The Alpha Enforcer and His Dancing Warrior

Proposal Plans Pt. 2

                EJ linked me, “Yeah...I know that feeling that you're feeling right now….do NOT disappear for hours with Melanie until after this meeting. After this meeting, it’s fine. If you and Mel aren’t here we can’t decide anything about this company’s proposal. Then they will have to come back, and that leads to Elise losing her mind. Which leads to me losing mine.” I sighed, “We are coming. We will make the meeting, big brother. Don’t worry. I’ll take you on disappearing afterwards though.” I told Melanie why I wanted her in the meeting. Her perspective was unique and much needed here. I popped us into the office. The second my mom saw us she promptly went off on a tangent about how she didn’t like Patricia. My dad linked me, “I knew she was going to say something about Patricia. I could literally feel her stewing about it.” I linked him, “I dare you to tell mom she was stewing about it.” My dad raised an eyebrow, “Do I look like a gullible person to you, son?” I smiled, “No.” I needed to get Dylan to bring it up. He’d find mom’s reaction funny. My dad asked what charm my mom put on Patricia. She didn’t say anything. I linked Chason, “What did my mom do to Patricia?” Chason linked, “Before we left…. Patricia was insistent there were mice after a piece of cheese. She seemed to believe if she cleaned the floor….with a toothbrush….that would solve the problem. She’s literally scrubbing the floors of her cell screaming about mice every thirty seconds.” I barely managed to hold in my laugh. 

            All our allies were ready for the meeting. Melanie sat beside me as she was always meant to. I couldn’t help but enjoy having her right there with me. Buttercup tried to give Melanie money from their bet, but Melanie refused. She explained it was just a tactic her and her friends used to offer up what they thought was going to happen. An interesting tactic. No one would say anything other than rolling their eyes about a bet. EJ linked me, “I want to do that.” I linked, “We could just link each other.” EJ smiled, “That’s not as fun.” He had a point. The business group we were waiting on arrived. They were fifteen minutes early, like usual. I nodded to each of them. I felt Melanie’s annoyance immediately. What now? EJ linked me, “Seems Elise is not the only one who doesn’t like Essie or Kels.” This was going to make the process of this meeting interesting. They’d just stepped into the room. Oden snickered, “Mate is jealous.” It was slightly amusing since nothing had happened. It was incredibly ironic since Melanie didn’t understand why I was jealous of a lot of guys, but she’s upset with two girls for smiling. EJ linked, “Ohhhh Melanie didn’t like that you used nicknames to introduce them to her. She asked Elise what their real names are.” I shrugged, “It’s their preferred name.” EJ answered, “I know. I’m just telling you….your mate who tends to punch people...didn’t like it.” Melanie would be just fine. Plus...she tended to break people’s back...not punch them.

            I was ready to jump in when Kels sat beside EJ to get her into a new seat. EJ himself had been about to say something when Melanie jumped in. Someone was going to have to tell me why this authoritative tone she used was so hot. Kels immediately apologized. Melanie was not moved by her apology or her moving seats. EJ linked me, “Angela downplayed the events of today. I would’ve appreciated a heads up on this.” I linked back, “Angela would find this funny.” EJ inclined his head indicating I was right. Melanie’s trepidation shot up from my foot. I glanced over at her. She was studying Kels and Essie. Like she was trying to figure out pieces of a puzzle. I focused on the presentation. Melanie’s annoyance was mounting steadily. I was seriously beginning to wonder how intensely I was going to feel her after our Hackura ceremony. My dad linked me, “Your mate is clearly linking Buttercup a question.” I looked away from the presenters to watch Melanie and Buttercup. Whatever they talked about annoyed Melanie even more than she was before. 

            I linked Wes, “Do you know what that was about between our mates?” Wes linked, “My mate answered a question about whether or not Kels and Essie ever present in these meetings.” I was about to reply that of course they had. Then I thought about it. They had never said a word about their company or their presentations. Wes linked, “I think I had the same look on my face when I realized what you just did. They never talk about the business.” That was odd. Why wouldn’t they? They were clearly part of the team, everyone else on the team had spoken but them. Kels knocked over her drink and screeched. Jesus that was loud. Before I could even think about anything else Melanie leaped across the corner of the table and pinned Kels hands behind her back. EJ simply snapped himself clean. My mom linked us both, “Do nothing...either of you..” We both looked at her. She shot us a look and linked, “I love you both, but you are SO f*****g oblivious sometimes. Let Melanie handle this. One, it’s f*****g fun. Two, her mind works in different ways.” I sighed. Melanie spoke to Kels and made excellent points. She told Essie if she spilled her drink and tried to touch me she’d rip her arm off. Essie paled. The men giving the presentation were frowning and looking around at each other. Cayden linked me, “Man, things are more fun with her around.” 

