The Alpha Enforcer and His Dancing Warrior

Emotional Overload Pt. 2

            He popped us into one hell of an argument. My family was angry. Alpha Kyle was too. Xander’s dad was stoically listening to it all. Xander whistled then yelled, “ENOUGH!” Everyone turned to us. Most were faces of relief. I was looking out the window at Robert. He glared at me with hatred. I still hated him too. He was at the top of my list for Red Run’s traitor list. I would definitely keep an eye on him. He noticed my stare and took off. EJ looked at the window after he’d gone. He raised an eyebrow. Several people were about to talk. I said, “Before anyone says anything. I have something to say then do.” Everyone was quiet. I continued, “For almost seven years...I have wanted to do one thing that I thought I’d never be able to do again. So know that this changes nothing. I am beyond angry but….” I surprised them all and ran into my dad’s arms. He instantly pulled me into a hug. Tears filled my eyes. We both cried. Eventually I moved away from him to hug my mom, then T. I hesitated before Jason. The pain in his eyes made me give in. I’d wanted to hug him too; he’d just always been an option. I pulled away and walked back over to Xander. 

            Xander’s mom spoke, “I think we should all take a seat in the living room.” I’d not seen it before when I was here. The place was ginormous. All of us easily fit in their living room. Freya linked, “We live here now too so it’s ours but you just go on…” I couldn’t help but smile. My wolf was trying to make me laugh. I sat next to Xander. No one spoke for a long time. I wasn’t going to break the silence. I didn’t want to do this right now. Eventually Alpha Kyle spoke, “So….what happened?” I’d had enough, “Are you REALLY going to stand there and pretend you don't know, Alpha Kyle.” He frowned, “Please stop calling me that, Mel.” I snorted and looked away. Xander’s mom spoke, “How about you tell me? I’m VERY confused. I don’t like being f*****g confused. Nor do I like anything about how this has come out. That’s not your fault by any means….I will be having MANY talking’s to with people about this f*****g s**t. I am Haley Conners by the way.” I blushed, “I know who you are, Princess Luna Conners.” Haley snorted, “None of that f*****g nonsense you are my daughter in law. It’s Haley. Let’s start with….what the f**k happened the night of Elise’s Luna ceremony.” I sighed, “I fought with my family because I didn’t cross the stupid border.” Elise said, “We know...the warriors got you confused with another pup from a different pack.” I snorted, “Or the girl who my family thought was me the last several years has been around for a while.” Everyone was stunned. Seriously? Did no one think of that? Freya linked, “To be fair not everyone was visited by gods and goddesses and given hints that this was a longstanding con.” She was being too logical right now. I wanted to be angry about this. Freya laughed, “I’ll only be logical if it gets to a place where we don’t want to say more hurtful things.” I linked back, “Agreed.” 

                Haley nodded, “Anyway….you fought with your family they left you stayed...then….” I sighed, “I went up to my room. I sent Elise’s gift with T. I called Elise a few times when I heard someone breaking in. I looked out my door. The warriors were being dragged outside. They were unconscious. There were hunters in the house. I grabbed a weapon. I fought them and ran down the stairs. I got shot.” Xander growled. Haley shot him a warning glare and smiled at me, “Continue.” I frowned, “T showed up and he got shot. I screamed for help, but no one came. T only came home because I’d been upset. He stopped breathing. My mom came in and got shot in the head. The only person who came to help was dad. He took a lot of them out then got shot in the chest. I passed out from blood loss and woke up in Nashville. You know, where Beta Jason and Alpha Kyle sent me because they couldn't stand to look at me.” Alpha Kyle said, “Excuse me?!” Jason said, “STOP calling me Beta Jason. T is the Beta. I didn’t send you anywhere, and I DEFINITELY didn’t know you’d been shot! Shot where? By whom?” I shrugged, ignoring most of his questions, “It’s what you always tell me to call you.” Jason frowned, “I never said that...so just call me Jase.” Nope. That was not happening. Alpha Kyle said, “Melanie, I did not send you anywhere.” I raised an eyebrow, “How else would no help come to the MIDDLE of our territory without you knowing? YOU BANISHED ME!” Xander’s arms tightened around me. 

