The Alpha and His Childhood Sweetheart

I'm Ready Pt. 2

            Drake managed to stop. Warriors showed up and pulled Tristan and Jason back. Barely…Tristan was not making it easy. Drake asked what pack they were from. They didn’t answer but Melanie did. They’d told her? Seriously? Why? Peter told Drake to call their Alpha. I knew we weren’t friends with them. My dad didn’t like the Alpha of Two peaks. No one did. He was creepy. I’d only met him once, but he was checking my mom out then me. My dad nearly killed him. Drake asked what they were doing here. Were they scouting? They couldn't possibly think they could take us. They weren’t even a quarter of our pack’s size. The guy started screaming again, holding his head. I smirked. That’s what happened when you didn’t give EJ answers. He was getting lost in whatever he was hearing or seeing. I gently tugged his sleeve. He stopped. EJ’s entire posture changed. He shifted so Melanie was blocked from their view. It almost seemed like an action he wasn’t even aware he’d done. We all saw it though. EJ angrily announced they were here to kidnap Melanie. 

            Melanie was kicking the ground with her shoe. I guess she knew that. One of the wannabe kidnappers asked how EJ was doing that. I wanted to scoff. Did they really not know who he was? Their lack of respect snapped inside me. I warned them to show some respect. Wolf or not….I’d kick their teeth in for showing EJ anything but respect. EJ called me his girl and kissed me. Still blocking Melanie from the invading wolves. Drake was at his breaking point. He told Tristan and Jason to stop fighting the warriors. I saw a few bloody faces amongst our warriors…..Jason and Tristan were trying to fight their way back over here. My mom and Sam ran up. Sam’s worry was written all over her face. She crushed Melanie into a hug. Melanie patted her back, “I’m fine mom.” Garrett answered his phone. EJ’s dad was calling. I wasn’t surprised. I knew it was likely EJ had linked him the situation. I knew his dad didn’t like Two Peaks Alpha either. I looked over at EJ who was blatantly smirking. I could tell he was linking someone. I smiled to myself. I bet Alexander heard. Maybe he’d pop in. 

            Sam was studying every inch of Melanie. She finally announced they needed to get to her dance competition. My dad told her warriors would be waiting at their car since Melanie was the target. He told Drake to go see them off. I knew Drake had been planning to go to this competition. They’d be back tonight, but now….he couldn’t go. My dad waited until Drake was out of hearing range then asked how old Melanie’s attackers were. My mom squeezed my hand then walked over to my dad. No one wanted to answer my dad. All he had to do was say EJ’s name. One of them freaked out. I couldn’t help but be proud. EJ was feared already. We were all stunned when the guy admitted they were in their twenties. WHAT?! I didn’t think they were teenagers….I guess it made sense they were in their twenties. EJ roared that Melanie was eleven. He was making focusing on the situation too hard. He hadn’t snapped himself a shirt and his back muscles were rippling in anger. Man he was sexy. I had to look away. My gaze was drawn to the man who said someone should tell Melanie’s body she wasn’t eleven. Really? That’s his excuse? I couldn’t hold my snarl back and neither could anyone else. That was sick. 

            My dad threw him into a tree. I didn’t even feel bad that I’d heard his back break. Drake ran back in. He looked at my dad clearly surprised by his actions. He even tried to make my dad calm down, but I could see my dad’s wolf was close to the surface. The McAlister’s were family to us. My mom stepped forward and told my dad it was ok. That me, EJ, and Ray made it in time. EJ voiced all our thoughts that Melanie would’ve been fine without us. Drake asked what happened. My dad informed Drake how old they were. Without Sam here I didn’t think we could calm him down….I watched Drake’s wolf come forward. He shifted and snarled. One of the wolves was dumb enough to try to challenge him. Everyone knew you didn’t come at a wolf protecting their pup. Especially a wolf of rank. Drake ripped him to pieces. The other two guys looked horrified. Did they really not think this would happen? None of them would leave here alive. Melanie was the Beta’s daughter.

