Page 158 of The Alpha Enforcer and His Dancing Warrior Vol. 2 (Ribbon #10)

My family was staring at me. I told them, “Go. It’s a happy day. I’d come if I could. We can talk later, but this is about Jason and Addison. They deserve the happy moment.” They begrudgingly nodded. I spotted Tank and my eyes widened.

Tank linked me, “Yeah, we are going to talk pup.” I replied, “I’m not a pup anymore.” He grinned, “You’ll always be a pup to me. You did good today, pup. Like you always did. You’re even more impressive now. It’s good to see you.” It was good to see Tank too.

My dad came over and hugged me. I linked him, “We can talk about it later, dad. Just enjoy the party.” There were tears in his eyes and his guilt was all over his face. I added, “It’s not your fault.” Dad clearly didn’t believe me, but he left with the Red Run group.

Alpha Peter stayed behind and I was certain my dad asked him to. Alpha Theo spoke, “Thank you, Melanie. Without your warning Mae and Anne would be gone. So would Lux.” Lux smiled, “A few seconds notice before a shot is fired at my head is always nice. I wouldn’t complain if it were minutes though.”

I replied, “You’re welcome, Lux.” He smiled teasingly saying, “I knew you liked me.” I snorted, “I told you and your dad I liked you guys.” Xander snarled, turned me around, and slammed his lips onto mine. Lux laughed.

I pulled back adding, “As friends. I guess I should say as friends. You’re the only one for me, Xander.” KJ snorted, “She guesses she should say as friends. Guesses. God, my job is hard.” Huh? Xander’s eyes were blazing.

Julian spoke in a strained voice, “EJ.” EJ laughed, “I’m surprised you’re still here, little brother. Go home with your mate. We’ve got this.” Julian and Valentina were gone in the next second. Sierra squealed, “She’s with us now too! This is so great!”

I laughed, “Something tells me all the moving she did into her apartment today was for nothing. At least she’s related to her landlord now…because she’s going to need out of her lease.” Xander snorted, “That would be you, big brother.”

EJ smirked, “I’m sure she’s already out of it and the paperwork just needs her signature.” Xander snapped the bodies away. Alpha Theo sighed, “We have a few injuries, but it would be much worse without your warning. That’s all thanks to all of you. Mainly Melanie, and the help she brought.”

Xander asked, “Does anyone need to be healed?” Ezra groaned, “Me.” Freya scoffed, “He’s insane.” Ezra’s audacity knew no bounds. Xander snarled, punched him in the head, and knocked him back out. Alpha Theo tried not to laugh when he said, “I assume you’d like to hold Ezra in your pack.”

EJ said, “We would.” Alpha Theo agreed, “As long as I get to speak with him at some point, I have no problem with that. I owe one of your Luna’s the life of my mate and pups. Not to mention my own life. Giving Ezra to you is a small thing to do.”

I added, “Their Gamma is injured over there. If I’m not mistaken Lux took him down.” Lux smirked saying, “Lux did. Lake was no fan of you saying he did something to you.” I muttered, “Yeah… you should ask him… about that. Saying it now… seems like a bad idea.” Lux replied, “I will.”

Alpha Theo said, “We can hold him along with the other survivors who fought us. The wolves you had guarding Melanie killed the Beta already.” I snorted, “He broke the rules of the challenge. So….I’m not surprised they killed him.”

KJ said, “We were going to hold him, then you said what he did to you.” Chason growled, “None of us could stop our wolves after that.” Fowler chimed in, “And we didn’t want to since that Gamma deserved it.” He really did. Freya said, “He deserved far worse. Iblis will give him hell.” Probably .

Xander gripped me tighter while everyone talked over more details. Alpha Theo’s pack began to come outside. Lux wiggled his eyebrows and whispered, “Guys, we are getting we almost died sex tonight. Who is excited?”

I snorted, “You did not almost die. It was completely under control. I don’t let my friends get attacked like that…

. Or die. That’s not a thing I do.” Lux put a finger on his lips and whispered, “Shh. It was still a fight, and I did almost die. Don’t ruin this for me.

” I rolled my eyes replying, “Nothing could ruin it for you.” Harrison snorted, “She’s right. ”

We left a few Warriors with them, and we popped back home. Xander blew off the group that wanted to talk to us... or me. Mostly me. He popped us to our room then nodded to the bathroom. My mate said, “You can shower first. I know some of that blood is yours, and I can’t focus knowing you got hurt.”

I explained, “It was to save Mae… and it was just a bite to the arm.” Xander gritting his teeth. He kissed me and whispered, “Please Lovebug, just go take a shower.” I nodded and darted into the bathroom, closing the door.

I turned around confirming you could only see a few whip mark scars. So at least that was something. I quickly took everything off and scrubbed myself in the shower. I grabbed Xander’s hoodie and threw it on. I walked out and he kissed my forehead. Xander said, “I’ll take a quick shower too.”

I could tell he was still trying to calm himself down. I laid down on the bed and my eyes started fluttering shut. I guess fighting a massive battle was tiring… along with magic making me ill from going home.

Xander walked out and stopped short. He climbed into bed and pulled me into his chest, “Sleep, Mel.” I yawned, “No, you want to talk.” Xander kissed the side of my head, “I do, but you need sleep. It’s been…

an eventful day. We will just take a little nap.

” I agreed, “Ok. I love you, Xander.” He choked up and replied, “Gods, Mel. I love you so damn much.” I faded off to sleep.

When I woke up, stretched, and looked over to Xander’s side surprised his arms weren’t around me. I found his side of the bed empty. I snorted, “I guess this is how it feels in reverse.” His side of the bed wasn’t quite cold yet though so he left recently.

