The Alpha Enforcer and His Dancing Warrior

Traitor Pt.1

        Alexander woke up and reached for Melanie. I bolted up finding her side of the bed cold. I could smell her chocolate muffins all the way up here though. How many did she make that our room smelled like them all the way up here? I sighed and spoke to my wolf, “Oden, for the love of god….WILL YOU WAKE ME UP WHEN SHE GETS UP!” Oden linked, “Hey! Not even Freya woke up when she did.” I linked back, “Freya is not as strong as she needs to be yet. You have been at full strength since I was a one year old. Get it together man.” Oden sighed, “She’s just so quiet. Freya said she only slept four hours and Melanie seems to think that’s an impressive accomplishment.” I snorted, “So you’re saying Melanie got up around two in the morning?” Oden linked, “I think so.”

             My cousin Cory linked me, “Good morning cousin. I met your girl. She’s a hell of a dancer, and according to the rumors….a hell of a cook. I’ll find out this morning because she told me she was coming over with these delicious chocolate muffins I keep hearing about.” I linked back, “They are really damn good.” Cory snorted, “See, I’d think the mate bond got to you saying that if I had not heard from THE WORLD’S most unimpressed food critic that they are amazing.” I laughed, “Chason likes them?” Cory snorted, “Likes? No….he loves them. He wants these muffins every day. Rumors are that your mate's dad wants to buy her a bakery. Someone heard him tell her that this morning. People want to pitch in on the cost of this bakery with him if it means they can have these muffins. Also, your girl…..she doesn’t sleep. After your marathon sexcapades….after becoming twice light bound….she should still be out, but she was up bright and early dancing….and good god….I can SMELL the muffins. I’m salivating.” 

            I laughed, “I gotta get up for my own run, but make sure to get one. They are good.” Cory linked, “I’m off duty and your mate is walking outside towards the pack house with the muffins. We will beat her to the pack house because we made sure our patrol ended near said pack house.” I snorted, “You all better not eat all the muffins. She’s happy because of me….I should get a muffin.” Cory snorted, “I’d imagine she has your own personal batch of special muffins. Maybe you even have a plate.” I popped outside. My brothers, dad, and uncles were waiting. Even some of my cousins were too. I snorted, “We have a full house today.” Max snorted, “That’s what you have to say? Your mate EVISCERATED someone WITH her words. THEN you shared your light with her…..again….you’re twice light bound...AND now they house...the ENTIRE house SMELLS of these muffins Phil ate that we didn’t get to taste. The pack link is on LITERAL fire about them. They call your mate the muffin Luna. They are chanting muffin Luna...I know you can hear them….and your comment is look at the full house for running today?! Are you kidding me, big brother?!” I snorted, “What do you want me to say? She clearly has a way with words. I find it damn sexy. She wakes up at GOD knows what hours of the morning because she’s somehow stealthier than a Hackura. She’s already been dancing….met one of our cousins on patrol…..and been to the pack house with muffins….if you want to try said muffins left in our house; Might I suggest we start running so you can have one when we get back. I can tell, as can you, there are more in the oven and still in the house. As we have a pretty damn full house for running today…..you might want to kick off the run so you get back first and snag a muffin before this group.” 

