My dad asked, “What are you talking about?” I growled down the link at all of them I could. I sent them the emotion that they would burn realms if they were me. That wasn’t a bad idea, I could do that. Oden agreed, “Yes, we should burn realms. I like that idea.”
I snarled, “I’ll burn down realms until someone hands him over.” Uncle Bjourn said, “Let’s call that the last resort.” I wanted to call it Plan Fucking A. Trevor put his goddamn name on my mate against her will because she wouldn’t sleep with him.
That supposed to be future Gamma had written VILE, untrue things on Melanie’s body and he would FUCKING PAY for it! I took a few hits before someone hit me full force, slamming their body into mine.
The tingles and smell forced me come back to awareness.
Melanie was in my arms sobbing but she had nothing to be sorry about. We needed to talk. Oden chimed in, “And we can show off our wings to mate.” Not a bad idea. I took off into theair. EJ linked me, “Are you in control?” I replied, “I won’t hurt her.”
EJ groaned, “That’s not what I asked. Come back and let us fight your anger out.” I argued, “I need to talk to my mate. She calms me down so I’ll be fine. Later we might have to have the Hackura Army fight me if I’m not going to be allowed to BURN shit to the ground.”
EJ reasoned, “Like Uncle Bjourn said, let’s call that the last resort. I’m not saying no. I’m saying not right now.” I growled, “Fine. Right now, I WILL hold it together to take care of Melanie. This isn’t her fault and she feels like it is.”
EJ warned, “Your mate is tracking you somehow. She was TERRIFIED when mom said you were in the Ribbon. Mel was practically hyperventilating about when you were there and what you would see.” I dryly said, “I’m sure she was worried about exactly what I did see happen.”
EJ asked, “Which was….?” He trailed off intentionally. I told him, “Both versions of me got their wings. Does that tell you enough? Trevor is so beyond fucking dead, and he is my PERSONAL prisoner when we find him.”
EJ hummed, “Sure. The McAlister’s are flipping out, by the way. Did Trevor really carve words into her back?” I growled, “And branded her with words because and I quote ‘CARVING WAS TOO SLOPPY!’ He is sick, deviant bastard and I’ll kill him after I TORTURE THE FUCK OUT OF HIM!”
EJ groaned, “Yeah, I’m not going to say that part about branding. That seems like a horrible idea.” I warned, “Don’t. It’s Mel’s call. I shouldn’t have even told you; I’m just fucked up over this right now. Trevor branded her while she cried out for me, and I was helplessly watching through a barrier. That one wasn’t even mine. Mine didn’t get rescued nor did I come to her when she needed me.”
EJ gently said, “You had no way of knowing.” He was right, but it didn’t help. I flew to my treehouse that only myself, dad, and Uncle Bjourn could find. They would know not to come in right now, but I imagine they’d be waiting for me until I came out.
Fowler linked me, “The Muffin Luna’s friend, the Luna Glenda Good Witch of Red Run, has a holoport on our border. Chason, me, nor KJ can get through it, but based on the Muffins Luna’s conversation with Alpha EJ it leads to Nashville.” I replied, “Thank you for letting me know, Fowler.”
It wasn’t surprising that they had a holoport that led them here. I sat down with Melanie on the couch. My Fairy side was ready to go crazy and devour her, but I called my Hackura side forward instead. My mom couldn’t resist that need to mate when she got her wings. She could delay it, but I could put it off completely.
I whispered, “Wings ina actin put me simy own tendtoe (Wings of mine be hidden in me as you always were).” My wings were now hidden. I rubbed Melanie’s back consoling her, “Don’t say you’re sorry. You did nothing wrong.”
My mate hiccupped, “I was trying to protect you... I didn’t want you to see that in person. Or see my back at all.” I held her tightly before whispering, “You don’t need to protect me.” Melanie shook her head, “You’d protect me too.” I had nothing to say back to that because I knew she was right.
I offered, “There’s a version of us who was just introduced. Freya was only locked away for a week and half.” Melanie cried, “Hopefully she can shift soon then. I’m… I really didn’t want you to see that.” I held her tightly asking, “Do you have all those words on your back?” My mate flinched which meant yes.
I cupped Melanie’s face declaring, “You are not a curse, you are my everything. You are NOT a family killer either. Even ifwhat you thought happened was true, that wouldn’t have been your fault. It’s not true though.”
“Your family is here and alive. You are NOT a freak. You are a beautiful, talented, smart, a Warrior, dancer, and a DAMN good cook. You are NOT an Ice Queen because you didn’t want to fuck an asshole. Any woman or man in any realm has the right to refuse sex with anyfuckingone.”
“That does not make them an Ice Queen. That’s so sexist and said by someone with a fragile ego. You are so far from unwanted it makes me want to curse and beat the shit out of everything I can get my hands on. I want you.”
“Hell, I have wanted you since I was fourteen years old. I wanted to meet you even before I smelled your hoodie. Your name has always given me a thrill. I felt the entire world change the literal moment you were born.”
“Lastly, you are so far from Trevor’s it’s insane. You are mine and he can’t have you. Even if you weren’t mine, he couldn’t have you. No one should ever brand another person against their will. That is so beyond fucking wrong. Trevor’s sick. He’s any horrible adjective you want to come up with. That’s on him, not you.”
Melanie cried, “They won’t come off. I tried… with my concealers… but the words don’t come off…. I should’ve asked Paige…why have I never asked Paige? What is wrong with me.” I reasoned, “Makeup can cover a lot but….” Melanie laughed a little interrupting me, “No, I call them concealers... I gave some of them to Cayden. They can hide mating marks. I wanted them to hide my scars, but they didn't hide them all.”
I told her, “I’m sure the necklace you wore kept you from asking Paige. Maybe they added a spell to it. As far as removing it Uncle Aiden in that reality said that the spell just needs to be undone then my mom and I can heal them.”
Melanie pulled back and looked into my eyes hopefully asking, “Really?” I nodded, “Yes. We will get rid of them ifthat’s what you want.” Melanie cried, “Everyone is going to ask questions now.” I titled up her chin saying, “I’ll take care of it.”
My mate whimpered, “I just wanted to protect everyone from my past. It will kill my family and old pack. You were in so much pain… it burned.” I gasped, “What? You felt my pain.” Melanie didn’t reply, she buried her head in my chest. Oden was oddly quiet so he’d better be talking to Freya.
I linked EJ, “Me again. I have an important question because Melanie is telling me my pain burned her. She felt me getting my wings?” EJ replied, “Yeah about that. WHAT THE FUCK?! If you had your Hackura ceremony and didn’t invite any of us, I’ll go Fairy hijinks on your ass.”
I snorted, “We didn’t. I can feel her emotions sometimes from the tattoo.” EJ clarified, “The tattoo she gave to you through electricity that may or may not be a weird Fae power you gave her?” I confirmed, “Yes, that tattoo.”
EJ continued, “The tattoo of the moon and stars that I plan to give you shit about once everything calms down?” I rolled my eyes grumbling, “Of course you do, but the answer is still yes; that tattoo.” My older brother chuckled, “Interesting. At least I don’t have to give the there are no Hackura ceremonies without notice speech to my siblings.”
Melanie began to calm down. She whispered, “Your wings are beautiful.” I replied, “Thank you. I like that they represent Oden as well as myself because he is a very large part of me.” I just kept rubbing her back. Melanie said, “I’m supposed to be comforting you.”
