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Melanie is Nineteen Years Old

Melanie and her friends were sitting in Mason and Hendrick’s diner. The Ring was planning something big. I’d tapped into the computers of the Hunters we’d been sent to work with from day one when we were fourteen.

I had a little wand device I’d built. It helped that Nate was actually working with us.

He still hadn’t agreed to go see Princess Luna Haley yet, but I did help him with what I could power wise.

He’d met other Fairies who were trying to bring him into Princess Luna Haley’s orbit, but he hadn’t quite got there.

I wasn’t pushing because I understood his goals. I’d sent plenty of partial Fairies the Conners way and encouraged all I met to go train at Black Mountains partial Fairy Practices. Nate did practice his magic with the partials he’d met though. He learned how to charm the Hunter tattoo on his wrist.

I couldn’t fault him for not wanting to stop since he wanted revenge. He’d been abandoned as a child, and a pack took him in. When he went away to college, he’d returned from a break to find the pack was in ruins.

The family who’d raised him was dead. He’s been working through the ranks trying to get to Slade Carter ever since. He wanted to find his sisters that had been kidnapped. Working with him, we’d managed to save a lot of people.

Thinking of Slade brought my memories back to my home pack, which made me internally cringe. A man I considered a second dad banished me when I didn’t shift. I couldn't think about that though. I just couldn't. I needed to focus on where I was: King’s Diner with friends.

Blair gasping pulled me out of those thoughts. Paige whispered, “Oh no.” I asked, “What?” Then I heard a man growl, “MINE!” Blair stood and ran to the man. He wasn’t from our pack and based on looks I was certain I knew who he was.

This was good. Blair could get out of Black Path.

That was my hope for everyone here. Addison looked at me worriedly.

She whispered, “You’re fighting tonight.

” I shrugged saying, “I’ll be fine.” I would be.

I’d have to fight Blair’s father first before my Underground fight.

It would be a quick and easy one. He wasn’t a good fighter.

In the wonderfulness that was Black Path, anyone who wanted to leave and be with their fated had to fight to be with them if they weren’t in the pack.

Non mated pack members were typically sold off as chosen mates before I showed up.

I say that loosely because…. the women especially, had no choice.

I'd fought countless times since I came here to stop that.

Especially after I became the Female Lead Warrior.

Any Warrior under me was a given. I didn’t have to argue they deserved me to fight in their place.

Sierra nudged me whispering, “Blair is panicking.” I told them, “Someone text Olivia…. I’m not going to make it to see her today.

” Addison immediately took out her phone.

I was monitoring everything I could for the allies and Olivia was working to develop more things to help.

We had planned to work on them today. Sometimes, we were suspects for the things we did but despite knowing Paige and Valentina were my friends we weren’t suspected that much.

For how smart The Ring could be they were also somehow… very dumb.

I guess they had to be though. The Conners and their allies had driven them into the dark. Which made things easier for my group, The Resistance. It was somewhat of a joke with our group that Cayden and Micah wanted a meeting with The Resistance leader.

When you think about the fact the leader is me…. and I meet with them ALL the dang time… it was kind of funny. Addison grunted. I asked, “Is Olivia upset?” She replied, “No, my dad texted telling me to quit the band again.” I knew she wouldn’t, so I wasn’t worried.

The Rebels had become pretty popular. It pissed off Sierra and Addison’s dad’s that we had the band…

which both my friends loved. So, every time they texted them saying they had to quit it just cemented they weren’t going to.

Heck, Sierra would probably find a venue to play nearby just to spite Edward and Jean.

I stood and walked over to Blair. Her mate was confused. I assured her, “It’s fine Blair. Introduce us to your mate.” Blair looked at me with wide eyes. She linked me, “You have a fight tonight.” I replied, “Now I have two. I won’t have you being unhappy. You belong with your mate.”

Blair’s eyes filled with tears when she replied, “So do you Mel.” I wanted to wince as pain filled my heart. My Xander. We emailed now even though I knew I shouldn’t answer him. He was going to hate me when he found out it’s really me.

One day he’d find out that Ashley Griffen and Melanie McAlister were the same person. At this point, I’d memorized the letter Jason sent me after I didn’t shift. He’d told Xander that I thought he was my mate. The thing was, I didn't think he was my mate; I knew he was.

