Page 110 of The Alpha Enforcer and His Dancing Warrior Vol. 2 (Ribbon #10)

I was finally home, and I still couldn’t be normal.

Freya disagreed, “You can.” I snorted, “No, I can’t.

We have enough to deal with this... would just…

break them all over again. My past and tragedies are just that.

Mine. We can keep this to ourselves. I’ll triple my effort to figure out a way to hide them. ”

Freya urged, “Just tell mate.” I argued, “No, this would crush him… more than what happened to me already has.” I stepped out of the shower and dried myself off. I had just grabbed Xander’s hoodie when anger and anxiety felt like it came up from my foot. What the hell?

I jumped on the bed and looked at my foot.

I closed my eyes and shook my head. My tattoo seemed to be pulsing.

Freya told me, “Mate needs us.” I surmised, “That anger and anxiety I feel… it’s his?

” Freya answered, “Yes.” I questioned, “How?” Freya replied, “I’ll explain later.

You need to go to him right now.” She was right.

I ran back down the stairs as the anger intensified. Now there was a possessive feel to his feelings. This was about me. I heard him snarl that no one would take me. Who did they think would? I had no intention of leaving. I jumped into his arms letting him inhale my scent to calm down.

Phil linked me, “Here I was getting the gym all prepped for him to come back and beat things to a pulp. I’ll tell the Warriors to stand down. You really are better than Prozac, Melanie McAlister.” I rolled my eyes then replied, “I do my best.”

Phil said, “Your best is far better than most. I do my best and he would still have spent all night in the gym. You do your best and he’ll just go to sleep.” I smiled hoping that was true. I was actually hoping for something other than sleep first .

Xander popped us away and we somewhat seriously talked about anyone who would try to take me away. I would not go willingly and silver and wolfsbane didn’t affect me. Freya reasoned, “He doesn't know that yet.” That was true.

I was trying to give him my freakishness in doses. Freya growled, “We are not a freak.” I sighed, “Even before I shifted, they tried to drug me with wolfsbane... but it didn’t do anything to me.” Freya confidently stated, “It never would’ve. It can’t hurt us.” That was weird.

I’ll give her it was somewhat special, but still weird.

Xander pushed up his hoodie to see my stomach.

This was ok. God, it felt good. He couldn’t see the scars from the front.

I could feel his anger, bitterness, anxiety, and desperation shoot up from my foot when he found the scar from the bullet I’d taken all those years ago.

I linked Freya, “See? That’s his reaction to ONE scar. If he sees the ones on my back…. I can’t imagine how he would feel.” Freya sighed, “He’d be upset, but he’d get over it. Mate could fix it with his mom.” I still didn’t get that.

I guess, maybe one day I could talk to Haley about it. Maybe she would figure out how to get rid of them... with Paige’s help. My future mother in law would have to promise it was in confidence though. That was something that had… merit. She’d understand.

Xander distracted me from all thoughts as his mouth descended on my nipple for the first time. God, it felt better than when I’d imagined it. He seemed to lose all sense when I called him my Alpha. Xander nearly marked me, but I don’t know if he even noticed.

I wouldn’t have cared. Especially since Freya was confident we would shift. I wanted his mark on me. Freya purred, “We would shift, I’m still positive. Before you ask, no I still don’t have proof or anywhere people could look it up. I just know.”

Before I could reply Freya purred, “Oden is in charge.” I asked her, “Do you want to come out?” Freya answered, “For a minute.” She took over. Longer than she had before, but as we came she slammed me forward. It was a definite head rush. Xander and I went at it for hours.

I could barely keep my eyes open when we stopped.

I woke up with a start. I sighed when I looked at the clock.

It was four in the morning, but I wasn’t tired.

I’d trained myself to survive on little to no sleep.

My body just had an internal alarm now because I had to serve Black Path their breakfast on time or there was literal hell to pay.

I quickly grabbed my leggings and went down the kitchen still in Xander’s hoodie. I was talking to Jason today. To say I was nervous was an understatement. He had to be more upset than mom, dad, or Tristan were, and he had every right to be.

I’d believed he didn’t want to see me and wanted nothing to do with me. That he’d wanted me as far from him as he could get... in a pack he hated. Great. Jason had every reason to really be pissed with me this time instead of a fake him being upset.

I decided I needed crepes and got to work. Freya linked, “Non sleeping weirdo, Thor is coming. Now Freya is going back to sleep.” I smiled at her tone. I could hear him coming so I was more aware today. I got a plate out and put it on the kitchen counter with a fork.

