Page 88 of The Alpha Enforcer and His Dancing Warrior Vol. 2 (Ribbon #10)

Tristan apologized, “Ladybug, we are so sorry. We were told you got an etiquette coach too.” I knew they were sorry.

It just didn’t make it hurt any less. He continued, “It was all fucked up and you never stayed on the phone for even five minutes. We were begging for scraps in your life.” I nearly flinched.

I replied to my brother, “I got homesick…and you know that. You also weren’t the only who begged.

I practically begged every single member of Red Run to talk to me or let me come home.

I appealed to every Alpha in the pack and was rejected.

I pleaded with Everly, Landon, and even Uncle Duncan.

So…I get the begging for scraps comment. ” In my very sou l

Xander didn’t understand what being safe meant to my friends, but his words made me fall deeper for him somehow.

We all hugged and everyone cried. They left and Xander popped us back to his office.

Freya snorted, “Rhea said they were elected to ask me about our other friends.” That didn’t make sense.

I linked Tristan, “I answered you over link….so… you could’ve asked me yourself instead of having Elise do it.” Tristan replied, “I wasn’t included in the vote. They thought Elise had the best chance of getting an un-snarky answer.” Fair enough.

Logically, Elise was the best choice if they didn’t know that I was willing to answer my brother over link. Dalton being angry worked for me. What he wanted was simple enough. I wrote it down for him and gave it to him.

That Warlock would be easy for Dalton to kill, and Paige… well she would absolutely have sex with him after she found out. One, she wanted to already, and two… she wanted that Warlock dead. She just didn’t want to be the one who killed him.

Nor did she want the Resistance to do it. Why? Well… I hadn’t figure that out yet, but Dalton had no rules to abide by. Dylan might have a point on the fact that paralyzing people was my move. Freya said, “It’s not a point, it’s one hundred percent accurate if they’ve pissed you off.” Fair.

I was surprised Xander’s family didn’t know about me fighting Claire yet.

Tristan linked me, “What did you do?” I answered, “Put a wannabe ladder climber in her place after she challenged me with her friends and hurt Xander. She even claimed she was going to be his chosen Luna…she’s lucky she’s breathing… let’s be honest.”

My oldest brother snorted, “I’m shocked she is.” Yeah…well…I could’ve killed her and I wanted her to suffer. All ranked siblings talked about ladder climbers….but Beta families did the most work to get rid of them because we watched out for the Alpha family.

Tristan smirked at me. Meanwhile, Jason looked back and forth between us. Dakota asked about my other friends. Freya laughed, “They know you have a list.” It was logical, since I had Beta blood. Freya asked, “Are we handing it over?” I answered, “Yes, I’ll give it to them.”

Far be it for me to prevent names being crossed off my kill list for me. They decided they wanted anyone who hurt their mates on the list. Ok, that made the lists all longer. Everyone was looking at me with that look again which made me uncomfortable.

Cayden stepped in because… of course he did. Was my new state of being nervous permanent? It felt like that was my emotion more often than not, now. I couldn’t help but worry about the upcoming conversation.

Was Xander going to be mad? I didn’t have a choice about joining the Hunters, and I did use it to help people. That had to count, right? Xander said he accepted me as I was. What if he doesn’t let me explain and….?

Freya interrupted, “Hey, worst case scenario Melanie Jane McAlister calm down. Mate wants us, and he will understand. You did a good thing. I’d be more worried about him finding out how you used to fight in the Undergrounds.

You know that’s going to be HELL when they all find out.

From literally everyone.” I closed my eyes knowing she was right.

I replied, “Maybe they don’t ever have to know.” Freya teased, “You are optimistic about the strangest things.” It was possible they wouldn’t find out. I’d have to say the odds were low, but there was a chance. Plus, they didn’t need to know my name in the Undergrounds.

Unless I ran into someone I knew from the Undergrounds, and they called me Swiffer… the odds slightly up ticked in my favor of them never finding out. I asked Cayden where we could go for privacy, but my dad wanted to me stay.

Umm… no. I barely wanted Xander to know they made me work with Hunters…. even though I didn’t really work with them. I kind of did... but not really. I was absolutely not telling my dad that. It was cowardly, but I’d rather Xander tell them than me.

