Page 30

I added, “Plus… some were killed via King Aiden for sure… based on the patterns of elemental problems that followed the story or data cancellation.” MaryBeth asked, “So, you think Alpha Eric knows about them?” I answered, “All of them? No. He’d have killed a couple…

I might have sent some to people… for reasons… and things… maybe…”

Jason groaned, “You emailed Eric?!” I snorted, “Uhh no.” MaryBeth snickered.

Cooper asked, “Who did you email then?” Dane answered, “She’d have emailed Prince Gunner, Caleb, or Aiden.

” Tristan sighed, “She’d have Aiden’s email because she reads his books from Faerie.

” I said, “His email is not in those books, or everyone would email him… and he doesn’t know I emailed him. ”

Dalton busted up laughing. I asked, “What? He doesn’t. He could suspect… but he didn’t come ask me. No one did. You didn’t even know about it. I’m not grounded for life for helping… so they definitely don’t’ know about it.” Dane said, “She’s not wrong.” Obviously.

MaryBeth said, “Well, this is a cone of silence thing then. Get me everything about my brother’s pack and the data sets. I’ll talk to him.” I shrugged, “He didn’t seem to care and thought I was ‘cute’ for doing it all.” Jason rubbed his face.

MaryBeth gasped, “You put cute in quotes! HE SAID YOU WERE CUTE!?” Dane rubbed her back, “MB.” She shouted, “CUTE?! That information isn’t cute. He’s a Beta blood, he knows better.” I agreed.

I said, “Yes, well factoring in the mate bond… and the fact that I am biased… with my age because people love to point that out… I’m hoping the new analysis from the online group gets him to see it better.” Tristan instructed, “You guys keep moving. Ladybug, hang in the back with me.”

The group started to leave but he stayed back with me. I pointed out, “They can hear us back here.” He said, “I’m just going to try an explain something.” I gestured for him to continue saying, “Ok.” He said, “You can’t just analyze people’s lives and tell them they are wrong. It’s rude.”

I replied, “It’s rude to use people and alienate them from their families.

It’s actually textbook gaslighting, narcissism and abuse.

” He sighed, “Ladybug, people make choices in life. You can tell them how much you love them and point things out, but if you constantly tell them they are wrong they will cut you out of their lives.” I frowned.

He added, “It hurts to hear you’re wrong all the time.

I know you understand when to back off because unless you’re pissed you don’t mention the cookies to mom.

You’ve realized where that gets you. That applies to more than cookies.

” That was magic… or it had to be… I was pretty certain.

The probability was ninety nine point nine nine nine percent.

I said, “I’m not saying his mate is bad…

just the pack.” He reasoned, “A pack he wanted to join for her.” I asked, “And?” He said, “These are his choices to make because it’s his life.

We have to respect the choices people make.

” I opened my mouth to argue but he held up his hand, “Even when you think it’s the wrong choice. ”

I snorted, “People tell me not going to New York would be a strategically stupid decision and waste of my talents because I don’t want to go.

So, why doesn’t that rule apply to everyone else?

They use feelings as their argument. I have literal data and facts that prove I’m right.

It’s a psychological study so there is a margin of error based on perception, but it’s still a data set instead of feelings. I added factors.”

He growled, “Who the hell said that you?” Robert. All the time with his friends. I answered, “A lot of people.” He said, “You don’t have to do anything you don’t want to do, and we will all respect the choice to make about school.” I asked, “Even if I say I don’t want to go, and mom makes me?”

He said, “I promise you that if you end up at that school and you don’t want to be there then I will bring you home.

” Jason called, “Same!” Dalton and Dakota shouted, “What they said.” MaryBeth scoffed, “I have a whole plan if that happens, and it involves Dane, so he agrees.” Dane chuckled and pulled her in for a hug.

Cooper added, “I’d help too.” I shrugged, “Well, then know now I don’t want to go.

” Jason argued, “You could change your mind.” I replied, “I won’t.

I’ve already decided.” Tristan linked, “Don’t make that decision based on Alexander.

” I wasn’t going to argue with him because it did have to do with Xander, but I also didn’t want to miss everyone here.

Out loud he said, “Jared would pop you back and forth with Rena and all their siblings. You could still live here and go.” I shrugged, “I still don’t want to.” He rubbed my shoulders, “Why don’t you focus your data sets on whether you should go or not?”

