My Hateful Mate

6. I can’t leave him

MEL POV

I felt the air shift, and I stiffened. Someone was here. “Mel!” My head snapped behind me and saw the one person who I knew could make everything better. “Daddy!” I almost cried as all the emotions I had been holding back hit me all at once. I ran to him and threw myself in his arms. “It’s okay, baby girl, I’m here now.” He cooed, and I sniffled. “Are you okay?” He said worriedly.

He began to inspect me from top to bottom. “I’m fine.” I smiled, and Diana snorted, making me roll my eyes. “I’m not fine.” She growled. Her wolf healing is stopping her from bleeding out. She needs to stop being dramatic. “That’s kind of harsh.” Keyla muttered. s**t, she’s right. Ever since I marked Roman, my only focus has been on him and his safety.

My dad turned to face Diana, not at all surprised by her presence. It’s not like she was hiding or anything but the way he automatically darted towards me. I’m surprised he noticed someone else was there. That must come with years of experience and being a Beta. My eyes glanced in Roman’s direction before looking away. The realization that my dad also knew he was there but hadn’t brought it up scared me a little. “Commander Jordan, the shewolf is hurt but not as badly as the human. They both need a doctor.” A woman’s voice startled me.

I remained in my dad’s arms but turned to see a silver-haired petite woman taking a few steps in Roman’s direction. How did I not sense her? I’m a Beta too. “She probably does the same tricks as Maeve.” Keyla reasoned. That must drive Robbie nuts. No way near as nuts as having a hunter for a mate, but still annoying none the less.

I began to push away to go protect Roman, but my dad’s arms tightened around me. “It’s okay, this is Ariel. She’s going to get us back home.” He explained. “The other witch.” I whispered, remembering hearing her name. She worked with Rob and the council. He nodded and looked at Roman and then Diana questioningly. He may have known they were there the whole time, but he was just now taking it all in.

When I called him, I didn’t tell him anything. I needed him to come fast, and I knew that the less I told him, the more anxious he would be to get to me. “How did you get caught up in the middle of all this?” He asked while studying the area and spotted Roman’s weapon. I saw the second he realized what Roman was. It wasn’t that hard to figure out since he looked the part.

His face hardened, and he looked at me accusingly. “Um… it’s a very long story. I think it’s best if we get home first and then I’ll explain.” I felt like I was ten again. Ariel was now helping Diana up. Taking her coat off, she put it on her and carried her over to us. “Let’s go.” My dad began to pull me to meet Ariel and Diana, but I dug my feet in. He looked back at me questioningly, waiting to hear why I wasn’t following.

This wasn’t going to end well. “I’m not leaving him here.” I pulled my hand away from him and stepped closer to Roman. “What? Why not?” He asked, his eyebrows knitting together. “He’s dying. If I was willing to let him die, I would have contacted one of the local packs long ago. I called you because he’s coming with us.” I asserted, putting my best determined face on. It always worked in the past, and I hoped it would work now.

He looked around to analyze the situation again. Probably trying to figure out if he missed something. He came up with the same conclusion with a frustrated sigh. “Why would we take a hunter who tried to kill a shewolf? It would make more sense to have Alpha Hendrix send someone to retrieve him for questioning.” He argued.

Damn it. Why couldn’t he just do what I asked? Why did he have to make me say it? “Dad. I’m not going to let any other pack take him. This hunter… Roman… he’s my mate. I can’t leave him.” I admitted, casting my eyes down. I didn’t want to see the disappointment in his eyes. Even though I had no choice about who I was mated to, there was a reason we were paired. For some reason, I deserved this tragedy.

When he didn’t say anything for a long time, I looked up at him. His frown couldn’t go any deeper without his face caving in. His mouth was tight, and jaw set as he glared down at Roman. “I’ve stopped their bleeding commander. If we take him back now, he has a good chance of making it.” Ariel said, bringing my attention to her. She had a soft smile on her face that was directed at me.

At least I had one person on my side. My dad and Diana both had sour faces. “I’m on your side, too.” Keyla spoke softly. “You don’t have a choice, Kiki.” I reminded her. She’s a part of me. Therefore, my vote is hers. At the same time, she is a huge part of the reason I went as far as I did to save him. We were one and we chose to take our mate with us. Even if he hated our guts.

A huff of annoyance left Diana’s lips. “I can sympathize with your reluctance to take that asshole with us, but I’m about done with this whole situation.” She grumbled, making my dad sigh, and finally look at me. “We are bringing him with us as our prisoner. We can’t ignore what he did just because he’s your mate.” He asserted and then walked over to Ariel, taking Diana from where she was leaning on her and carrying her.

They began walking towards Roman and I. Ariel placed her hand on Roman, and we all placed a hand on Ariel. “You wouldn’t happen to have any sons, would you?” Diana shamelessly asked while checking my dad out. “Um… yes.” He said and cleared his throat, discomfort showing on his face. “Hmmm.” She hummed as Ariel chuckled softly. Was she seriously hitting on my dad? This b***h.

DIANA POV

I have no idea why I am so attracted to this wolf. He is gorgeous, but so are most of the wolves. Even most Rogues, when they clean up. There is just something about him that I can’t quite put my finger on. “To the council.” He said gruffly and Mel shook her head. I’m a kick her ass as soon as I’m healed. “Golden Moon.” She asserted, and Ariel looked back and forth from one to the other.

I was about to lose my s**t when Commander Jordan growled. “Golden Moon.” He said through gritted teeth, giving his little girl her way. Brat. I rolled my eyes and held onto the black Adonis that was giving me dominant professor vibes. I barely have a chance to enjoy being in his arms when I feel my body lurch into darkness, my stomach flipping upside down and then back in place.

It felt as though I was stuck in that nowhere zone for minutes, though I suspected it was only seconds. As soon as the world was back to normal, I heard Mel wretch and I felt bugs bunny come back up. Jordan quickly set me on my feet and held me in place as I let it all out. Thank God I didn’t puke on him. I may not know why I’m so attracted to him, but I don’t need him cringing every time he looks at me.

After dry heaving for a few minutes, I heard a stampede coming. When I looked up, my eyes nearly fell out of their sockets. “You okay Mely?” Black Adonis number two came rushing toward Mely as he called her. “I’m fine Dev.” She assured him and then he noticed the unconscious hunter on the floor. Now there were two wolves, I found a strange attraction to that were not my mates. What the hell is going on?

“Ahem!” A curvy brunet pressed herself to his side and squinted her eyes at me. “Who are you?” She asked polietnly, though I could sense a little irritation in her voice. “That must be his mate.” Grace giggled. “Oh… I’m Diana. That asshole hunter tried to kill me.” I pointed at the hunter, taking everyone’s attention away from my ogling and onto Mel and her hunter mate.

Everyone was now staring at Roman. Except for Mel, she was glaring at me. Sorry girl, I needed a sacrificial lamb. After what I just went through, I think she owed me that much. “That doesn’t explain why you were checking out my brother, who has a mate.” She snarked with a smug grin, throwing the attention back at me.

That’s how it’s going to be. Okay then. “I was not checking him out! He just happened to be in front of me and easy on the eyes.” I snapped back at her. b***h. “Why are you trying to take the attention away from your mate?” I raised my brow at her. Her eyes went wide before she narrowed them at me. “I think you went too far.” Grace muttered. “No, I went just far enough.” For now.