Page 71 of The Alpha Enforcer and His Dancing Warrior Vol. 2 (Ribbon #10)

I replied, “Yes, mom.” Oden said, “Thor is not happy he’s part of the reason mate didn’t file against Trevor.” Well, that response had stunned our group. My dad rubbed his head. I linked him, “Having a good reputation isn’t a bad thing.”

My dad snorted, “Only when it’s used to manipulate teenagers into thinking I’ll excommunicate their only living family as my ally if I find out what happened to them.

” I pointed out, “Looking at it from her perspe ctive she’s right, which she’s smart enough to know.

That’s exactly what all of us would’ve done IF the situation had happened as she thought it had. ”

My dad sighed, “Yes, it is. I would’ve taken over their pack and put a new Alpha family in charge because what she believed happened to her was insane and over the line.

” I knew that. Melanie was clearly upset that no one in her home pack had reached out to her.

She’d wanted them to know it was her. Based on all the sniper notes that was abundantly clear now.

I could hear someone shifting and grabbing clothes. Dane yelled, “MaryBeth, wait!” MaryBeth squealed, “Not a single chance! Melanie’s home, you slow poke! AND she’s mated to Alexander! We need drinks! Celebrations need to be going on, and I need to hug my niece! So, come on you poky puppy.”

I linked Phil, “You need to stop them.” Phil sighed, “I can try but...” He trailed off, “Well, we are too late.” MaryBeth and Melinda burst through the door. They ran to Melanie who jumped away from them. Then her friends formed a literal wall in front of her. Oh goodie.

They glared at MaryBeth and Melinda, both of whom were confused.

Ben McAlister had them walk over to their side of the room.

Dane and Landon were not happy at the turn of their mates' moods. I shot them a warning glare, which they really didn’t understand.

That was fair, because right now nothing really made much sense.

Landon linked me, “What the LITERAL fuck is going on?!” I answered adding Dane, “Some shit is going on. Nothing was what we thought. I’m pretty sure Melanie has letters from both your mate’s saying they hoped mine died.

Which are obviously fake, and I know she has the letters.

I just don’t know the content. It was mean though.

” Landon physically jolted along with Dane.

Phil linked me, “Ok, officially hating the letter writers, because now I think Melinda and MaryBeth sent them too and they were mean based on my mate’s face.” I replied, “Yeah, that would track and it’s what I just told Landon and Dane my guess for content.” Phil rolled his neck.

Melanie tried to play Ben’s question off about their family as if it didn’t hurt her feelings that they’d disowned her. I could see it on her face and feel it shoot up my foot. It had devastated and crushed her to a degree it nearly brought me to a knee.

My parents shot me concerned looks with my siblings. Probably because some of it felt like me in our bond. The fact there was the hurt in Melanie’s tone and her demeanor hurt me. Hell, all of it showed it had hurt her deeply.

Melinda and MaryBeth instantly started crying.

I could tell Ben was about to follow that up.

He was hurt and angry himself. I growled to remind him she had questions too.

Melanie took a deep breath before asking her question.

My heart broke for her when she asked Drake if he was her biological father.

Several people in the room teared up. Her voice sounded so small and fragile, yet hopeful. I linked Micah, “I thought that transition to call her Melanie rather than Ashley would take you a while.” Micah replied, “Honestly, it probably will. I’ve been practicing. I should’ve done more for her.”

I disagreed, “You did everything you could for her, with the information that you had.” Micah looked away from me and answered, “If only that were true.” So much guilt was in this room you could practically swim in it. Drake was beyond pissed off now and Sam looked devastated.

Meanwhile, Tristan and Jason looked ready to destroy something. Melanie interjected in a more broken voice that shattered everything in me. She looked and sounded so small. She desperately wanted the confirmation that Drake was her biological dad.

EJ linked me, “They will die horrific deaths for this, little brother. They do not get to slither into the shadows. They die.” I scoffed, “You’re preaching to the choir, big brother.” Drake assured her it was never in question that she was his daughter.

Melanie couldn’t hold it together anymore. She went down so hard I wasn’t prepared. She sank to the ground and hugged herself, sobbing. I felt like I could feel the fractured pieces of her heart she was trying to put back together with that information.

Her family started to move, but her friends stood in their way.

Paige whispered, “I mean this as nicely as possible but hell to the fuck no on you guys hugging her right now. You have NO idea what that lie did to her . None. So, just stay in your spots. Link her wolf. Give Mel a goddamn minute and let her Xander pick her up.”

