It did sting because it was supposed to be my life too. I was supposed to be just like MaryBeth, but I’m not. I shook myself and walked to my parents’ house. My mouth started to dry. I linked, “Freya… I need you to take over… because I can’t walk in that house.”
Freya pushed forward. Xander linked me, “What’s wrong?” Freya answered, “We are doing something we have to do and that’s hard for Melanie. She’s fine, I’ve got her.” Xander replied, “You let me know if you need me.” Freya said, “You have your meeting mate. We will have ours.”
Freya knocked on the door and my mom opened it. She looked startled to see me and even more so to see Skyler. Mom asked, “What’s…?” Mom shook herself then said, “I mean come in.” I walked inside, arm in arm with Skyler.
I refused to look at the stairs… or Freya did… since she was in control. The furniture had changed. That was good. Luna Chelsea and Alpha Peter stood. Alpha Peter offered, “We can go.” Freya told him, “No, we came because we were told you were here.”
Alpha Peter asked hopefully, “Ladybug wants to talk to me? Or you did, Freya?” Freya answered, “Skyler does.” Alpha Peter sighed but nodded. Skyler looked at me, and I took back over from Freya. I encouraged her, “Go on. They will understand.”
Freya took back over because I wanted to sprint out the door and leave a Melanie shaped hole in it…. Then just keep on running until Black Mountain. Skyler gulped, “While you were Alpha, I told Ezra a few things when he threatened Robert. Ezra promised never to seek out my son if I told him little things. I told him when Melanie was born and kept it to small things like that.”
Freya interjected, “Things he could find out as an ally.” Skyler whispered, “I’m so sorry. I just wanted to keep him away from my son. I thought I could give Robert a good life here. Away from the monster I’d been freed from.”
Luna Chelsea surmised, “That’s why you didn’t want to be involved here. You didn’t want to be able to give him any more details. That was brave of you but it must have been very lonely.” Skyler replied, “I am used to being alone.”
I linked Alpha Peter, “She’s been traumatized and victimized…but when you think about it….she didn’t really betray the pack.” Alpha Peter studied me. He questioned, “Why is Freya in charge?” I answered, “Because I want to run out of the house and Skyler wanted me here.”
Alpha Peter replied, “We could’ve gone to a different place.” I reasoned, “It was hard enough for Skyler to leave her house… I wasn’t going to change the venue.” Alpha Peter turned toSkyler realizing, “You’re telling me and not my sons because it happened while I was the Alpha.”
Skyler gulped but nodded. Alpha Peter stood saying, “I see. There’s a social event tonight my wife is holding.” Skyler looked confused but I wasn’t because I knew what his idea was. Alpha Peter told her, “I expect to see you there, and at the others she throws.”
“There will be no more being a recluse for you, Skyler. You’re a part of this pack, and I expect you to act like it. You’ll help Chelsea and the others set up for the next four events. I want you to make some new connections here.”
Skyler gasped, “That’s it?” Yes, because he was a good Alpha. He was the man he’d always been and that had me scrunching my nose to avoid crying. Freya said, “I won’t cry.” I might… in my own head. That would an experience.
Dad linked, “Melanie Jane, are you ok? Why is your wolf in charge?” I replied, “I’m totally fine… obviously… this is me… being so very fine… Did you talk to Tristan?” Dad answered, “Not yet. I’m currently talking to you about what’s wrong.” I wasn’t answering though… which is why I changed the subject.
Alpha Peter nodded, “Yes. As Melanie said, you told Ezra things he’d already known. I do wish you’d been in a place to trust me. I understand why you were not though.” I knew why he wished she had. Alpha Peter would have protected Robert more if he knew whose son he was. Or how he came to be.
Skyler wiped her tears, “Thank you. I will be there to help set up.” She hugged me and whispered, “Thank you.” I nodded to her and she left quickly. I linked Freya, “Umm why aren’t you walking out and leaving a Mealnie shaped hole in that door.” Freya chuckled and let me take control, so I turned to leave.
Alpha Peter urged, “Please stay for a second, Ladybug. We can go outside together if it’s too hard being in here.” I turned around nervously asking, “Why? I mean… to the request for meto stay… I know the other answer.” Dad growled clearly catching onto why I didn’t want to be in this house.
Alpha Peter said, “I want to say I’m sorry.” Now I was surprised. I asked, “Not to be repetitive… but I’m definitely going to be… when I ask, why?” Alpha Peter ran his hands through his hair, “I was supposed to protect you. I should’ve been the one to save you and lead the charge. Compelled or not I was your Alpha until Dalton and Dakota took over.”
“You are like a daughter to me, and I am so sorry I didn’t protect you well enough even while you were here. I should’ve known crossing the border was unlike you. I should’ve looked into it harder and known something was wrong. Peanut butter cookies shouldn’t have convinced me otherwise.” Yes and no. He had no reason not to trust his own men…that said it was me…the cookies…well…I told them they were evil. A lot.
I shrugged, “Ok.” I didn’t really know what else to say. Alpha Peter wasn’t done, “You saved me and Chelsea.” I nodded. He added, “You wanted me to know it was you, and I didn’t. I’m sorry that you hurt you. Especially when you didn’t have to come save us. Many in your shoes wouldn’t have.”
I disagreed, “Yes, I did.” Mom asked, “You did what?” I answered, “Ididhave to save them. Even before I knew what I know now. I told EJ it was for Elise… but that was an evasion….it was for me too. For all the good memories we’d shared.”
“For what Alpha Peter and Luna Chelsea meant to you guys… I couldn't let them die. I was never capable of letting them get hurt. I was mad… but I never hated them or wanted them dead… despite how unpopular that opinion was… I tried not to care….but it didn’t work…which hurt…but it’s true.”
Luna Chelsea whispered, “Ladybug.” I continued. “The Resistance protect people… it’s what we do. My logic in protecting you was sound… and I don’t really understand why there was so much push back on it every time it came up.”
“Because you weren’t bad people… you just didn’t like me… or you did… but I didn’t think you did. So…it’s arguments that make no sense because…protecting people was the sole purpose. Sure, it hurt protecting this pack the most…but I wasn’t going to let anything happen to you guys. Umm… did you guys even…? You know what? Never mind.”
Dad asked, “Did they what?” I waved, “It’s silly.” Alpha Peter argued, “I’m sure it’s not. What do you want to know? I’ll answer anything you ask.” Freya took over, “Did you get the presents my human sent? She made some of them and searched several countries for them hoping you’d realize how much she loved you. They were always sent back unopened.”
Mom gasped, “You sent presents?” I took over to answer, “The only one I left on the border was Jason’s watch… because I knew he’d send it back. Ok… I thought he would send the watch back too… but I was mad and wanted him to have to pay for the postage.”
“Which was petty… but I did. It felt like a slight dig he deserved….but then he kept it. Kai was the only one who accepted my presents… in our special spot… because I needed to track him… so I had to get him stuff.”
Dad snorted, “And we are glad you did that.” Mom agreed, “Definitely.” I hummed, “I didn’t think that would be a popular thing that I did… but I didn’t care since… ummm that’s a whole thing off topic.” Luna Chelsea said, “You believed they told you not to come see him.”
I replied, “They did… or people pretending to be them did… in a way…that was very mean…and hurtful. Heck… even people in Black Path thought that was mean. So, that’s a thing. Anyway… the point was about the presents and you getting them.”
“Which obviously I don’t have any of for mom, dad, and T… because… well reasons that are pretty clear… but I have every else’s still. I kept them… because I’m… I don’t know … Ijust wanted you to love me again… so I kept them hoping you would….then you’d see I still had them and understand I always loved you too.”