            When Drake shifted back he was upset. EJ snapped him clothes and clear of blood. Drake started asking what was wrong with everyone. Then he asked Tristan why he wasn’t with her. I frowned. Tristan was supposed to watch her when she practiced. Melanie didn’t like to bother people though. If Tristan was busy she didn’t tell him she was going somewhere. Drake started talking about Mel competing for some scholarship to an arts school. My heart dropped. Melanie had talked about that school. It was in New York. Drake was actually thinking about letting her go. NO! I wouldn’t see her. Alexander…..I almost sighed in relief. Melanie wouldn’t want to go. That’s too far from her Xander. My dad assured Drake Melanie was safe here. Drake thought he was a bad dad. That just wasn’t true. Melanie loved him so much. She was such a daddy’s girl. Drake wondered aloud if Melanie would safer thousands of miles away. How could he think that? EJ, bless him, voiced that Melanie had people here who loved her. Who looked out for her. She wouldn’t have that in New York. New York. God. I wouldn’t be able to go see her. I’d be Luna by then. Tears filled my eyes. I would miss her. I knew if she competed she’d win. I was holding onto the hope that she wouldn’t want to be that far away from Alexander.

            I could see EJ was worried about it too. It had to be about Alexander. We all walked back to the main house. My mind swirled. It was so unfair. If we could just get Alexander and Melanie to meet….this wouldn’t be happening. Suddenly we only had three years to accomplish what we hadn’t been able to in eleven years. Get Melanie and Alexander in the same room. Every time it was supposed to happen something came up. What if she went off to New York before they met? I’d gotten it into my head that she and I would be together in Black Mountain. Now….now my little sister would be thousands of miles away. As soon as my dad disappeared and it was just me, EJ and Ray; I couldn’t stop my sobs. EJ just said my name questioningly and I broke. I broke telling him that I wouldn’t see Melanie if she went to New York. I didn’t even care that I’d confirmed to Ray what he already knew. That Melanie liked Alexander. I was pretty sure Alexander liked her too. I knew Ray wouldn’t say anything. Melanie had people that were attracted to her for some reason, but here she had back up. In New York….what if someone hurt her? We wouldn’t be able to get to her. We’d never even know. 

            EJ tried to console me saying that we didn’t know if it would happen. If people kept coming for her….if she kept getting in fights he would. He’d think she was safer away from us. If she competed she’d win. She always won. She’d literally never lost anything she’d ever tried let alone in dance. EJ told me he could pop me to her. No he couldn’t. He’d promised. EJ cringed and told me we could talk on the phone and skype. That wasn’t the same. He tried to joke and say Melanie could lose interest in dance. She wouldn’t. We both knew that. EJ amended his statement and said that we both knew Melanie wouldn’t want to be away from Alexander. I was trying to hold onto that, but if Drake and Sam wanted Melanie to go….she would. She would do anything for her dad. She adored him as much as he adored her. EJ just held me. My thoughts were swirling. I hated this. I didn’t want to lose Mel. Pops sounded all around us. By the time I pulled back, all our allies were there. My uncle Christopher was even home. I couldn’t even let myself be excited to see him. 

            Alexander walked up to EJ and me. He was my hope. My hope to keep Melanie around. Moon Goddess PLEASE let them be mates. My dad walked out and welcomed Uncle Christopher home. Brooke said they were home to stay. I was surprised. Then she said she accidentally shared her light. I looked at EJ out of the corner of my eye. My dad told us not to get any ideas. Too late. It was a hard thing for me to grasp. I wasn’t ready to leave home but being without EJ all the time was torture. My dad announced that Alpha Johnson was blaming Melanie and wanted his warriors back. I barely hid my scoff. That jerk! They’d also discovered they’d been spying on Melanie. They’d planned this? My dad was planning to take over their pack. No one seemed upset about it. He was going to have my uncle Christopher run the pack and live with us. My Uncle Sebastian and Aunt Susie walked out. My dad gave a charge to the warriors. Everyone was upset Melanie had been attacked. Alexander was red faced angry. EJ popped away with the warriors to fight. I grumbled, “If I had a wolf I could go with them.” My Aunt Susie laughed, “Come on inside.” I sighed. Even Brooke got to go. She had a wolf though. She was just a little bit older than me. I trudged inside.

