Page 1 of The Alpha Enforcer and His Dancing Warrior Vol. 2 (Ribbon #10)

Melanie slept deeply and soundly, the most amazing scent surrounding me. Sugar cookies. I smiled without opening my eyes knowing it wasn’t a dream this time because I’d never known his scent. I was still with my Xander. After all this time we were together, finally.

Plus, he didn’t even hate me yet. Granted he didn’t know who I really was... but still. He definitely didn’t hate me. Freya offered, “He won’t hate you. We just need to trust him.” I assured her, “I do trust him...I’m…” Well, I wasn’t sure how to finish that sentence.

Freya filled in the silence after I trailed off, “Scared. You’re scared because of a letter from Jason.

” I admitted, “I want this time with him. He’s…

I don’t know what will happen if he turns his back on me.

I love him, Freya… and I just got you… everything…

is perfect for the first time in a long time and… I love him….I really do and…”

Freya interjected, “I know that you do. He loves you too.” Well, it was far too soon for that kind of talk.

He didn’t really even know I was really me.

He couldn’t love me. Even IF, and that was a big if, he knew about the Melanie McAlister I used to be…

I wasn’t her anymore. I had physical and emotional scars.

Freya told me, “Mate can help us heal from both.” Well, that was silly. The physical scars were magically there to stay literally. It was magic keeping them from getting messed up. I’d tried everything to get them to go away, but I could only remove the whipping scars.

They were ugly. To be honest, I’d never really cared about the scars. People asked but… some looked at me with revulsion. They were my scarlet letter. I didn’t care what anyone else thought of them… but Xander was different. I didn’t want him to look at me like that.

I shook those thoughts off and stretched. I asked Freya, “Why am I so tired? I never sleep this much anymore.” Freya explained, “You’re adjusting to having me. I’m also getting stronger, but it’s a process. It’s supposed to happen when you're sixteen. Your body was prepared then.”

She added, “Something feels weird about it too. Like I’m being kept from getting too strong.

It’s weird. I also wouldn’t have been weakened when you were sixteen.

I was at full strength when I came to you.

” I apologized, “I’m sorry this has been so difficult for you.

” Freya gently said, “As I am sorry for what you have suffered. It was not meant to be that way.” I wondered what she meant.

I looked over to study Alexander. I was surprised that he was already awake because it had been a long time since I was the last person awake.

His ocean blue eyes felt like they looked into my very soul.

He had the bluest eyes I’d ever seen. I blushed, remembering how we ended up here together.

I was still half naked, and he was completely naked.

I told my wolf, “He should stay like this. He looks amazing without clothes.” Freya agreed, “He does. Jump him.” Then I started talking to him.

Oh my gosh! I frantically asked my wolf, “Did I just say I loved him?! OUT LOUD?! Why did my filter vanish? Aren’t you supposed to stop me from doing stupid crap? ”

Freya laughed, “First, I feel the need to point out you don’t have a filter. It’s honestly adorable that you think you do. Second, I would stop you from doing something unintelligent. but that wasn’t bad. He loves us too. Look into his eyes.” I argued, “He doesn’t know us.”

Freya cautioned, “Don’t be so sure.” She could not be sure all she wanted. I knew Xander didn’t know. He definitely wouldn’t have sex with me. He’d probably be repulsed like those girls said he would be.

Freya asked, “Why do you still think that? He already said that was a lie because we were his first and only intentional kiss.” That was right.

He did. Why did it still feel real to me?

Because it did. I still wanted to reply and say he’d been with other women and was experienced when he wasn’t. He’d said so.

I was about to run and hide when Xander caught me before I even made it out of bed.

He kissed me as if his life depended on it.

Freya chuckled, “See? I told you he loves us too.” Gosh, there was nothing more I wanted in this life to be true than those words.

I wanted to curl into him and never let him go .

The fact remained the same though, he didn’t understand. I was the source of pain for an entire pack. A pack Xander himself was close with. In fact, his whole family was. His sister dated my remaining and only living brother when they were younger.

I knew Cassie and Jason were still friends. Jason and Alexander themselves were best friends when I lived in Red Run. Plus, Elise was his pack’s Lead Luna and she obviously loved her brothers who ran Red Run.

