3

She was so excited.

That was all ignored to focus on how smart Melanie is. Rhea scoffed, “Are they serious? We TOLD them she is a genius. We NEED the tea! Was that a proposal?! YES OR NO DAMN IT!”

I replied, “I’m guessing it wasn’t.”

She huffed in my head.

I quickly realized their rings reacted to iron. Rhea linked, “Oh my god. How did she do that? Don’t think I’m sidetracked about the proposal. Oden said it wasn’t so I’m not on the jewelry track.”

I wanted to laugh but I was too shocked.

When EJ conjured something silver, I looked down at my bracelet and it turned brown. Oh. My. God. Eric got handed the note next. I looked at EJ’s ring. It had a tint of brown to the silver. This would take so much concern out of meeting with people we weren’t allied with. She’d given me peace of mind.

Tears filled my eyes, and I linked Rhea, “Why is she gone?”

Rhea assured me, “She’ll come back. Then we will get Charity or Misty Kruthers to see her idea book. The Beta bloods need to keep us up to date.”

I replied, “Melanie is a Beta blood.” She agreed, “Yes, but she’s never trained to be a Beta. She’s always been in her own space.”

That was true her intellect had her on a different level than her classmates and she was often doodling in her notebooks with no one to share her ideas with. On the occasions she did people looked at her like they didn’t understand and that frustrated her.

I needed to sit down with this revelation though it was beyond impressive. Rhea linked, “You do realize she’s been giving jewelry as presents for a while now.”

That was true. I’d seen her give them to Ray, her family, and mine. We all had these.

I jolted up realizing the meaning in her message! Everything was under her bed. There were more of these. Rhea urged, “We need to go. We need to get these for everyone.”

She was right. EJ immediately popped us to my parents’ house.

They were clearly surprised to see us. Rhea grumbled, “Yeah the universe is against us getting laid despite my plans.”

I wanted to argue but it kind of seemed that was true. We tested their jewelry’s reaction. It was the same.

The McAlister’s were proud of her. Dalton linked, “I mean we always told people she was wicked smart.”

I left EJ to explain everything and ran over to the McAlister’s. I walked in and frowned. There was a potted plant overturned. I quickly picked it up noting it was the only thing out of place.

I inhaled and realized Sam had used some serious cleaning supplies in here. Rhea made a gagging sound. The bleach smell was out of this world. I opened up a few windows trying to air out the house. I walked up the stairs and stalled.

I bent down seeing a large we spot on the carpet. I rubbed my hand on it and held it to my nose. Someone must have spilled something on the carpet. That was a lot of carpet cleaner. It didn’t smell like Sam’s usual brand. My head began to pound as I thought there was something else in the scent that eluded me. It must be the smell making my head hurt.

I continued up the stairs and made my way into Mel’s room. I found a duffle bag full of jewelry under the bed. I laid down for a second. I whispered, “Why did you leave like that, Mel?”

I didn’t get an answer. I got up and started to leave then grabbed a hoodie of hers in her hamper.

I walked back over to my parents’ house. My dad linked, “She’d be so happy to know she’s helping.”

But she knew she would. She’d left me the message and I’d have asked her about it. If she was here, she’d get to go to Black Mountain because they had a lab. Their scientists would demand to talk to her. This entire thing was annoying.

Rhea linked, “You do know Melanie will make millions selling this.”

I did know that. Sam said Melanie was always doodling things down in her notebook. Rhea snorted, “She is protective of that damn notebook. I thought she was trying her hand at drawing, but no. She was running crazy amazing science experiments.”

Drake didn’t look surprised.

Dalton linked, “He’s not surprised because he gave her that notebook for her brilliant ideas.”

I asked, “How do you know what I was thinking?”

He retorted, “If only I was your brother or something.” I subtly stuck my tongue out at him, which had all my sibling’s hiding smirks.

I knew that Melanie would have more ideas to help us out. It would all be in the name of keeping her Xander safe, which would make EJ safer. I was all for funding Melanie’s little projects. It was a brilliant idea. Rhea chimed in, “If she had the Conners money behind her Lord knows what that girl could do.”

EJ popped us home and held me as I cried myself to sleep. I woke up alone, took a quick shower, and walked downstairs. Haley popped to me, “It’s Bad Ass Girl Gang day!”

I admitted, “I’m just not up for it today.”

Haley tried, “It would cheer you up, I promise. You’ve had fun every time, right?” I smiled because she knew I had.

I nodded, “I do. I’d just bring everyone down today.”

Haley studied me for several moments. She sighed, “Alright, but if you change your mind, please link me. I’ll pop right to you. Ok?”

I nodded, “Thank you.” She popped away.

