Chapter 48
48
“ A Christmas party?!” Melvale cried with a clap of his hands. “That’s a wonderful idea!” He pranced back and forth across Pari’s bedroom.
Shona, Kitty, and Pari stared at him wide-eyed.
“What?” he asked innocently and came to a stop. “Oh, details, yes, of course! We’ll need a tree and decorations, and there’s baking to be done and oh! Should we dress up in costumes?” He waggled his eyebrows at them. “I could be an elf!”
Pari’s eye grew rounder. “Melvale?”
“It’s like he’s completely back to normal,” Kitty said next to her. “And then some.”
Melvale’s hands went to his hips. “And what’s wrong with that? I would think you’d be happy to see me.”
Kitty smiled. “We are, it’s just… you were vacillating between this and your Alpha side.”
“Yes,” Shona agreed. “And I’ve seen your eyes more blue than gray.”
Pari nodded. “Bon…”
“Don’t say it!” Melvale cried, shaking his head. “I’d like to be myself for a few measly minutes without the other side of me barging in and taking over.” He sighed. “You have no idea what’s that’s like.” He sat on Pari’s bed. “Now, let’s discuss the party!”
Pari cocked her head in confusion. “Is this… normal?”
He smiled at her. “I… don’t really know.”
Shona began to back out of the room. “I think I’d better fetch Kwaku…”
Melvale shrugged. “If you must.” He held out his hand to Pari. “Come, sit next to me, Kitten.”
She glanced at Kitty then did as he asked. He knew she liked this side of him, even if she thought of him as a dork and came across a little bit, well, what she might think of as femmy. He seemed perfectly harmless to her when he was like this. A far cry from the powerful Alpha side of him.
Kwaku entered the room and stood before them, hands on hips. “Alpha Melvale, are you all right?”
Melvale’s dark eyebrows shot up. “Of course. Did you know these girls are planning a Christmas party? Won’t that be fun?” He put an arm around Pari, pulled her close, and grinned like a loon.
Kwaku’s eyes widened. “Hmmm…” He looked at Pari. “Little treasure, will you stand next to Kitty?”
Pari looked at Melvale, who shrugged and let her go. She slowly left the bed and crossed the room to where Kitty stood.
“Thank you,” Kwaku said with a smile. “Melvale, get up.”
Melvale blinked a few times and stood.
Kwaku grinned and promptly punched him in the face.
“Ow! What was that for?” Melvale cried, his hands covering his nose.
Kwaku’s own face twisted up in confusion. “Where is de Alpha?”
“How should I know?” Melvale shot back. “Good riddance is all I can say. Maybe he’s taken the day off.”
Kwaku’s eyes narrowed. “And why would dat be?”
Melvale shrugged again. “Don’t ask me, I don’t recall seeing anything about this in the Alpha histories.”
Kwaku rubbed his chin thoughtfully. “Neither have I. Dis is most curious.” He put an arm around Melvale. “Come wid me.” He smiled at Pari. “Plan your party, little treasure. We will be back momentarily.”
Kwaku dragged Melvale through the apartment and into the kitchen. “Out.”
“What?” Melvale said with raised eyebrows.
“De window. Out.” Kwaku crawled through the open kitchen window and scrambled up the fire escape ladder to the roof.
“Oh, out.” Melvale giggled and followed him.
Dallan was on the roof looking out over the city. He turned to them and eyed Melvale. “What is it?”
Kwaku tossed his head at him. “Dat is what I am trying to figure out. Watch.” He turned as Melvale caught up to them and punched him in the face again.
“Ow! Will you stop doing that?!” he groused.
Dallan peered at him. “Why is he no trying to kill ye?”
Kwaku shrugged. “Dat is just it. Dere is no sign of de Alpha.”
Dallan walked up to Melvale and looked him over.
“Do not hit me!” Melvale ordered. “I might feel a little more than my normal self this morning, but that doesn’t mean you two can use me for a punching bag.”
Dallan crossed his arms as he studied him. “Yer eyes are normal, yer voice, well, a bit dandier than it usually is. What’s happened?”
“I don’t know, I woke up this way,” Melvale said. He glanced over his shoulder at the fire escape ladder. “Now if you don’t mind, I’ve got a party to plan.” He turned on his heel and set off.
Kwaku and Dallan each grabbed him by a shoulder and pulled him back. “Yer no going anywhere just yet, Alpha Melvale.”
Melvale let go a tiny groan. “Do you have to call me that?”
Dallan studied him some more. “What’s wrong with him?”
Kwaku walked a circle around them. “Melvale. What did you do yesterday wid de doctor’s men?”
Melvale’s eyes widened at the mention of the doctor. “I’d rather not think about that fiend. If I get upset, it might upset Pari…”
“What did ye do?” Dallan asked. He glanced at the ladder and back. “Tell us, while yer mate is out of earshot.”
His eyes flicked between them both. “Well, I… uh, that is… oh, stab me! I can’t remember!”
Kwaku was rubbing his chin again and nodded to himself. “He has blocked it out and retreated into dis side of himself.”
“Is that bad?” Dallan asked.
