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I saw Male Lead Warrior Buck Lavant. He was talking to Avery, his little sister. She glanced at me and pity filled her eyes before she looked down. I stood straight, despite the pain, and stalked up to Buck. He asked, “Can I help you?”

I declared, “I challenge Female Lead Warrior Aimee Dunlap for her position.” Avery gasped. Buck stared at me in shock. He asked, “Are you serious?” I asked, “Do I look serious? I feel like I do… because I am… so…”

He rubbed his face sighing, “Melanie, you’re hurt. That’s a thing you have noticed right?” I replied, “I am aware that Trevor is a deviant… and so is everyone else now. This is the thing… that should have been obvious.” He growled, “It is.” Ok, so…

Edward growled, “You can’t challenge for the position.

” I asked, “Why? Because I promise you I can… so…” He said, “You’re too young.

” I replied, “There is no law, bylaw, or council decree that states the age of a wolf challenging. Just that they have to have a high school diploma or the equivalent of one. I have a GED. So, I can in fact challenge for…”

Edward snorted, “Then you have to fight everyone who signs up, beat Aimee, then all the pack leadership and future leadership in human and wolf form.” I replied, “I mean… the future isn’t stipulated anymore but it is your right to demand that so…”

He grinned, “I do demand that. Buck, get the tournament together. It will be in an hour.” Buck’s jaw clenched and Avery gasped again.

Caine snarled, “Edward!” Edward turned, “I am your father!” Caine snorted, “Donating sperm doesn’t make you father.

What you allowed to happen here is disgusting!

I can’t even look at you. She’s hurt. Make the tournament next week at least.”

Sierra linked, “Are you insane?” I replied, “Nope. Genius, remember? It’s been tested and everything.” She reasoned, “Then you knew when Edward heard you challenged for this that you’d fight tonight.” I did. I just didn’t care.

Bring on the pain. Beta Jason hated me. Alpha Peter and Luna Chelsea hated me. My grandparents disowned me. Mom’s parents stopped talking to me and sending letters and I was their blood. I had no wolf and Xander didn’t want me.

I replied, “I told you this was plan if Beta Jason didn’t let me come home.” She groaned. Edward laughed, “Just wait until you see her fight, son. She’s certainly got a style.” Buck interjected, “Melanie, I have to ask if you really want to do this?”

I knew he hoped I’d say no. Hell, Avery’s eyes were practically pleading with me to say no and weren’t even friends. I wanted to be, but I was loud about her brother needing to do more and she adored him. I understood why she didn’t want to be my friend, even if I felt she should be mine.

I replied, “I want to do this.” He sighed, “Fine. I’ll get everything ready.” Celia rushed over and dragged me to Mason and Hendrick’s house. Mason exploded, “What the fuck are you thinking right now?”

I answered, “That this pack is about to see how bad everyone is at fighting… since they should be able to beat me… but they won’t.” Celia growled, “You should be laying down on your stomach in a bed with nothing on your back. God damn it, pup. You’ll give me gray hair.”

I replied, “I’m not a pup anymore… and well… it’s very likely that you will not get gray hair for a long time.” She snorted ordering, “Lie down. I need to do what I can here.” She got out medicine. I snorted, “You know drugs don’t affect me.” It was something we learned early on.

She said, “Well, I’m making it a high dose.” I shrugged, “I guess if it makes you feel better… that’s fine.” She put some medicine on my back and the burning went away so at least that was nice. The drug she injected me with did nothing. She taped up my ankle then put a big bandage on my back.

Mason was crying. When I glanced up and realized everyone was. Addison had thrown up seeing my back. Caine grimaced, “Melanie, he will Alpha Command us to go hard at you.” I replied, “It’s ok. I knew he would. Because he knows you’d just let me pin you. It’s fine.” I could beat them.

Maybe not his wolf. His wolf had picked up fighting easily along with his human counterpart. Caine just needed more practice. His wolf was not on his first human, so it came back to him the more we trained.

His wolf, Spear, came forward, “I do not want to hurt you.” I replied, “It’s ok if you do. I’ll be fine. I mean honestly, you won’t kill me. So at this point that’s all that’s left for them to do.” He growled, “I will not let anyone kill you.” I reasoned, “I know that… it’s ok… this was the plan.”

Caine took back over, “The plan was NOT for Trevor to…” He trailed off. I snorted, “Yeah, it wasn’t even your dad’s plan. Pretty sure I heard you yelling at him.” Caine agreed, “You did. I nearly took over the pack.” He wasn’t ready but running on the fury he’d had, he’d have won.

