I laughed, “I gotta get up for my own run, but make sure to get one. They really are good.” Cory told me, “I’m off duty and your mate is walking outside towards the pack house with the famous muffins. We will definitely beat her to the pack house because we made sure our patrol ended near said pack house.”
I snorted, “You all better not eat all the muffins. She’s happy because of me so I should get a muffin.” Cory snorted, “I’d imagine she has your own personal batch of special muffins. Maybe you even have a plate.” I popped outside.
My brothers, dad, and uncles were waiting with some of my cousins. I snorted, “We have a full house today.” Max snorted, “That’s what you have to say? Your mate EVISCERATED someone WITH her words. THEN you shared your light with her again. You’re twice light bound AND now the ENTIRE house SMELLS like those muffins Phil ate that we didn’t get to taste.”
He lamented, “The pack link is on LITERAL fire about them. They call your mate the Muffin Luna. They are chanting said nickname at the moment. I know you can hear them and your comment is look at the full house for running today?! Are you kidding me, big brother?!”
I snorted, “What do you want me to say? She clearly has a way with words. I find it damn sexy. She wakes up at GOD knows what hour in the morning because she’s somehow stealthier than a Hackura. She’s already been dancing, met one of our cousins on patrol, and been to the pack house with muffins.”
I added, “If you want to try said muffins left in our house, might I suggest we start running so you can have one when we get back. I can tell, as can you, there are more in the oven and still in the house. As we have a pretty damn full house for running today, you might want to kick off the run. Then you can get back first and snag a muffin before the rest of the group.”
Max grumbled, “You and Micah have been hiding the best breakfast cooker and baker of all time.” I snorted, “I didn’t hide her.” Wesley laughed, “We beg to differ, big brother.” I argued, “I abided my mateswishes to be in a bubble for two weeks. After which I planned to go on a mission, then come back for her.”
“At which point, I already had plans to call EJ to come down and help me destroy Black Path. Which means, he would’ve brought all of you. I didn’t hide her. Wes was going to meet her before shit went down.” Everyone paused.
EJ laughed, “Which we still need to chat about.” I nodded, “Yes, which we will do tomorrow.” Wesley groaned, “UGH! Do you understand the hell this has been for me? Mom is going to kill us.” My dad sighed, “For the love of god, let’s go run. I want a damn muffin, and I do NOT want to know why your mom is going to want to kill you.”
I raised an eyebrow. He ground out, “I know there was a fight. Hell, I can even guess who it was with other than Melanie. If you all keep talking, I’ll figure it out. Then I will be in trouble with your mother. So, shift and run. Let’s go.” My Uncle’s laughed and we shifted.
EJ linked, “It was Claire, wasn’t it? How badly is she hurt? Is Alpha Theo upset?” I replied, “Do you actually want answers to those questions, brother?” He was forgetting Wesley’s comments about the dome hurting me last time.
EJ sighed, “Yes and no. Mostly yes, but also no.” I snorted, “Then I’ll answer you tomorrow.” EJ huffed but nodded. We made it back to the house pretty quickly. I’d actually beat them by a bit. That was interesting. Normally, EJ and my dad were the ones I was trying to beat by a hair.
We shifted and snapped everyone back into clothes that didn’t have the ability to do so. The scent of muffins was now permeating the general area. TJ grabbed my hand. He asked, “Can I ask Melanie about her band? Allison really wants to hear them, and her birthday is this Thursday.”
I teased, “I know when your mate’s birthday is. You can ask Mel, but if she says no that’s the answer.” TJ nodded, “That’s ok if they can’t, I just want to ask.” I nodded. Julian bumped me, “I swear to god, you’ll have to make her this happy all the time, big brother. The smell is amazing. The food yesterday was amazing. Make her sad and I’ll have to pull Fairy hijinks on your ass.” I laughed, “I have no intention of making her sad.”
