Page 72 of The Alpha Enforcer and His Dancing Warrior Vol. 2 (Ribbon #10)
I linked EJ, “Mel said it was fine if you guys popped here. She wants me to hear you out.” EJ admitted, “That does sound like her type of advice tonight.” He popped in the next second with Elise. Both EJ and I were tense watching them.
Melanie made a weak joke, but it still felt the olive branch it was.
Elise broke down sobbing trying to take the blame, but Melanie didn’t let her.
Oden told me, “Rhea is so relieved that Melanie and Freya don’t blame them.
She also feels guilty because she knows that her family is not exempt like she is.
” I replied, “That has nothing to do with her.” The problem here was that feelings weren’t rational.
EJ let out a sigh of relief. I linked him, “And you were worried.” EJ glared at me retorting, “After the lovely welcome most of the Kyle’s got, yes I was. Elise has been an absolute wreck. You were worried too.” I admitted, “None of this is going how I thought it would.”
EJ looked at Melanie and Elise cuddled together on the couch. He acknowledged, “Me either.” Both our mates were broken by forces we didn’t see coming. We locked eyes. I knew no matter what he said here and now, we’d be united on making everyone pay.
The explanation of what happened shocked me. I teased my brother over link, “Now you’ve done it, brother. Your mate full named you.” EJ was trying not to laugh. Angela popped to us and explained her vision. Seriously? EJ could’ve just said that. Did he think today was too light on drama?!
Oden said, “Not only did Elise explain that, Rhea snarked it at me as well.” Well, ok then. Melanie’s comments had us raising eyebrows about Walker’s mate’s loyalty to her. Melanie literally shrugged Elise’s concerns off, and reiterated Blair would tell her.
EJ linked me, “I find that confidence INCREDIBLY interesting, and somewhat of a bad omen.” I agreed. Micah linked me, “Ok, Corbin is going to shit his pants if you don’t come back soon. Seriously. He looks so nervous. It’s odd and unsettling. We took a vote and everything.”
Max linked me next, “Seriously Alexander come back here. Corbin is a nervous wreck. He’s wringing his hands and muttering about being a bad guy and a prick.” I shifted through my bonds until I found Corbin’s. He was in fact a wreck and felt like an asshole.
I asked Max, “Are Sam and Drake still in the living room?” Max answered, “They are and still sobbing their damn eyes out. This situation is fucked in every way. I don’t know who I feel worse for yet. I have a bad feeling it will be Melanie.” So did I. I did feel bad for all of them though.
This was an impossible situation, but Melanie was my priority.
Oden said, “Freya said Melanie really doesn’t care about them being at the house and seeing them.
Freya thinks it will help her really.” Well, at least that was one awkward conversation that I didn’t have to tell someone to have them leave so we could come back.
I reiterated to Max, “You tell them Melanie is done for the night. I might punch anyone if they say anything else about this situation.” Max assured me, “I’m on that.” Corbin’s wince across the bond I held close to me didn’t give me the warm fuzzies about what we were coming into.
We popped back in. Corbin smiled nervously at Melanie while I raised an eyebrow.
To everyone’s astonishment, Melanie knew Corbin.
EJ linked me, “She has not gotten better at lying. How is that possible when she’s IN the Resistance?
” I answered, “She evades, or they don’t ask her directly about it. That’s the only answer.”
Oden boasted, “I bet mate will end up knowing every member of our family before we introduce them.” She had to since she’d been protecting them. I shot my cousin annoyance in the bond when he brought up her wolf. He couldn’t form a sentence. I had never seen him at such a loss for words.
I linked EJ, “What is his deal?” EJ replied, “I have no clue. I was with you. Before that, I was in my own treehouse with my own sobbing mate.” Aunt Katie said I couldn’t mark Melanie. I couldn’t stop my roar of anger .
EJ grabbed my shoulders as Oden fought me for control. Thor yelled down the link, “PUP, CALM DOWN!” The only thing that stopped me and Oden was Melanie's hysterical laughter. It was actually terrifying, because it sounded hollow.
Oden snarled, “How DARE someone do this to OUR MATE! They said we’d reject her. She stayed away because of that lie.” EJ linked me, “We will find out who lied about that, brother.” Yes, we would. My dad linked, “We will find them all I swear to you they will pay for doing this to you both.”
Drake looked like he was being tortured. In fact, he looked like his soul was being ripped from his body as he watched Melanie. Sam was barely standing upright. The only reason she was because Drake had his arms around her.
That led to conversation about Dalton’s mate. What was Paige’s story? Melanie started to explain she’d saved Paige from a Coven. Phil linked, “Ok, I’ll ask. Don’t worry. I am here for you Alpha Cousin.” I noticed he didn’t say anything when I was told not to mark my mate.
