Chapter 252 - His Mate or His Girlfriend

When Sybl’s messenger entered the room, she found Brad sitting on the bed with Melanie, his eyes inky black as Melanie glared at the door.

“Miss Sybl wishes for the gamma to accompany us for the summoning spell,” the female messenger said tonelessly.

Melanie watched Brad walk robotically towards the door. He turned to look at her, pleading at her with his eyes to get out of here. If it wasn't for the inky blackness, Melanie would've probably been able to see more clearly how frustrated he was.

Melanie had quickly decided to cast an illusion on Brad’s eyes to make it look like he was still under Sybl’s spell. He’d be able to gather intel for them now. But mostly, Melanie did it to avoid conflict. Because they would have attacked Brad if they knew he wasn't under Sybl's spell anymore.

Brad wanted Melanie to portal out of here, but Melanie was afraid to leave him alone. Finally, as he mind-linked her sternly that he wouldn’t be able to concentrate if she was still here, Melanie agreed to leave.

“Wait,” Melanie called after the girl who was already standing on the other side of the door. “Tell her…tell Sybl that if she lifts the spell on Brad, I’ll join her,”

There that should give Sybl something to ponder over and keep Brad from being sacrificed to an evil demon.

The girl simply nodded, moving her hand to close the door behind her. Melanie closed her eyes, praying that Brad would be fine. She then opened up a portal to get out of here.

As Melanie stepped through the portal and into Dr. Danvers clinic, a sudden gush of fluid down her leg was the only fair warning she got before searing pain ripped across her abdomen again. Her eyes widened in disbelief. No….

“Her water just broke!” a nurse exclaimed, rushing to assist Melanie.

“I’m barely four months along,” Melanie said weakly as she was pushed into a wheelchair and fluid soaked her already grimy clothes. “It can’t be possible.”

“You’re going into early labor,” the nurse said firmly, wheeling Melanie into a hospital room. “I’ll get Dr. Danvers.”

“No,” Melanie whispered shaking her head still in denial. “No..no…the baby…he won’t survive! It’s too early! And it can’t happen now! We’ve got a war to fight!”

“Babies don’t care about wars,” the nurse replied briskly as Melanie was hauled onto a hospital bed. “We can’t do anything to stop the birth now. Something triggered early labor for you. Too much stress can do that. And don’t you worry. We’ll do our best to make sure Gamma Sinclair’s son is given a fighting chance.”

A fighting chance…

Melanie paled. That didn’t sound good at all from her point of view.

What’s wrong? I can feel you panicking. Brad growled in her head.

How exactly was she supposed to tell him what was going on?

I’m just worried about you, Melanie replied. Where are you?

We’re in Texas. Things aren’t looking good for Sybl’s dark army. They’ve been obliterated thanks to Maria’s help. She’s a strong Earth Witch.

Maria? Melanie asked curiously.

I’ll bring you up to speed soon. All you need to know for now is that she’s an Earth Wtich from Latin America. Apparently, Carey reached out to her when you were a toddler.

Mom…where’s my mom? Melanie asked curiously.

Melanie suddenly sensed Brad’s uneasiness.

I’ll tell you everything later. he promised. And then closed off the mind-link.

Melanie didn’t have time to probe him further anyway as her stomach cramped. There was a brief commotion outside and then Josie burst through the door, rushing to aid Melanie.

“I won’t let you go through this alone,” Josie said quietly. “I’m here for you Melanie. The minute Dr. Danvers told me what was going on, I came to be here.”

Melanie didn’t know why, but she felt a little better now that Josie was here. Maybe it was because Josie had been a stand-in mom for her for awhile. They’d had a nice time working in the green house together. Melanie squeezed Josie’s hand as another cramp hit her. Josie smoothed back Melanie’s hair, her soothing voice telling her she was doing great.

"This is all my fault," Melanie sobbed. "I pushed myself too far....and now...." she sniffed unable to voice her concerns.

Things weren't looking good. Werewolf babies only had 6 very crucial months in the womb. The last two months were the most important in which they developed the fastest.

"Nothing is your fault," Josie said tenderly. "You didn't make yourself go into early labor on purpose. Now all we can do is our best to make sure yours and Brad's child is born and given the best neonatal care."

Melanie looked up at Josie.

"You knew I was pregnant with Brad's child?"

Josie smiled tenderly down at Melanie, patting down a flyaway strand of hair from the girl about to give birth to her grandchild.

"I knew there was something special about you since I saw you. And the way my son reacted to you....I've never seen him react that way to anyone. So I had a feeling that there was more than meets the eye between you two. And I'm so glad I was right. He was devastated when you left the pack. We talked about it briefly. But a week ago he came to me, making me promise to take care of you and his child if anything happened to him." Josie swallowed audibly. "I think he had a feeling things would take a turn for the worst and if there was a war, something might happen to him." Josie looked up at the ceiling as if in prayer. "Goddess I hope he survives," Josie whispered before looking back down at Melanie. "But I assured him that even if he hadn't asked me, I would have been there for you no matter what. You're a wonderful girl, and I'm so grateful that Brad found you," Josie ended solemnly.

Melanie found herself encased in Josie's warm embrace. An odd lump of nostalgia settled in her chest, making her heart beat slow down. This felt calming. This felt like she was toddler again and sitting in her mother's lap as her mother hugged her. Melanie had thought that feeling was all but lost to her, until now.

Suddenly the monitor began to beep erratically and another contraction hit Melanie. Josie's eyebrows furrowed as she stared at the monitor in confusion. Nurses rushed in and out, saying that they needed to get Dr. Danvers here immediately.

"What's wrong?" Melanie asked fearfully.

"The baby's heartbeat is a little erratic," Josie said tightly. She patted Melanie's arm. "Don't worry, it can happen sometimes. I'm sure it's nothing to worry about and will settle on it's own."

But Josie's voice didn't sound at all convincing as fear engulfed Melanie to her core. Her heart called out to Brad, she needed him here. But she couldn’t let him be distracted. He was in the snake’s den with Sybl and if he made one tiny slip-up, Sybl would know.

Her mate and her child were both in trouble and Melanie felt completely powerless, unable to help either one of them. All she could do was pray to the moon goddess that everything would be all right and her loved ones would remain safe.

A/N: Next update MONDAY.