            I rolled my eyes. The guys tried to argue it was an accident. Melanie did not agree. EJ linked, “It had to be. I can snap things clean. It’s not a big deal.” Then Melanie pointed out all the ways this was clearly an orchestrated event. She went further and accused the men of the group of using these women to flirt with the decision makers. EJ and I’s jaws dropped simultaneously. We didn’t expect that out of other supernatural’s. They respected the mate bond. Flirting with me….until today...ok...but EJ….No. Not in a business setting. Hell to the f**k no. Melanie directly asked Kels who admitted this was the plan. That their male co-workers didn’t even listen to their ideas. My anger fired on all cylinders. It’s one thing if a woman flirts with men she likes, but to force them to. Making anyone feel like they had to flirt to keep a job...that made them feel dirty later…..this was so wrong. This was despicable behavior. These poor girls just wanted to save their money and get out and travel around….probably hoping to find their mate so they never had to go back. The guys made their move to attack the girls. Had everyone gone insane? I linked EJ, “How the f**k have people decided attacking people in our office will fly?”  Melanie instantly protected Kels despite her initial dislike for the men. I grabbed two, EJ had another, Cayden had the others stopped. I linked Fowler and Chason, “Get in here.” They quickly entered the room, and grabbed the men. 

            Dylan was completely jazzed. Cassie popped in, and Melanie instructed the girls to step outside with her. She wanted to hear the presentation with their ideas incorporated. EJ linked me, “Did she just say GLARING? Glaring errors? How are they glaring? We’ve all been in these meetings….what was glaring?” I shrugged, “I told her that’s why I wanted her in here.” What shocked us even more was Melanie’s knowledge of our allies' businesses. She practically offered Kels and Essie sanctuary in our pack if the Daniel’s pack wouldn’t take them in. Max, EJ, and I agreed. The girls ran over and hugged Melanie. They’d recognized her name as the voice of the forgotten packs. Seemed that had gone around everyfuckingwhere but here. Eventually, Kels and Essie stepped out. Melanie instantly informed the men of how she was going to dismantle their company. EJ linked, “Does that sound oddly familiar? I think it does little brother.” It did. We’d gotten emails of talent before. They were anonymous and we’d traced back to our competitor's company IP’s. We’d assumed there was a disgruntled employee who’d sent them to us. I linked Cayden, “Let Micah know he was bamboozled. That was clearly a false front I.D.” Cayden sighed, “Yeah, that sounds familiar. You could tell him. He’s sitting beside Micah.” I shrugged. Micah might be testy about it...I’d rather Cayden tell him. The first business that had gotten that detail was my dad’s. He was trying and failing not to smirk. 

            I conjured Melanie’s computer. I watched her break into their company’s system in literal minutes. It might have been three...maybe. EJ linked me, “Holy mother of god. That’s….terrifying.” My dad linked me asking, “Is she already in?” I linked back, “For several minutes now.” Even my dad gaped. She even mocked the men we’d now cuffed in silver saying their system was easy to crack. EJ linked me, “We need her to try and hack our businesses.” I’d lay odds….she already had. At least mine. She’d likely done EJ’s because of Elise...then she definitely hacked Elise and Jason’s. Melanie was really mad once she got the details from this company’s personal file. She easily toggled between social media accounts and messages before compiling several emails. Most of the names went to Emmett and Emma. She’d also sent some to Elise, Dalton and Dakota. Emma was really excited about the talent Melanie had practically gift wrapped for them. They’d gained a lot of unexpected talent from this meeting. Emmett wanted to know how Melanie knew about their business. She’d probably hacked into his computer. That would be my guess. Judging by the look on his face...it was his guess too. Melanie basically skirted his question about how she knew things. 

