Chapter 13 No Longer Hidden #7
Dalton groaned, “Oh god why?” I snorted, “There’s always problems… when you think about it. Anyway… can either of my brothers tell me why I don’t have a text warning me that a she wolf who wants my mate is in town?!”
I heard an intake of breath. Paige gasped, “Excuse me? I will curse the SHIT out of her. Wait, no! Someone tell me Cheyenne isn’t here. Tell me that’s not a thing. I do NOT have enough snacks for this to be occurring.” Dalton asked, “How could you possibly know about Cheyenne. My Witch?”
Paige snorted, “There were days Dalton, my love, if Melanie’s Xander farted I could tell you about it. Let alone the she wolf who is borderline obsessed with him. Is she here? Because it’s gonna go down!” Sierra sighed, “So hard.”
Abigail offered, “I wasn’t in the core group, but I also know about this woman.” Because Cheyenne had visited Black Mountain while I was helping Abigail’s pack… and maybe I mentioned it… a thousand times.
Jason said, “Ok, we were coming to see you tonight and let that detail be known. We were hoping you guys wouldn’t run into them today.” I snorted, “Really? Did you? Because the obsessed with my mate she wolf… clocked my mate the second we got back. He’s giving that woman and Lomax a tour.”
Paige snorted, “A tour? You’re joking. Lomax and Cheyenne have been coming to Black Mountain for over a decade. They don't need a tour. Mel did say Lomax was here, right?” Sierra confirmed, “He is.” Paige snorted, “Well, there’s a small saving grace.”
I said, “While I know that they don’t need a tour, Paige…. clearly you know that… it seems to be that pesky Y chromosome acting up again not realizing basic things. For example, the fact that two people who have been traveling here for over a decade don’t need a tour.”
“Or the fact that she obviously knew when we were coming home… which I was warned about. Except I didn’t realize it was the LITERAL MOMENT we got back. Chhhheyyyy timed her request so Xander would show up and give her the stupid, unnecessary tour.”
Tristan asked, “What are you going to do, Ladybug? Because I’m sensing you buzzing around like a bug and not a lady right now.” Jason snorted “Sensing? I can hear it in her tone.” I snorted, “What am I going to do? Better question….What would you do if someone kept KISSING YOUR MATE?!”
They all growled. Vindication filled me while Freya growled in my head. I shouted, “Exactly!” Dalton said, “It’s on the cheek.” I snorted, “So…you’d let that fly, Dalton? I recall you once saying you’d pluck someone’s eyes out for looking at your mate in a way you didn’t like.”
Dalton said, “No, I’d hate it and not let it fly. I’m out. Ladybug is too smart for this conversation. That’s all you guys.” Paige cooed, “He’s such a smart man. Also, I’d curse the SHIT out of some bitch, who is not related to you, for kissing your cheek Dalton. So, bare that warning in mind.”
Jason asked, “Mel?” I said, “I’m going to wait for Cheyyyyyy to slightly mess up and kick her butt in the fighting ring.” Jason warned, “Cheyenne is a decent fighter who has sparred with Alexander for years, Ladybug.”
I snorted, “You did not just say that… to me… of all people.” Abigail groaned, “He did. You’re lucky you’re on the phone, Jase. A Warrior in our pack mentioned that and he ended up hospitalized and educated on all things Cheyenne.” Well… I was drunk when that happened.
Tristan shouted, “You fought someone drunk?!” I replied, “Uhhh I do that a lot… or did… so it was fine. Jase, Cheyyyyyy is a mediocre fight who is not focused enough to be as good as she could be. She only trains when she’s coming to see Xander to impress him but her skills wane when she’s not.
Even if she was the best that pack had to offer… I could take her. Easily.”
Dalton said, “For the record, Melanie is correct. I’ve seen Chey fight and there’s no competition between Ladybug and Cheyenne.
” Tristan asked, “How do you know all that, Ladybug?” I snorted, “For the same reason she hired a private investigator to look into me. Because I know who my enemies are … inside and out.”
Paige gasped, “PRIVATE INVESTIGATOR?!” I replied, “Yeah. The difference between Cheyyyyy and I is that I’m so much better than her P.I.
Not to mention I also don’t have to pay someone to get information.
I can get it myself. I also don’t stick to the legal means.
Not that P.I.’s always do, but the one she uses has morals. ”
Tristan said, “We need a Fairy ride to Black Mountain.” Paige agreed, “Heck yes, we do. I’ve been gearing up for the Cheyenne / Melanie show down for years. Someone mention where she’s from, please. For me.”
