Dylan cooed, “Pretty precious Freya, we know Valdoma will QUAKE in her boots over you. I got you some popcorn you pretty wolf.” Dylan threw it and Freya caught it. Dylan squealed, “OMG! A wolf caught popcorn I threw. Do you see how it’s done Alpha wolves?” A lot of people rolled their eyes.
Paige’s eyes darkened as she said, “Join the club, Freya. We will take that evil Witch down, with Melanie.” Melanie took back over and squeezed her friend’s hand. There was definitely something more going on with that.
Micah asked, “Can I get my watch tutorial?” Melanie asked, “What do you mean?” Dylan laughed, “Us mere mortals do not understand how it works.” Melanie frowned, “Really? I’m sorry. I didn’t realize everyone didn’t… know how to use them.”
Uncle Bjourn chimed in, “For the record, I’d like one.” Melanie replied, “You have one. So do your brothers, children, and all the mates.” Grammy Veronica threw out, “I want one too.” Melanie chuckled, “You have one too… like who excludes the former Queen of the Hackura? Not me. The watches are in the lab. Let’s go!” She jumped up and ran outside.
EJ groaned, “God, she’s too fast.” Tristan snorted, “I think we will have her open her presents another day.” Paige said, “Mel will not have realized there are presents.” My heart broke and burst with anger for my mate.
Mom got up and walked out of the room cursing, “Motherfucking assholes in Black Path with their stupid ruining birthday’s for people shit! People who fucking know their birthdays are celebrated too.” I winced. Dad was already out of the room behind mom.
Melanie ran back in with a duffle bag and began passing out watches. Dylan said, “Look at that, everyone was on Santa’s nice list this year. LSGAP was even there because he got one first. I also had mine ahead of the curve.”
“I know there was a debate on whether or not LSGAP deserved to be there, but the jolly fat man with the white beard and red outfit has spoken. Who are we to argue with his bowl full of jelly? It’s got to be such a difference from his human naughty nice list.”
Kingsley was beside herself with laughter. Melanie passed out the watches then paused at MaryBeth and Melinda. My wife squealed, “You guys wanted to make cookies! Let’s go.” Melinda instantly agreed, “Let’s.” and walked with Melanie.
MaryBeth was frozen for a second until Dane nudged her. He said, “Go, babe. It’s what you’ve wanted since Ladybug got back. Go have a normal moment with her.” MaryBeth sighed, “So we have to get Ladybug drunk to want to hang out with us?”
Dylan interrupted, “Not to be nitpicky, but I got her drunk.” Dane rolled his eyes, “We know, Dylan.” He told MaryBeth, “Just go spend time with Mel. Because drunk or not, she wants to spend time with you.” MaryBeth slowly broke into a smile and followed the other two women into the kitchen.
Dylan said, “And so my time of answers came and went. I’ve been foiled by cookies. I swear cookies should be declared ourmortal enemy in these here parts.” Everyone cringed a little. Drake offered, “I agree. I’m a personal no cookie ever kick and peanut butter cookies are banned in our pack.”
Sam said, “Our daughter likes to bake. I’m sure she makes cookies, Drake.” Drake sighed, “I said peanut butter cookies. I doubt our daughter makes those, but I’ll amend my statement. I’ll eat any cookies that Melanie bakes but that’s it.”
Addison made a face saying, “Yeah, Melanie does not make peanut butter cookies. We also do not mention them. Ever. Especially when she’s Drunk Melanie. The rant is hours long and I’m not even sure her Xander kissing her would stop it. She’d just start all over again. She loathes those cookies.”
I voiced, “I’m with Drake. Peanut butter cookies do not exist to me anymore.” EJ snorted, “Right. One never knows when someone is dosing the peanut butter cookies.” Mom snorted as she entered the room again.
Dylan asked, “That was s loaded snort, tell me more.” The man whispered, “I already know but I know the Alpha bloods don’t. I’m such a giver.” Mom explained, “If one of you had mentioned to me you got those damn headaches I’d have suspected the fucking cookies.”
Corbin waved his arms, “Hello? I suspected the cookies once Cayden told me about them. I looked into them and discovered they were the culprit. Melanie just figured it out before I could tell everyone. She stole my moment of glory.” He ended teasingly.
Paige snickered, “Get used to it. Melanie does that a lot. Even when you think you’ve figured something out, she works it out and is off to save the world.” Addison sighed, “Usually against the popular vote.” Avery teased, “It’s not a democracy, Ads.” All of them rolled their eyes.
We could hear the girls laughing in the kitchen. Ben McAlister wiped away tears, and Esther McAlister squeezed hisleg. Ben whispered to his mate, “It’s just like it should’ve been with them. Our girls are suffering because I didn’t protect our family.”
Drake winced, “Dad.” Dylan interjected, “This is going in a depressing way, let’s bring it back to fun. Hendrick and Mason you’re on deck. Why did you believe so much in a fourteen year old’s vision that you put money into funding it? You couldn’t have thought she’d get your money back to you at fourteen.”
Hendrick laughed, “Mel had a business proposal with charts and graphs. It was very professional. We’d have given her the money without it though. That girl was the reason people stopped sneering at us. As much as I’d like to say it didn’t hurt me, there were days it was hard.”
“It bothered Mason more than me, which upset me even more. We should’ve been Warriors the whole time, which Melanie pushed for that to happen. She suggested several investments for us that returned far more than she asked for.”
“Melanie barely waited a beat before she took the Alpha to task and got us the profits from our diner we had actually earned. We loved her as a daughter from the moment we met her. We believed in her and knew if anyone could accomplish it, Melanie could.”
Dylan said, “Hear, Hear! Good man. You have Beta blood, don’t you?” Hendrick smiled, “A little, yes.” Dylan clapped his hands together, “AH HA! I knew it! You should be in my Beta Chat. I’ll add you.” Melanie and her aunts ran out of the house laughing.
Dane said, “Well, there was no fire in the kitchen. That’s an improvement for MaryBeth.” Several people laughed. Phil linked me, “You should listen to the pack link.” I opened the connection and my eyes widened.
I snorted, “Big Brother, you might have to follow through on buying Melanie that bakery. She’s proposing said business toone of the pack members.” EJ asked, “Which one?” I answered, “Karina.” EJ started laughing.
After an hour Bradford linked me, “The Muffin Luna has passed out on our couch after drawing up a business plan and proposal for a bakery.” I snorted. Bradford kept going, “She’s just not like normal drunk girls.” I agreed, “There’s nothing normal about my mate.” I left and went to go get Melanie. I carried her back to our room.
Elise linked me the next morning, “Is Melanie up? There’s a Luna meeting. I don’t know if Sierra got a chance to tell her about it.” I asked, “Where is it?” Elise said, “Well, we are getting popped in because it’s in Kentucky. Sierra said Melanie has a holoport she can use to drive there.”
I snorted, “If she’ll drive.” Elise acknowledged, “Fair point. Just tell Mel when she wakes up, please.” I kissed her forehead and went to my office after leaving a note for her to come find me. After an hour, I felt her panic.
I linked my mate, “What’s wrong?” Melanie replied, “I just looked at my calendar… and I’m late! I’m never later… unless there’s an emergency!” I assured my wife, “Everyone understood. Sierra said you had a holoport you could use to drive.”
