The Alpha and His Childhood Sweetheart

I'm Ready Pt. 1

Elise is sixteen years old

            Elise jogged towards the spot where Melanie told her to meet. My heart sank the closer I got. I could hear a fight. I knew Ray heard it too. We took off sprinting. We found Charline and her friends trying to take on Melanie… Again. They were losing. Again. I growled, “ENOUGH!” Melanie stopped fighting instantly but Charline used that to hit Melanie. She punched her in the back of the head. Crap. Melanie turned around and punched her right in the nose. It was gushing blood. Charline screamed. I looked at Ray. He sighed and called my dad. I walked over to Mel, “Ladybug….what happened?” Melanie’s jaw tightened. Charline screeched, “She’s a psycho brat!” I heard a growl behind us, “Don’t talk about my daughter like that!” I turned to see Drake, my dad, and Garrett had joined us. All looked annoyed. Melanie threw her hands in the air, “What does it matter? You won’t take my side. You never do.” Drake said, “Ladybug….that’s not true. What happened?” Charline yelled, “She broke my nose.” I countered, “You punched her in the back of the head after I told you to stop fighting. She listened, you didn’t.” Charline glared at me as if I was a traitor. 

            My dad said, “Melanie, what happened here?” Charline’s friend Hannah snorted, “She attacked us.” Melanie said, “I didn’t! I was DANCING! They walked up and started talking about me being too old to have a stuffed animal. They tried to take him! They teased me like they always do! And she…..” Melanie trailed off. I looked at Ray. Charline had said something about Alexander. Charline snorted, “I was talking about my boyfriend.” Melanie hissed, “He’s not your boyfriend, you psycho b***h!” Drake said, “Melanie Jane! Language!” Melanie huffed, “I didn’t do anything wrong. She came at me first! I was just defending myself.” I hugged her. Charline sneered, “No one believes you Melanie. You always cause problems.” Melanie stuck her tongue out, “No I don’t. You do. It’s not my fault you can’t finish what you start. You’re just jealous because you start the fights and I end them. Usually I end them by breaking your fake ass plastic nose!” Drake growled, “MELANIE! LANGUAGE!” I bit my lip. Charline had gotten a nose job last year. I had no idea why though. Her nose had been perfectly fine. 

            Ray was silently chuckling. Charline said, “Alpha, you should make her keep that stupid toy inside. It causes all the problems. Instead we all have to cater to princess Melanie.” My dad growled, “Watch how you speak Charline. I am your Alpha. You do not dictate things around here.” Charline flushed and bared her neck. Melanie said, “Oh she thinks she’ll be taken as a Conners’ brother’s chosen mate then you’ll be punished for all the times you didn’t take her side.” Charline lunged at Melanie. I shoved her back furious. I yelled, “HOW DARE YOU?! You threatened MY DAD?! YOUR ALPHA?! WITH MY MATES FAMILY! EJ would have YOUR HEAD FOR THAT!” I could do that. Melanie sighed, “Please please tell him Elise. She’s psychotic.” My dad said, “Your parents are all in my office, girls. Obviously….we have things to discuss. You cannot threaten me, Charline. I am your Alpha. You are not any of the Conners’ boys' mates. You’ve met them all. You know that. Their dad waited for his fated mate longer than any wolf ever has. They will not take chosen mates. Hell, YOU have a mate out there Charline. Melanie, stay away from them.” Melanie frowned but nodded, “Yes, Alpha.” 

            Drake said, “Ladybug, go back home. I’ll come talk to you with your mom later.” Melanie sighed but nodded. They left. I asked, “What did she say?” Melanie frowned, “It’s not fair! I try to stay away from them...they seek me out. She’s the crazy one obsessed with Xander and talking about he’s her boyfriend. HE’S NOT HERS!” I hugged her, “No….he’s not he doesn’t like her and he’s not her boyfriend. Don’t let her get under your skin.” Melanie snorted, “I was letting it go until she took a swing. Like I said….she’s a psycho. She knows she can’t beat me.” I smiled. Melanie was good. I couldn’t even beat her. We had draws in practice. Ray said, “Did you get her good?” Melanie nodded. Ray smirked, “Good girl. Get on home before you get in more trouble.” Melanie sighed, “I seriously don’t see why it’s my fault that she’s crazy. She starts the fight….I can’t just let her beat me.” I smiled, “No you can’t. Just get home before you get grounded.” She took off. 

