Chapter 9 One Normal Thing #4
I rambled out loud, “Cheyenne comes into this territory with her MALARKY and LYING about her customs and kisses Xander on the cheek… not once… but twice.” Sierra groaned, “Not the cheek kissing thing.” Valentina cackled, “It’s a classic. They are lucky Mel’s not drunk.”
I continued, “Charles did not kiss me in any way, shape or form and never has… even on the cheek… and he’s actually from Europe! So, when Cheyenne shows up do I get to kick her butt? Because I can, easily….I could kill her easier than I draw my next breath.”
Fowler snorted, “I know you can too.” I waved, “Exactly! He knows… because that woman won’t fight anyone in this pack except my mate. She insults his Warriors by not sparring with them… and I’m now offended for them.”
Sierra snorted, “Great. We needed another level of Melanie offended to this impending doomed situation.” Valentina cackled, “I’m texting Virgil.
We cannot miss this showdown.” I repeated, “So, can I kick her butt? Because I wasn’t planning on it…
the first time she came…. I was going to evaluate the situation…
and probably make her look bad in other ways. I’m not a saint… and Xander is MINE!”
Freya growled at the end. Rhea came forward, “Freya, we know Oden is yours.” Freya let me have control but warned, “I will get that woman.” I replied, “It won’t be very hard given what I know and the reactions of everyone here.”
I continued, “I was going to give her that space… and a private warning… because I know Xander and Cheyenne are friends… even though I hate that. I planned to run, dance, and make training just a touch harder.”
“If this is the new way things go though, I’m MORE than willing to kick her butt and take her down a few pegs… because Ray’s not entirely wrong… that was just my game plan for her second or third visit… probably second… because again… I’m not a saint…nor do I possess the patience of one.”
Buttercup said, “Elise, Melanie has a point.” Elise sighed, “I’m not saying that she doesn’t.” I argued, “No, you want the rules to be different for his friends that are female because he doesn’t see that they want him… which is reverse sexism by the way.”
“Instead of having this aside and educating him on the fact that those women do in fact want him; you want me to not be friends with someone who has been there for me. Cheyenne has literally never done anything for Xander… not once. She doesn’t even pay for food when they go out to eat.
He’s the only one giving anything in their friendship. ”
“When I was alone and spiraling… Charles would come and help me. He helped me with my purpose and… he’s why I started The Rebels. He was worried I didn’t have anything for myself. He didn’t pry or push… he just helped me.”
“My friends helped save me… each and every one of them. I was not in a good place in my life for a while… and ALL of them… including Charles, kept me from drowning. I’m not going to turn my back on my friends because Xander is jealous… over what amounts to nothing between us romantically.”
“I will talk to Charles because he shouldn't bait Xander. He’s centuries old… which is FAR too old to be playing games. I won’t have people disrespecting Xander… and Charles knows that. Honestly… that should be something no one questions.”
“My friends are my friends though. Charles was a big part of helping me. I’m not going to apologize for saving his life by giving him my blood. He never bit me when I gave him my blood either. Actually, no Vampire has bit me….only Werewolves have.”
Several people growled, but I was right.
Clay bit me and so did Trevor… and a few other people.
I explained, “I used a knife to cut myself and filled up a glass… and got Charles a straw. I make decisions in the field just like everyone here. I wasn’t going to let my friends die. You wouldn’t either, Elise.”
I felt Xander getting closer. Elise sighed, “So, back to how you know about Cheyenne.” I snorted, “Seriously? You have to know how.” Elise grinned, “Humor me.” I admitted, “I hack things….it’s what I do. Xander was the first person here I hacked.”
“You have cameras in the gym….so I’ve seen them fight. I don’t even need to look over at Fowler to know their intensity isn’t there with each other… I saw it. I know exactly who Cheyenne is… probably better than anyone here. I’m sure she and her brother, who are from WYOMING, will stop by soon.”
“Does anyone around here know that people from Wyoming are not from Europe and do not have a custom of kissing people on the cheek? Because they don’t… I’m just saying. That whole ‘oh she’s from Europe’ is a lie…. She’s NOT.”
“Last I checked, based on a little thing called GEOGRAPHY… she’s from the United freaking States. She’s barely even been to Europe to see her family. Her mother is from Europe… she is not. She was born and raised here… in this country.”
Ray was snickering now with everyone else.
I asked, “WHAT? I’m right. Cheyenne’s LYING about how she was raised because she LIKES Xander.
