Chapter 245 - His Mate or His Girlfriend

“Let’s go,” Ricky urged, grabbing Melanie’s hand to help steady her. If it wasn't for him she might have fallen flat on her face.

They’d just stepped out of the portal and onto Silver Creek pack lands. Melanie had momentarily been a bit disoriented. That had been happening more often these days as her pregnancy progressed. She wasn't at four months yet but there was definitely a pronounced bump. Luckily, her clothes were still able to hide it.

Once Ricky was sure Melanie had a firm footing, he took a few steps forward, pulling her gently along behind him.

“Wait,” Melanie said softly.

Ricky turned to look at her and Melanie surprised him as she threw her arms around her brother and gave him a hug.

“I just want you to know how lucky I feel to have you for an older half-brother,” Melanie whispered.

Ricky hugged her back.

“And I’m proud of how far you’ve come Mel,” Ricky whispered into her hair. "But don't ever call me your half-brother again. You're my sister. It doesn't matter if we biologically shared the same mom or not. I've hated that word since the first day I found out...referring to you as my half-sister isn't fair. Almost like you're less of a sister to me. But you're not. You are just as important as Selene."

Melanie pulled back, eyes bright with unshed tears. Those words meant so much to her. Ricky ruffled the top of her head, messing up her hair, exactly like he had done so many times while they'd been growing up.

“Today is supposed to be a happy day," Ricky chided as Melanie wiped tears away from her eyes. She cracked a genuine smile.

"I'm happy, just really overcome with emotion," Melanie confessed.

"Well...stop crying. We can't have everyone thinking I'm a lousy and older brother and made you cry on the way," Ricky teased.

Melanie's eyebrows bunched together in confusion. "Everyone?" she quieried.

She was supposed to be meeting her father today. Ricky's eyes shifted away from her momentarily before looking at her with a smile.

"Oh the alpha mansion usually has omegas running around...you know how it is," Ricky responded evasively. Before Melanie could remind Ricky that Dylan probably wouldn't have any omegas around at this time, he began talking again. "So....are you ready to meet Dad?” Ricky asked excitedly. This meant a lot to him, she could tell.

Melanie nodded, reciprocating Ricky's excitement.

Dylan had agreed to set up a meeting in his own home. That way it looked like Melanie was going to meet the alpha. It meant a lot to Melanie that he’d agreed to do that. He’d replied saying she was basically his sister-in-law now, so it was the least he could do. Antonio's home was in a populated neighborhood. Somewhere it was all too easy for spies to stake out his home. Brad's home was in the middle of nowhere, so anyone that didn't belong could easily be spotted and potentially caught. Sybl's spies had come so far without being caught, they wouldn't make a silly mistake like that. Besides, there was no reason for Sybl to be suspicious of Brad. She had no idea he was Melanie's mate. But Sybl most likely had spies stationed around Antonio's home. It was better for Sybl to think Melanie didn't want anything to do with her werewolf family. That's why it had been decided that Melanie would meet her father at Dylan's place. It would look like a meeting from the outside.

So when Melanie entered Dylan’s home and stepped into his sitting room, she expected to see her father. What she didn’t expect to see was Selene holding her newborn baby.

"Selene!" Melanie exclaimed happily.

"Mel!" Selene spoke at the same time.

Both sisters screamed and hugged and cried. Even Antonio’s eyes were misty as he held his youngest daughter. It was the first time in a long time that his entire family was under one roof.

Melanie held her nephew for the first time, awestruck with the amount of love filling her heart for this tiny person she’d just met.

“He looks just like you,” Melanie choked out, and the two sisters cried some more.

“Thank goddess for that!” Selene half laughed and half sobbed over her own joke.

Both sisters were overwhelmed with emotions because they’d seen each other for the first time in years. And both were supremely thankful that Melanie had finally been able to meet her nephew.

“I thought you’d never get a chance to see him,” Selene confessed sadly.

Melanie responded by holding the boy closer. Sensing her protectiveness, Nathaniel (Selene’s son) curled his tiny fist around Melanie’s pinky finger while still sleeping.

“He loves me already,” Melanie chuckled. She looked up at Selene. “I can’t thank Dylan enough for setting this up.”

“Neither can I,” Selene responded sweetly. “He was more than happy to open his home to us so we could all meet. He’s a great friend.”

“Your mate didn’t care that you were going to meet me…here…did he?” Melanie asked cautiously, knowing first-hand how protective mates could be.

Selene shrugged. “He knows he’s the only one in my heart now. And no matter what our past was, Dylan was and always will be a great friend. As he’s proving to be now,” Selene gestured to everyone gathered around. “Honestly, I felt bad leaving him at first, but the mate pull is strong. And Dylan was really supportive.”

“It’s like I always said,” Anotonio chided. "Your mate becomes your world."

Selene nodded at her father’s comment. He'd been right all along in telling her to wait for her mate.