            I laid down on the ground and groaned. Ray asked, “Are you going to tell your young Alpha?” I sighed, “I can’t tell him today. He’s having that talk with his mom. Why can’t Charline just take a hint? Why does she even care about Melanie?” Ray snorted, “Do you really not know why?” I frowned, “No.” Ray laughed, “I think your dad and Drake are the only people who haven’t put together why Melanie loves that wolf so much. People around here talk about how much sense Alexander and Melanie would make as mates because of their fighting skills. Charline is jealous. She tries to fight Melanie because she thinks Alexander will talk to her if she wins. People talk about what a good fighter Melanie is. Everyone has already declared she’ll be a lead warrior the day she challenges for it. People have said that to Alexander’s face when Charline is present. There’s a light in the boy's eyes when people say that. He’s proud of her. Charline is jealous of that.” I snorted, “She’s jealous of an eleven-year-old? This is just absurd. We know Charline isn’t Alexander’s.” Ray shrugged, “Apparently, she has a dream of being his chosen mate still.” I snorted, “Melanie’s right. Charline is psycho. Alexander doesn’t like her. He couldn’t make that more clear.” Ray said, “He might have to. This might need to be directly stated.” I sighed and bit my lip. 

            Ray mused, “I think the problem will be if Charline gets smarter about this after today. Melanie doesn’t tell when she gets in fights. Other people tell.” I titled my head, “Which is weird...because they lose.” Ray laughed, “You would think it would be the other way around. She’s a spitfire. I keep hoping she and Alexander will meet. The more I think about it the more it solidifies for me. I’ll be damned if I know how she just knows but….I think she’s right. I think they are mates. Never heard of a wolf knowing without meeting someone, but….It just feels right. Those two together. She’d bring him out of his shell, and he could be her calm.” I smiled, “You want to see them fight together.” Ray smirked, “Hell yes I do. Those two fighting side by side? It will be a sight to see. It’s bound to happen one day. We are allies. One she has a wolf…..she wants to be the lead female warrior. She’ll win that tournament easily. Hell...she could win now. If they haven’t met by then….don’t you just know who’d pop in to watch the tournament?” I smiled, “He might even drive.” Ray said, “Ok the fact that you said that tells me he likes her. The Conners’ kids hate driving. They’d much rather pop.” I smiled, “I agree. I think he likes her too.”

            Ray started laughing hard. He snorted, “Think? You think he likes her? That girl already owns him. I know that, and I don’t even see him on a daily basis…..it’s sad everyone doesn’t know.” I rolled my eyes, “It’s not sad. You see him with EJ, Cassie, and me. He’s less reserved around us.” Ray sighed, “That’s true. That mom of his is sharp as a tack. If he was overly obvious around her…..she’d figure out how to get the two of them to meet. Why doesn’t he do that?” I shrugged, “EJ and I can’t figure that out either. He just keeps saying he wants to see how they are brought together. He could tell Haley. She’d respect that….she’d just do something fairy about it.” Ray laughed, “She’s one of a kind.” I smiled, “She is.” We walked back to my house. I was worried about EJ. I’d heard rumors about what Haley went through before she’d met her Hackura family. I hoped they weren’t true. 

            My mom was waiting in the house. She smiled, “Have a seat sweetie.” I nodded, “I actually wanted to talk to you. Can we go to my room?” My mom nodded. EJ had charmed my room so no one could hear in there. We walked in. I laid down on my bed. My mom sat. I asked, “What did you want to talk about?” My mom sighed, “EJ will end up here at some point. He will need you Elise.” I sat up, “You know? You know Haley’s story?” My mom smiled sadly, “I do. We had a pack member join back when you were little. She’d been abused. Once Haley got her degree as a therapist. She started hosting group therapy sessions for supernatural’s. I told the woman who joined our pack about it. She wanted to go, but only if I went too. I asked Haley if that would be ok. She said it was fine after she checked with her other members coming. That night Haley told everyone that sharing their story was personal. It had to be done on their own terms and when they were ready. Not a moment before they were though. She then shared her story. I have never heard a story like hers. It’s hard to hear. It’s hard to hear that is her past. She’s so….nice and welcoming. She’s so kind, and I think if I had to deal with a fraction of what she had….I could not be nice or welcoming. I would have thorns and be prickly. I would be hard and jaded. I would….” She shook herself and stopped talking.