            My dad gaped at me. Alpha Kyle frowned, “No, I didn’t Mel.” He linked me, “You’re still in the pack.” I jumped in surprise. Xander stood with me. My eyes were wide, “But...but I was forced to join Black Path….” Alpha Kyle frowned, “Melanie….if you’d ever broken with our pack….I’d have known. Or Dalton and Dakota would have. I’d have told your dad. You couldn’t have joined Black Path.” Dakota said, “You’re still in our pack Ladybug. You didn’t join theirs.” But I had. They’d made me. Haley cut in, “The person with those answers is in the f*****g dungeons. The former Alpha….if we can call him that.” I snorted, “Spineless coward is a more appropriate title. I have longer ones if you’d like them.” Haley smiled, “Later...I definitely want those names. I love a damn good nickname. Why do you think Peter banished you?” I didn’t think he did. I could prove it. I turned to Xander, “Pop us to your room.” My dad said, “Ladybug please…I know this is so hard for you right now...but we need to talk.” I told him, “We are coming right back. I’m going to prove to you all Alpha Kyle DID banish me.” Xander popped us to his room. I found my stuff. I opened my old backpack where I had all my letters. I dug through it, and found the one from Alpha Kyle. I turned, “I got it.” He nodded. He leaned down and kissed me. I dropped the letter and wrapped my arms around him. He slowly pulled back, “I just needed to kiss you.” I smiled, “Ok.” 

            He conjured the letter to my hands and popped us downstairs. I handed the letter to EJ. He frowned and opened it. Elise gasped, “But…..dad didn’t do this. None of this is true! OH MY GOD! EJ they said….” EJ responded in shock, “I see it, Elise.” He looked up at me with pity and shock in his eyes. I shrugged, “That’s his handwriting and his Alpha seal. He DID write it.” Alpha Kyle charged across the room and took the letter. He was shaking in anger. Sam said, “We had….a party….I ordered a new seal for Peter….we never found it afterwards. We...we didn’t think anyone stole it to write letters as Peter.” I snorted, “How convenient.” Cayden winced. Alpha Kyle studied me. Then he turned to Haley, “Make me tell the truth. Ask me if I ever banished Melanie.” Haley raised an eyebrow, “Did you banish Melanie?” Alpha Kyle answered, “No. She’s basically my own daughter. I would never hurt her.” I honestly didn’t know what to say to that. Addison, Sierra, Avery, and Paige gasped. Sierra broke first, and ran to me first. They all surrounded me. I hadn’t even realized they were here. I should’ve. Their mates were here. 

            T asked, “Can I ask a question now?” Xander spoke, “That depends very much on your question. Buttercup, show Melanie and her friends the office. I have some things to say about what this upcoming conversation entails.” Buttercup stood. Several people growled. Freya snarled back not liking her mate being growled at. That shut everyone else up. Buttercup showed me the office. I smiled, “It’s nice.” Buttercup snorted, “It’s also soundproof. So, they can’t hear us, and we can’t hear them.” I shrugged, “I need a mental break anyway.” Buttercup touched my hand, “I can’t even imagine.” Addison squeezed my hand, “Mel?” I shrugged, “If Alpha Kyle never banished me….how did I join Black Path? I can link everyone there. I had to have joined, but he’s telling the truth. If that letter isn’t from him….are any of the letters real?” I started to cry, “Why would they do this to me? Is any of it real? Is anything I know real?” Paige grabbed my hand, “We are real. We are forged in fire. You said it yourself. I don’t know about the massive….complicated plot going on out there…..but….there’s a lot of love for you in that room. None will shine brighter than ours though.” I laughed. Sierra snorted, “Heck yeah girl….If I don’t hear a Melanie rant in person for a few days and I’ll hunt your ass down.” Addison laughed, “Same.” Avery smiled, “Exactly.” 

            I looked at Paige, “No one can see me in pictures.” Paige frowned, “I can see you in pictures.” Buttercup said, “No one but Black Path and Red Run can then.” Paige sighed, “I’ll look into it Mel.” I nodded. She’d figure it out. She was good. She looked at Buttercup, “Do you know any good covens around here?” I laughed, “The Bishop siblings coven is in Red Run. You’re the Luna. They will let you in. When they discover how good you are they’ll die of joy.” Paige winked, “You’re biased.” I rolled my eyes, “I’m not.” Avery said, “She’s not. You are good.” Buttercup smiled, “I want in your badass girl gang. We have one here….too. You guys will join, but you have this super close vibe that Haley, Emmaline, and Lexi do. I so want in.” I laughed, “Umm….sure.” Buttercup smiled, “Good. Elise will want in too. OHH and Emma. Zoe too. We’ll get the new crop of bad ass girl gang going. Haley will be ecstatic.” I smiled, “I do know what it is. My mom was in it.” Buttercup paused. Addison cringed. I whispered, “I mean she is.” Avery spoke first, “That’s an adjustment that will take time, Mel. It’s been years, and you saw it.” Buttercup sighed, “Well, I can’t snap it done, but we need drinks.” 

