Charles told me, “Melanie is fearless about most things, but not you. She was determined that everything needed to be just so before she went to see you. I am not obligated to kidnap the girl to get her to you. You were free to go see Ashley Griffen any time you wanted.” I growled at him.
This goddamn Vampire had the audacity to keep smiling. Oden growled, “Alexander!” I asked, “Where are you staying tonight, Charles? Because it sure as FUCK won’t be here.” Mom huffed, “Alexander!” I growled, “It won’t be.”
Arthur offered, “He can stay with us.” Charles smiled, “I was issued an invitation for Christmas.” Mom linked me, “He is your mate’s friend, and I can already tell he helped her.” I replied, “He wants her.” Mom rolled her eyes saying, “Ok, but he can’t fucking have her. More to the point, your mate doesn’t see it or care.” I was beyond annoyed.
Sam spoke, “My daughter likes you so I’m inclined to say you’re not a bad man, but if you so much as drink a drop of her blood with the intent to turn her; I’ll stake you. Ladybug JUST got her wolf.” Charles smiled, “Since the young wolf didn’t reject her, I’d altered my plans.”
Phil scoffed, “Dude, you’re talking to Beta wolves.” Charles laughed, “I am aware. Werewolves look young for quite some time. If Melanie was ever close to death, I’d like to see you try to stake me Sam McAlister.”
Sam warned, “Don’t you dare drink a drop of my daughter’s blood without her permission.” Charles chuckled, “I have drank Melanie’s blood before.” Phil groaned, “Oh shit.” Gage asked, “Does anyone else want to maintain this Vampire wants to live again?”
I snarled, “WHAT?!” I called to the wind and threw him into the wall. Oden chimed in, “I approve.” Charles smirked telling me, “It has been so long since I fought a Fairy, and I was unprepared. I will not be next time, young wolf. I should’ve guessed your reaction to that news.”
Dad, all my brothers, and Uncle Bjourn were holding me back. Hastein spoke in a bored tone, “Why exactly should I not let our cousin kill you, Charles? His mate has been taken advantage of enough. I’ll not stand for someone pretending to be her friend when you are using her.” Exactly!
Hastein warned, “No one will stop me from killing you, Charles. The one person who could convince me to give you a head start left to go shopping.” Sierra quickly said, “Melanie made that choice. Charles didn’t force or coerce her.”
I whirled shouting, “SHE WHAT?!” Giving blood was usually very sexual for Vampires. Charles boasted, “Her blood was divine and rivals a Fairies actually. Different in taste for certain. I’d take Melanie’s over a Fairy any day though. Fairies are so hard to catch when they want to be.” I snarled.
Gage said, “I’ll just be gathering up wooden things.” Good. Hastein sighed, “Just let Alexander go, dad. I’d kill the Vampire if I was him too.” EJ yelled, “You are not helping, H!” Hastein disagreed, “Actually I am. I’m telling you the solution to the problem. Let Alexander kill him, and the problem is solved. This Vampire is being quite disrespectful, and I dislike it.”
To my shock it was Olivia who spoke next, “THAT IS ENOUGH, CHARLES!” It made me pause. My new sister in law’s eyes had gone black for a second. Olivia’s wolf had surfaced after she’d been marked. Olivia glared at Charles for several seconds.
Oden linked, “Good. Another person on OUR side.” Olivia ordered, “Just tell Alexander the story. Stop baiting and toyingwith him. You didn’t have sex with Melanie or even kiss her. You wanted to, but she didn’t want you.”
“You respected that and her wishes. You live by your own code. Great. Whatever. That’s fine! Stop trying to start shit with the person you’ve always known was important to Melanie because you are jealous of what he’s always meant to her.”
Now I was surprised. Charles was jealous of me? Gage linked, “Ok, so for the first time I think he doesn’t want to die. He was goading you because he’s jealous.” I replied, “He was baiting me therefore he wants to die.” Gage inclined his head.