            I frowned, “It’s really that bad mom?” My mom nodded, “It really is. EJ will need you. All you can do is be there for him. Remind him that you’re here. His mom is here, and everything is ok.” I nodded, “Ok.” My mom wiped tears out of the corner of her eyes, “Ok...that’s what I wanted to talk about. I hope your conversation is less heavy.” I gulped, “Well….I….you said we could talk about….sex stuff….and….” My mom smiled, “We can talk about s*x stuff sweetie. I hope you know that your dad and I do that stuff. We have you and your brothers.” I shook my head, “Yes, I know that mom. I have really good hearing. I just pretend I don’t, let’s not pop that bubble.” My mom laughed and held up her hands, “Ok….Do you have questions about something?” I shook my head, “No, I just wanted to tell you I’m going to tell EJ I’m ready. I want him to claim me.” My mom searched my eyes, “This is your choice? You don’t feel pressured or….” I shook my head, “EJ has never pressured me for anything. All the stuff we’ve done is because I have initiated it. We talked about it. We’ve done everything except that.” 

            My mom nodded, “If that’s what you want to do Elise that’s fine with me…..he’s your mate. You know yourself. If this is what you truly want….then that’s what’s important.” I smiled, “I really do want to. I want all of him. I love him.” My mom smiled, “Oh I know.” I frowned, “Will daddy be disappointed?” My mom laughed, “No, he won’t. I don’t know that you want to tell him outright you’re having s*x. There’s a difference in knowing and being told outright.” I laughed, “I didn’t plan to tell him, but he just knows things.” My mom smiled, “He’ll know. As long as EJ is respectful and it’s what you want….Your dad will be fine.” I nodded. We talked for a while and then I waited. I went downstairs to the living room and paced. Where was EJ? How long was this talk? I watched the clock. It got later and later. I should just get a warrior to drive me to him. I could feel it. EJ needed me. Right before I was about to get my dad to have someone drive me a pop sounded. 

            His eyes were bloodshot and puffy. He’d been crying. EJ was not a crier. I ran to him. The second I wrapped my arms around him he was crying into my neck. He was full on sobbing. My heart broke. He told me they’d hurt his mom. That it was worse than he’d ever expected. My poor mate. I told him it was ok because I didn’t know what else to say. He was so broken. When we broke apart. He plopped down on the couch. He put his head in his hands. My heart hurt so bad. I pulled his face up to mine and kissed him. I climbed into his lap and told him I was here for him. He cried and told me that people had raped his mom. The fairies broke every bone in her body. He was blaming himself for not asking why she was so short. She wouldn’t have told them. I’d never thought to question it either, but all his siblings were tall. EJ’s Uncles were all tall. It’s just not something you think about. 

            I let him talk himself out. Once he was done I told him his mom was a badass. He agreed he just didn’t understand how people could do this to her. I told him that the people we are fighting against are sick. They wouldn’t get away with this. We would all make them pay. There would be a day where I’d stand by his side as we took them down for good. My dad came in. My heart dropped. I knew EJ wasn’t ready to go. EJ told my dad he needed me that he couldn’t leave. My dad told him that wasn’t why he came in. He told us EJ could spend the night. I was surprised my dad knew about his mom’s past, but his words and his eyes told me he did. I stood and took EJ to my room. He followed me. He was numb. I ran into my bathroom and grabbed my new pajama set. EJ’s eyes flickered with lust when I came back into the room. He thought I was trying to kill him. If I was, I'd have come out in my underwear. I walked over to him. I wanted to make him feel better.

