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I sagged and nearly dropped but Dax and Caine caught me. Caine sighed, “Melanie, I’m carrying you to Hendrick and Mason’s.” I agreed, “Ok.” He carried me gently and when we got inside, he took me to a bedroom and laid me down on my side.

I looked around and asked, “What’s this?” Hendrick said, “It’s your room.” I started to cry, and they both laid down on the bed holding me like I was their pup. I didn’t feel like anyone’s anymore. I was in a fog, healing, and I could admit it. It was taking time, but the wounds were healing.

The words remained though. I was drinking a lot. I’d seen Kingsley and Angelique. They were worried but I did recall them being there while very drunk. Kingsley and Kayda took care of me. My friends were worried to leave me alone for even a second and it wasn’t unfounded really.

Buck was still putting me off because I wasn’t fully healed but he let me look at some of the paperwork. So, I was doing something. I’d been watching my emails, but Beta Jason hadn’t commented on the name Ashley Griffen or the news of a new Female Lead Warrior.

Caine hadn’t really let me near my other place. He was practically sitting on top of me, and I was nearly going insane from inactivity. We were all meeting today to discuss whatever they’d wanted to when I’d challenged for the Female Lead Warrior spot.

Caine cleared his throat, “You know how you’ve speculated that if the Ring gets someone of importance, they will throw a party?” Horror filled me. I ran to my computer asking, “Is it Xander? Did they hurt him? How could you just…?”

Caine cut me off, “We could because he’d deserve it for promising to reject you.” Dax nudged him and I burst into tears as fresh pain sliced through my entire being. Caine added, “It’s not him.” I cried, “Ok… who?” He answered, “Julianna and maybe Everly.” Everly.

I gasped, “Jason’s mate?! You can’t…” He replied, “We took a vote.” I snorted, “This isn’t a democracy! I run this… I started it and…” He cut me off, “Yeah, and you can’t go. You know that.” That was not a thing I knew.

He replied, “I’ve barely left your side since I found you.” I know that… because it’s how this plan got by me and I didn’t send anyone body parts to warn them! He growled, “You didn’t see how you looked and….” I whispered, “I was there, so… I do know what he did.”

He snarled, “Well, I should’ve stopped it! No one has ever been that hurt here. No one but YOU has ever been hurt that much. They always come after you, but not even they were this sick and twisted! It’s disgusting and vile.”

His first clenched, “I told my dad I’d kill him and Trevor if I saw them that day. I have never felt like more of a failure than when I found you guys. I was too slow to stop him from branding you with his name.” I shrugged, “You didn’t do anything wrong… you couldn’t have gotten there.”

He said, “Well, that doesn’t mean jack shit to me or my wolf. You had the idea about the Ring having a party and planned to expose and destroy that syndicate when they do. We can get them now that we are letting this happen.”

I argued, “Not at the expense of Everly and Julianna.” Caine retorted, “Well, none of us care for the fact that you probably plan to be the person caught by the Ring. Especially now.” I flushed red because he was right. He snorted, “Yeah, that’s what we all thought. You don’t deserve this.”

I whispered, “Slade killed my family because he was coming for me.” Pain lanced through me again.

Caine asked, “Then why aren’t you with him?

This story doesn’t make sense. My dad is a liar, cheat, and dirty rotten person.

I don’t know the story, but I know it’s not the bullshit he told you.

” I wanted that to be true more than I could say.

Mason said, “It’s not like they will really get hurt either. We will move in when the Ring hosts the party.” I reasoned, “You don’t know they won’t hurt them and…” Dax replied, “Sure we do. It’s too fast and they’d want to mock the allies.” Yes. They’d mock Jason and Xander and I didn’t like that.

Caine snorted, “Beta Jason deserves to be mocked and so does your Xander.” I winced, “That’s not true. They…” Dax replied, “Turned their back on you two years ago. They deserve this for that alone.” I cringed, “Everly and Julianna didn’t…”

Sierra replied, “Everly absolutely deserves to get kidnapped for the shit she said to you. She blamed you for her mating going a certain way. She refused to invite you to their mating ceremony. I maintain it was because you would’ve mentioned that she and T liked each other.

She didn’t talk to her mate about you attending the funerals.

She deserves to be kidnapped. They aren’t going to hurt her. ”

I disagreed, “Out of those prisoner options, Everly is more likely to get hurt. Julianna is part of the…” Hendrick sighed, “Promised Siblings Family, we know.” I asked, “ILYX, what’s the probability of Everly being hurt in this plan?” ILYX answered, “Ninety-Eight percent.” I choked out a sob.