KJ linked, “He’d have to kill me to turn Melanie. I’d get her to you, or your mom, and I’ve killed a Vampire or twenty-five in my day. The Muffin Luna isn’t being turned against her will.” That helped settle me. Chason and Fowler had killed Vampires too.
I replied, “You’re close to the house.” KJ snorted, “The whole pack heard you snarl the place down. I figured that could only be about your mate. Chason and Fowler are out here with me practically foaming at the mouth. If that Vamp pops off at the mouth again, I’ll set the youngsters loose to shock him when they tackle him to the ground.” That worked for me.
Charles chuckled, “Being mated looks good on you, Olivia. The shy, quiet wallflower has bloomed. I like it.” Maverick linked, “I hate him.” I replied, “Join the fucking club, brother.” Maverick inclined his head while EJ shook his.
Olivia said, “I agree being mated to Mav is amazing for me. Just tell them the whole story, or I will.” Charles chuckled, “You do understand the story is embarrassing for me, little Olivia.” Olivia reasoned, “We all have embarrassing moments, and you know mine.”
Charles replied, “It’s not really that embarrassing for you. You had no training.” Olivia shot back, “You’re baiting Alexander, and that’s mean. You knew exactly how he wouldreact to you giving him partial details. Hastein is right, you’re being disrespectful.” My oldest cousin was usually correct.
Charles laughed, “That’s true and I intended to be. I suppose we all do have embarrassing moments.” I linked Phil and Gage, “HE INTENDED TO BE RUDE?! Have people forgotten I am a partial Hackura?” Gage answered, “Yes, because they hate Phil and I.” Phil agreed, “They do and it’s rude.”
Charles smiled and looked at me offering, “Olivia is not wrong. I am jealous of the loyalty you have always had from your mate. Particularly when, in my opinion, you’d done nothing to deserve it.” I growled at him.
Oden was furiously snarling, “She is our MATE! How DARE HE SAY THAT WE DO NOT DESERVE HER LOYALTY!” Olivia cleared her throat. Charles laughed, “Alright. I’ll get to the whole story, little Olivia. That wolf is good for you. I see that Fairy spark for life returning to your eyes.”
Maverick warned, “Angering more than one of us at the same time is a bad idea.” Charles had already done that. All my siblings were pissed off. Charles chuckled, “Right. Where was I? Ahhh, yes. Melanie’s blood.” I snarled.
KJ linked, “I could just send Chason and Fowler in. I feel like a babysitter right now. They are chomping at the bit.” I replied, “Hold them back for now.” I needed the damn story. KJ replied, “Alright, but he’s a few comments away from me not caring enough to stop them.”
Charles continued, “I’d returned to Nashville to see Melanie. I hadn’t told her I was coming though since it was a surprise. I was coming out of my daytime rest. I wasn’t fully awake. Some Hunters had luckily stumbled onto the place I’d rested.”
“They had some Vampires they were working with as well that were nearby. The Hunters had subdued me somewhat. I was overwhelmed when the Vampires arrived. Their intent was to torture me, not knowing the line I had had. My children wereimmediately on their way. I was not in a good state though. Then Melanie burst in with her mask and killed them all.”
Tristan said, “You know that we know about the Resistance then.” Charles chuckled, “I do know that, yes.” He was far too well informed for my sanity. Tristan asked, “How many Vampires were there to help subdue you?”
Gage groaned, “Why, T? You know a vague number and that’s bad enough.” I didn’t. Arthur offered, “It would’ve had to be a lot to be able to subdue Charles. As we age, we get stronger.” I knew that. I guessed, “I’m throwing out fifteen Vampires and thirty Hunters.”
Jason asked, “My little sister killed fifteen Vampires by herself?” Charles said, “The young Enforcer is close. It was twenty Vampires and thirty-five Hunters, but I digress. As I told you, Melanie is fascinating and impressive. She would’ve made a great addition to my family line.” I snarled again.
