EJ said, “Elise was on the school planning committee. So, Alexander and I have snapped many decorations for so many things. We usually got mom involved because then we didn’t have to do it.” I snorted, “You’d do anything Elise asked you.” EJ smiled, “Yes, I would.”
Addison laughed, “God, it’s so different here. I’m kind of obsessed with it. I can see why Mel struggled so hard losing this type of pack. I would be catatonic in her shoes. It’s probably good it wasn’t me, but gosh I really hate that it was her.” So did I.
I grabbed her hand, and we popped back to the main room. Avery was laughing. I asked, “What’s so funny?” Avery answered, “Melanie just put some pups in their place for not playing with Robert’s siblings anymore.”
I frowned, “My wife is with Robert’s family?” I didn’t like that at all. Oden growled, “We need to go protect mate.” Dakota said, “Ladybug’s back at their house now. Skyler is the only one there and that woman has shut herself away since learning about Robert.”
He hung his head admitting, “We can’t get through to her. Our mates, mom, Sam, and our aunts have all tried to talk to her. We know it was only Robert who was involved, or Ladybug would’ve found a way to get them if it was more than that. I think we are going to have to use an Alpha Command on Skyler to get her out of her room, but we don’t want to do that yet.”
EJ linked me, “Melanie is safe here.” I turned and glared at him. I replied, “Safe? My mate was kidnapped from her own damn house. She’s safe in our territory, not theirs.” EJ winced. He said, “Ok, that’s true, but Melanie is not the same girl who was taken when she was teenager.” No, she wasn’t.
EJ linked me, “Plus, Egres is here with her.” I relaxed, because I knew my faithful Lead Guard wouldn’t let anything happen to Melanie. Avery showed me a picture of a dress Paige had always wanted. I conjured two dresses. One for Melanie that was red, and the blue and sparkly top one for Paige.
The girls planned more details while EJ and I informed our cousins of the dance. What surprised me was that Hastein was coming. I wondered if his mate was coming too. EJ shrugged, probably wondering the same thing. My older brother popped back to get Elise and the other girls.
Hutchins, my Guard, walked into the room. I raised an eyebrow commenting, “I didn’t know you were here too, Hutchins.” Hutchins nodded, “Gordon is here as well. The Duchess Luna Melanie has taken Skyler to her old home.”
I questioned, “Why?” Gordon smiled, “Well, first she made Skyler shower and did some laundry. It was quite a putrid smell coming from the house. I don’t think the she wolf had showered in weeks. From what we heard while faded back Skyler passed some innocuous information along to Ezra in order to get him to leave her son alone.”
“Nothing damaging or that he wouldn’t have figured out on his own. According to the Duchess, it was just a way for him toexert control over Skyler, and I have to agree. The woman got out from under his thumb, and he probably didn’t like that. He wanted her scared and not talking to this pack’s leadership about him.”
I snorted, “So, he lied his ass off because he got to Robert. That didn’t work out for Skyler.” Addison interjected, “She did the best she could with the options she felt she had.” Dalton argued, “She could’ve come to dad.”
Avery gently argued, “Yes and no. Skyler lived how we did before coming here. Change doesn’t happen overnight. I struggled to come to terms with life the way Melanie said it should be. Sometimes, I was fighting against it and going with what I knew.” She was a pup when she met my mate, but I understood her logic.
Avery passionately continued, “Going to the Alpha, even when he was in a good mood, was often a trap. You never knew who to trust. You never knew who would turn on you or share something you’d told them in confidence.”
“It was a toxic cycle that the leadership spread to the pack. Women were particularly isolated and alone. Everything was acceptable to do to us, and we had no voice. Skyler didn’t have a Melanie come into her life to help her see she deserved better like we did.”
My blood was boiling. I said, “I’m going for a quick run.” I ran outside and tore my clothes when I shifted but I didn’t care. It pissed me off she wolves and male wolves were suffering that type of leadership.
It pissed me off that they were conditioned to think as an Alpha, I wouldn’t help them. It further pissed me off that Melanie had endured all of that. I ran longer than I’d intended. EJ linked me, “Elise needs Melanie to get ready and your wife is still at her old house.”
I instantly felt bad because I could feel how hard this was for my mate, but I wasn’t there for her. Oden linked, “Mate would’ve let us know if she needed us.” I argued, “No she wouldn’t. She thinks she can handle it on her own.”
Oden linked, “Ok, Freya would’ve told us. Mate is talking to Peter and Freya told me that it’s making mate feel better. So, it’s a good thing.” I’m sure that talk started out as a contentious conversation. I shifted back, snapped clothes on myself, and popped to Melanie.
Melanie’s emotions were swirling all around in the bond. I wanted her out of this house as much as the majority of her did. Drake and Sam were sharing looks and I was pretty certain this house was getting leveled to build a new one. The Richards would conjure it and so would I.
I linked Peter, “You can tell Drake and Sam any of us would help with a new house and layout.” Peter replied, “Drake does want one.” I told him, “Well, I’d do. Obviously, you know your Gamma’s family would, but I’m here. Always.”
A part of my mate felt a desperate need to forgive Peter, but something was holding her back. There was a sense of longing in our bond. I knew what it was thought because I dove down into it. My wife felt a deep, abiding longing for things to be as they were. She wanted to forget it all, but how much she suffered had a hold on her.
Oden growled, “The fake conversations exchanged hurt her deeply.” I replied, “No one could blame Melanie for that. It would mess anyone up being under such false impressions of the people you once loved.”
I disliked that there was a layer to my mate’s feelings that told me she blamed herself. I knew she thought she should’ve known, but my wife was wrong. Oden growled, “Mate was just a teenager when she was taken.” I agreed, “I know. If anyone should’ve known, it should’ve been us.”
The adults and me because I was her freaking mate. I was still annoyed I’d ignored Oden about her being ours. I should’ve insisted we meet her. I shouldn't have taken no for an answer. I hoped to god one version of me did that.
I linked Phil, “Did Peter stop teaching pups to rely on or call on Selene?” Phil replied, “He did it first, but we’ve all done that.” I wasn’t surprised really. None of us should count on her at this point. No one could deny that.
I walked outside with Melanie, where Elise instantly took her away to get ready. I was happy to give my wife this normal moment. Melanie deserved some normalcy. Oden chuckled, “Mate is already guessing and crafting theories.” Elise dragged Melanie off to the Kyle’s house.
EJ snorted, “Ladybug is already suspicious of you, little brother. You’ll never get away with anything.” I laughed, “Like you get away with anything? Elise has known you since she was born. You can’t get away with jack shit because she knows you like the back of her hand.”
My brother smiled, “I wouldn’t have it any other way.” I nearly sighed but withheld it because I was jealous of that fact. EJ grabbed my shoulder saying, “It’s ok, you know?” I asked, “What is?” EJ answered, “To be angry about the years you and Melanie lost. I’m so sorry, Alexander. I should’ve done more.”
I clapped my hand on his back. I told him, “It wasn’t your fault, but we aren’t talking about that tonight. Because tonight we are going to focus on giving her an experience she should’ve had already.” Drake spoke from the porch, “What experience would that be?”
