The Statue #2
I knew we’d talk about it later. If Melanie wanted to fight about my decision, that was fine by me. My mate just had to find a way to stop getting injured. That was a reasonable compromise in my head. I snorted when I heard shots being fired from behind me.
Oden chuckled, “Mate seems to be unable to stop fighting even when she knew she was not going to be a part of the physical fight.” It was honestly adorable.
EJ linked me, “You’re going to get in trouble for that move, little brother.
” I replied, “Yeah, well she’s going to get in trouble for continuously getting hurt. ”
I was sure dad was going to have a chat that would go nowhere with our mom about what she’d done. We all knew mom would never change, and we didn’t want her to. It was not good the Ring had realized after all these years the way to get to my mother was through those she cares about.
Oden agreed, “Yes, because mom wouldn’t, or couldn’t, stop going to the aide of those she loves. We are fucked if they continue to use that.” We all knew that. Once the fight ended Cayden brought over those that surrendered.
I was startled when I felt pure dread coming from Melanie. I turned to see her literally hiding behind my Guard. All of whom now looked amused, if not perplexed. Dad linked, “This is going to be good.” EJ linked, “Is Ladybug hiding?” I responded, “She does appear to be.”
I looked around at Melanie’s friends and noted they were all trying not to laugh. So, they knew these guys. Dylan was happily crunching on popcorn. Dylan Frost linked me, “You have noticed your mate is hiding, right? GOD, I LIVE! MelAshley is hiding. This is going to be GLORIOUS. She knows them.”
I linked Lacy, “Please keep your mate from shrieking about the fact mine is hiding.” Lacy snorted, “I am one person, Alexander. Plus, your mate hiding is rather interesting.” Well, I was glad she’d joined both packs after Dylan had so I could link her. I replied to Dylan, “I figured that out.”
Dylan said, “Something I take full credit for, being around you so much as a pup. My Beta brain rubbed off on your Alpha brain. You’re welcome, and please know I accept gift cards.” I rolled my eyes at him.
I listened to Tristan talk to Melanie. Everyone turned to face her when she altered the pitch of her voice. Hastein snorted while Uncle Bjourn and Uncle Marcus outright laughed. EJ sighed and Oden was actually cacking.
I linked Dylan, “You can’t be annoyed Gabe took pity on Melanie.” Dylan replied, “Uh yes, I can. He answered for her and I don’t like that. MelAshley’s answers are obviously superior to his succinct ones.” I raised an eyebrow at Dylan.
I glanced over at Gabe, who was simply looking at Angelique.
Who was doubled over, she was laughing so hard.
I knew at that moment, Gabe would always take Melanie’s side because she’d brought Angelique to him.
I nodded my understanding to my cousin and sent down the bond how damn grateful I was for it.
EJ linked, “Ok, I can’t take it anymore. I’m too curious about why Ladybug is hiding.” Uncle Aiden winked us and popped Melanie over to us. My mate flushed scarlet red. The guys in front of us lost their shit. Oden growled, “Did that whelp say we married a stripper?” I answered, “He did.”
EJ linked, “Fuck me. A stripper?” I quickly tamped down my amusement. Oden snorted, “If mate was holding the bond, she’d know.” I knew that, but I didn't want Melanie to know how amusing or arousing, I found it that she could strip for me.
I bet my wife had a routine. Oden agreed, “She would.” Gage linked, “Dude, do no go to the ‘my mate can show me her stripping routine’ place right now. Go there later.” I shot my Gamma a look and caught Phil’s eye too and winked. Both shook their heads.
I was annoyed that these assholes had seen whatever routine it was though.
Lux was laughing too. He better not have seen my mate strip.
I could rip these guys eyes out later for what they saw, but I couldn’t do that to Lux.
I could go Fairy hijinks on his ass though.
Oden told me, “Lake says they didn’t see it. ” Good.
One guy actually pissed his pants when Tristan said how old Melanie was. Fury filled me when I heard they’d tried to pay my mate for sex. EJ linked, “Alexander.” I replied, “SHE WAS FIFUCKINGTEEN YEARS OLD AND IN THE HUMAN REALM! He propositioned my mate!” EJ winced.
Gage linked, “So, in the Hackura realm….” I cut him off, “Which they DO NOT LIVE IN!” Gage made a face then replied, “When you’re right, you’re right.” I grabbed the guy that they said had tried to pay my mate for sex by the throat. I knew it would’ve made Melanie uncomfortable too.
