Chapter 9 One Normal Thing #2
Elise sighed, “Charles…” I interrupted, “Is my mentor and friend… who made me feel normal…. And enjoyed my company when few did.” I heard Sierra’s sharp intake, but it was true. Aside from them and a handful of people, Charles actually liked being around me.
Elise pushed, “Yes, and you spent a lot of time with him.” I asked my wolf, “Is there a point in this discussion?” Freya sighed, “Not that’s being made well, no.” Ok.. good.. we were on the same page about this making no sense. Out loud I asked, “So… what?” Elise sighed, “He’s a male.” And?”
I pointed out, “Xander spends lots of time with women. I’m not expecting him to stop doing that… because that would illogical. My mate doesn’t even care about those women nearly as much as I care about Charles.” Elise winced, “That doesn’t help the situation, Ladybug. You like Charles.”
Irritation sprung up within me. I replied dryly, “I like a lot of people… the odd part is when they like me back.” Elise sighed, “People like you, Mel.” They had not liked me… for quite some time. Ray snorted, “You have no poker face, Ladybug.”
I replied, “I know that… but Elise is wrong. People don’t like me.
” Valetina reasoned, “Openly bad people don’t like you.
” I shot a glance at Sierra. My friend reasoned, “I understand your point, the thing is we just happened to be around a lot of those very bad people.” Abigail offered, “My brother likes you and so do his Alpha and Beta.”
I replied, “Exactly… and no one is mad at them….but I trained them… so it’s respect… and I was helping them… so I mean, them liking me wasn’t really a choice… I was their only option to freedom.” Abigail reasoned, “That’s not why they liked you. You’re a good person.”
Elise gently said, “Ladybug, Charles likes you.” I nodded, “Of course he does. He wouldn’t have trained me or took me under his wing if he didn’t.
He’s an older Vampire, who by reputation alone is a recluse and stingy about who he spends time with.
The only logical conclusion was he found me interesting enough to mentor. ”
Elise growled, “He wanted to turn you.” I acknowledged, “Xander said that, but honestly… that’s not overly surprising. Charles is a Vampire…. and I definitely should’ve considered that side of it. As old as he is, if you find someone you find interesting… you turn them.”
Elise gasped, “You’re not upset about that?” I shrugged, “No. It’s natural to Charles… and he didn’t turn me. He encouraged me to come see Xander almost every time I saw him.” Buttercup said, “Because if Alexander rejected you, he was going to turn you.”
I tilted my head, “Logically speaking, Charles would’ve learned all he could about Xander. My mentor knew as much as he could that Xander wouldn’t reject me.” Elise asked, “HOW does that not piss you off that Charles knew that and didn’t tell you?”
I shrugged, “I wouldn’t have believed him even if he did. Besides, why do you think he didn’t tell me that? He did… a lot of people did. Several are sitting here with us. Charles told me quite often he didn’t believe Xander would reject me.”
Elise rubbed her forehead. Jane asked, “Did you ever see your dad around men who liked your mom?” I answered, “Of course I did. We were always with the Alpha and Gamma families.” Sierra jumped in, “They mean flirting with your mom. I can’t help here because my parents hated each other.”
I pointed out, “Your dad hid your mom from everyone because she’s attractive…. and he’s a jerk.” Sierra hummed, “Exactly. I can’t jump in on this topic.” Abigail offered, “Same. I got nada.” I replied, “My dad let my mom have male friends… and Alpha Peter let Luna Chelsea do the same.”
Elise flinched when I called them that. Ray made a face and rubbed the back of his head. I asked Freya, “What?” Freya said, “It hurts them because they know how you used to be with Alpha Peter and Luna Chelsea.”
Elise changed tactics, “You kept Charles from us.” I blew out my breath. I argued, “No, I didn’t…. like, at all. Charles being my mentor and friend isn’t a secret. Charles doesn’t like to be a topic of discussion… so did I bring him up? No. He’s a private person… and I respect that.”
“When it was brought up, he wasn’t relevant to the conversation at hand. The last time… if you recall I was about to tell Xander who he was when Micah cut me off to say they found Yuri. This is NOT a big deal…. at all.”
“I get why Si, Valentina, Paige, Hendrick, Addison, Mason, Dax, and Caine had to warm up to Charles. They weren’t raised in packs to be tolerant of other Supernatural’s. This one was though… and so was our home pack, Elise.”
“I don’t know why anyone is making this a big deal.
It’s not. I’m allowed to have friends. Mom hugged Alpha Peter all the time and still does to this day.
Once I even saw him hold her while she cried until dad got there.
No one was mad… because there was nothing to be upset about!
