Page 133 of The Alpha Enforcer and His Dancing Warrior Vol. 2 (Ribbon #10)

I linked Xander reiterating my earlier words, “I’m yours and I always have been.” Eric cleared his throat, “Right, so let’s…” A pop sounded and my heart jolted when I saw who it was. I’d missed Rena Richards.

Dax immediately growled. Dylan yipped, “YES! How sad this is for Alpha Caine. He got a Fairy and he’s not here to see it. Don’t worry y’all, I am filming this kodak moment. I SHALL send Alpha Caine his first GLORIOUS Former Forever Beta Dylan memo.”

Sierra linked me, “Who is that girl?” She’d been in the folders I gave them, but they ignored the Red Run ones. I answered, “Sharon and Garrett’s oldest daughter. That’s Rena.” Rena started crying and rushed to Dax.

Garrett, who I did not realize was here, linked me, “Is he a good guy? Good enough for my daughter?” I choked back a sob hearing his voice again. He was an uncle to me, and I’d missed him. I replied, “Dax is a great guy who is also a very good fighter.”

“Rena will be safe with him. He and Caine put their searches off for their mates not wanting their dad’s near them. They planned to look after they’d settled in their roles. They’ve always wanted their fated mates, even before I entered the picture.”

Rena hugged Dax when they collided. She whispered, “You’re finally here.” Dax growled, “MINE!” She popped them away. Sharon popped in a second later to pop their group home. Xander popped us home into the main room. My mate pulled me down into his lap on the love seat.

I asked, “What are we doing?” Xander was tense as he replied, “Having a meeting.” I frowned, “I really don’t know how I got through that Coven’s barrier thing. Freya just said we could….not that I planned on not trying.” Xander assured me, “I believe you.” He leaned down and gently kissed me.

When he pulled back several other pops sounded. I looked around, noting it was Xander’s family and mine. Goodie. Freya sighed, “Let’s get this over with. Maybe mate will punish us after.” I replied, “He wouldn’t hurt us. Why do you sound excited?”

Freya snickered, “Not like how Black Path punishes people. I mean Sexy punishments. It will be hot.” I flushed scarlet red.

I shouted, “FREYA!” My wolf just laughed.

I said, “Alpha’s do like women in dominatrix situations with their mates…

from the research I read anyway.” Freya replied, “He’ll be the dominant one tonight. ” Ok then.

EJ spoke first, “Melanie, did you learn all those moves from watching Alexander’s videos?” I nodded, “Yes and from training with Former Alpha Nick and Former…” Grandpa Ben growled, “You call me Grandpa Ben or Ben. Don’t you dare say my title, young lady.”

I sighed, “I was going to say Alpha Peter… and Grandpa Ben. Well and watching the Warriors in Red Run fight… and well Male Lead Warrior Zane… which I guess is former now… Tank too… so… it’s a whole group.” EJ snorted, “Alright. ”

Tristan said, “Great. He’s done. WHAT THE FUCK LADYBUG?!” I frowned, “Umm… I don’t know what that’s in reference to.” Tristan snorted, “You didn’t even blink in a stare down from an Alpha that should’ve had you submitting. Emmett is an Alpha. Instead, you were sarcastic and rude.”

I gasped, “Me? I was rude?! He was rude! Also, I’m a Luna… which is an Alpha’s equal. There isn’t an Alpha around whose stare will work on me.” They all looked at each other like that was news. Jason added, “You haven’t had your ceremony yet.”

I snorted, “So? Does that make me not a Luna?” Xander growled, “No, it doesn’t.

You’re my mate which makes you a Luna.” I gestured with my hands saying, “Mystery solved.” Freya linked, “Not exactly but kind of. The logic is there though so it works.” One day, maybe she’d tell me what she was talking about.

I added, “And maybe you’d be snarky too if you were having a WHOLE DAY in like an hour… Paige almost died… because I didn’t realize obviously a Nashville Coven would come with them… the object was me and Paige… I should’ve known that.”

“I just wanted to practice with my band… I started it to have something for myself… and they tried to ruin it…. and Alan IRKS me… and people bringing up me not being marked… is annoying….and hurtful…so…I’m snarky and I’m not sorry.” Xander growled and pulled me against him.

Grandpa Ben said, “That’s all understandable, and it’s not your fault Paige almost got hurt.” Killed but ok. Xander said, “I would mark you if…” I cut him off, “I know that. It’s just REALLY annoying when people keep saying it as some gotcha moment.” And it stung to hear every time.

My dad asked, “How are you getting so much faster?” I shrugged, “My wolf said it’s because she’s getting stronger.” Jason raised an eyebrow asking, “So your wolf is the Flash ?” I pointed out, “I mean… I’ve always been fast.”

