Chapter 243 - His Mate or His Girlfriend

“We believe Sybl is hiding here,” Kyle pointed to a spot on his map hung up for the entire conference room to see. “And her coven has most likely made homes inside the caves.”

“It makes sense,” Aria cut in brusquely. “The Himalayas in Nepal isn’t a place one can go easily unless they have the ability to portal.”

“But she has allied with covens throughout North America and Europe,” interjected Cora. “The Earth Witches we contacted told us so. But they aren’t worried about her. They think her dark magic will be her undoing eventually. A witch meddling in dark magic pays a severe price for it. Usually, that price is her own death. Right now, her main target is the United States. The European Covens are confident that by the time she fixes her attention on them, she will have depleted her strength enough for them to take her down.”

‘But what havoc is she going wreak before that time comes?” Melanie argued. “We need to stop her and soon. Where does she plan to have the ritual to summon the demon? That’s our time to strike. It seems like our best bet is to try and stop her portalling the demon. If we can't do that...” Melanie took in a deep breath. It had been hard to come to this decision, but she had to do what was best for everyone. "...then we retreat. We go into hiding. Cora's discussed possibilities of asylum with Coven's in Europe. If we do that-"

There was a growl and a thud on the table.

"You want us to run?" Alpha Xavier asked, eyes gleaming yellow angrily.

"It's better than fighting until the death!" Melanie responded. "We all have families! I can't allow everyone to be decimated over pride and ego."

"Wolves will never leave their lands here," Dylan butt in. "You know better than any other witch how territorial we are."

Melanie looked at Dylan sadly.

"I know and I understand. But keep in mind, that if we can't defeat her, we need this as plan B."

There was a brief silence in which everyone contemplated this plan. Melanie looked towards Jordan to signal him the go ahead to speak.

“I’ve pinpointed a few locations where bursts of dark magic have been the strongest,” Jordan spoke up, walking to stand next to Kyle.

If Kyle thought it was weird his old history teacher was a wizard, he didn’t give it a way. He'd already known since the day Melanie had left the pack when the rogues attacked their high school. So completely nonplussed, he backed up, letting Jordan circle 5 distinct spots.

“I was able to trace the signature of the dark magic from the sites the witches were left to hang from trees. These are five places where this dark magic signature is the strongest. One of these places is obviously Sybl’s stronghold so I think it’s safe to say she isn’t crazy enough to summon a demon in her home. That leaves these four places…” Jordan pointed to them emphatically. “The caves in Mexico, Erbil Citadel in Iraq, Dionysus temple in Greece…and…”

Melanie’s eyes widened as Jordan’s finger pointed to an area with familiar co-ordinates.

“…near Devil’s sinkhole in Texas,” Jordan ended proudly.

Melanie felt like there suddenly wasn’t enough oxygen in the room.

“Are you O.K.?” Brad inquired, sensing Melanie’s discomfort.

His eyes zeroed in on her.

“It can’t be….” Melanie trailed off.

Would Sybl actually give away the coordinates for where she planned the summoning ceremony…just like that? This was the same place her spirit had ended up when first trying to track Sybl down to prevent Brad’s death. Or maybe it was just a coincidence?

“One of these places is the real location she plans to do the ceremony while the other three are simply resonating dark magic with her signature just to trick us,” Jordan explained, thinking maybe Melanie was asking for clarification.

Melanie cleared her throat.

“Where do you think would be the most probable place?” Her voice was oddly strained.

Jordan looked at Melanie confidently.

“We think it’s either Greece or Texas,” Jordan said. “I think if we split into teams and search the locations, we could find further clues to help us pinpoint the exact spot.”

Melanie coughed into her hand. It had to be Texas. Sybl made a mistake. Finally.

“There are caverns nearby at the devil’s sinkhole where she could easily hide and perform her sacrificial rituals,” Jordan further elaborated. “But we believe that if she were to perform a satanic summoning, she would have more dark magic to channel in Greece considering that the temple of Dinoysus was a place where lots of dark energy has been stored.”

Melanie nodded pensively.

