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I was dragged out in silver chains to the punishing fields. Booker nearly choked me to death with the silver chain, and I would’ve let him, because I didn’t care anymore. Silver should affect me, but it didn’t. That’s what caused my heart to break.

They’d sent me down that hole again and everything that happened after was something else I was trying to block from my mind. I could still feel the knife on my back. Trevor had come out there to beat and whip me for refusing to sleep with him.

I still don’t understand why he was so upset. It wasn’t like I hadn’t declined before. All the time actually. I closed my eyes hoping that when I opened them it wouldn’t be real. I felt Caine’s calloused hand in mine.

He whispered, “Mel, we’ve kept Edward, Jean, Booker, and Trevor away. The doctors are adamant you leave soon though. It’s not right.” Normally he called Edward dad, but when he saw me I saw the Alpha in him snap. He’d found me and Trevor.

I whispered, “Did you kill him?” He growled, “No, I had to get you here but I wish I had.” I cried, “Was it all true?” He grimaced, “I am so sorry Melanie.” I sobbed, “I look like my dad, Caine. I do.” He held me as I cried.

We were family and everything in me cried out for his arms to be Jason’s arms. I screamed for my brother, Alpha Peter, Dalton, Dakota, Elise, and Xander.

No one came during my torment except for Caine.

It wasn’t fair to expect Elise or Xander to show up because they had no idea what happened or what Beta Jason or Alpha Peter requested.

To be fair, what Beta Jason and Alpha Peter were asking for wasn’t for me to be tortured. Pack punishments are bad patrols and more work. Not that I could be given more work. For two years all I did was chores.

Caine was forced to leave. I heard a doctor whisper, “It’s weird. All the packs around went down.” Huh? Someone snorted, “Everyone did.” I needed to get out of here and check my alerts. My whole body seized, and Celia ran into the room. She gasped, “Melanie!”

I felt myself seizing and forgetting the conversation that just happened.

I tried to hold onto it, but it left. Celia held me saying, “You’re ok.

” The doctor said, “She is and she can’t be here any longer.

” Celia growled, “She just had a seizure.” He replied, “And she’s fine now.

Know your place, woman. Don’t you growl at me. ”

I whispered, “Her place is above yours. She’s a better doctor than you and if your pack followed the rules…

that you are supposed to, because all packs are…

she’d be the Head Doctor here.” He stared at me.

I replied, “Yeah, well I’m right and you know it.

” I told Celia, “You’re better than him and he’s just jealous.

You should know that.” She stared at me.

The doctor left and I pulled the sheets back.

Celia grabbed my hand. I turned to face her.

She ordered, “Don’t you do anything you’ll regret.

” You can’t regret anything if you’re dead.

She growled, “Melanie Jane.” I asked, “What?” She replied, “You said that out loud. I will have your friends sit on top of you. You are someone this world needs.”

I had nothing to live for at this point. The words Beta Jason wrote ripped out what was left of my heart. He wanted nothing to do with me for real, and he said Xander promised to reject me. I just needed to let the allies know about Laxenread.

I had everything for the Resistance set to be transferred to Kingsley.

She could run it. What did I have left to do since she could?

My life meant nothing. They said I had no wolf, but deep down I think I failed her.

She told me fight and they killed her. Or I didn’t fight hard enough, and Selene took my wolf away from me.

That seemed more likely. She was the worst.

Celia told me, “I’m serious. We need you.

” She might have a point there. Kingsley might not be able to work as heavily in the packs as I was.

Well… might not… was the wrong word. She wouldn’t.

They’d be too curious about her. I told Celia, “I’ll consider it.

” She pursed her lips as I went into the bathroom.

I took a deep breath and took off the hospital gown. I turned around and a sob bubbled out of me. Celia stormed into the room. Sympathy filled her eyes. I went to touch my back, but she grabbed my hand. She said, “I need to apply the salve.” I shrugged and let her.

My eyes trailed down the words Trevor had carved into me. Each one was a dagger to my chest. Curse, Family Killer, Freak, Ice Queen, Unwanted, and Trevor. I was a curse to those I knew. I shouldn’t be here. I could get my friends killed.

She put the salve on my back and gave me a loose fitting shirt.

I put it on scenting it was Hendrick’s. I whispered, “Is he here?” She answered, “He’s waiting outside.

” Why couldn’t he be my long lost relative?

He never would’ve laughed like Aunt Stephanie did over the news I got.

