Chapter 14 Unapproved Likeness #5
My wife skipped over to me and gave me a kiss. Melanie pulled back to say, “I guess this beats the cupcakes I bought myself.” I kissed her forehead and attempted to block my anger from her. Melanie skipped back over to Sierra.
Gage said, “Think happy thoughts, Alexander.” Phil agreed, “Yeah, she’s here at a party.” Addison said, “We did try to do things for Mel’s birthday. She told us to stop when her presents were always destroyed.” I frowned and Sam’s jaw was clenched tight.
My mother in law said, “Excuse me.” She strode out of the house with Drake on her heels. I saw them go to the dungeons. I was guessing Stephanie McCann was about to have a very bad day. Not that any of hers were good by any means.
I asked Elise, “How’s the fake Melanie?” Elise frowned while EJ laughed. I asked, “What?” EJ explained, “It seems my mate inherited my ability of telekinesis. Fake Melanie is dead.” Elise huffed, “I didn’t mean to kill her. I wanted her to suffer longer.”
EJ teased, “The Beta’s riled you up.” Elise grumbled, “That bitch just kept saying it was just a job, but she was there that night Melanie was kidnapped. That’s why the Warriors saw her leave.
Because they saw that imposter leave. I just wished that I could impale her with a knife.
Right in the heart like she did to all of us. ”
I laughed, “So I’m guessing the knife flew across the room into her heart. I would’ve healed her for you.” EJ said, “It was a screwdriver. The fake Melanie was very dead, on impact.” Elise sighed, “The only good thing was Edward, Jean, and Stephanie were jealous.” I commented, “I’ll bet.”
Melanie was drinking a lot of the Hawaiian punch and rum. Dylan was following my wife around and refilling her drink every time it was empty. Jason spoke from behind me, “I feel like Dylan is going to get his wish. I don’t know how this isn’t Drunk Melanie yet.”
Addison laughed, “Mel’s got a hell of an alcohol tolerance.” Dylan snorted and came over to us. He said, “Jase, didn’t anyone tell you? My wishes do come true. All the time in fact.” Dylan walked back over to Melanie with a full drink.
Hastein portaled in with Kingsley. My cousin’s mate laughed immediately when she spotted Melanie and put a present down. Kinglsey commented, “You’re in luck, H. We didn’t miss Drunk Melanie.” Hastein looked over at my mate and said, “I see that.”
Kingsley smirked, “You guys have no idea what you’ve done.” Dylan whispered, “I’ve done magical things you Pegasus, Ostrich, Loch Ness, Lava Monster, Panther.” Kingsley laughed. Melanie snickered and sang, “You are oh so very wrong.”
Dylan smiled, “Ahhhh, Drunk MelAshley. Tell me things.” Melanie laughed, “I’ll tell you plenty of things, but not about K. What else would you like to know?” Kingsley snorted. EJ said, “Dear god. Is this actually the secret to knowing what’s in Melanie’s head?” I was pretty sure it was.
Dylan cooed, “Dear sweet MelAshley, I want to know so many things. Let’s go with one that will make your mate’s eyebrow twitch.
” Melanie tilted her head and asked, “Why would Xander’s eyebrow twitch?
” Dylan snorted, “How hard did Lux try to get you into bed? He was quite put out when I brought Claire to them, via Wesley, and heard that you’d done the tango with no clothes on with the Moody Triplet. ”
I snarled, “Are you serious right now, Dylan?!” Gage groaned, “Why, dear god, why is that the question?!” Phil sighed, “Because he doesn’t like us, Gage.” Dylan snorted, “You both hush.” Melanie rolled her eyes, “That’s a silly question.”
Avery asked, “Why?” Melanie answered, “Lux tries to get in every girl’s pants.
He usually succeeds too. He never pushed me …
. if that’s what you’re asking. Lux was always nice to me.
He definitely flirted and told me he wanted to sleep with me.
” EJ pleaded, “Please stop talking, Melanie.” Oden snarled in my head.
Melanie continued like EJ hadn’t said anything, “It wasn’t like he did a full court press or anything. Lux was very respectful. He’s the only guy I can say that of that flirted with me too. Though I don’t think most of it was flirting… when you think about it.” That made more than me growl.
Kingsley's tone was full of warning when she said, “Melanie.” Melanie frowned asking, “What? Lux was nice.” Kingsley sighed, “I’m not referring to Lux.” Melanie asked, “Who are you referring to then? There’s so many rude people….and we know so many of them.” Kingsley laughed.
Dylan said, “Hmm interesting, next question.” I linked him, “I swear to god if you ask her another question about who wants to fuck my mate, you’ll see heads explode.” Dylan replied, “That does make me want to ask.” I growled at him.
