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Everly asked me, “Who are you?” I’d have preferred it if she’d stabbed me in the heart. She should know me. This wasn’t fair. I quickly took her silver chains off ignoring her question.

She should feel like we were on the same team. She was my sister in law. Didn’t she feel the connection we shared? Was that too much to ask? I turned my attention to Julianna because she couldn’t hurt my feelings by not knowing me.

She had on iron, snake like bracelets. They were Hunters designs for partials. They weren’t supposed to be ready yet. I was going to steal them before they could use them.

I grumbled, “Seriously?! I can never get a break… and I really think I should… I’m pretty sure I’ve earned it… when you think about all the things I did to get here… and previously… I am a GOOD PERSON!”

Everly didn’t even try not to laugh. Hope pinged inside me, but I shut it down. She wouldn’t laugh if she knew who I was… she wouldn’t. Do not feel a kinship with her right now. Don’t do it Melanie… but as hard I tried not to, I did.

I glanced at my watch. It was taking too long to get out. We were going to be in a shootout. I gave my vest to Everly. I commanded, “Put this on.” Everly did so without question. Because we were related by marriage. We were supposed to work well together. Why didn’t she feel it?!

I kneeled beside Julianna. I felt bad when I told her, “This is going to hurt, but when I get these off… and I’m sorry about that…

the whole perfection process wasn’t perfected…

Hunters suck… along with their timing… right?

That’s a thing that you think too… because…

well… yeah. You just pop Everly and yourself the heck out of here Julianna. ”

I’d have to give her the element that allowed them to pass through the Hunters barriers which would hurt…

because it wasn’t ready to give to the allies yet.

It still hurt people. Not me… for some weird reason…

probably because I had Hunter blood. I didn’t feel like any partial Hunters I knew though. I shoved those thoughts aside.

Everly whispered, “Who are you? How did you get here? How do you know us?” She needed to stop asking questions because I was going to cry. I got everything ready for Julianna. She was key to my plan. Julianna admitted, “I can’t pop.”

It was fair that she thought that. I told her, “You’ll be able to shortly.” The look on her face told me she didn’t believe me… which was also fair. Laxenread was revolutionary…and they didn’t know about it yet, but they would once I got them home.

I quickly injected Julianna with the first dose of my newest creation for the allies. I cringed when Julianna choked in pain. It wasn’t ready but this was an emergency. The iron bracelets fell off her. Julianna cursed, “Shit.”

I knew she was feeling the kick of her powers return.

My watch beeped letting me know Hunters had re-entered the house.

Dang it. Well, I could still get out. I’d just have to go through the window, rather than the door.

Anastasia and I were behind their remodel.

These windows broke easily and that was in case we needed to escape.

I complained, “Oh come on! I asked for ONE measly break!” I addressed Selene, “I think we know you owe me a break… bitch.” I didn’t usually curse but this was a necessary one. She was the worst.

I gave Julianna the next dose so she could get through the shields, which would feel like her power on steroids. I heard the stampede coming up the stairs and got ready to fight.

Caine linked, “Tell me you didn’t.” I replied, “Busy.” He growled, “MELANIE JANE!” It was odd that it was nice to hear. It sounded like my brothers being mad at me for something. Caine and Dax were my family by choice now though, so I guess my brother WAS mad at me.

I pushed Julianna and Everly down and took great delight in kicking over Dante’s desk. He loathed disorganization. He had everything on his desk ‘just so’ and knowing it would ruin his whole day made it all better. I began to fire at everyone coming through the door.

Everly asked, “What the hell is going on? Was this the plan? Where’s your backup?” Was she for real? I didn’t get to plan this! I was busy being kept away from my computer healing from the request from her mate to punish me.

Which I knew Jason thought would be bad patrols and dish duty but STIILL. I grumbled, “Well… my plan is better than yours now, isn’t it? I didn’t have a lot of time to come up with a plan. I had to come save both of you… with their last minute… I think we talked about their timing already.”

I waved saying, “You know what? Save people in your phone with code names… that’s annoying but you should do it for me…

I feel like that’s something you owe me.

They texted people from your phone because you put their first AND LAST NAME in it.

Don’t do that… please… No. Actually, no please just don’t do it.

” My watch blinked a code sixty-sixty. Dante had called in more backup.

I handed Everly a card with the coordinates to Laxenread.

