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The Females in Black Path didn’t have much in terms of possession. I was lucky I had Mason and Hendrick. They spoiled me, but most parents down here didn’t buy the females anything. Female Warriors were paid well under me what they should be.

I’d brought it to the Supernatural Council since they were whose purview Black Path was under but they refused to hear my case.

Again. Like they always did. I took yearly trips about my family, but they still wouldn’t step in.

I found it interesting the Fairy representatives were never there if I was.

I excluded them in my thoughts of their colleagues being a disgrace to their jobs.

Edward didn’t want to encourage it, so Female Warriors made three dollars a day.

It was pathetic. I assured Walker, “She’ll be back.

” Walker smiled but said quite seriously, “You take even forty one minutes mate, and I’ll come after you. ” Blair almost panicked.

I laughed, “Challenge accepted. Let’s go girls.” He jolted, “How is it a challenge for you?” I opened my mouth and Addison said, “We have to get going. See you later!” Walker’s gaze narrowed on mine. He was suspicious but I didn’t really care.

If his Alpha attacked our pack, I’d have our Warriors back down and lead him to Edward. His one of the few down here that I’d gladly let lead Black Path and mentor Caine until he was ready. He really needed an Alpha blood but all he had was me.

We all walked out of the diner. Sierra offered, “I could do the challenge.” I snorted, “You’d be punished after you won.

Your dad would use that to give you to that pathetic sack of cow dung we are allies with that wants you.

Same for you Addison. I can take it. Better to have two fights than three or four.

” Because I would fight for them. They were not leaving for anyone they didn’t want.

Addison vowed, “We won’t let Trevor mark you.” I snorted, “They already tried to use wolfsbane countless times on me to accomplish that. I’m a freak of nature so it doesn’t weaken me like it does you guys.” Normal Werewolves couldn’t ingest or be hit with Silver and Wolfsbane.

I wasn’t normal so they didn’t affect me. Not even drugs did. I was a freak. I scoffed inwardly. I was a wolf less freak. No wonder Jason wasn’t proud of me. I’d tried my absolute best, but nothing worked. He didn’t catch on that I was Ashley Griffen.

One strange letter from him did say that I should train under her. He said she was a good example of a wolf less pack member. Aunt Stephanie had taken it out of my locker at the Undergrounds and ripped that one up. She said he’d been drunk and didn’t mean it.

I remembered every word in the letter though. Plus… I’d already put it on my computer system and ILYX had it locked in a special file with all the other letters. Because technically… in a way… he was proud of me. That letter had been the nicest thing he’d said to me in years.

We walked back into Black Path. Several wolves growled when they caught the scent of another pack on us. An unknown male wolf. I rolled my eyes at them. They must have told Edward because he was waiting outside in the yard between the pack house and the main house.

I jolted when I heard a growl I knew. Interesting.

Still the human and not the wolf. I wasn’t sure why that still shocked me at this point.

He demanded to know, “What is the meaning of that smell? That’s not a pack members scent!

WHO WERE YOU MEETING WITH?!” Blair looked down while I blinked, realizing he looked genuinely afraid. Weird.

I answered, “Blair met her mate. The scent is his.” Growls filled the air. Her dad pushed forward and yelled, “NO! She won’t be with him!” Her mom started crying. Her mother was her father’s fated mate. Blair cried, “Daddy! Please….”

He growled cutting her off, “I said no, and my word is law.” I snorted, “Uhh no… not even kind of… Seriously? Your word is law? Are you for real? Unbelievable… I challenge you for the right to decide Blair’s fate, McCoy.”

McCoy, Blair’s dad, growled at me, “You have no say! She’s my daughter!” I laughed, “I’m surprised you remember that fact. You haven’t been a father to her since I got here. She’s also over the age of sixteen and no longer under your roof.”

I added, “She’s my Warrior so I absolutely have a say here. Ask the twenty men behind you whose butt I’ve kicked so their daughters could be happy. I have every right. You either accept my challenge or you don’t. Either way, I decide what happens with Blair.”

Edward sighed, “Melanie….” I whirled around interrupting, “Oh no… no… no… the sad sack excuse of a supposed Alpha blood doesn’t get a say. Can I help you with something not pertaining to this particular issue?”

My aunt growled, “Show some respect.” I raised an eyebrow, “When someone worth respecting speaks... I’ll be sure to do that.” Stephanie spat out, “You are in ENOUGH trouble you brat!” I laughed, “For what? What imaginary sin have I committed in your eyes this time?” She threw papers on the ground.

