She had whirled round at the sound of footsteps, but by the time she saw him, it was too late. She felt the sharp blow at the back of her head and saw his face just as she fell. A creature with the face of a man, the heart of a monster, and the blood of a demon.
The man was gone, but the monster remained. She had to fight this monster, her own demon.
Melynda took a deep breath. She had released Dax's most painful memories, and now she had to release Rebecca's. She had absorbed Rebecca's memories and internalized them. By holding on to them, she would put Rebecca's life in danger as well.
Stoically, she watched the snapshots of Rebecca's life float out into the open before slowly fading away. She saw the violence she suffered at the hands of her ex-husband. She saw Rebecca's immense pain and shame at her own situation. But she didn't reach out to Rebecca. She had to remain detached and let this all go.
Finally, she'd released all of Rebecca's pain. Now she faced her own shame, her confusion and anger at not being an Elemental witch like the rest of the witches in her coven. She let go of her resentment, and embraced her uniqueness, her special abilities. She was an Emotional witch, and she could heal the emotional hurt and wounds of others. It was a very rare power, one she should hone, not hide.
Melynda could feel herself growing stronger, and she focused her strength and healing power on Dax. She saw him, lying on the ground, no longer bleeding or breathing. She gasped but refused to give up. It's not over.
She held her hands out, facing her palms towards him. The moonlight powered her magick, and her love strengthened her.
I love you, Dax.
She closed her eyes and focused all her energy on him. She could heal him. She could do this. There was no doubt, and there would be no regrets.
Finally, she let out a cry and fell back. Everything went black for a while. She had done everything she could, given her all. She felt so, so tired. She had no strength left to even open her eyes.
But she could feel him.
She breathed his name as she felt his strong arms wrap tightly around her and lift her up.
“Melynda.”
Her eyes opened a crack, and she saw his face. Dax was looking down at her as he carried her in his arms. She was cradled against his naked chest, and instinctively, she ran her hand down his torso to check his abdomen.
“No gaping wound.” Dax grinned at her. “You healed me.” His smile disappeared and his expression became serious. “You healed me, Melynda. You healed my heart, my soul and my body.”
Melynda smiled back at him. “I know. I healed myself too. And...I healed Rebecca.”
She jerked suddenly in his arms, her eyes becoming wide and round.
“What is it? Are you in pain? I...”
Melynda gripped his shoulder and gasped. “Rebecca is awake! I can feel it. She's awake, Dax!”
CHAPTER FIFTEEN
Dax stared at Melynda. Even with her matted hair and dirt caked face, she looked so beautiful under the moonlight. She was so beautiful and so amazing. She had saved his life, and by healing Rebecca, she'd saved Rebecca and Levi as well.
He trusted her. He knew she was telling the truth.
“Melynda, I'm going to get you home, and then I'll rush to the hospital. I know you're exhausted, and...”
“No! I'm coming with you. I'm not tired. I need to be there. I want to be there!”
Dax heard his wolf growl. By healing him, she had reconnected man and wolf. Dax trusted his wolf entirely.
At this moment, his wolf wanted his mate with him.
Dax put Melynda down and shifted smoothly into wolf form. The large wolf looked up at Melynda and turned his head. She smiled shyly before climbing onto his broad back. Dax howled with pride. It felt good to carry his mate on his back, feeling her body lean into his, and have her arms around his neck.
Once Melynda was comfortably settled, Dax started his run back to the city.
The Silver Wolf raced across the deserted landscape, and crossed silent, dark streets. Dax kept running, feeling Melynda's warm breath on his neck. He ran until he reached his office building. The security guard on duty recognized Melynda, and respectfully greeted her as she clambered off the back of a majestic Silver Wolf and walked with the wolf to the lift lobby.
Melynda entered her staff code into the electronic pad beside the glass door to unlock it. Dax padded in after her, and headed straight for his office. It was barely five o'clock in the morning and the entire office was empty. Dax shifted back to human form and strode into his office, not hiding his nudity from Melynda's appreciative gaze. She was his mate. She had a right to see him as he was.