I couldn’t stop staring at my phone like it was going to hatch. I knew my mom would text the minute she knew anything. Eventually I’d hear from Mel. My phone buzzed. I clicked on the message.

Mom: She won. Try to remember this is a great opportunity for her, sweetie. She seems really excited about it.

Me: She called?

Mom: No, she texted Drake and Sam using lots of emojis and capital letters.

The capital letters sounded like her, but Melanie didn’t often use emojis. I started to cry, feeling sorry for myself. I was happy for her, but Alexander walked out dejected. I could tell EJ’s siblings had started to come into the room. I couldn't look up though. He told them Alexander would be ok, but I didn't know if that was true. Alexander might not be ok any time soon. I wasn’t going to wait. I texted Melanie.

Me: Hey Ladybug! I heard congrats are in order. I knew you’d win.

Ladybug: Thanks!!! I’M SO EXCITED!

Me: Really? I thought you weren’t sure if you wanted to do this.

Ladybug: It’s a great opportunity. I just need to be on my own right now.

Me: The bracelets are amazing.

Ladybug: It’s no big deal.

Me: How can you say that? They are game changing

Ladybug: It’s just jewelry, Elise.

I frowned. Rhea linked, “That didn’t sound like her at all. Not a rambling thought one to another in the whole exchange?”

Rhea was right. Plus, how could she say it was just jewelry? I ate a cookie on a platter in front of us and relaxed. She was just excited. That’s all this was.

I found Alexander the next day and handed him Mel’s hoodie. He looked up at me confused. I explained, “This one has her scent. I’m sure it’s long gone on the one you have.”

He hugged me and whispered, “Thanks, Elise.”

I’d gone to Red Run later that day to get my car and took a walk. For the life of me, I couldn’t remember the drive home. I just got there. I shrugged it off though because I had a lot on my mind. EJ was wrong about Melanie getting back to normal.

In fact, her responses were less frequent. She’d sent me her schedule, so I knew she was really busy. We’d skyped a couple times, but it was only for a few minutes before she had to run off. It had been weeks, and she was still off. Her responses weren’t like herself.

The Omega, Karina, that made the peanut butter cookies we loved was probably exhausted. I was practically eating my feelings out with them all day every day. I knew Melanie was mad at her family, but she shouldn’t be upset with me.

Everyone kept saying it would get better. I always thought that maybe they were right after eating my weight in Karina cookies. They were all lucky these cookies existed. Rhea reasoned, “Maybe fourteen years of not being believed took their toll. Plus, she is on her own for the first time. She’s also clearly being run ragged by that school in my opinion. There is no downtime in her schedule.”

I was pissed at that school too. She was only fourteen and they’d basically told the McAlister’s they couldn’t visit. I couldn’t focus on that, so I threw myself into what my mate and I had been working on with Alexander.

We had a plan to see if there was anything amiss at the scheduled underground event. I didn’t think there would be. They didn’t seem to know anything at these events. I was about to go downstairs when my computer rang signaling a video call. It was Mel.

I pulled it up greeting, “Hey, Ladybug!”

Melanie smiled, “Hi, Elise! I just had a few minutes and wanted to say hi.”

I smiled admitting, “I’m glad you did. You’ve seemed a little off lately.” She sighed, “I know. It’s just this whole thing with never being believed.”

I reasoned, “They know it was a misunderstanding now, and they feel horrible. The next time you come home, you’ll get to meet all the allies. You know I've always believed you about crossing the border.”

She hummed but didn’t say anything. I winced because my head started to hurt as I thought about how much Melanie didn’t like awkward silence.

I asked her, “Is that a new necklace? I’ve seen you with it every time we’ve talked. It’s not your usual style.”

Melanie shrugged, “Yeah, it’s new. I bought it when we got here. I’m trying out new things. As for the border thing, I do know you believed me. I was still punished for things I never did.”

There was a smile I didn’t understand on her face.

I frowned, “Why are you smiling about that?”

Her face quickly changed, “I’m not smiling about that. Tiffany just came in with a new dress. We are going to practice routines. I gotta go. Bye, Elise! Talk soon.”

She shut her computer before I even said bye. She still wasn’t herself.

I took several deep breaths and rubbed my temples. I gathered myself and went to join EJ. I had to put Melanie’s strange behavior behind me. I needed to focus on our pack and our plan right now. I walked outside silently with EJ lost in my thoughts. We loaded up in our cars.

Dalton linked, “Why are you in a haze?”

I answered, “Just Melanie stuff.”

If he noticed I knew that meant I needed to get in the game. Rhea began getting hyped up in my head. By the time we parked, I was ready.

