The Alpha Enforcer and His Dancing Warrior

Emotional Overload Pt. 1

            Melanie was floating. Freya’s voice called, “You have to go back Melanie.” I smiled, “It’s so nice here though.” Freya answered, “You’re being healed. Well, you were healed. Now you’re just hanging out here because it’s too much to handle.” Tears filled my eyes, “Are my scars gone?” Freya shook her head, “No, but they could be.” I frowned, “How?” Freya told me, “Ask Xander.” I shook my head, “No….he can’t see them.” Freya told me, “He will eventually.” I sighed, “I’m pretty sure I can keep up the whole not seeing my back thing.” Freya laughed, “You are stubborn.” I smiled, “I was born that way, yes.” Freya told me, “Xander needs you.” I frowned, “But why aren’t mom, T and dad here? I saw them after I got hit in the head. I thought I’d get to talk to them.” Freya sighed, “You did see them. Go back Melanie. Get our answers. We will figure this out.” I frowned, “Ok.” I had no idea what she meant getting answers. It felt like I was walking through darkness for a long time. I called, “Hello?” I couldn’t hear Freya. I just kept walking towards the scent of my dad. It didn’t make sense, but it was a comforting smell. 

            I couldn’t help but start crying. I missed him so much. I missed them all. I just wanted things to be different. I was scared. I was scared that Xander knew my name. He’d come for me. Now everything would….be his choice. We were so far out of the bubble it was crazy. I didn’t even know how he knew to come for me. Freya snorted, “Uhh hello. Angela.” I linked back, “She said I was blurry.” Freya snored, “You’re being ridiculous. She heard Blair call you Ashley.” Well, fine. Freya had a point. I clutched the shirt holding me. It smelled so much like my dad. I just missed him. I wanted him back. A voice that sounded just like his told me to open my eyes. He even called me Ladybug. I couldn’t help but open my eyes. The cruel joke continued as I stared directly into my dad’s eyes. He told me it was ok, but he didn’t understand. I don’t think I cared that I’d hit my head so hard I was hallucinating. It was better than not having him. This version was better than the one I usually saw of him. The one of him bleeding. With a giant hole in his chest. I wanted this him to be real. 

            Xander’s voice telling me my dad was real snapped everything into focus. I looked back at my dad and screamed. I fell out of the man’s arms. Ok….logical. Let’s be logical. I hit my head. That’s obviously a real person, but I’m seeing my father’s face instead of said man’s face. Why was Xander letting some random guy hold me? Did he not want me? I mean...who would? I am currently hearing and smelling my dead father. It was the baseball bat to the head….that’s what to blame. This was totally normal...blaming inanimate objects….this is fine. T spoke telling me they missed me. He was standing next to my mom. I fell backing away from them. Xander picked me up. I looked at all four of them. Ok….Xander was real. Those were real people and I was just protecting my dead family's faces on them. Xander told me I was safe now. Sure...just not from my own mind which seemed determined to mess with me. 

            Addison’s voice interrupted my staring contest. It was just nice to see my family in my mind, not bleeding to death or dead. Or being blamed in my dreams by the people from my old pack  or Jason for their death. This was definitely new. What I saw when I glanced over at Addison nearly made me fall over. My brother, Dalton, and Dakota were looking at Paige, Avery and Addison like they were mates. No...just no….for the love of all that is good in this world….NO! Sierra subtly nodded in shock when I looked at her. Selene was evil and malicious. Seriously? My best freaking friends and people who don’t like me?! COME ON! Well, if Selene thinks she could take my best friends from me….she had another thing coming. My friends could have their mates and me. Their mates could suck on them apples. 

            The hallucination of my dad said I needed to explain. He should have waited to ask that question when he and I were alone. I wasn’t going to answer a hallucination in front of other people. I stared at my brother….the non-hallucination one. How could he have two mates? There’s no way he was that good of a person to get two mates. He didn’t even like his own sister. Surely, that was a knock in the two mates column. Did ANYONE have two mates? Jason got pissed and said Everly was T’s mate not his. T was dead. I would’ve known if T met Everly before he died. I studied Jason. He seemed serious though. Hallucination T asked me to look at him….yeah that still was not happening. My mom was asking me things too. They needed to chill. They’d understand later. I’d talk to them when we were alone. That would look FAR less crazy.” Freya linked, “Mel…..I see them too. They are real.” I linked back, “Of course they are. They are just in our heads. That’s not actually them.” Freya linked, “I think it is.” I frowned, “You have my memories...we saw them die.” Freya linked, “I told you something seemed off about that. To me it looks fuzzy...or hazy.” I frowned, “It doesn’t to me.” Freya sighed, “I’ll keep thinking about how that’s possible.” She could think all she wanted. I still wasn’t talking to hallucinations until I was alone.