            Max grumbled, “You and Micah have been hiding the best breakfast cooker and baker of all time.” I snorted, “I didn’t hide her.” Wes laughed, “We beg to differ from big brother.” I frowned, “I abided my mates wishes to be in a bubble for two weeks. After which I planned to go on a mission…..then come back for her. At which point, I already had plans to call EJ to come down and help me destroy Black Path. Which means, he would’ve brought all of you. I didn’t hide her. Wes was going to meet her before…..shit went down.” Everyone paused. EJ laughed, “Which….we need to chat about.” I nodded, “Yes, which we will do. Tomorrow.” Wes groaned, “UGH! Do you understand the hell this has been for me? Mom is going to kill us.” My dad sighed, “For the love of god, let’s go run. I want a damn muffin and I do NOT want to know why your mom is going to want to kill you. I know there was a fight...hell, I can even guess who it was with. If you all keep talking….I’ll figure it out then I will be in trouble with your mother. So, shift and run. Let’s go.” My Uncle’s laughed and we shifted. EJ linked, “It was Claire...wasn’t it? How bad is she hurt? Is Alpha Theo upset?” I sighed, “Do you actually want answers to those questions brother?” He was forgetting Wes’ comments about the dome hurting me last time. EJ sighed, “Yes and no. Mostly yes….but no.” I snorted, “Then I’ll answer you tomorrow.” EJ huffed but nodded. We made it back to the house. 

            We shifted and snapped everyone back into clothes. The muffin smell was permeating the house. TJ grabbed my hand. He asked, “Can I ask Melanie about her band? Allison really want to hear them, and her birthday is this Thursday.” I smiled, “I know when your mate’s birthday is. You can ask Mel, but if she says no…..” TJ nodded, “That’s ok if they can’t. I just want to ask.” I nodded. Julian bumped me, “I swear to god, you’ll have to make her this happy all the time, big brother. The smell is amazing. The food yesterday….amazing. Make her sad….and I’ll have to pull fairy hijinks on your ass.” I laughed, “I have no intention of making her sad.” My dad smirked. We walked into the kitchen. I couldn’t help but smile. Melanie had some batter dried on her forehead. She looked beautiful. I crossed the kitchen and kissed her. I teased her about waking up with her in the morning. She didn’t think it would happen. I was sure I could find a charm….of some kind to wake me up when she woke up. Uncle Aiden had to know of something. A challenge was issued and I would rise to it. 

            Tristan walked in saying it was too early for this. I frowned. I linked EJ, “Too early for what?” EJ snorted, “To see his sister and her mate being….like you were.” I rolled my eyes, “He might want to get used to it. We got used to Cayden.” Angela and Klaus didn’t have moments like this yet. Kai ran over and showed his necklace to Melanie. EJ linked, “So...I think I know how Melanie found Kai when he was missing. His necklace. Thank god.” I laughed, “You’re right.” He ran off to play. Everly spoke and there was clear tension in the air between her and Melanie. T and Drake frowned. TJ asked about her band. Melanie said they could play. They’d just practice Wednesday then play Thursday night. TJ linked me, “I’m going to call Allison….the pack will be buzzing with the news later.” I nodded. He was right. Sam walked in to talk about cooking lessons. EJ linked me, “Elise already asked if it was true the Rebels were playing. The pack link could not be more excited about their muffin Luna. She’s popular.” I raised an eyebrow, but didn’t respond because Melanie started hyperventilating. I linked her and she just asked for water. Wes linked, “They were talking about Melanie coming home for cooking lessons….she just panicked.” I conjured her water. She drank it all with shaking hands. She started ranting about cooking here. My mom looked like she wanted to cry. Sam immediately agreed to cook here, but she looked really worried. Drake looked ready to cry himself. T had left, but I could hear him cursing outside with Max. Melanie was still nervously ranting about cooking. 

            I quickly kissed her and linked EJ, “Get everyone out of here.” EJ linked back, “We have a meeting with everyone and Cayden.” I linked, “I’ll be there when I get there, big brother. I need to take care of her.” EJ linked, “Understood. Max conjured all the muffins to the office. Levi came and took off with T for a minute. Mom has Sam.” Melanie noticed everyone was gone when I pulled away. She thought they’d eaten all the muffins. I wanted to know if she was ok. Eventually she told me that she couldn't go to her old house. I understood that. She’d thought she’d seen people she loved die there. That couldn't be easy for anyone to get past. She didn’t have to go there ever again if she didn’t want to. She was safe and loved. That was what mattered. She could go to her grandparents’ house….or literally any other house in Red Run one day. If she wanted. I just stood there holding her. Making sure her breathing was ok. Eventually she pulled back asking if I had a meeting. I told her the truth, EJ could handle it. He’d catch me up later. It was not a big deal at all. I didn’t like that Melanie felt this was her being a problem for me. I absolutely did not see her as a problem. Making sure your mate is ok was more important than a meeting. Literally anyone could catch me up on later. She started nervously saying she wanted to do something. Eventually she managed to get out that she wanted to go see Edward. I was curious what she had to say to him. The anger I felt at Trevor’s name coming across her lips concerned Cassie and EJ instantly…..she was MINE! 

