About That #8
Nate groaned, “Oh boy. Here we go.” Melanie continued, “I crashed a car… but it wasn’t their car…
and the car will already have been replaced for whoever Valentina stole it from.
She likely took it from our facility since I told her to though.
I don’t yell at them when they fight rogues or pick a fight…
and technically speaking… the people who decided to give chase to K started this fight… I just ended it.”
Nate started laughing. Demi said, “Ohhh, I like you. We are going to be friends.” Melanie said, “I hope so since your mate guards me.” Demi snorted, “I don’t think you need to be guarded.” Melanie clapped, “Thank you!”
I said, “Once we see your evaluations in training, Demi, you might join your mate guarding her.” Demi laughed, “Something tells me that’s a hard job.
” Fowler chimed in, “It is. It’s definitely not boring though.
” KJ scoffed, “Literally not one day since we’ve met the real her.
The fake one was busy, but very boring.” Oden growled in my head.
Destiny snickered, “It sounds right up Dem’s ally.
” Nate agreed, “It does.” My wife rubbed her head, “I’m being yelled at in my head…
let’s just go. I’m glad you guys are ok.
” I linked Gage and Phil, “You warn whoever is linking Melanie to STOP yelling.” Gage groaned, “Fine.” Good. Phil snorted back.
I grabbed my mate and popped back to the office.
Jason glared at me, and I raised an eyebrow.
Drake yelled, “MELANIE JANE MCALISTER, WHAT THE HELL WERE YOU THINKING?!” Melanie replied, “That my name is actually Melanie Jane Conners now… but… I’m thinking…
of keeping McAlister… and being Melanie Jane McAlister Conners…
it’s a mouthful… but like… people tried to take that name from me…
so I’m strongly considering keeping it.” Fair enough.
Drake growled, “Are you serious?” Melanie said, “Well, yes. I got married. I have a new last name… but I do like our last name… so… I’ll probably keep ours. You just missed the Conners part.” Elise tried to cover her laugh with a cough.
I linked my sister in law, “Subtle.” Elise snorted, “It’s just that Ladybug has changed but she’s the same.
” Drake growled, “You CRASHED into a car. Multiple cars actually, while driving ENTIRELY too fast.” Melanie said, “I know I crashed into multiple cars. I was going the correct speed to cause their cars to spin out or crash into the other cars.” Drake growled again.
Tristan snarled, “Who the HELL taught you to drive?” Melanie said, “I can’t possibly imagine what bearing that has on this conversation.
I don’t yell at you over the decisions you, Dalton and Dakota make.
Trust me… I could pick MANY to be pissed off about…
and tell you what poor decisions they were…
but I don’t. I keep that to myself… even though one could say…
I have dissertations on them… except I’d need to remove Jase’s name… and put yours on them, T.” Oh no.
Jason snorted, “Like what?” Melanie growled, “LIKE WHAT?! Are you freaking kidding me, Jase? How about sending YOU in with Hunter’s? It’s completely absurd. You’re a full blooded Werewolf. If ANYONE should be sent uncover it’s someone without a wolf.”
“Anyone who is half Werewolf is pushing it. Less than half would be ideal… but YOU of all people… it’s marginally better than sending T because… he’s the Beta and people know who he is. But I didn’t know that at the time.”
“Besides, you have a strong wolf presence. Even if Dante hadn’t known who you were… those Hunters you were ‘working’ with KNEW you had a dang wolf the WHOLE time. They have Hunter blood.”
My mate pointed at them, “That was a HORRIBLE idea! Going off into a drug buy with little to no information WITHOUT FAIRY CHARMS TO CONCEAL YOUR IDENITTY… again… horrible idea. Continuing to send former pack leadership that NO ONE believes would buy drugs out on drug buys… BAD IDEA!”
“So do you really want to talk about the bad ideas people have? Because… my plans might not be great, but they certainly aren’t bad.
At least we wear masks. Because you people are recognizable…
you know that, right? My plans are mapped out and have contingency plans…
I might be the only person who knows said contingency plan…
but it’s STILL a thought out plan… unlike SOME people. ”
Damn. All of us flushed a little at that. Phil linked, “Ok, we’ve all been called the fuck out.” No joke. Gage looked at the ceiling. Melanie rambled on, “OR we could mention going to a mall in MISSOURI! That was a terrible idea of epic proportions…. done on a whim.”
Jason growled, “And this wasn’t done on a whim?” Melanie answered, “Technically speaking, no. Virgil had detailed information on several packs in Canada, because he’s been looking for Destiny and Demi this whole time.”