She thinks she has a shot with him too.” Sierra said, “That’s true.
We already know beyond all shadow of a doubt Cheyenne does like Alexander.
No can, or should, really can’t debate that. ”
Buttercup surmised, “So, I’m guessing you hacked Cheyenne too.” Ray chimed in, “I’m going to go on the record and state Ladybug has hacked the hell out of Cheyenne.” I admitted, “I have. Guess who has an online journal?”
Chason groaned, “Oh god, no.” KJ grumbled, “Who does that? Nothing online is safe!” I growled, “Cheyenne wants my mate and it’s not debatable.
I know it for a fact, but I wasn’t going to be rude to her because I know they are friends.
Now …I am to be something about it.” Freya agreed, “Yes, we will!”
Elise winced as Xander walked up. I was beyond annoyed because this didn’t make any sense. There was a chance that Xander might agree with me about Charles, and that would change things. My husband had a literal fan club. Some were even his friends.
Why was he allowed to be rude to people who saved me? When I wasn’t allowed to be rude to the women he considered friends? None of those women had ever saved his life. Or brought him out of a depression spiral. This wasn’t fair.
Freya linked, “You didn't explain much to mate about Charles. I think if you tell them about how hard you took everything he will understand. It’s one thing to know you spiraled and hurt from the information and being in Black Path. If you tell them how Charles helped you, I’m sure mate would calm down. ” She might have a point.
I was so irritated that no one wanted to admit the situation with Cheyenne wouldn’t be a problem. Or that I was allowed to be pissed about it. What did everyone want? No one had mentioned her since I’d been here. Yet they all got to be pissed about Charles?
I didn’t mention Charles, but no one mentioned Cheyenne. She wasn’t even Xander’s mentee or mentor. Why would Charles bait Xander? I’d definitely be talking to him about that. Charles had centuries of experience at communicating with people. He knew how to get under an Alpha’s skin.
Tristan linked me, “Hey Ladybug, dad and I wanted to talk to you.” I snarked back, “If it’s about Charles and this RIDICULOUS overreaction to him… WHEN CHEYENNE EXISTS, I’m not listening. In fact… I’m listened out.”
Tristan groaned, “Oh god. They talked to you without us.” I retorted, “Ask Ray or Grandpa Ben about it… but there’s nothing you can say to make it better. Charles is MY friend who NEVER KISSES ANY PART OF ME…. LET ALONE MY FACE!”
Tristan replied, “Wow. Ok, let’s take deep breaths and go for a run.
” I replied, “My mate wants to talk to me… and I’m holding onto the slim chance…
he’ll be the rational one about all this.
” Tristan quickly said, “That’s not a good hope, Ladybug.
Alpha’s don’t really get it. Let me talk to Alexander first.” I replied, “You’re not here. ” My big brother groaned in reply.
Xander led us to his treehouse. The situation ate at me the whole way there.
I was too annoyed to have this conversation rationally.
I was already having an argument mentally about Cheyenne with Xander.
Which wasn’t fair. I just knew if the roles were reversed…
he’d act like I was overreacting about her kissing his cheek.
I didn’t even plan to punch her at first. I’d planned to talk to him, but now I felt like he was going to act like I blew it out of proportion. Xander seemed to be pissed I was friends with a man who wanted to have sex with me.
Oh really? That was the rule? Jesus. Apparently, I could beat up the general population of unmated she wolves. Freya hummed, “When you’re right, you’re right.” Charles knew I’d never have sex with him. I’d only ever wanted Xander.
Plus Charles slept with Angelique. They made each other happy for a time… and that made me happy… heck I introduced them! Because Charles WORKED WITH MY SCHEDULES UNLIKE THE CAMbrIDGE’S!
Xander brought up giving Charles my blood. What did everyone want me to do? Go steal bagged blood for Charles? Because that was so simple. Humans didn’t need that blood or anything for transfusions. It was to keep Charles alive. Even if we had a fling… so what?
We didn’t… but why wasn’t I allowed to have a fling if I wanted? This was so frustrating. I even brought up Cheyenne. I saw red when he said she was from Europe. Her MOTHER was from Europe. Cheyenne was raised in Wyoming and visited her relatives TWICE over two summers when she was a teenager.
That did not make her from Europe and the fact that my husband felt that excused it… was quite literally insane. She was from WYOMING. Freya linked, “I actually agree on that point. That she wolf isn’t from Europe. I’m not sure why mate would think that.”