MELISSA KING

Melissa POV

18 years later

March

I jerked upwards, my breathing coming out in short pants. I had it again, that nightmare, it's always the same as always. Always the same face.

A beautiful woman whose skin seems to glow, her golden blonde hair and amber colored eyes and as always I watch the life drain from her as darkness stab her in the heart. It's been happening since I was 10 when these nightmares. They wouldn't stop and they wouldn't tell me their meaning, who was this woman to me and why was I witnessing her death? What connection is there between me and her?.

'It's alright Mel, am right here for you, it's alright',

My wolf Lyca smooths me through the connection we shared. I wasn't a shifted werewolf well soon since am going to be eighteen in three months but already I have a connection with my wolf, if it wasn't weird enough at this connection, nobody believe me and they try to downgrade me. Try I say.

A knock on my door brought me out of my thought, on instinct I sniffed the air before grumbling lowly, it wasn't enough to tell the intruder to leave quietly.

"Hey Melissa, you've been called by master".

He left just as I threw my head backwards in annoyance.

It was rare for Alpha Mathew Valsher, popularly known as Master to call on me the mission was completed and I made sure there weren't any mistake. I mean to brag. Yes I was the best amongst all these hormonal men. The feeling to rule and not follow was getting very constant, it was like an itch I couldn't get rid of.

'Soon',

Lyca always whispers, never with a proper explanation.

I strolled in as though I owned the place.... Well technically I do or don't but who cares. I walk into the study room, the only place master loves to be, not even bothering to knock.

'Like you always do',

Lyca rolled her eyes. I ignored her sarcasm.

Master head rose in alert making it quite obvious he's been expecting me.

"Melissa".

I just had to raise my brow, giving him a nod in greeting. I had already reached the front of his desk and was staring into his pale blue eyes.

Master cracked a smile,

"Melissa how are you doing? I heard you woke up late. Is everything alright?",

His voice was laced with concern probably noticing the slight dark circles under my eyes.

Okay this is weird. First Master doesn't ever ask about my well being only about how my training is going and second...... Something is fishy.

I slump on the chair as though I didn't hear him. Dripping my feet on his table in front of him. He cracked but didn't say anything.

Interesting.....

"How was the last mission?"

"Beaten and chained, master"

I smiled proudly.

He cracked again. Gosh is this cracking day.

"Good, good, good, well I have a new mission for you"

'Is this where I shout bingo?',

Lyca ask anxiously.

'Not yet',

I replied waiting for the right words...

"Xander has been caught up in prison in Alabama, Gale, I need you and some of our team to go rescue him.

'Ha! Bingo'.

I yelled inwardly only to be consumed by my wolf's anger. Oh shit I don't like this.

"No".

The words came out of my mouth but they weren't really mine.

Master raised a brow, fighting hard to suppress the shiver that I all too saw.

"No?"

"No"

He growled angrily, standing upright,

"That was an order Melissa and I expect Xander home in a month"

I showed off my fangs,

"You seem to forget the rules once it comes to Xander. Why?, is it because he's your son?".

It wasn't fair, he valued that poor excuse of a wolf than me. I could feel Lyca's rage at wanting to be superior, I could feel my body heating up, my gum itching, my finger nails enlarging, yet I couldn't shift, it wasn't time yet.

"Xander is not only my son. He is the next Alpha of this pack"

"He's unfit for that position",

The venom was clear. I could tolerate Master's rule but not Xander. But still I need control before something happens.

'Lyca are you trying to get us killed?'

She ignored me focusing more on Master.

He slammed the desk hopping to startle me. He was shocked to see me calm.

"Then who is fit for master. You? You are only a female and that is unacceptable".

Okay now am angry and my anger and my wolfs together is never good.

I can feel myself shake. I really need to get out of here before I do something I will regret. I stood up feeling masters defense rise, his wolf coming to the surface, I stared defiantly into his eyes hearing him growl deeply. Satisfied I got the message passed.

I storm off.

****

"Mel, you've got to get Xander back".

Lydia Steel, My best friend and only female I can tolerate in Vasher pack whined at me. Her olive eyes watering slightly.

Lyca scoffed, getting annoyed by her persistent whining, it was starting to get on my nerves also.

"Why?",

I gritted out trying hard to focus on my delicious food right in front of me, my delicious bacon, omelet, toast with whipped cream toppings and a cherry on top oh lets not forget my sweet orange juice.

Yum.

"Because he's your brother",

She bit her lips as I gave her a look.

'Seriously Lydia that code doesn't work on me, you should know that by now'.

I shooked my head,

"Nope I was picked up remember and besides Xander made sure to not label me as family and mostly why should I? He got caught and the rule says you get caught when you are weak. He doesn't deserve to be rescue".

"Melissa stop thinking like that, you can't say things like...."

"Lydia the answer is no"

I cut her off, tired of her whining.

"But you have to Mel. Do it for me hmm! Am your bestfriend, you did do it for me huh!"

"Why are you so persistent about this Lydia?".

"Because........ because Xander is my mate",

She averted her eyes elsewhere, I couldn't stop my eyes from widening in shock at my delusional friend.

