Page 34

Melanie is Fourteen Years Old

Melanie woke up ready to face the day. Tomorrow was Elise’s Luna Ceremony, and I was ready.

I walked downstairs and froze. The evil cookie lady was here, and she grinned smugly at me.

I linked Tristan, “How do none of you know this lady is evil? She is looking at me like she wants to kill me.” He growled, “Who?”

He came running down the stairs and growled at the woman who jolted. Mom gasped, “T!” He said, “She was looking at Melanie like….” Mom interrupted, “Melanie is never nice to her. No one is required to like anyone.”

Tristan replied, “I’ll growl at anyone who looks at Melanie like that and so should you.” She jolted as if he slapped her, but it wasn’t her fault. She’d eaten the cookies. Tristan grabbed my arm and led me outside.

He took me to my dancing area and asked, “What the fuck was that?” I said, “The standard… well… what do you mean? I told you the cookie lady was evil.” He replied, “And mom didn’t care. That’s weird. Sugar should be ripping out of her to protect you.”

I admitted, “I really don’t know what you want me to say here. Like at all. Because I’ve told you all so many times about the mom monster cookies… and the evil lady who delivers them.” He blinked several times as if that was new information.

He ran a hand through his hair saying, “Yeah, well that was weird though.” I agreed, “It’s always weird… like always. But no covens answer me about the cookies.” He asked, “What about Ryan?” I asked, “Bishop? He didn’t answer either.”

He frowned questioning, “Didn’t you just text him? Or call?” I said, “He doesn’t answer their house phone when I call, and I don’t have his number.” He snorted, “You’ve met him…” I cut him off, “Umm what? I’ve literally never met him. I told you that.”

He gaped at me before saying, “Surely you have.” I stared at him, “Nope.” He sighed, “I’ll look into this harder than I have been.” I shrugged, “Ok… but it would probably be better to just kill the evil cookie lady.” He snorted.

I insisted, “It would be. If she stops bringing the cookies, my projection says it’s over a ninety-nine percent chance of improvement.” He laughed, “The store sells them, Ladybug.” I shot back, “What store? Because I’ve never seen them in stores, or online… they literally only exist here.”

He snorted, “Ladybug, that’s not true. I’ve had them other places.” Awesome. They’d infected more than this pack. I muttered, “They still don’t sell them anywhere else.” He reiterated, “I’ll look into it. Why don’t you dance?” We’d been planning to come here so I could.

I put my dancing playlist on and began to dance away all my problems. The evil cookie lady was here, but Tristan was onto her now too.

She got overly confident and cocky. Elise’s ceremony was tomorrow, and I could actually talk to Ryan Bishop in person…

or Xander’s cousins that were partial Warlocks.

Corbin could help then his uncle would have to answer me. That was just logical.

Tristan called, “Ok, it’s been several hours, and I’ve gotten everything I needed to finished.

Let’s get you home.” I stopped dancing and asked, “What if we go to a training class?” He snorted, “I’ll drop you off at one and let you terrorize the pack while I see if there’s any paperwork to help out with there. ”

I muttered, “I don’t terrorize people… or the pack.” He snorted, “You beat them no matter the level of class you join. You do terrorize them, but the trainers love it.” We walked to the gym while I told him all about the statistics of a pack that trained as hard as ours does.

He laughed until when we came in the current class groaned. Zane shouted, “Shut up!” He turned to me and smiled, “Hello, Melanie. This will be a fun class.” That was probably true since his classes were always fun.

He paired me up with a Warrior looking to level up.

I beat him in a few minutes which he grumbled about.

I said, “You drop your left hand when you are about to throw a punch so… don’t do that.

” He stared at me then started laughing.

He ruffled my hair, “Thanks, pup. Take on your next victim.” I muttered, “It’s just practice. ” He winked at me.

I went through the whole class, but none of them really gave me a challenge.

All my fights were under two minutes on average.

Zane called, “T, take Rocky on home.” Tristan came out laughing.

He urged, “Come on Ladybug.” I sighed but decided to leave because I wanted to get home and plug in my new data.

The cookie lady was gone so that was nice. I saw some sitting on the table and threw them away then went upstairs to my computer. I plugged in all my new training data and sent it to Nick Kyle. He helped train me and he thought my tables were intriguing.

My dad came in announcing, “Dinner is ready. What’s that?” I answered, “My statistics on training in the classes I drop in on, with my win rate versus the level of Warrior.” He grinned asking, “Oh really?” I nodded. He came over and looked over it.

