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My dad said, “Melanie Jane, don’t talk to your mom like that.” I rolled my eyes. My mom warned, “Don’t roll your eyes at your dad.” I looked at my brothers who had been silent. I appealed to them, “I didn’t do this.”

Tristan interceded, “Dad…” My dad interrupted him, “She broke the rules.” I interjected, “I didn’t.

” Jason tried not to smile. My dad sighed, “And she’s lying.

” I retorted, “I’m not.” My mom yelled, “MELANIE JANE!” I shouted, “MOM!” My dad angrily raised his voice, “MELANIE, don’t talk to your mom like that! ”

I frowned asking, “Why? She did it. I was simply matching her energy… I have read that in a losing fight there is no reason not to do so. You only keep your cool when it matters, and it clearly doesn’t here.

You are determined not to believe me because of a cookie.

The Warriors are determined to not do their job and go against their oath not finding a thing about this odd.

” I shot them a glare and several were now flushed.

My mom ordered, “Go to your room. You’re not leaving with us. I’ll tell Elise you are the reason you’re not at her ceremony. You couldn’t just stay out of trouble for her.” Tears filled my eyes. It was really happening again.

I turned to the warriors, “I HATE YOU! YOU ARE A BUNCH OF LIARS AND I HATE YOU! I have NEVER done anything to any of you. Is it because I beat you in training?” Tristan winced.

I wiped my tears, “That’s it isn’t it? You call act like you don’t care…

but you just get back at me by keeping me confined here…

never letting me meet other packs… I hate you! ”

All of them flinched. They should be upset. They sucked. My dad gasped, “Melanie!” I turned to him asking, “What? I DO HATE THEM! They lie about me, and you believe them! You NEVER believe me and I’m your daughter!”

“I’ve NEVER even crossed the stupid border without permission ever!

I’m so tired of this ridiculous argument.

I’m a genius… and you know it! Do you know how insulting it is you think I’d get caught?

YOU MAKE THE PATROLS, DAD! Sometimes in my presence.

You made these patrols in my presence, but you think I got caught…

what kind of logic is that?” He looked confused.

They all stared at each other looking like they had no idea what to say. I whispered, “I’m asking you to believe me… even though you ate the mom monster cookies. Just once… please… someone believe in me.” I saw the pain on their faces, but they still said nothing.

I scoffed, “You know what? I’m GOING to New York! I’m going to win that competition and I’m not coming back! I’m going to find people who actually believe in me. I’m going to find my REAL people who know when I tell them something is wrong LIKE EVIL COOKIES they look into it.”

“I have told you FOR YEARS something is wrong here and you don’t listen.

I’m always punished for things I don’t do.

I’m done with no one letting me help or listening to me!

You say I will change the world all the time, but you don’t ever let me show you I can.

” I ran up to my room and slammed the door shut.

I held onto my Xander wolf and cried, “I didn’t leave.

I just want to meet my Xander.” I squeezed him tightly.

I whispered, “I just want to meet Xander. Who doesn’t want me to?

Is that it? Or is this the Warriors way of punishing me?

” I’d never considered that before because it was ridiculous, but I didn’t see another option today.

After ten minutes someone knocked on my door. I yelled, “Go away!” Tristan called, “It’s me.” I said, “Fine. You can come in.” I clutched my wolf to my chest. He sighed, “Aww, Ladybug.” I cried, “I didn’t want to yell at them! They eat those cookies, and they never believe me.”

Tristan sighed, “I’ll figure out where the cookies come from Ladybug. If there’s anything off with them, and I agree things are weird lately especially, people will suffer.” I cried, “I’ll never get to meet him, and I’m missing Elise’s big night.”

Tristan assured me, “You’ll meet Alexander. It’s only a matter of time. I AM really sorry about you missing tonight. Mom and Dad won’t listen to me or Jase.” I snorted, “Of course they won’t. They ate the mom monster cookies.”

I told him, “I didn’t leave the house, T. I didn’t. I stayed here all day. I was on the phone with Elise and Momma Chelsea. I picked out the perfect dress and I….” I burst into tears. Tristan held me consoling, “Don’t cry, Ladybug.” I sobbed, “Why can’t I ever just meet him? I miss him.”

Tristan rubbed his face, “You’ll meet him when you’re supposed to.

