I answered, “Going to a school dance.” Drake smiled, “Well, that’s very nice of you.” Sam squealed, “I’ll take pictures before you guys leave! I always wanted to do that with Melanie, but….” She trailed off and then shook herself.
Sam said, “I’ll get to tonight. Does Ladybug need a dress? I have a few of mine packed away.” I replied, “No, I conjured her a dress.” Chelsea laughed, “Of course you did.” Drake said, “We need a new house.” I asked, “Do you know what you want?”
Sam said, “I’ve got some thoughts. Our pups all learned to walk here, but I should’ve thought about Melanie never wanting to come back here. Now that she’s mentioned it, I want to tear up the carpet and see if I can find where she bled and light it all on fire.”
I reasoned, “We can absolutely do that. We can have a big wrecking ball here and take it down. Mom can make it all explode. My point is, there are options.” Drake nodded, “We’ll be staying in the main house until we decide. I can’t stay there wondering how she cried, where she bled and if the man impersonating me held her while she thought I bled to death.” Sam and Drake both shivered.
Sam whispered, “I hate them so much. All that magic on me is finally gone, but I know it has echoes. I think one of them was being in that house not thinking about how Melanie was shot there.” I asked, “What magic?” Sam answered, “I wore a necklace that I was convinced Drake got for me.”
Chelsea growled, “It was a damn ring. They mocked us with the design.” Drake growled angrily now too. Sam waved, “Obviously Drake didn’t get it, but I thought he did. Hell, I was convinced I had a picture of Valerie with Melanie as a pup, but it didn’t exist. I thought the necklace protected Melanie, but it was wrapped in spells.”
I asked, “How did Ryan not notice?” Sam replied, “To keep Melanie safe, I had to keep it hidden. I thought it wouldn’t work if Ryan, Dustin, or Katie saw it. I still had it on me, but they never saw it.” I huffed, “Fuck the people who did this.”
Drake agreed, “The people involved that are alive will wish for death before I’m done with them.” I asked, “And how are wegoing to find them? Because we are at a serious disadvantage.” Everyone looked at me. I reasoned, “Melanie knows some people who were here that night, but we don’t. She’s got a whole revenge plot and has for years.”
Sam said, “You.” I snorted, “Maybe.” Tristan argued, “No, it’s all been for you.” I disagreed, “Not exactly. It was to protect me, but it was all done to honor the three of you. To protect Jason and keep him safe. I think we all have to try and be there for her revenge quest.” Everyone nodded then the adults left to go to the Kyle’s house.
Peter called before they made it, “Come on inside boys.” EJ and I followed them into their house. Not long after, Tristan, Jason, Dalton, Dakota, Dane, Cooper, and Landon showed up. I wasn’t surprised MaryBeth and Melinda were coming, which obviously meant Dane and Landon were coming.
Phil portaled in with Gage and our leadership teams. EJ snapped us all whiskey. Tristan took a sip of his then laughed. I asked, “What’s so funny, T?” Tristan laughed, “I always thought the first dance Ladybug went to I’d have to put the fear of god into her date.”
Tristan waved, “In fact, I had a whole thing planned to make the week of the dance hard for said teenager. I was going to have their training be more intense, so they were tired. I was going to tell him not to touch my little sister.” I growled thinking about someone from this pack taking Melanie on a date.
Jason snorted, “Cool your jets there, Alexander. Ladybug didn’t go on a date or to a dance.” I knew the dance part was true. I said, “The Resistance could have sent her undercover on a date. She wouldn’t have considered it a real date either.” Everyone sighed.
Drake said, “I’ll find who sends my daughter into such dangerous situations and we will have ourselves a lovely chatwhen I do.” I snorted, “Get in line.” Drake laughed, “I’m her dad which means I’m the head of the damn line.”
Oden muttered, “We can get to the front of the line.” I could. My Hackura cousins arrived. Hastein was glued to his phone and looked annoyed when he got certain messages but lit up when others came across.
When he walked outside, I left as he did. I gave him space until he hung up the phone then walked to him. I asked, “So, is a certain girl with purple hair making an appearance tonight?” Hastein smiled saying, “You might see K since she wants to talk to Melanie about something. I’ll see her, but she’s not coming inside the gym.”
I laughed, “Then I’ll have to stick by my mate. I didn’t spend much time with yours, but I like her, H. She protects people.” Hastein smiled and bragged, “She will be the perfect Queen.” I nodded, “Our girls are protective of people.” Hastein agreed, “That they are.”
I asked, “Do you know what your mate is yet?” Hastein laughed, “I’m getting the sense that I’m getting closer to finding out.” I snorted, “What does that mean?” Hastein shrugged, “I’m dying to find out. Do you have any guesses?”
I admitted, “Honestly, I’ve got nothing.” Hastein sighed, “K’s unique. That much I know.” I asked, “How are you doing with her being undercover?” Hastein answered, “Better since I can see her. I know a little bit of what she’s doing. I can help, and she doesn't keep me in the dark. It would be difficult to have just found her and be separated. So, I am thankful that she’s not shutting me out.”
I studied him realizing, “That worries you.” Hastein acknowledged, “Yes. Both our mates take risks. In an organization like the Resistance, they do what they feel is right; however, that doesn’t mean they give their people as much freedom as our mates seem to have.”
“They take liberties. Probably because they are two of the best the Resistance has. My mate is not well known around anywhere. She can go in with an alias and get things done. Your mate is clearly skilled as a sniper, in planning, and the technology side.”
“I worry that whoever is running this will be upset with the liberties they have taken. I already worry about your mate being with you. I’m worried the Supernatural Council really came to your pack to try and get Melanie back under whoever’s wing she’s under.”
Hastein advised, “Keep your eyes open, cousin. I like your mate, and my mate does too. I was already keeping tabs on your mate, but K’s worry for her has increased the tabs I’m keeping. There’s something we don’t know, but I feel like we are on the cusp of figuring it all out.”
I warned, “My mate is worried about yours too.” Hastein snorted, “I know. My dad told me. I have people looking for that Demon family, but they are all in the wind.” I frowned, “That’s odd.” Hastein said, “Not if they thought Melanie would ask you to kill them.”
True. I said, “Logically, she’d have done that while we were there.” Hastein shrugged, “You could come back with larger numbers and destroy them.” I asked, “What about the partial Demon woman they were helping?”
Hastein assured me, “She’s fine and still in my mate’s old place.” I nodded, “That’s good. Has she rejected her mate?” Hastein said, “She’s still thinking it over and healing. Kingsley told me, roles reversed, she’d have rejected that kid in a heartbeat.”
“Luckily, I am not a boy playing at the games of men. I would never hurt my mate and find it disgusting some people were not raised to respect the bond. I find it unfathomable and not justbecause I waited so long for her. I can’t believe people who use their positions on their own damn mate exist.”
I asked, “Is your mate doing ok?” Hastein said, “Yes, she is gaining her memories back, but she doesn’t understand what it all means. I know that I’m going to have a hard time not killing her family for hurting her.”
I nodded, “That makes sense. If she needs anything, we will help you. Plus, you always know I’m down to help you do what you need to do. I’m sure my mate can come up with creative ways to accomplish that if it’s what you want to do.”
Hastein smiled, “The same goes for you mate if she needs anything, I’ll help. I definitely want to hit my mate’s family at minimum and send you all to go hijinks crazy on their ass.” I laughed, “I will do whatever you need. I’m sure Melanie knows how to hurt them.”