Addison offered, “Maybe we change the voice of ILYX.” I cried, “No.” Caine said, “Like we said, we took a vote and this is our decision. We can implement the plan you’ve put forth.” They talked around me, but I was busy planning.

Addison came over, “We have to go. My dad called and I know you weren’t listening to what we were saying.

Paige is going to come sit with you. Ok?

I’m going to put this salve on your back like Celia told us to.

” I snorted, “She shouldn’t be a nurse… it’s literally insane.

” She agreed, “We know.” Caine added, “I will make her the lead doctor when I take over.” I nodded because that was good.

They left, which was helpful. I had a lot of thinking to do. Why was I even still here? The Moon Goddess couldn't even take enough pity on me to let me die. Beta Jason hadn’t even commented on my Female Lead Warrior status. Beta Dylan had emailed me, but I hadn’t read it. So had Alpha Eric.

I carefully removed the gauze Addison had put on me to see my back again.

I broke down sobbing when I caught my reflection in the mirror.

It was so ugly. All the words he’d put on my back…

his name and family killer cut the deepest. Literally and figuratively.

I told the mirror, “I’m Xander’s. Not Trevor’s.

I am.” The pain of knowing he didn’t want me hit again and I hoped it killed me this time.

My computer alarm started going off. I quickly threw some gauze back on and hobbled over to my desk. At least here I could give in to the pain. I didn’t need to pretend to be ok. My blood ran cold when I saw my friends were right. Julianna and Everly had been kidnapped.

They got Everly first, and they used her phone to get Julianna. She had her first and last name as the contact. ARE YOU FOR REAL?! Red Run refused to be even moderately helpful anymore. I thought I had more time to stop this. I didn’t realize it was happening NOW.

I thought Julianna was the main target. This was directed at Everly. Why? No, you know what? I didn’t agree with my friends’ plan. We couldn’t let this happen. Beta Jason couldn’t lose Everly too. Despite everything he’d said and done to me… I couldn’t let him lose anyone else.

Julianna hadn’t done anything to me ever. She was a nice person and everyone knew that. I couldn’t just leave her there. I grabbed my mask and drafted a text for Mason and Hendrick. I’d send it when I got there.

I’d already found where they were, or ILYX had. Dante had them kidnapped, so they’d be in Kentucky at the main Hunters headquarters. I quickly geared up and put in my colored contacts. I couldn’t have them see my eye color. It was too unique.

I went through to our holoport there, shoving the pain to the back of my mind. I needed a distraction to get everyone outside. Dante would have to order it and the perfect tool to get him to do that was practically staring at me. His favorite car was here. I sent my text.

Me: I can’t let Beta Jason lose anyone else.

Julianna Lyons is completely innocent, and we protect those that are.

I can’t do nothing. I’m going in and if you want to come have my back, I’d appreciate it.

I understand if you don’t though. I know this wasn’t the group decision.

I’ll take their place if all else fails, and you can enact the plan if the Hunters capture me.

Mason: The fuck we won’t come. God damn it, Mel. You fight to get out of there because we are gearing up and coming. If they take you, they will have to take us too.

Well, I wasn’t going to let that happen at all.

It made me entirely too happy when I hotwired one of the cars outside and crash it into Dante’s.

He loved that car so he’d definitely come outside for it, and I could get in.

Easily. Thank goodness I had the foresight to pack a go bag.

They contained everything I needed, but even if I hadn’t ILYX and my watch could produce it.

I moved inside the second that the crash happened. I heard them argue, “I don’t want to tell him.” I nearly snorted because of course they didn’t. Everyone moved out and I found the room they were holding Everly and Julianna in easily.

Seeing Everly sitting there had my anger mounting. She was supposed to be safe. Betrayal etched its way into my soul. She was supposed to be my sister, and she turned her back on me. She still wasn’t supposed to be here though.

EJ asked, “Who was that?” I quickly ordered, “SHUSH! Or they will hear us!” I ignored the jolt of pain I felt talking to EJ that way. One, he was my brother in law. Two, he was a good Alpha but it just all felt fake now.

They were tricking people… me. I was tricked and I didn’t like that. My whole life was one big lie after another. I wasn’t a full blooded Werewolf. I wasn’t Drake McAlister’s daughter. I wasn’t anything.