I hated that his statements were true. I also knew my mate’s brothers would never betray her, but I had this fear since she was remaining unmarked. Oden snorted, “I told you that only our mark will stay on mate’s neck. No one will mark her but us, but it wouldn’t stay if they did.”
I retorted, “Even if it didn’t stay by some strange, weird whatever is going on, what if it ensured Freya couldn’t shift? She’d never shift and run with you.” Oden growled, “No one will take her from me.” Vance definitely wanted to die because he kept talking to me.
He was on my ever growing list of people who wanted my mate. I studied my mate and saw the annoyance on her face. Cayden linked, “She’s going to explain. Fuck me.” I asked, “Explain what?” Micah winced as Melanie snarked at Vance.
I felt my eyes blazing as she talked. I was sure they had been for a while at this point. Cassie walked back into the room. She quickly came behind me and put a hand on me, trying to calm me down. She was just dialing my rage down to a simmer.
To my astonishment, men had told Melanie they wanted to fuck her but other than that didn’t want her. I would rip them to pieces for making her feel like a slab of meat. HOW DARE THEY DO THAT TO MY MATE! TO ANOYONE!
I felt concern from all my connections. I was honestly stunned EJ hadn’t popped in. I linked Cayden, “You want me to go outside right now?! Have you lost your DAMN mind?! I’m not leaving Melanie in a room with this guy. Or any of the others looking her up and down.” Cayden reasoned, “It’s not like I meant she’d be alone in here. I just meant so you could get some air.” No.
Cassie snorted, “She’s wearing a hoodie, you weirdos. Stop eyeing her like that! Jesus Christ. It’s even my brother’s hoodie.” Vance finally realized who I was and nearly pissed his pants. I glared at him knowing my mate was right, I could easily take him.
Oden snorted, “Freya said she’s fought this wolf. They won in under a second. So, we can in fact take him.” I already knew that. I also knew Vance didn’t deserve to be in Melanie’s presence if he couldn’t handle my name.
It was taking every shred of calm that Cassie, EJ and my dad were throwing at me to not kill this wretched excuse of a wolf. My mom was simply sending the feeling to do what I needed, and she’d be on my side. Even if that meant killing someone who was being a dick. My mom was the best.
The women came over to us first to talk to Melanie. I stared down all the men until they looked away. I was forcing myself to hold onto Melanie and stay in my spot. Some of these people may become part of my pack so they didn’t need to be terrified of me.
I certainly knew who would NOT be in our pack. I linked Micah, “You get the names of those guys that leered at my mate and write them down. They will NOT come to our pack.” Micah replied, “I have their names.”
Cayden teased me over link, “Have fun when you pop out, Alexander.” He winked at me because my brother in law didn’t need a bond with me to know where I was channeling my feelings to not kill Vance. Sex. Oden said, “Lots of claiming sex.” Exactly.
I was stunned to find out Vicky was related to the Henderson’s but the need to claim again outweighed that news. I popped us back home. I knew EJ would feel better if he could tell I was home. Then I claimed every inch of my mate.
I was a little rougher than I had been previously, but she liked it. I couldn’t stop tasting her. Her legs were trembling as her breaths came in gasps. Melanie was beautiful like this. I entered her slowly claiming her as mine.
My mate continued to speak in English and Latin. I couldn’t be happier that her crush had turned out right. Oden snorted, “It was not a crush. She knew.” I didn’t understand why he kept saying that. She couldn’t know for sure.
I would never let anyone else have her though. She was mine. Melanie echoed the same back to me. She’d already fought someone for me once. I buried myself in her unable to get enough. After several hours, I did eventually calm down.
This was definitely better than beating up bag after bag in the gym. Far more enjoyable too. My mate’s little moans and her screaming my name music to my ears. I pulled out of Melanie and her eyes fluttered closed with a smile on her face.
EJ linked me, “So, you appear to have calmed down.” I replied, “You make sure that Vance fucker comes NOWHERE near this pack. EVER.” EJ snorted, “I thought you might feel that way. I called Beta Bond, Everly’s dad, he’s going to talk to his son and his former Alpha’s son. Since said Alpha’s son is now the Alpha about taking him. The Vance fucker will be ALL the way in California.”
I grumbled, “Europe would be better, but California will do.” EJ laughed loudly in our link. When he stopped, he told me, “Your mate is going dress shopping for Addison’s mating ceremony. It’s this coming weekend.” I sighed, “I know. I’m standing up there with Jase.”
EJ cautiously said, “Yeah, Jase said Melanie told him she was coming.” I replied, “Good. I didn’t want to leave her here alone.” EJ snorted, “You’d leave her here with our best Warriors, but sure alone.” I rolled my eyes before shooting back, “You haven't let Elise out of your sight since she was kidnapped. Don’t think I didn’t notice that.”
EJ sighed, “Fair enough. Good thing you put out intense cardio session videos that your mate religiously kept up with. Or she might not be able to keep up with you, little brother.” I snorted, “Good night, big brother.”
I got up and grabbed a wash rag and cleaned myself off. I grabbed a new one and cleaned Melanie off next. She didn’t even move. I got into bed, snapped clean sheets on, then pulled her to me. She muttered, “I love you so much, Xander.” I smiled because she wasn’t even awake yet she was declaring her love.
I kissed her forehead replying, “I love you so damn much, Melanie.” I sent an email from my phone for her car to be delivered tomorrow. It was high time she had it. I’d bought it for her sixteenth birthday. I fell asleep with a smile on my face.
When I woke up, I reached for Melanie. Her side of the bed wasn’t cold, but she wasn’t there. I could smell her though. I jumped up and found her dressed in workout clothes at the end of the bed. I was just glad she was still here.
Oden purred, “Mate will run with me.” Normally, I’d wonder if she could keep up but after having met her and raced her myself, I hoped I could keep up with her. I linked Chason, Fowler and KJ, “My Luna is going shopping today with her friends. You will be going to guard them.”
Fowler replied, “WOOHOO I’m on Muffin Luna duty! She’s fun.” Chason agreed, “Of course, Alpha.” KJ said, “I had already planned on it.” Good. I linked my dad, “My mate’s friend, Valentina, found a place in one of EJ’s buildings. A building my mate knows it’s his. She lied about how she knew too.”
Dad laughed, “Yeah, well as someone who has seen her attempt to lie, I won’t even bother to ask how you know.” I found it interesting Melanie knew it wasn’t one EJ and I owned together. We had joint and separate business ventures. I was beginning to believe there wasn’t much Melanie didn’t know about us.
I’m sure Valentina used some list Melanie had of places to live. I did not know who Crush was though. I shook those thoughts when my mate teased I was going all possessive Alpha Male. I probably was. Oden said, “Apparently, according to Freya through Melanie’s memories, she’s read a lot of papers and studies about Alpha’s.” Which was because of me.
I popped us outside. Oden said, “I’m going to try and project her the route in visuals like she did on vacation.” I was stunned when Melanie took off. She must have gotten the route. She was faster than when we’d raced before. I launched myself after her. Oden was loving it.
My dad linked, “Holy Fuck, she’s fast.” He and I were the only ones she wasn’t leaving in her dust. EJ linked me, “What the actual hell is happening?!” I answered, “She’s fast.” EJ snorted, “No joke.” I told Oden, “Don’t you dare slow down.” Oden scoffed, “I have no intention of slowing down.”