Now, my mate didn’t want me. I blinked and replied to Blair, “He doesn't want me.” Blair insisted, “He likes you as Ashley. It comes across in his emails. He’s willing to kill for you. He never has to know your real name.” They’d all read that second email he’d sent when I passed out and Cayden left.

I snorted, “He’d find out when he introduced me to Red Run.” Blair argued, “You could find a way around that. Always be gone or something. It worked when you were a pup.” I couldn’t do that to Xander. He needed a Luna that was able to do her job.

I explained, “He’s an Alpha Enforcer. Of course he’d kill for someone. That’s not a high bar… when you think about it.” Blair shot me a look. She said, “He didn’t say it as an enforcer. There was entirely too much passion behind his words, even in email form.”

Her mate cleared his throat, “I didn’t actually get to introduce myself yet. I’m Walker. I’m a Warrior in Cedars Run.” He was exactly who I thought he was then. His brother was the Male Lead Warrior in a good pack. Walker asked, “Do you have a position in your pack, Blair?”

Blair nodded, “I’m a Warrior in Black Path….” She trailed off when Walker made a face. Blair added, “I’ll move to your pack.” Walker nodded commenting, “You must be a warrior under Ashley Griffen then. I heard Buck still doesn’t allow Females to train under him. Not even his sister.”

I snorted, “He always follows the rules… in a way… he kind of skirts them… through other people… but he doesn’t… technically… break them. Usually, it’s me… but he and Avery barely speak… which I’m pretty upsets them both… but that’s a whole thing… that….”

Blair jumped in, “This is Ashley Griffen, and I do train with her.” I smiled at Walker, whose eyes widened. He gaped at me before saying, “Well, I’ll be damned. I was just sent on an errand and saw this place. Then I had to stop when I smelled Blair and now, I’ve met my mate and Ashley Griffen.”

He paused then added, “My brother, the Male Lead Warrior in our pack, will not believe me. He’s DYING to meet you. Even our Female Lead Warrior wants to meet you. You’re somehow everywhere while simultaneously being a recluse.”

I smiled saying, “Well Cedars Run is one of the few packs around here that isn’t complete crap. I couldn’t part with Blair for anything less. Have you always wanted your mate?” Walker wrapped an arm around Blair before kissing her head. My heart clenched thinking I’d never have that.

He told me, “I have. My parents and my older brother, the Male Lead Warrior I mentioned, all have their mates. I’ve been looking for mine, but Blair here has been hiding.” Not exactly.

Black Path Females weren’t allowed to go looking for their mate.

At least they weren’t right now, but when Caine and Dax took over that would change.

It would shake the Ring when that happened.

It’s why Edward and Jean weren’t training them.

They knew how their sons felt about their complicity with Hunters and the Ring.

Edward Davis was a pathetic excuse of an Alpha. Having access to his files as the Female Lead Warrior meant I knew that he made a deal to keep his family safe. Not his pack though, his family. He gave over information… hell he’d almost sold an Omega to a Hunter as a chosen mate.

Luna Elena I felt bad for. She was completely disgusted with Edward, and they were fated mates. I’d thought maybe they weren’t since that’s how things go down here. She talked about how he used to be different and hopeful. I couldn’t really see it.

Beta Female Eden felt the same way Luna Elena did. They lived separately from their husbands. They were just as much prisoners here as the rest of the women... even some men. We all knew that Omega they nearly gave to a Hunter would have been tortured to death if I hadn’t fought for her.

I’d taken a hell of a punishment afterwards, but I didn’t care. I could stop them from punishing me if I wanted to. They could only do it because I let them. All of my friends, Mason, and Hendrick told me to stand up for myself, but they didn’t understand that I deserved it.

It still hit me some days my parents and older brother were dead. I should’ve died with them. Everyone thinks so from my old pack and… most days… I wish I had. I missed what my life had been like before that horrible night every single day of my existence down here.

I was still upset Selene, the Moon Goddess, didn’t just let me die. My family was gone. Jason HATED me. Both sets of my grandparents rejected me. My Aunts and Uncles by blood and marriage wished me dead. Peter and Chelsea Kyle abandoned me. All the Kyle’s did.

Elise was different… I didn’t think she knew. I talked to her... via email. She always told me I reminded her of someone. Sometimes I pretend that the name Ashley Griffen had got her attention. I just hoped it was because deep down, she knew I was me and she wanted me to come home.