“I accept them in my life, but I do NOT have to accept them for our little Melanie. Our adorable little rambling chatterbox is ours to protect. They hurt her and today I dislike them. Maybe next week, I’ll feel more angelic about it. Today is not that day. Today the Demon side is winning when it comes to them.”
I bit my lip. Kingsley laughed, “I missed you, A.” Angelique smiled saying, “Damned if I didn’t miss you too! If I hadn’t been spoon fed bullshit about not getting a mate, I’d have guessed our mates were brothers. We got along so well and quickly. Not a lot of people can handle my dual personality.”
I snorted, “You don’t have a dual personality. Everyone can be nice or wicked. Your wickedness is just fun. You’re not malicious…. you’re just you. You are usually quite fair in your balance of which sides wins out. You are compassionate whenyou should be, and harsh when needed. You fit in with the Hackura perfectly.”
Angelique cooed, “You are just a gem. That no one is allowed to hurt ever again, or I WILL set them on fire. I’m going to need everyone to hear that here because I don’t care if you are friend or foe. Melanie Mc…” She trailed off correcting, “I mean Conners, who deserves a honeymoon people, is precious and we need to preserve her naive innocence.”
I gasped, “I don’t think people would call me naive.” Angelique snorted, “Oh yes we do. You are so ridiculously smart, but not so much with people. For example, have you told your mate who taught you to hack?” I answered, “Umm, no. Xander didn’t ask.”
Elise asked, “Who was it?” Angelique snorted, “I couldn’t possibly ruin that reveal for you, Elise. Said person drifts in and out of Melanie’s life. I, personally, am looking forward to the next drift in.” I frowned asking, “Why?” Gabe would not be happy about it since… Angelique and Charles had a thing.
Angelique shouted and pointed at me, “AH HA! There it is. That’s why we call you naive and say we should protect you at all costs. You’re adorable and I love you.” Elise linked me, “What’s she talking about?” I shrugged answering, “I’m not sure.”
Elise groaned, “Ladybug.” I explained, “Well… Angelique watches a lot of movies and television shows. She got on a soap opera kick for a while too. She probably thinks life will be like that… but she should be worried about her mate meeting… who taught me to hack….not Xander.”
Before Elise could say more, my brothers walked over. I knew it was coming. They were here in this realm because of me. Addison squeezed my hand and walked off. All the girls did, except Angelique. My friend crossed her arms and stood her ground.
Angelique warned my brothers, “For the record, I have excellent hearing, and I don’t like you. I don’t need much of an excuse to burn you.” Kingsley came back and grabbed her hand laughing, “Now, now, Angelique. Let’s not set anyone one fire at our first family event together.”
Angelique snorted, “Why? The Fairy King would be more interested in us. I’ve always wanted to visit that realm. He’s looking at us like we are a prized possession. I think we can score an invite.” I snorted, “You absolutely can. Your mate’s aunt is the Princess. All they would have to do is ask her to take you. You’re not wrong though… Aiden would also agree and gladly show you Faerie.”
Angelique squealed then recovered. She pointed at my brothers warning, “I can still hear you even thought I will be freaking out on the inside like a winner about this invitation to Faerie I have.” Kingsley reasoned, “You don’t have it yet.” Angelique waved dismissively saying, “Melanie said we did, which means we do.” Then she walked away.
Jason snorted, “She’s intense.” I countered, “Angelique is loyal.” Freya agreed, “Definitely to us.” Easily mostly to us… well… and Gabe… followed by Kingsley. Tristan asked, “Are you having a good Thanksgiving?”
I told him honestly, “It’s the best one I’ve had in a really long time.” Jason smiled, “I’m glad. I’m thrilled we’re together. We’ve missed you, Ladybug.” I acknowledged, “I’ve missed you both too… well, that might sound weird because I thought T was dead… but I did miss him… and you too Jase.”
I admitted, “I always hoped you’d show up for Thanksgiving or Christmas. I tried to send presents in those first few years but…” I trailed off. Jason growled, “I know because our parents and the Kyle’s mentioned you said that. I never got a present other than my watch.”