“And after having kids and such a deep bond with someone else, whatever fun Dylan and I had….it just seems…insignificant in comparison,” Selene provided the information willingly. “The bond I have with my mate is incomparable.”

“I’m happy for you,” Melanie said with a smile.

She looked around at her family, happy that they’d gotten a chance to be reunited, if only for a few hours.

“I wish Carey was here too,” Antonio murmured, using his thumb to wipe his eyes. “She would have been so happy to see all of you grown up and happy with the paths you’ve chosen in life.” Antonio looked at Melanie sadly. “My mate always told me you had magic. But I never believed her. And I’ve regretted it every day of my life, trying to deny you your heritage. It’s just that I hated that dark witch…” Antonio swallowed. “I had misplaced anger, simply hating magic because of one person.”

Melanie took a deep breath. She had to let him know.

"Dad, I believe. After everything I've learned, I think you really were drugged on purpose. Sybl was trying to get pregnant to have a hybrid baby she could use in her fight against werewolves."

Antonio nodded emphatically.

"I was so angry, and I was even more angry at Carey for believing I'd purposefully betrayed her. She left this world thinking I was a cheater..." Antonio trailed off, sighing heavily.

“We all make mistakes, and this was one of Mom's. She should have believed you,” Selene said softly. “After you left-“ Selene directed this statement to Melanie. “-dad was a mess. He was completely inconsolable.”

“But it was too late,” Antonio said mournfully. “My babygirl was gone. And there was nothing I could do about it. If I could change one thing…” he shook his head helplessly.

Melanie reached out a hand to pat her father’s shoulder comfortingly.

“Well, at least we’re all here together now, and we’re all fine,” Melanie emphasized.

The rest of the day was spent reminiscing and laughing as they all enjoyed time with each other. By the end of the day, Melanie was full on love and lighter.

“This was just what I needed before our mission next week,” Ricky admitted happily as he escorted Melanie out of Dylan’s home.

Melanie faltered, remembering that they were supposed to go scope out the coordinates in Texas next week to see if that was where the summoning ritual would take place. The dream she'd had of Ricky dying came to her mind.

“Maybe you should stay back,” Melanie said casually. “It’s dangerous.”

“I’m a beta, I can handle danger,” Ricky said, puffing his chest out.

Mealnie bit her togue, hoping against hope that this mission would be a zero casualty mission. She'd employ backups and she wouldn't let her brother leave her sight. She'd discuss all of this further with Brad later tonight since he knew about her dream.

“You’re not going to stay home are you?” Ricky asked, interrupting Melanie's thoughts, as he watched Melanie open up a portal. The portal was supposed to take her home. She had dinner with Aria tonight and she couldn't miss that considering that Aria had changed her plans just to spend time with Melanie. Aria had been planning to leave and come back before the scheduled mission for next week. But after discovering that Brad and Melanie were mates, Aria apparently had a new mission. She was bent on convincing Melanie to have a mating ceremony with Brad and letting him mark her. To fulfill that purpose, Aria had decided to delay her departure for another day. But as soon as Melanie was done with her dinner, she was going to portal to Brad’s after sundown. But how did Ricky pick up on her intent?

“I can tell from the look on your face,” Ricky explained. “You plan to go see him? You always get this happy look on your face when you think about him. It's the same look you give him when you're together.”

Melanie knew her brother wasn’t stupid. He’d been around her and Brad enough to know that something was going on between them. It also seemed he'd been around her enough to tell when she planned to see Brad. Were her emotions really that transparent?

Melanie nodded tightly. Ricky simply looked at her helplessly. It was obvious he didn't approve of what was going on.

“Just be careful,” Ricky implored. "I don't want you to get hurt," he confessed.

"He would never hurt me," Melanie whispered with conviction.

Melanie gave Ricky one last look before disappearing into the portal.

Aria spat out a mouthful of blood.

“What do you know?” a deep male voice asked, pickig up a hot poker that was still glowing red from being taken out of the fire.

It was dark and she was in some cave somewhere. How they’d managed to pull one over on her, she’d never know. It just confirmed their theory that Sybl had spies inside the coven. Who they were, none of them knew. But they were definitely people who were familiar with Aria’s schedule. Someone had drugged her juice. By the time she’d realized what was going on and reached for her satchel of herbs to get the antidote, it was too late. The satchel was missing. And for the life of her, Aria couldn’t even recall the girls who’d brought her her food and drink from the kitchens. But Melanie was in danger. If people working in the coven kitchens were Sybl’s spies, they could just as easily drug Melanie’s food.

“I know nothing,” Aria rasped out for the eleventh time.

She braced herself for another beating, but it didn’t come. Instead, a searing hot pain overwhelmed her as the hot poker dug into her side, burning off her flesh. The pungent scent of charred skin filled the air along with Aria’s screams of pain.