The pack doctors asked, “Ladybug?” I threw up in a trashcan. I pulled back, “Sure. They were drugged.” The pack doctor replied, “They seem fine. I’m worried about you. Let’s get you checked out along with them.”
I rolled my eyes, “Yeah, well spells and stuff… I have to go.” I heard Adeline shouted, “MEL!” A deep part of me wanted to stop and talk to her, but I felt ill. I waved, “Hey… Adeline…umm... I’ll see you soon… preferably when I’m not throwing up… because… this is such… a not cool way… to be back here. Gosh….I cannot… catch a break.”
I took off running, but I was stopped by Nick Kyle. I sighed and told him, “You have several dead men near your border… you should do something about that.” I turned and threw up again. Nick was holding my hair back.
He knelt down to touch a hand to my forehead. The concern in his eyes was killing me…I didn’t like it. I didn’t like having feelings or showing weakness. Nick asked, “Ladybug, are you ok?” I told him, “I have to get out of here.”
I took off as he yelled behind me. I stopped short when I saw my parents’ house. It felt like I couldn't breathe. I knew so much love in that house, but the last time I had been there rocked me. I felt like I could hear myself screaming inside as shots were being fired.
What shook me from that moment was when someone ran out of the house in a black hoodie. I took off after them. I had them before they crossed over into Alpha Raven’s border. That guy REALLY needed to up his border patrols.
I threw up again. The person under me yelled, “Gross!” I knew that voice. I heard a pop before Xander put his hand on my back. My mate asked, “Mel, are you ok?” I got up and shoved the guy at Xander, then walked over the border Red Run shared with Alpha Raven.
I took a deep breath before I answered, “That guy broke into my parents’ house.” Xander tilted his head asking, “That was him? Not you?” I asked, “What wasn’t me? I didn’t break into any houses in Red Run.” The guy’s hood fell back.
I snorted, “I thought that was your voice… of course you’re here.” Xander asked, “Who is he?” I sneered, “He’s one of Trevor’s good buddies… his name is Francis.” Xander snarled and grabbed something out of Francis' pocket then squeezed his throat.
Francis was turning purple, but I was staring at my old hairbrush that Xander now had. My family was popped in with Elise and EJ. I asked, “Why would he break into my parents’ house to take my old hairbrush? Why is it still there?”
EJ answered, “It’s probably to pull you to them with your hair.” Freya took over and said, “The jokes on you then Francis, because that wouldn’t work with me.” Francis gasped, “You’re Melanie’s wolf. Damn, you really did come out once she met her fated mate. I mean Trevor said that could happen, but you know I seriously doubted it after they suppressed her wolf.”
Freya snarled, “You are just as obnoxious as Melanie’s memories of you. Sometimes our human half’s memories aren’t accurate as they are one sided. We see their view when we come to them, but I can already tell that her view of you is not jaded. You’re just a bad egg. Your wolf doesn’t like you either.”
I snorted and linked her, “No one likes him, Freya… except Trevor. Ask him where Mark is.” Freya asked, “Where is Mark?” Francis snarled, “Who knows?” That was interesting. Freya put a hand on Xander’s shoulder saying, “I am fine and so is Melanie.”
Xander threw Francis like a rag doll at EJ, stepped over the border, and went to kiss me. I wrinkled my nose as I took back over. I said, “I need to brush my teeth… I’ve thrown up… like a lot….but not like because of girls’ night… I didn’t even have one drink… and I can hold my liquor…quite well.”
Xander snorted interrupting, “I don’t care that you threw up, but if you do that’s fine.” I snorted, “I do… that’s gross… so gross.” Xander laughed but I was right. Xander then pulled my skirt down. My face turned red. So… not only did I throw up in front of my old pack… I was quite literally showing my butt. Awesome.
Freya offered, “That’s normal in packs. Nudity doesn’t bother them.” When shifting… I guess I had just got used to hiding my body… yet another thing Black Path had me doing that wasn’t normal to Werewolves.
Francis snorted, “I always knew you had a nice ass, Ice Queen.” Elise kicked him in the balls, and Xander roared in anger. Alpha Raven’s patrol ran up. They looked at Xander and frowned. The one in charge spoke, “Alpha Alexander, what are you doing here?”
Xander answered, “My mate gets sick if she’s in Red Run. Which is why we are standing here on your side of the border. We’ll leave momentarily.” The Warrior looked confused butsaid, “Ok, I guess.” Xander said, “EJ, I’m popping my mate home.” EJ nodded, “We will be there shortly.”
I asked looked at Elise asking, “Are Marybeth and Emma ok?” Elise nodded, “Yes, they are fine. One might say somewhat miraculously. We’ll go see them now.” I snorted, “Marybeth seemed… like she was somehow very drunk. Emma wasn’t as much.”
Elise replied, “MaryBeth drank quite a bit before we arrived because she was nervous about seeing you.” I shrugged, “Ok.” Xander popped us into our bathroom. My mate growled, “You hurt your arm.” I looked at my elbow and stared at it because it was already healed. Which was… weird… and not normal.
Freya snickered, “Being the white wolf has perks, Melanie. We heal very quickly. Besides, you healed quickly before you had me. With me, well it’s fast unless you ask me to hold back.” I told Xander, “Slamming one's elbow into glass… does tend to lead to getting a few cuts.”
My mate’s eyes were pitch black. He said, “If you could take a shower and wash off your blood, I would appreciate it.” I snorted, “You could snap it off…but I smell like other men… right? That’s the problem right now. Isn’t it, Oden?” My research was telling me that it was the problem, but Oden would confirm it.
Oden growled, “Yes, you do. Particularly Francis. I want to know what he did to you. I could guess it’s really fucking bad based on who he is friends with, and the smell of his scent is making me see red.” I sighed, “What he did to me is not a short list. He was Trevor’s crony.”
Oden growled, “I’m going to go for a quick run then I’ll be back.” I nodded, “Ok. I’m ok Xander… and Oden. Really. Physically… I’m fine. Francis… doesn’t really bother me… nor does him calling me names. I’m more mortified I threw up infront of my old pack… and ran around showing off my butt without noticing… so… that’s horrible.”
Xander said, “Your old pack is simply worried about you.” I hummed, “I mean… I guess they are still my pack… I just don’t live there.” He growled, “This is your pack.” Except I hadn’t joined yet. Before I could say that my mate kissed me on forehead and left.
I quickly got into the shower. When I got out, I brushed my teeth and used mouthwash six times before I was satisfied my breath was ok. I threw on Xander’s hoodie and leggings. I decided to lay my head down for a second.
I opened my eyes when I heard a whisper, “We stop her here, and I’ll mark her tonight.” I frowned because that was Trevor’s voice. How did he escape the Hackura realm? He was not smart enough to even get out of their dungeons.
I opened my eyes and looked around. I was in a forest. Why was I in a forest? I quickly got my bearings realizing I wasn’t just in any forest. I was in a forest in Nashville… near our holoport that led right outside the Conners territory.
Freya linked, “I think we are in the Ribbon. This is definitely not our reality.” I shouted back, “SERIOUSLY?! You’re telling me our day goes… Shifting, finding out I’m the white wolf, first girls night with the allies going to hell, saving my aunt and ally, speaking to Nick Kyle for the first time who I considered another grandfather, seeing my parents’ house for the first time since that night, throwing up in front of far too many people, an already worried mate, AND THE RIBBON?! You’ve got to be kidding me.”
Freya sadly replied, “I guess not.” I rubbed my face. I sighed, “I know what day this is at least. It’s my eighteenth birthday. I tried to go see Xander.” Freya advised, “Well, let’s make sure this version of us gets there.”
