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I was positive, even though no one said it, she was genius too. She got me better than most people. She bought it for me with a smirk on her face saying it would be my protector wolf shirt. I saw several people on my way out there and waved to everyone.

Several called, “Hey, Ladybug!” Some pups stopped to ask about dancing positions, and I helped them all. I couldn’t keep the smile off my face because I truly loved this pack. Most of the pack members were nice, but not all of them were.

I didn’t focus on the negative ones though because they were few and far between. I did see a dad push his teenage son into the gym when he growled. His eyes were zoned in on my Xander wolf. My face fell because I knew people didn’t like it.

Zane, our Male Lead Warrior, paused and knelt down. He put a hand on my shoulder, “Ladybug, you’re allowed to have your stuffed wolf.” I whispered, “I know but I thought everyone would be used to him by now.”

A delighted smile filtered across his face.

He asked, “Him?” I nodded and watched him try to suppress his smirk.

He commented, “I see. Does your dad know the wolf is a he?” I pointed out, “I mean… it’s black…

and white… well… I guess all Alpha’s including she wolves are black…

but my wolf….I mean I know I don’t have her yet…

but she probably wouldn’t like a she wolf Alpha…

since… well… I like guys… so I feel it’s obvious… that…”

Adeline jumped into view commenting, “It’s totally obvious.” I squealed, “ADELINE!” She laughed, “Hey, what are we doing?” She linked, “Distraction time?” I nodded. She knew Xander was out on a mission, and I was nervous.

Zane asked, “Why do you have an old phone AND a tablet?” I answered, “Well, the old phone is for music to choreograph… the new dance I’m thinking of… and the tablet is in case…” Adeline said, “Someone needs her to come home.”

He replied, “Uh huh. Sure it is. Linking would work.” I stammered, “Umm… I get lost in dancing…” He interrupted, “I noticed.” I rambled on, “And sometimes… dad says I lock out links… which like… I shouldn’t be able to do as a pup…

but when you think about it… I can do a lot…

so who knows… maybe it’s not really that crazy… and… well…”

He held up his hands interrupting “I have to coach a practice that has some individuals who need to run some extra laps now. Have fun with whatever you’re doing while you dance.

Try not to take over the world.” I grumbled, “Why do people keep saying that to me? I have never, even once, tried to take over the world.” He snorted and jogged away.

Adeline looped her arm in mine. She surmised, “So, you’re nervous?

” I admitted, “I am… it’s just that… well…

it will be fine… but I should be at the sleepover too!

” She pointed out, “There was no reason for Elise to get you there other than to say you wanted to go. You didn’t think your mom would say yes.

” I muttered, “She might have if not for the mom monster cookies.”

Adeline replied, “Even without one, it was a stretch of an ask.” I pointed out, “But it SHOULDN’T be.

Black Mountain is even more protected than our borders and really, it’s just…

insane to think I wouldn’t be safer there than here.

” She agreed, “It kind of is. Are we going with the angsty playlist?” I nodded and set up tablet to record for Tiffany.

I also set up a few alerts. I’d followed Prince Gunner Cambridge’s steps to monitor some things. I knew that my dad and Jason would be notified when EJ and Alexander were back. Jason was going to see Alexander and mayyyybbbeeee

I was hacking them to make sure my Xander was ok. Which was fair when you thought about it… I would get grounded for forever if they found out… but it was TOTALLY for the greater good.

I got lost in the music until Adeline called, “I’ve got to go home for dinner. You dance so beautifully. I’ll see you tomorrow!” I replied, “See you later, Adeline!” She was easily my best friend in the pack. I kept dancing until

I heard a ping on my tablet. I squeaked and ran over. My Xander was texting my brother. I read the messages as if I was Jason since that’s who I’d hacked.

Best Bro: I’m back man. Wanna come celebrate?

Me: Be there soon.

I sighed desperately wishing the me was actually me and not Jason.

I snorted, “You have Xander saved in your phone as ‘Best bro’ really Jase?!” Oh well, now I had his number.

Well, for now. According to the files… I totally got the right way and not hacking that time…

he was going to change his number several times.

He’d get his permanent one when he was eighteen.

They did have charms so any number they wanted to be able to text them would be forwarded from the old one. It was an impressive security measure that I really liked. I should do that… if I ever got my own phone… but my mom would eat her mom monster cookies…so I never got one.