            I had her on the counter in seconds. I told her to be quiet and quickly made her come with my fingers. I teased her saying we’d work on her being quiet. She’d thought she did a good job. For human ears she did. I heard someone coming and snapped her pants on, but I wasn’t done kissing her. I heard someone murmur an apology and leave. Melanie was embarrassed. I linked Fowler, “Come show my mate, and your future Luna to the dungeons. Make sure she is safe.” I told Melanie she had access to the dungeons. Fowler linked, “The Muffin Luna?” I snorted, “Her name is Melanie, but yes. Same person.” Fowler linked, “Hot damn! Those are good muffins, Alpha.” I laughed, “Yes, they are.” I led her to the backdoor adding if she found out….I wanted to know where they were. I jogged to the office. Before I walked in I sighed. This was a bad idea. Oden linked, “We don’t know until we try.” I tried to pop to Trevor. I was violently thrown back. I hissed, “f**k!” My mom popped next to me. The office door was ripped open. My dad was instantly beside me. I clenched my teeth, “I’m fine.” My mom snorted, “Oh, well he says he’s fine, Eric. He is f*****g burned and someone IS f*****g DEAD!” My mom started to heal me even though I could’ve done it myself. 

            I helped her to her feet as I got to mine. EJ asked, “What the hell happened?” I sighed, “I tried to pop to Trevor McCann.” EJ sighed, “We have already tried that.” I shrugged, “I wanted to try.” My mom huffed, “Don’t make logical f*****g points right now. Trevor is already going to be f*****g dead…..now he’s just so far past dead…..I’ll have Arion find a way to TORTURE his ass from the beyond once he’s actually dead here….yup. That’s what’s happening. Once we are done with him, your Uncle Arion will come at him. That makes me feel just a little f*****g better. I need to go call Aiden.” She popped away. My dad touched my shoulder, “Next time, tell us your plan. I understand the inclination to try. If I could pop…..the people I’d have tried to go to….knowing I couldn’t get to them is not a low number.” I nodded to him. I figured he was thinking about when my mom was taken from him. 

            I walked inside the office. I scanned and saw Levi was there sitting with the McAlister’s. I told them, “Mel went to go talk to Edward. She’s trying to get a location on Booker and....I can't say his name or I’ll have to kill something….but Booker’s son.” Alpha Kyle stood, “Well, let’s go back her up.” T, Levi, Drake, Ben, and my dad started towards the door. I raised an eyebrow. I was surprised my dad wasn’t staying for the meeting. My dad linked me, “I feel your surprise. You all can catch me up. I got the most pertinent information from Cayden. Edward is a werewolf council issue. Not to mention so is capturing Booker and Trevor. Then to top it off…...I want one of us with Melanie. She’s family, son.” I nodded, “Thanks dad.” 