            She walked over to the closet and pulled out a drink cart. I laughed, “Ummm someone snapped it.” Buttercup smiled, “I linked Wesley. I told him I didn’t know if we had time, but we needed drinks. He said we did. He said Xander told him this is your drink.” I grabbed it and threw it back. She laughed and handed me another. She winked, “I also said it was a double kind of day.” I laughed, “I like you.” Buttercup smiled, “Good. I like you too. Us Beta daughters have to stick together. Now we’ve got Sierra too.” I whispered, “Am I?” Freya linked, “You are. I promise.” Addison had tears running down her cheeks. Buttercup frowned, “Huh?” Sierra rubbed my arms. Paige said, “Let me at that cart.” She grabbed the drinks and passed them around. She quickly made me another after I slammed the second. She raised a glass, “To the icicles forming in hell because I don’t hate Dalton Kyle and he’s DAMN fine….and I want to kiss him so much….Melanie’s family is alive and that’s just something our girl has wanted since we met her. I can’t believe it’s happening and I may hate them forever but….we are being open minded and hearing sides and shit.” Addison snorted, “To hearing sides and shit.” I laughed and we all drank. 

            Eventually a knock came on the door. Buttercup opened it. A cute girl was there. She said, “They are ready for you guys to come back….” Buttercup smiled, “Thanks Zoe. Everyone, this is Zoe, Alpha Dana Conners mate.” I smiled, “I’ve heard of her. I hear you cook. I like cooking too.” Zoe smiled, “Really? That’s so great! We can cook together sometime.” I nodded, “I’d like that.” We walked back into the living room. Xander held his arms open. I walked right into them. I linked him, “Everything ok?” Xander linked, “Yes, it is.” T cleared his throat, “Now I would like to ask my question.” I shrugged, “If I get to ask one back.” T nodded, “Fine.” I made a go ahead gesture. He asked, “Why the in f*****g HELL did you not report Trevor McCann to the council?” Did he have to start with such a hard question? There were many reasons. One was standing behind him. I locked eyes with Alpha Kyle then looked away. Dylan said, “I got you future adoptive daughter Melashley….You see Beta T...love that name by the way. So approachable. I think what’s happening here….is that according to that letter we saw….Peter didn’t want to see her. She didn’t file because….” Alpha Kyle yelled, “ME?! Are you f*****g kidding me? You let a man claim to be your mate because of me.” I raised an eyebrow, “LET him claim to be my mate? I told everyone INCLUDING him….many….MANY times he wasn’t my mate. That piss poor pathetic excuse of the man in the dungeons here doesn’t know how to do his job. HE KNEW he wasn't my mate. He MUST have known that more than I thought he did. He said he couldn’t do anything because I didn’t have a wolf. Which now that I think about it...of course he knew I had one. He’d just help hide her from me….he wasn't going to announce that. I did not LET Trevor walk around claiming to be my mate and just accept it. I fought him ALL the time. Ask Cayden and Micah.” 

            T said, “I don’t need them to tell me anything right now. I need to talk to my little sister. You still should’ve filed.” I told him, “Why? So I could screw up Jason’s life?! If they came….they would ALL come which means Alpha Eric would’ve come!” Alpha Eric said, “I will get a look for interrupting  but please...just call me Eric. We are family.” I shrugged, “Ok….Eric...would’ve come. I didn’t know what anyone knew about my situation or why I was gone. I knew I’d never met him, but he’d absolutely know who I was if he saw me. They all would. I didn’t know where Red Run said I was. All I knew is that if I set foot in the area of Red Run’s allies I was going to be imprisoned if I was caught. I was told I had to pick a different name so none of you knew I was me. The name I chose was obvious enough. Not that ANYONE outside Black Mountain reached out to me. I picked it so Jason would know it was me. I wanted him to know. I wanted him to be proud of me.” Jason frowned, “I am proud of you Mel. We just don’t understand.” I glared at him, “OH COME ON! If the council came….Eric is known for being a fair man. I didn’t know if he knew you kicked me out because you blamed me for our parents death or our brothers. I did know if he didn’t have that information….he’d see me and know who I was. He would’ve asked me why I was there, and I am a horrible liar! Everything I know says he’s good at getting answers. He also has a wife and daughter who can MAKE people tell the truth. He would NEVER be ok with me being treated as I was or sent away if he didn’t already know.” Eric interjected, “No, I would not have.” I nodded, “Exactly. He’d have ended the alliance with Red Run. You wouldn't have been safe Jason. Black Mountain disbanding an alliance would’ve caused basically everyone else in an alliance with you to do the same. I couldn’t do that to you. Mom, Dad and T wouldn’t have wanted that.” 

