I frowned asking, “What do you mean?” Cayden said, “Melanie could've found out something that’s in the paperwork she disagrees with. Maybe it says wolves with powers will be offered up to the council at their will or something.” Oden snarled in my head.
I snorted, “My dad would never sign that.” Cayden shrugged, “Melanie would never even want it to reach him because of you. She’d never want you in a position like that.” I pointed out, “My mate is the white wolf.”
Cayden nodded, “And her friends would’ve considered that, but Melanie would’ve thought of you first.” I sighed, “Let’s go put in some laps and fight time. I can’t think about this anymore and my squadron needs to practice.” Cayden nodded and we walked outside.
My squadron fell in line. I was faster than I would’ve been and a little jittery. I conjured my phone and called Melanie. Cayden motioned for me to put it on speaker, and I did. My mate answered, “Xander? Are you ok? What’s wrong? Aren’t you in the Hackura realm? Did you get hurt? I don’t know how to get there exactly.”
She snorted, “Well that’s silly… of course I do… in theory… I can’t get there by opening a portal myself… so… I’ll go find someone… which is one of the many plans and contingencyplans that I have… and…” Several members of my Squadron clapped a hand over their mouths and silently laughed.
I said, “I’m fine. For me, could you switch to decaf? I’m jittery.” Melanie gasped, “Oh my gosh! You feel that?! I’m sorry! I’ll… figure out how to get the jitters down. I could switch between the real stuff and decaf… next time I’ll definitely do that. If I switch to decaf until I’ve evened out, then I could do a balance and…” Micah walked into Cayden’s office to laugh.
I interrupted, “Thank you.” Melanie hummed, “Sure… sorry… I didn’t mean…” I cut her off, “I know. It’s fine, please just calm down.” Melanie said, “I am calm. Why wouldn’t you think I’m not calm? Do I not seem calm? Also, when has telling someone to calm down worked? I feel like that tends to piss them off even more… which definitely doesn’t make them calm.”
Before I could say something, she continued, “I bet I could find a study on that… or I could do it myself. An initial poll to the allied packs… would get it going if there’s not available data.” I asked, “Have you done that before? We get anonymous surveys about things a lot.” Oden chuckled in my head.
Melanie answered, “Yes… well…. umm no…. I mean just yes… the answer is yes. A lot of those were me… by proxy… and some were just me… ok they were probably ninety-five percent me. But I needed data… and the allies are the best ones to get the data from…. since they are full of mostly happy people… so… that’s a better set for packs… when doing things… and stuff.” Cayden ran his hand over his face.
I laughed, “Alright. This has been interesting. I’ll see you later. Ok?” Melanie said, “Sure… later… I have layers…. and things… before later happens… but you’re safe… and busy… these are all good things.” I laughed, “Ok, then. Have fun, my little Hacker.” Melanie snorted as I hung up the phone.
Cayden whistled, “Mel’s wired, but not as wired as she was when you emailed her.” Micah laughed from behind me. Inodded to Max who was with him now. I smiled greeting, “Little brother.” Max shot back, “Big brother.”
Micah said, “Oh yeah this was nothing really, just funny. Last time Melanie had a panic attack and talked through it. She had SO MANY words. So very many. None of which made sense at the time, all of which make sense now. Now, I wish I had known a fraction of what I currently know.” I snorted, “Don’t we all?” Cayden simply answered, “Yes.”
We had nothing left to say after that and got to work. Long after my squadron left, I grabbed Jed and fought him. He’d definitely improved. Melanie didn’t feel as jittery, but I used the extra energy she was putting out.
Cayden walked over and called our fight. He laughed, “I think that’s enough.” Jed huffed, “Since when is he so hyper and fast? Gia did not warn me about whatever this is.” I laughed, “My mate is hyper at the moment. I’m also faster because of her.”