He knew she was staring at the scars on his back, the scars inflicted by Savannah. These were the scars of his past, and Melynda deserved to know every aspect of him.
He went to the cupboard and pulled out a pair of jeans that he'd stashed there, and a plain white t-shirt. He dressed slowly, giving Melynda time to observe him and ask him any questions that were weighing on her mind.
When he'd pulled the t-shirt over his head and down his body, he turned to face her. She was sitting on the couch, smiling up at him.
“I've seen those,” she said, indicating his scars. “And I've seen how you got them. When I saw what she did to you, I was very hurt and angry, but I'm not going to stay mad at a dead witch. She's not worth it. I will not let her ruin my present and my future.”
Dax went to her and took both her hands in his. “I was a fool. Even after she destroyed herself, I continued letting her destroy me. I am sorry, Melynda.”
She narrowed her eyes at him. “I want you to make it up to me then.”
“I'll do anything.”
“Anything?”
“Anything,” he said firmly.
She blushed suddenly and giggled. “But we don't have time now.”
Dax gave her a quick kiss, and pulled her to her feet. “We'll go to the hospital and see Rebecca first. Then I need to make sure Levi is free and cleared of all charges. Come on.”
Dax made a few calls before speeding to the hospital. They met the police officers in the lobby, and together, they went up to Rebecca's room.
Doctors were in the room, checking and re-checking the monitors as they spoke to Rebecca and asked her questions to assess her mental condition. Dax heard her clear, succinct answers. She knew how many fingers the doctor was holding up, and she knew her name and her address. And she knew why she was lying in a hospital.
Dax strode up to her bedside. “Miss Rose, I...”
“Mr Ferro,” she beamed. “Miss Morgan! I'm so happy to see you!”
Dax shot Melynda a quizzical look over his shoulder. How did she recognize us? We came into her room while she was in a coma!
But Melynda gave him a subtle shake of her head and put one hand over her heart.
Dax frowned. Emotional magick?
He blew out a breath. He was no warlock, so what did he know about magick? All he knew was that Melynda had successfully healed Rebecca and connected with her through her Emotional magick.
“We're happy to see you too, Miss Rose,” Dax answered without missing a beat. “Miss Rose, can you tell these police officers here who attacked you and what happened to your attacker?”
“Yes, I can. My ex-husband, Phin Lester, came to my house and attacked me. He was going to kill me. I ran out, and I kept running, but he caught me near the shore. I tried to fight him, but he bashed my head in with a rock. And then he fled. I saw him running away, just before I passed out.”
“So Phin Lester is alive.”
“Of course! He wanted to kill me, but I wasn't going to kill him! I just wanted to get away from him.”
A police officer stepped forward. “What about Levi Madden?”
“What?” Rebecca stared at him blankly, and yawned. “I'm sorry. I'm just feel so tired.” She yawned again and slid slowly down her pillow. “I told you, Phin ran away. He ran off, but he might come back to attack me again,” she murmured, h
er eyelids drooping. “I...I think...” Her voice trailed off as she fell back asleep.
The doctors rushed forward to examine Rebecca. After a while, one of them turned around and said, “She's fine. She's just sleeping.”
Dax went to the police officers and said firmly, “Levi Madden is innocent. He didn't kill anybody. You have to release him immediately and drop all those charges against him.”
The officers conferred together and stepped out to make a flurry of calls. Dax waited.
Finally, an officer walked up to him and said, “A manhunt is on for Phin Lester. We got the wrong guy. Your client is free to go.”
CHAPTER SIXTEEN
“Hello? Gran? It's me, Melynda,” Melynda spoke rapidly into the public phone. She'd slipped out of the hospital room to call home.
“Melynda! Where are you?”
“I'm at the hospital...”
“The hospital! Are you hurt? Why are you...”
“No, no, I'm fine. I'm just...”
“Hey!” She heard Lucinda let out an angry cry as the phone was snatched from her.
“Melynda!” Anita sounded both frantic and relieved.