            Before anyone could say anything. Melinda and MaryBeth ran into the house. They squealed and ran to me. I stood and stepped away from them. My friends jumped in front of me. They all crossed their arms. MaryBeth and Melinda frowned. MaryBeth whispered, “Ladybug?” Grandpa Ben said, “Girls….we didn’t get to explain everything. Just...take a beat.” Dane and Landon pulled them into them. Both shot me a questioning look. My grandpa said, “What did you think about us? You clearly didn’t think I was dead. You’ve not mentioned it.” I acted like it didn’t hurt when I said, “You all disowned me. It’s my turn to ask a question.” Grandpa Ben opened his mouth. Xander growled. Grandpa Ben sighed and nodded. I looked at my dad, “Are you my dad? My biological dad?” My voice broke. My mom gaped, “WHAT?!” My dad growled, “What are you talking about?” Alpha Kyle sighed, “In my letter, still not from me, it said she wasn’t your daughter, Drake. That she didn’t shift so her father was a hunter.” My dad roared, “EXCUSE ME?!” Tears were falling down my cheeks. I whispered, “Are you though? I have a wolf now…..so you have to be my real dad...Don’t you?” Micah whispered, “Oh Mel….” Xander wrapped me up in his arms. My dad said, “There is NO question that you are MY daughter. In every way. There was NEVER a question about that. Your mom has only ever been with me. For god’s sake we look alike. WHO DID THIS? Who convinced MY DAUGHTER I wasn’t her father?” A sob bubbled up from my throat. Freya whispered, “It’s ok Melanie.” Haley offered quietly, “He’s telling the truth.” I fell to the ground and hugged myself sobbing. 

            Xander picked me up off the floor. I heard Haley say, “Ok that’s enough for tonight.” Grandpa Ben said, “The HELL it is.” Haley said, “Exfuckingcuse me?! Do YOU have several degrees in psychology or are you a licensed therapist? No? Didn’t f*****g think so. I get to say such things. I’m telling you….for tonight...this conversation is over. She needs to decompress. In the course of a few hours...she was tortured...when we saw her she’d been shocked repeatedly….her hand was broken and she took a blow to the head. She discovered three people she believed to be dead...were not. Let’s not forget those people were in her core family group. She found out a man she considered family never banished her. We teach the kids here that packs are family. She felt rejected by her family in blood and the pack. Now, we discover she’s been told Drake wasn’t her biological father. That she was a hunter’s daughter. She’s a f*****g werewolf. Do I need to explain why that would devastate her other than the obvious reasons? This was malicious. This was f*****g cruel and sadistic. That’s too much information for one day. You cannot deconstruct six years plus some thinking everything is one way when it’s not in one conversation. Look at her. This is about her. This is about Melanie. She needs to stop for the night. That’s my opinion as an expert and a mom.” 

            My mom spoke shakily. She was crying, “Haley is right. I can’t leave though Drake...I can’t. Not like this.” My dad said, “Neither can I.” Eric said, “We have the space. You don’t have to leave.” Dalton said, “I don’t want to leave like this but….” EJ said, “We know you can’t stay. We can pop you guys back tomorrow.” I linked Addison, and Avery, “Go, they need you.” Both squeezed my hand. Addison grabbed Paige, “Come on.” Paige sighed, “I’m coming back tomorrow.” Dalton told her, “We have fairies in our pack...they can bring you back.” Paige told him, “I know. Melanie has talked about your pack. I have a few places I’m definitely scouting out.” They were popped out. Xander popped us away too. I looked around, “What is this place?” Xander smiled, “My treehouse.” I nodded and cried until I didn’t have any more tears. I whispered, “I’m sorry.” Xander said, “There is nothing for you to be sorry about. EJ wants to come talk to me. He’d bring Elise with him if he did.” 

