The rest of our time together was going by too fast. I’d never dreaded a mission more than this one. I wished I’d never taken it. I took us out on a yacht for the day. We’d worn swimsuits for most of the day, but I’d told Sierra to pack a nice dress for dinner for Melanie.
They came down the stairs and she came onto the deck wearing a long sleeved red dress that covered her back, but had a deep V cut to the chest. It was the closest I’d come to see her boobs. I could barely take my eyes off it.
Melanie smiled at me greeting, “Hi, Xander.” I kissed her cheek before saying, “You look beautiful.” We sat down and ate together. I wished I could freeze the moment. I could put together dates like this for us back home. Oden said, “We will do stuff like this because mate loves it.”
He was right. Melanie’s eyes were bright and excited. I’d had dinner plans for us the last few nights here, but we didn’t make it. We couldn’t tear ourselves apart from each other. My heart literally ached at the thought of leaving her. Oden growled, “Let’s just take her with us.” I wished I could.
I could practically feel her sadness on our last night before I was leaving for my mission. She started to cry and everything in me wanted to make it better. She was holding me so tightly to her it made me feel like shit. I couldn’t leave her like this.
Uncle Bjourn would understand, and Cayden could find someone else to do this mission. Sadly, when I told her that Melanie wasn’t having it. Oden growled, “We should follow our instincts.” I agreed but I didn’t want to upset Melanie even more than she was.
We couldn’t always be on vacation, but I’d watched my dad date my mom my entire life. I could set up things for Melanie. Hell, I could pop her anywhere for a night. She was mine, and she would be by my side. She wanted to spend the rest of our time with me inside her. I couldn't deny her, and I didn’t even want to.
Eventually Phil knocked on the door. He linked me, “I’m sorry, man. I don’t want to go either, but we are pushing it. We need to get our mates to their hotel.” It felt wrong. Oden was growling and unhappy and I wasn’t much better.
Melanie was so emotional it broke my heart. She was so worried about us when I knew that we would be fine. Everyone else wouldn’t be able to say that. They might not be ok when I got a hold of them, but from the moment my mission was done Melanie and I would be fine.
No one would hurt her ever again. Oden muttered, “Mate better call since you have her number.” I hoped she would. I was going to need to hear her voice. I heard her thoughts briefly during her shower. She was thinking of getting a hold of Jason. I hoped she did, then she’d be home sooner. He’d get her home and keep her safe.
I snapped her things packed and jumped into the shower. Phil linked me, “I have never liked being me less. Normally, I love being me. Currently, I have a weeping mate. She’s worried about something, but she won’t tell me what they hell is going on.” I replied, “Same.” Phil snorted, “Oh good. It’s so great to be us right now.”
Melanie wanted her stuff conjured to Black Mountain. There was something behind that, but I was happy she wanted her stuff there. She started to tear up again. I was being destroyed by the tears of my mate. I wished yet again I’d never agreed to the mission.
I’d never planned on being busy when Melanie was scheduled to come home, but we weren’t supposed to meet now. Angela had interfered, thank all the gods and goddesses she had. Melanie clearly needed me now and had for a while.
I tried to convey that I didn't care what she had to say when we met up again. I knew it was her name, but I couldn't care less what else followed that. I’d go to war for her. To avenge what had been going on with her all these years just to stand by her side.
What mattered was in the end, we would be together and there were no forces of evil that could stand in my way. Heaven help them if they tried. She was mine. I popped us downstairs, and it was clear Sierra was a wreck too.
Phil linked me, “I DESPISE BEING ME RIGHT NOW!” I agreed, “Yeah, me too.” Phil snorted, “I can’t take this. Spencer needs to watch out for them.” I reminded him, “Spencer has a mission too. He’s not in Black Pathy anymore.” Phil groaned, “Great.”
Then he smiled. I asked, “What’s that face?” He answered, “Cayden will know Ashley is coming back. He will have Micah or Silas there because he wants to talk to her. He will solve our problems even though we plan to avoid him.”
I admitted, “That is probably true.” I also wouldn’t lie and say it didn’t make me feel better because I couldn’t and it did. I got them to their hotel in Louisiana. Phil linked, “I’m stealing Sierra away in a minute.” I replied, “Do what you need to do, cousin.”
Oden demanded, “Offer for them to stay in the Hackura realm again.” I made it and held my breath. Phil linked, “Come on Selene come through for us.” Melanie declined. Phil groaned, “I blame myself. I should’ve asked Aesir to come through. Then she would’ve said yes.”
I bit my lip so I wouldn’t laugh. Phil left to go into the other room with Sierra. I soaked in these last few minutes of our bubble. Honestly, her comments were adorable and unnecessary because I did know the big thing she wanted to tell me.
I was just pretending not to know this thing she felt was a big secret. It made me love her more though, that she wasn’t asking me to promise her something when she easily could. I put all my feelings into our kiss.
Phil and Sierra came back. He linked, “I’ll throw Melanie over my shoulder too. I’ll bring a Hackura guard with me. Yes, that’s a good plan. I’ll even grab one of yours.” I conceded, “That’s not a bad idea. Just tell them who she is to me then they’d guard her.” Phil confirmed, “I will.”
I opened a portal and went to step through it. Oden howled unhappily. A terrible sense of unease gripped me. I linked Phil, “This is a mistake. We shouldn't leave them.” Phil asked, “What choice do we have?” He made a last ditch effort but it didn’t work.
Even though I knew they had “stuff” to do, whatever that meant I didn’t want to leave them. Oden growled, “They do and they don’t.” Yes, but they told us to go, and I had to trust my mate. I pushed my feelings down and walked through the portal to the Hackura realm.
I portaled us outside the castle. Phil sighed, “I’ll just go somewhere and be in the background. Maybe I’ll happen to hang out somewhere Cayden is and get some fucking information.” I advised, “Stick around the castle then. He’s going to want to talk to me and someone will mention I’m here. I’ll have to be fast getting in and out.”
Phil nodded, “Good point.” I clapped him on the shoulder, “Let me know what’s going on if you get a clue. Have you heard from Gage?” He snorted, “Yeah, he’s with his mate. She is exactly who your mate thought she was. He thought that was weird, but he’s not on the crazy Pokémon power Luna train yet so.” I shook my head chuckling.
I linked Gage, “Congratulations, man.” He said, “Thanks. We should be back in our pack shortly. We are taking off soon.” I replied, “I can’t wait to meet her.” He said, “Abigail is her name by the way.” I replied, “So I heard. My mate was right about you and the former Gamma’s youngest daughter.” She was twenty too. Our mates were all around the same age.
I walked into my Uncle Bjourn’s office. He smiled, “Hello, Alexander.” I replied, “Uncle Bjourn.” He chuckled, “Congratulations, nephew.” I grinned as he threw my burner phone for the mission at me. I caught it and immediately texted Melanie on it.
He looked at my neck and frowned saying, “I thought for sure you’d be marked.” I sighed, “Melanie doesn’t want me to mark her or vice versa until I get back from my mission.” My Uncle startled, “Why?” I sighed, “She has something she wants to tell before we mark each other. She thinks it could change things between us, but she’s wrong. Nothing would or could make me not want her.”
My Uncle frowned, “Why would she believe that there is?” I told him, “I don’t have the full picture, and I don’t particularly care for what I do have. Actually no, I abhor the pieces I do have.” He frowned, “She can stay here while you’re gone.”