I sighed, “I know… they were always returned and… I guess I could give them to you now. I was able to save most of them. It’s why I put your watch at the border instead of sending it when I thought you became the official Beta.”
Tristan said, “We have a lot of presents we sent to New York for you.” I felt bad about that. I said, “I’m sure Xander or another Fairy could conjure them back… or reimburse you… or something.” Tristan touched my shoulder and squeezed.
My big brother said, “We don’t care about the money, Ladybug. We just wish you knew all those years how much you were loved and wanted. We missed you so much and it felt like a piece of us was missing. We’d all pause at moments we knew you’d jump in with your facts and feel the ache of your absence.” I definitely didn’t know that then and now had no idea what to say.
Jason jumped in, “You’re calling us Jase and T again.” I opened my mouth then closed it because he was right, I was. I’d done it once and it slid back on like an old skin. I shrugged, “It’s a habit. Especially with T. I had to think about calling him Tristan…. and well… he’s T.”
“I was programmed to refer to you as Beta Jason. I think it’s past time I rescind their power to restrict me. It doesn't mean we are ok… or that we are back to normal. I just don’t think we can get there if I keep holding things in and letting the mindset they gave me win out. So… Jase and T it is.”
Tristan smiled saying, “I’ll take it. You’re so strong, Ladybug. I’m so glad you’re home.” I admitted, “Me too… not being home was hard. I missed it so much… and everything was wrong where I was. They wanted me to just be quiet… and Jase’s lying letters kept saying all this stuff like he’d never met me… which… whoever wrote them probably hadn’t… so that makes more sense actually.”
Jason snorted, “For the record, question it if I send you a handwritten letter. You know I don’t like to do that. I’ll email, call, or text you first. Hell, I’ll send you a smoke signal before I write a goddamn letter after hearing about the ones you got.”
I said, “Yeah… well… it’s not like we didn’t talk on the phone… you talked to a fake me… I talked to a fake you… the only time I got upset with you… I mean the fake you… you backed off.” Jason asked, “About what?” I answered, “Trevor.”
Tristan and Jason snarled. I explained, “You called saying that I denied my fated mate… which I explained I didn’t do… they were trying to gaslight me about my mate… they said wolf less didn’t feel them.” Freya snarled, “You were not wolf less and they knew that. Plus, that mark wouldn’t have stayed.” It never would’ve happened.
Tristan said, “Jase would never…” I cut him off, “Even the person pretending to be him faltered when I said I didn’t feel the tingles when Trevor touched me. So, either it was a wolf or someone who thought they could emulate those. Maybe they tried but it didn’t work.”
Jason growled, “I would’ve come down there and ripped his head off. I would’ve never let him touch you.” Tears filled my eyes because that’s what I wanted from him. Freya whispered, “Melanie.” I pinched my nose trying not to cry.
Tristan said, “Ladybug, it’s ok.” I agreed, “Definitely… everything is fine… totally fine… that’s just all I wanted to hear from Jase… for a long time… so… it’s fine… and ummm… I need some air. Air is good… and required…. to keep living so… I’m just going to go out there… where there is air… more air... because obviously there’s air in here and… bye.”
I walked out to the balcony on which I’d confessed to being part of the Resistance to Xander. I smelled my dad behind me. I said, “You can come all the way out here, dad. It’s a free balcony.” Well probably not free… but he knew what I meant.
My dad came and stood beside me saying, “I do know the balcony was paid for, but I know what you meant.” Inside thoughts Melanie. Dad smiled commenting, “It’s nice seeing you where you belong.” I asked, “What do you mean?”
Dad explained, “Beside your mate. Here with the Hackura, the Conners, Holloran, Cambridge’s, and with us. Even your friends. You’ve found your place in this world and that’s what I always wanted for you. I know it’s hard when your brain works differently than other peoples, like ours do. I had Peter because I was going to be his Beta, but a lot of people didn’t understand me and that was hard.”
