready for her if she wasn’t here because of the Ribbon.” That was all true. I’m sure Sierra would know.
I linked Phil, “Has Sierra said anything about Mel?” Phil linked, “Yes, she’s worried about her, and we are almost to yourroom.” Sierra burst into the room and looked around. Sierra instantly asked, “Where is Mel?”
I shrugged, “We are guessing the Ribbon.” Sierra shouted, “Oh come on! She needs a freaking minute! Mel saw her old house for the first time tonight. She’s been having that stupid dream where she’s pulled in every year and sees their deaths all over again.”
Drake asked, “What?” I winced. Sierra sighed, “I did not see you back there.” Drake replied, “I am. So, why don’t you go ahead and tell me what you meant by that comment.” Sierra admitted, “Every year on the anniversary of your not deaths, when Melanie was kidnapped, she was put into this….”
She trailed off then waved her hand, “Paige said Illusion, where she saw it all over again. Mel tried to change it every time, but she never could.” Sam started crying and buried her face in Drake’s chest. Sam sobbed, “Why did they torture our pup like this, Drake? She didn’t do anything wrong. Ladybug didn’t deserve any of this.” Drake had silent tears coursing down his cheeks.
I took one look at my childhood best friend. I grabbed Jason and Tristan then popped us to the gym. EJ popped in seconds later with Elise. I saw a group of Warriors. I told them, “Your Luna’s brothers need a fight so give them a good one.”
I turned to hit a bag. EJ called, “I don’t think so. It’s you and me in the ring together, little brother.” I replied, “I don’t want to hurt you.” EJ shrugged, “You can heal me so it will be fine. You were manic after you came back from the Ribbon. I can handle it.”
I took the first swing, but I wasn’t trying to injure him. EJ wasn’t really going full force at me either. I sensed someone behind me and ducked. I snorted, “Cayden.” My brother in law commented, “I heard you needed a good fight.”
I fought him and EJ for what felt like hours until I heard a pop. Angela announced, “Melanie will be coming back in ten minutes give or take a few. You should shower, Alexander.” I whirled asking, “So, Mel’s in the Ribbon?”