            I sat down on the couch and started crying. My aunt Susie said, “Elise? It’s ok. They will all be fine.” I shook my head, “It’s Mel….they are talking about sending her to some fancy dance school in New York.” My Aunt Susie frowned, “Well…..when?” I cried, “For high school.” Aunt Susie sighed, “Well….that’s three years away. I’m sure there are dance schools around here she could go to.” I snorted, “Maybe in Nashville…. Drake won’t send her there.” Aunt Susie snorted, “No….no he won’t do that. My brother would be up in arms.” I smirked. Alpha Chase Daniels was Susie’s oldest brother. He hated a specific pack in Nashville. Which turned him against Nashville as a whole. We waited. Eventually everyone popped back. Everyone was giving Alexander looks of awe and curiosity. I frowned. What happened? EJ walked over and gave me a kiss. Then they all popped out. Warriors were huddled together. Ray looked like the cat ate the canary. The only ones who didn’t seem to know something everyone else did were Drake and Jason. Tristan walked over to me. He inclined his head for me to follow him. 

            I followed him to a quiet spot. He turned, “Alexander knows about Melanie’s wolf. Doesn’t he?” I frowned, “Of course he does. He was at your parents' anniversary party. In every picture Melanie was holding that wolf. Alexander looked at every picture once he came back inside.” Tristan sighed. I asked, “What happened?” Tristan said, “I think Alexander has a different reaction to Mel’s wolf looking like him than everyone else. Other wolves want her to get rid of it. Alexander on the other hand…..his wolf is protective of Mel. Fine by me, but he lost it. He nearly beat Alpha Johnson to death. Based on EJ’s reaction….I think Alexander used his pushing power to kill a crap ton of people on his own. Again….not complaining, but Mel will take it the wrong way when she hears about it.” I asked, “What do you mean?” Tristan sighed, “She’ll think he likes her too. She’ll just go further down the Xander is mine rabbit hole.” I shrugged, “You don’t know he’s not hers.” Tristan ran a hand through his hair, “I know that, but he’s just being protective. I’m worried about my little sister’s heart here.” I smiled, “Her heart belongs to her Xander, Tristan. You can’t protect her from that. It’s just the way it’s been since she was three.” Tristan groaned, “Well….I guess….I have another protector to help watch out for Mel at least. I don’t know what’s going on. I know she’s cute. I know that. She’s beautiful. She’s just a kid though. What is everyone’s deal about my kid sister?” I shrugged, “I really don’t know.” 

            Eventually I said, “Charline is jealous. Maybe because Mel is such a strong warrior men are drawn to her. We’ve seen that….not on this scale, but…” Tristan sighed, “Yeah, but. My little sister is some dancing prodigy. She’s also insanely smart. Genius level according to all her teachers. I gotta head home.” He ran off and I went back to my house. 

            My dad was sitting at our table with a glass of whiskey in his hand. My mom was sitting beside him. My dad looked up. He gestured to a seat. I sat down. My dad took a drink. He said, “So….for once. I think I know something my beta doesn’t.” I looked at my mom. Her lips twitched. My dad said, “So many things lined up for me tonight. Melanie calls her wolf him….it looks identical to a wolf I saw completely lose it tonight. What’s Melanie’s stuffed wolf’s name Elise? It does have one, right?” I nodded, “It has a name.” My dad said, “And it is?” I sighed, “Dad….” My dad said, “Have they met? The wolf's name is Alexander, right? I know it is. I remember the day she got it. It was after she peppered you with questions about what the Conners wolves looked like. I thought she focused on Alexander at the time, but I shrugged it off.” I said, “The wolf's name isn’t Alexander.”

