My dad kissed my forehead, and my mom pulled me into another tight hug. I squeezed her back. Jason and Tristan gave me hugs along with Addison. Everly smiled at me, and I gave her a quick side hug. We were making progress with our relationship… so it felt right.
I linked Xander, “What if we just popped upstairs? I know it’s lazy, but I’d rather use our walking to our wing energy for other things and…” Xander grabbed me and popped me upstairs. I said, “Thanks. I really didn’t want to walk up those….” Xander kissed me gently.
My husband pulled me into his arms and just held me. I told him, “I’m ok. Freya took my pain. I was in shock… but I’m sorry it hurt you so much though. I didn’t want that.” Xander held me tightly then whispered, “Oh god.” The emotion in his tone had me holding him closer.
My mate said, “It just came out of nowhere. I felt your panic, then your pain. I have discovered I do not handle that well.” I said, “I’ll do my best, so you don’t have to deal with it. I’m going to do my part. No more cars.” Xander snorted, “I’ll find a charm that protects your car.” I whispered, “Ok.”
We stood like that for several moments him just reassuring himself that I was ok. I literally felt the change in him. When he accepted that I was ok, his need to claim me hit our bond full force. Xander whispered in my ear, “You’re mine.” Freya purred in my head.
I smiled agreeing, “I’m yours.” My husband pushed me against the wall. At least this part of how Christmas was supposed to go this year was going to be right. Hopefully, this meant we could have a good Christmas Eve and Christmas Day.
Possessive Side
Alexander’s gaze was zeroed on the Vampires hand around Melanie. Oden was snarling in my head. EJ linked me, “Get it together.” I retorted, “If that was Elise….” EJ interrupted, “I’d be pissed off. You want to kill him.” So would EJ, he just might not do it.
I however had already mapped out fifteen different ways to kill this Vampire. That number was getting higher the longer his hands were on my mate. His damn face said he was amused too. Gage linked, “Breathe. I know he looks amused but…”
I snarled interrupting, “He’ll be much less amused when I rip his dead heart out.” Gage groaned. Melanie’s voice snapped me out of it because my wife was introducing the Vampire. His name wasn’t really relevant.
Melanie’s confusion was bouncing in our bond. Damn Witch magic. If she’d been exposed to more allied pack events as a pup she’d understand. Charles used a term of endearment, and I saw red. Phil linked, “You go left, I’ll go right.” I scoffed, “Everyone else wants me to calm down.” Phil said, “I know. You’d be calmer if you hit him.” True.
EJ pushed me back into TJ. My little brother was giving me all the calm he had. Breanna touched me next. It was only dulling my need to kill the vampire named Charles. I needed my mate away from him. Mom’s voice was hard as ice as she addressed me.
Mom linked me, “I will get you answers like a normal person, just fucking listen. Melanie’s motivations say they are friends. Your mate is confused and doesn’t understand. Do this for her. If he’s a disrespectful dick later, we will fucking handle it.”
I forced myself to listen to how they knew each other. He was the person who taught her to hack and drive. I linked Phil, “Yourmate knew it was him.” Phil said, “Yeah, I know. We are talking about the lack of heads up regarding the Vampire mentor. We are pretty damn chill as a pack about Vampires compared to others but yeesh.”
I retorted, “They thought it was funny.” Phil said, “That’s present tense, cousin. they find it funny.” I did not. Gage linked, “So, maybe take a breath because on top of being golden eyed pissed you’re turning red in the face.” I didn’t care. Oden growled, “I care less.” Good to know.
Melanie invited Charles over for Christmas. I linked Phil and Gage, “FUCK NO!” Phil winced pointing out, “Your mom will agree he can come.” I seethed knowing Phil was right. Gage linked, “So, I’ll come up with a plan to keep him FAR away from you and Melanie at Christmas.” Good.
Everyone else was wisely silent on the subject. Oden told me, “Because I warned ALL their fucking wolves.” Well hey, that worked for me. Charles seemed content to taunt me. I was sure he knew quite a bit about me which meant I was at a disadvantage. Considering I didn’t know anything about him.
I linked Phil and Gage again, “I want you two to get anything and everything on him.” Phil scoffed, “Seriously? Do you think I’m new around here? I’ve got people on that already.” Good. Gage said, “Yeah, I linked Gia to have Jed RUN to the technology building and get me information.” Again, good.
Melanie was upset which made me feel bad. I didn’t want that, but I did NOT like this Vampire. Charles liked and wanted what was mine. Oden was humming with the need to claim our mate. To make her smell like us even more than she already did.
Kingsley and Angelique showed up. Both were beyond amused but were kidnapping my mate to shop. That was good. I might be able to kill Charles with her gone. Oden snarled, “I don’t like him.” Well, that made two of us.
I asked, “What is Freya saying?” Oden admitted, “That this Vampire is important to mate.” Fuck that. I faltered a little when Melanie called me a butt. My wife didn’t understand what was going on here. I was being rude, that was true. The thing Melanie didn’t seem to realize was Charles was too.
I still didn’t like him, and that was not going to change. Charles wasn’t helping and he knew that. He kept calling her “my dear” and making me want to throttle him. I snarled down the link, “SHE IS NOT HIS FUCKING DEAR! SHE IS MINE!” Dad agreed, “She is yours.” EJ replied, “Mated, marked, and married to you little brother. We know.” I shouted, “CHARLES DOESN’T SEEM TO AGREE!” EJ replied, “Well, he’s a dick.” I got that.
The second Melanie was gone EJ let me go, and I had Charles pinned against the wall. The man had the gall to smile. Charles chuckled, “You do not disappoint, young wolf.” I punched him square in the face. Mom popped next to me and put her hand on my back.
I knew she wanted me to get up and let this reprobate go. I growled in his face but let him go. Charles looked at Melanie’s family commenting, “For dead people, you do look quite well.” I growled, “As good as a hacker you are I find it hard to believe you did not know they weren’t dead. You are clearly interested in my mate.”
Charles looked annoyed before replying, “Yes, you have a point, but I do not care for her family. I offered to kill Jason McAlister for her, but Melanie said no. In fact, she made me promise not to kill him. If I didn’t like her so much, I might have stumbled upon him, among others. The Haskins side writing off Melanie hurt her deeply.” Several people growled.
Oden replied, “I don’t care that he doesn’t like those Haskins people, we don’t either. They hurt mate and didn’t come to big events, but Ajax is a good person.” I replied, “Right therewith you, buddy.” Arthur warned, “That’s not a good opening, Charles.”
Charles smiled, “I have never been one to care about the impression I make on others, old friend.” I scoffed, “You might want to start caring.” Charles told me, “Your mate is interesting, and that is something many cannot claim. Melanie is a quick study, smart as a whip, and eager to learn.”
Mom questioned, “I’m sorry, what? How the fuck can a whip be smart?” Charles smiled saying, “Ahhh the Fairy Hackura Princess, you are just as advertised.” Mom frowned, “I didn’t know I was being advertised. Eric, who the fuck is advertising me?” Several people laughed.
If I wasn’t so annoyed I would’ve too. I warned Charles, “Stay away from my mate.” The Vampire looked me dead in the eye and said, “No.” EJ popped in front of me advising, “Let’s just talk to him.” I snarled, “I haven’t liked a single word out of his mouth so far.” Charles just smiled at me.
Phil said, “Charles, if you want to live I’d advise coming up with words my Alpha likes.” Gage snorted, “I don’t think this guy is inclined to do that, Phil. He appears to be putting our Alpha through mental tests.” I snarled.
