Chapter 9 One Normal Thing #3
I asked point at his retreating form, “See? Grandpa Ben gets it and he’s…
not happy with me.” Ray offered, “It’s not that.
” I replied, “You can’t say he’s happy with me…
can you?” Sierra whispered, “Stop talking while you’re losing.
” Ray chuckled, “It’s not the right emotion, Ladybug. ” Fine… but it was.
Elise sighed, “Your Grandpa understood what your reaction would be. I feel like my problem is trying to fit the you I’ve known for these last years into this conversation instead of the you I knew before.” I argued, “No, you don’t get it.”
Abigail gently said my name, “Mel.” I replied, “They don’t…
and you know it. They don’t understand …
how valuable a friendship is when you’ve lost everything.
They don’t know what it’s like to feel like your back is against the wall…
and no matter what… no one in pack leadership will be on your side.
That the weight of the literal pack is on your back…
because no one else will save those that can’t save themselves. ”
“People died if I wasn’t good enough… and it hurt. It hurt that those Alpha bloods wouldn’t act right… or the Beta and the Gamma. It hurt going against them… but I did what was right. I had to teach everyone what was right… but I didn’t with Charles.”
“He sought me out… Charles literally came to the area to meet me… He knew who I was…. and he came anyway. I had to tell everyone how life should be… or I went and met them… it was rare for someone to come to meet me without having me follow them to realize they’d come to see me.”
“Charles literally came into Kings Diner with the intent to find me. He’s kept all my secrets…
and he’s been there for me…. when I shut everyone out.
He left what he was doing to get to me… because he was told it was bad…
. and I know most people here know that’s big for a nomad reclusive Vampire who doesn’t care about much. He’s MY FRIEND!”
Now people were wiping tears away, but that wasn’t my intent. I just wanted them to understand Charles was important to me. Sierra said, “We know he’s important to you, Mel.” I grumbled, “Talking out loud when I don’t mean to… is the worst.”
Ray offered, “Well, I for one, am glad that didn’t change.” I huffed, “You’re in a rather large group of people who agree… I don’t… I want to have inside thoughts.” Sierra cleared her throat, and I turned back to her.
I linked my wolf, “Freya?” Freya said, “I’m talking to several wolves.
” Ok then. Sierra explained, “Charles goaded your Xander, Mel. Your mate didn’t just blow up for no reason.
Charles was taunting him.” I frowned asking, “What do you mean?” Sierra told me, “He was leering at Alexander and winking at him while he hugged you. Charles was practically baiting your Xander while touching you.”
I asked, “Without talking?” Sierra answered, “Yes, Charles was implying with his actions and little digs that there was something between you two that isn’t there.
After you left, Charles shared that you’d given him blood.
Until Olivia stepped in and made him tell the story, he was implying something that wasn’t true. ”
I sighed, “Then I’ll talk to Charles. He shouldn’t have done that, but Xander didn’t have to react that way. Charles is my friend… and you know he helped me.” Sierra agreed, “I do know that.” We both knew exactly what I was talking about.
Ray asked, “What exactly did this Vampire mentor you in?” I answered, “A lot of stuff. He taught me what he knew about the Fairies history, history in general, how to hack, and drive a car.” Ray asked, “Why did he seek you out?”
I answered, “Because… I was using his coding… for uhhh my job… he knew I was using it and came to meet me.” Elise sighed, “Fuck. He knows about the other thing you do?” I answered, “Yes… but that felt obvious.” Abigail hummed, “It was.” Olivia inclined her head that it was.
Ray clarified, “So, you spent a lot of time with Charles?” I corrected, “Not as much as you would think. Charles said that I’m a quick study.” Ray laughed, “There I will agree with him. You are a quick study.”
Elise told me, “We have to be careful about things like that.” My eyes narrowed, “Things like what? And who is we?” Elise frowned, “Ladybug, you know who we is.” I reiterated, “Charles is my friend. I have a lot of guys who are my friends…. If you mean mates of Alpha’s have to be careful…
then you’re saying you gave this speech to your mate too… because you are an Alpha.”
Elise argued, “Alpha Males are more sensitive to…” I cut her off, “False. I have read and conducted a multitude of studies on that particular topic. I also know that a lot of people around here call you Slugger for defending your bond with EJ.”
Buttercup interjected, “You didn’t get upset about Vance though. Wesley told me about that situation.” I explained, “Ok… again, that was vastly different. I wouldn’t call Vance my friend… merely someone I saved… and occasionally have to deal with.”