            My dad frowned. Then he stood, “Oh my god. It’s Xander….that has to be it. I heard her say his name as a child. Oh my god. Are they mates Elise? Why aren’t they telling anyone?” I frowned, “They’ve never met dad.” My dad studied me, “Are you sure?” I nodded, “I’m positive.” My dad sat back down. He frowned into his drink. He took another pull. He asked, “Why haven’t they met?” I snorted, “You know why. Melanie has competitions or she’s grounded. Or Drake won’t let her out of the territory. Or she signs up for a dance competition because he asks Charline to a dance.” I clapped my hand over my mouth. My dad’s head jerked to me. He smiled, “So she likes him. That’s why she’s fighting with Charline so much. That’s why she gets so upset when she gets in trouble and can’t see him. Why doesn’t she just stay out of trouble for the day?” I sighed, “Dad….I’m not sure she’s crossing the border. She’s like crazy smart. You know she is. She wants to meet all the Conners. One in particular….I just don’t think she’d keep crossing the border.” My dad frowned, “My men wouldn’t lie to me.” I sighed, “I know….I just don’t think everything is what it seems with that. Maybe they think it’s her.” I could tell my dad thought Melanie was crossing the border. She was a bit of a daredevil. I just knew something else was going on with that. 

            I broke the silence, “Please don’t tell Drake about it . Melanie made me promise not to tell about her wolf.” My dad sighed, “If they keep acting like that….he’ll figure it out. The only reason he didn’t is because he has blinders when it comes to Ladybug.” I frowned, “Wouldn’t he be happy?” My mom laughed. My dad smiled, “Happy? No, Elise. Drake would be ecstatic. All the weirdness surrounding Melanie would stop. There’s not one person that is going to cross the Conners when it involves one of their mates. Melanie being Alexander’s mate….would solve a lot of problems for us. No one would want to try and take that stuffed wolf from her because Alexander would kill him. He’s only sixteen and he’s already got a reputation. After what he did today….that’s only going to grow. No one is going to want to harm his mate. It would be suicidal. Those two being mates would guarantee Melanie’s safety.” I frowned, “Then can’t we get them to meet?” My dad laughed, “They will meet. It’s only a matter of time.” 

            I started to cry again, “What if she goes to New York for school?” My mom said, “Sweetie. We can’t hold Melanie back because we love her. I’d miss her so much, but she’s a beautiful dancer. Alexander could pop to her if they’d met. The Conners wouldn’t keep them apart. They’d change their rule.” I wiped my tears as Melanie burst into the room with a medal around her neck. She smiled, “I won!” I laughed, “So you did!” She frowned, “What’s wrong Elise?” I shook myself, “Nothing is wrong.” Then it hit me. I could get Alexander to my first shift. I smiled, “You’re coming to my shift right?” My dad smirked. Melanie frowned, “I got the dates mixed up. I have a competition.” My dad sighed. I frowned, “Oh.” Melanie hugged me, “I’m really sorry Elise.” I shrugged, “It’s ok.” Melanie tugged my hand, and we went back outside. She hugged me again and whispered, “I’m sorry. Can I see your wolf the second I get back?” I nodded, “Of course you can.” She kissed my cheek. She was about to say something when Sam called for her. She ran off. 

            The next day Charline of course had s**t to say. The difference was….she didn’t realize I’d been waiting for Melanie in her meadow. I heard her sneer, “I bet you think that was for you.” Melanie said, “Oh good. You’re here. What do I think was for me?” Charline snorted, “Alexander killing everyone and beating up the Alpha of Two Peaks.” Melanie gasped, “He did?” Charline laughed, “Oh god….you think it’s for you. It’s not. It’s for me. He was worried about my safety.” Melanie sighed, “Sure.” She kept walking. I heard her yell, “Hey!” I walked towards them. Ray was right behind me. Melanie hissed, “Look here b***h….touch me again and I’ll end you.” Charline taunted her, “He thinks you're pathetic. You still have a stuffed animal. It’s sad Melanie. Alexander is a man who needs a real woman. Not a child.” Melanie replied, “Then I guess you’re out as an option too. You can’t even beat an eleven-year-old when it’s six on one. Plus your sixteen, and you act like your five so ....” Charline hissed, “You little…” I stepped out, “Little what?” Everyone froze. 