            Then Alpha Kyle spoke. The traitorous jerk was acting like he had no idea what was going on. I told him dead people couldn't talk. I explained what was obviously happening like he was a child. He still acted all innocent asking why I was calling him Alpha. Oh he has GOT to be kidding. Freya seemed confused but she did offer a low growl in my head. It wasn’t convincing, but it did convey her confusion and anger at him.  My hallucinations kept trying to convince me they were real. That was not happening. I wouldn’t be here in Black Path...I never would’ve been in Black Path if my parents were alive. So HA! Nothing was going to convince me they were real. Dylan Frost spoke. He’d combined my names and said he had questions. I almost told him to take a number, but curiosity got the best of me. He wanted to adopt Ashley Griffen. My jaw dropped. Addison snickered. Jason looked horrified. Of course he did. It wasn’t like I was going to Blue Moon. He had to know that I’d be in Black Mountain. Xander seemed to know who I was, and currently; he was sticking to me like glue. My hallucination dad got mad. What shocked me and made me question everything in my life was the fact that Beta Dylan answered my hallucination. He shouldn’t have been able to hear an angry statement from a figment of a brain injury in my head. He did though….and that meant….no. No. I was shutting that door. Freya whispered, “Melanie…..” I linked, “It’s going in a box. We will talk about it later.” Freya agreed, “Ok. Whatever you need.” 

            Dylan asked what I thought of him adopting Ashley. I had many thoughts. This was strange, but if it pissed off my dad….who...could be real….If my dad was real….I just might let Dylan adopt Ashley Griffen. If my dad left me here all these years then I knew nothing. Everything I knew was wrong. Aesir was right. I would be angrier than I’d ever been if that was true. No. Bad Melanie. That’s going in the box to be dealt with later. Dylan said I seemed to think I was Bruce Willis. I titled my head. That didn’t make sense. T always said Dylan was spot on with movie sayings, but he’d messed this up. I’d be the kid in the movie. Dylan ranted about this land being cursed. Addison linked me, “He has NO idea.” No he really didn’t, but he wasn’t wrong. A longing hit me. I’d wished I’d known Dylan before. He was funny. He was friends with my dad. I should’ve known him. Xander laughed along with several other people. I gazed around the field. Xander’s dad was studying me. I nodded to him slightly. He smirked. He was confused but he didn’t show it. I asked Freya, “How do I know he’s confused? He doesn’t look confused.” Freya linked, “We just know things sometimes.” That was vague, but I didn’t have time to dive into it. 

            My dad, who I was beginning to think was real, and Dylan were arguing. I whispered, “Freya...I can’t.” Freya linked back, “Hold onto mate. Center yourself. You can do this.” I didn’t want to. I wanted to crumble on the floor and sob my heart out. I looked up at my friends. Freya was right. I could do this. I couldn’t break down right now. They needed me, and that trumped what I needed. I pushed my personal feelings down, and told the three of them to huddle up. I was putting on my female lead warrior, and best friend hat. I walked past Jason without a glance, and shot Dalton and Dakota an angry look. They’d been careless with my brother’s life. With my nephew’s life. Not to mention they could’ve unbanished me. They knew too. I was almost to my friends when Elise slammed into me. I put my arms around her and nearly caved into the crying fit I wanted to have. She was like home. She was here, and she still cared about me. I had to pull away before I lost it. I told her we’d talk. She made me promise. Jason was making snide comments I was ignoring. I’d talk to Elise. She at least emailed Ashley. I’d picked the name so Jason would notice, but he never did. 

            I walked over to my friend. I motioned to Paige. This was an us conversation. Not everyone and their brothers….who were possibly all not dead. I also knew there was no way Xander was going to let me out of his sight. I’d even caught a glimpse of EJ watching me like a hawk. I knew all the Conners siblings. None of them looked like people who were going to let me disappear. Not to mention several glowing eyed people. All were zeroed in on me. This was just so great. Paige did her chant. All three started to speak. Addison cried, “I’ll run Mel. I can’t reject him, but I’ll run.” Paige snorted, “I’ll keep my ass in Black Mountain. He can pine and beg.” Avery cried, “I don’t know what to do.” I put my hands up. I told them, “They are your mates. Before Jason was a s**t brother, he was an amazing brother, Addison. That amazing man inside him has been around. He’s in there. His problems are with me, not you Ads. He’s your mate. You deserve to hear his side. For yourself and your wolf. We know my side, but as his mate….You should hear his. Same with you Paige and Avery. You know my feelings about them, but they were made for you. It doesn’t even matter what you decide about them. My feelings will not be hurt if you want them. We are forged in fire. We have fought battles side by side. We have bled together, we have had each other’s backs, we have gone to hell and back together. No man will come between that, and heaven help one that tries. It’s not blood, but we are sisters. No one will change that. Plus, if you all live in Red Run….We can meet in Blue Moon and hang out.” 