“It can be, if he cannot regain balance. Den when de Alpha comes out again, he will be more aggressive.” He stopped in front of Melvale. “You must not let dat happen. Let your Alpha side have a voice. Let him out.”
“No, I don’t think so!” He sang and headed for the ladder.
“Melvale!” Kwaku barked.
He stopped. They were determined to ruin his day. And him with a party to plan! “I’ve work to do, a mate to tend to, and a Christmas tree to find.” He spun to them. “Though I suppose I could put the two of you in charge of finding a tree.”
“There’s one in yon basement,” Dallan said. “Shona told me.” He approached slowly. “Ye protected yer mate yesterday. We understand that. And so long as the law here doesna come knocking on Pari’s door looking for ye, fine. But ye canna have this sort of thing happening every time ye have to… weel, do what ye must to keep Pari safe.”
Melvale went cold. “I don’t remember a thing about yesterday other than our lovely picnic and treats afterward. Then you all showed up, and we were going to play Monopoly but Pari…” he smiled. “Oh, stab me. I kissed her in the kitchen.”
Kwaku grinned. “Dat is good!”
Melvale nodded, still smiling. “It is, isn’t it?”
Kwaku slapped him on the back. “Good work, pup. Did she kiss you back?”
Melvale shook his head. “No, but… that’s all right. I took her upstairs afterwards and put her to bed…”
“Aye, but before all that,” Dallan continued. “Ye took care of some business concerning the doctor’s men.”
Melvale gave them an innocent look. “Doctor’s men?”
“Aye,” Dallan drawled and gave his attention to Kwaku. “Has there been anything in those history papers, books, or whatever ye study about Alphas to tell if anything’s amiss?”
“Zara looked but saw noting.” He eyed Melvale. “Dis does not mean he killed dem.”
Melvale took a sudden interest in one of his tennis shoes and lifted a foot to examine the sole.
“Look at him,” Dallan huffed. “What is this?”
Kwaku heaved a sigh. “He is trying to stay in control. He protected Pari yesterday, but in doing so, perhaps shocked himself. He is trained not to harm unless he has to. All Muirarans are. You have had de same training, Boyeee.”
“Yes, but I wilna hesitate to do some damage if the situation calls for it. I’ll kill if I must.”
“I know. But Melvale abhors violence. Dough he is a fine warrior and one of de best in de kingdom, he doesn’t necessarily enjoy fighting.”
Dallan stared at him. “So, the two sides clash, is that what yer saying?”
“Yes, Boyeee,” Kwaku drawled. “But I dink I know what we can do to snap him out of dis.”
Dallan arched an eyebrow. “Aye?”
Kwaku grinned at him, then Melvale. “Yes.”
Melvale looked at them and blanched. “What are you going to do?”
Kwaku put an arm around him. “We must remind your Alpha side why he is needed.”
“Do we have to?” Melvale whined. “Can’t I plan the party first?”
Kwaku grinned. “No.”
“But…”
“Come, pup. Let us pay a visit to de basement.”
“What?” Melvale took on a panicked look.
Dallan sighed. “Kwaku, what are ye going to do?”
Kwaku eyed him and smiled. “I’m going to let him question our prisoner.”
“Prisoner?” Melvale repeated. “What prisoner?”
“The one we took when we rescued Pari and yerself,” Dallan volunteered. “He’s in a holding cell at the containment center.”
“At the palace?” Melvale squeaked. “And no one told me?”
“It might have been mentioned,” Dallan said. “Just not to you.”
“Well, that’s not fair!” Melvale groused. “So does this mean we’re going to the palace?”
“Aye.” Dallan put an arm around him and steered him toward the ladder. “Is Pari up to going?”
“Oh, no. Absolutely not!” Melvale said. “She’s comfortable here, and this is where I will continue to woo and win her.” He gave them a cheesy smile.
Dallan glanced at Kwaku, then shook his head.
“Don’t give me that look,” Melvale snapped. “I am perfectly fine.”
“Fine enough to leave your mate behind so you can meet the prisoner?” Dallan clarified.
“Oh, well, I… I suppose.” Melvale looked over the ledge at the fire escape below. “One of you will stay and guard her, right?”
“Of course,” Dallan said. “I’ll stay.”
Melvale sighed in relief. “Thank you.” His eyes became downcast. “I… that is, please understand… I don’t want to lose myself in all this.”
“We do understand,” Kwaku said. “But you must also understand dat you are needed. Dat means all of you. Whatever is coming, whoever is coming, will test us. We cannot do dis widout de Alpha.”
Melvale sobered. He was right of course, but this was the first time he felt truly normal in weeks. He drew in a breath and faced Kwaku. “When I face this man, will I try to kill him?”
“More dan likely.”
“Because?”
“He is de one dat worked on your mate in de lab where you were held prisoner.”
Melvale’s eyes narrowed. “Is he?”
“Ah, dere you are,” Kwaku said, pleased as punch. “It is not de Alpha yet, but dis is good.” He also put an arm around him. “Let us go pay our prisoner a visit. Dallan and Shona will protect Pari. Dis won’t take long.”
“Well, all right,” Melvale said. “But this had better not get messy.”
Kwaku gave him a grave look. “Dat remains to be seen, Alpha.”