Oden roared, “Rip his throat out.” I wanted him to suffer more than that. The McAlister’s were upset about Melanie stripping. I was pretty sure it was going to be for a mission. That was confirmed when Melanie rambled about drugging them.
When they growled at my wife, I used my pushing power and saw it in their minds. I saw Melanie enter the room with shaking hands. My wife drugged them with something on her watch. I was instantly hard looking at her outfit. I was going to see this dance before the night was over.
I linked Gage and Phil, “Blah, blah, blah she bugged their phones which upset them. Who cares?” Phil answered, “A lot of people.” Gage suggested, “We could care later.” YES!
We finally got around to why my wife had bugged them.
They were the intermediaries for Assassins and Bounty Hunters coming for my family.
I linked my Beta and Gamma again, “Ok then, these fuckers are going to suffer.” Both nodded. Oden linked, “I want to gouge their eyes out which I told Rocket and Gun.” I agreed, “We can do that after our show.” Oden felt triumphant about both things.
I wanted the one who’d tried to pay her for sex to suffer so I threw him into a tree. Not hard enough to kill him, but enough to paralyze him. EJ linked me, “We need to talk.” I scoffed, “Hell to the fuck no. I am DONE talking for right now.”
EJ sighed, “Well there’s….” I cut him off, “My mate was injured AGAIN. There is also a strip routine I need to see. So no, there will be no group discussion about the things Melanie has done in the Resistance in the name of a mission.”
“It’s safe to say she’s a jack of all trades. The McAlister’s can get over it. Hell, you can explain it from a Hackura mission standpoint. We all know that you do what you have to in the field to survive and succeed. Melanie made a judgment call, they can get the fuck over it.”
EJ snorted in reply and told me, “I’ll say some other version of that.” I shot back, “Be my guest.” EJ teased, “You leave all the hard jobs for me lately.” I smirked saying, “Well, at least that’s your job as the Lead Alpha.” My big brother made a face at me.
I grabbed Melanie and popped away. Oden growled, “Mate didn't realize we all saw her injured.” I didn’t care because I was over it. I put some dominance behind my words, commanding that she show me what she’d come up with for her stripping routine.
I barely managed to stay in the chair, then she improvised and used the chair I was on.
I’d give her all my money if she was a stripper.
Every last dime to my name would be my mate’s.
Melanie tried to play coy about touching, I wasn’t playing a game though, and my desire and need to claim her snapped.
I claimed her and even let Oden come out.
EJ linked me once we’d finished, “You seem calmer in the bond. I’m assuming you’ve now orgasmed several times and can handle the McAlister’s talking to Melanie about stripping.” I replied, “It was a hell of a show.”
EJ shot back, “I’m sure. I’m also sure I do not need to know or see that.” I said, “No one but me needs to see it. Ever.” I didn’t mind that Melanie had done it in the slightest. I just didn’t intend to let it be necessary for her to do again.
Plus, as my wife pointed out, I saw the whole show. Whereas those guys saw, from what I gathered, maybe two minutes. I was still going to gouge their eyes out. They were robbed of an excellent show. Oden snarled, “Our show.” Damn straight.
I linked my Gamma and Beta, “Just a heads up, Melanie doesn’t want to talk with everyone about being a stripper, and I can’t really blame her.” Gage snorted, “Yeah, your mate would rather talk about how you kept her out of the fight.” He was right.
I replied, “I’m sure we will go a round or two about that later.” Phil snorted, “I’ll just get the gym ready for your inevitable sparring match about it.” I chuckled, “That might be difficult when you don’t know when we will discuss it.” Gage replied, “Difficult is practically my middle name.”
I rolled my eyes and popped us to the conversation with her family. I nearly spit out the drink EJ snapped to me when Melanie told me Kingsley was supposed to be the stripper. I shot Hastein a look. My cousin’s smirk told me he'd known that. I was not the only one getting a show tonight.
Concern flashed through me as I wondered what could make a Dragon sick.
I hadn’t done much research on them, but I did learn about it.
What wasn’t making sense to me was after the car crash, everyone acted like Kingsley was indestructible.
So, what could make her sick? I shoved that aside for another day.
It was somewhat comical watching Melanie try to explain what had happened to her family. Sam was trying not to laugh while Drake looked like he’d swallowed something sour. Jason and Tristan were just mad.
What had my attention was that EJ had apparently talked to the prisoners.
I linked my big brother, “Tell me they aren’t dead yet.
” EJ answered, “They are not dead.” I smiled replying, “Good.” Gage snorted, “I saw that look on your face. You were worried they were dead, like Phil or I wouldn’t manage to keep at least two alive for you. ” True.