                Paige’s eyes filled with tears, “It will ruin everything.” I shook my head, “No. Being happy will not ruin anything. We all deserve to be happy. You owe it to yourselves to hear what they have to say. We fight for people to be with their mates here. To not at least hear them out would show people we don’t practice what we preach. I know each of you has wanted to meet your mate. Jason apparently doesn’t have two mates…..” Avery whispered, “Melanie….” I put my hands up, “It’s going in the box. I can’t think about that. Or what the story of how the HELL this all happened is right now. I’m telling you guys….if you want to be with them...I’m in your corner and on your side. I will always be there. Men can’t change that for us. We will be who we always are. They will be good to you, or they will deal with me.” Addison cried and gave me a hug. Paige and Avery joined. Avery whispered, “It feels disloyal.” I shook my head, “No, I don’t factor here. You hear their side. You trust you wolf Avery and Addison. Paige, you trust your instincts. We all have a lot to deal with here. What will never change is us. It may not be the mate bond, but we have one as friends, as family, and as sisters. It’s not disloyal to follow your heart. I will never be upset about that.” All three nodded. Paige sighed, “Well…..He is REALLY hot.” I snorted, “Agree to disagree….there was a time...I considered him a brother...so...I’m not touching that.” All three of them laughed. I told them, “Give me a second before you start listening to the space again.” Addison laughed, “Are you going to threaten them?” I smiled, “Yes. Yes, I am. On a different note. Ave….what do you want to do about Buck? It’s your call.” Avery whispered, “He’s changing….he’s my brother and I…” I held my hand up, “Of all people...I get it.” I’d save Buck. Again. They all snorted and hugged each other in a circle.

            I couldn’t help but smile. They would have each other in Red Run. Sierra and I would be close by too. We’d still see each other all the time. I turned around in time to hear Blair’s alpha say they needed to take over. I immediately told them that would not happen. Caine would take over with Dax. They had a plan to change things around here. They would be good leaders. I turned to Dalton, Dakota, and my brother. I told them all they would contend with me if they messed up with my friends. Dalton was in disbelief that I'd threatened an Alpha. Yeah, well...I’d beaten enough Alpha’s to know….I’d win. Dalton would give a hell of a fight, but I knew I could beat him. Freya snorted, “Yes, we could.” T spoke saying I shouldn't’ talk to an Alpha like that. He didn’t get to say that. I’d said far worse to an Alpha before. Plus, one also didn’t let their sister think they were dead for almost seven years. That was a more pressing thing we did not do if you asked me. I focused on who was here. I could name all of Xander’s siblings. I’d seen pictures of them. I knew who most of the Hackura here were too. I gulped when I saw Xander’s Uncle Bjourn. I smiled at Cayden and Micah. Both nodded. I found who I was looking for. 

            Former Alpha Lucas Lyons was beside Dylan. I asked him if he really was who I thought he was. He confirmed it and told me to call him Lucas. I guess...I could do that. I asked about my mom’s family. As her Alpha...he’d know. Everyone from Blue Moon looked confused by my question. My mom told me that she didn't have a sister. I was not going to take it from her...she might not be real. No one had talked to her yet. The only person that had been spoken to was my dad. My mom and T were still possibly hallucinations. Freya spoke gently, “Melanie….they are all real. All three of them.” I linked back, “Then I’m still not listening to her because she left me alone for all these years.” Freya seemed to agree with that. Freya snorted, “I do agree with that for now. It’s too raw. We can figure this out later, but this is enough of an emotional bomb for….years to come honestly. Let’s go with months.” I repeated my question to Lucas. Dylan jumped in and said my mom was an only child. Freya linked me, “Stop trying to contain your anger. Just feel it.” Oh I planned to. I screamed in frustration, agony, and anger. That LYING STEPHANIE b***h! She started this! This was obviously a massive plot, but she was a player. She knew. She knew the moment in the hospital she was lying. I took off running. I passed several golden eyed people along the way. They’d spread out. One was waiting by the pack houses. 