I heard him chuckle, “I thought it was you down here.” I turned saying, “I know you could smell it was me long before you got in here…so you knew it was me.” Eric smirked, “That’s very true. Why do you wake up so early?”

I shrugged, “It’s an internal alarm at this point.

Today I woke up later than normal. I’d be running behind in Black Path.

” Eric told me, “You don’t have to cook here.

You know that, right? No one will hurt you if you don’t.

You could leave the kitchen in shambles, and no one would give a damn.

It would just get snapped back at some point. ”

I nodded, “I’m… well… it’s… you know… I’ve grown to like cooking. It helps calm me down.” Eric raised an eyebrow as I put all the crepes out. Eventually he asked, “What are you nervous about?” I answered, “Jason wants to talk to me today… and he has every right to be mad. I would be if I was him.”

Eric nodded, “I see. If you’re not ready to talk to him alone, that’s ok. Haley would join you and so would I. Or I could clear Alexander’s schedule so he could as well.” Warmth filled me because I knew he meant that .

I replied, “That’s very kind of you to offer.

If the letters I have were actually from him…

I’d take you up on it. I told my friends to listen to my family and the Kyle’s side.

It’s only fair that I do the same. I just know and acknowledge Jason has every right to be upset with me. Like I said…. I would be if I was him.”

Eric was quiet for a moment, so I kept cooking. Eventually Eric spoke again, “Fair is not really at play here. This is about what you need. Jase may have the right to be upset, but he was not ripped from his family as a teenager in his formative years.”

I admitted, “I can’t remember the last time someone said that to me until I came here.” He asked, “What part?” I snorted, “All of it… but I meant you saying it’s about what I need. I haven’t thought about my needs for a long time.”

“Maybe my friends, Cayden or Micah said it once… before that, I’m pretty sure it was before I left home. I think I do need to hear what Jason has to say. It’s just easier with Tristan because I thought he was dead. There were no harsh words exchanged, be that false words or not.”

I winced, “Those words were still said or written…..so I still heard or read them. I don’t really know how to get past that, but I know that if I don’t talk to him we won’t. I was there for him when I could be. Or I tried to be.” Eric raised an eyebrow casually asking, “What does that mean?”

I sighed, “I’m sure you know what it means. You know I’m Red One. You know Jason was taken by Hunters. I helped get him out… once I was told he was there… which was NOT when I would’ve liked it to be.”

Eric nodded, “Yes, I did think that was likely. Which gives me more conclusions to draw because he came back with a Resistance card in his pocket. So it stands to reason, you know them.” I made a face.

He clarified, “I mean you know someone in the Resistance.” I agreed, “It does stand to reason that I do…that a logical conclusion.” That was true…

.it was and I knew everyone so…I did know someone in it.

Everyone…. Evasions were my bread and butter.

I was certain Eric suspected far more than he said from his gaze, but he was right. It would stand to reason that Red One worked alongside the Resistance. Or that I was a part of the Resistance myself. I just wasn’t going to confirm which one that was.

Eric smiled, “Whenever you are ready to talk about that, my door is open.” I nodded, “Ok.” To my surprise he didn’t push. That was odd. Why didn’t he ask? Zoe came in and started cooking beside me. She watched and eventually started handing me ingredients as I kept cooking.

Eric’s brothers came in next. Jackson greeted, “Good morning, Melanie. I’m Jackson.” I nodded, “I know.” Freya chuckled, “I love when you do that.” Jackson snorted, “Of course you do.” Darrin asked, “Who am I?”

I spoke over my shoulder flipping more crepes, “Former Alpha Darrin Conners.” Darrin snorted, “Just Darrin will do.” He kissed Zoe on the top of the head greeting, “Good morning, beautiful daughter in law of mine.” Zoe smiled, “Morning, dad.”

Harold said, “Before you even say former Alpha Harold, I’ll tell you to just call me Harold.” I smiled, “Ok Harold and just Darrin.” They all chuckled. Jackson moaned, “Good god, you’re an amazing cook.” I blushed.

EJ walked in muttering, “I can smell that all the way upstairs. Gimme one.” Xander’s brothers all started to file in.

Xander popped in as I was about to set a plate on the counter, so I handed it to him.

I wondered if they didn’t run today because Eric wasn’t waiting outside for them.

They ran when I made the muffins. So, he must be key for the run.