Battle of the Elements
Chapter 27 Melanie

I didn’t make eye contact with anyone except Jake and Bridgette. I was a good fighter, but even Bridgette couldn’t fend off an entire pack of werewolves. So I tried not to aggravate any of them.

They were all in human form. Everyone was laughing and slapping Jake on the back. They all eyed Jake with happiness and welcoming gazes – let’s just say that they gave me a very different look.

A cry came from the crowd as a girl ran out of the crowd – around my age with blond, short hair that had a braid wrapped around her head like a princess, she was tan, but not like Jake, she had sparkling blue eyes. She wrapped her arms around Jake’s neck. I felt my stomach drop and something tugged at my heart, I ignored it.

Jake was smiling. Why was he smiling? There was a random girl practically strangling him, why was he wrapping his arms around her and smiling?

He said something, I couldn’t really hear it apart from the word “Emma.”

I plastered a smile on my face and tried to ignore the twenty or more werewolves staring angrily at me.

The girl let go of Jake and looked at me with – yet again – distaste. “Who are you?” she said, emphasising in the ‘you’.

“Melanie. I’m Jake’s friend, we’re very close.” I almost slapped myself. Why did I say that?

She looked me up and down in that way where you want someone to know you’re judging them. And oh, did I know! She smiled a perfect, pretty smile and I cursed myself for disliking her so much, maybe she was nice, maybe she was just Jake’s friend!

Jake’s mum stepped forward with a gentle smile on her face. I was fidgeting, I always fidget when I get nervous, not because of Jake’s mum, but because there were twenty could-be-enemies here, all looking at me.

Jake’s mum cleared her throat, “I’m glad you’re back Jake. We have news.”

Jake looked at his mum, “What’s that?”

Jake’s mum smiled again, “There has been a peace treaty.”

His face lit up, “That’s great!”

“Yes, but, there was a catch.”

Jake gave a puzzled expression, “What’s that?” he said

“You must marry Emma.” She said in a too-happy-voice.

“What?!” Jake said, his expression falling – more like plummeting.

I felt my stomach drop and twist. I felt something clench at my heart. Jake was getting married?

“No I’m not mum.” He said in a stern voice.

Emma looked away sadly, “I’m sorry Jake. My father wouldn’t accept anyone else. He just admires you too much.”

I wanted to say something. I wanted to scream for him to say no. But I couldn’t.

Jake looked at me with pleading eyes – probably asking me to say something that could help him say no – but I couldn’t speak.

If he didn’t marry this girl, his pack would no longer have peace. Jake told me all about how, when he was little, they used to have to move around every day. Running from hunters and other wolves. If his pack had this treaty, they wouldn’t have to run anymore. I cleared my throat and nodded heavily.

Something in Jake’s eyes shifted. Disappointment and defeat radiated off his face. I felt my heart sink. As he turned to Emma and nodded to her.

Emma smiled gently. She looked at me and I could’ve sworn she had a smug expression that was being aimed at only me. Bitch.

Melanie

I sat in the tavern – well, it was sort of a tavern, it was where the pack stored their ale, had their parties and meetings – drinking something that burned in my throat but left a good aftertaste. Bridgette had consumed a whole bottle of the stuff and was onto her second. She sat beside me, her cheeks were pinker, but there was nothing else to say she was drunk. Shane and Titania had decided to skip the party – everyone was drinking and Morrie had said it wasn’t good for the baby – and were in our makeshift house.

Jake sat with Brian – I assumed he was best friends with Jake. They were laughing and whispering. Emma was with her friends, they were all so pretty and perfect, I wanted to strangle their pretty, long necks – it would be so easy, their necks were so thin. I took another mouthful of the drink. I was only sixteen, but they didn’t seem to care here. I looked to Bridgette, who was staring at Jake and Brian.

She spoke with slightly slurred speech, – I made a mental note to make sure to get some hangover cures from Morrie before tomorrow – “What are they saying? They keep looking at us.”

I shrugged, “I don’t know.”

“Can you listen?” she said, her eyes lighting up with a mischief I knew too well – god, sometimes I feel like I’m twenty-year-old and she’s the teenager.

I shrugged, I admit, I was a little curious too, “Ok.”

Bridgette smiled a wide smile – the kind a five year old would do if her parents said they would buy her a cookie – and clapped her hands.

I focused on my wolf ears – I had actually grown into them now, so they weren’t as big – and listened to the two boys, telling myself to listen to Emma’s conversations later.

“Wait! What?!” Brian.

A shy laugh I knew too well, Jake.

“Who?!” Brian again, he was doing that thing were, you’re shouting, but you’re whispering at the same time.

Jake didn’t say anything.

I could practically see Brian’s surprised features, “Her? The half-breed?! You have got to be kidding me.”

“I’m not.”

Brian scoffed, “But you could do so much better! Why not go for fiery love over there?” he was talking about Bridgette.

“Bridgette?” Jake said with amusement, “She’s engaged. Plus, she’s more of a mentor. I see that she’s attractive, but I don’t feel like that about her.”

“I think you mean hot! Why would you go for a half-breed when you could have her? I mean, sure, despite the half-breed stuff, the girl’s ok, but you still have to get past the flat chest and the long nose.” I put my hand to my nose without thinking, my nose is fine thank you very much. I couldn’t help but turn red from the comment on my breasts either.