“Hi, Mom,” Melynda replied calmly. “Don't worry. I'm perfectly fine. I'm at the hospital with Dax. He's here to see a client...”
“Oh!” Melynda heard her mother breathe out a sigh of relief. “You're with Dax. That's good.” For some reason, her mother had always liked Dax. “You're safe with him.”
Melynda heard her grandmother's voice in the background, and then there were sounds of a struggle of sorts. “Gran! Mom!” Melynda called out in alarm. “You okay? What...”
“Hey, Melynda!” It was her grandmother again, having evidently wrestled the phone from Anita. “We're all going out now, so there'll be no one at home. Don't bother rushing home.” Lucinda dropped her voice to a conspiratorial whisper. “We're going to a blood bar. To see some male strippers!” There were whoops, hoots and lots of catcalls and cackling in the background.
“Gran!”
“I'll introduce you to my friends some other time. They're the coolest Emotional witches ever! Laterz.” Click.
Melynda stared at the receiver. Okaaaaay.
She shook the image of her grandmother and her friends leering drunkenly at young, virile strippers out of her mind. Those old girls sure knew how to have fun.
She was halfway down the corridor when she jerked to a stop. What did her grandmother say about Emotional witches? Did her grandmother just say that her friends were Emotional witches and they were the coolest ever?
Melynda blinked repeatedly as she stood open-mouthed in the middle of the corridor. They knew. Her mother and grandmother knew what she was. They were trying to tell her that it was okay to be an Emotional witch. Her lips curved up in a slow smile. Those old girls were cool all right. Very cool.
She looked up and saw Dax coming out of the hospital room with the police officers. They stood a little distance away, speaking in low voices. After a while, Dax shook hands with them and the officers left the hospital. Only Scott and Bryn remained standing guard outside Rebecca's room.
Dax walked over to the two PAC Enforcers and Melynda joined them. Dax was telling them that Levi's name had been cleared and all charges would be dropped against him. Scott grinned and lurched forward to envelop Dax in a fierce bear hug.
“Thank you, thank you!” Scott gushed. “You saved my cousin!”
“Don't thank me,” Dax answered. “Thank her.” He smiled and held out his hand to Melynda. “She worked her Emotional magick perfectly and saved all of us.”
Scott and Bryn were both smiling and giving Dax and her sly, knowing looks. Finally, Bryn nudged Scott and chortled, “Looks like you have a lawyer in your family now!”
Melynda gasped and blushed deeply. Since her sister was mated to Blake Madden, if Dax was mated to her, he would be related by marriage to the Madden clan.
But that was a big if.
Melynda was about to tell them that they were mistaken when Dax pulled her close to his side and held her tight.
“Guard her well,” Dax said, with a wry smile. “I'm sure Levi will make a beeline for the hospital once he is released. He'll want to see her straightaway.”
“We won't be in his way,” Scott and Bryn said in unison, looking a little nervous.
“He'll mow us right down.”
“I'm not sure I'll survive being trampled by a lovesick bear,” Bryn gulped.
“Yeah, you're so puny,” Scott snorted. “You'll just be a squelched vampire under his shoe...”
Melynda could still hear them trading insults as she walked down the corridor with Dax. He was holding her hand, his fingers laced through hers as they strolled out of the hospital.
As she got into his car, Dax turned and asked tentatively, “Would you like...”
“There's no one home.” She shrugged. “My mom and gran have gone out with some friends.”
Dax smiled wider. “You'll come home with me then.” His smile was mischievous, but there was a hint of the predator behind his smile.
Melynda leaned back, glancing at Dax's handsome profile while he drove. He kept one hand on the steering wheel, and one hand on her lap, his thumb gently stroking her thigh. He was slowly stoking her fire, his languid touch igniting a fire in her core.
By the time he pulled into his parking lot, all she was aware of was his proximity and his heat. Dax killed the engine and leaned over to release her seat belt.
“Melynda,” he murmured, brushing his lips lightly over hers.