            I turned to EJ, “What’s going on?” Cayden said, “We hit several of the drug rings that Melanie gave us, and most of the smaller hunting rings. The ones in Nashville….are in the wind. I’m sure Melanie’s contacts will reach out to her with where they are, but for right now...If I was running it...they’d be on lockdown. Uncle Bjourn and I sent larger groups to the bigger ones. We were successful in most of our takedowns. Some had obviously cut and run. We are currently sheltering those that were on Melanie’s list as helping her. Most BEGGED us to let them talk to her once we separated them. I informed them I already knew they weren’t working with the hunters. The wolves …. Wolf less and the unshifted teens…. Aren’t saying what packs they are from. We have a lot of displaced wolves right now.” I frowned, “I’m assuming no one is claiming to be missing a bunch of wolves.” EJ snorted, “No, they’ve clearly cut ties.” I sighed, “We need to talk to them….rather….we need Melanie to talk to them. She’ll know what packs they are from.” Cayden nodded, “I’d bet money she does.” Wes snorted, “Good money.” Dalton spoke, “She’d have to.” Cayden added, “She’s their champion. That’s what they say. Ashley Griffen, because that’s what they call her, is the champion or savior of the forgotten packs. They won’t say anything unless she tells them it’s ok.” I nodded, “Well, she wants to see the Hackura realm. We need to get a list from all our allies about available space. No one we don’t trust with our lives though, so we can place these wolves. How many are we talking about Cayden?” Cayden winced, “There are four hundred displaced wolves. We are missing the ones from Melanie’s Nashville lists.” I gaped. 

            EJ snarled, “You’ve got to be f*****g kidding me!” Cayden shook his head, “Nope. I am afraid not.” I sighed, “We need everyone to say how many they can take. We’ll have the wolves interviewed….Melanie might have an idea of where they’d fit best. We’ll have to host an event here EJ where Alpha’s….or their representatives come so we can make the best placements. How many are pups, Cayden? How many haven’t shifted?” Cayden frowned, “Cassie has the youngest. She refuses to let her out of her sight. We’ll have to….I think the little girl is going to have to be placed here. Cassie won’t trust anyone else, and I’m not having her upset right now. Or ever honestly.” I nodded, “Dinner tonight right?” Cayden shook his head, “No, Cassie and your mom moved it to tomorrow night. Cassie is helping calm the other kids down. They gravitate to her because Ashley...god...Melanie told them the Conners were good people. They are scared and Cassie doesn’t want to leave them.” I nodded, “Of course. Whatever Cass needs. We’ll place the little girl here. If you and Cass don’t end up with her.” Cayden smiled, “She’s a cutie.” EJ growled, “How old is she?” Cayden winced, “She’s five. They use her to bait wolves with a pup crying for help.” I snarled, “FIVE?!” All skype calls were full of growling wolves. 

            Elise stood, “Where the f**k is her mother?!” Cayden sighed, “Dead. She’s an orphan. She told Cassie her Alpha said she had to earn her keep or he’d throw her to the rogues. He said her parents were traitors. She knows Ashley. She said Ashley placed her with good people. She was working to get her out. They all were. The guardians and Ashley...goddammit...Melanie placed her with didn’t let them use her. Vicky, that’s her name, said once Melanie discovered her she changed everything. The guardians told me Vicky was going to be out of their pack Wednesday. Ash...oh f**k me...” Dylan snorted on skype from Blue Moon, “Try MelAshley creepy ninja assassin commander. Whom I worship for making Saint God Alpha Prick’s eye twitch.”  Cayden laughed, “I’m trying to get Melanie’s name right. It’s hard though. Anyway, Melanie’s plan was to fake her death. They were going to let her pretend to be bait then get a big group out of the pack. I’d just bet….Vicky was going to be heading here. The only reason I’m sure Melanie hasn’t gone to get her is because she knew I would. Vicky’s group was at the literal top of the list with a star by it.” I snarled, “I’LL KILL THE f*****g BASTARD THAT WAS USING A FIVE YEAR OLD AS BAIT!” Wes frowned, “What are these pieces of s**t calling themselves Alpha’s? They are going against their blood. Even if their wolves are bad….no true Alpha wolf...would use a pup in that way. To take care of our pack is a matter of pride.” 