He kissed the side of my head, “You’re an amazing fighter, pup.” I replied, “Thanks, Pepper.” My dad took back over saying, “I’m very proud of you. This is impressive and I need to have a chat with Zane. Let’s eat.” Because my stats weren’t possible but they were true.

I went downstairs with him. Once we sat down my mom warned, “I expect you all to treat everyone who comes into this house with respect.” Tristan cut in, “Melanie had nothing to do with me growling at that woman.” My dad asked, “What now?” Tristan said, “That lady who delivers mom’s cookies was glaring at Melanie like she wanted to kill her, so I growled. ”

Mom sighed, “You’re being overly dramatic. She is my friend.” They were not friends. I innocently said, “I didn’t realize she’d hung out with you, Valerie, and Momma Chelsea.” Mom replied, “She hasn’t.” I asked, “Has she met them?” She admitted, “No.”

I said, “Statistically speaking even when friends aren’t the same groups, they’ve met each other. I don’t even know the evil cookie lady’s name.” Mom frowned, “Sure you do.” Dad admitted, “I actually only know her as the evil cookie lady or the cookie deliverer.”

Mom rolled her eyes, “You guys are so dramatic. I swear sometimes you never listen to me.” I asked, “So, her name is….?” I trailed off intentionally. Mom snorted, “If you don’t listen to me, you don’t get to know.” I sighed in annoyance.

Dad put a hand on her thigh, “Come on Sam, tell us. I’m sorry I never heard it before.

” Mom stood so quickly her chair hit the ground.

She scoffed, “I do so much, and no one even listens to me talk about my friends.” I muttered, “She’s not your friend.

” Mom pointed at me shouting, “ENOUGH!” I quickly stopped talking and she took off outside and shifted.

I deflated and whispered, “I’m sorry.” Dad frowned, “Something else must be going on. That wasn’t like your mom at all. Sometimes, life is chaotic and messy and sometimes things are overwhelming, and people lash out. It wasn’t nice of us that we never listened to your mom talk about her friend.”

I replied, “She has never told us her name and that’s weird.” He rubbed his temples admitting, “I actually can’t recall ever hearing her name. I’ll go talk to your mom.” He got up and went outside and shifted too.

Jason asked, “Man, why did family dinner have to go that way?” Tristan said, “I think our sister might be onto something about the evil cookie lady.” I jolted, “What? You’re going to listen to me? Like really listen because… I mean… you should.”

Jason sighed, “T…” Tristan interrupted, “That was weird, Jase. We are Beta bloods. We don’t just forget people’s names yet none of us recall the name of mom’s supposed friend?

I can name ALL her other friends and acquaintances.

” Jason admitted, “I can too.” I thought cheering would be inappropriate, so I excused myself and went upstairs.

I read the most recent Fairy book Jared had brought me. Once I finished that, I wrapped my present for Elise for her mating ceremony. I grabbed Xander’s present for his Alpha Ceremony. I hadn’t gotten to give it to him because I’d gotten grounded for something I didn’t do. Again.

I heard doors slamming and sighing. I winced because this was my fault. Until we fixed the mom monster cookie situation, mom couldn’t help it. Now, she was mad at everyone, which had to be the cookie talking. I quickly thought of plan and went downstairs and moved all the furniture around.

I yelled, “FAMILY DANCE PARTY!” I began to play my music and danced while singing. Tristan laughed and joined me seconds before Jason. Dad came up from downstairs and smiled at us. Mom cracked their bedroom door open.

I called, “Come on mom!” I belted out the lyrics to Home by Nick Jonas. She laughed but didn’t come down. I did a dance move up the stairs and grabbed her. I slid down the banister like I always did. She shook her head at me, but she was smiling.

Dad called, “Come on Sammy girl.” She laughed and slid down the banister and we jumped onto the main floor singing.

We were dancing and spinning around when I saw an angry face outside our window.

I rolled my eyes and stuck my tongue out at Robert.

He pointed two fingers at his eyes the one at me. Saying he was watching me.

I looked around noting no one was watching me. I acted like my middle finger was lipstick, uncapped the top and put it on my lips before putting the cap back on and sticking my tongue out at him. He glared then took off. I turned and spotted Tristan still dancing but watching with narrowed eyes.

We danced well into the morning hours and everything was fine again. We did a big family group hug before we were ushered off to bed. I checked over my outfit for the Luna ceremony tomorrow. I slept in because my whole plan revolved around being here, at home.