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He tapped out and I got off him. He shifted and linked me, “I have Jean blocked out. There is so much I cannot tell you that I wish I could. All I can say is look into things because they aren’t as you think.

You do not deserve this.” I replied, “It’s ok.

” He added, “I was Alpha Commanded to fight you.” I again assured him, “It’s ok. ”

He ran at me, and I matched his speed. He jumped and I went under him and jumped on his back, then put him in a headlock.

When he passed out, he shifted back to Jean.

I called, “Ohhhh Buckkkkkkk, there’s someone else for you carry off the mat.

” He did but when he grabbed Jean, he subtly pointed to my left with his index finger.

I heard the snarl and snorted. I turned, “Booker, Booker, Booker. You just can’t help yourself… you had the element of surprise and gave it away because you’re horrible at your job… and at being a person… and wolf apparently.” I guess his wolf wasn’t like Jean’s.

His wolf snapped his jaws at me. I punched him in the mouth with an upper cut.

He tackled me and I quickly wrapped my legs around his middle and squeezed.

He whined in pain and flipped us. I put my elbow roughly across his windpipe.

He scratched my side, but I barely felt it.

Vindication was flowing through my veins.

I asked Edward, “Does this make me your Gamma? Because historically… oh no… I could be either your Beta or Gamma and…” He snarled, “You don’t have Gamma or Beta blood!” I replied, “But I beat them both… and…”

He cut me off, “Your challenge was for Lead Warrior.” I hummed, “True… plus I don’t want to be your Beta or Gamma. I dislike you.” Which hurt. He was supposed to be a true Alpha, and he wasn’t.

Dax linked, “Let’s just ease up there, killer.” I asked, “On what? I’m already off Booker.” He replied, “The snark.” Yeah, I didn’t care about that anymore. That was the old Melanie’s problem, she cared. Currently, she was crushed inside me right now and new snarky Melanie didn’t care.

Edward stood, “I’ll end this.” I hummed, “Doubtful.” He came at me, and I put all my anger into my swing.

I hit him and he swayed. I screamed and launched myself at him.

I hit him over and over, “You’re supposed to protect people!

YOU ARE SUPPOED TO BE GOOD!” At some point his face turned into Alpha Peter’s and I hit him with all the hurt I felt.

Caine grabbed me around the waist and pulled me off him and tears streamed down my face.

He linked, “I’ll be the Alpha one day. I believe you.

I’ll be the good one who does what’s right.

I will protect my people. His reign will end and that will be that.

Honestly, I’d let you kill him but he Alpha Commanded me to stop you if it got close. ”

Sadly, there were others like Caine out there. Sons who hadn’t been trained. Alpha Peter let me believe the lie that Alpha’s were good people. That they had a duty to protect. I never knew in the shadows under the Supernatural Council that wasn’t the cases in packs.

Everyone let me believe a lie then dumped me here to let my perception of reality completely warp. It felt like the floor beneath me fell out and I was all alone. They had their facade going in their packs, but mine was shattered and nothing was the same anymore.

Edward came around and he shifted. His wolf said, “I blocked him out. Like my Beta there is much I cannot tell you. Please tell my pup to move and I love him.” I linked Caine, “Your dad’s wolf asked you to move.

He also said he loves you. I think something is wrong with your dad’s wolf.

” He didn’t look right. Actually, neither did Jean’s.

Maybe that’s what they wanted me to look into.

Caine raised an eyebrow but moved. Edward’s wolf linked, “He didn’t Alpha Command me to fight you and I will not.” He stood there as I went over and gently pinned him. Booker snarled, “FIGHT!” The wolf snarled at him until he bowed in submission. The pack watched in awe.

Edward’s wolf linked, “I’m going to lose control to him again, but thank you for everything you’ve done. I’m sorry. You need to move.” Buck announced, “Melanie won.” I got away from him and Edward shifted back.

He growled “What did he say to you?” I asked, “Why doesn’t anyone know their Alpha’s wolf’s name?” He replied, “Several people do.” I replied, “But the pack doesn’t… and that’s weird.” He shouted, “I don’t care about what you think is weird!” Ok.

Edward snarled, “Francis, get in here.” He gasped and groaned, swaying on his feet. He asked, “Do I have to?” Booker answered, “Your Future Gamma isn’t here because of your future Alpha.” Caine snarled.

I replied, “Please. He’s so not the future Gamma…

. he doesn’t even train. He’s not coming because he knows I’d kill him.

” I would too. Today especially. Booker growled, “As if you could.” I replied, “I could’ve killed all of you so far.

