I shrugged because I knew my mate wasn’t having a mental break down. I ended up doing two extra miles than my brothers and still beat them back. I was doing paperwork with EJ when I felt Melanie’s feelings changed into motivation.
Phil came into the room saying, “I saw my best buddy and Luna go into her office and peeked in on her. Your mate is surrounded by books with printed out paper pages that are highlighted. She’s also got different colored sticky notes on them. Whatever she’s looking into, she’s got a lot of research done.”
I said, “I imagine those are the books she brought from Faerie.” Phil said, “Well, Melanie doesn't show signs of stopping. I have this feeling Sierra will be moving this therapy session, then someone will have to medicate the McAlister’s.”
Gage groaned, “Please, no. Jared is finally happy about something even though he’s not included. The entirety of Red Run is happy about this therapy session.” I told them both, “Melanie will be there. She’s just trying to distract herself. I know my mate wants to have this conversation with everyone.” Phil shrugged and Gage looked marginally relieved but still tense like he wasn’t so sure.
Sierra came in when I was about to go get Melanie. My Beta Female urged, “You go to the session and I’ll get Mel there. Fair warning, she’s going to be late.” I instantly said, “That’s ok.” Sierra sighed, “I hope I can drag her out. I checked on her an hour ago and she's deep into whatever she’s researching. It’s hard to get Mel out of that mode.”
I offered, “I can go get her.” Sierra admitted, “I’d say yes, but I think Jase needs you based on the text I got from Addison. So you go, and I’ll link you if I can’t convince Mel to come up for air.” I nodded and popped to my mom’s office.
I grabbed Jason and pulled him outside. My friend commented, “We are going to be late.” I told him, “Melanie isn’t here yet, and I have it on good authority she’ll be late. What’s wrong?” Jason sighed, “Nothing.” I called him out, “Liar.”
Jason ran a hand through his hair before saying, “There are a lot of people here. Melanie brought people for everyone else to have support. It’s too much. She’s not just thinking of herself, and….” He stopped talking.
I questioned, “And?” Jason frowned, “Nothing. I’m just worried about her.” I demanded, “Jason Benjamin McAlister, out with it.” Jason growled at me, “Fine. I think Melanie is going to make me admit I’m mad at her.”
I told him, “That should be simple since you just admitted you’re mad at her.” Jason frowned, “That makes me a bad person and brother.” I argued, “I’ve been mad at my siblings before, Jase. It doesn’t make me a bad brother.”
Jason said, “Well you didn’t get mad at your siblings when they spent damn near seven years being tortured and mentally abused.” I winced reasoning, “You have the right to be upset, Jase. Melanie believed you abandoned her.”
I continued, “She was a teenager who was manipulated. That doesn’t change the fact that it hurts your feelings. You’re entitled to feel how you feel, and if you don’t start talking about it those feelings will fester. You’ll blow up eventually and you’ll feel even worse about it.”
Jason sighed, “I don’t like that you’re right. I don’t want to be upset with Ladybug. It doesn’t stop the sting my little sister thought I’d want anyone to hurt her. Or that I’d send her away even if I found my mate and was becoming the Beta.”
My best friend looked at me with pleading eyes, “I’d have raised her, Alexander. If something happened to my parents no one would’ve pried her away from me. They’d have had to do so from my cold, dead hands.”
I assured him, “I know that, and I think Melanie knows that too. I think it eats at my mate that she believed the person she was talking to was you. Especially when your actions didn’t line up with what she knew about her brother. There were spells and she was traumatized. I think Mel blames herself though.”
Jason sighed, “Great.” I teased, “I sense sarcasm.” Jason huffed, “Because it is sarcasm. I don’t want Ladybug to feel bad. I understand how hard being wrong is for my sister. Melanie has never dealt with failure well, and she channels it into some crazy reaction.” That felt ominous.
We walked back into the room and waited for Melanie. We had been waiting when she linked me about getting a message to Hastein for Kingsley. What on earth did that have to do with anything happening today?
Oden said, “Freya said they really don’t want to reschedule.” I knew that because Melanie couldn’t lie and I’d asked her. I told the room, “Melanie will be here any minute, she’s on the way right now.” Everyone except mom let out a sigh of relief.
When Melanie entered, I felt her anxiety spike again. My wife mumbled her apologies and sat by me. Mom linked, “She’s going to need your strength, Alexander.” I replied, “She’ll have it.” Everything got started.
I was worried Melanie basically wanted everyone but herself to voice their feelings. I asked Oden, “Is Freya saying anything? Because Melanie is worried about everyone else’s feelings and not her own.” Oden answered, “Freya said Melanie really isn’t mad at anyone anymore because staying mad at them was hard work.”
My wolf paused then added, “Mate found it exhausting since she never wanted to be upset with them in the first place.” That made sense, but her feelings still mattered here. I did not handle some of the information that came out well.
My mate really was going to kill herself. That’s how far they pushed her. Oden howled in agony. Of all people I was going to have to thank Charles for saving her. Oden was broken hearted hearing how close it had been.
Oden linked me, “Freya said Melanie wouldn’t have been successful. Freya would’ve taken over to make the shot miss.” I still didn’t like that they’d pushed Melanie so far. They’d hurt her so badly with lies we could’ve lost her.
I followed Melanie out once the session was over. It was fair to say everyone was reeling, I was still worried my wife didn’t really talk about her feelings. Oden said, “Freya said she thinks more sessions with smaller groups will go well.” Yeah, a smaller group was a requirement.
In the following days I bit the bullet. I called the number Arthur gave me for Charles. The annoying Vampire answered, “Well, of all the people I expected to get a call from you, young Enforcer, were last.” I snorted, “At least I’m on the list.”
Charles asked, “Is Melanie alright?” I answered, “She’s fine.” Charles asked, “Then to what do I owe the pleasure of your call?” I admitted, “I wanted to thank you. There’s actually not enough I can say to thank you. You saved my mate.”
I growled, “Those assholes in Black Path broke her and you helped piece her back together and convinced her to keep living. Nothing I can say or do will ever repay the debt, but if you or yours need something call me; I’ll be there.”
Charles acknowledged, “Few things have upset me as much as seeing how hurt Melanie was that night. She thought they’d told her she could never meet her nephew. I killed quite a few visitors to Black Path, and some Witches in the area. Once I was certain she was ok.”
“I was actually going to see you, but one of my children called needed me. I kept tabs on Melanie through a different child ofmine I sent to Nashville. Melanie bounced back and her friends were on high alert.”
“By the time I got back, Melanie had her reasons for staying away from you more than before and I respected that. Since her life was no longer in jeopardy. Had it been, her reasons would not have mattered to me, and I would’ve been in your face.”