            EJ snorted, “They are not Alpha’s. They are greedy men using spells to keep their wolves down. Corbin confirmed that. We confiscated Edwards and Jean’s belongings. I asked him to check their things. He found they had rings that helped them be the stronger personality. Instead of working with their wolves, they push them down. They can still shift. Still fight, but they can easily take back over from their wolf.” Oden roared in my head. His anger was clear at his fellow Alpha wolves being treated that way. Cayden looked at his phone, “Shit.” I frowned, “What? Is Cass ok?” I instantly searched our connection. She was feeling very maternal, but she was annoyed. Cayden said, “Levi texted…..not great things are going down in the dungeons.” He barely got the sentence out before I popped outside. I saw Fowler running for all he was worth in the opposite direction. I could smell Melanie, but I didn’t see her. T came running out of the dungeons. He was crying. He yelled, “MELANIE PLEASE WAIT!” Levi had him, “Just let her cool off, T. She didn’t mean all of that.” I frowned, “What the hell happened?!” T sank to his knees and cried. Drake ran out a few steps behind T. Everyone who had been down there filed out. The McAlister’s and Peter Kyle were crying. 

            Levi looked grim. My dad said, “It would appear…..that Edward has tried to r**e Melanie for the last seven years.” I roared and my eyes blazed, “WHAT?” Cayden and Micah yelled in tandem, “EXCUSE ME?!” My dad said, “Yeah...I feel the same way guys. A f*****g mated Alpha...I can’t...with this s**t. Anyway, when Melanie declined…..he tried drugging her so that he could r**e her. It seems that was not an uncommon occurrence for her.” I snarled, “What the f**k does that mean?!” Levi sighed, “She said they basically made a game out of drugging her and trying to r**e her.” Drake was sobbing, “My baby….oh god...what did they do to my baby?” I spoke, “They didn’t r**e her. I can tell you that.” I saw Elise sigh in relief. EJ linked me, “You were her first then.” I linked, “Yes. Not only did she say it, but there was also physical evidence of that.” My dad added out loud, “Some….words were exchanged.” I growled, “What words?” T said, “She hates us. She’s right. We abandoned her. That Alpha asshole has been trying to r**e my sister since she was fourteen!” I linked the wolves on patrol, “Someone get eyes on my damn mate and tell me where she is.” Fowler linked, “We are on it Alpha. Damn, she’s fast. The patrol at the border is standing back to make sure she doesn’t cross. She’s heading in that direction.” f**k me. Drake spoke, “You saved her Cayden. She said you did. That when she was unconscious you are the reason she wasn’t raped.” Cayden’s jaw ticked, “Yes. I knew I should’ve killed that prick bastard. Her friends asked me to get her out of there before she was forcibly marked. Ash...damn it! Melanie didn’t remember what happened when she woke up. I still kicked his mother f*****g ass.” 

            Drake cried, “She’s right. I failed her.” Ben was shaking, “She said we didn’t love her. We do. I love her so damn much. She’s my grandbaby.” I frowned, “She’s just upset. She didn’t mean that. I know she didn’t.” Levi sighed, “I agree with Alexander. I think she’s a little bitter, and….I can’t blame her. You guys haven’t really sat down and talked yet. Even when you do….her entire world was shaken to the core. You guys had each other…..she had no one.” Sierra said, “Excuse me? She sure as s**t had someone Us. We were kids though. We weren’t raised like she was. She fought the system by herself until she trained enough of us that we could help her.” I growled, “Was it a game? Did people really drug her and try to r**e her?” Sierra sighed, “Most of the men in the pack had this….desperation to possess Mel. They called her freak because no matter what drug they tried…..her reaction just isn’t the same as the rest of us. It was somewhat of a game to them to see if anyone could get the right dose. There was a pretty big pot of money on it.” I roared, “I WILL KILL THAT PRICK BASTARD!” My dad grabbed my shoulder and squeezed, “She needs you right now, son. Melanie is what matters. Not some asshole who WILL get what is coming to him. That I promise you, Alexander. Go to her.” Fowler linked me, “She stopped at the edge of the territory. God, I might be out of shape.” I snorted. 