“Her nose is fine.” Jake said.

“You never said anything about the chest though.”

“That’s fine too.” Jake again, he was rolling his eyes, I could tell.

Bridgette was looking at me, “What are they saying?”

“Brian just said I had a flat chest and a long nose. They must be forgetting I have wolf hearing.” I said through gritted teeth.

Bridgette scoffed, “Well, your nose is long, but I think it suits you. And your chest is fine, you’ve never even thought of your breasts before.”

“I don’t like it when people talk about me.” I said, “I have to listen, so shut your mouth.”

She shut up, but refused to wipe a smirk off her face.

I focused on Emma this time.

One of the friends were talking in a high squeaky voice – that was annoying. “So, what do you think about Jake?”

Emma this time, “He’s nice. I knew him when I was little. My father loved him. And he’s grown into a man now, a great looking one at that.”

The girls giggled, I swear, this is why girl are portrayed as whiny, giggling things who need to be protected.

One of the friends again, “What about the girl he’s with?”

Emma had stopped laughing, “What about her?”

“Just the way Jake looked at her before, like he was asking her permission. You don’t think they’re together do you?”

“As if! Jake would never go out with a half-breed. Werewolves and half-breeds don’t mix. We can only transform into a human or a wolf, one or the other. That’s the rule of nature and they are breaking it. Jake knows that, he wouldn’t be caught dead with her.” Emma said. Then, her voice went quiet, “I think you know that, don’t you Melanie?”

I froze.

Emma turned around to look at me, “It’s not polite to eavesdrop.”

I stood up from my chair, startling Bridgette. “We’re going.” I said to her.

Bridgette raised her eyebrows but then saw Emma looking at us, she took my hand and we left the room.

I heard Emma walking behind us, out the door, into the garden. She had two friends with her. I started to break into a run, I didn’t want to see her. I didn’t want to see Jake’s fiancé. Bridgette stopped, pulling me back by my hand, stopping me from running.

I turned to her, “What?” I whispered. Emma was gaining on us.

Bridgette looked at me firmly, “Don’t run away from your problems Little Wolf.”

“Your one to talk!” I spat.

A flash of hurt crossed her face.

I immediately felt shame and regret flush my body, “I’m sorry. I shouldn’t have-”

“Don’t worry about it. You’re right. I do run from Damian. And I hate it, I have to live with myself for that. But I don’t want you to be like me.” She said.

As if on que, Emma appeared from the trees with two girls. “Who are you running from?” she asked. She was such a basic bitch it was unbelievable.

“I wasn’t running. You were simply chasing me.” I said.

Emma smirked, “You were running.”

“Sorry, I can’t control it. My body is simply too repelled by you to stay in the same place you are.”

Bridgette scoffed and stifled a laugh.

Emma looked like she had tasted something sour. “I can’t say I mind. Look, all I need to know is what you are to Jake. Because if he wants to lead the pack, I can’t have him riding off into the sunset with another girl and disappearing for another year.”

“I don’t mean anything to Jake.” I said flatly.

“I don’t believe you.” She said.

“You don’t have to. I lied. Jake and I are close friends. However, I told him to put his pack before me, so he’s all yours.”

She gave a smug smile. “I knew he would never like someone like you. You’re too,” she paused and tapped her finger other chin, “rough around the edges.”

“Sorry I’m not a delicate feminine princess. I was the daughter of a lord, but I left.” I said sarcastically.

She cleared her throat, “Well, if you take Jake, I will bring you down. Just letting you know in case you had any brilliant ideas.”

“Glad to know.” I said.

And that was all she said before she turned on her heel and left.

I looked to Bridgette, she looked at me. We stared at each other for a moment before bursting into laughter.

Bridgette wiped a tear away from her eye, “Oh my lords!” she said between breaths.

We eventually stopped laughing. Bridgette put her arm around me and I did the same to her.

She looked at me with a grin on her face, “That was awesome.”

I laughed, “It was, wasn’t it.”

And we walked back to our temporary house by the creek.

Bridgette

I walked out into the lounge area. We were sharing a house with Jake’s family. They had multiple rooms and the back of the house was ours. I sat down on the cushions that served as couches.

Shane walked out of the room where Titania was sleeping. He looked at me and immediately saw what I was thinking, “Damian?” he asked.

I nodded.

Shane’s eyes turned dark, “He’s still after you, isn’t he?”

“Yes.” I said weakly.

Shane sat down next to me. “Do you want to talk about it?”

“No. I need to tell Melanie who he is.”

“What about Jake?” he asked.

I shook my head, “Jake has his own life. He’s more of a student. Melanie is like…” I couldn’t finish the sentence. I didn’t want Melanie to mean anything to me, but she did, and now Damian could use that against me too.

“Like a sister.” Shane finished my sentence.

I nodded.

“Well, tell her then.” He said.

I nodded again as I left my cushion and walked to the room Melanie was in. She was with Titania, talking happily.

She saw me and stood up.

“Can I talk to you outside for while?” I asked.

She smiled, “Sure.” And we walked outside the building. “What’s up?” she asked when we were outside.

“I need to tell you where I came from.”

Melanie’s eyes widened, “I’ve already had the talk.”

I smiled, “I mean my history.”

Relief flooded her face, “Oh!”

So I took a breath and started from the beginning.