            Fowler linked me, “She’s scary….but super awesome. I’m glad she’s on our team.” So was I. EJ said out loud we needed to have her hack into our companies. Her reaction was completely and utterly adorable. I didn’t need her to tell me she’d already done it. Her reaction did. The girls came back into the room to present, but I couldn’t take my eyes off my gorgeous ridiculously brilliant mate. I linked Micah, “So….are you looking into those IP addresses we previously thought came from our competitors companies?” Micah answered, “I texted dad. He’s taking a harder look. I’ve talked to him about some of the code Melanie uses….most hackers have a type of signature. Melanie and I developed a code together, but I didn’t learn what hers is. My dad is trying. He said if she didn’t break into the company to send the email….it’s a good false front; however, he’s digging.” I nodded. The girls' presentation was clearly better than the men’s. All of them looked gob smacked realizing what they’d missed out on by excluding them. Emmett immediately offered them jobs. If he hadn’t….we’d have recruited them for something. 

            Once they left EJ asked about the companies she’d hacked into. It was no longer a question of if she did in anyone’s mind. Melanie was rambling about the definitions of hacking. I couldn't resist any longer so I kissed her. Then clarified my brother's question. I wanted to know how many she got into. She pointed out we have a lot of businesses. She’d gotten into twenty. While that wasn’t a lot given how many businesses we owned as a pack….I wasn’t happy about it. She quickly wrote down which twenty businesses, and added she’d put her own protection on them. Micah linked me, “EJ linked me the list…..Elise’s business….damn...it’s like fort Knox.” I bit back a laugh. Two of them were businesses I owned. Then there was just a running list of family members. Micha pointed out a few of the competitors of these businesses had gone down. Even ones that weren’t on this list. Melanie shrugged it off as no big deal. She’d even gone so far as to hack cameras on their computers and send their picture to the authorities. Which ones? They had to be ones she knew because as the business owners….we should’ve been informed we were hacked. Did Melanie have her own secret police too. Jason was excited she’d protected him too. I linked EJ, “I’m at the end of my limit. She’s too damn cute….she was f*****g hot earlier….now...nope it’s all hot.”  EJ nodded to me, “Go ahead. Micah can tell us more I’m sure.”

            I popped her to our room. I teased her when she said gift cards were welcome. She was too cute. I kissed her. After a second she seemed to realize when I pushed her down what I intended to thank her with. She wrapped her arms around me. I snapped us both naked. I kissed and licked her marking spot. I trailed my fingertips down her body and found the heat between her legs. She gasped and pulled me closer as I circled her entrance with my finger. I slowly slid it inside her. Her fingernails dug into my back as I continued to lick and nip her marking spot. I linked her, “My naughty little hacker.” I slowly began to move my finger inside her. She linked back, “I prefer to think of it as protective little hacker….if you’re being technical..oh..Jesus...Christ….fuck me…” I laughed as her tone got breathier. I made her come twice before pulling my finger out. I slid them into my own mouth. I told her, “Damn you taste so good.” I flipped her onto all fours and spanked her as I slid into her. She gripped the sheets. I leaned down and kissed the words on her back then slowly slid in and out of her. Once I found my stride….we couldn't get enough of each other. We’d just fallen apart when someone knocked on the door. 

            Paige started yelling from the other side, “Melanie Jane McAlister…..you explain this text right now!” Melanie winced, “I knew she’d be mad.” I titled my head, “About?” Paige began knocking again. Melanie grabbed my hoodie and ran to the door. I grabbed a pair of sweats and a t-shirt. I snapped them on as Paige pushed into the room. She asked Melanie, “What the HELL does this mean? There’s magic to the words on your back? What magic?” I quickly wrote down what I’d heard chanted in the ribbon. I handed her the paper. Paige sighed, “Well, I can remove that right now.” She pushed Melanie’s arm then asked, “Why didn’t you tell me before?” Melanie shrugged, “You were already mad about it…..you removing the spell couldn't do anything...until now.” Paige’s eyes filled with tears as she turned towards me. She asked, “You….can you heal her back, Alexander?” I nodded, “Me and my mom can. Is that what you want, Lovebug?” She nodded, “I do.” I kissed her forehead, “Let me know when you’re ready. I’ll bring my mom up.” I left them alone to give them some privacy. 