            I started kissing down his body. The first time we’d done this…..there was a lot of blushing. I finally just told EJ to tell me how to do it. We talked through it, but….now….I loved it. I loved the taste of him. He told me I didn’t have to do this. One day he’d realize I loved doing this. I told him I wanted to and got to work. I knew just how he liked it. His hips started to jerk. He groaned and I felt hot liquid in my mouth. I swallowed it and he flipped me around. He yanked my shorts off. God, he was hot. His mouth was on me a second later. He was just naturally good at things. All thoughts left my mind as he brought me to my own orgasm. He was like that. I hadn’t planned for him to reciprocate. I just wanted him to feel better. I wanted to take care of him. Of course he had other plans. EJ pulled my shorts back on and held me. He told me he’d always protect me. I knew that. I told him I wasn’t his mom. She had no one protecting her. I was raised to fight. We all had that going for us. We could fight back. His mom….she was groomed. Conditioned as a child. She was alone. None of us were alone. We were older. I didn’t know everything there was to know about Haley Conners past. I knew there were more details, but I knew that the woman she was today. She’d fight. She’d kick ass. She was a defenseless child when they hurt her. I was not that. I was Elise Kyle. I was an Alpha. We fell asleep holding each after EJ declared I was his. I was ready. I knew it, and now I just needed to tell him. 

            I felt EJ jolt awake. I frowned. He kissed me lightly. My brain was slowly waking up. I ran a hand over his arms. Gosh he spent so much time in the gym. His arms were so muscular. I couldn’t stop my mom when he cupped my breast. My mom’s words were like a bucket of ice water yelling that breakfast was ready. Dang it! I just wanted him. My frustration was clear. I looked at EJ’s half naked body. Images of us were running away in my head. EJ snapped me out of it telling me that he wouldn’t be able to stop himself. I thought about it. I thought about telling him. That I didn’t want him to stop ever. I didn’t want our first time to be rushed though. I wanted us to be able to take our time. I forced myself to walk into the bathroom. I took several deep breaths and got ready. We all ate breakfast in silence. Even my brothers. Everyone was throwing worried looks EJ’s way. He was uncharacteristically silent. I knew he was still thinking about everything. There were things he didn’t understand. It was a lot to absorb.

            I wanted to take him somewhere quiet. I wanted to talk to him and make sure he was ok. I was also bursting to tell him I was ready to have s*x. It might have to wait though. Ray nodded to me and walked out of hearing distance. We were still in his line of sight. Once we sat down I asked EJ if he was ok. He told me he wasn’t. He added that being with me makes everything better. I blushed. He made everything better for me too. EJ told me he couldn’t wrap his mind around what had been done. I don’t think anyone could. Not even his mom herself. She just had to live with it. He told me his uncle pulled him to the beyond. The Beyond? I didn’t even know what that was. I didn’t like the sound of him being pulled somewhere like that. He said he needed a distraction. I studied him. He was desperate to stop thinking. I was pretty sure I could take his mind off this situation. He asked if I had Melanie stories. I snorted. I so did. I just wanted to have this conversation about us first. He told me the floor was mine. I sighed. This was harder than I thought. I knew he wanted to have s*x with me. I wanted to have s*x with him. Somehow admitting it was still awkward. 

            I told him after my birthday...I wanted us to be together. He didn’t get it. Gosh, was I really going to have to spell this out for him? I told him I wanted him at my first shift. He told me he’d be there. That nothing would keep him away. I was actually scared about the whole shifting ordeal, but I was shoving that aside for now. I told him that afterwards I wanted to have our first time together. A bit awkwardly. Gosh! Why was this so awkward? It wasn’t as if we hadn’t talked about it before. I saw his pants twitch. I hid my smirk. EJ told me we didn't have to. I knew that. I wanted to. I was ready. I wanted to be his. Honestly, I wanted him to mark me. That I was willing to wait on though. EJ kissed me. I felt all his passion and love for me. He told me he’d conjure us a treehouse. Geez. I meant like having s*x outside. Of course he went full EJ on me. Conjuring a treehouse for me. He said if I was too tired then we’d just sleep. Clearly he’d never tried to just sleep beside himself. He should spend less time in the gym if that’s what he wanted. He told me we’d see how I felt. I knew how I’d feel. Tired but ready for him. For my mate. EJ was my best friend and my boyfriend all in one. He really was perfect. He wanted to conjure a treehouse for me. I loved him with all my heart. 