Jason snorted, “Not that fast. You made it across the Daniels’ territory in five minutes. Probably less.” I reasoned, “Ok so…yes, but it was to save two pups… one of whom is my future sister is law. There was a lot of adrenaline going and… stuff.”

My mom said, “You know how to shoot a bow and arrow.” It wasn’t a question since they’d seen me do it. I nodded, “I mean… I can use most weapons. I get bored and I learn things. Archery was one of those things.”

Elise chimed in, “You can see through Fairy charms.” Several people glanced sharply at her. I disagreed, “No, I can’t. No one can do that… literally no one. Not even King Aiden. He’d know there was one… but he can’t see through it.” I’d read a lot about Fairy charms.

Elise rolled her eyes at everyone. She turned to me saying, “Yes, you can. At the party the other night Cassie was wearing a charm. I had no idea it was her, but you knew. No one can see Lexi and Chase’s house in the woods unless they’ve been brought inside by Lexi, Chase or their pups. ” My jaw dropped.

If there was a Fairy charm on Lexi’s house that would mean Haley had probably cast the charm. If Cassie had a charm on… then her uncle or mom would’ve cast the charm. Which meant I might owe Alpha Emmett an apology.

I tried to link him, “So… I seem to be able to link who I want… and it was brought to my attention… your deal about the seeing your parents’ house…

is not the insulting question I thought it was…

that’s my bad… but to be fair… you didn’t say it was Fairy Charmed…

so I’m still sorry. I thought you were insulting my eyesight or something.

” Alpha Emmett snorted out a laugh. “It does work and it’s fine, Luna Melanie. ” Ok then.

Why could I see through a Fairy Charm Haley and Aiden did then? Freya linked, “Because we are special. They don’t need answers right now.” I asked her, “Do I?” Freya answered, “You have always been able to do things others haven’t.”

“I don’t know how she did it and we all know that. We can look into that.” Phil snorted, “Quietly, right?” Gage chimed in, “Ever so quietly.” Xander agreed, “Yes. Extremely quietly. I actually think we should leave it to Uncle Aiden.” Phil nodded.

My mom whispered, “You were shot six times?” I nodded, “In a fight….yes.” Tristan asked, “So you’ve been shot more than seven, no eight times then total.” I internally cringed but didn’t say anything. Grandpa Ben demanded, “Ladybug, answer him.” I sighed, “Yes. ”

Jason asked, “How many times have you been shot?” I pursed my lips, “I’m not actually keeping track.” That was a lie, I was. The looks on their faces told me they knew it too. Tristan narrowed his gaze, “Bullshit. You know the number. Even if you didn’t you could ballpark it.”

I evaded, “If I was ballparking I’d say more than eight times, big brother.” Tristan growled but Jason shot me a smirk. It was contentious but it felt more like a sibling disagreement than any of our other conversations.

It was a silly thing to make me smile, but it did. It was a normal sibling argument… not the topic, but the tone we were using. Gosh… I needed help. Freya snorted, “Their wolves are happy too, so you don’t need help.” We all needed therapy. Immediately.

My dad urged, “Ladybug, come on.” I sighed, “I’d have to look at my spreadsheet.” I’d cataloged them all and it counted the number of times, but I kept getting shot… so…it kept going. Freya snorted. My mom started crying, “The number is so high you kept a spreadsheet?”

I couldn’t exactly tell her doing what I did was dangerous. It wasn’t just fighting other packs. I was the Resistance leader. Not that anyone outside of a very small group knew that, but they knew the people in all black were Resistance members. People tended to shoot at us.

I shrugged, “It’s not a big deal, I have spreadsheets and pivot tables for a lot of things… and like I said, I usually get hit in the vest.” Grandpa Ben growled, “Why do you think that makes it better?” I linked Freya, “Do you see why we can’t tell them about our back?”

Freya sighed, “You might have a point. They will flip out about the whole Swiffer thing.” I argued, “Only if they find out.” Someone cleared their throat because I hadn’t answered.

I sighed, “Because it’s better to get shot in a bulletproof vest…

that I made… than somewhere else. Or with a bullet resistant vest…

that hurts more…. but it hurts a lot more to actually get shot, without either kind of the vests. ” They all winced.

I sighed, “Can we end the questioning sessions of questions you don’t actually want the answer to?” Haley spoke, “It’s not that they don’t want the answer. They wish the damn answer was different.” That was semantics in my opinion.

Tristan asked, “Is that the worst thing that happened to you?” I asked, “Huh?” He clarified, “Is getting shot the worst thing that happened to you?” I stared at my brother because I was not answering that. Jason quietly asked, “Ladybug?”