            I walked out of the room. I saw Jason standing there. I asked, “Jase?” He said, “I just want to talk to Mel.” I nodded and headed back downstairs. EJ was waiting in the living room with Dalton. Dalton said, “I was given no choice in the matter. She read her texts and said we were popping her because she had questions. When she has questions he demands answers. It’s very Beta wolf of her.” I laughed, “I might not have understood that before….but now...I get it.” EJ snorted, “Yeah now he gets it. By the way, the consensus is everyone is glad Melanie is on our side. She could’ve made our lives hell.” Dalton snorted, “My dad’s surprised she didn’t tank our businesses given what she thought we did. I would’ve if I could’ve and I was her.” I shrugged, “She still loves you guys man. She’s hurt, but she does love you all.” Dalton sighed, “It’s killing my parents. Hell, her not calling Jase and T….Jase and T is killing them. She called the T the other day though. He feels solid progress is being made. Ben has been moping around…..MaryBeth has been too….so has Melinda from what my sources say.” EJ sighed, “It’s just not how any of us pictured Ladybug’s return. We all had ideas….this was not even on the list.” Dalton snorted, “No, it really wasn’t. I would’ve led an army to bring her home if I’d even suspected….something like this. I’d have ripped those assholes apart to kingdom come for this. Those guys are lucky Mel was there to point out the good guys from the bad….or the fact that finding my mate distracted me...or I might have just ripped through the pack.” 

            I shrugged, “Her warriors wouldn’t have fought you, so it wouldn’t have been much of a fight.” Dalton ran his hand through his hair and sighed, “I might have felt like I’d done something if I’d fought who offered resistance.” I felt shame and sadness flood through Melanie. I linked her, “Are you ok?” She linked back, “I guess.” I asked, “Do you need me to come back?” She answered, “Not just yet.” I frowned. EJ asked, “Everything ok, little brother?” I shrugged, “I don’t know.” Dalton offered, “Jase wanted to see her back.” I winced, “She must have agreed to show him then.” Dalton inclined his head, “She said she would if he gave his word he wouldn’t go to Ezra for information about her. The McAlister’s agreed…..so much hasn’t been on Melanie’s terms. They want this to be.” I nodded, “I agree. It’s the right thing to do. I just don’t know if Ezra is going to give them that. Or her. He wants to hurt them.” Dalton smiled, “Which is why Ladybug specified they couldn’t seek Ezra out. I think she must know it’s inevitable that Ezra will say some shit.” I sighed, “Maybe I could find a charm….or Corbin could find a spell that won’t let him. It’s only fair.” EJ sighed, “Agreed. We don’t need any more lovely gems being dropped into our lap like Edward gave you when you pushed.” I snarled in anger. 

            Dalton wiped a tear away. EJ clapped a hand on his shoulder. Dalton shrugged, “She’s like a sister to me. I can’t believe that happened to her. Part of it was on my watch with Dakota. I’m supposed to protect my pack and my people. Yet….I failed one of the pack members closest to me because of magic and shit.” Melanie spoke, “I don’t really blame you Dalton.” Dalton whirled around. She sighed, “I was mad at you...and Dakota….even Dane. I blamed your dad though. Logically, you could’ve brought me home when you turned eighteen, but there’s a lot of red tape to go through to remove a banishment. I didn’t blame you. I was just hurt and upset with you.” Dalton winced, “He really didn’t….” Melanie held her hands up, “I’m aware.” Dalton frowned, “But you’re still upset with him.” Melanie nodded, “Yes. He was like a second dad to me in a way….basically he was an uncle to me. He was supposed to protect me. It’s part of my problem with my parents too. Nothing that was going on about me was considered weird. I was never breaking the rules, but I was always punished for breaking them. I suffered for that. It’s hard to reconcile that in my mind.” Dalton sighed, “Can I give you a hug Ladybug?” Melanie subtly glanced at Paige who looked hopeful. Melanie sighed, “A quick one.” Dalton walked over and wrapped Melanie in a hug. EJ linked, “Does she ever do anything for herself?” I linked, “Asking for her back to healed. Other than that...I really don’t think so.” 

            I linked my mom, “Can you pop to me?” After a few moments my mom popped in smelling very much like my dad. I laughed. My dad came running down the stairs in a pair of shorts. She blew him a kiss. He playfully growled at her. My mom kissed my cheek, “What do you need Alexander?” Melanie blew out a breath, “I mean...it’s more like...what I need...I guess...I think…oh god...he might actually need something else.” I cut her off, “No...it was about you.” Melanie sighed, “Ok...then I was umm….” My mom popped to her, “Let’s go somewhere….less f*****g crowded.” She popped away and I popped with her. After several moments of silence my mom asked, “So? Is someone going to say something?” Melanie started playing with the sleeves of my hoodie. She’d put on leggings at some point. She whispered, “I was just wondering….if you guys would heal my back.” My mom smiled, “Of f*****g course we will.” Melanie nodded and quickly took off her hoodie before I could tell her she didn’t have to do that for us to heal her. My mom’s anger barreled into me. Her eyes blazed gold. My mom hissed, “Oh that motherfucking tiny ass little Trevogre! What the mother f*****g hell is this s**t?! I will….have Bjourn do TERRIBLE things to Trevogre….yes I will. He will have to do all of the  worst f*****g things he can think of or has ever done to this wretched excuse of a person.” I told her, “Uncle Bjourn will have to get in f*****g line.” Melanie started to cry. 