Jed snorted, “Because the rest of us just never deserve a chance when fighting you? You clearly needed to be better. So obviously his mate connection makes him a super Duke Alpha Squadron Leader. Gia and my daily run downs clearly need to be more in-depth.” I snorted.
Cassie walked in with Gia at that exact moment. My sister smiled at me and asked, “Can you stay for a bit, Alexander? Wait, where’s Melanie?” Jed snorted, “Somewhere providing him with more speed and energy. You know, the edge he desperately needed against us all.” Cassie laughed, “I missed something.”
Gia agreed, “We definitely did.” Jed teased her, “You’re in BIG trouble for not telling me about his mate making him faster.” Gia winced, “Ok, that’s my bad. I’m clueless on the rest of what you feel in the bond.”
I explained, “Melanie has something she’s working on, and she’s had a lot of coffee. Apparently, this is normal for her, and the mate bond makes me feel like I’m basically invincible. That’swithout our Hackura one in place.” Gia gaped at me. Jed hugged her and whispered in her ear, “Right?” Gia kissed his cheek.
Cassie commented, “I heard there’s a meeting tomorrow morning.” Gia said, “That I got in on too. I was even cc’d on an email. It was glorious.” Jed laughed, “Aww, that makes you so happy. I love that for you, but I’m still spanking you for not mentioned Alpha Duke machine man over there getting faster.”
I looked at Cayden. My brother in law snorted, “I’ll answer your unspoken question. Yes, my calendar was blocked off too.” I groaned, “Melanie got into your calendar?” Jed said, “She has balls the size of Texas, that one.” I growled at him.
Cayden shrugged, “Melanie has had access to see it for years. We give that to our sources so they can set up time with us.” That was true. I told Cassie, “I’ve got some time, but I do need to get back and make sure Melanie sleeps. Apparently, it’s not something she’s currently used to.” It came out bitter, and I knew that.
Cassie said, “Well, she was used to it once for over a decade. We can easily work on it and get her back to it. We will live for centuries. Anyway, I just thought we could all walk on the beach together because I miss you.” I nodded, “Of course.”
We all walked outside and headed to the beach. I smiled as Cassie and Cayden walked with their hands intertwined. I looked back and saw Max and Micah doing the same. I couldn’t help but be happy for my siblings. I’d have to bring Melanie here so we could all do this.
I grabbed a pebble and skipped it out into the ocean. Cassie and Max joined me. For a brief moment, it felt like we were pups again. Eventually I said, “I need to go get Melanie to bed. See you all in the morning.” Everyone nodded.
I popped to Melanie who was about to drink more coffee. I conjured the cup away from her. Oden growled, “Get her to bed.”I replied, “That’s the plan.” To my mate I said, “Ok, your eyes are bloodshot, and half drooped. Let’s go to bed.”
Melanie frowned, “So… no… I need… a few more hours… or the entire time everyone sleeps… it’s probably that one… until the meeting… to make it all perfect and…” I shook my head arguing, “Nope. We are going to bed.” Melanie said, “But… I… need to...”
I grabbed her and popped her to our room. I kissed her on the forehead, “You’d get me to stop working if you were me too. Now, let’s shower and go to sleep.” Melanie sighed countering, “For a little bit.” I laughed, “That’s all I’m asking.” I snapped us naked and turned on the water.
I stepped into the shower and Melanie joined me. I turned to face her, easily seeing that her mind was still a million miles away. I leaned down and captured her lips in mine to her surprise. I washed her body then mine quickly before snapping us drying then popping us to bed.
I asked her, “Would you like me to distract you from everything on your mind?” Melanie shrugged, “I don’t know how you would thATTT…” She practically yelled when I nipped at her mark. I nibbled up her neck to her ear.
I told her, “I have my ways.” I flipped her onto her stomach and started to massage her upper back. Melanie moaned. I kissed the back of her head, surprised at how tense she was. I told her, “It seems my mate needs a spa day. Your knots have knots. You need to relax every so often.”
