For the Love of my Fang

Twenty Five

CHAPTER TWENTY FIVE - RETURN TO MICHAEL

Erick’s POV

    Sitting against the bed frame, a broken Melanie laying in my arms, tears ran down my face.  It was my fault that she now smelled of alcohol and antiseptic, instead of apples.  It was my fault that her body was torn.  I had done much more damaged to her than Michael had ever done.

    Looking down at my mate, I gently caressed her face.  Trying to remember how she was before all of that swelling, all of that bruising. My heart breaking into pieces to know I had been the cause of that.

    I knew, that the only choice I had, would tear my soul in two.  Until the war against my kind, met its end, I couldn’t be with my mate.  I had to let her go.   

    Crying out loud in pain, I hugged her to me.  Knowing she couldn’t feel a thing, hurt all the more.  Here I was saying my goodbye and she would never know.

    Turning Janine, I had willingly used my right to turn a mate.  Now I couldn’t turn Melanie.  I will watch her grow old and die. 

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A few days later…

Melanie’s POV

    Struggling to sit up, I was surprised when I found two strong hands helping me.  Thinking it was Erick I searched for their owner and was rendered speechless to see it was Michael.

    Nothing but concern and care in his face.

    “What…?”

    “You were attacked by a pack of wolves.” he said, sitting on my bed, beside me.

    “Wolves?  In the city?” I asked full of disbelieve.

    “You don’t remember?” he asked surprised.

    “No.”

    “After you called the wedding off, you decided you needed a break.  You drove out to our cabin.”

    “I did what?” I asked unable to believe that.  I hated the cabin.   I wouldn’t go there even if my life depended on it.

    “A ranger found you.  You had car trouble.  That’s when the pack attacked.  He found you…”

    “Michael.  For these past few weeks, I’ve been living in a house of immortals.  I wasn’t attacked by wolves.  I was attacked by an immortal called Annabelle.”

    “Immortal.  Annabelle?” he asked worried, touching my forehead. 

    “Yes.  A few weeks ago an immortal needed me to fix his tooth and I did.  Then he took me to live with him.” at his disbelieving expression I got desperate.  “I’m not making this up.” I yelled.

    “I believe you, hon.  Let me get the doctor.” Michael said getting out of the bed and leaving my room.

    Fighting against a sudden headache, I found myself doubting myself and wondering what was real and what was not.  Was Michael saying the truth?  Looking out the window I knew something wasn’t right.

    “Hello Melanie.” Armand said entering my room.

    “Armand.” I said relieved.  “I knew I wasn’t making it up.” I added smiling at him.

    “That’s actually why I am here.” he said pulling a chair to be close to me.   “You can’t tell no one of our existence.  They wont believe it and think you’ve gone crazy.”

    “What?  Where’s Erick?  Why isn’t he here? Why isn’t he telling me this.”

    “This is for the best.” Armand said sadly, taking my hand in his.

    “He’s leaving me?” I said trying to hold my tears.

    “It’s for the best.”

    “The best for who?” I asked, using my sleeves to dry my eyes.  “For me?  I love him.  How could he do this to me?  How could he make me fall in love with him and then leave me?”

    “It’s for your safety.”

    “Damn my safety.” I said angry.

    “Melanie, listen to me.  I am supposed to erase your memory…”

    “What?  No!”

    “Listen to me.  If you promise to keep everything that happened a secret, I could let you keep your memories, but…”

    “I promise.” I said quickly.

    “Wouldn’t you want to start fresh?  No memories of Erick to tarnish your possibilities of happiness with Michael?”

    “I don’t love Michael.  Never have.  Never will.”  I confessed.

    “I’m sorry.” he stated sincerely.

    “Don’t take my memories of him.  I’ve heard is better to love and lost than not love at all.”

    Standing from the chair, he smiled at me before leaving.

    Knowing I would never see him again, another set of tears escaped me.