He grinned, “Thank you for saying that.” I asked, “Saying what?” He replied, “That I’d win.” I groaned “How does one have thoughts that stay in their head?” Addison laughed a little, “You wouldn’t be you if you didn’t blurt things out.” That didn’t sound so bad right now.

Someone pounded on the door. Mason went to it. Sierra helped me into my sports bra and shirt. Celia tapped my hand for some reason.

Buck walked in and stared at me. He practically begged, “Take it back, Melanie. Just challenge in a month.” I stood taller announcing, “Someone needs to protect people, and I can do more as the Female Lead Warrior.”

He rubbed his temples arguing, “That will be true next goddamn month too. Can you just take a fucking beat?” I answered, “No… I can’t… because…” I trailed off. He groaned, “Why?” I didn’t answer him, but I had to bite my tongue not to do so.

He asked, “Guys, can we have the room?” Caine growled, “Don’t hurt her.” Buck asked, “When have I ever hurt her?” Dax muttered, “You do nothing when she’s hurt.” Because Buck kept his head down… which I understood… and didn’t. They all left.

He asked, “Why? You tell me why it has to be right now.” I whispered, “They will announce Ashley Griffen as the Lead Warrior.” He stared at me. He asked, “And?” I replied, “Maybe Beta Jason will finally figure out my name here… and he could be proud… maybe he’d forgive me one day.”

Buck’s mouth parted slightly. He rubbed his face with his hand. He told me, “Maybe some people don’t need or deserve to be proud of you. Look, you’re hurting and that’s beyond fair. Maybe just look into what happened on your birthday.”

I asked, “What are you talking about?” He frowned, “You don’t know?

Didn’t you go down too?” I asked, “Go down?” He sighed, “Look, I’m saying if you figure THAT out then the whole Werewolf community would talk about it.

It’s a looking up information job, and you like doing that. Just do that instead of fighting.”

I admitted, “I have no idea what you’re talking about. Who went down?” He answered, “Everyone. Literally everyone is talking about it.” I hadn’t heard anyone talk about it. The harder I thought about it, the more I felt sick to my stomach. I ran for the trashcan and threw up.

Buck tried again, “Just look into that and have the Werewolf world talking about how goddamn smart you are. Don’t do this challenge until next month.” I stood, “I still don’t know what you’re talking about and I’m doing this.” He groaned, “Come on!”

I agreed, “Ok. Are we going to gym?” He grumbled, “That’s not what I meant. Goddamn it, kid. You’re going to make me lose my fucking mind.” I replied, “I have no idea why… so…” He muttered, “You really don’t. Let’s go.”

I asked, “How many people am I fighting?” He snorted, “Two before the pack leadership.” I laughed, “How mad is Edward?” He answered, “Very. I’m sure that bodes well for you.

” I snorted, “It bodes fine.” He stopped, “Yeah I am on the leadership memos and what not, Melanie Jane. I know how you fight as Swiffer. It’s not a good thing. ”

I winked, “Aww, are you worried about me? That’s ok… it’s really fine. I don’t plan to fight like Swiffer tonight.” He sighed in relief, “Thank god. Because if Caine or Dax find out I know, they might kill me.”

I snorted, “No they wouldn’t. They have no one to take your spot… no one is anywhere decent enough at fighting. I’m so curious how you got so well trained…but my guess is it involved providing a layer of protection to Avery so….” He shot me an incredulous look, but I was right.

Buck wasn’t my favorite person, but he was a good fighter. I’m certain he could take on Booker and win. I doubt he knew that. It’s why I didn’t understand why he took Edward, Jean, and Booker’s crap. He clearly didn’t see how good he was…I guess I could tell him.

Buck whispered, “You don’t need to fight Trevor or see him.

” I laughed, “He won’t fight. One, there’s no way Caine is going to make him his future Gamma.

” Buck’s jaw dropped. I added, “Two, he’s hurt.

They will excuse him by saying something about it being Caine’s fault he can’t fight.

So… they might say I have to fight you… which would be more of a challenge than fighting Trevor.

” He groaned, “Fuck my life. Just go inside.” I skipped inside letting adrenaline fill me.

I saw my first opponent and snorted. I was actually stunned, “Aunt Stephanie. You really want to fight me?” She snarled, “I’ll beat you now that you’re hurt.” I saw a lot of eye rolls. I finally smiled because I had something to be happy about.

Edward stood, “We have a stupid challenge that will be easily lost. It’s the only challenge this she wolf can make.” I hummed, “False. I could make it again if I lose… so…” He growled, “Shut up.” I blew out my breath, annoyed that he was getting in on my happy moment.

I was going to beat the ever loving snot out of my Aunt. I’d wanted to do that since I met her. He continued, “If she wins these two fights, then she has to fight the current pack leadership in human and wolf form.” Several people winced.