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Mason grabbed me by the shoulders and led me out. I jolted seeing Alpha Alan standing there. Mason nodded, “Alpha.” Alpha Alan growled, “Faggot.” I gasped, “You…” Mason put a hand over my mouth. I spoke through it, “Horrible person… you’re just… awful.” It was muffled but Alpha Alan laughed.

He shook his head, “No one in my pack will stop me from hurting you.” Huh?

Gamma Booker showed up and glared at me.

What? What did I do? Other than blackmail his Alpha…

Ok, maybe I did earn that glare, but… they deserved it!

They were being bad at their jobs and stealing money people earned.

That was wrong… so blackmail was ok in this instance. Right? It totally was.

Gamma Booker asked, “Alpha Alan, what are you doing here?” He answered, “I’m here with a request to buy Ashley.

” I said, “You cannot buy people… I already explained that.” It was muffled again because of Mason’s hand.

Gamma Booker said, “We aren’t selling, but I’ll take you to see Edward. ” I raised an eyebrow at him.

Mason took me outside and took me to a house I assumed was his and Hendricks. Addison, Sierra, Dax, and Caine were all here. I greeted, “Umm hi… so… I know I’ve been rude… to your dad’s but… like they are horrible and…”

Dax interrupted, “We know.” I nodded, “Right and… wait what?” Dax asked, “Is it true that you beat an Alpha tonight?” Sierra whispered, “Alpha Alan?” I answered, “Uhh yeah… I mean he’s not that good at fighting honestly… not like the Alpha’s that were training me. I could’ve… well….”

I could’ve beaten him without taking more than a couple hits, but my body didn’t look like that. Embarrassment filled me that I’d let it happen, but then I dismissed it. I needed the pain. Every breath reminded me that Tristan, dad, and mom were gone.

Caine asked, “Can you train us?” I jolted, “Uhhh well… yes… obviously… but Alpha’s are trained by their dad’s for a reason and…

” Caine cut me off, “My dad doesn’t train me.

He refuses because I don’t like the direction he wants to take this pack in.

He’s worried I’ll get stronger and challenge him.

” I nodded, “Odds are he is correct for once… but…”

Dax interjected, “My dad doesn’t train me either.

Trevor is the one that gets lessons.” I gasped, “The wet dog gets trained? Really? He… umm… he’s not toned enough…

like normal future Gamma’s… I mean… Caine has more definition…

which obviously Alpha blood… but you must at least do cardio…

are you sure he trains?” Addison giggled, “Wet dog?” I winced, “Well… he smells like one.” Sierra agreed, “That’s a great way to describe it. ” Caine said, “That’s what I said.”

Hendrick came in and shook his head at me. I said, “Umm you’re welcome.” Mason laughed and handed me a compress. Maybe it was for my face. He agreed, “It is.” Stop talking out loud, Melanie.

He got everyone drinks. Caine asked, “Why did my dad call you guys in this time? You’re walking fine this time, Hendrick.” Why wouldn’t he be? Hendrick sat down, “Melanie here blackmailed him into giving us the money he owes us. Money that I didn’t know he owed us.”

I snorted, “He’s not allowed to take all your profits, that’s…” They looked at me like they didn’t know that. I winced, “Don’t you know that?” Sierra answered, “Nope. Let’s have a lesson in what we should know.” This was going to be a LONG conversation.

I’d been right. They were shocked by the things I’d told them which surprised me.

They knew nothing about how pack life was really supposed to work.

I set up times to train Dax and Caine and I worked with Mason and Hendrick in their diner.

Things were not even remotely close to normal. Everything here was wrong.

I’d stopped the Alpha from beating pack members for minor infractions. Some weren’t even infractions. The Alpha, Beta, and Gamma, that were all mated, constantly wanted me to sleep with them. My creepy Uncle Ajax had me on edge every second of every day.

My calls with Jason and Peter were pointless and got me beaten. The worst so far was after Jason had sent all of my things to me. Walking into Mason and Hendrick’s house and finding all my belongings in the loungeroom was painful.

I was so grateful they’d manage to save them from Aunt Stephanie, who’d been dragging them to the trash cans.

My home pack couldn’t know that though. They kept insisting I use their titles, and it hurt.

Today, I was going to have a good day though.

I’d found a plot of land and purchased it to use as a commemorative spot for my family.

I didn’t get to go to their funerals, and I couldn’t’ go on pack lands… so here I was.

The guy who’d brought everything, including the stones with their names, asked, “Does it look how you want it to?” I nodded, “Yes, thank you.” He left and I sank to the ground.