When we walked in everyone was staring at us. I glared at several admirers whose eyes were on EJ. They quickly averted their gaze when they saw mine on them. Rhea sighed, “Everywhere we go people want what is ours.”

My gaze landed on Micah. I looked away quickly because EJ hadn’t told me he was coming. We watched the fights. This wasn’t my type of thing, but I could see why the fighters got into this. They were paid well if they won. Plus, as supernatural’s, we had a lot of extra energy that humans didn’t have.

I saw Levi Cambridge get in the ring. I got my mate’s attention. Both Alexander and EJ leaned forward in their seats. They looked ready to jump up at the first sign of trouble to fight by Levi’s side. Rhea snorted, “More like help whoever their cousin is fighting.”

No joke. That’s who would need the help, but they’d never offer it.

I linked Dalton, “You might want to get T out of sight. Levi is in the ring.”

He told me, “We’ve all moved outside. They knew us.”

Huh? I knew they knew our group, but the Conners faces were well known. Mine was because I was always with EJ. They shouldn’t know my brothers or their Beta yet.

Unsurprisingly, Levi won his fight easily. When we got home no one had learned anything. They knew all our faces. Jason pointed out that was odd, and I agreed. They shouldn't have known his face just his name. This was weird. Knowing my brothers wasn’t a stretch but still strange. We kept trying despite all that but got nowhere.

The weeks flew by quickly. When I found out Melanie wasn't coming home for Christmas, I called her myself. She answered, “Hi Elise, I only…”

I cut her off, “Let me guess, you only have a few minutes. I’ll make this quick then. Why aren’t you coming home for Christmas?”

She opened her mouth to say something.

I plowed on, “I want the truth because you're not still mad.”

Melanie sighed, “No, I’m not. The teachers here are saying I have a real shot at Julliard. They told me I need to work really hard. There are a few competitions around here over the holidays. There’s a Julliard talent scout going to them, and I want to get on their radar.”

I was stunned, “You think you might go to college there in New York too? What about…?”

Melanie interrupted, “I’m really sorry Elise, but I have to go. I’ve got another class. Can I call you later? I might have more time to talk then.” I agreed.

I looked at the phone after we’d hung up. I sighed, “But what about your Xander?”

Rhea growled, “Or her personality change.”

My head pounded with pain. How had everything gotten so intense in New York already? Juilliard was a big deal. It would be an honor.

I shrugged it off and the pain in my head went away. I just must not have realized how far Melanie wanted to take this. Time went by and it became more frustrating. I’d try to go see her, but the timing didn’t work out with pack duties. EJ said I could just go, but I couldn’t. I’d just taken over as the Luna. I needed to be by his side.

The McAlister’s hadn’t made it up there either. Freak weather storms and cars breaking down. Drake got deathly ill once until they returned to Red Run. My dad even called Haley in, but nothing was wrong with him when they got back.

Dalton told me that Drake, Sam, Tristan, and Jason were getting sick at times, but Drake was the most often. Honestly, I was beginning to think it was some big cosmic joke again. That had to be it.

Near the holidays a new addictive drug to supernatural’s came into play. We kept it out of the area for the most part. We weren’t perfect, but we were doing our best. We were trying to get a meeting with a dealer for it. Finally, it happened.

I was on pins and needles because Jason and Ben McAlister were going. Those men were family to me. I was stunned when EJ agreed that Julian would go with them. He was literally my family now and that gave me three reasons to be nervous.

I was waiting outside when Jason pulled up to meet Julian the day of the buy. I hugged him, “You be careful and come back without so much as a scratch. Do you hear me? I’ll kick your ass if you get hurt. Does Mel know about this?”

Jason shook his head, “Nah, the drugs aren’t up in New York. We talked to the family we’ve got keeping an eye on her. We all agreed to keep her out of this. She’s having such a good time.”

I nodded. For once, I was glad she was out of the fray here.

I hugged Ben McAlister. His eyes looked despondent and sad. It was becoming the standard McAlister face. If only Melanie could see how much everyone missed her. She was the spark of joy in her family, and they were missing it.

They left and I sat in EJ’s office with him. Tensions were mounting the closer the meeting time approached. Haley linked me, “They are going to drive me fucking insane.”

I told her, “Maybe they need a Haley rant to kick them out of their funk.”

She tried and even warned them about what would happen if she started cleaning.

I didn’t even know she knew how to clean anything by hand. Oh god. Someone was going to have to show her. I linked the pack, “If Haley asks any of you how to clean something, you’d better remember the entirety of that conversation and take a video.”

Several snickers came back as they said, “Yes, Luna.”

Dread filled me when EJ reached for the phone. Our bond and his actions told me something happened. I wondered what EJ felt. If it was danger, he’d have popped to Julian. Rhea told me, “Brutus said they know something happened, but not what.”

