Melody
"Are you okay, baby?"
I held my son and checked for injuries. Even though I knew that he would be fine since he possesses healing powers like every other Lycan, I just wanted to be sure.
I know my father is one desperate hunk and would stop at nothing to get back at me. I wouldn't be surprised if he stoops to poisoning through his paws.
"I'm okay, momma," he smiled and wriggled out of my arms. "I'm your strong baby, right?"
"Baby?" Giovanni frowned. "You call yourself a baby?"
"I'm a baby only to momma," Aaron argued.
"Oh really?" Gio shook his head. "You're a baby, I'm not."
"If you're not a baby, what are you?" Aaron went to Giovanni.
"I'm momma's angel," Giovanni shrugged.
"Dorian said I'm an angel too," Aaron argued.
He wasn't ready to back down.
I watched as they argued and I smiled to myself. I was glad that they weren't affected by all that happened.
"Hey," Dorian whispered as he suddenly appeared behind me.
He had gone to check the ship and everything we needed for our journey.
"You're back," I sighed in relief as his scent wafted to my nose.
"Are you okay?" He hugged my back and I settled into his arms.
I felt relieved and at ease. Dorian's arms give me solace.
"I'm trying to be."
I have no reason to lie or hide my feelings when I'm with Dorian. He gives me joy and completes me.
"Don't take it to heart, okay?"
I smiled at his word and forced a nod.
Don't take it to heart?
That's impossible.
I can't stop thinking about all that happened in the palace a few hours ago.
I know that my father hates me. He always has, but not in my wildest dreams did I see him hit my pups.
I mean, how could he?
They are his grandkids. Who the hell does that?
Well, a psychopathic father like mine does.
He transferred his hatred for him to my kids too. How could he do that?
What exactly did I do to him to deserve this much hate?
"Hmm," I nodded again.
"Come on, Mel," Dorian blew into my ear. "You've been through worse."
He's right.
I've seen my father's horrible personality. He's shown me worse than he did today, so why should I be bothered?
Despite knowing that he's been nothing but cruel to me all my life, I couldn't help feeling sad. I wish it could have been better.
I wish I was loved by my father.
I wish he would hold me in his arms and call me his daughter just once. But then, I know that it's an impossible dream.
I can never be loved by my father, I'm his worst enemy.
"I know," I nodded again.
I have experienced my father's cruelty first hand and now I've grown thanks to him.
But even though I have my wolf now and I'm strong enough to take down anyone, I still cannot get over the thought of all of my father's atrocities.
All the things he did to me.
"Listen, Mel," Dorian kissed my shoulder, right beside the mark, sending a tickling sensation straight to my body.
"If your father doesn't love you, it's his loss....." He raised my chin so that I could see his face. "....I love you and so do our pups."
"Our pups?" I repeated.
"Of course," he ascertained. "You didn't think I'd let that idiot take them, do you?"
"But...."
"They are mine, Mel, my pups and no one can take them away from me."
I looked into his eyes and couldn't help the tear dam from breaking.
The moon goddess has been so kind to send such a man my way. She made him my mate and shone his light into my dark life. She gave me two amazing gifts and a special but narcissistic wolf.
I wonder what I've done to deserve such blessings.
"No one," I concurred.
"Good," he smiled and kissed me again.
"I don't know what to do without you," I confessed.
I really do not know what I'd do without him. The man is everything to me.
"I owe you too much. I don't know where to begin.
Dorian chuckled and grabbed my waist. He slowly took my hair off my shoulders and kissed my shoulder lightly.
"Why don't you begin with the easiest one?"
I frowned and tried to turn, but he didn't let me.
"What's the easiest one?" I asked, clueless about what he meant.
He shook his head and whirled me around. "A bite."
"A bite?" I furrowed my brow.
"You owe me a bite," he whispered, slowly licking my ear lobe.
"A bite? How?"
I studied his face for a while and I noticed a flash of despondency running through his eyes, but then it was gone in an instant like it was never there.
"I'm superstitious, Mel," he laughed. "I believe that if you bear my mark then, I should bear yours too."
I immediately understood what he meant and I supported it.
Everything should be equal in love. If he can mark me, then I can mark him too.
Without delay, I went closer to him and stood on tiptoe. I buried my face in his neck and inhaled his scent.
Without prior warning, I sent my teeth straight into his neck, tearing his skin until I tasted blood.
I licked his neck and he moaned, grabbing tightly to my waist. His body vibrated and he let out a low groan.
I watched as the wound slowly closed up and couldn't help but smile at how beautiful the mark was.
I smiled and chose to repeat his words too.
"Now you're mine."
Dorian laughed and took my hand. "We belong to each other now."
I nodded in affirmation and also affirmed in words. "You're mine as I'm yours."
Dorian pulled me into a bone-crushing hug and kissed me.
"It's your last night here," he reminded and pointed at the moon. "Take a good look."
I raised my head and smiled seeing the beauty sitting up in the sky.
"Since we'll be leaving to never return," I began but before I could complete the words, Dorian took it from me.
"Why don't we make memories?"