I did just that, ready to pop us out. This conversation was over. My mom said as much out loud, then linked me, “Not just because I know you were about to pop out, because I did. Or because I’m you’re fucking mom. It’s because she needs a break.”

The McAlister’s argued, but my mom shut them down in her typical way. They backed down. I looked at Jason completely conflicted. He was one of my oldest friends. The apology was in my eyes, but I couldn’t let this go farther.

I knew he needed answers and wanted to be near her, but I needed to do what was best for Melanie. She was my mate, and I had to protect her. Sam and Drake were going to stay in our home, but the rest of them had to go.

Melanie clearly told her friends to go with them. Jason, Dalton, and Dakota stared at her in astonishment. No one really understood her at this moment, but I did. Melanie was never a selfish person. She knew they were hurting, and they needed their mates. My mate wasn’t going to hold them back.

Everything she’d been doing, even while she was mad at Red Run, showed how much Melanie loved everyone there. Especially the Kyle’s and the McAlister’s. She was just hurt. Julian walked over and popped them out since Jared was frozen. The Richards all shook themselves then popped out.

I popped Melanie away from the group to collect herself.

My dad linked me, “Good god. I should’ve seen that coming from a mile away.

” I agreed, “You should have. Mom clocked it.” He snorted, “Your mother is smarter than me and I admit that. Make sure Melanie is ok, son. To be thought of as a Hunter’s child, which makes no goddamn sense, would have crushed a Beta blood. ”

I snarled, “There were definitely those who knew she wasn’t. Their pack leadership absolutely did. The rest should’ve but Phil said they weren’t told things like that according to his source. Still, they should’ve known Melanie has no Hunter blood in her.”

Melanie lost her composure, and I couldn’t blame her. I just held her as she cried. A few tears of sympathy leaked out of my own. EJ linked me, “We need to talk, little brother.” I told him, “I have nothing to say.” EJ shot back, “I do.”

I scoffed, “Good for you.” EJ sighed, “Please just let me explain.” I brushed him off, “I’m taking care of my mate right now.” EJ replied, “Elise really wants to see her.” I told him, “I’ll tell Melanie you want to come out here when she calms down but it’s her choice.”

EJ warned, “Eventually, you’ll have to talk to me.

” I agreed, “Eventually I’ll be calmer.” EJ’s sadness came through when he said, “You’ve never blocked me out like that before.

” I reasoned, “If I told you that you couldn’t go straight to Elise in a battle, you’d do the same.

I’m so fucking tired of being kept away from Melanie.

I’m done with that now. Forever.” EJ grumbled, “I didn’t.

Just let me explain.” I reiterated, “I’ll talk to Mel. She’s still not calm.”

I rubbed her back. Oden was just as distraught as I was. They’d hurt my Lovebug mentally and physically. They tried to break her, but she stood together with her broken pieces and refuses to them go. She was everything to me, and I’d never let them touch her again.

They’d have to go through me personally now.

That thought made me smile. The people that hurt her had no idea the hell that was in their way now.

Come what may, I’d protect her. From anything.

Oden agreed, “We will. These people have made an enemy out of us more than ever before. That was a mistake they will pay for.” Yes, it was.

When Melanie calmed down, I was surprised she was ok with EJ coming out here with Elise. I didn’t really want to see him. Melanie convinced me even though her explanation made me want to wince. In retrospect of what was going on with her siblings, this wasn’t that big of a deal.

Micah linked me, “Corbin insists I tell you he needs to speak to you before you and Melanie have sex tonight.” I asked, “How big of an asshole do you think I am? She’s on emotional overload.

She’s been physically and emotionally hurt.

I’m going to fucking hold her tonight. Plus, I’ve still got an Alpha and Beta to beat the ever loving shit out of. ”

Micah snorted, “I don’t think you’re an asshole. It’s been a weird night and I’m just passing along what he’s saying. Just so you know, Corbin’s being weird. It’s got me being weird on top of the guilt I feel for all this shit with Melanie.” I sighed. Great.

Oden said, “We can’t have mate out of eyesight of someone we trust.” Not for the foreseeable future we couldn’t. People I trusted were going to be on her. I couldn’t get Melanie’s scream of pain out of my head. It was on a loop, and someone needed to pay for that besides my mental state.