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I sighed, “I just want to see the Hackura realm once.” Paige consoled me, “You will one day. Do you really want to chance meeting your Xander hammered?” I shrugged, “It could be fun.” They all laughed at me but I was serious. Oh well, I guess.

I grabbed a bottle and kept drinking. I shouted, “Let’s dance!” Paige said, “That we can do.” I smiled. Lots of things went to crap, but I had great friends. This moment reminded me of when I was little and found one of my mom’s BAGG day goodie bags.

Flashback

Melanie wandered the house. Tristan had come into my room to let me know he and Jason were going to the Kyle’s. Mom would be back once whatever emergency she had come up was settled. Then he’d left.

I was looking for the cookies to send to Ryan Bishop again. I wandered into my parent’s room and saw a bag with Mom’s name on it. I opened it and giggled. She’d gotten dance costumes. I grabbed the S.W.A.T outfit.

I turned on their stereo and began to choreograph a routine that matched the outfit. I heard my mom coming but the dance was in my head and I wanted to get it out. I knew I wasn’t in trouble when she laughed. She asked, “Melanie Jane, what are you doing?”

I squealed, “MOMMY! I found all your costumes! You didn’t tell me you used to dance too! Can I use these for my routines?” She shook her head saying, “These are mommy’s special outfits.” I frowned saying, “Well, some are see through you know?” She snorted and covered her mouth.

I asked, “What’s so funny, mommy?” She managed to say, “Well, how very silly of the people who made them to make them see through. I’ll have to talk to the person who gave them to me right away.”

I agreed, “You definitely should.” She told me, “You know daddy wouldn’t like this costume.

” I admitted, “You’re right. Would he let you wear it?

Because I think it would look good on you.

WE COULD DO A MOTHER DAUGHTER ROUTINE!” She covered her hand with her mouth but didn’t laugh again. Did she not like the idea?

Eventually she said, “I have two left feet when I dance. I don’t know where your abilities came from, but it certainly was not me.

” I giggled, “Daddy says you just need the right partner to dance with. He said Uncle Duncan, Grandpa Martie, Grandpa Ben, T, and Jase are acceptable partners to dance with but he’s the best one.

I’m certain he’d say we could dance together though. ”

She smiled urging, “Why don’t you go change and we will learn a routine before you head off to your grandparents.” I squealed, “Really?” She answered of course, “Of course.” I ran out of my room and took off mommy’s costume and put on my clothes.

I yelled, “Mommy I’m ready to dance.” She joined me and we danced. I’d made the routine easier for her and we laughed the whole time.

Flashback Ends

I blinked away the tears that had formed.

Avery whispered, “Melanie?” I whispered, “We used to have fun and once I found her dance costumes… OH MY GOSH!” Paige asked, “What?” I gasped, “I put on my mom’s lingerie, and I JUST REALIZED IT!

I hadn’t thought about it in so long… and oh gosh…

oh no… that was good memory until thirty seconds ago… I need more vodka.”

Paige snorted, “I’m going to agree with you there, only because that does sound like something that you should not remember or recall.

Remember the fun part because there clearly was one.

” I hummed, “Are sure you’re ok because don’t remember your childhood?

Maybe it’s good you don’t remember you WORE YOUR MOM’S LINGERIE AND DANCED IN IT! ”

She shrugged, “Most days I’ve coped with not remembering my family. They died and clearly, I blocked it out.” I tapped her nose, “I’m pretty sure Patrick isn’t dead… so… there’s that.” She questioned, “Then where is he?”

I admitted, “Well, there are two options… and… one sucks… which…” Addison cut me off, “Is why we told you not to tell her.” Paige scoffed, “But Drunk Melanie gives ALL the answers.” I tapped her nose again, “You’re so cute.

Wanna know who you’d look SO CUTE with?” She replied, “No, I want to know the options on Patrick.”

I clapped, “Oh yeah! His probability of being alive is over ninety-nine percent.” She blinked several times. Avery sighed, “Why is Sierra cooking dinner tonight?” I answered, “Uhh it’s her turn. Duh.” Avery snorted, “Yes, duh.”

I waved, “Anyway, option one is he’s hiding.

