Page 33 of The Alpha Enforcer and His Dancing Warrior Vol. 2 (Ribbon #10)

I warned, “You might want to tell your counterpart, since I can’t link her human yet, that had better be true. If it’s not, Caine is in for a rude awakening.” Phil linked, “Volleyball net. Come on, snap one and kick our ass.”

I asked, “Why would you suggest this game? I’m good.” He said, “To calm you the hell down. That’s why.” I noticed that while I could stand in the water, Melanie couldn’t. I inhaled deeply, calming down as her scent surrounded me.

I knew Melanie would catch on fast because Jason and Tristan said she caught onto everything quickly. Oden purred, “She’s great.” Honestly, she picked up easier than I thought she would. She could have easily been on the high school team in Red Run if she’d wanted to be. We killed Phil and Sierra.

Phil linked, “Ok, next time I’ll listen to my mate.

Melanie is freakishly good at stuff. It’s the mutant/superhero/Pokémon gene.

I’m convinced.” I hoisted Melanie onto my shoulders knowing we were going to kill my brothers at games together.

That would give them fits. She’d destroy people in the Hackura Games too.

We made it the hot tub where Sierra mentioned being on Melanie’s team next time. Nope. She was my mate; therefore, she was my teammate. Always. Sierra’s comment had Phil asking subtle questions about winning and I knew why.

We’d heard that Swiffer never lost fights.

Oden growled over the answer. Phil linked, “Do not panic.” Fuck that.

I wanted to rage at the world. I took a deep breath and decided those thoughts were going in the box.

That was going into the damn box of shit we were NOT talking about until I got read into the whole thing.

After my mission, and outside of our bubble.

Melanie seemed locked up. I wasn’t getting flashes of words or pictures, so I was completely blind. Oden linked, “Freya is talking to her. It will be ok.” I questioned, “What will be?” Oden admitted, “I don’t know. I just know Freya is talking to her.”

I pulled her over to me and wrapped my arms around her. I heard Melanie in my head talking to Freya. It was more confusing than enlightening. My mate still called Tristan, T but she wasn’t saying Jase. She was calling him by his given name, Jason.

Jason said she only did that when she was mad at him. She didn’t seem mad though, but why would she give up on one nickname and not the other? Their conversation had me wondering about her shift. Shit. Would she really?

Oden linked, “She will.” I asked, “When?” He replied, “I don’t know but I do know she will eventually. She’s just got to get stronger.” I asked, “Any idea on the timeline of that? A month? A year?”

Oden sighed, “I honestly don’t know and neither does Freya. We just know that she will shift.”

Great. More unknowns. I was beginning to hate them more than Phil did. When we got out of the hot tub, I snapped us into dry clothes. We ended up watching a movie. I carried Melanie upstairs to our room afterwards.

When she linked me again, we discussed that she’d been doing that.

I still thought maybe we could because we’d mated.

I had no reasons for her being able to link Phil, but that wasn’t about us.

I wished I’d gotten more insight on the things I had questions about.

Sadly, I got nothing like that. I wanted to be done talking about it, because I didn’t have answers.

It wasn’t hard to convince her not to talk anymore. I hoped it would be just as easy to convince her to actually talk after my mission. We slid into each other. God, she was addictive. I gave her a hickey on her marking spot.

I definitely wanted to do more, but I left it at that. When we both came, I smelled blood. I looked at her lips and couldn't help but smile. I quickly healed her and told her that her canines elongated. Something inside me settled, knowing she did truly want to mark me.

Also, that meant Freya was getting stronger.

Melanie got really emotional about her teeth elongating.

I would imagine that after thinking she didn’t have a wolf, it really was a moving event.

Hopefully, I could make her shift painless with my healing light.

Oden snorted at me. I wasn’t even going to bother asking what his deal was.

He wouldn’t tell me. Oden linked, “Correct you are.”

I asked her where we were meeting to have our conversation.

Oden preened, “She gave us her real address. Mate trusts us even if she’s scared.

” I would be lying if I said that didn’t make me happy.

I’d have t o have Micah look into the building when I got back.

Since they were friends, he might already have the details I wanted.

I committed the address to memory. I noted it was in Nashville but just barely. Her trusting me felt like a warm blanket I wrapped myself up in. I’d keep her safe and avenge everything that had happened to her. Those who’d hurt her would know a pain they couldn’t possibly comprehend.

Phil linked me, “Sierra did in fact see both your and Melanie’s tattoos.

” I replied, “Then Melanie saw hers.” Phil snorted, “Melanie showed it to Sierra. There’s more to this conversation, but Sierra is being tight lipped about it.

She said she’s not sure what happened, but Melanie had some crazy dream. ”

I asked, “Did you tell her in our family we listen to any type of dreams?” Phil sighed, “I did but alas, that has gotten me nowhere. She is deep in thought over these things. I’m off to convince her to think about sexy things.” I chuckled, “Best of luck, cousin.”

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.”