The Alpha and His Childhood Sweetheart

The Beginning of Something Pt. 4

      After the party EJ stayed with me. I was in charge of tearing it down. Eventually EJ asked where my mom was. I actually hadn’t seen her for a while. She took a call and never came back. My dad came overlooking grim. He said Drake’s name. It was as if ice hit my veins. It had to be Melanie. What happened to Melanie? My dad told us there’s been an accident. Oh god. Melanie had dislocated her shoulder. If those assholes….TOUCHED her….I was going to ask EJ to help me kill them. I would kill them if they did this to her. My dad didn’t know exactly what happened. EJ offered to have his mom or Alexander heal her. Drake’s tone was bitter when he said it wasn’t an emergency. I knew he was upset, but that wasn’t EJ’s fault. It wasn’t his dumb rule. He’d even offered. EJ was hurt. I could tell. I squeezed his hand. It wasn’t his fault. This wasn't his rule. Sam wanted to leave right away. My dad told EJ to pop home. I could tell he wanted to check on Melanie. I think he suspected as I did that Alexander cared about her. He knew I did. EJ kissed me and popped home. My dad grabbed my hand, “The others can handle tear down. We need to get home.” I nodded. We got in the car. I asked, “Do you know more than you told Drake? Was it those guys? Did they attack her?” My dad said, “The preliminary report I have says we were attacked.” 

        I gaped, “What?” My dad said, “Most of us were here. Drake had a warrior's wife babysitting Melanie. I don’t know her status either. Your mom’s phone died. She told me over link that we needed to talk in person. My dad was speeding. We got back at the same time Drake and Sam did. Jason and Tristan piled out of their car. We all ran into the hospital. Melanie's eyes were closed. They were puffy though. She had a sling across her chest wrapping up her arm. My mom was playing with her hair. Sam cried and ran to Melanie. Her eyes snapped opened. My mom locked eyes with my dad. He went to her and hugged her. I wanted EJ. Drake said, “Oh my little ladybug…..what happened?” My mom squeezed her good hand and said, “It’s ok Mel.” Melanie asked, “Did you have fun at the party?” Drake had tears pouring down his face. He nodded, “We did. I’m so sorry Ladybug.” She shrugged, “It’s ok. It was a surprise. You didn’t know.” Dalton walked in with her wolf. He handed it to her without a word. She hugged it and cried into it. Drake looked like his heart was being ripped out. 

            He knelt down and touched her face, “Ladybug...what happened?” Melanie whispered, “I was upstairs. I heard Mrs. Dutton screaming. I ran downstairs. She was being attacked….” Melanie wiped her tears. My mom said, “She’s healing Melanie. You saved her.” Melanie continued, “I fought them….I….” She whispered, “I killed one of them...I didn’t mean to daddy! I didn’t!” Drake pulled her into his lap, “Shhh ladybug….it’s ok. You defended yourself. It’s ok.” She whispered, “I broke mommy’s table. He fell onto it, and it just ran through him. The rest ran. I’m sorry mommy I ruined your towels too….I had to stop the blood.” Sam said, “Ladybug...I don’t care about the table or my towels. Those are just things, and they are replaceable. I care about you and Mrs. Dutton. You are not replaceable Ladybug.” Melanie said, “There was a witch with them. She was chanting something. I think she stopped Mrs. Dutton from shifting.” My mom added, “A few other houses were broken into. No one was in them. They vandalized them.” Tristan said, “How did you get hurt Mel?” Mel winced, “I had to drag Mrs. Dutton to the hospital. We ran into more of those people. I fought them, but they pushed me. I was trying to avoid falling on Mrs. Dutton. I landed on my arm wrong.” My mom added, “Then she dragged Mrs. Dutton here by herself screaming for help. A few of the interns heard her. She’d made most of the way here on her own.” Drake rocked her, “I’m so proud of you Melanie. You did so good. I’m….god I’m sorry ladybug.” She cried as he rocked her. 

            My dad asked my mom, “Did we catch any of them?” My mom shook her head, “No….there just wasn’t enough of the pack here. We have the guy….the body is here. I have people waiting for you Drake. I knew you’d want to see the house before we had it cleaned. Maybe we can get a clue off the man in their house, but….they were gone when I got here. Our warriors and trackers are out searching. They haven’t reported finding anything except the sight where the vehicles were. In Between our land and Alpha Raven’s. I reached out to Alpha Raven…..he checked his border. He said they’d been running a patrol an hour earlier...there was nothing there then. He found the tracks too. He’s willing to offer whatever help they can.” My dad snorted, “Sure he is.” My mom sighed, “He’s not his father Peter.” My dad shrugged.

        I ran out of the room. Ray was right behind me. I ran to my room and called EJ. I wanted him with me more than anything. He asked me what was wrong. I told him there was a break in. EJ wanted to make sure Melanie was ok. I assured him she was. I told him I was scared. For once I was worried that Drake and Sam weren’t paranoid. That someone was after their family. EJ said it was probably just luck. He pointed out no one could’ve been looking for Melanie. Anyone paying attention would’ve known she was supposed to be at the party. Drake and Sam wouldn't have known, but Melanie planned everything. Someone watching would’ve noticed. That actually did calm me down. EJ waited until I’d calmed down to hang up. My mom came in, “She’s ok Elise.” I frowned, “They could’ve killed her. They could’ve taken her.” My mom said, “But they didn’t. Mrs. Dutton is healing now. She’s awake. They didn’t kill anyone.” I whispered, “Melanie did.” My mom sighed, “I wish she hadn’t had to do that at her age, but that’s a part of our lives. Rogues may not have attacked in many years at this point, but we kill to defend on our pack.” I frowned, “She’s just so young.” My mom nodded, “I know.” I asked, “Is this Alpha Ezra?” My mom sighed, “We have no evidence of that. It looks like rogues. The man Melanie killed is a rogue. Mrs. Dutton told us he’d told her he was going to rape and kill her. Melanie defended herself and saved Mrs. Dutton.” I nodded. Something told me that this wasn't a  simple rogue attack. I knew not even my mom believed that. This felt like the beginning of something big. I closed my eyes and fell asleep promising myself I’d be ready for what was coming.