Chapter 15 #2
Caine knocked him off balance. Melanie screamed in pain when the bullets hit the back of her vest. Pepper, Ajax, Apollo, and Sugar roared in anger. My mate didn’t stop though. I charged forward as two wolves joined Melanie in the fight. That would be Mason and Hendrick.
My mom threw the bad wolves away from Melanie and into my path. I ripped them to pieces. My mom popped to the pups and popped them away. Melanie gaped at me. The other me snarled and her eyes went to him and instantly filled with tears.
I ran for Booker the second the other me was with her and pushed at him. He went down screaming as he deserved. I was in his head and saw him and Ezra having a conversation. Ezra said, “We have to break Melanie. Then we show the allies what we can do to one of their own.”
“Melanie is already with the Hunters. We will show them how we forced her to be marked. How we broke her and turned her against them. She’ll hate them, and it will destroy Drake McAlister. He is the reason our family is broken.”
Booker growled, “I can’t stand the sight of her face.
My life could’ve been so different if not for her.
My dad could've been with me.” Ezra nodded, “He would’ve loved you.
You would’ve been an Alpha by his side, taking over for him.
The McAlister girl is our revenge. The Ring let me have this to show the allies how we can trick them. To prove we know more than they think.”
Booker snorted, “They have no idea. We need to get someone from the Lyons and Conners family too. They were involved in killing my dad.” Booker agreed, “All in due time. Right now, we have a McAlister to play with.” Booker laughed with him.
I forced myself out of his mind and jumped on him. Oden clamped his jaws around his bicep, and my wolf bit deeply. I shifted back when my dad came over and grabbed Booker. Dad told me, “The fight is over. Not that it was much of one.”
I growled, “He and Ezra took Melanie for revenge for the death of the Ducant Alpha.” I turned to Booker, “You’re a moron. Ezra didn’t know the Ducant Alpha was his half-brother until after he died. He didn’t know him, and they were not close. He used you.”
Why did he use him though? That was the question. What did Ezra have to gain from this? I wondered if Melanie knew. I turned around to see the other me on the ground. He’d just healed Melanie. Her family was around her while she cried as his wings came out.
I asked, “What did he see?” My dad answered, “His mate getting shot at, plus her back was a mess from a whipping.” I snorted, “That is not as bad as what I saw it wasn’t. Trevor hasn’t had time to brand her with words.”
The other me quickly put his wings away and held onto Melanie. She sobbed into his neck with her family standing around her. The other me begrudgingly turned her around to see them. It was clear my younger other reality mate didn’t understand.
I found my mom in the crowd and noticed her eyes were closing.
I popped beside her and laid her down. We were both covered in blood.
She smiled, “I told you, son. We will fucking fix this shit in all the Ribbons.” I replied, “I never doubted you for even one second, mom.” My own eyes started to get heavy, and we both faded from this reality.
I was startled hearing my dad growl. I linked him, “Mom is ok and she was never in danger. We had it under control. I would never let anyone hurt her.” My dad replied, “I know that. I just dislike seeing her covered in blood.” I snapped us both clean.
Melanie slammed into me. Oden said, “Mate is so impressive. She got shot and never stopped.” My Lovebug was incredible. My mate was protecting pups even without a wolf. She was a Luna through and through.
I was surprised Melanie had gone into the Ribbon on her own too. Just a different one than we did. I looked at my dad hoping she’d gone with him. Dad linked me, “I was the one left out. I wish I’d gone with her too. Not that we know if that’s possible, but it seems likely that we could.”
I had no idea why he would think it seemed likely.
They were the non-Fairy part of the equation.
I studied Melanie when she spoke of Freya and Oden getting to go on her first run.
It was carefree and we definitely didn’t have that.
I couldn't give her a fun first run, but we could have fun on future runs.
I linked EJ, “I’m taking her upstairs to go to sleep. We both need it.” EJ nodded replying, “The Ribbon is getting weirder. You and mom went together but Melanie went to a different one.” He had a point.
Melanie was going in a lot for a non-Fae. My dad did go in more often than he used to. I thought it increased with frequency the longer they were in it. That hadn’t applied to Melanie and me though. I hoped that we both could finally get some damn sleep.
