Haven't Seen The Light In A While

Chapter Twenty

Mel POV

I snuggled into the bed, finding myself sandwiched between Rory and Odin. Rory's arm wrapped around my waist, providing a sense of security, while I held Odin close to my chest, feeling the rise and fall of his breath. As Odin gradually drifted off to sleep, his breathing becoming steady and peaceful, I planted a swift kiss on his forehead, cherishing the tender moment. Meanwhile, Rory nestled closer, nuzzling into the delicate curve of my neck, creating a comforting and intimate atmosphere.

"I love you," Rory whispered, his warm breath brushing against my ear. I turned slightly to meet his gaze, searching his eyes for the depth of his emotions.

I love you, too," I said softly as he brushed my messy hair out of my eyes, his gentle hand resting on my cheek. "I'm sorry you didn't get your turn earlier.

"Don't worry about that. We will find time to complete our bond," he reassured me lovingly as his thumb rubbed my cheek. Feeling a sense of warmth and affection, I relaxed into his embrace and eventually drifted into a peaceful sleep.

Vince POV

Sam pulled me into the bathroom and swiftly twisted the shower handle, unleashing a rush of water to muffle our conversation with the sound. We were still naked from a little bit ago.

"What the fuck is wrong with you?" Sam asked angrily.

"I got carried away. Mel is so intoxicating that I got lost in the heat of the moment." I shrugged.

"You can't fucking do that. You have to control yourself with him." I don't think I've ever witnessed Sam so angry before. His towering figure loomed over me, which was impressive considering I'm also large.

"Hey, I feel terrible. I don't ever want to make him feel like he did when my Da-" I suddenly stopped mid-sentence, my hand trembling as I realized what I almost revealed. The truth I've kept hidden for so long threatened to spill out: Aremus is my father. It's a secret I've guarded fiercely, and I can't afford to let it slip now.

"Excuse me? What were you saying?" The air was tense as my heart rate quickened, echoing loudly in my ears. I couldn't tear my gaze away from Sam's intense stare. At that moment, waves of emotion crashed over me, and I felt the sting of tears welling up behind my eyes. It was as if the walls I had built around me were crumbling, leaving me raw and exposed as we stood there, locked in an unspoken battle of wills.

The words were caught in my throat, almost as if they were refusing to escape. I found myself unable to muster the strength to speak them out loud. Sam pushed me against the bathroom wall, causing it to shake. His hand gripped my throat, holding me in place.

"Speak," he commanded in his powerful Alpha voice, compelling me to reveal what he wanted to hear.

The words caught in my throat again, choking me as I fought back the tears. My face twisted in anguish as I fought to speak. "My father," I managed to utter, the pain of the revelation evident in my voice, "is Aremus." Sam released his grip from my neck and took a step back.

"My mother and father never told me where you came from when we took you in. They just told me you had been hurt and needed shelter. How could you keep this from me?" I opened my mouth to respond, but no words came out. "And now you've mated with Mel, who that evil bastard abused." As I listened to Sam, I felt the warmth of tears streaming down my cheeks, starting with a single tear, then another, until a cascade of tears flowed freely.

"I'm so sorry, Sam! I never - I never meant to hurt anyone! I- he-" I covered my face with my hands, feeling the heat rise in my cheeks as tears streamed down. I was embarrassed to be crying in front of my alpha. Despite feeling vulnerable, I felt the tender touch of his strong hands as he gently held my bare waist, providing comfort.

"Did... he hurt you too?" A strangled cry escaped my lips as I shook my head. He embraced me, and our naked bodies melded together. Sam held the back of my head, allowing my face to rest in the crook of his neck. "I'm sure that was a heavy burden to carry around. I'm sorry, Vince." We stood there for a while, just Sam holding me as I tried to calm down. "Come on, let's get into the shower."

Mel POV

Around noon the next day, Sam permitted the rest of the pack to return inside the house. Finally, I had the chance to sit down and use the massive TV in the living room, accompanied by Odin and Rory, who had been by my side all day. Just as I started to relax, Sabrina appeared in front of the TV, wearing a bright, ear-to-ear smile.

"So," she inquired with a curious twinkle in her eye, "did it feel magical to you?"

"Sabrina! Not right-" My face instantly became red.

"Who is this?" Sabrina asked, pointing at Odin as she sought to divert the conversation to a different topic.

"This is Odin, my other mate." Her eyes widened, and she smiled more if that was even possible.

"So you had four co-"

"OH MY GOD, SABRINA! STOP!" I covered my ears, trying to drown out her questions. Rory chuckled beside me, and Odin stood up from the couch.

"Nice to meet you, Sabrina. I see you like to embarrass Mel, too. It's pretty fun to see him get flustered." He reaches a hand out to shake hers. She meets him halfway, and they shake hands.

"Oh, for sure! He is super easy to embarrass; it's cute." She admits.

"I agree." Odin glances back at me, and their hands drop from each other.

"But of course, I respect our Luna even if he is my best friend." She slightly bows her head to me.

"Ugh, don't do that." I groaned, uncovering my ears.

"You are officially our Luna since you mated with Sam. I have to do the expected pleasantries when I see you now." She keeps her head down for a minute longer before meeting my gaze again.

"No, isn't there a ceremony we have before I'm Luna?" I questioned.

"Yes, but you're basically Luna now. Sam will expect everyone to treat you as such." She put a hand on her hip. She doesn't allow me to argue anymore before she speaks again. "Anyways, what are you watching?" She asks, plopping down next to Rory to my left, and Odin joins us back on the couch on my right.

"I just turned the TV on when you interrupted us," I huffed, glaring at her. I watched as her chest pressed to Rory's lap, and she leaned over him, taking the remote from my hands. Rory tensed, and my eyes narrowed as she straightened herself, leaning back onto the couch. I wrapped my arms around Rory and pulled him away from her. A low growl emits from me as my eyes shoot daggers at her.

"Oh, relax. I'm not interested in taking Rory from you." She waves off what she did and clicks through TV channels. I nuzzle my face into his neck and mumble a few choice words. His sweet scent causes my teeth to tingle. I run my tongue over my growing canines, inhaling Rory's scent again. I bite down on his neck, marking him as mine. He startles, not expecting me to do that.

"Mel," Rory's voice quivered in a low tone. I licked my lips as I carefully withdrew my teeth from his neck. Suddenly, Rory swept me up and swiftly departed from the couch.

"Hey! Where-" Odin calls after us, but we have already left the living room.