I apologized, “I’m so sorry. You shouldn’t be here…

.well you aren’t here….but you shouldn’t be in the ground somewhere.

It’s all my fault.” I laid down on the ground and sobbed.

I stood, “I’ll find the man who did this.

I will avenge you if Alpha Peter won’t listen.

” It physically pained me to say it. The words burned.

I added, “It’s not his fault really. They just don’t want to talk to me.

He didn’t ask so he doesn’t know what happened.

” I was the only one being punished for their death.

I stood, “I have somewhere I have to be, but I’ll be back.

” I touched each stone and went to my meeting.

The man there stood asking, “Are you sure about this? It’s a lot of money.

” I shrugged, “I don’t need it.” I was starting several charities with the money I’d earned from investing.

I was giving away most of what I had to other charities.

Once it was all done, I left. I’d tied up what I had left in some stocks.

I knew I’d get a good return and could put the money back into everything.

I went to a field I’d found and let myself loose it to the music. Eventually Caine shouted, “MELANIE!” I turned, “Oh, hi Caine…umm…we don’t have a training…” He winced, “No, my dad is sending you to a meeting with Addison and Sierra tonight.” I breathed a sigh of relief.

Maybe the Alpha wasn’t all bad then. He was giving responsibility to women which seemed to contradict everything else he’d done. Caine told me, “You’ll get through it.” I asked, “Huh?” He squeezed my shoulder and took me where Sierra and Addison were waiting.

They drove off and pulled into a place that set my teeth on edge. There was enough silver to kill us all. My bracelet turned brown too. Wolfsbane. I whispered, “We shouldn’t be here. We need to go.” Sierra told me, “We can’t go.”

A man laughed, “Our newest recruit.” Say what now?

I grabbed Addison and Sierra and put them behind me.

I shouted, “He’s a Hunter! RUN!” Addison told me, “We know.” I whirled, “You what?” Someone cleared their throat, “Dante, this is my group. You shouldn’t be here.

” The person called Dante laughed, “I wanted to see her join us. How’s it feel? ”

I asked, “Excuse me?” He grinned, “We killed your family and here you are, to join us.” I screamed and ran at him. I smashed my fist into his face over and over. I felt myself get shot with something, but I didn’t care.

Alpha Edward’s voice boomed, “Get off him.” I heard the Alpha Command behind it, but he wasn’t my Alpha. That wasn’t going to work. It took ten of them to get me off him. I screamed, “I WILL KILL YOU!”

Alpha Edward said, “Then Addison and Sierra die.” I jolted, “Excuse me?! SHE IS YOUR DAUGHTER!” He hummed while Addison choked out a cry. I stared at Alpha Edward and shook my head. Pain filled my entire being as he stood against his oaths.

Dante moaned and someone loaded him in a car and took off. I told Alpha Edward, “I will not work with people that killed my family.” He laughed, “You will.” I got away from those who had held me back. I noted the man who said he ran this group had Fairy blood. Interesting.

Trevor McCann showed up with fifteen pups. Sierra screamed, “DAD!” Beta Jean growled, “Shut up.” I asked, “What’s going on?” Trevor shot one pup. I screamed and ran for them to get tackled by ten people.

Alpha Edward asked, “Will another pup die for your insolence?” I shouted, “MY INSOLENCE?! YOU… YOU…” I stared at Beta Jean and Gamma McCann. I screamed at them, “Do something! This is your oath and blood on the line.”

I stared at Alpha Edward, “Especially yours! They fight against us. They KILL us!” He said, “They don’t do that with us. Our unshifted pups work with them. You will as well, or I’ll gather up more pups to shoot.” I pushed people off me and threw a knife that hit Trevor square in the wrist.

He screamed like a stuck pig. I warned, “You’d better get him to the doctor, or he’ll never regain full use of his hand.

” They all stared at me. Gamma McCann snarled, “You bitch.” I replied, “Your son killed a pup in cold blood… of the pack he’s supposed to take over.

You’re working with Hunters…. and you’re calling me names? !”

Sierra said, “Dad, you knew better than to blindside her.” Alpha Edward said, “She needs to do things the right way.” I shouted in my head, “No, you do.” Hurt built inside me like a physical ache I didn’t understand.

I stared at him waiting for the Alpha in him to do the right thing, but he walked away.

He turned back saying, “Every time you are asked to come here, you will. Or the death of a pup will be on your head. That one’s family will be told this was your fault.” I snorted, “Even your backwards thinking pack will blame Trevor. I don’t understand how you…”