“That’s why he and Crush haven’t been around much. They had it narrowed down to twenty packs, and Virgil did a lot of research on them. As far as Demi, Bankhead is a facility we have studied a lot. Was it somewhat blind, yes. We haven’t been able to get people inside.”
Tristan said, “I despise how you act like you are one of them.” I raised an eyebrow at him. Gage linked, “Oh god, pull up the plane there, T. Eject. EJECT!” No joke. Melanie questioned, “One of whom? The Resistance? I am one of them.”
Tristan growled, “No, you’re one of us! You’re recognizable. If the Ring gets that mask off, they know EXACTLY who you are.” Melanie retorted, “HENCE the mask… that doesn’t come off unless I remove it!”
Tristan growled, “I hate the Resistance for pulling you into this shit.” Melanie frowned and hurt slammed into me. I shot Tristan a warning glare while Phil stood to intercede. Everly jumped in though, “Ok, maybe we just take a beat here.”
Tristan growled, “I’m tired of taking a beat!
Someone took advantage of my little sister and now they hide behind her!
There were twenty cars chasing Hastein’s mate and you crashed into more than one of them.
While driving like some professional racer, shooting and firing back at them.
Then you JUMPED onto a MOVING vehicle and got shot. I WATCHED you get shot.”
Melanie snorted, “No, you didn’t.” Drake said, “Oh yes, we did.” I growled because of Melanie’s feelings.
Addison gripped Jason’s arm hard, and Sierra jolted forward before Phil grabbed her.
Melanie argued, “No…. you didn’t! You saw me take a hit to the vest.” Everyone was about to argue but I let out a growl.
I told them, “She’s not done talking.” Melanie smiled at me, “Thank you. Let me assure you all… it looks and sounds different than when you see someone you love get shot. It’s different when you see someone you love’s shirt covered in blood.”
“When you see their mouth full of blood, gasping for breath because they took a shot meant for you. It’s different watching someone you love die in front of your eyes as you try to put pressure on their wound.
It’s different seeing someone you love get shot in the head.
Do you know what a close range shot with a handgun does to someone’s head, T? ”
Tristan was turning pretty pale and didn’t answer her.
Oden snarled, “How dare anyone make our mate see this.” I linked Phil and Gage, “I want anyone and everyone who had anything to do with this! Where are fake Melanie’s parents?
” Part of me was certain I heard they were dead by fake heart attacks.
Gage answered, “Dead. Gunner found that the Ring did it, but fake Melanie thought they died in their sleep.” Well, fake Melanie was a moron.
Melanie said, “It tends to explode the back of the skull… brain matter gets on the walls and carpet. I still describe it as a jigsaw puzzle that I tried to put back together.” Everyone winced.
My wife continued, “No thoughts? Ok… how about watching someone you love get shot in the chest just as they were reaching you. Blood covers your face, which is honestly the least of your worries because you can see the pain on theirs.”
“Or being seconds too late and seeing a man you consider family with blood on him or your grandpa with a gunshot wound that he is actively bleeding from… because SOMEONE makes…BAD PLANS! In summation, watching me get shot in the vest is different to watching me be shot… and I hope to god you never learn the difference.”
“I will do anything, and everything, to keep that from happening. Not just to me, but our whole dang family. The sound of a bullet hitting skin… the thud it makes…. feels like everything stops and it’s going impossibly fast at the same time.”
I rubbed her back. Melanie continued, “No one is taking advantage of me. I’m not a pup anymore. If I want to go on dangerous missions…. well I can. I’m an adult.” Drake argued, “You’re my daughter and you’ll always be my pup.”
Melanie nodded, “I do know that… there was a questioning period of time… where I was uncertain about your DNA and mine… but even if I wasn’t biologically yours… you raised me as my dad.” Drake replied, “You are mine in every single way. You scared us.”
Melanie frowned, “I didn’t mean to scare you. I had no idea you could see it.” Sam’s voice quivered, “You’d have done all that even if you knew.” Melanie conceded, “Yes, I would’ve because I had to save my friend.”
Jason said, “Addison said inside the facility you went off alone to the control room.” Melanie answered “Umm… well yes… but I always do… it’s not like they can hack. I got in and messaged Micah for help to make it go faster… and I was totally normal about other people working with us.”
Sierra scoffed. Melanie whispered, “Linking you freaking out DOESN’T count!” Uncle Gunner smirked while Micah snickered. Tristan said, “The Ring could’ve taken you again.” Melanie said, “Thanks for the vote of confidence in my abilities, big brother.” Now, my mate was offended.