“So I’ll take a team to Texas,” volunteered Ricky, standing up.

“And I’ll take a team to Greece,” Brad added.

Melanie cleared her throat, looking at Ricky. That dream she'd had....could it be possible they had been together in Texas?

“I’ll go with you,” she said softly to her brother. She could feel it in her bones. Something important was going to happen in Texas.

The meeting was adjourned after hashing out an action plan. Rubbing her eyes, Melanie made her way to her study. Sarea followed her, holding the stack of notes she’d taken. Brad followed not far behind. What she didn’t expect was for Ricky to join them.

“Dad’s been asking about you,” Ricky said quietly as they all holed up in Melanie’s study.

Melanie looked at Ricky with surprise. Considering her father had spent an awful lot of time insisting she wasn’t a witch, she’d thought it would be hard for him to even look at her after she’d become the Coven Leader.

“He misses you,” Ricky elaborated. “He keeps asking when he can come visit?”

“It’s better if he doesn’t,” Brad said swiftly. “It would draw too much attention. And Sybl might have spies watching the comings and goings of the coven. We’re in important positions representing our packs so it doesn’t cause too much suspicion if we're near her. But a retired beta coming here would definitely be something worth reporting.”

“Dad doesn’t care about that,” Ricky argued. “He just wants to see his youngest daughter.”

“Brad’s right,” Melanie said sadly. “Tell Dad, I’ll come see him eventually. Right now, I need him to lay low. He’s not as young as he once was and might not be able to protect himself if he was attacked.” Melanie shivered. “Sybl has rogues under her command.”

Even her visits to Brad’s home, if anyone saw, could be put up to the fact that she’d appointed him as her advisor on werewolf matters. But usually she was careful to portal into his home so no one would spot her entering his home. On the off-chance anyone did spot her, it could still be chalked up to an official visit.

But a visit to her father would be for an altogether different need. For a need to see someone she cared about and Melanie was sure Sybl would use this information to manipulate Melanie. Not to mention that Sybl was probably itching for a chance to take down her father.

Ricky looked like he wanted to argue but Sarea suddenly cut in.

“We could make it look like she’s coming to meet with the alpha of your pack and afterwards, she can go meet her father.”

Ricky nodded his assent at this suggestion. He sat for awhile longer, going over different plans with Melanie for their raid on the caverns. Brad joined in, giving his opinions as well. After awhile, a trolley was reeled in with dinner and they all sat eating together. Sarea had her lips pursed as she looked between Brad and Melanie who were casually sharing food with each other. The exchange was not lost on Ricky. He’d known Brad was her mate, Selene had told him. It didn’t take an idiot to realize that it seemed like Melanie was warming up to Brad despite their rough past. But Ricky chose to remain tight-lipped on this matter. He was her brother and until Melanie shared any information with him voluntarily, he would not speak of it.

After dinner, Ricky left. Melanie opened a portal for Brad and her to go easily into her room undetected. They fell into bed together, Brad kissing his way down her body. Melanie found herself sighing in satisfaction as he peeled away her clothes.

“Watching you boss everyone around turns me on,” he said huskily against her naval before swirling his tongue there and placing a small love-bite on her stomach.

Melanie bucked and gasped over the sensation. She knew what he was doing. Marking his territory in places she would allow him.

“I love you,” Melanie moaned as he worked his way down to her core. “I lo-“ she bucked when he kissed her down there, his tongue lapping at the moisture gathered between her legs.

Brad looked up at her pleased, eyes glowing yellow, before bending between her legs again. Melanie tilted her hips so that the angle was just so and saw stars when he bit gently at her bundle of nerves. Oh goddess this boy knew how to do a lot of things with his mouth. Brad smiled, pleased with her reactions.

“Come on babe,” Brad hummed softly. He swiped his tongue up and down her folds, inserting a finger inside of her. “Come for me,” he growled huskily.

And she did, screaming his name as she crashed and burned in an earth-shattering orgasm. She was still riding it out when Brad entered her, rock hard. She was coming again sooner rather than later, barely having time to recover from the last one before another one over took her.