Caine only stopped me from killing Edward because…

well…. his dad made him and….I’m not an Alpha blood.

I can’t actually be an Alpha and that’s what killing the Alpha makes me… though I suppose…”

Booker snarled, “You cannot be an Alpha.” I wasn’t going to say I could be one permanently. Obviously. I snorted, “I’d be better at than him…if we are being honest.” Everyone gasped. I asked, “What? Is that news? I don’t think it is… a REAL wolf with no human would be a better Alpha than Edward.”

Francis sighed, “Fine. I’ll get my ass kicked next.” He barely swung before I knocked him out. Booker snarled, “Dax.” That fight was actually a challenge because I’d been training him. I linked, “I’m sorry.” He replied, “Do it.” I took him down using a move Xander put out in his workout videos.

Francis came back in wolf form. I asked, “Uhh is his wolf ok? Or is he drunk?” His wolf was stumbling around. I shot Dax a look and he shrugged. I took his wolf down. Francis shifted back, but I didn’t smell any alcohol on his breath.

I asked, “Hey… umm… is your wolf ok? Do you need…?” He groaned “Stop talking.” He took his seat. I pointed out, “That’s not really my forte and I’m pretty sure something is wrong and…” He shouted, “SHUT UP!” I sighed, “I was just trying to help you.”

Dax shifted into Torst. Torst told me, “I want to fight the Alpha Command for you.” I replied, “You don’t have to. Just come at me like we’ve practiced.” He emphatically stated, “You don’t deserve this. You are a good person. My human wants to challenge for the Beta position.”

I gently said, “But Caine and Dax aren’t ready. That’s not their fault. We just started working together two years ago.” He hummed and I knew he agreed. Torst and I fought. I pretended it was practice, so when it ended, I was really proud of him.

Edward snarled. Booker demanded, “Caine.” I laughed, “Edward, isn’t funny you’re relying on the son you insisted wasn’t trained yet?” Booker glared at me. I asked, “What? It’s funny… no… it’s ironic… that’s the right word.”

Caine got on the mats. Edward said, “You have to fight her.” Little did he know I fought Caine all the time.

Another way he wasn’t like Alpha Peter. The only thing that ever got by him was people bullying me and I that’s because hid it from him.

He always knew what was going on around the pack.

He would’ve known if Dalton, Dakota, or Cooper were training with someone else.

I linked my wolf, “Some Alpha he is, right? It hurts to think… but it’s true.” I stalled remembering I didn’t have a wolf and yet again no answer came. Because I was wolf less. Caine came at me as tears filled my eyes.

We fought for hours. I was so proud of him.

Buck called, “According to the rules, this is a draw.” Edward growled.

He said, “There, you failed the challenge.” I snorted, “Good lord… read a book… any book. Draws don’t count against me.

Only losing. Plus… fighting the future pack leadership doesn’t count against me…

so really, I’ve already won. But you just continue on…

knowing nothing… I guess.” He turned red in the face.

He asked, “Jean?” Jean was looking something up. I sighed loudly. Caine linked, “You are due for a break.” I replied, “I’d rather keep fighting. If my adrenaline fades… I’m kind of screwed… well…. no… I’d be fine.” I would not. He stared at me and sighed, “You suck at lying.” Yeah, I knew that.

He shifted into Spear. Spear linked me, “I don’t like this.

” I reasoned, “Just pretend like we are training.” We fought each other for hours.

Pride was swelling in my chest. Caine and Spear could fight like this because of me.

Buck eventually announced, “This is a draw as well.” Caine shifted back and Addison brought him clothes.

Buck announced, “Black Path, your new Female Lead Warrior is Melanie McAlister.” I nearly choked with emotion because he’d used my real name.

Edward snarled, “To outsiders it will be Ashley Griffen.” Buck inclined his head.

Sierra, Mason, Hendrick, Addison, Dax, and Caine cheered but no one else did. Which wasn’t that surprising.

Edward snarled, “I cannot believe she won.” I retorted, “Because you don’t pay attention.

” He stalked out and left. Sierra ran over to me.

Buck told me, “We will meet up to discuss how this works now.” I asked, “Can’t you just give me the schedule…

and…?” He cut me off, “I could if there was one. I did her job and mine.” I hummed, “Yeah, ok… we can meet up tomorrow and…”

He cut me off, “Next week. I’ll send out the announcement that you’ve won to the local packs.

I’ll get the paperwork ready for the Supernatural and Werewolf Council.

You need to heal.” I blew out a breath, “Fine. That is… nice. It’s weird…

but it’s nice.” He snorted, “I have never been mean to you.” He walked off grumbling about how I needed to learn how to survive down here.