I retorted, “That’s all of us.”

She teased, “Ok sassy pants who is frustrated with everything except our wonderful life with mate. Breathe.”

I retorted, “I’m just frustrated about everything surrounding Melanie and this drug buy is a stressful situation. We should’ve gone and been their backup.”

She agreed, “Next time.” I liked having that plan.

I quickly pulled up a skype call with Red Run as the situation progressed. Their room was just as tense as ours. I locked eyes with Drake knowing he was worried without words. He also looked like he wasn’t sleeping. His eyes looked like he’d been beat up.

My dad was beside him looking tense along with my grandpa. While they talked someone linked me, “Mrs. Blanch just got Former Luna Haley cleaning supplies. She’s reading the directions and cursing up a storm.”

I nearly laughed but kept it in.

Eric linked me, “Did you get a link about Haley cleaning?”

I answered, “Yup.”

He sighed, “We are all dead.” Metaphorically. I added, “And quite possibly getting pranked.” He snorted, “Bjourn is linking me because she told him to remove the lying bald man from their realm if he was there.” I questioned, “Do you mean Mr. Clean?” He answered, “Yup.”

Bjourn and Astrid had joined the pack along with all of Haley’s Hackura brothers. Some of her nephews had too. They all probably would at some point. Linking was a handy communication tool. That moment passed and we were back to waiting.

Rhea grumbled, “Waiting is terrible. We were not meant to wait. We have ALPHA blood. Waiting is a Beta trait that I don’t possesses.”

We weren’t the only ones struggling. Even the Beta bloods were nervous. I maintained my composure outwardly though.

I was relieved when I finally heard a pop. That relief was quickly washed away when I saw all of them covered in blood. Dalton linked, “ARE THEY HURT?!”

I answered, “It’s not their blood.”

He relaxed, “Oh. Well then what the hell?” I answered, “You know what I know.”

It was unsettling seeing them this way and I didn’t like it. Julian showed us a picture of a circle with a line through it. Neither of us had seen it before. I asked, “Rhea, have you seen that in any past life?”

She answered, “Not that I recall.”

My jaw dropped when they said there was a sniper. WHAT? Rhea growled, “A sniper not after them, but they might not have known that when the first shot was fired.”

I argued, “Julian would’ve. He could hear farther than them.”

She conceded that was true.

The sniper protected them. Was there a backup plan I didn’t know about? Were the Hackura there? The bond and EJ’s face told me he was just as confused as me. I noticed Eric had gone pale before he spoke. Rhea linked, “Yeah, that blood needs to be gone before Haley pops back in her. She’d lose it.”

I wouldn’t blame her.

Poor Eric and Drake seeing their pups look so bloodied. Alexander immediately snapped them clean after Eric asked. Julian threw a baggie of the drugs down and explained what went down. I was not alone in my growl. I raised my eyes mentally saying, “Thank you Selene for watching over them.”

Jason told us the shooting started when they said they were going to die. Dalton linked, “That’s weird.”

They put down a listening device. I replied, “At least we could track that.”

Dalton replied, “Yeah, but wouldn’t someone in this theory shoot when they saw the drug dealer? Not when they were going to kill our guys?” He had a point.

Micah seemed to groan looking over the tracking device. Rhea told me, “It must be common.”

I replied, “Or something he hadn’t seen.”

Which meant he’d probably have a hard time tracking it down. I believed in him though. He was smart.

The conversation went on around me while I tried to think of theory that felt right. They all fell flat. If Bjourn knew about that circle symbol, then Eric would. He didn’t which means they didn’t know. Was this a new group rising up against the drugs?

When Tristan came back with information, I was more confused. Rhea linked, “Why give us the correct code on a note? Why not just come talk to us? Why the cloak and dagger with the signs?”

I agreed, not understanding why they were helping without requesting a meet. We were obviously on the same side.

They started going over suspects landing on a Witch or a Fairy. Jason and I locked eyes and I knew we felt the same way. It didn’t feel right. Six shots being fired was personal. Who did all three of them have in common? An ally wanting to protect us? Why not just tell us?

We didn’t have a solid theory, but for the first time since Melanie left, I was glad she wasn’t here. She’d try to figure it all out. As smart as she was, she’d confront the sniper alone after she solved it all. Since we didn’t know what this sniper’s game, I was glad Melanie was safe in New York.

We needed to resolve this so we could get her home, safely. Her safety was what mattered. If she knew the danger Jason was just in, she’d flip out.

I shook myself because she didn’t. We had time to get this figured out. Then we’d all be reunited. It would be great.

We just had to solve this puzzle and find a sniper. How hard could it be?