Which is the one that sucks, but to be fair it’s only like a ten percent probability.

” She asked, “What’s the other one?” I hummed, “He’s been captured.

Because that would make sense for why you were with those people…

and then they stripped your powers and planned to mark you…

maybe he tried to escape…so they used your forced marking to keep him in line…

which I saved you from so… that’s the one I go with. ”

She whispered, “Can we find him? Either way?” I assured her, “Don’t worry.

I have scans running… the longer we don’t find him though…

the more likely it becomes that he is not hiding.

I can find people who are hiding easily.

Because they cannot hide from me! I am the master finder. ” She agreed, “You are.”

Caine came in, “Melanie, you had a HUMAN arrested for her comments on your Xander’s Instagram page?

!” I snorted, “Uhhh no. I started looking into her for her comment on MY MATE’S Instagram.

She got arrested because she was stalking multiple people, him included, and stalking is bad. ” Paige snorted and covered her mouth.

He groaned, “Dare I point out that YOU stalk people.” I gasped, “I do it to be nice… and helpful! She was crazy. There’s a very clear difference!

She had a pattern of behavior of injuring people…

and she got away with it… and that’s bad.

I didn’t do anything to CHEYENNE and her THIRSTY COMMENTING BUTT! ”

Paige groaned, “Caine, why dear god, why would you bring up something that led to Cheyenne!” I muttered, “Chey… and her STUPID online journal. I hate her.” Avery sighed, “We know. Really, we do.” Caine snorted, “There’s a Supernatural she got put in FEDERAL prison too.”

I hummed, “I got a human put there too. If people want to STALK my mate… then they shouldn’t live in glass houses that I can SHATTER.

Just like the people who tried to take down Elise and Jase’s businesses.

STRAIGHT TO JAIL! Federal jail is when it’s Xander’s…

ok and his mom… no… several other people too.

Maybe Alpha Peter’s old business with my dad that he kept going… and a few others.”

Paige snorted while Avery and Addison groaned.

Caine asked, “How many people have you sent to jail?” I grumbled, “Maybe it’s more than a few…

if I could send the MODELS that came down to MOCK ME and say Xander didn’t want me…

I’d find whatever law they broke and give it to the feds too.

Did you know there are A LOT of federal laws regular people break on the regular? Plus, some states have strange laws.”

I snickered, “You can’t wrestle a bear in Alabama.

Why is that a law? Who did it? I have questions.

In Arizona, you can’t put donkeys in a bathtub.

So… did a THIRTSY STALKING commenter find a donkey in their bathtub WITH the authorities that I called on her after putting a donkey in her bathtub?

Yes… yes, she did. I’m equal opportunity though. I’ve gotten men thrown in prison too.”

Paige said, “So, you made her break the law there.” I snorted, “Well, she was building a creepy stalker shrine to Xander. She was planning a trip to Black Mountain to kidnap him… so, when you think about it… I saved her life from the Hackura. Like she would’ve DIED for that.

Think of how insulted they would’ve been that she thought she could kidnap him. ”

I scoffed, “His Guard would be so mad. I helped people not go golden eyed about the entire thing… when you think about it…and all I did was use a donkey…who is now happily living on a farm. So, a dangerous stalker is off the streets and there’s a happy donkey running around. Everyone wins. Everyone.”

Caine asked, “Dare I ask how you got a man stalking your Xander arrested IN CHURCH?” I admitted, “I’m super impressed you found that one.

In Alabama, where the stalker is from, it’s illegal to wear a fake mustache in church that causes laughter.

” Caine snorted, “I don’t even want to know how you lined all that up.

” Paige laughed, “I do. That’s hilarious. ” I grinned at them all.

There were bleak days in this pack, but I had bright spots like today. My family’s letters were calling for me to re-read them from the draw I had them in. To remind me I didn’t deserve moments like this. What most people knew down here was I walked around with a broken heart twenty-four seven.

To the world outside this, Ashley Griffen was an icon to look up to. Beta Jason might not know it was me, but he knew everyone knew Ashley’s name. People were proud of what Ashley Griffen did, which meant they were proud of me, and I held onto that knowledge.