            I touched T’s back, “I’ll bring her back. She’ll probably be upset with herself.” T stood, “Why? The only thing she said that wasn’t true was that we didn’t love her.” Levi frowned, “You did not leave her to suffer T. You thought she was living her dream.” T cried, “I should’ve just asked you to follow up. We talked about how weird it was she wasn’t coming home. She used to get so homesick. I was going to call and tell you about looking into it, and I just didn’t.” Levi frowned, “I know you sent me a text ripping me apart for bringing it up.” T whirled around astonished, “No, I didn’t. I went for a run in human form and I mentioned to some warriors I might have you check up on Ladybug.” Levi’s jaw ticked, “What?” My dad sighed, “When I find out who has f****d with our phones…..I will lose my goddamn s**t. Levi and T get your phone to my Angel. Her and Aiden found a charm that no one can pretend to be someone they aren't, their voice will come through unless it’s a modulator. I don’t know how we f*****g do that with texts. Haley and Aiden are still working on that one. Jesus f*****g Christ. This s**t is so goddamn annoying.” I snarled, “We need to go after Alpha Ezra.” My dad asked, “With what? Nothing we have says he did this.” I growled, “WHO ELSE WOULD GO AFTER A MCALISTER?! He did this to hurt them!” Drake whispered, “Me. He did this to hurt me.” My dad sighed, “We don’t know that. Melanie hasn’t said that. Your supernatural council theory is still in play. We need Melanie to answer those questions.” I closed my eyes, “I’ll bring her back.” 

            I popped to Fowler. He tilted his head, “Alpha….she’s damn fast, she cooks, and she’s vicious with her words. Rumor is….she’s a hell of a fighter too.” I smiled, “She is.” Fowler smiled, “Good.” I walked and wrapped Melanie in my arms. She was rubbing rings around her neck. I frowned. They looked like her parents' rings. I linked EJ, “Do Sam and Drake have their wedding rings?” EJ linked, “Yes. Why?” I linked back, “Melanie has them too.” EJ linked, “No, she definitely doesn’t. Maybe she bought duplicates to remind her of them.” That could be true. I told Melanie it would be ok. She asked what was wrong with her. Nothing. She was hurting. Trauma didn’t disappear. I knew that. She told me she wasn’t sure how she felt that she was just really angry. I told her I wanted a list of my own. I wanted a goddamn list of everyone who hurt or drugged her. She said I’d be busy. I was barely holding Oden at bay. I had time. The look on her face told me she felt the same way. Fine by me. We could take down the people on her list together, but some of these fuckers were dying at my hands. 

            I asked about her feelings not being hers. She told me she just felt something dark take over. I wanted to groan. We did not need some witch s**t going on here. Corbin would have to….I don’t even know what he would have to do. I popped us back to the living room. I sighed. Not everyone needed to be waiting for us. When Corbin stood I started to get worried. Then Aunt Katie stood. Oden growled, “I don’t like this.” Neither did I. Not for one second. I linked my brother, “EJ, what is this?” EJ linked, “I don’t know. It wasn't some type of plan.” I raised my eyebrow as Corbin approached us like we had a bomb. He asked for the rings around Melanie’s neck. I frowned. I looked at Melanie and followed her eyes. I closed mine as she realized the ones she was wearing were never her parents. Hurt and pain swam into her eyes. She briefly flicked her eyes to Chelsea and her eyes reflected an intense betrayal. She told Corbin she never took them off. He asked why. Sierra had to answer. Chelsea pointed out this obviously wasn't true. Melanie was getting mad. She started to hyperventilate again. I frowned and tried to keep her calm. Drake showed her his ring, and she angrily yanked the chain off her neck. A force knocked all the glass out of the windows in the room and then the force struck Melanie.