He never would’ve agreed to let me be hurt. Why wasn’t he my family?

I closed my eyes. You know what? He is my family.

The family that I choose. I put on loose fitting shorts and left.

Hendrick and Mason were waiting outside.

Mason’s eyes were filled with tears. He cried, “Oh my girl.” He wanted to hug me, but he knew it would hurt.

He squeezed my hand, and I squeezed his back.

Hendrick linked me, “Everything is going to be ok.” I asked, “Where is Caine?” He replied, “Waiting with the keys to your new place.” I whispered, “Charles moved forward with it?” I’d given Charles access to my financials, and he was going to purchase the new Resistance building under my alias we’d set up: Estella Mia McNair.

He’d cautioned against it since a Fairy could put it together, but I wanted to.

Mason answered, “He did and sent Caine all the information as a birthday present.” I laughed humorlessly then groaned, “Ow.” It wasn’t fair to laugh. Charles didn’t know what had happened to me on my birthday or after. Everyone here would be dead if he did.

I glanced at my watch and noted how long I’d been allowed to be in the hospital. It was a pittance and not long at all. This pack was a travesty. Alpha Eric should know that before I left it all behind. He could fix it. Charles would burn the town to the ground if I did nothing. Probably.

I walked into the new building that was supposed to be our entire base of operations. I felt my plans crumbling around me as a fresh set of tears spilled down my cheeks. I was supposed to bring everyone to Red Run. I was supposed to be home.

I tried to link my wolf, “Please be there.” She didn’t answer and nothing happened.

Hendrick hugged me, “Melanie.” I whispered, “How can he not be my dad?” He replied, “I don’t know.

It reeks of bullshit.” I cried, “Where is my wolf?” He consoled me, “I’m so sorry, Melanie.

I’m so damn sorry.” Selene was a sadistic goddess, and I hated her.

I walked further inside and found my friends. I whispered, “You set up my computers.” Sierra nodded, “I did it just like the sketch, but we can change it.” I asked, “Why does everyone look like you’ve swallowed something sour?”

Dax replied, “Because we have some news and we made an executive decision while you were in the hole without us knowing where you were. It cemented while you were in the hospital and we don’t think you’ll like it.”

I snorted, “What do I like? Currently? Nothing… not a whole lot so… that tracks.” They winced. Goodie. I was just a barrel of fun. Sierra told me, “No one expects you to be fun right now.” Dang it. I hadn’t meant to say that out loud.

Dax said, “While you were being treated, Nick Kyle and Cameron Daniels went to a drug buy meeting.” I took several deep breaths trying not to cry. I missed Nick. He was like my second grandpa. He used to smile at me and train me. He’d joke around and now he hated me.

I whispered, “What happened?” Mason said, “I went but…” I should’ve. It should’ve been me out there, but Trevor was busy tormenting me. Mason replied, “I got the guys after them, but Nick was shot.” I gasped, “Is he ok?” I needed him to be ok.

Dax snorted, “It was a flesh wound, he was healed.” I pushed, “Is that confirmed because I can look up pack hospital records and…” Hendrick said, “It’s confirmed.” I squeezed Mason’s hand, “Thanks for having their six.”

He snorted, “They called me the B team. Little do they know I’m the C. The B would Hendrick.” Hendrick was actually on the A team with me. He was who I sent when Xander was out because I knew he’d have their back.

I replied, “You’re not the C team. You did a good job… so they shouldn’t have said that… it’s rude.” Caine agreed, “It is.” Addison snorted, “Yeah, they could say thank you.” Mason replied, “They did say thank you.” Well, that was good then.

Dax added, “Your Xander put out a lot of inquires after that.” I went over the computer and opened his email since I’d hacked it. He wanted to know all about the Resistance. I quickly typed out the answers to everything he wanted to know.

I told Sierra, “Go put this in the place where Laxenread is.” Dax asked, “We’re still giving them that?

” I answered, “Uhh of course… it’s for them.

Why wouldn’t we give it to them?” Sierra sighed, “One second.” She left and went through our holoports and came back minutes later. She announced, “Done.” I smiled at her.

I stood, “Well, I have something to do.” I hobbled out of the room. Hendrick asked, “Uh Mel? Don’t you want to hear about the other thing? It’s just a possibility. We just decided how to respond in case it happens.” I replied, “Later.” I went through our holoport to the pack, and they followed me.