Xander acted like a jerk from the moment Charles showed up. ”
Elise sighed, “You hugged Charles and jumped into his arms.” I said, “I’ve hugged Dalton in Xander’s presence too. He didn’t care.” Buttercup interjected, “You broke Claire’s back.” I snorted, “Those two situations have nothing to do with the other.”
Elise asked, “Don’t they?” I answered, “No, Xander and Claire… weren’t friends. My mate had told me that she forced her lips onto his when he was drunk. She’s LUCKY all I did was break her back with that knowledge alone.”
Sierra offered, “That’s true.” I clapped, “Exactly. THEN Claire claimed to be my fated mate's chosen mate. She wouldn’t respect Xander by using his proper title. ANY supernatural would be pissed at someone claiming to be their fated mate’s chosen mate.
Xander would’ve exploded someone’s head for that.
In fact… he’s keeping and torturing Trevor for his crimes…
one of which… is claiming to be my mate. ”
KJ chimed in, “That’s true. Maybe we take a break here, girls.” I continued, “Charles didn’t do anything wrong… and he is my friend. PLUS, Charles dated one of my friends…. and I would never… ever… date someone my friend did. You said that was a rule, Elise.”
Elise acknowledged, “I did say that.” Sierra jumped in, “Trust me when I say your list of rules are gospel to our girl.” Valentina snorted, “Are they ever.” Olivia agreed, “They really are.” I insisted, “Charles is just a mentor and that’s it.
” Ray snickered. KJ threw out, “Again, a break is needed here.”
I sighed, “What is so funny, Ray?” Elise spoke slowly like I didn’t hear her the first time, “Charles wants you, Melanie. He’s not the same as Dalton.” I asked, “So I get to be rude to anyone that shows up who is Xander’s friend of the opposite sex because they like him? That’s the rule?”
Buttercup bit her lip muttering, “Uh oh.” Chason snorted out a laugh, while Fowler pretended he was coughing… but he was laughing. Freya told me, “It’s definitely the rule.” I was getting that sense. Elise sighed, “That’s not what…”
I cut her off, “That’s exactly what we are saying.
What happened after I left? Did they drink whiskey and talk?
” Sierra answered, “No, your Xander punched Charles.” Valentina added, “Then threw him into the wall with the wind. I’ve never seen Charles so taken by surprise. Virgil was sad he missed it.”
I snorted, “Virgil loves drama… so I’m not shocked. Ok… I now understand the rules. I get to punch Xander's female friends if they like him romantically. Got it.” Sierra started laughing. I asked, “What? That’s clearly the rule and Freya agrees.” Freya cooed, “I so do.”
Fowler groaned, “Fuck us all.” KJ said, “I tried to help, but no one listened. Buckle up, boys. The rides about to get bumpy.” Sierra shrugged and told the group, “Told you so.” Ray said, “I could’ve told them so. Ladybug has been very black and white since she was a pup.”
I sighed, “Look, if Xander gets to be rude… I get to be rude. He’s an Alpha… and that appears to be your entire argument for his feelings. Great. Wonderful. Here’s mine… I’m a Luna and I have Beta blood. I was also a Female Lead Warrior who ran the dang pack with a man with some Gamma blood.”
“I was in a REALLY bad pack that traumatized me. I was physically and verbally abused combined with magic being used against me. You guys had cookies… no one EVER gave me a freaking cookie to get me to behave how they wanted.”
“Xander has been a good pack… being a good person and Alpha… I was down training people in the trenches and wading through mud and mire of the depravity of people. So, if I could keep my emotions in check about women who want my mate… he can do the same. Charles being here isn’t a big deal.”
Elise whispered, “Ladybug.” Ray snarled, “I’ll gut them.” I replied, “Some are here… so that’s an option… I’ve seen my Grandpa Ben going in and out of the dungeons. So, yeah… there he is actually.” I pointed over at him.
Grandpa Ben spotted our group and one of the first amused smiles I’d seen him have overtook his face. He sauntered over asking, “Whatcha guys doing over here?” I answered, “They are being crazy… and acting like I don’t understand people.”
Grandpa Ben chuckled, “Well, don’t listen to them Ladybug. You understand people just fine. You just have a different lens you see things through.” I admitted, “I have zero intention of agreeing with this… Xander was wrong. I admit when I’m wrong… I can have friends.”
Grandpa Ben winked at Elise then agreed with me. “Of course you can, Ladybug. Have a good day, Ray, KJ, Chason, and Fowler.” I muttered, “Everyone would be having a fine day… if they’d just state the rules and move on.” Grandpa Ben left whistling.