I woke up at the same time Melanie did. Damn. My mate must have been really tired. Thankfully we were in our reality. I went to my office to work with EJ. I’d planned to be in the gym with Melanie this week, but my mom had Melanie doing things for the ceremonies this week.
Something was up with that since I knew my mom didn’t need help. It was like she was trying to get to spend more time with Melanie for some reason. Not that she needed one. I chalked it up to her wanting to bond more with Melanie and left it alone.
I was shocked at the paperwork Phil had on the docket for today.
I nearly shouted, “Bradford is going to be in Tracking training?” Gage answered, “Uh huh.” I continued, “And it was Melanie’s idea?
” Phil nodded, “She even highlighted why in a previous report. She thinks he will be good at it. Your mate also submitted names of those from Black Path who did both. It was pretty successful in their pack. Someone who could fight and track.”
I reminded him, “We train all our trackers.” Phil nodded, “But they don’t split their time between Warrior classes and tracking. Melanie lays out why that’s a mistake.” EJ snorted and read through the information.
My older brother laughed, “Damn. That girl was smart as a pup, but this? Melanie’s right, they can be paired with Warriors in a higher class by being able to fight plus track. That gives our border patrol quite the edge. The new layout she put together for Trackers who are Warriors.”
“Jesus. Toby, get this to our Tracker and Warrior trainers. I’ll send out a pack announcement. Those interested in Tracking and being a Warrior simultaneously will have that adjustment made. As long as they have a talent for both I have no problem with this.”
“Tracking isn’t something that can be learned, but the basic skills could help anyone.
Those that will be considered both will have to be people that show an aptitude.
I wish it was like being a Warrior, where training could get you there.
It’s not though. You either have a better sense of smell, or you don’t. ”
To my shock as soon as the announcement went out several of my cousins popped in. They wanted to sign up for the classes. This really should’ve been thought of sooner. Of course hybrids had different sides and skills.
EJ and I reviewed what other positions could be a hybrid role. My dad didn’t bother hiding his pride at the changes we made, and how quickly the pack adapted. We met with trainers weekly, and they were pleased with the progress.
Some did not have the aptitude for tracking, but most Trackers were showing great promise in their Warrior training. Those that weren’t as inherently good at it were already working out. The wolf less had seriously changed their intensity.
Oden hummed, “This is what we have been missing. Our mate has always been important because of these thoughts and changes.” My wolf was right. We’d needed Melanie here. Hell, I’d needed her, and my pack had definitely needed her. So had my brothers packs.
Melanie just had a different way of approaching and thinking about things. It’d always been considered too complicated to divide someone’s pack duties. Thinking one would suffer. There were obviously some positions where they complimented each other, and that’s what my mate brought out.
EJ and I were specifically interested in Bradford.
To my complete shock, the trainers thought he could be the Male Lead Tracker in a year or two.
He was actually that talented. The Warrior trainer said Bradford would be ready to move up levels soon too.
He’d shown an increased drive in his training that he’d been lacking.
Elise smiled saying, “We’ve really been missing Mel as our Luna.” She only voiced what I had just thought of myself. EJ agreed, “We sure did.” Wesley laughed, “Damn straight we were. This is brilliant. Our allies are watching how this goes. It will be implemented in other packs soon.” I knew that.
The days began to fly by. I had Phil coordinate a spa day for the girls the morning of Melanie and my mating ceremony. I knew he’d handle everything from that end. I wanted my mate to be pampered. Thank god, nothing else happened.
Not that I was certain what else could at this point, but Melanie’s Luna ceremony was finally here.
EJ was relieved, “Thank god. We need her to be your Luna like yesterday. We obviously would’ve come at anyone really hard for trying to take her, but his just gives us all an extra layer of protection.
Given how damn hard she is protect in the fucking first place. ”
Gage snorted, “I keep the men guarding her in a constant supply of whiskey.” Buttercup snorted, “I don’t know if I’ve ever met someone more capable of taking care of herself than Melanie.
” EJ reasoned, “I know that, but she is my brother’s mate.
I’m the Lead Alpha here and protecting Melanie is my job. I should’ve done more for her before.”