I wanted to ignore it… I really did…. but the blood in my veins made me pick the bundle up…

which made no sense because I wasn’t a Beta blood like I thought.

It was clearly a nature versus nurture thing.

I’d read plenty of scientific journals from Supernatural’s saying we cannot nurture traits like humans…

but clearly we could since I wasn’t a Beta blood, but I shared all their tendencies.

I looked at the papers in my hands and gasped. It was another acceptance letter into Juilliard. I raised an eyebrow asking, “They renewed my application?” I couldn’t help but be excited. I’d gotten in twice. My Aunt stepped forward and went to smack me.

I rolled my eyes then put her flat on her back and popped her arm out of the socket.

I told her, “You think you’d learn.” Her husband ran over and glared at me.

I glared back advising, “Look at her like that, Ajax. She’s the moron who can’t learn…

not me.” Calling him Ajax still hurt my soul.

I hated his name because it was Jason’s wolf’s name. I missed the wolf Ajax so much.

Ajax hissed, “It’s Uncle Ajax.” I rolled my eyes muttering, “No thanks. That’s going to be a pass on my end, Ajax.

No Uncle of mine would flirt and leer like you do.

” Neither Uncle Duncan, nor Uncle Archer definitely never looked at me like he did.

Technically Dane was my Uncle too and he certainly didn’t spy on my showers.

I’d never met Landon Lyons but I’d go ahead and say he’d never leer at me either as my Uncle.

Pain still gripped when I thought of Uncle Duncan and guilt nearly choked me. I’d been punished so I was late when his mate died in a rogue attack. I’d been taken out of the hole and saw the rogue patterns near his pack. It wasn’t the Ring, just a group of rogues.

Flashback

Melanie was pulled out of the hole. I rocked myself back and forth.

Buck said, “Hey, you’re out now.” I whispered, “You’re not supposed to be back yet…

you…” He cut me off, “Yeah, I wrapped up early and found it weird you weren’t doing paperwork in either of our offices.

There was a pile on my desk which told me you were out here. How long?” He handed me water.

I took a sip. I asked, “What day is it?” He answered, “Friday.” I gasped, “I have…to go…back to my place and…” He stared at me clearly confused by my reaction.

Which was fair… he didn’t know that I’d been trying to catalog a pattern for the rogues that had been attacking the pack Uncle Duncan was in.

I was close, then I’d fought for a male wolf to be able to leave with his fated mate. She wasn’t in our pack, and he wanted to leave. That was five days ago. Five days for a mate fight? That seemed like they either forgot about me out here or they told Trevor to come get me and he just didn’t.

I left Buck behind yelling, “Thanks” and I ran to my place. I logged back into my computer. ILYX announced, “I kept running your program, Melanie Jane. If all is accurate another attack will occur in five minutes.” I squeaked and geared up. I sprayed myself down so I couldn’t be scented.

I asked, “ILYX, is Uncle Duncan in the pack today or is he on a mission?” He answered, “His truck is there.” I’d put a tracker on his truck years ago. He went out on missions a lot for them and when he was gone, his truck wasn’t there. I quickly left and ran through the holoports.

My knee was giving me trouble, but I didn’t care.

I heard a fight and knew instantly I was on the wrong border.

Crazy rogues! Why couldn’t they have a pattern that was easy to track?

I mean I knew the answer… they were rogues.

If this was the Ring I would’ve been on it. My friends would’ve followed up.

I got there as the rogues were running away. UGH! Yeah, you’d better run! I heard people coming and climbed a tree. Then nearly fell out. My Aunt was lying there with her throat ripped out among the other bodies. NO!

I saw Uncle Duncan’s wolf running and he shifted back. He let out a devastating howl that had me crying. Tears leaked out of my eyes. I was late. I should’ve saved her. Uncle Duncan begged, “Don’t leave me, baby. What were you doing out here?”

The Alpha touched his shoulder, “We need to burn the bodies.” What? I nearly jumped out the tree and screamed at that horrible man. I watched as Uncle Duncan cried and screamed in anger. I wanted to run and apologize to him.

Everything in me demanded I go to him, but I couldn’t. He’d hate me more knowing I was seconds late… minutes… that cost him everything. My Aunt was dead. Someone else in my family was dead because I wasn’t smart enough to figure things out.