” I snorted, “At this point, the Moon Goddess hates me and is just blocking my path to him. Everyone has met him. It’s weird that I haven’t.

I’ll never meet him.” Even though he promised we would when the Charline fiasco happened.

That would hurt him and it wasn’t fair. He didn’t mean to lie.

Tristan conceded, “You might have a point, but you’ll meet him.” I snorted, “I always have a point. Everyone does when they talk… they are just usually incorrect. Mine aren’t.” He chuckled out a laugh, “I see we are more bug than lady right now.” Probably.

I got up and got the presents I’d bought then crafted with my special security devices. I sighed and put Alexander in Elise’s before I walked back out of my closet. I gave it to him. I asked, “Can you give this to Elise for me?” Tristan closed his eyes then agreed, “Of course I can.”

I cried, “Can I just ride with you? I won’t leave the car… I just want to watch.” Tristan hugged me, “I would if I could, Ladybug. I’ll figure the whole thing out. There must be a pup in a different pack that looks like you.”

I nodded, “Ok. I love you T.” Tristan replied, “I love you too, Ladybug. You’ll meet Alexander one day. I promise.” I wiped my eyes, “Ok.” Tristan pleaded, “Don’t leave and never come back.” I flushed and remembered yelling that.

I admitted, “I didn’t mean it.” He hugged me, “I hope not.” I cried, “I just want them to believe me.” He assured me, “I do, little sister.” I hugged him tightly.

He sighed, “I hate leaving you this upset.” I shrugged saying, “It’s fine.

Go be there for Elise. She’s family.” Tristan hugged me again and begrudgingly left.

I cried holding my Xander wolf and my pillow. Eventually I got up and packed everything for my trip to New York in my purple backpack. It was time to admit that the moment to enact Plan Z was now. I’d win the competition and then... I’d call Alexander with an emergency.

He could pop to me, and then we could come home together. I loved dancing and it was my passion. It was just that though, a passion. I wanted to be with my family and my Xander more. I was meant to be here. For something. I just knew it.

I threw in Alexander’s hoodie with my dancing outfit. I was still annoyed it had gone through laundry and lost his scent by the time I spotted it. I would’ve known how he smelled if it hadn’t. I hugged my wolf and packed it too. I threw in a few other things.

I realized I needed to call Elise. I tried to gather myself.

I picked up the phone and started crying when it went to voicemail.

I tried to explain. “I…. stayed…. home... all... day…. those... jerks… I mean they are nice… normally… Jerk may be harsh… but it’s not!

They lied. I’m... I’m so sorry Elise. I wanted to be there for your big day.

It’s not fair! I didn’t do it, Elise. I wouldn’t.

Not today. It’s such an important day for you.

You’re the big sister I never had, but always had… you know?” The tone cut me off.

I snorted, “That was hardly enough time when one is crying! Why don’t providers think about that?

” I made a note to work on that some other time and called back.

I told her, “I sent your present with T. There’s an extra present if you could deliver it for me.

All those projects I was working on are under my bed.

I was going to surprise everyone, and I’ll just never get to. ” I broke off crying.

All the jewelry I’d been working on. I had them all under my bed. I was going to surprise them. I’d tried to perfect the multiple element piece, but it was tricky. My parents would be proud of me. I just wanted to show my Xander. I wanted him to know I was protecting both our families.

I asked, “Why can’t I be there for you? Why can’t I meet my Xander? He promised me we’d meet one day. Why can’t that day be today? I wanted it to be today so bad…” Xander had promised we would meet when I texted him about Charline. His mom called her Charlooney. It was the best nickname ever.

My Xander believed in me at least. I knew his promise meant that we would meet one day, but I wanted it to be today. I wanted to be there for Elise. Why couldn’t I have that? I couldn’t stop my tears.

Suddenly, I heard something being knocked over downstairs.

Oh gosh… I wasn’t supposed to be here the last time people broke in. Did they target the pack because they knew everyone would be at Black Mountain? That would make this the logical time to attack. I looked at my phone noting the time.

Elise and EJ would be on their run. I whispered, “What the heck was that?” Then realized I was still talking to her voicemail and hung up my phone. I slowly opened my door. My eyes widened at what I saw. There were two Warriors down.

Protectiveness hummed in me. They may be liars about me crossing the border, but they were MY pack members. I was a Beta blood, and this was the current Beta’s home. No one had a right to hurt anyone in this house.