The Alpha Enforcer and His Dancing Warrior

Strawberries Pt. 3

         I quickly shook myself and inhaled. She was around. I tried to pop to her, but it didn’t work. OH COME ON! I was beyond annoyed. I charged down the stairs and jumped, landing soundlessly on the ground. I followed her smell outside. She was playing music softly and dancing barefoot in the grass. I was captivated. The videos I had didn’t do her justice. Seeing it in person was somehow more moving. She was the most graceful dancer. Oden purred, “Mate is stunning. She can fight, she can dance, she’s kind, and caring….don’t let her go back to those people, Alexander.” I sighed, “Let her? Come on now. She’s a person with free will. I’ll make a strong case for her just to go home. Well, our home since I’m not supposed to know who she really is. Or...she knows Cayden. I might be able to convince her to wait in the Hackura realm. I imagine she will want to go back to Black Path. She’ll have to tell her Alpha she’s leaving. She’s the female lead warrior.” Oden grumbled, “I don’t like it.” 

            I sighed, “Does Freya give anything away?” Oden sighed, “No. They are just getting to know each other. She doesn't want to upset Melanie. Plus….she thinks that they both need to be ready to tell us.” I frowned, “That doesn't sound good.” Oden growled, “It doesn’t.” I told him, “If the supernatural council did this….they will pay. She’s hurting. She feels alone. She’s been missing Freya. I can’t even imagine as a Beta’s daughter how devastating this all was to her to think she didn’t have a wolf.” Oden growled, “Someone WILL pay.” I watched her dance for another half hour. A timer went off on her phone. She turned off her music. The wind blew my scent in her direction. She whirled around.

             I smiled, “You are a beautiful dancer. How is it that no one talks about what a great dancer Ashley Griffen is?” She blushed, “I mean….I dance in fields. The pack’s not my biggest fan. They tend not to talk about me more than they have to.” I growled, “Idiots. I’d talk about you all the time. In fact Black Mountain might just get sick of how much I brag about you. That’s a personal problem though, and they wouldn’t dare say it to my face.” Melanie laughed, “No, I doubt they would. You’re intimidating...I mean not to me, but I could see how people would find you intimidating… I mean...this is all sounding so wrong and I…” I kissed her. I pulled back, “I find I am a fan of having to kiss you to stop the rambling. I’ll have to be on call twenty four seven. I’m not even upset about it.” She blushed. I took her hand, “Let’s get back inside.” 

            I popped her back into our room. So I could pop with her but not to her. How obnoxious and annoying. We got back into bed and fell asleep. When I woke up again….the same thing happened. Oden sighed. I did too. I’d have to tell her I wanted to wake up with her. Also was she some type of ninja?! I was not a heavy sleeper. This time, I could hear her in the kitchen though. I snapped sweats on and walked downstairs. She was cooking up a storm. I smiled. So….she cooked too. She had bacon, biscuits, eggs, pancakes, waffles, and fruit all cut up and presented beautifully on a platter. Phil walked in sniffing. He linked me, “She made all this? Does she sleep?” I snorted, “No she gets up to dance….then she got up to fix this.” She was dancing around the kitchen. I took in her appearance. She was wearing my hoodie from this morning. I instantly got hard. She casually said over her shoulder, “Help yourselves. I wasn’t sure what everyone liked...so I made a little bit of everything...the muffins will be done in a few minutes. I wasn't sure what time everyone woke up, so I wanted to space everything out. I made chocolate and blueberry muffins. There are chocolate pancakes too. Those are for Samantha. They are her favorite. If you guys like them I could make more though. Sorry about the mess….I had to search for everything. Your kitchen is really well stocked though…” Phil linked me, “It’s too early for so many words.” I kissed her again. 

            When I pulled back Melanie bit her lip. She added, “There’s coffee too.” Phil brightened, “Coffee...I love coffee!” Melanie laughed. I asked, “How much coffee have you had?” She shrugged, “Some.” I laughed, “What does some mean?” Sierra came in wearing Phil’s clothes. She snorted, “Some is either one or two pots.” Melanie stuck out her tongue, “Just the one pot….AND I made more. Plus, I made your favorite pancakes which I regret since you’re being mean to me.” Sierra laughed, “But I love you and your cooking so…..I also love you on coffee. Just not too much coffee. For example.” Melanie gasped, “DON’T YOU DARE!” Phil’s eyes brightened, “Dare sugar lips…..please do dare.” Sierra laughed, “The first time Alexander emailed her. You have no idea….you might have to pay Hendrick and Mason for all the coffee she went through. ALL NIGHT long!” A wet dish towel flew at Sierra’s arm. Melanie was near tears.

            I instantly took her in my arms. I told her, “Would it make you feel better to know….I drafted my email to you at least twenty times, and I made Phil read each and every one of them.” Phil snorted, “It’s true. He was VERY obnoxious about the first three emails you two exchanged. Then he just locked me out of the exchanges as if I didn’t have to read a billion drafts of emails before he sent them. Now I get nothing. I just know you email each other. It’s maddening I tell you. Sometimes…..my Alpha and cousin….is so very mean. Watch out for that.” I growled at him. He smirked, “These eggs are amazing, Ashley. So fluffy. Where did you learn how to cook?” Melanie smiled, “Hendrick taught me how to cook. I work in the kitchen at the diner sometimes. They cook breakfast, lunch, and dinner. Mason’s burgers are the best, but Hendrick is the breakfast master.” She looked sad. Phil linked, “Sierra….who you are calling Samantha...because if I call her that she growls... told me that Mason and Hendrick are like family to Melanie.”