I growled in warning. Dakota offered, “Umm Ok. Cheyenne is from Europe.” The lid on my rage box rattled. Paige snickered. I shouted from my actual soul, “CHEYENNE IS NOT FROM EUROPE! SHE IS FROM WYOFREAKINGMING! WYOMING! WHICH IS IN THE UNITED STATES!”
“They do not kiss people on their cheeks in Wyoming. Who is the ONLY person around here she does that with again? MY MATE! Wanna know why? Because she wants him…. and no one else. Cheyyyyyy uses her mother’s Italian side to get away with saying she’s from Europe.”
“Cheyenne’s ancestors are from Italy. Her MOTHER is from Italy. SHE IS FROM WYOMING! Where she was raised, by the way… and she GOOGLED Italian customs to get away with KISSING MY MATE! She comes around here, in her barely there shorts and sports bras trying to get my mate.”
Jason said, “Ok, so you’ve gone in deep if you know what Cheyenne is googling for god’s sake. You know that around here women wear what they are comfortable in to work out.” I snarled, “Oh? And you think that’s what Cheyyyy is doing?”
Tristan said, “I did until you said it that way. Something tells me now that the answer is no.” I replied, “You are correct, it’s not.
Everywhere else, Cheyyyyyy wears yoga pants and a tank top.
Sometimes a t-shirt. Magically when she comes here…
suddenly she’s a barely there outfit kind of girl.
No… that’s not even kind of logical. So, outthink your Y chromosome with your Beta blood. ” I hung up the phone.
I closed my eyes because Freya was angry. I was pissed off and I needed to be calmer. Mom linked, “You’re right about all of that. I was outside the room with your dad. Go at that she wolf no holds barred, Melanie Jane. Show her exactly who you are.” Freya shouted, “YES! PERMISSION!”
I didn’t need permission, but it was nice. I replied, “Thanks, mom.” Mom chuckled, “We are possessive of our mates too. It’s more than fair and your mate is a Fairy.” I knew that. I told Sierra and Abigail, “I’m going for a run.”
Sierra nodded, “I’d go with you, but what’s the point? You’d lap me in thirty seconds.” Abigail chuckled, “When you’re right, you’re right.” Despite both saying they weren’t coming, they were running behind me.
I wanted to shift, but with Cheyenne and her brother here I wasn’t going to risk it. Which annoyed Freya even more. Xander’s guard was running with us too. I slowed down and ran beside my friends after two miles.
I ended up in a clearing where Elise was. The woman who had always been like a sister to me looked me up and down. Elise eventually said, “Alright, come on. Let’s spar.” I fought her, Eric, Theo, and EJ. Buttercup jumped in too, and then Olivia did as well followed by Maverick.
By the time I made it back to the house it was dinner time. I watched from the tree line as Cheyenne convinced my mate to head to the gym. Sierra sighed, “Oh goodie. Your Xander couldn’t have saved us all and said no.”
I smirked replying, “I actually don’t agree. His acceptance makes me happy… because I can fight Cheyyyy if she’s in the gym.” Maverick asked, “Did anyone know that someone’s name could sound so derisive coming out of someone’s mouth?” Several people snickered.
Sierra said, “There’s no way Chey will agree to fight you.
” Abigail winced, “I want to say Si is wrong, but it’s not like your reputation isn’t well known.
” I laughed, “Oh yes there is. Chey is delusional. She’s always been coddled and told she’s amazing.
No one goes very hard in training with her. ”
“Cheyenne has an inflated sense of self thinking she’s better than she is.
Which is something she wants to prove to Xander.
She’ll fight me…like all those dolts who thought I couldn’t fight because I was Black Path’s Female Lead Warrior.
” Freya growled, “At which point, we will take her down.” Yes, we would. Easily.
Sierra shrugged, “Well, then it’s her funeral. The fact that she’s not dead and you’re in the same place is impressive.” I sighed, “I’m not going to kill her.” Freya snapped, “Yet.” Ok, yet… but she was Xander’s friend at the core of this. Other than being annoying, she really hadn’t done anything.
I walked into the gym and found that Haley was there with Eric.
My mother in law seemed a little pale. I hoped the letter was helpful in some ways for the siblings.
My siblings and Xander’s showed up. Dylan was munching on popcorn, his eyes shooting between me and the fight. While Lacy draped her arms around him.
I asked the group wryly, “Are their fights always so lackluster against each other? Or… is this for my benefit? Because I’m not impressed in the slightest.” Eric snorted while EJ choked on something. Elise clapped him on the back.
EJ replied, “They are fighting.” I turned towards him pointing out, “You and Xander have gone at it a million times harder than they are right now… in this very gym. Even when you’re doing a workout… so… this is just… I actually don’t have words for this.”