"You're kidding right Lydia? Because the last time I checked your birthday is in a months time and we don't get to know our mate until we are 18"

'Seriously whats up with her'

"I know I know, but Melissa you don't get it. I feel it that connection of being complete that pull"

I gave her a mocked brow one she was acquaintance with, one I always give her before lecturing her. She's such a fool at time. She surprised me by getting angry, glaring at me like she hadn't done before.

"What do you know about love, Mel. You are always hardcore am sure you will forever be lonely all your life maybe that was why your parents abandoned you in the first place because you don't have a heart, you are heartless".

I stared blankly at her, shocked as my heart broke a million pieces at her words.

Lyca wanted to hurt her for hurting me this way, I wanted to crawl up into a ball and cry because maybe she was right, maybe there was truth in her words.

"Mel, am sorry I didn't mean it"

She gasp. Her conscious eating her up.

I ignored her, finishing up my food and drinking my juice, I was just about to stand up when once again Thomas walked up to me with news.

"Mother wants to see you".

If there was truth in what Lydia said then the witch was the right person to talk to.

"Melissa?",

My best friend choked out my name, having a warm heart she was in the verge of crying and I was in no mood to talk to her anymore. So with my emotionless face I walk out.

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

"You must get Xander back, my child".

It was the first thing Irene said to me the moment I entered her small cottage built in the middle of nowhere surrounded by wild life. She was dressed in her usual greens, light green blouse with dark forest green long skirt, a representative for her oneness with nature, her powers. Yes this middle aged short dark haired with coffee brown eyes woman is a magical and Master's mate.

But seriously, she too?, I think am gonna get wrinkle from all these raising of brows and Lyca wouldn't stop being all dominant. Its starting to give me an headache.

"Ugh! Not you too"

I groan massaging my forehead.

She raised her dark brows at me, walking to the little living room with a tea set on a tray.

She's always been simple and elegant still living in the virtue world just as how her cottage was. Small but beautifully decorated with nature you couldn't help but feel at ease.

"He's my son, Melissa",

She started off, making me know I stand no chance against the witch.

"So what? He's weak, he doesn't deserve to come back".

She seemed shocked by my outrage, her brown eyes accessed me calmly.

"I taught you better than this Melissa"

I felt my brows furious in annoyance

"You taught me about being strong. about the rules in this pack that the weak is never allowed here, you bloody taught me to be strong and not weak"

She signed seeming tired,

"I also taught you that family always comes first despite the rules"

I averted my gaze at her still annoyed and also to hide my wolf eyes from her.

"You are different Melissa. I knew it the moment I picked you up. I was asked to save you, you know"

I stared at her shocked, "I thought I was abandon and you were just a passerby who took pity upon a poor weak freak child"

I ended with an eye roll seriously not getting what she was on with.

Did she know I wanted the truth? Was she finally telling me the full story?

She smiled lightly tucking a stray dark hair behind her ear before beginning.

"I was picking up herbs and fruits from the woods far from the pack when I heard a commotion. Royal wolves were swarming the woods in search of someone. I heard your cries and found you hidden under a blanket of leaves, you were just a week old and covered in dried blood, I was about to leave you and get away from the royal wolves since it was their nature to hunt magicals, I was just about to turn away when I heard a noise and out from the woods came a man, a magical warrior. He was badly injured and despite that he was determined to protect you, the royal wolves were still out there and he knew he wouldn't be able to defeat them and save you so he said to me.

"Take her under your care until she is ready to face her destiny, she must go to St Collins, Florida and find her brother Micage who bears the moon mark on his right breast chest, they must complete their destiny'.

'Wait!!!. What!! Why? who are you?'.

He stagger backwards ,

'I will divert them away, you take Melissa under your care till she is ready'.

"After that he left and I took you in".

I had tears in my eyes.

'I wasn't abandoned but left to survived. Did that man survive? I have a brother out there who needs me, am not alone, but if that man was a magical and am a wolf, how so?'

"Irene do you by any chance know this man's name? Do you think he was my father? Is he still alive?".

She shooked her head, drying off the tears that had fallen down her cheeks.

"No I do not know this man, all I know is that he was no wolf but a dark haired man with grey eyes, he seemed more of a warrior mage than a wolf"

Whatever he is I must find him, I just know it in my guts that he is still alive, he's out there probably wondering where I am. I have a brother out there whom I must also get back. I wonder if he's older than me and is living with our mother.

Warm hands held mind drawing my attention towards coffee brown eyes.

Irene smiled warmly at me sending me motherly affection she rarely gave me. There was a reason why she was called The Witch, despite her being one. If am being honest the true Alpha of this pack is Irene, everybody fears her and respects her, she's like the strongest wolf I know.

What I don't understand is why she left all those power behind and focused more on her magic, why did she leave Master and me to live out here away from the pack. I only saw her once a month but Xander and Thomas sees her all the time. I always felt left out even now as she shows me that motherly side of hers I feel its too late for her.

"You are ready Melissa. Go, rescue Xander, and complete your destiny, my child".

Yep! She's too late for it....