Page 87 of The Alpha

Melvale hissed at her, fangs descended, and wrapped Pari in his arms protectively.

Irene, ignorant of Melvale’s precarious state, scrunched up her face, her dark eyes narrowing, and bonked him on the forehead head with the ladle. “Don’t hiss at me like that! Have some respect for your elders!”

“Irene!” Cyrus cried as he entered the room. A young woman with sable brown hair and big brown eyes was right behind him. Behind her was another of Melvale’s kind. He was just as tall, a bit broader, and had the same silver white hair.

“Brother!” he called. “Mind yourself.”

Pari looked up in time to see Melvale take in the newcomers. He hissed at them but didn’t make a move toward them. Instead, he held Pari closer and began to back up.

“No one move,” the big man said. “Don’t startle him.”

“Melvale?” she murmured into his chest. He didn’t take his eyes off the newcomers to look at her. “Bondrah Miah?”

He took in the others and snorted like an angry bull.

“Bondrah,” she said softly and wrapped her arms around him.

He breathed out his nose again, calmer.

“Easy, brother,” the big man said. “No one’s going to harm her. She’s safe.”

Melvale took in a long breath through the nose, and she caught sight of his fangs, retracting. Pari sighed in relief. “His eyes are turning back to gray.”

“Yes, I see that,” the big man said. “Melvale?”

Pari tried to turn in Melvale’s arms to face them, but he held her tight. “It’s all right. I just… want to say hi.”

He looked down at her and met her gaze. She smiled at him. His eyes were indeed gray but rimmed in blue. “Can I do that?”

He said nothing, but he did loosen his hold.

“Thank you.” Pari slowly turned around. “Hi.”

The young woman peeked around the big man. “Hello. I’m Maida. And this is my mate, Markhel.”

“He and Melvale are brothers,” Cyrus said. He sighed and eyed Markhel. “I take ita lothappened on your last assignment?”

“You could say that,” Markhel agreed.

Pari studied him and noticed a few similarities between the brothers, but she didn’t have time for a lengthy comparison. She tilted her head back and chanced a peek at Melvale. The blue rim of his eyes was fading, a good sign, so she gave her attention back to the others. “I think he’s fine now.”

“Yes,” Markhel agreed. “Melvale, do you need assistance?”

Melvale swallowed hard, his Adam’s apple bobbing up and down. “No, I… oh, Irene, forgive me!”

Irene eyed him, glanced at the ladle in her hand, and put it behind her back. “What was that about? You flashed your fangs at me! How rude!”

“And you could have been killed,” Markhel scolded.

Maida sucked in a breath. “What?”

“By this marshmallow?” Irene huffed as she tossed her head at Melvale.

Pari snorted with laughter. “Marshmallow?” She looked up at Melvale who was blushing!

“Yes, he’s a big softie,” Irene went on. “But I still want to know why his eyes were blue.”

Markhel let go a sigh. “Irene, I have things to tell all of you. But first, I have brought Maida to you. She wishes to do some cooking.”

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