            He made sure I knew if I changed my mind he wouldn’t be mad. Again….he’s never been around himself obviously. He was mouthwatering. I wanted him. My wolf was going to want him. It was happening. I’d tell him though if I was wrong. I asked if I’d sufficiently distracted him. He laughed and told me I did. We sat there holding hands for a moment. I was about to tell him about the whole Melanie versus Charline show down when he told me he loved me. He said that I was everything to him. He was that to me too. It was us. Always. EJ’s head jerked off in the other direction. I frowned when he jumped up. He grabbed my hand and started running. I turned back to see Ray coming after us. Where were we going? I strained to hear anything. I knew EJ could hear things I couldn’t. Eventually I heard it. A fight. My heart sank. Not again. Someone was fighting Melanie. This is where she goes to dance. I ran as fast as I could. I heard a growl and shriek of pain. NO…..that was a wolf fighting. No one in the pack would shift to fight Mel. Drake would kill them. EJ snarled and let go of my head. He shifted into Brutus in the next second. I yelled at him to go. He’d be faster without me. Damn my stupid birthday not happening yet. If I had my wolf we’d tear those jerks to pieces! I could tell both EJ and Brutus were pissed. 

            I looked back. Ray was on his phone. He knew where we were headed too. I heard Brutus’ snarl of anger. I came up to see that Melanie was just fine. I stopped for a second. The wolves were bleeding, but Melanie was fine. Pride filled me. We had to be right. She had to be meant for Alexander. Melanie screamed and ran for her toy wolf. I ran to her. She clutched the wolf to her as EJ took down the wolf who was trying to rip it to shreds. I grabbed her. I whispered, “Mel…..you focus on the fight. I could buy you another toy wolf ok?” She shook her head, “He’s mine.” I sighed, “I know that but….let’s focus.” Ray shifted. I wished I could shift too. I’d take these jerks down. A wolf was circling towards us. Melanie drop kicked him in the face. I smirked. She’d broken his jaw. EJ clearly had enough. He used his pushing power. The wolves fighting dropped to the ground howling in pain. Melanie whispered, “Wow…..” EJ wasn’t letting them go. Ray shifted back. My dad, Peter, and Garrett ran up to us. I had an odd sense of Deja vu. 

            My dad said, “Sweetie….Touch EJ. Let him know to let them go.” I nodded. I wondered why he didn’t. I touched him and whispered to him to let them go. EJ instantly looked at me. He shifted back and snapped himself and Ray clothes. Not before I saw….focus Elise. I didn’t want to. Dang….he was perfect. I want to drop to my knees right here. I licked my lips then mentally smacked myself. My DAD is here….stop it…..He was too distracting. My heart warmed when EJ called Melanie Ladybug. Melanie told him she was ok. EJ told my dad that these wolves were arguing over who Mel belonged to. What? I looked over at my dad surprised. He was busy looking at EJ. I glanced at Ray who was frowning. No one in our pack would do this. I didn’t recognize these wolves. EJ told us when Melanie said she wasn’t theirs they shifted. Excuse me? What on earth? She was eleven! Drake was enraged. He was vibrating. Melanie’s voice was the only thing that stopped him from shifting.

            Melanie asked EJ how he knew that. EJ explained that when he used his power that he could see things or hear them. He told her that he’d heard them. I saw something flash in EJ’s eyes. I couldn’t quite identify it, but I could tell whatever it was….Made EJ feel even more protective of her. I thought about it. It would be just like Mel to shout that she belonged to her Xander. Maybe EJ believed it with the conviction I did now that they were mates. He would protect his brother's mate with everything in him. My dad ordered the wolves to shift back. No wolf could resist an Alpha’s command that wasn’t a current Alpha themselves. They immediately obeyed him. EJ snapped shorts on them. My eyes went wide….these weren’t teenagers. There was no way. Drake attacked them along with Tristan and Jason. Melanie told them she had it handled. I turned to study her. She had. She’d have saved her wolf and herself without help. How was that possible? My dad ordered warriors to the scene. He wanted to know how they got through our border. At least this wasn’t our pack. My dad yelled Drake’s name. He needed him to get answers.