“Plus, Vance disrespected our relationship. Ergo Xander’s reaction was totally valid… Vance said I was fair game because I wasn’t marked… which is hurtful to me… on every level and insulting to Xander… and people thankfully can’t say it anymore… because I’m marked and we share a bond.”
“If Xander knew how much it hurt every single time someone talked about being marked… well a lot more people’s heads would’ve exploded. The point is… that entire situation was different. I’m not being unreasonable here. Everyone else is.”
Elise said, “It’s just with Alpha’s….” I interrupted, “You’re an Alpha.” Elise frowned, “You never used to interrupt an Alpha blood.” I rubbed my face and winced because that was true… or if I did it was unintentional.
I said, “Well… it became a habit… but I can work on that… because it is rude… and I acknowledge the difference when people do it to me… because I will just keep talking… whereas most people possess the ability to have a filter or inside thoughts. I’ll work on the whole not interrupting good people thing…
I make no promises about bad people… they have it coming. ”
Sierra said, “I would run with that, Elise.” Valentina snorted, “No joke. Caine would’ve killed for that agreement.” Sierra snorted, “He absolutely would’ve.” Abigail said, “I know that too because he talked to my brother and that pack leadership core about it.”
I waved, “My point about this situation is either Xander gets to be rude for no reason, and I do too; or no one gets to be rude. That’s…
what we like to call fair… which our mate’s care about.
” Elise reasoned, “You do seem to realize there are different situations.” I replied, “Of course I do! Someone being rude about our relationship is different.”
Jane said, “You saw Amy doing what she did and dealt with that.” I replied, “Charles is nothing like that woman… and he’s never disrespected anyone mate’s bond… it’s sacred to him.” He’d lost him mate, and he would never hurt someone that way unless they deserved it.
Elise conceded, “Ok, this is nuanced because Charles has romantic intentions towards you.” I argued, “No, he doesn’t.
Is that the precedent though? Romantic intentions…
dictate the response you give as a mate?
Be that friend, mentor, acquaintance, or random person?
Or… should I just smile when Cheyenne comes into town? ” Elise’s eyes widened.
Sierra groaned, “No. Not the Chey conversation.” Ray tried to cover his laugh with a cough. I heard KJ, Fowler and Chason snickering. I pointed out, “KJ lived in New York… and even he’s laughing… so it’s abundantly obvious that Cheyenne has romantic intentions on my mate.”
Buttercup bit her lip. Jane admitted, “I didn’t know someone’s name could sound like a sneering curse word until now.
” Buttercup whispered, “I know. Wasn’t it great though?
” Jane answered, “Uh huh.” Valentina said, “Did I call that or what, Si? I said Cheyenne would come up.” Sierra said, “You did.”
Olivia added, “I agreed it would come up.” Elise asked, “How do you know about Cheyenne, Ladybug?” I said, “I repeat….KJ knows about Cheyenne, and he LIVED IN NEW YORK! It’s clearly not a secret… besides it’s not even kind of the point that I know about her. I do though… and I hate her.”
Abigail snorted, “Does she ever. Even I know about this woman.” Fowler snorted, “Bad day to be the Alpha.” Freya snarled, “We can rip her head off.” I continued, “My point is when she comes into town… do I get to be rude to her?”
Elise opened her mouth but didn’t say anything. I added, “Because honestly… I want to… so badly. Cheyenne desperately wants my mate, and he is MINE… from what I know… she’s not going to care I’m in the picture. I also know Xander doesn’t think she likes him. He’s wrong though, and you ALL know it.”
“Even the snorting chucklers who follow me around know… and again… one of them LIVED IN NEW YORK. Ray’s face says he definitely knows… and he knows I’m right about her reaction to me being here… honestly he looks like he’s already looking forward to the inevitable show down.”
Ray interjected, “Yes, because I’ve met you Ladybug. You’ll have a way to goad her into a challenge. Probably officially and it will look like she walked right into it instead of you maneuvering her.” Sierra muttered, “That’s only in the happy plans, Ray. Cheyenne dies in most of them.”
Jaws dropped all around. Ok… so did they not hear me say I hated Cheyenne?
She’s still alive. If I decided to kill her, she’d be dead.
Jane said, “I think we all know that.” I groaned, “Not having inside thoughts is the worst.” Freya said, “It shows great restraint on your part that woman is alive.”