Page 35

I spent my afternoon on the phone with Elise. I wished I was there, but it was as close to in person as I’d been seeing Black Mountain. I laughed with her and Momma Chelsea until I had to jump in the shower and put on my makeup.

I was vibrating with energy and could admit I was eager with anticipation. I’d stayed inside all day so no one could say I was anywhere I shouldn’t have been. I was finally going to meet my Xander. Everyone always laughed when I called him that, but I knew it was true.

He was mine and I’d always known it. He was mine. All I had to do was meet him, and everyone would know what I did instead of thinking I was a cute pup with a crush. Xander would know the second he saw me, just like with EJ did even before Elise was born.

I knew he’d take me into his handsome arms, then nothing could keep us apart.

I just had to go to Elise's ceremony. It was crazy that there was this foreboding feeling inside of me that it seemed like something that wouldn’t happen.

To be fair, but I’d been burned before. Literally steps away from the car sometimes.

Out of nowhere the Warriors would say I’d crossed the border.

My mom would be waffling until she ate a cookie.

Then it was like she was possessed. The same thing happened with my dad.

No one found it weird but me until lately.

Tristan was finally listening to me and onto the evil cookie lady now more than he ever had been before.

My brothers both believed me in truth. I knew deep down my parents actually believed me. They’d always apologize when it happened when they got back. I’d be devastated for days, and they’d feel awful, but the pattern always repeated. The probability of it happening was over ninety-eight percent.

I shook those thoughts off. I just wanted to meet my Xander. Why wouldn’t the Moon Goddess let me meet him? The one time I’d gotten out of the pack EJ and Elise’s mating ceremony. I actually got into the car with my mom.

The headlights halfway there still flashed in my mind. I closed my eyes trying to remember it, because I swore I’d seen someone's face. They looked familiar, but I couldn’t remember. The pieces never came back after that accident.

Because of that injury Xander got hurt. A Rouge Pack Alpha, I would’ve caught, hurt him. He threw wolfsbane at MY Xander and injured him. I’d stolen all his money though. Well, I gave it to charities Xander owned because that was fair. It was restitution and went to a good cause.

Our pack still didn’t have any leads or suspects still to this day on who had caused my mom and my accident.

It pissed dad and Peter off. The human cops stopped looking a long time ago, but my dad had never closed the case.

I knew he wouldn’t until he knew who did it.

I just felt like I had the answer somewhere in my head.

I still hated that I didn’t get to meet my Xander that night, and I’d missed Elise’s big day. I wasn’t missing today though. This was happening. I smoothed out my dress with my hands. I did a spin and twirled in the mirror. I looked perfect and I giggled a little at my reflection.

I was meeting my Xander. Everyone would finally know I wasn’t just some crazy pup and would stop telling me it was a crush.

Xander really was mine. I picked up my toy Xander wolf.

I told him, “I’m going to meet the actual you tonight.

You’ll still be my favorite toy though. You’re still my Xander wolf, just the toy version.

” I set him down when I heard people downstairs.

I skipped down to join them ready for my future to begin. My mom came in looking pretty upset. I stalled slightly but I knew I hadn’t done anything. My dad was right behind her with my brothers. Tristan and Jason both looked mad.

My heart stopped when I saw the Warriors behind them. No. Not today. They couldn’t lie today! It was Elise’s Luna Ceremony. My dad sighed, “Ladybug, do you have anything you want to tell us?” Tears filled my eyes, “No! Don’t you say it! I didn’t even leave the house today!”

My mom sighed, “Ladybug, they said they saw you.” I shouted, “LIARS! I have been here ALL DAY! I haven’t left. T, Jase, I didn’t leave! I didn’t!” My mom grabbed a cookie. I screamed, “NO! DON’T EAT THAT!” She frowned, “I need a snack.”

I snorted, “Now you’ll transform into the mom monster who doesn’t EVER believe me!” My mom frowned but still took a bite. I looked around wondering if anyone else noticed it was like her hand was moving when her brain didn’t tell her to.

I asked, “Does no one else find that weird?!” The Warriors were all looking at each other. Traitors! My mom ordered, “Go to your room, Melanie Jane. You can’t come tonight.” My dad turned to her surprised.

I gasped, “You CANNOT be serious! It’s Elise’s Luna ceremony! I have to go!” My mom shrugged, “You shouldn’t have crossed the border then. You know the rules. Do you not care about us? The council sets these rules Melanie Jane. You are not to cross the border.”