Dad simply said, “Dylan.” Dylan groaned, “Don’t any of you LSGAP carbon copies have some of your mother’s fun DNA to tap into? Is it just my son in law? I focused too much on him and ignored all of you. It’s my fault, I accept the blame.”
Melanie snickered, “They have plenty of their mom’s DNA.
Max and Theo pull pranks all the time.” My wife turned to her friends and asked them, “Do you guys remember the time they put slime around the gym… Xander got so mad! He looked so hot in green slime though. I was kind of hoping they would post something on his socials with that reel… but they did not.” Phil shouted, “What?!”
Elise gasped and several people’s eyebrows hit the roof. EJ shouted, “It was you two?!” Melanie slapped a hand over her mouth while Kingsley laughed. Hastein was shaking with silent laughter. I teasingly shouted at my brothers, “We blamed Angela and let her get away with it!”
Theo smugly said, “Which is why it was the perfect crime.” I growled at him.
Melanie said, “I’m so sorry. I thought they knew it was you guys…
. and Xander, you did look good in green slime.
If you have B roll of that somewhere… it would be a popular video…
that might result in a death or five… but still. ”
Dylan said, “Yeah Xander boy, think of how viral you could go.” Tristan groaned, “Why, Ladybug?” Melanie said, “I don’t know. He just looked good… and he has a lot of mean stalkers… with bad intentions. So, I kill them.”
“I don’t know how to explain that he looked hot. Xander… just did. He was also moderately annoyed and his eyes went golden… he’s so sexy. Si… can you believe his muscles look better in person? Because… I was unprepared.” Sierra snorted out a laugh.
Dylan said, “None of them need the ego boost you are giving your mate. They are spawns of LSGAP who know they are attractive.” Theo asked, “How did you know it was us, Melanie?” Dylan squealed, “What a great question! My presence here was not wasted on all the Conners boys. Can I get an amen?! Hallelujah!” No one said anything.
Melanie shouted, “Amen!” Dylan laughed, “Thank you, MelAshley.” My wife shrugged. Theo asked, “What’s the answer to my question?” All of Melanie’s friends were trying not to laugh. Melanie said, “I have the cameras in the gym tapped. Xander spent most of his time there…. So… I hacked in.”
“Honestly… at this point… that feels obvious. I didn’t like, watch it all the time… but I did watch it… because he was there… particularly when someone was coming after him. I just needed to see him… but when I saw the slime drop…I went back into the footage and saw it was you guys.”
Oden purred, “Mate is so cute when she’s protective and murdering people for us.
” She really was. Dylan howled with laughter.
Dad groaned, “Our feeds are hackable?” Melanie smiled deviously answering, “By me? Yes. Well Charles could too… but he wouldn’t care…
and members of your family could… but they wouldn’t.
Gunner… who said I could call him that… and Micah.
Si… did you hear how calmly I said Gunner’s name? ”
Sierra sighed, “Melanie, you squeaked his name.” Melanie whispered, “I’m being so chill about my mentor… that didn’t know he was my mentor.” Kingsley spit out her drink. All I was capable of doing was smiling. Several people looked at Uncle Gunner who grinned.
Dylan said, “I feel that has layers to unpack. I have questions in a different area. So, what I just learned is that I have to unlock Drunk MelAshley again. Darn the luck.” Sarcasm. Dylan continued, “How many cameras around this here territory have you hacked into?”
Kingsley snorted and muttered, “Most of them.” Melanie thought about it and was using her fingers to count. Oh lord. Eventually my mate said, “I’ve hacked into all of them at one point or another. The only ones I run recordings on are… in the gym.”
Now I laughed. Tristan grumbled, “I couldn’t have just walked into that gym. Or dad or mom. No, no, no. We always sent Jase to go get Alexander.” Dylan asked Melanie, “How did you and your band of merry men get away from us all the time?”
I felt Melanie’s delight in the bond while all of Melanie’s friends looked at each other with knowing looks. Kingsley kissed Hastein then pulled back. My cousin’s mate winked offering, “Best of luck, H.” Hastein asked, “With what?”
Melanie asked Dylan, “Do you want to see how we did it?” Dylan answered “Obviously.” Oden purred, “Mate is going to run from us.” Happy Birthday indeed. Melanie squealed and clapped her hands, “Come on guys! You have to give us a five minute head start.”
Hastein said, “I sense a challenge.” EJ answered, “I think you’re right.” I asked, “A head start for what?” Melanie ran over and kissed my cheek then said, “To try and catch us. No using bonds! That’s cheating. Best birthday ever!” My wife ran out of the house.
Dad groaned, “Dylan, why?” Dylan said, “You’re welcome, this is going to be fun. It will also be enlightening to certain people who are adept at catching others. I’m looking at you Creepy Ninja Assassins. Watch and learn, it’s what you do.” All of Melanie’s friends left after her.