She raised her hand and cupped the back of his neck. The moment she tilted her face to him, her lips parted, he leaned in and took her mouth in a long, deep kiss. He kissed like like he would never get enough of her, like he wanted her with all his heart and soul. His hand traced the swell of her breast and squeezed gently as he kept kissing her. Murmuring her name, Dax kissed her hungrily, his want and his need pulsing against her.
“Melynda,” he whispered, staring deep into her eyes. “I want you, right now. And I am going to make you mine. Forever.”
Melynda blinked at him. She knew that he was giving her one last chance to walk away, to say no. Once he took her to his bed, he would take her, claim her, and mate with her. And a true wolf mate was for life.
She took a deep breath, and asked, “Am I your mate? I have to know what you feel...”
“Don't you know what I feel for you?” he asked softly, taking her face in his hand. “You are my true mate. I was wrong to try to deny it. The mate bond is undeniable. The desire, the pull, the attraction was there all along. I am proud that you are a powerful Emotional witch. You have come into your own, and you have done so much, so much good. You are an amazing woman, a great witch. You are perfect,” he whispered.
Melynda closed her eyes. Being with Dax felt so right. Everything in her world was right. She was an Emotional witch, and her coven and her mate loved her for what she was. No more hiding, no more pretending, no more denying.
“I want you, Dax,” she answered. “I want you, and...” She swallowed. “I want you to take me.”
His eyes blazed silver at her words. With a growl, he gathered her in his arms and carried her to the lift lobby and straight into an empty lift. He didn't let her go until they had pushed into his apartment and into his bedroom. Only then did he lay her on his bed and step away from her.
He gazed down at her, breathing in her scent, taking in the vision of her lying in his bed, her red hair spread across the pillows.
“You are so beautiful, Melynda,” he murmured, bending down to kiss her.
She tugged him down to her, and made quick work of his buttons. Pushing the shirt off his muscular shoulders, she traced her fingers down the scars on his back as she gazed into his eyes. Locking his eyes on her, he removed his pants and lay down on the bed beside her, giving her his naked body. It was hers to hold and to have.
Dax wrapped his hands around her waist and unzipped her skirt. Pushing he
r skirt and panties down her hips, he guided her to his body, pushing her legs apart so that she straddled him. Melynda knelt above him, positioning the head of his straining cock against her opening. She was already wet, and she didn't want to wait. She wanted to feel him inside her, feel his pulse and heartbeat throbbing in time to hers.
Dax let out a hiss when she pushed herself down, sliding his huge cock into her tight, slick heat. “Melynda,” he gritted out.
As she started to move her hips, Dax sucked in a sharp breath and fought for control. His trembling hands unbuttoned her blouse and unhooked her bra as she rode him. When her breasts were revealed to him, he let out a feral growl and lunged forward to take one breast full into his mouth. His lips and tongue tasted and teased every inch of her heavy, aching breasts, tormenting her nipples into tight peaks.
Melynda moved harder, panting as her pleasure and her need escalated. She wanted more, needed more.
“Dax,” she breathed, pressing his head to her breast.
With one last, hard suckle, he released her nipple and grabbed her body with both hands. He threw her onto her back, and pushed her legs wider as he began to pound into her furiously. “Yes, yes! Don't stop, Dax!” she pleaded. This was what she needed. She wanted him to take her hard, claim her, mate with her in a frenzy.
Dax surged into her again and again, his teeth marking her bare breasts, shoulders and neck. She arched her back, loving the erotic mix of pain and pleasure as he nipped at her, and sucked and licked her naked body. Her whole body throbbed and hummed in anticipation, as he kept moving in and out of her body, faster and harder. As his teeth clamped down on her neck, and his cock pushed deep into her, Melynda screamed as she climaxed. She clenched at him, her nails digging into his back, and when she felt his seed erupting in her body, her orgasm surged again, driving her up another wave.
After an eternity of unbearable ecstasy, she finally opened her eyes to stare into his soft, gray eyes. Dax was gazing lovingly down at her as he slowly pulled out of her body.
“You are my mate, Melynda,” he whispered, stroking her wet hair away from her face. “My true mate.”
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