Freya told me, “Something is wrong. I don’t sense him nearby.

” I was thinking he was in the gym working off the anger he felt, but that was nearby.

I frowned and pulled out my computer. I could locate Xander from his ring.

I pulled up my tracker for him and started to track it, but nothing was coming back.

Faintly, and briefly, it looked like he was in Nashville before the signal faded entirely. Why would Xander be in Nashville? I threw on some leggings and quietly walked outside. I ran to the border where Paige had put a holoport on.

I walked through and was in Nashville. I quickly walked to Black Path and found Dax. He smiled greeting, “Hey, Mel.” I waved, “Umm hi… quick question… why is Xander here?” Dax tilted his head answering, “He’s not.”

I argued, “But his GPS briefly showed he was here before it failed.” Dax shook his head insisting, “He’s not around here, I swear.

In fact, we just got back from Addison’s celebration.

” I frowned, “Ok… if you see him call me.” Dax chuckled, “Sure. You know, we tend to be aware when a Conners is in Nashville.” He was right.

I ran back to the holoport and went through it. I was beginning to get worried. I ran back inside the house. I found Elise, EJ, Haley and Eric. I asked, “Where’s Xander? My computer said he was in Nashville… but he’s not there. Where did he go?”

EJ frowned answering, “He’s taking a nap with you.” I shook my head explaining, “No I woke up and Xander was gone. I checked the tracker because Freya said he wasn’t here, and it briefly flickered in Nashville before it cut out… what if he’s hurt? Could someone take him?”

EJ tilted his head asking in a tone that suggested he was highly amused, “You have a tracker on Alexander?” I bit my lip knowing my face was turning red. I stammered, “I mean… that’s not the point! He’s missing.”

Haley sighed, “I doubt that very much. I’d imagine he’s in the Ribbon.” All the blood drained from my face as I whispered, “But he’s…” In Nashville. Oh god. What time and year did he go to Nashville? The alternate realities didn’t follow our timeline. What was he going to see ?

Elise asked “Mel, are you ok? You look really pale.” EJ frowned asking, “What are you so afraid of?” Haley was looking at me with understanding in her eyes. Bile filled my throat, and I darted upstairs and threw up.

Agony, anger and pain hit me shooting up from my foot. I screamed bloody murder as Elise came flying into the room. Several pops filled the room. I was screaming because it felt like my blood was on fire.

My parents and Tristan burst in. My mom ran and gathered me in her arms. She asked, “Is she shifting? We should get her outside.” Haley had tears falling down her cheeks. I screamed, “Make it stop!” My dad whispered, “Ladybug, it will be ok.”

I shouted, “IT BURNS!” Tristan asked, “What? No, it doesn’t.” EJ answered in a harsh tone, “It’s not her pain. How the FUCK can she feel that? They haven’t had their Hackura ceremony.” I cried, “Why isn’t he coming back? The Ribbon isn’t supposed to let him get hurt.”

I screamed in agony and vaguely heard more pops, but I couldn’t look up. Anger like I’d never felt filled me. EJ asked, “Did what I think just happen?” Haley answered, “Yes.” What happened? Where was my mate?

My mom was rocking me back and forth. Freya told me, “Mate is back.” Then I heard a roar of rage. I cried knowing this was my fault. Whatever he saw hurt him. People popped and ran from the room. Xander’s anger was all consuming.

My dad was whispering into my hair, “It’s ok, Melanie. You just keep breathing Ladybug.” I cried, “I have to get to him, this is all my fault.” My mom asked, “What are you talking about?” I sobbed, “He was in the Ribbon in Nashville… he saw something… it hurt him. I need to get outside.”

My dad helped me stand because my legs were shaking.

Freya assured, “Mate won’t love us any less for anything he saw.

” I managed to get outside. I promptly screamed and ran towards the group fighting Xander.

All his uncles, his dad, Cayden, Micah, several of his brothers, and a few Warriors were fighting him.

Tristan grabbed me around the waist. I cried, “They are hurting him!” Tristan argued, “They are calming him down. You know the Hackura have to fight until they calm down. Alexander is not hurt. He’s ok.” Xander’s full body came into my view, and I gasped.

Tristan said, “I know.” I whispered, “He has… wings.” They were stunning… but I knew that meant he saw something so agonizing he got them, and I hated that. It was all because of me. Tristan whispered, “I know he has wings, Mel. It’s ok.” I cried, “This is all my fault.”

Xander pushed his Uncle Logan off him. My mate snarled, “I WILL KILL THAT DEAD ASS MOTHERFUCKER! YOU HAVE NO IDEA WHAT HE DID TO HER! I’M GOING TO KILL HIM! I WILL TRACK TREVOR DOWN AND TEAR HIM TO PIECES! AFTER I CARVE SHIT INTO HIS BACK FOR DOING IT TO HER!”

Tears filled my eyes because he’d seen exactly what I feared he’d see. Tristan stiffened. My mom whispered, “Ladybug, what is he talking about?” I cried when EJ landed a punch to Xander’s jaw as Wesley distracted him.

I cried, “Stop! Please stop! This is all my fault.” Tristan argued, “This is NOT your fault.” My parents agreed, “It’s not.

” It felt like it was. I always tried to protect Xander…

and now he was hurting because of me. The weight of that failure was threatening to crush me.

I finally managed to get free from Tristan.

I ran and threw myself at Xander. I wrapped my arms around his neck whispering, “I’m sorry.

I’m so sorry. I love you, Xander. I’m sorry.

” His arms went around me after a few seconds.

Xander was breathing hard. My mate pulled me tightly to him and then I felt the wind around us.

I heard people shouting, “Come back here!” I looked down and realized they were all below us. Oh my god. We were flying.

To Be Continued in Volume 3