            I told her, “I’m sure we could find the perfect spot for them to open a diner in Black Mountain. I could conjure it for them even. I’ve heard they are impressive warriors. They are more than welcome to come with you when you move.” Melanie’s eyes shot to mine, “Really?” I nodded, “Of course. If they want to...we’ll find a way to keep the diner they have now open, and open a new one where we live. If they want to come, I have no problem with that.” She wrapped her arms around me and kissed me. I deepened the kiss. Sierra laughed. Melanie pulled away and whispered, “Thank you.” Her timer on the oven went off. She ran over to grab her muffins. She put those out. I got myself and her a plate. She looked startled when I handed it to her. I laughed, “You have to eat with us.” She seemed stunned for several seconds. She checked everything then came to sit by me. I snapped us mimosa’s and pitchers of more to drink later. Except for Melanie. I snapped her a cranmosa. Sierra laughed, “He’s got your number, Ash.” She smiled and we all ate. 

        Suddenly Melanie jumped up, “Oh gosh...I need to clean everything. I left your kitchen such a mess!” I frowned, “I got it. You cooked.” She wasn't listening though because she was already running into the kitchen. She seemed panicked. I frowned, “What just happened?” Sierra sighed, “It’s….just...Ash! We are on vacation. It’s ok.” I walked into the kitchen. She was scrubbing a pan as if her life depended on it. I snapped everything clean and put it away. Sierra raised her eyebrows, “Handy.” Melanie turned around, “I’m sorry I shouldn’t have left everything out like that. Some of that needed to soak, and I just left it all out. I shouldn’t have done that….I can’t believe I didn't at least soak everything.” I walked over to her and wrapped my arms around her. I told her, “It’s just dishes. It’s fine. As someone whose family owns the place….I promise. It’s fine. I’m impressed that you can cook. Either Mrs. Blanch cooks my food or someone snaps it. There is an omega who makes killer cookies, but that’s it. I really appreciate you making us breakfast. Ok?” She slowly nodded. 

            Phil linked me, “Hey golden eyes. Cut it the f**k out before she thinks you’re mad she didn’t wash the dishes.” I closed my eyes and linked back, “Why the f**k would she be afraid she didn’t wash the dishes? I can promise you it’s not anything the McAlister’s did. Jason left dirty dishes in the sink for a week. Sam just let them pile up until he did them. Then she made him buy her a new cooking pan when he couldn't get all the stains off of it. Dirty dishes don’t really bother them.” Phil sighed, “I’m sure Black path has things about the kitchen…..” I raised an eyebrow, “Why would a beta’s daughter work in the kitchen? Or be yelled at for not cleaning a pan?” Phil sighed, “That I do not know. She clearly likes to cook.” I snorted, “Black Path gives zero shits about people’s passions.” Sierra said, “Let’s just go sit out on the deck and have some more of these fairy snapped alcoholic beverages and just take in the scenery.” I said, “We will be right there. You guys head out.” They left quickly holding hands.

            I turned Melanie around, “Are you ok?” She shook herself, “Yes...I just….” I finished, “Panicked….about dirty dishes. That you probably would’ve cleaned while we ate, but I insisted you come eat with us. I can snap everything I want done or clean. I wasn't worried about the dishes. Even if we had to clean them by hand. Neither Phil nor I would be upset about it. Hell, we’d have cleaned the kitchen. That’s how things work with my family. You do the cooking….you definitely don’t do the cleaning. If you do it’s because you can snap it clean. For the first several years I remember my mother making my dad pies for Thanksgiving and this Christmas cake he likes. You’ll love said cake. It’s called red cake and it’s aptly named. My mother can cook three things. Sugar cookies, cherry pie, and red cake. It looks like a bomb has gone off in the kitchen because she insists on making all these things for my dad from scratch. She’s actually a good cook, but boy if she couldn’t snap things clean I think Mrs. Blanch would turn red.” Melanie smiled and asked me, “What’s your favorite food? I can learn how to make it for you if I don’t already.” I smiled, “I loved everything you made this morning. My favorite food is probably steak. Favorite meal would be steak, asparagus, and mashed potatoes...or a baked potato. My favorite dessert is strawberry shortcake.” It had been ever since I was fourteen years old and smelled her hoodie. She smiled, “I’ll remember that.” Her heart rate was slowly coming down. 

            I asked, “What’s your favorite food?” She frowned, “I haven’t thought about it in a long time.” I laughed, “Think about it, and get back to me.” She smiled, “I love sugar cookies. It’s always been my favorite dessert. Not a fan of other cookies though.” She shook herself. Before I could ask she said, “We should go outside.” I said, “Not yet.” I kissed her gently then pulled back, “Now we can go outside, and talk about plans for the day.” Melanie smiled, “What are we doing?” I smiled, “I’m taking the group to Interlaken. We can hike, and sightsee. It’s very pretty. Tomorrow…..I’m teaching you to snowboard.” She smiled, “I always wanted to learn.” I kissed her forehead, “Good.” I held out my hand. She quickly took it and we walked outside to join Phil and Sierra. Who for some reason was still going by Samantha. Sierra reached over and squeezed Melanie’s hand then handed her another drink from the pitchers I'd snapped. I had so many questions. The most important ones were: What the HELL happened to my mate? And who the f**k hurt her? Because when I found out the answers to those questions…..heads would roll. No one would get away with hurting Melanie. Ever.