My dad smirked at us as we walked into the kitchen. I couldn’t help but smile because Melanie had some dried batter on her forehead. She looked beautiful. I crossed the kitchen and kissed her. I teased her about waking up with her in the morning. She didn’t think it would happen.
I was sure I could find a charm of some kind to wake me up when she woke up. Uncle Aiden had to know of something. A challenge was issued, and I would rise to it. Oden purred, “Mate is perfect. She even gives us challenges.” I knew Melanie was perfect.
Tristan was complaining but I wasn’t sure about what. I linked EJ, “It’s too early for what?” EJ snorted, “To see his sister and her mate being like you were.” I rolled my eyes replying, “He might want to get used to it. We got used to Cayden.” Angela and Klaus didn’t have moments like this yet. Thankfully.
Kai ran over and showed his necklace to Melanie. EJ linked, “So, I think I know how Melanie found Kai when he was missing. His necklace that she apparently gifted to him. Thank god.” I concurred, “You’re right.” Kai ran off to play.
There was clear tension in the air between Everly and Melanie that had Tristan and Drake frowning. Melanie agreed to the Rebels playing. TJ linked me, “I’m going to call Allison so the pack will be buzzing with the news later.” I nodded since he was right.
Sam joined us and asked about cooking lessons. EJ linked me, “Elise already asked if it was true the Rebels are playing. The pack link could not be more excited about their Muffin Luna. She’s popular.” I raised an eyebrow but didn’t respond because Melanie started hyperventilating.
Wesley linked, “They were talking about Melanie coming home for cooking lessons then she just panicked.” I conjured her water watching carefully as she drank it all with shaking hands. My mate started ranting about cooking here.
My mom looked like she wanted to cry. Sam immediately agreed to my mate’s terms, but she looked really worried. Drake looked ready to cry himself. Tristan had left, but I could hear him cursing outside with Julian. Melanie was still nervously ranting about cooking.
I quickly kissed her and linked EJ, “Get everyone out of here.” EJ replied, “We have a meeting with everyone and Cayden.” I said, “I’ll be there when I get there, big brother. I need to take care of her.” EJ assured me, “Understood. Max conjured all the muffins to the office. Levi came and took off with T for a minute. Mom has Sam.”
Melanie noticed everyone was gone when I pulled away. Oden growled, “I want to know if mate is ok.” So did I. Eventually she told me that she couldn't go to her old house. I understood that. If I thought I’d seen the people I loved die somewhere I wouldn’t go back. That couldn't be easy for anyone to get past. She didn’t have to go there ever again if she didn’t want to.
What mattered was Melanie was here and she was safe and loved. She could go to her grandparents’ house or literally any other house in Red Run one day. Ours would be an option since I had one there and had for years. I’d gotten it for her.
I just stood there holding her. Making sure her breathing was ok. Eventually she pulled back. Oden said, “Brutus will handle the meeting.” I knew that. Making sure your mate is ok was more important than a meeting.
Oden purred, “She’s so adorable.” She was and eventually she managed to convey that she wanted to go see Edward. I was curious about what she had to say to him. The anger I felt at Trevor’s name crossing her lips concerned Cassie and EJ instantly. Melanie was MINE!
I had her on the counter in seconds. I quickly made her come with my fingers. I teased her about being quiet. My mate thought she did a good job, and for human ears she did. I heard someone coming and snapped her pants on, but I wasn’t done kissing her.
I heard someone murmur an apology and leave. Melanie was embarrassed. I linked Fowler, “Come show my mate, and your future Luna, to the dungeons. Make sure she is safe.” Fowler replied, “The Muffin Luna?” I snorted, “Her name is Melanie, but yes that is the same person.”
Fowler cheered “Hot damn! Those are good muffins, Alpha.” I laughed agreeing, “Yes, they are.” I led her to the backdoor then jogged to the office. Fowler linked, “So, the Muffin Luna knows where the dungeons are, and she lied REALLY badly about not knowing.” I concurred, “She is a terrible liar.” He hummed back, “Yes, she is.”