“If this is what normal sex is like for us,” Melanie croaked out tiredly, nestled against the crook of his arm after he'd made her come two more times and found his own released inside of her. “I can’t wait to have a heat with you.”

Brad grinned, kissing the top of her head as he pulled the blanket over their naked forms. Melanie knew she needed to open a portal soon and send Brad on his way, but as she nodded off next to him, she drowsily wondered if maybe she could wait just a few more minutes. Laying next to him felt good, it felt perfect and kept her calm. With those final thoughts, Melanie drifted off to sleep. Brad wasn’t too far behind, enjoying the feel of his mate in his arms. This was where she belonged.

A furious knocking outside Melanie’s door woke her up. Rubbing sleep from her eyes, she realized it was already morning. Brad was snoring peacefully next to her. Melanie’s eyes widened as she realized she’d forgotten to portal him back last night. His hand was protectively resting over her stomach as he lay on his side next to her. She’d been conveniently spooned against him, her back against his chest. His touch had helped her sleep peacefully, and she'd had the best sleep she'd had in a long time with him by her side.

“Melanie!” Aria’s voice called from beyond the door.

Melanie cursed. Shit. If Aria saw Brad here….

“Mel! Can I come in?” Aria called, knocking even louder. “Are you awake?”

The doorknob turned as Aria tried to open it but thankfully, Melanie had locked her door last night.

“I’m not decent!” Melanie called out in a panic.

Brad finally woke up, a sleepy smile on his face as he took in Melanie sitting up in bed. His hand snaked it’s way up to squeeze her breast. Melanie gasped in outrage. Brad’s grin only widened as he began to roll her nipple between his thumb and forefinger.

“Stop it,” Melanie hissed, swatting Brad’s hand away.

“Are you O.K?” Aria called, her voice laden with concern. “Is something wrong?”

“Everything’s fine!” Melanie called out, trying to sound cheerful. “I just…um…” Melanie bit her lip trying to figure out an excuse for Aria not to come in.

Soon, the witch would perform an unlocking spell. Brad’s hand went to squeeze her butt.

“I said stop!” Melanie exclaimed angrily.

“That’s it, Mel I’m coming in!” Aria called firmly.

In a moment of what Melanie later referred to as pure insanity, she pushed Brad off the bed. There was a dull thud at the same moment that Aria successful magic’d the door open. Brad barely had time to follow Melanie’s furious instructions to get under the bed before Aria was entering the room.

The older witch came in, eyes slanted suspiciously as she took in Melanie naked in her bed with sheets wrapped around her. Aria’s eyes widened in understanding, eyeing the rumpled bed and the obvious state of Melanie's bedhead. An almost conspiratorial gleam took over in Aria's eyes.

“Oh,” Aria chuckled. “You could have just told me you had a lover in your bed.”

Melanie blushed over Aria’s words.

“I don’t!” Melanie squeaked out.

Aria snickered.

“Oh really?” Aria teased. “You can’t pull one over on me Mel. I’ve had more sexcapades than you can count. I can tell what you’ve been up to. Besides,” Aria chortled. “-those red marks all over your neck and shoulders is reason enough to realize what was going on here. I hope I didn’t interrupt?”

Melanie shook her head furiously.

“Is he any good?” Aria teased. She quirked a brow. “Or maybe he’s a she?”

Melanie blushed a deep crimson.

“I'm not discussing him with you,” Melanie said flatly, mistakenly giving away that she did indeed have a 'he' in her room.

Aria’s eyes widened.

“He’s still in here, isn’t he?”

Melanie shook her head to deny it but Aria was already retreating.

“Just, let me know when you’re done and I’ll meet you in your study,” Aria murmured. “I didn’t mean to ruin a good time.”

And with that, Aria was out the door. Brad crawled out from underneath the bed, disgruntled he’d had to hide. Melanie looked at him with a grateful smile. She knew how hard it must have been for him to do that. Hide like he was some sort of dirty secret. He was her everything and she knew this wasn't fair to him. Melanie opened her mouth to apologize.

“A-ha!” Aria exclaimed triumphantly opening the door quicker than Melanie could blink.