Alexander listed things about me, but none of them were Melanie things. Freya snorted, “Yes, they are. You ranted, fought, danced, multitasked and you could play guitar before you left Red Run.” She was right.

Freya sounded smug, “Of course I’m right. You may be scared to let him know you are actually Melanie, but that doesn’t mean he hasn’t put it together. Your dancing ability alone would tell someone as smart as our mate.” She was right and wrong.

Xander never saw me dance before I left.

EJ had, but he wasn’t here to point out I am me.

Xander might have heard people talk about how I dance, but that’s different from seeing it yourself.

I didn’t want to think about this anymore.

I just wanted to feel. He loved me, and I loved him. Maybe that would be enough.

If not, I was going to replay these memories in my mind for the rest of my life to get me through the loneliness of my existence. I initiated sex this time. I could see the lust in his eyes as he stared at my chest.

Freya whimpered, “I want him to suck on our nipples.” I mean…logically they were mine…so. She replied, “You are me. I feel what you do.” I told her, “You figure out how to make that happen without him seeing the scars on my back… and I’m game.” Freya huffed.

My body knew it belonged to him and obeyed his commands which was crazy, but it happened. It was because he was my Alpha. Pain filled my heart briefly when I thought that. The title of Alpha is something I was always taught that should be taken seriously.

Peter had been my Alpha and like a second dad to me. It had been a long time since I’d claimed an Alpha as my Alpha, who I respected and followed. Peter had always been that until he turned his back on me.

I thought Dalton and Dakota would be that to me, but they didn’t even read my appeal.

Cooper wouldn’t even talk to me or reply.

I’d even tried reaching out to Sebastian, Christopher, and Dane Kyle but silence was the only reply I got.

It hurt a lot. I’d always known if I ever did have someone I would claim as an Alpha again, it would be my Xander.

Xander pulled me from those thoughts when he flipped me onto all fours. He spanked me which stung, but in a nice way. I couldn’t believe I was into spanking. He began to play with the hem of my shirt. I surprised myself by not panicking.

Freya whispered, “Because you trust him. You know he could tear that shirt off you if he wanted. He doesn’t because he respects you. Ohhh you called him YOUR Alpha. Now you’ve done it.” I asked, “Done what? It was a respect thi... OH MY GOD!” I lost myself in the pleasure of it all.

We went for so long my arms were going numb.

I didn’t let myself fall until after Xander had come with a roar.

My ears were ringing from the sound and pleasure he’d just given me.

How was I going to get through without him if he didn’t want me?

I didn’t have an answer for that. Freya hummed, “We don’t need one.

We will never be without mate.” I liked her confidence.

I was contemplating another round or sleep when my stomach growled. Internally I ranted, “Treacherous organ! You were not on the agenda.” Freya chuckled, “I love you so much. We are going to have such fun together.” Hopefully. We seemed to get along pretty well so far.

The second Xander popped out to get us food, I ran to my bag. I quickly grabbed my shampoo and body wash, then jumped in the shower dealing with the first several moments of cold before it got warm. I’d gotten used to short cold showers when I went to Black Path.

When I lived with my Aunt Stephanie, she said she refused to waste the warmth or the water bill on me. I still didn’t use much hot water. One month “Uncle” Ajax accused me of using hot water when I hadn’t .

My next shower they dumped scalding hot water on me. I had third degree burns, but they’d healed. Luna Elena found out about it and made sure I got proper care. She also tore out a chunk of Aunt Stephanie’s hair which was hysterical. Now, I just stick to lukewarm showers.

I wrapped up my shower, spotted a massive mirror, and turned around. I traced the scars on my back. The proof of those horrible nights and of how Trevor couldn’t, and would never, be my mate. Those nights that turned into weeks where everything changed. Nothing was the same after that.

They were also proof that I was a fighter. I didn't give into the demands to make things easier even when everything, including my core identity, was stripped away from me. I stayed true to myself. They couldn’t break me. I was a survivor and I knew it because they were my trial by fire.

I put Xander’s hoodie on that I found on the floor. His smell enveloped my senses and immediately calmed me down. I was a survivor and an Alpha’s mate. Not just any Alpha... an Alpha Enforcer who just happened to be a member of the Conners family. The cowards of Black Path couldn’t touch me.