Jason snorted, because Melanie was insulted they’d used a match instead of their abilities to light the car on fire. Oden growled, “Mine.” I grabbed her again and inhaled her scent. Charles was watching us with a smile on his face.
I flipped him off, but that only made him grin broader. I linked Gage, “Maybe just toss something silver his way while wearing gloves so you don’t get hurt.” Gage replied, “It’s in one of the working plans. That dude needs a reality check.”
Julian linked me, “You’ll like your Christmas present.” I snorted, “I don’t give a shit about my present.” Julian replied, “You’ll like it all the same along with H.” I would’ve preferred none of this had happened. I would trade whatever the presentwas a hundred times over to not have Melanie in an ounce of pain.
Charles of course had to speak. I REALLY wanted to kill that Vampire. Oden admitted, “I really don’t like that we haven’t.” Kingsley saved his life before I decided to do just that. I popped our group back home.
I left Melanie to get in the shower and popped Hastein and Kingsley to their room. Kingsley immediately said, “Charles isn’t a bad guy.” I snorted, “I disagree.” Hastein admitted, “I’m on the fence. He’s certainly goading you, cousin. Naturally, I lean towards just killing him.”
Kingsley sighed, “Don’t kill him, H. Charles is into experiments and testing people, but he genuinely cares for Melanie. You earned his seal of approval, Alexander. I’m sure that doesn’t mean anything to you.” I countered, “It means less than nothing to me.” Kingsley laughed.
Hastein asked, “Do I need to worry about that Vampire knowing how your blood tastes too?” Kingsley snorted, “Oh no, not mine.” I smirked because I knew who it was. I said, “Angelique.” Kingsley admitted, “They had a brief thing.”
I asked, “Does Melanie know?” Because I was certain she did. Kingsley nodded, “Yes, and she doesn’t care. It’s always been you with that girl. A and Charles relationship didn’t bother her. She was happy they were both happy and actually set it up.”
Hastein asked, “Is Charles how you know so many Vampires?” Kingsley snorted, “His connections help. I knew Vampires before I met Melanie. I dated one for a brief second. Because we were dating in my mind, but boy was that not what that was.”
“I quickly found out they were not for me with their pet or bonded status. How can they be so old and not have realized there are other options in the world? Only nomad Vampires are into casual relationships. It’s insane. I was NOT about to wear adamn collar. Nor was I going to swap blood. Nope. The Vampire dating life was not for me.” Hastein kissed her.
I popped away to Melanie and was surprised to end up standing in water. Melanie had gone for a bath instead of shower. Oden grumbled, “I don’t want mate to apologize for not controlling the bond.” Neither did I because it would be harder for me to take her pain that way.
My mom had excellent control on the bond with the walls she had. Unless she was seriously hurt, she kept her pain to herself. I didn’t like it, and I didn’t want Melanie to do that. Oden grumbled, “Are you really apologizing for that thing with the Vampire? He’s alive.” I reasoned, “Clearly he means something to our mate.” Oden huffed in my head.
The truth was, I shouldn’t have let him get to me so much. Melanie still didn’t understand and argued that people here wanted me. Oden growled, “That Vampire touched her and planned to turn her.” I replied, “I know that.”
I linked Phil, “My mate thinks some women here didn’t like her. We need to correct that, because she’s their Luna. Of course they like her.” Phil said, “I mean I hate to point out there’s a difference between respect and liking someone. Some are jealous of her.” People were being crazy today.
My arguments were falling on deaf ears. I was somewhat satisfied that Charles would be unable to turn Melanie against her will. In fact, his blood would keep her alive but she would never rise. That was actually the best case scenario in my mind.
Charles would help her if I wasn’t there and that was good. We talked a little more about it, but I could see Melanie wasn’t upset about Charles decisions. I linked Phil and Gage, “Charles can’t turn my mate according to Freya. His blood can keep her alive though.” Gage snorted, “Thank Aesir because Selene gets nothing from me.” Phil agreed, “Yup, agreed. All hail Aesir on that one.”
I was going to claim my wife when we got back in this room. I needed to after seeing her in Charles’ arms, knowing she was hurt, then she was fighting. Oden agreed, “We will claim her.” Yes, we would, but first we needed to settle. I did not like how much pain Melanie had been in and how used to it she had seemed. I just needed her to be close by in my arms.
We went downstairs. Dad linked me, “Do you need to fight?” I answered, “I just need Melanie in my arms for now.” Dad nodded then added, “Charles left with Arthur and Breanna. He will be back though.” I snorted, “Of course he will.” Dad winked, “I can always kill him for you, son.”
He was somewhat teasing, but I knew he would do it. I sighed, “No, Melanie likes him as a friend. Plus, Freya said she can’t be turned. He could save her though. I will use all weapons to keep my mate safe. Charles seems to be one. I’m not above beating his ass though.” Dad nodded.
Melanie joked about who was guarding them while shopping next time. I could acknowledge the amount of people would be crazy. Gage linked, “So, obviously KJ, Chason, and Fowler will be going from the pack. Don’t worry I have more plans with Phil for in the shadows people.” Good.
There would be Hackura guards there as well. I might go with my cousins. Maximus was always at the ready to throw his Demon Fire at people and that worked for me. Oden agreed, “We have a contingent of cousins who would defend mate.”
Dylan joined us because of course he did. I was stunned Melanie knew a Pegasus. I thought Dylan was actually right for a second about Kingsley. I did know that Dylan really would follow Hastein around yelling that he was Hercules.
Oden snorted, “Fang said they’d get a bullhorn.” Of course he did. Turns out my mate knew someone else who was a Pegasus, but it wasn’t Kingsley. Jesus Christ. EJ linked me, “Is K a Pegasus?” I answered, “No, she’s not but my mate does knowsome.” I felt EJ’s shock and knew he’d pass that around our family.
Dad linked my siblings a few moments later, “I will give all of you a million dollars NOT to tell Dylan that Melanie knows a Pegasus or two. God, it’s probably a gaggle.” I replied, “I won’t tell him, but I don’t need the money.” Dad winked at me.
I told him, “Wesley will be the problem because he’ll tell Buttercup.” Dad smirked, “I have my ways with that situation, son.” I didn’t doubt that. I added, “Also, it’s not just werepegasus’s my mate knows real ones that can be pets.” Dad rubbed his face.
The McAlister’s silently watched people come and go. I told Gage and Phil, “Make sure Micah gets lessons on the watches because then he could share with the group.” Gage snorted, “Consider me all over it. Like white on rice.” Good. Someone needed watch lessons.
Melanie seemed to think her instructions were clear, but her friends did not. I bet it was written in code, but Micah could figure it out. So could Uncle Gunner, I knew they could. Melanie’s family finally held her. I realized they’d been settling this whole time, just as much as I had been.
Oden agreed, “Pepper, Sugar, Ajax, and Apollo were not happy. Actually, all their wolves were not. Forrest is raging.” Ben McAlister had been having a time of it lately so I couldn’t say I blamed him. I popped Melanie back upstairs.
I wanted a tender moment before I claimed her. I was still a little emotional about my wife’s pain. We held each other for just a moment. I did not handle Melanie’s pain well. I didn’t think clearly. Mom had to talk sense into me.
It was clear that I was not capable of rational thought when it came to my mate. Now I was going to claim her. Everyone in a fifty foot radius of her would smell me all over her. That muchI knew. I popped us onto the bed. Oden took over, and a second later Freya did.
