“Why don’t you understand how I feel?! I have to save my mom! I JUST GOT HER BACK GOSH DARN IT! GIVE ME A FREAKING BREAK! I want to breathe FOR FIVE SECONDS! I failed to put her head back together that day…but it wasn’t real…and I kind of did…that’s not the point. That woman was still dead. Don’t you DARE even THINK of taking my mom from me!”
A roar of anger pulled me out of that dream state. I sat straight up in bed from being startled awake. My heart clenched because I knew that roar. It was Tristan and Apollo and it meant they were in pain. I closed my eyes as the truth hit me.
My big brother knew what my back said. Xander didn’t answer Tristan’s question, so my brother went to the person that would. This was my fault, again. When would the cycle of hurt end? I saw a note on the pillow next to me.
Mel,
In case you wake up, I’m in the gym working out some anger. I’ll handle your family, as I said I would. This was my fault, and I’ll fix it.
I love you so much.
Xander
My mate was wrong about this being his fault, it wasn’t. Freya urged, “Say whose fault it is then.” It was Trevor’s because he took advantage of me when I was emotionally, mentally, and physically weak. Not to mention I was bound by handcuffs. Freya cheered, “There it is! The right person to blame.”
I made my way out of the treehouse then took a second to take in my surroundings. I took off running for the dungeons which had to be where Tristan was. I found Tristan, Jason, and Xander exactly where I thought they’d be.
I heard Ezra taunting them all and Freya growled. I was right there with her because I was so over this grown man child with nothing but bitterness and anger inside. I was over Ezra’s manipulations, and I was really pissed that I was continuously used as a way to hurt the people I loved. It was too much.
I decided to taunt Ezra myself. I toyed with him letting him know his horrible son, Robert, was captured already. Ezra had three sons. All by different mothers. Tao would probably have his other half-brother be his Beta. He had both Alpha and Beta blood, but Tao’s good brother didn’t want to be the Alpha. He was a tad obnoxious, but he was a good guy.
I made it back to the top of the stairs where literally all of mine and Xander’s family had gathered. Just what we needed... another group get together about crap I went through. Joy. We eventually went inside. Freya told me, “Mate will make sure you don’t have to tell them anything.”
That would’ve worked if Ezra wasn’t here. That man wanted to hurt my family. The rat bastard. I linked Haley, “Thank you… for… the support… it means a lot.” My mate’s mom replied, “I will always have your six.” It meant more than she knew.
Freya commented, “Your plan to get around Ezra is interesting.” I replied, “As much as I hate it, their guilt for what happened will work in my favor. I didn’t want to use that, but to protect them… it might be the best choice.”
I could compromise on some things with them, but I never wanted my dad to see my back. Hearing and seeing are very different things. In my opinion, hearing was enough. Addison linked me, “You did not ask why I’m here.” I replied, “Umm you just got married…so I did.”
Addison snorted, “I’m here because I wanted to see you then we heard your Xander come back from the Ribbon. I figured out what he’d seen because I saw the end result myself.”
“I was angry enough so I knew your mate would be golden eyed pissed about it. I also know you didn’t want him to know. I wanted to check on you, and Jase did too. I’m glad you talked over link so much all of us got used to having out loud conversations during a link one. Are you ok? I’m so sorry about your Xander finding out about your back, Mel. This should’ve been your choice.”
I sighed, “Goddesses suck. What’s new?” Addison bit her lip admitting, “There is literally nothing new about that.” Freya said, “Rhea also believes, like her human, that opening up will help.” Elise didn’t know the world like I did as this point.
I replied to my wolf, “That’s because she doesn’t understand. Nothing about the last several years would be healing to my family or hers. It would hurt. They lived lives of bliss with bad headaches if they thought about me. I lived through hell, but it was my hell.”
Freya said, “It should’ve been ours. If I hadn’t been kept from you, I never would’ve let that continue.” I believed her. She’d have ripped out of me and killed Booker, Edward, and Jean. Freya added, “Then run to mate.” It wasn’t a bad order of things.
I just wanted my past to stay behind me where it belonged. I didn’t want that life here. Addison seemed to be the only one who understood. Freya linked, “You’re missing one other person who understands.” My eyes cut to Haley. I mentally chided myself. Of course she understood. It was plain as day on my mate’s mom’s face.
Freya said, “The Fairy Hackura Princess does understand.” I mean everyone probably knew I was whipped before they saw part of my back when my shirt ripped. Even if it was just a guess… it was logical given they’d found a punishing field and knew I was there a lot. It wouldn’t be logical to think I was shocked all the time.
Tristan was pissed I wasn’t giving them full answers. I linked him, “These are the answers I have to give. You know I need to think… and I don’t know how to say everything… right.” Without hurting everyone.
Tristan argued, “Hurting us doesn’t matter.” I grumbled, “I didn’t mean to link that part… but it does matter to me.” Tristan teased, “I see you still do that talking or linking things you don’t mean to. Honestly, I’m thrilled. Even though I know it annoyed you that you could never figure it out. It’s such a Ladybug thing. I missed those. I’m still mad though.” He was less upset than he was a second ago though.
Honestly, my big brother could stay pissed off. I trusted my family but at the same time… I didn’t. Freya offered, “That hurts you.” I agreed, “It does… it hurts me a lot, but I didn’t think it gave me the right to hurt them emotionally back. Why is that so hard for everyone to understand?”
My wolf answered, “Because they think once it’s all out there then you can move on.” I didn’t think that was true at all. It would have them in therapy for years because they’d feel so bad about it all. I knew all of them wished they could trade places with me, but they couldn’t. Nor did I want that.
I made my deal. Jason linked, “I really do want to see it.” Of course he did. Freya said, “Ajax said they are pretty sure they remember, and it’s haunts them.” I didn’t want that but seeing it for real would haunt him too. I thought about it some more.
Logically… my scars were somewhere in his memory. Hazily but there. My brother had been chained up in a tree as I was whipped, but he was never completely out of it. I’d imagine Jason remembered the words and how they looked, he just wanted it to be part of his nightmare.
Sadly... it wasn’t. I would never show my parents though. Compromising with my brother…. that was a thing I could do. Addison linked, “You agreed because Jase has seen it.” I answered, “Yes… I did. If he doesn’t fully remember… he will soon….because he did see it. Jason’s probably wondering if his memory is correct.” Addison inclined her head in understanding.
My family eventually agreed to my terms. Freya warned, “Apollo is saying the Undergrounds are coming up.” Of freakingcoursethey were. Stupid freaking Ezra. I wasn’t getting into that. Out of all the motivations I had… this one was selfish.