Oden said, “Rocket said he had the gym being prepped for our impending arrival.” Fair enough.
Melanie’s explanations about how life was in Nashville didn’t sit well.
That was all about to change. I linked EJ, “My ears are ringing from rage. So, I’m hoping I misheard that.
Did my mate just say Paige had been sold, to be forcibly marked by a Warlock? ”
He answered, “She did.” I winced knowing we’d have to tell Dalton. They would have had to have bound Paige’s power to do that. Because any witch would fight back otherwise. That would have been quite painful for Paige.
EJ linked, “Me again. So, Melanie took on a Coven for Paige? That’s dangerous.” I was almost certain I was correct to think Melanie didn’t care about danger. She just started ranting how different it was fighting for the people in the pack.
I linked my entire family that was here.
“THE PACK?! DID SHE SAY THE PACK?!” Max answered, “I heard that too. It’s weird though, right?
” I was thinking it was not weird to Nashville.
Oden was snarled, “HOW DARE ANY OF THEM CALL THEMSELVES ALPHA BLOODS! HOW DARE THEY FIGHT MATE FOR DOING THEIR JOBS!”
Micah and Cayden’s jaws dropped. My mom whispered knowing we could hear her, “She’s in shock still, so she’s probably going to keep talking.” Drake said, “Melanie does that not in shock.” It made my lips twitch because Melanie was just always herself.
My dad asked for clarification. I linked Phil, “It is an Alpha’s job to deal with attempted forced markings. Not the Female Lead Warrior WHO HAS NO ALPHA BLOOD!” He replied, “I know that as you do.”
My dad’s anger barreled into us when she confirmed she’d handled it. I nearly cracked a smile when my mom chose to blow up a pillow Cassandra had picked out for the couches. EJ linked me, “Dad should’ve seen that coming a mile away.” He was right, but dad probably did.
Oden said, “Even in shock mate is plotting out logical points of things people would figure out.” I was so proud of her. EJ linked, “She’s too damn smart.” She was. My dad linked me, “Her evidence is what you were going to give me after your mission.”
God, that trip when I’d called him felt like months ago at this point, but it wasn’t. I agreed, “It was.” He rubbed his face. Melanie snapped at Peter. I asked my dad, “Why didn’t he leave with everyone else? It feels like it might have been wise to do so.”
My dad answered, “Chelsea will be here soon too. She’s being popped in. Peter didn’t want to leave Drake like this. Nick and all Peter’s brothers went home so he stayed.” I nodded because I understood that. I wouldn’t leave if Phil was this upset.
My dad drew Melanie’s attention back to him. I was actually curious at this point how she’d answer what else he needed to know. Phil linked, “Any god up there needs to THROW ME A BONE!” Melanie stuck to the prisoners we had. She exchanged a look with Sierra.
Phil linked me, “GOD FUCKING DAMMIT! CLEARLY NO ONE UP THERE IN GOD AND GODDESS LAND IS LISTENING TO ME! WHAT DID THEY DO TO MY MATE?!” The answer was nothing good .
I linked Micah, “Did I hear that right?” He said, “If you heard her say she fought Jean because Sierra was almost forcibly marked, yes.” Phil roared in anger and Sierra started whispering in his ear that he could mark her tonight.
Bastard! He could and I couldn't. I linked him, “No one will take her from you.” Phil agreed, “No they fucking won’t.”
My dad had follow up questions which Melanie evaded. My dad groaned down the link, “Oh good. Another person who likes to evade in this house. There weren’t enough of those.” I teased, “We gotta keep you on your toes.” My dad grumbled, “She’s a full blooded Werewolf.”
I explained, “She’s not great at lying.” My dad snorted, “That was the rumor and from what I saw when she met Corbin I agree. At least we have that going for us. KJ is back here, and he’ll watch her with whoever else you put on her.
” KJ had been watching over the fake Melanie in New York. I replied, “Thanks dad.” He nodded.
Oden snarled, “I will kill every single Alpha blood who allowed unmarked pups to be marked or ANY forcible markings!” I agreed, “We will.” There was no way Melanie didn’t have a list going. She was a Beta Blood.
My dad was trying so hard not to get upset. I’m guessing my mom told him to be calm and not yell. Peter asked his questions too. I snarled at EJ, “They LET a FOURTEEN year old fight the battles of GROWN ASS MEN AND WOMEN!” He said, “It does sound like it, yes.” He was just as pissed about it.
She’d just been a pup fighting against Alpha bloods going against their oaths. Max linked, “I’m sorry there are packs out there that don’t know any member of any pack can file complaints with the Werewolf Council?! They are Werewolves!” I rubbed my temples while Oden growled.