I frowned, “I obviously already did that… I mean… I’d think that was obvious…

plus, dad doesn’t want me to go…” I trailed off when he looked away.

I asked, “Right?” Everyone had stopped again.

Jason said, “Dad wants you to be safe.” That was evasive which meant my dad did want me to go.

He was the one adult in my data set that was on my side.

My data was wrong. Tristan whispered, “Ladybug.”

I turned and ran from the group as fast as I could.

They all shouted after me, but I was a lot faster than all of them.

MaryBeth linked, “I don’t want you to go.

” I couldn’t answer her because my chest hurt.

Mom ate all those cookies, and sure dad did sometimes I wouldn’t deny it, but if dad wanted me to go then I was getting shipped off to New York.

No one could stop it because Elise was in her own pack now.

I went to my dancing area then climbed the tree I had hidden an emergency speaker in and connected my phone and began to dance.

Everything swirled around in my head as I danced.

My dad wanted me to leave. If he agreed with my mom, then I’d be gone.

I’d miss everything here and my home. This was my home.

Why did I have to leave when I didn’t want to?

I dropped to my knees feeling it hard to breathe.

I got home sick on long trips, and they want me to go New York?

! Suddenly out of nowhere Peter grabbed my face demanding, “Breathe right now, Melanie Jane.” I gasped, “I… can’t…

.” He Alpha ordered, “Breathe.” The confusion of that command not taking hold had me letting out a breath. Why didn’t that work? He was my Alpha.

He asked, “What are you doing here? I thought you pups were going on a hike.” I cried, “Daddy wants me to leave.” He jolted, “What?” I said, “They were all evasive which means it’s true.

Daddy wants me to leave and go to that school and I can’t breathe…

which makes… no sense… because there is air here and…

I… don’t make me go. Please, Daddy Peter. ”

He hugged me and rubbed my hair. He ordered, “Get out of here.” He must have been running a patrol. He said, “I will never have a pack member doing something they don’t want to or hate. Ok?” I nodded. He said, “If you decide to go, and you hate it I’ll bring you home.” I hugged him tighter.

Tristan said, “I knew you’d come here.” Peter turned around and I could see he was pissed. Tristan sighed, “Mel, it’s not like how you think it is.” I snorted, “So my data sets and telling people they are wrong isn’t getting me sent away?” Tristan flinched.

Peter asked, “What?” Tristan pointed out, “We didn’t know about that until the hike.” That wasn’t true at all. They did know that. I told people based on the math and science they were wrong… dang… ok it was a lot… but… I was just trying to help.

Peter announced, “Drake is on the way so you might want to speed this talk along, T.” I pointed out, “It’s not his fault…

because… dad should’ve told me he didn’t want me here.

” Tristan growled, “Melanie Jane, it’s not like that and you know it.

He wants you to have the best opportunities.

It’s not like everyone can just get into that school. ”

I argued, “I don’t WANT the opportunity.

” Tristan argued, “You could probably go to Julliard.” I replied, “Just because I enjoy dancing and competing…doesn’t really mean I want to go to Julliard.

It’s unfair… on every level. Because a human would lose out…

I’m naturally more inclined to be better at dancing than someone who works hard and… ”

Tristan jumped in, “You work harder than anyone.” I disagreed, “I practice more. I do not work harder. Dancing comes easily to me.” My dad said, “And you shouldn’t have to settle and not take opportunities because that’s true. You compete against humans in competitions.” That didn’t make it fair.

He continued, “You also do supernatural competitions, and you win. You are immensely talented.” I wiped my tears saying, “You want to send me away.” He wrapped me up in his arms. He cupped my chin and said, “No, I’d wrap you up here in bubble wrap if I could. That’s not fair to you though.”

I muttered, “Neither is acting like you aren’t letting me go to compete for a spot then… just… telling everyone else you want me to go for my safety.” He snorted, “I think someone has been eavesdropping then, Ladybug.” Tristan said, “Yeah, Jase and I have.”

My dad jolted then growled, “You told her?” I answered, “No, they evaded because I was so confident you didn’t want me to leave.” He repeated, “I don’t want you to leave, but I don’t want you to miss the chance to make the world your dance floor.”