I insisted, “Just call Momma Chelsea! I was on the phone with them all afternoon!” My mom scoffed, “Don’t you even try to involve them in your lie.” I remained calm, “I’m not lying, just ask her. Link, call, text, whatever. She will tell you I was on the phone with them.”

She wasn’t near the cookies, and they didn’t seem to make people lie, just act irrationally and indifferent. Well, that wasn’t true, they made people angry. She handed my dad the cookie. I begged, “Daddy, don’t eat it! Please! Just ask Momma Chelsea, please!”

My mom clearly linked him, and he ate the cookie. Almost against his will too. I turned to the Warriors shouting, “WHAT IS WRONG WITH YOU PEOPLE?!” Their Beta and Beta Female where clearly being forced to eat cookies. Then seemed fine. It was weird.

My dad sighed, “Mel, don’t get mad at them.

It's their job to report unsanctioned crossing to Peter and myself.” I snorted, “I know what their job is, and they should be ashamed that they aren’t doing it.

They may ACT like it’s their job to lie about me but it’s really not.

Their job is to protect the pack. I state this because… I think they forgot that tiny detail!”

My mom chastised me, “Don’t raise your voice. You are the one who messed up here.” I yelled, “NO I DIDN'T! Not that you’ll listen because you ate the stupid mom monster cookie, but I was talking to Elise and Momma Chelsea ALL AFTERNOON!”

My mom nodded, “Except when you slipped out.” I groaned, “I didn’t slip out.

It was a video call… they obviously would’ve seen if I slipped out.

What kind of logic is this?! Why don’t you EVER just believe me?

! You always say I’m a bad liar… and I’m working on it…

but it’s true! Annoyingly so. I didn’t do this! ”

My dad rubbed his head, and the Warriors looked at each other.

Everyone in the room was acknowledging my words were true.

I added, “You always believe me later. After said stupid evil mom monster cookie is digested! Do you know I’ve asked the kitchen workers about said cookies… . NONE OF THEM MAKE THOSE! Not one.”

I continued, “They aren’t sold in store, the evil cookie lady brings them and suddenly they are all over the pack.

Which is weird since she ONLY ever comes into this house!

She shows up at the house and turns my normal parents into weirdos with her EVIL cookies.

You want to know what’s weird? THE WARRIORS DOING NOTHING ABOUT THAT!

Protecting the Beta family IS their ACTUAL job! ”

My brothers frowned. My dad warned, “Don’t talk to us like that.” I shrugged, “Why not? You NEVER remember later. You’ll be like... it’s fuzzy but we should’ve let you come. I might as well say what I want.” My mom ordered, “Go to your room. I’m so disappointed in you.”

This refusal hurt more than all the others because it was about Elise. I missed her and the cookies prevented me from being in her wedding, then the accident, and now I was missing her big moment. It wasn’t fair.

I snorted, “You’re disappointed in me for not leaving the house? Yeah, how dare I do exactly what I’m told. You know what’s ironic? I’ve NEVER crossed the border. Not once. I should. I can outrun ALL of you. I should go cross the border.”

“I keep getting accused of it… I might as well. I might as well do something to prove if I WANTED to cross that border the ONLY way you would EVER know is if I wanted you to… BECAUSE I AM THAT SMART!”

My dad growled, “MELANIE JANE, do NOT joke about that! Crossing the border is dangerous! We don’t want you to get hurt.

” I sighed, “Or maybe it’s that you don’t want me to finally have a life outside this pack.

I’m the ONLY one who hasn’t met all of the Conners.

.. or the Lyons… Bartlett’s… Thomas’… Or LITERALLY ANYONE OUTSIDE THIS PACK!

Yet I keep crossing the border... to do what? ”

I stared at the Warriors mocking, “Come on, tell what I cross for. You enjoy lying so make it up… like you ALWAYS do. Is it that I cross for fun? That doesn’t make ANY sense though…

not that it matters but it doesn’t even sound like me.

The only times I’ve left our borders are for dance competitions.

Because you and those WEIRD COOKIES are determined to keep me here. ”

My mom rolled her eyes, “Ok fine. Blame the cookies. Don’t accept responsibility for your actions.” I growled, “Everyone in this room knows it’s weird you’re not letting me go. Elise is like my big sister. It’s her LUNA CEREMONY.”

“You could ground me tomorrow. You could tell me I can’t leave your sight, but you’re keeping me here.

AGAIN! What are you two and your weird cookies so afraid of if I leave?

! Or the better question is what is SOMEONE ELSE afraid of?

That’s the question the Warriors should be asking SINCE IT IS THEIR JOB!

” Now they looked nervous because they knew I was right.