            I went over to her, “Trevor will pay for this. I swear.” My mom coughed, “Trevogre.” Melanie whispered, “But you can make them go away now?” I nodded, “My mom and I can….My other reality Uncle said so, and he cannot lie. Nor would he give false hope in that situation. We will heal this Lovebug.” My mom sniffled, “That’s such a f*****g sweet nickname….” I told Melanie, “Why don’t you sit down somewhere you are comfortable?” She looked around my mom’s treehouse and sat down on the couch facing the armrest. I asked my mom, “Should we start together?” My mom nodded, “Yes. You’ll have to channel a different side of your light than normal. These are scars not something that needs to be healed as a physical injury right now. Just communicate with your light. It will understand the difference.” I nodded to her. We both held out our hands. I was pretty in tune with my light, so it wasn’t hard to understand that it understood my intentions. I could feel the difference in this healing light and my normal one. I’d never had to use this one before. It felt...somehow more powerful. The only time I’d felt more power from my healing light was when mom and I healed Jason. That’s just because of how bad of shape he was in. 

            I started to feel drained. I linked Oden, “How long have we been doing this?” Oden linked, “A few hours.” My mom linked me, “Step back and snap yourself food. I’ve got this.” I answered, “I’ll be snapping you some food too.” Only because I was raised to respect my mom did I step back. I wanted to keep helping her, but I knew she was right. I needed fuel. I snapped myself some pizza. When I finished my two boxes I noticed the signs my mom was about to finish healing. I snapped some pizza for her and Melanie. When my mom stepped back I helped her sit on the couch and handed her a pizza box. Melanie opened her eyes. She reached her hand back to feel her back. She gasped and took off for the bathroom. I linked my dad, “You can come up now.” I could feel him right outside in our connection. My mom said, “Go after her Alexander.” I nodded, “I was practically on my way.” My dad zipped into the room as I ran out. I found Melanie in the bathroom with her back facing the mirror staring over her shoulder. Silent tears streamed down her cheeks as she looked at her now unscarred back. I gently stroked the skin and kissed her shoulder. She cried, “They are gone…..all of it…..It’s...really gone.” She broke down in my arms. I held her against me. I told her, “I love you, Lovebug.” Melanie clung to me. She linked me, “I love you too.” I linked my dad, “I’m going to pop her back to our place.” My dad answered, “Not a problem.” I told Mel, “I’ll pop us back to the main house.” She pushed back from me and yelled, “Wait!” I snapped her a shirt as she ran out of the bathroom. She threw herself into my mom’s arms and just kept saying “Thank you, thank you, thank you.” My mom held her and whispered in her ear. 

            Melanie pulled back and wiped her face and hugged my mom again before she walked back over to me. I grabbed the pizza I’d conjured for her and popped us back to our room. I told her, “Eat something. I know that was draining for me.” Melanie frowned, “You should eat something.” I laughed, “I did...as did my mom.” She nodded and started to eat her food. She sighed, “Why am I so tired?” I told her, “I don’t know….it felt like we were basically taking the scars away year by year. I’m sure that is tiring for your body.” She snuggled into me. She whispered, “This is the most me I’ve felt in my own skin in years. That probably doesn’t make sense.” I disagreed, “I think it makes perfect sense. You were never meant to be there in Black Path. Having these marks on your skin was never supposed to happen. It’s hard to feel like you….when you feel something is in your way.” Melanie just held onto me and drifted to sleep. I woke up in time to get to my run. Melanie was already gone. When we wrapped EJ said, “So today is the day you’re proposing.” I laughed, “Yes, I just have to go find my mate. I’m guessing she’s dancing somewhere or in the gym.” I linked Chason, “Do you know where my mate is?” Chason snorted in his reply, “The muffin Luna is in the gym.”