            He smiled, “Hello Melanie, I’m Spencer.” I told him, “I’ll meet you later. Right now, I have someone butt to kick….SEVERELY!” Spencer laughed, “That is an emotion I understand well. I believe the one you are looking for just came out of the pack house.” I laughed, “He left her b***h self here. Serves her right.” Spencer frowned, “The warlock?” I nodded. I took off when I saw Stephanie. Booker and Ajax fled, but he left her behind. I linked my warriors, “Someone find me Trevor McCann.” One answered, “He left after Angela Conners did.” MOTHER FRIGGING FUDGENUTS! Whatever. I could track him down later. I grabbed Stephanie, “YOU LYING SACK OF WHEEZING HAGGARD BITTER BONES!” I tackled her to the ground and began to punch her in the face. I screamed, “WHY? WHY WOULD YOU DO THIS TO ME? THEY AREN’T DEAD! YOU KNEW THEY WEREN’T! WE AREN’T EVEN RELATED!” A crowd gathered. No one was going to stop me. No one liked Stephanie in this pack. She treated everyone as if they were beneath her. Several began to whistle and clap. A few gasped at my accusations. Stephanie hissed, “You’d be a b***h and figure it out.” I snarled at her. Her eyes went wide, “You got your wolf.” Freya took over, “I have my mate. The real one….not the one you tried to force on Melanie. You’ll know hell before I’m done with you.” I was thrown back to the front of my mind. Freya was panting. I linked her, “You’ve never done that.” Freya linked, “I need a minute Mel. Stick with Xander. I’ll come back to the strength I have faster.” I told her, “If he wants us.” Freya snickered, “He does.” I really wanted her to be right. 

            I yelled at Stephanie. She stopped answering, but I was so angry. Nothing was real and everything was real. It was too much to feel. I’d just been wishing for my dad back, and now...I couldn’t even look at him. What was wrong with me? I knew the answer. It hurt. I felt like he abandoned me. Him, mom, and T. Jason abandoned me a long time ago in my mind, so that didn’t hurt as bad. I hit Stephanie harder when I remembered Kai’s words. Everyone said he looked like his dad because T was his dad. I was so dumb. I thought I was smart, but I wasn’t. I didn’t even know my family was alive. My mom’s voice broke through telling me it was ok. OK? We were so far from ok we couldn’t even see it in the rearview mirror. Stephanie locked me in closets. She let her stupid husband paw at me. When I broke his hand, I’d been punished. She’d mocked me every single time I was punished. At first when I came here...I respected the Alpha and Beta position because that’s what I’d been taught to do. Even the Gamma, and he was the biggest punisher I had. Booker. He could run….but I knew all the places he could hide. I had the network of the ring. He couldn’t stay hidden from me for long. I had a more expansive network of spies in the resistance than he could imagine. I’d find him AND his wretched son. 

            My anger at Stephanie fired all over when I heard my dad. She’d turned me against Jason. She made it so I didn’t have my brother. So I was all alone. Why would Alpha Kyle work with her?” Freya whispered, “He might not have. His wolf genuinely is distraught and doesn’t understand. None of the Red Run wolves do….oh hell….none of the wolves here understand what’s going on.” Eventually I felt sparks….they were getting stronger than before. Which was crazy. They were so powerful already. Freya whispered, “As I get stronger so will the sparks you feel. You would always feel them...even those without a wolf. It just intensifies with your wolf.” She sounded stronger again. An overwhelming sense of needing him to comfort me hit me. I buried my face in his chest. My head hurt. My heart hurt. My body was beginning to hurt. How could they leave me? I asked Xander if it was true. He asked if I was talking about my family which told me it was true. Then he left me speechless by saying that he’d known the entire time who I was. Freya coughed, “Told you so.” She was right. She had. Xander said we would figure this out. I needed it all to go back into the box. 

            I told Xander I didn’t know what to do. At one time...I’d always known I’d be by his side. Now...I had this pack. I was in a position of leadership here. Caine taking over….was good, but he’d need me. Caine told me to go. He told me my fight here was over. He linked me, “The resistance fight carries on. We have portals all over, and you can still fight that fight. We are all still in the resistance.” We were going to have one heck of a meeting. Xander was going to figure it out. They all were. I shook that thought out of my mind for now. I told Caine to keep Buck around. Buck linked me, “You….that’s….” I linked him back, “Change is hard Buck. I think you can do it, but if you don’t…..I’ll be back. Avery still believes in you. I believe in Avery. Don’t let her down.” Buck nodded. Caine pointed out I was taking a few people with me. That was true. Xander linked me they were leaving warriors behind. Tears pricked my eyes. Because they were good Alpha’s, and that’s what you did. You didn’t let good people fail. An Alpha’s job was to protect people. It flowed through their very veins, and the Conners were good Alpha’s. 

