Chapter 6

MELVIN'S POV

I came up with this plan at the last minute and I couldn’t let her know of it either. I was certain she hated my guts more than ever now but I could deal with that later.

Right now, my worry and focus were on getting her out of there.

I turned around to my despicable Father and his Elders. “Father, she has passed out. I need to get her to the healer.”

My father and his men burst into loud echoing laughter like they had finished watching the best comedy show in all the lands.

"Father?" I called trying to get his attention but they just wouldn't stop laughing.

Crazy lots. All of them.

The sight of blood and violence was an art to them. It turned them on and increased their life spans!

"Father!"

“Fine, fine, get her out of here,” he finally replied as he turned to Elder Jon who was seated at his right hand.

“I thought she would put up more of a fight. She carried herself like she had a chance,” he said to Elder Jon as they burst out into laughter again.

I rolled my eyes and shook my head in disappointment.

“Well, at least the plan worked,” I muttered to myself as I turned around to carry Ariel out of there. I couldn't be more glad.

Now, I just had to worry about when she regained consciousness. I hoisted her up to her feet and lifted her off the floor from her ankles and laid her across my shoulder.

I took a glance at her face and my heart ached to see the damage I had done. Even if it was to protect her, the guilt pricked at my heart.

“That is my son!” I heard my Father bellow as I walked out of the throne room. I groaned —What an ass!

Rather than go to the renowned Blood Moon Pack healer, I made my way to a friend’s place —one, who stayed on the outskirts of our territory. It was better this way.

If the healer were to find out that she was Ariel Montero, she would kill her and willingly offer her head to my Father.

My friend, Jada, on the other hand, was someone I could trust. She agreed with my sentiments regarding how my Father ran his pack with violence and bloodshed. That was the reason why she moved out of the pack and to the outskirts.

I was sure she’d be willing to help. By the time I made it to her place, it was already dusk.

I banged my hand on the door to her cabin and waited for her response.

“Who the hell is that?” I heard Jada’s charming but firm voice call out from inside the cabin.

“Jada, it’s Melvin.”

“Melvin? Why the hell do you want to break down my door?”

“Can you just open the door please?”

“In a second…”

I heard scrambling from within the cabin and a few seconds later, I heard the bolts coming undone.

The door opened and I immediately hopped in shoving Jada aside.

“Hey!” She protested.

“I’m sorry, I just need to place her down,” I called back to her from within the cabin as I made my way to the nearest couch I could find and laid Ariel’s unconscious body on it.

I crashed to the floor beside the couch as soon as I let her down. My arms were already asleep from the distance I carried her.

Jada appeared just about then and watched me thoughtfully.

I looked up and registered the changes in her. Last time I saw her, she was a few inches shorter and her hair was just as long as her shoulders.

Now, She was just as tall as I was and her blonde hair had grown longer —way past her shoulders.

She had a pair of blue shorts on and a small blouse loosely hung on her chest which made me realize what all the scrambling behind the door was about.

Jada crossed her arms, interlocking them over her chest. She raised her eyebrows in question, and at first, I did not understand her gesture, then she nodded towards Ariel’s blood on her couch.

“Oh, yes,” I responded in realisation. I looked over from Ariel to Jada as I thought of the right words to say, “Umm-“ I clicked my tongue, "—well, long story short, she needs a place to crash. You’re the only person I can trust and I was also hoping you could help me tend to her wounds.”

Jada raised her brows.

“Come on, you used to tend to mine when I got in those fights too. Please."

Jada sighed, “Fine, but you better be ready with the full story of all this by sunrise.”

“How about we make that a fortnight?” I said, trying to push my luck.

“Well, you can hop on out of here too,” she shrugged sarcastically.

“Look,” I started on a more serious note, “I would tell you everything immediately if I could. It’s just a very delicate matter and I don’t want to drag you into it,” I paused and looked up at Jada.

“I’m already taking a huge risk and putting you in danger by bringing her here,” I explained.

“Please, just help me out,” I added softly.

She watched me for a few seconds longer and then the frown on her face dropped.

“Move and let me check her wounds,” Jada said as she moved closer to where I was sitting.

“Her face is where most of the damage is,” Jada turned to look at me, “who did this? Your Dad?”

"No," I turned away from her gaze, feeling completely embarrassed by my action. "I did."

“Hmm,” I could feel her eyes dot on me for a little while longer before she shifted and got up.

“Well, she will heal in a couple of hours. I just need to clean her wounds and we wait for them to heal.”

“Let me get some warm water and a towel,” she said as she made her way across the room and past me.

“Jada,” I called out to her. She turned around to look at me. “Thank you.”

She nodded once before disappearing into the farther part of the cabin.

I sighed and fell back against the wooden wall.