            I shrugged, “Ok.” Xander told me, “I just told him I’d tell you. I’m not inclined to talk to him.” I frowned, “Why not?” Xander shrugged, “I’m….he told me I couldn’t head straight to you. That I had to fight with our warriors.” I thought about it, “I think there’s enough sibling conflict going around. Let him pop out here. Hear him out. If you don’t like his answer….you can tell him to leave.” Xander kissed me. He pulled back, “You’re amazing.” I snorted, “Not really.” He pulled me back into a hard possessive kiss. He said, “Yes, really.” Then he sighed, “My cousin wants to talk to me afterwards. You don’t have to listen, but I want you to be with me. I don’t want to part with you again….it’s all too raw right now. I saw...God, I couldn’t get to you and I heard you screaming in pain…..I just need you with me until you’re sleeping then someone else will be with you that I trust.” I nodded, “Ok.” EJ and Elise popped in the next second. Elise looked wrecked. I asked, “Why the long face? Did you get fake kicked out of your childhood pack too? Somehow? Not by your dad but with a letter in your dad’s handwriting? But somehow….it’s not from him.” Elise cried, “No, I’m so sorry Mel.” I shrugged, “I never thought it was your fault. I suspected you didn’t know. You don't live there anymore.” Elise cried, “I should’ve known.” I asked, “How? You have your own pack to run. One of the largest in the country.” Elise sat next to me on the couch I was sitting on. She put her head on my shoulder and cried. I had no more tears or I’d be right there with her.

            EJ said, “Alexander….I didn’t say it hurt you...I just had to…” Elise snapped, “Oh for god's sake Eric Junior not beating around the bush anymore! Alexander, Angela told him to tell you that. Just ask her why. We are done tiptoeing around s**t in this pack. We all skirted the whole no popping rule and it was a complete fabrication. No more bullshiting or evading. Ask Angela. She had a reason. No one is going to be mad at her, and I’m not dealing with you two being pissed at each other over this. We already have a massive pile of s**t to wade through, and we aren’t throwing a wrench into how you two work together...Got it?” I laughed. EJ smiled, “Ok, Elise.” Xander frowned, “Angela?” She popped in. She winked, “I was going to tell him myself Elise, but I liked the speech.” Elise smiled, “That’s me...cutting through the bullshit from now on.” I bit my lip. Angela told Alexander, “In my vision….it’s blurry with Melanie but it seemed like when you after her they hurt her more. In the path where Drake got to her she didn’t get hurt as bad.” Xander nodded, “Why didn’t you just say that EJ?” Elise answered, “Because he doesn’t fully trust that pack that came with us. Only Phil knows that Walker guy. He didn’t want them to know about Angela.” EJ added, “I did try to link you….you shut me out.” Xander smirked, “I was pissed.” EJ snorted, “I noticed.” 

            I added, “I know someone in that pack. Blair. Walker’s mate. They would never betray you because she’d tell me.” Elise frowned, “If it was her mate….” I told her, “She’d tell me.” Lots of people were loyal to me. I’d saved their lives. I’d fought for them. Xander asked, “Why?” Then he sighed, “My dad said we need to come back. Your parents are still in the room, Mel. Do you want them to leave?” I shrugged, “Why? I already know they aren’t leaving. I just can’t….I can’t deal with that anymore tonight. Your mom was right….” Xander picked me up, “You don’t have to. I promise.” Our group popped back. Corbin was smiling at me, “Hi I’m…”I said, “Duke Corbin Cambridge. I know.” Cayden snorted, “She does that.” Corbin laughed, “I see. Just Corbin is good among family. How do you know who I am?” I told him, “You were in a group photo T had with Levi at some event in your realm. I’ve seen it.” Corbin smiled, “Good memory…..about this whole suppressed wolf thing. We don’t have to talk about it. I’ve been told that’s vital information to give. I just….Alexander….we just...ummm….You….this...god...this sucks.” Xander’s Aunt Katie stepped back into the room. She said, “Alexander, we need you to wait on marking her. She can mark you, but we don’t know….if she’ll ever be able to shift if you mark her before she does.” 

            My jaw dropped. Alexander roared in anger, “EXCUSE ME?!” A laugh bubbled up. I couldn’t stop. I was laughing hysterically. Xander rocked me. I was officially losing it. Haley spoke, “She’s just on emotional overload and in shock.” I spoke through my laughter, “So...you’re saying….for four years….I’ve been worried Xander promised to reject me, which we haven’t talked about yet.” Xander growled in anger along with my dad and mom. I kept laughing, “But now you’re telling me he can’t mark me. I just...SERIOUSLY?!” I kept laughing. I linked Freya, “Is that true? Would Xander marking us keep us from shifting?” Freya begrudgingly answered, “I don’t know. Suppressing a wolf has never been done. I’m pretty certain we’d be able to shift.” Pretty certain wasn’t going to be enough for Alexander.