Chapter 13 #5
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 contingency plans 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. I nodded 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’s without 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.”
I worked on massaging her upper back and neck. My mated carried so much tension. Little by little I felt her relaxing. After thirty minutes, her breathing changed, and I could tell she was asleep. I gently placed a kiss on her shoulder blade and rolled over to my pillow.
I sent an email to myself, Gage, and Phil to get a spa day together for Melanie and her friends.
After that I set my phone down and fell asleep.
I woke up with a start, feeling very ready for the day.
Oden snorted, “Mate had more coffee. She’s probably just implemented her plan of one regular coffee then a decaf coffee. ” I snorted and got up.
I walked downstairs and smelled the coffee pot was definitely on. I walked outside and met my brothers for our run. I beat them easily again. I teased them once they made it back, “I guess I’ll have to start coming down here at six thirty instead of six.” Preston muttered, “Please do.”
I smirked and we walked inside where I literally bumped into Phil. My Beta sighed, “Did you wake up alone without your mate?” I raised an eyebrow pointing out, “That’s not exactly an uncommon occurrence for me.”
Phil grumbled, “It’s abnormal for me. Sierra was gone when I woke up; therefore, I did NOT have my normal wake up and Elise’s office is locked.” Gage interjected, “My mate is also gone. So, Sierra probably pulled her in.”
Phil questioned, “Do they go to ninja skills school in Nashville to be quiet? I am NOT a light sleeper. How do they do it?” Gage pointed out, “My mate is not from Nashville.” Phil amended, “The bad packs are sending women to ninja quiet school. Where they learn only to escape a room with making no noise. They don’t even teach the fighting skills.
Melanie did that. They suck.” Oden agreed, “They do.” We all knew that.
EJ snorted, “I don’t know how your mates do that, but you have a key to Elise’s office.” Phil raised an eyebrow retorting, “No, I have a normal key, but I can’t get in the door with said key. We are dealing with things outside our control and capabilities.”