Elise argued, “Alpha Males are more sensitive to…” I cut her off, “False. I have read and conducted a multitude of studies on that particular topic. I also know that a lot of people around here call you Slugger for defending your bond with EJ.”
Buttercup interjected, “You didn’t get upset about Vance though. Wesley told me about that situation.” I explained, “Ok…again, that was vastly different. I wouldn’t call Vance my friend… merely someone I saved… and occasionally have to deal with.”
“Plus, Vance disrespected our relationship. Ergo Xander’s reaction was totally valid… Vance said I was fair game because I wasn’t marked… which is hurtful to me… on every level and insulting to Xander… and people thankfully can’t say it anymore… because I’m marked and we share a bond.”
“If Xander knew how much it hurt every single time someone talked about being marked… well a lot more people’s heads would’ve exploded. The point is… that entire situation was different. I’m not being unreasonable here. Everyone else is.”
Elise said, “It’s just with Alpha’s….” I interrupted, “You’re an Alpha.” Elise frowned, “You never used to interrupt an Alpha blood.” I rubbed my face and winced because that was true… or if I did it was unintentional.
I said, “Well… it became a habit… but I can work on that… because it is rude… and I acknowledge the difference when people do it to me… because I will just keep talking… whereas most people possess the ability to have a filter or inside thoughts. I’ll work on the whole not interrupting good people thing… I make no promises about bad people… they have it coming.”
Sierra said, “I would run with that, Elise.” Valentina snorted, “No joke. Caine would’ve killed for that agreement.” Sierra snorted, “He absolutely would’ve.” Abigail said, “I know that too because he talked to my brother and that pack leadership core about it.”
I waved, “My point about this situation is either Xander gets to be rude for no reason, and I do too; or no one gets to be rude. That’s…what we like to call fair… which our mate’s care about.” Elise reasoned, “You do seem to realize there are different situations.” I replied, “Of course I do! Someone being rude about our relationship is different.”
Jane said, “You saw Amy doing what she did and dealt with that.” I replied, “Charles is nothing like that woman… and he’s never disrespected anyone mate’s bond… it’s sacred to him.” He’d lost him mate, and he would never hurt someone that way unless they deserved it.
Elise conceded, “Ok, this is nuanced because Charles has romantic intentions towards you.” I argued, “No, he doesn’t. Is that the precedent though? Romantic intentions… dictate the response you give as a mate? Be that friend, mentor, acquaintance, or random person? Or… should I just smile whenCheyennecomes into town?” Elise’s eyes widened.
Sierra groaned, “No. Not the Chey conversation.” Ray tried to cover his laugh with a cough. I heard KJ, Fowler and Chason snickering. I pointed out, “KJ lived in New York… and even he’s laughing… so it’s abundantly obvious thatCheyennehas romantic intentions on my mate.”
Buttercup bit her lip. Jane admitted, “I didn’t know someone’s name could sound like a sneering curse word until now.” Buttercup whispered, “I know. Wasn’t it great though?” Jane answered, “Uh huh.” Valentina said, “Did I call that or what, Si? I said Cheyenne would come up.” Sierra said, “You did.”
Olivia added, “I agreed it would come up.” Elise asked, “How do you know about Cheyenne, Ladybug?” I said, “I repeat….KJ knows aboutCheyenne, and he LIVED IN NEW YORK! It’s clearly not a secret… besides it’s not even kind of the point that I know about her. I do though… and Ihateher.”
Abigail snorted, “Does she ever. Even I know about this woman.” Fowler snorted, “Bad day to be the Alpha.” Freya snarled, “We can rip her head off.” I continued, “My point is when she comes into town… do I get to be rude to her?”
Elise opened her mouth but didn’t say anything. I added, “Because honestly… I want to… so badly.Cheyennedesperatelywants my mate, and he is MINE… from what I know… she’s not going to care I’m in the picture. I also know Xander doesn’t think she likes him. He’s wrong though, and you ALL know it.”
“Even the snorting chucklers who follow me around know… and again… one of them LIVED IN NEW YORK. Ray’s face says he definitely knows… and he knows I’m right about her reaction to me being here… honestly he looks like he’s already looking forward to the inevitable show down.”
Ray interjected, “Yes, because I’ve met you Ladybug. You’ll have a way to goad her into a challenge. Probably officially and it will look like she walked right into it instead of you maneuvering her.” Sierra muttered, “That’s only in the happy plans, Ray. Cheyenne dies in most of them.”
Jaws dropped all around. Ok… so did they not hear me say I hated Cheyenne? She’s still alive. If I decided to kill her, she’d be dead. Jane said, “I think we all know that.” I groaned, “Not having inside thoughts is the worst.” Freya said, “It shows great restraint on your part that woman is alive.”
I rambled out loud, “Cheyennecomes into this territory with her MALARKY and LYING about her customs and kisses Xander on the cheek… not once… but twice.” Sierra groaned, “Not the cheek kissing thing.” Valentina cackled, “It’s a classic. They are lucky Mel’s not drunk.”
I continued, “Charles did not kiss me in any way, shape or form and never has… even on the cheek… and he’s actually from Europe! So, whenCheyenneshows up do I get to kick her butt? Because I can, easily….I could kill her easier than I draw my next breath.”
Fowler snorted, “I know you can too.” I waved, “Exactly! He knows… because that woman won’t fight anyone in this pack except my mate. She insults his Warriors by not sparring with them… and I’m now offended for them.”
Sierra snorted, “Great. We needed another level of Melanie offended to this impending doomed situation.” Valentina cackled, “I’m texting Virgil. We cannot miss this showdown.” I repeated, “So, can I kick her butt? Because I wasn’t planning on it… the first time she came…. I was going to evaluate the situation… and probably make her look bad in other ways. I’m not a saint… and Xander is MINE!”
Freya growled at the end. Rhea came forward, “Freya, we know Oden is yours.” Freya let me have control but warned, “I will get that woman.” I replied, “It won’t be very hard given what I know and the reactions of everyone here.”
I continued, “I was going to give her that space… and a private warning… because I know Xander andCheyenneare friends… even though I hate that. I planned to run, dance, and make training just a touch harder.”
“If this is the new way things go though, I’m MORE than willing to kick her butt and take her down a few pegs… because Ray’s not entirely wrong… that was just my game plan for her second or third visit… probably second… because again… I’m not a saint…nor do I possess the patience of one.”
Buttercup said, “Elise, Melanie has a point.” Elise sighed, “I’m not saying that she doesn’t.” I argued, “No, you want the rules to be different for his friends that are female because he doesn’t see that they want him… which is reverse sexism by the way.”
“Instead of having this aside and educating him on the fact that those women do in fact want him; you want me to not be friends with someone who has been there for me.Cheyennehas literally never done anything for Xander… not once. She doesn’t even pay for food when they go out to eat. He’s the only one giving anything in their friendship.”
“When I was alone and spiraling… Charles would come and help me. He helped me with my purpose and… he’s why I startedThe Rebels. He was worried I didn’t have anything for myself. He didn’t pry or push… he just helped me.”
“My friends helped save me… each and every one of them. I was not in a good place in my life for a while… and ALL of them… including Charles, kept me from drowning. I’m not going to turn my back on my friends because Xander is jealous… over what amounts to nothing between us romantically.”
“I will talk to Charles because he shouldn't bait Xander. He’s centuries old… which is FAR too old to be playing games. I won’t have people disrespecting Xander… and Charles knows that. Honestly… that should be something no one questions.”