            I took Xander to Mason, Hendrick, and I’s house. He snapped all my stuff packed. I needed to get my stuff from my other place. I had things I wanted. I opened the floor safe and nearly cried in relief that my Xander wolf was there. Mason told me he’d found it. I linked him, “Thank you.” I told Mason I couldn’t go without them. I needed them. They were my anchors through the whole Drake not being my dad storm. They centered me. They brought me back from the brink. Xander told them about the diner and offered to help them in any way. Hendrick said they’d come. I was so relieved. They were going to stay for a few days to help Caine and Dax then they’d come up. I linked them both, “Thank you.” Mason threw me the keys to my bike. Freya linked, “The family is waiting outside to talk.” I linked back, “I’ve been waiting nearly seven years. I’m choosing avoidance, and they can deal.” Freya linked, “Fair enough.” I asked Xander if he wanted to take a ride. He immediately agreed. I tried to give him the helmet, but he wouldn’t take it. I opened the garage and took off. The anguished faces of my family and all the Red Run wolves seared into my brain. I didn’t want to hurt them, but I needed a second. They’d ignored me for years….I couldn’t be given a few moments to grasp the fact that they all somehow survived that day? That they never came for me. Did they think I was dead? Like I’d thought? No...Kai said I was dancing. They knew I wasn’t dead. My dad even asked how I wasn’t in New York.

            I quickly made the drive to my other place. Freya linked, “You know….Xander will figure it out.” I linked back, “Yes. I’ll tell him everything eventually. He’s not going to guess I am the leader of the resistance. He will just think I’m in it.” Freya snorted, “True….no one is going to suspect a teenager started and funding the resistance.” I linked back, “Mason and Hendrick started the funding really….I just took over later.” Freya linked, “Not much later. I have your memories. You even tried to pay them back.” I had. They refused. When we got to my place I tried to get us up to my actual floor quickly. He asked why I wasn’t in the pictures. I frowned. I was in most of them. He told me he’d never seen me in a picture, and that I wasn’t in these. That was weird...Then Aesir’s words hit me. Things aren’t what they seem. I’d probably have to ask Paige...if someone could spell me personally to not appear in pictures. Wouldn't I have noticed? Xander asked how I felt. I didn’t know. Betrayed. Numb. Really freaking confused and hurt is how I felt. 

            I finally broke when I looked at the picture of our family. We were happy. Weren’t we? Were they glad to get rid of me? Was I a burden they were just glad was gone? Xander told me he could explain. I told him I wanted him to. I needed some idea of what we were going to at Black Mountain. My family would be waiting there. He told me they’d thought I’d been dancing in New York the whole time. They would get headaches. Because a vampire can compel them. Stupid freaking goddesses. It wasn’t a good enough reason right now. I’d fought for Jason. For Grandpa Ben even after he’d disowned me. I’d fought for Red Run. They abandoned me over headaches. They believed I’d never come home….this whole time. They talked to someone who looked like me. Which just made me jealous and bitter. I had nothing. I had letters from Jason. Sometimes Luna Chelsea. Nothing ever overly friendly. They were comforted by someone pretending to be me. That wasn’t fair. Freya linked, “Nothing about this was fair to anyone.” She was right. It just didn’t make it hurt any less. 

            Xander called me Mel. Freya purred in my head. I had to admit I loved the sound of my name on his lips. I asked him to say my name again. He told me he loved me and said my full name. I loved him too. I was just exhausted. I felt like I’d been hit by a truck. The night wasn’t even over. I still had an emotional moment to have with my family. One thing I knew, and that they owed me…..I was getting a hug from them. I’d longed to be hugged by them…..I was getting my gosh dang hug, but I’d tell them it didn’t make us ok. I just needed a hug. For myself. I deserved those hugs. From the family I’d seen die every year on the anniversary of their death. I wasn’t going to pretend for their sakes….they hurt me. They left me. They got headaches...what I got was far worse. So much worse than they could imagine. I’d punished myself for three people’s deaths….who were never dead. Jason and Alpha Kyle lied to me. Why would they do that? Luna Chelsea lied to me. Why did everyone lie? Xander told me he’d be on my side with my family. He and I still needed to talk. UGH. It’s a good thing I had a lot of words. I asked him to conjure my motorcycle to black mountain. I was going to need it. I had a feeling. He did and I told him we could go to his home. He mentioned that it was our home. It sounded nice.