Cheyenne asked my wife, “Who were you fighting?” Melanie answered, “Not that it’s any of your business but my father in law, a brother in law or two, and a few of my sisters in law. So, if someone were worn down here it would be me.”
“Especially since I don’t hold back in my fights hoping someone stares at my butt and boobs. I actually come to the gym to fight. Unlike some people in this gym who would remain nameless if the implication wasn’t perfectly crystal clear.” My jaw dropped.
Cheyenne flushed, “I wear this to work out! How dare you!” Melanie shot back, “You normally wear yoga pants and tank tops. That’s your preferred work out clothing. You only wear booty shorts and sports bras when you come here.”
“Gosh…. I wonder why that is… oh wait… no, I literally don’t wonder why at all. I know EXACTLY why you do it. Now are you going to actually show me your fighting skills… or are we still calling whatever the hell you two were doing a good fight?”
Oden grumbled, “I told you not to go off the cliff. You just walked off knowing it was a cliff.” Cheyenne growled, “Who do you think you are? Are you stalking me?” Melanie answered, “You know exactly who I am… so don’t act like you don’t.”
“It’s insulting to both of us. Play whatever part you want for my mate, but I already know you know me. I’m recognizable. I called Xander my mate… so you could’ve played off knowing by that comment... it was the smarter way to play it…. but I can prove you already knew me. No one runs a background check on me without me knowing,Chey.”
Every time Melanie said Chey it was a clear insult and sneer. I linked Gage and Phil, “A what?! Cheyenne ran a background check ON MY WIFE?!” Gage replied, “That’s what the super smart, bad at lying genius said. So, I’ll go with yes.” Phil groaned again. Was he past words?!
Cheyenne flushed. I asked, “Come again?” Neither of them answered me because they were staring at each other. Melanie offered, “For the record… I have no problem with women who wear whatever they feel comfortable in.”
“I have a problem with you parading around like that in front of my mate hoping to entice him. Particularly when it didn’t work when Xander was unmated. Now you’re clearly just trying to piss me off… which is a REALLY bad idea.”
“There are plenty of women who work out here in that type of attire because they feel comfortable in it. I’ve never said a word about it… nor will I, because they should be proud of how they look… more power to them.”
“My problem is you and knowing it’s not how you prefer to work out. Also… and know I mean this… from my actual soul… if you kiss my mate ONE…. and I do mean ONE… more time, I’ll rip your lips off… and probably feed them to a dog while you watch… probably crying. Are we clear?” Oh shit.
Cheyenne turned red, “It’s a custom of my people.” Melanie tilted her head, “Really? Kissing both cheeks is a custom in Wyoming? I must have missed that every time I’ve been there or met someone from there.”
I offered, “She’s from Europe.” Gage and Phil linked me shouted, “WHY WOULD YOU SAY THAT?!” Every bond I had was echoing shock that I’d said anything. Ok, fair. It was not my best moment, but I was trying to deescalate the situation. Melanie clenched her hands.
My wife corrected me, “No,Chey’smother is from Europe.CHEY, is from freaking Wyoming and she’s been to Europe a total of two freaking times. Kissing someone is not her custom, and IF it was… why are YOU the only one she’s kissing? I missed her kissing EJ, Wesley, Max, Theo, Julian….”
Cheyenne interrupted, “I’m not friends with them. I’m just friends with Alexander.” Melanie shot back, “It’s Alpha Duke Alexander and it’s a custom or it’s not. It’s a way of greeting people or it’s not. Not those you choose… that's not a custom. Also, I missed you brother kissing people on the cheeks too.. Oh wait… he doesn’t BECAUSE YOU ARE FROM THE UNITED STATES WHERE KISSING PEOPLE ON THE CHEEK IS NOT A CUSTOM!”
My eyes widened because Freya was in there yelling with Melanie. Oden sighed, “Cliff. You and I are at the bottom.” Melanie asked my friend, “Are you getting in the ring to fight? Or can you not handle a fight after that…” Melanie glared at me then said, “warm up.” I winced.
Did I really take it that easy on Cheyenne? Cheyenne smirked at my wife, “I guess we will fight. I must warn you, it’s a bad call on your part. I’m really good.” Melanie snorted, “Sure you are. There’s only ample evidence I’m the better fighter… but yeah… bad call… on my part… Ok. Sure. Let’s go.”
To my surprise Melanie jumped into my arms and slammed her lips onto mine very possessively. My wife linked me, “After I take your little friend down… so hard people will talk about it… for a VERY long time… we are having a chat.”
I assured my wife, “Cheyenne really is just a friend.” Melanie snorted, “Sure she is… just like Caine and Dax are my friends… right? Because they kiss me… oh wait…. No, they don’t… because they don’t claim to be from Europe. I would never let another man do that to me… in your presence or outside of it…who wasn’t a blood family member of mine.” Fuck.
Melanie walked over into the ring while Cheyenne frowned. I went to join my family and decided Melanie’s walk was more of a saunter. I asked EJ, “This is going to be bad, isn’t it?” EJ said, “Yes, it is. You big dork.” Great.
Gage gasped, “Did you actually just ask that?” Phil replied, “He did.” I should’ve just gone inside and introduced them to each other. They were both good fighters. I was surprised Cheyenne didn’t know how skilled Melanie was though. Melanie was going to win this fight.
I knew my old friend was in for a rough time. I was certain Cheyenne could hold her own though. Oden snorted. I told him, “I know Melanie will win. She beat Phil for god’s sake.” Oden sighed. Dad put his hand on my shoulder and nodded to me.
Mom shook her head in a ‘what can you do’ kind of way muttering, “I buy you boys books and all you do is read the damn covers and ignore the rest of the information. I blame your dad. I really fucking do.” Dad put his arm around mom and squeezed her.
Mom smiled, “I love you anyway, Eric. The fact remains their blindness to this shit is your fault. You all don’t understand the power behind those Conners eyes.” Dad chuckled then kissed the top of her head. I snorted because it wasn’t the right saying. I sat back in my seat ready to jump in if need be.