Her argument mostly made sense because we didn’t go to an actual school until we were eleven years old for middle school. So, I was usually with family, and I really didn’t need a phone since I had my dad’s old one with all the music.

They definitely didn’t know all the things I had access to on my tablet. Which at this point, was definitely for the best… when you thought about it. I powered it down and took off. I was running along when I realized I was being herded. I was hit from behind then on front.

I screamed, “What are you doing?” They ripped off my brand new Xander shirt.

Robert growled, “Next is that stupid stuffed wolf!” I screamed and punched him and kicked his other goon in the balls.

I snarked, “You’d think you would learn, I’m better than you are.

” This wasn’t the first time they’d pinned me down, but they’d never ripped off my shirt before.

He snarled, “I’ll rip that stupid wolves head off.” I screamed, “NO! HE IS MY WOLF!” I scooped up Xander wolf from where he fell and ran. Robert yelled, “Yeah, you’d better run! That wolf is going to be shredded next time. Don’t you dare tell a single soul about this.”

I snarled, “You’ve been trying for four years to tear him up and he’s still fine!” He growled, “But not your shirt.” Grandma Esther had bought me that shirt. Tears sprung into my eyes.

I found my dad’s shirt lying around when I got farther away.

I knew, as they did, that I could outrun them.

I put it on and let myself cry into my Xander wolf.

I whispered, “What will I tell Grandma Esther?” I powered up the tablet and ordered a replacement shirt.

I’d just keep it in my closet. I shivered remembering the look in Robert’s eyes when he ripped it off. He was officially unhinged.

I began to pace. Logically, the right thing to do was go to Alpha Peter… but they never believed me when I said I didn’t cross the border. Plus, this wasn’t really an emergency… when you broke it down. I needed them to believe me if something REALLY bad happened.

If my bullies were upgrading to ripping my clothes off and that was not a good escalation in pups’ behavior according to the papers Princess Luna Haley’s psychology group published. It wasn’t even just her that had written about concerning behaviors to look for and seek help on.

Literally all across the globe people were backing her up and conducting their own studies. Robert and his friends just made a very bad move in their progression to Supernatural’s who turn angry, bitter, and abusive.

The thing was those people were often… well more often than not… the ones that ended up getting killed because our way of life didn’t lead to everything being fine, if you were a jerk.

For example, if my Xander knew he was mine, Robert would’ve died for what he just did.

I rubbed my face berating, “He doesn’t know though…

and you need the adults to believe you if they do something worse…

I have no bruises, and they definitely do.

If they say that I did it… would everyone believe them? ”

I had a dance competition I didn’t want to risk not going to. I’d invited Xander… and I wanted to win. I took several deep breaths, clutched my Xander wolf tightly, then began to run home. I didn’t hear anyone chasing me so maybe they gave up.

Once I got closer to my house a Warrior stopped me. He asked, “Ladybug, are you ok?” I squeaked, “Ok… huh… obviously … it’s totally…” He checked me up and down. He questioned, “Is this the Beta’s shirt?” I answered, “Umm well yes… it is… and….”

He grabbed my shoulders gently. He asked, “Are you ok, Melanie?” I had to decide right now if I was going to tell anyone. I nodded, “Totally… I’m so beyond fine… I mean… the Beta is my dad… so this is not weird….”

He frowned, “First, I know you’re lying because you’re bad at it.

” I winced. He continued, “Second, you have no reason to change into your dad’s shirt that he lying around.

I can smell that shirt has been outside and you haven’t shifted yet.

So, there is literally no need for you to find his shirt and put it on. ” He made some very valid point.

He sighed, “I’ll escort you home. Ok?” I nodded and he jogged home with me. It was moments like this that made me love it here. Even though Robert was awful, and so were his friends; they were the outliers.

I nodded, “Thanks, Harrison.” He asked, “You know me?” I answered, “Yes because you train with top ranked Warriors… and I might… well… I kind of… spy… is a harsh word, but…” He laughed, “Come on and join us next time, Ladybug.” I squeaked, “Really?” He grinned and nodded.

I ran into the house past my mom who just laughed. It wasn’t uncommon for me to come home in a blur of movement. I burst into my room and checked my email.