My mate could probably do it succinctly whereas I’d be all over creation with my words. I’d probably confuse everyone into thinking I did actually work with Hunters... when I didn’t. Plus, Cayden had to say I was his source… Didn’t he ?

That seemed like a Cayden decision thing because, I mean… I guess it was my choice to be an anonymous source, but he’s… yeah let’s just go with it being Cayden’s choice. Freya snickered, “You are funny.” Cayden opened a portal, and we stepped through to an office.

Holy crap on a cracker. This was Cayden’s office! The pictures of him and Cassie everywhere gave it away. We were in the Hackura realm. I’d always wanted to come here. Xander said he could show me around.

I mean… I did know my way around, technically speaking. The Hackura realm was in one of my holographic maps on ILYX so… I could pretend not to know? Freya snorted, “Something tells me you’d give away you knew where everything was.” Probably.

We needed to leave anyway since we had other things to do. This was all Clay’s fault! Did someone always have to ruin everything fun for me? I could’ve seen the Hackura realm if he hadn’t shown up … for real, and not through a map.

Xander tickled me until I was almost crying because I was laughing so hard. I managed to explain the situation. My mate didn’t look surprised though. Cayden cut in saying directly what I did with no rambling.

How did Cayden do that so succinctly? I am a genius. Why the hell couldn’t I do that when nervous… or upset…. or mad… or excited? UGH! Xander believed me about not working with the Hunters. It felt like a weight lifted off of me.

I gave Cayden everything I had. His eyes widened in shock.

I knew he was surprised, but he shouldn’t have been.

Technically speaking, the Resistance could handle this.

We were larger than people thought. My core group did a lot of work, but I had recruited people all over the world in the forgotten packs. I had eyes and ears out most places.

I just couldn’t get everyone ready in time to do this, whereas Cayden could. He could even hit some the Hunting Rings and drugs now if he wanted. It was a smarter play to give it him. Plus, I owed him that much. He and Micah were lifelines to me.

I was certain Xander wasn’t going to agree to me going into Hunting Rings now. He wasn’t going to run my life, but that was a big thing we should agree on. Freya said, “Yeah, Oden said over his dead body.” Well, see… I knew that.

I was only with the Hunters because I was forced to be, and I wanted any information on Slade Carter I could get. I loosely explained how that worked in Black Path. I took a deep breath and told Xander I was Red One. He’d know who that was. People in his pack would’ve told him that name.

Or told Elise, who would’ve told them. His eyes widened, but he wasn’t surprised by my admission.

I frowned. How did I know that? Freya linked, “You’re smart which means you know the answer as to why mate was not surprised.

” But he had to be surprised that I was Red One. He couldn’t know that it was me.

Maybe Cayden told him… they had to know I was Ashley and Melanie before they came to rescue me in Black Path. It’s why they came. That must be it. Clearly, Cayden explained our interactions. Maybe they’d pieced together I was Red One.

Cayden didn’t seem shocked by Xander’s reaction either. To be fair, it was hard to surprise Cayden. The only time I’d seen him show surprise was when I knew who he was the first time we met, before he said his name.

Freya laughed in my head, “You’re so much fun.” I sighed. I wasn’t going to think about that. Xander shrugged it off saying he’d have to tell EJ. That was it? He has to tell EJ… gosh that was easier than expected. Maybe the whole being The Swiffer deal will go over smoother than I thought.

Freya chimed back in, “It won’t. It’s different and you know it.

” I reasoned, “I stopped fighting my usual way when he asked me to… that counts… for things… I think.” Freya snorted, “That might help you with mate. Everyone else? Meh.” I was still going with them not finding out.

That was a much better scenario in my head.

I tried to assuage Cayden and Micah’s guilt they clearly felt. I knew they’d probably do something about what was going on in our pack, but not anywhere the extent. We were a good team. Xander wasn't safe yet, and I was scared to lose the connection with them. They felt like brothers to me .

Probably because they are meant to be my brother in laws… so that connection finally made sense to them. I tried to reason with them. You couldn’t help someone who didn’t want help. I knew that because I've tried many times.

People in Black Path didn’t want to help themselves.

Until they did… I couldn’t do anything. Most came around, except the men.

That was from fear though. Their Alpha was right there.

Several had told me they fought me for their daughters to be with their mates because the Alpha would punish them for not fighting.

It was just messed up. Micah and Cayden weren’t going to agree right now, but I knew they would eventually.