            Melanie smiled, “Were you waiting for me Elise?” I smiled, “I was. Charline, let's make something clear. You won’t get your claws into Alexander. Ever. I won’t let it happen. Run along now.” Charline’s face turned red. She stormed off. Melanie giggled, “Normally I have to break her nose to get her to go away.” I frowned, “She’s just….ridiculous.” Melanie skipped over to me. Her eyes were sparkling, “Is it true? What Charline said? Did Xander really go after Two Peaks Alpha?” I nodded, “He did.” Melanie smiled, “He already beat an Alpha.” I laughed, “He can beat his uncles in a fight too.” Melanie couldn’t stop beaming. She whispered, “Was he really upset?” Ray snorted, “Upset is an understatement. He pushed at people’s heads so hard they exploded. I have rarely seen a wolf that angry. He rivals his father on the battlefield, and that is saying something. Alpha Eric is a legend.” Melanie couldn’t grin any wider. Ray and I sat down and watched her dance. Ray sighed, “She’s just something when she dances.” I smiled, “Yes, she is.” 

            When she was done she walked over. She asked, “Why were you out here waiting for me?” I sighed, “I heard about this arts school in New York.” Melanie drew into herself. She sighed, “It’s a great opportunity.” I asked, “Do you want to go?” Melanie whispered, “I don't know. It’s so far away from mom, dad, T, Jase….your parents, you and….” I whispered, “Your Xander.” She smiled, “He could pop there. Part of me thinks it’s how I could meet him. I could call and claim it was an emergency.” I laughed, “He’d pop right to you.” She sighed, “I know. Sometimes I think I’ll go just for that. Just so he’d pop to my side and bring me home.” I laughed, “He’d let you live your dream.” Melanie whispered, “He’s my dream.” I smiled, “That’s cute Melanie.” She frowned, “He is. We are mates. He’s mine and I’m his. We are going to lead beside you and EJ. We will be your weapons.” They would be one hell of a weapon. I could see there would be no arguing with her. So I didn’t try. 

            I asked, “You read a lot of Jared’s fairy books right?” Melanie nodded, “Oh yeah. He said I could borrow them. Sometimes he even asked me questions about them.” I asked her, “What’s the Beyond?” Melanie smiled, “Oh….it’s where fairies go….if they’ve shared their light with a non fairy it’s where they go when they die. It’s kind of beautiful. They basically are alive in the beyond. It’s their spirits. They have all their powers. They can’t die again, but they get to be with their loved ones.” I frowned. Melanie asked, “Why?” I sighed, “EJ’s Uncle Arion called him there. He mentioned it briefly, but he didn’t want to talk about it.” Melanie frowned, “EJ could only be called if he wanted to go or if his mental defenses were lowered. He can only be called by a powerful fairy since he’s royal.” I asked, “Can they hurt him there?” Melanie shook her head, “Not physically since he’s not dead. He could though. He could use his powers and hurt them. He couldn’t kill them but….he could make them have a very bad day.” I laughed, “Good to know. Thanks. Beta Dylan would be jealous of your knowledge.” Melanie snorted, “I’d never know if he was. Everyone says he’s really funny. Not that I’ll ever meet him.” I smiled, “He is pretty funny.” We talked for a couple hours before I walked her back home. 

            Ray said, “We’ve got to get those two kids together.” I snorted, “Preaching to the choir. I was hoping for my first shift it would happen….but she’s got a dance competition.” Ray sighed, “They’d be something. Black Mountain is shaping up to be even more deadly than it is now.” I looked at him, “You really believe they are mates.” Ray nodded, “I do. I’ve never seen a wolf as sure as Melanie is outside of who Luna Emmaline has told they are mates. I don’t know why….I just feel she’s right.” I smiled, “At least we know she has a plan. If she ends up in New York….she’ll call Alexander with an emergency.” Ray raised an eyebrow, “Makes me wonder why she doesn’t do it now.” I laughed, “Now she could get in trouble for lying and having him pop here. If she was in New York…..who’s going to care that she lied to him?” Ray laughed, “You two….together as Luna’s are going to be diabolical. The wolves/fairies aren’t going to know what to do with you because you two can lie. They won’t even see it coming. Not one single part of me feels even remotely sorry for them.” I smiled, “It would be fun if it was her, me and Cassie.” Ray smiled, “It will be. I feel it.”