Hastein nodded, “Good. K doesn’t understand and I hate it for her.” I would too in his position. I didn’t like what I’d heard and that was just with Kingsley being my cousin’s mate. She was my family, and people didn’t get away with hurting us.
EJ walked out, “It’s time for pictures.” I smiled, “Alright. Let’s go.” I couldn’t wait to see Melanie. We walked back into the Kyle’s house. As soon as we walked in, our mates started to come downstairs. They all looked beautiful. They’d all dressed to the theme with water themed colors or fire colors.
Melanie came down in the red dress I’d picked. My dick strained in my pants. Her boobs were practically taunting me, and I had no one to blame but myself. My wife came over to me smiling. Melanie said, “No one will tell me what we are doing. Is this a giant group date?” I answered, “Something like that.”
Sam cleared her throat and held up a camera. We took a million pictures. Melanie linked me, “Are we… did you… is this a dance?” I could feel the hope in our bond. I confirmed, “It is.”Melanie quickly wiped a tear away before turning and kissing me hard.
Several of my cousins whistled. Melanie’s brothers groaned along with Drake. I even heard Ben McAlister make a strange noise. Melanie pulled back and flushed the same red as her dress. Drake told her, “You look beautiful, Ladybug. You’re all grown up.” Melanie gave him a hug.
Esther fanned her face, “All you girls look beautiful. I just had this moment in my head, and I thought we’d never get to have it.” Ben came over and kissed the top of Melanie’s head. He told, “You shine like the star you are.” Melanie squeezed my hand and Ben moved to talk to his daughters.
I led my wife outside and conjured my Blue Jaguar, then led her over to the car. Melanie gasped, “Is this your Jaguar? You never drive it. I mean… uhhh I don’t know that…. I have no idea you’ve only ever driven it twice… that’s not a thing I know.”
Oden purred, “Mate is the worst but most adorable liar.” Sam called, “Ladybug, I adore you from the depths of my soul but please understand we all acknowledge you can’t lie. The territory is now aware you knew about the car.”
Adeline whispered, “You’re so smooth, Mel. God, I missed you.” August chuckled and kissed her shoulder. Tank shook his head. Ziggy called, “Well, I like it. It’s honestly a true Ladybug classic. I missed those happening.”
Tristan snorted, “At least she doesn’t know all my cars yet.” Melanie hummed, “Totally… I don’t run searches at night to catch up on things… or people… not being dead… nope. I don’t know that you have seven cars.”
Jason cackled from the porch. I laughed, “Yes, this is one of the cars I rarely drive. I bought it because you didn’t come home for Christmas, and I wanted to drive somewhere really fast.” Melanie hummed, “Well maybe… that gave some people heart palpitations because you drove it ON THE ICE!”
EJ linked me taunting, “You’re in troubbbbleeeee.” Melanie muttered, “After you picked a rear wheel drive model… they struggle on icy surfaces… there were all wheel drive options available… I’m just saying.”
Oden gasped, “She saw us drive it?!” I replied, “That’s what she said.” Drake snickered from the porch. I opened her door and helped her into the seat. I drove her to Red Run’s High school. I asked, “You saw me drive the car?”
Melanie replied, “Christmas is my favorite holiday… and I just liked to check in on you.” I squeezed her hand, “I’m sorry it worried you.” Melanie shrugged, but the bond told me she’d been anxious for me. I teased, “Surely you know I have excellent reflexes.”
Melanie hummed, “I do… but I looked up all the features of the car….and maybe killed the Demon that sold it to you… in the WINTER….which should not be allowed.” I snorted, “You killed that guy?” Melanie muttered, “Maybe.”
I repeated, “Maybe.” Melanie grumbled, “Well…. he was slimy and selling people cars... that he shouldn’t have been… and he was cheating the human government on money… and not marked as one of Iblis’s Demons… plus he was being overly aggressive with women.”
Oden said, “So, that’s a yes.” I told my wolf, “I’m aware.” Before we could get out Melanie reached over and grabbed my hand. She whispered, “Thank you….for putting together the dance. This… is so sweet… and not something I thought I’d ever have.”
I kissed her hand before saying, “I’ll do anything for you, Melanie Conners.” I popped outside her door and opened it. I led her into the gym. She and Paige gasped. They ran straight over to the staircase. Someone had hired somebody to take pictures.
Both girls took pictures together with their friends then beckoned Dalton and me. I linked him, “Are you nervous?”Dalton snorted, “You think being told twice my mate wants me to propose would lessen my anxiety, but my Witch is a rare one. I love that, but right now I’m anxious as fuck.” I snorted and replied, “You’ll be fine, and Paige will say yes.”
We took pictures with our mates then led them to get drinks. There was an actual bar since there were no high school students here. Tank commented, “This is much better than when we were in high school.” I snorted, “Well, there is no one underage here.”
Tank replied, “We were hardly underage for this type of thing in high school. To us, we were adults already.” I agreed, “That’s true.” Adeline’s mate stood with us. I introduced myself, “I’m Alpha Alexander.”
He chuckled, “I am August. I’m also fully aware whose Melanie’s Xander is. There was a full on debate about which pack I’d end up with because I was supposed to going to yours.” Tank chuckled, “Who argued about it?” August answered, “Alpha Caine and Melanie.”
Tank jolted, “Melanie argued with an Alpha?” August answered, “Yes, and then went against what he said. Alpha Caine gave me the ticket for Black Mountain.” Oden growled, “I hate that mate was hurt that way. It hurts Beta bloods to go against Alpha’s.” I knew that but August clearly did not. Tank did though.
August chuckled, “Melanie waited until he left then gave me a different ticket and told me to go to Red Run and find Adeline. I asked why she wouldn’t tell Caine that because I was certain he’d agree.” I replied, “I doubt that.”
Caine didn’t like anyone from Red Run. August admitted, “Your mate said the same thing. Melanie said that her friends didn’t like her old pack, but that she could just tell I fit with Adeline. It was very important to her that I make Adeline happy.”
Tank commented, “That sounds like Melanie.” August laughed and walked off. Tank said, “While he wasn’t in a good pack that he doesn’t find that concerning for a Beta Blood, I am and was. That was very confusing story.” He’d transferred packs for his dad’s job.
I replied, “I worry about it as well.” Tank asked, “How was Melanie acting like the Alpha when one was right there with her?” I answered, “Because she trained Caine.” Tank made a face pointing out, “That shouldn’t matter, and you know it.”
I reasoned, “I do but there are other factors. She was also running Black Path with Buck. My wife was loud about Edward being a shitty Alpha.” Tank said, “Right. I get that and I know she’s right but…” I cut him off, “Believe me, I know.”
Tank sighed, “Well, Mel always did like to do things that were right. At least to some degree, that had to help.” I conceded, “That’s probably true.” Tank huffed, “But damn that had to be hard. She idolized Alpha Peter and seeing things as right and wrong would’ve been so jarring for her.”
I agreed, “It definitely was, and I hate it for her. I fucking hate them and not sending people to burn the pack to the ground is hard.” Tank inclined his head, but we stopped talking when Ziggy came over and gave him a kiss.