I ordered Julianna, “Pop her out now!” I shoved Julianna and Everly away from me and turned to shoot.

Julianna popped. Sierra linked, “ILYX is giving fifty percent on you being captured. I will not be alone in kicking your ass if you get captured.” I replied, “Ask ILYX what the probability is with the new window replacements.”

She shouted, “YOU ARE GOING TO JUMP OUT THE WINDOW?!” I reasoned, “There’s a lake below the window.” She shouted, “Are you serious?! God, you are. ILYX gives you eighty percent on escaping with the window data. It’s also a ninety percent chance of injury.”

She paused then added, “No, one hundred with your injuries already.” I snorted, “There is nothing that has a one hundred percent probability.” She growled back.

I greeted, “Hi Tori.” Tori, Sierra’s wolf, growled, “You need to get back here unharmed.” I reasoned, “That’s the plan.

” I still had to make Alpha Peter and Beta Jason proud.

They didn’t know what I’d done yet with the Female Lead Warrior position.

I was taking down a massive chunk of Dante’s most loyal followers. I didn’t feel bad about that. They knew the true Hunter purpose. They were hiding it from those they recruited. So, they totally deserve to get shot… that had logic to it.

I switched to my knife that Charles had gifted to me. I still didn’t feel bad about taking them out. Some of these people had decided to come after Xander and his mom. Someone shouted outside, “Dante, stop worrying about the car and get back in here.” Aww poor baby… his car was ruined.

Dante filled the doorway looking enraged.

He was going to burst a blood vessel or have an aneurysm.

That would be a little funny. He told me, “You are outmanned and outgunned. Surrender or die.” I would be killed if I surrendered eventually.

The allies weren’t going to come for me. Beta Jason would convince them not to.

I replied laughing, “Not a chance… to both. No to the dying… and definitely no on surrendering... that’s a lot of no…

” Dante cut me off, “You came alone. That was foolish and arrogant. Now we finally have one circle group member in our grasp. I kept telling people you’d fuck up.

Your little blue circles and your line drawing days are over.

” Seriously? The circle group. IT WAS A RING!

Sierra linked, “DO NOT RANT ABOUT THE NAME!” I asked, “Are you in the cameras?” She snorted, “Yes, ILYX gave them to us.” Well, I kind of wanted to rant about the name. Caine ordered, “Evade your ass off right now. He doesn’t need to know you’re alone.” I could evade.

I asked, “Who said I came alone?” Exactly like I thought they would, they turned to door ready to take the people coming at them from behind. Except no one was coming. Mason and Hendrick would be outside. Mason on his motorcycle and Hendrick behind a scope.

I threw the gun at the window, shattering it just like Anastasia and I planned.

I took off running. Dante and his men sputtered.

“STOP!” Uh huh. Ok. Why would I listen to them?

I jumped. I flipped midair so I was ready to dive into the water.

Please be deep. Please be deep. Hitting the water felt like hitting lead.

I felt several of my ribs crack, but at least the water was deep.

I hit my ankle on the bottom and nearly screamed in pain.

I swam the length of the lake. My lungs screamed for air, but I’d trained with Tristan on outdoor tactics.

I could hold my breath for a long time. I nearly inhaled but I swore I saw Tristan waving to me.

I could reach him. He was right there. I swam harder, but just as I reached him he disappeared.

Because he was never there Melanie. He’s dead.

I surfaced drawing in air I desperately needed. Dax linked, “SWIM!” I shook myself and followed his instruction. I got out and took off running. Pain radiated from my ankle. It might actually be broken. The Hunters were running after me. Which was insane. I was faster than they were.

They started firing tranquilizers at me. Well, the joke was on them. That wasn’t going to do anything to me. Something that had been proven over and over. Most missed me, but one landed. Addison linked, “Did that do anything? Are you ok?” I replied, “You know I’m fine.”

Mason linked, “On your six.” I heard the revving of a motorcycle. He came charging towards me. Hendrick linked, “I’m on BOTH your sixes. Get to Mason.” I changed direction and ran for Mason with everything I had left.

He held his elbow out and we locked both of ours and I swung up behind him.

My ribs screamed in protest when he quickly executed a turn to get us out of there.

Hendrick shouted, “Get in the front of Mason. They are shooting!” His return fire was coming but I flipped around Mason and began to cover his shots, so they didn’t suspect a sniper.