BK 3 - Chapter 4 - Following Melanie
When Saxon received the text from Melanie, he was crushed. He had hoped after having some time to think, she would realize they would be better together. It was going to be hard for her to run into his arms when she was halfway across the world from him. What if being away from him weakened the mate bond, and she fell in love with someone else?
The thought of her being with anyone else made him break down. She had said she wasn't rejecting him. She just needed time and space. Saxon respected that, but it didn't make the pain diminish any. He was sitting in the living room with tears running down his face when there was a knock on the door. He leaped up excitedly, expecting to see Melanie, but it wasn't her. It was her parents, Trey and Cat.
"Oh, sweetheart, come here." Cat wrapped her arms around him, trying to ease some of his pain with her touch. Her heart broke for Saxon. From the time Melanie was conceived, he'd stuck to their family like glue. He had told everyone she was his mate the first time he saw the newborn little cub. They all thought he was just infatuated with her, but as they got older, it was clear that they were fated mates. Vampires tend to know their mates as soon as they're near them, no matter what age they are.
Melanie was extremely independent, even as a child. She tried to stay away from Saxon as much as she could. Cat knew that after mates find each other being apart can make them feel like there's a gaping hole in their chest. She and Trey wanted to check on Saxon, knowing he'd been waiting for Melanie to turn eighteen, only for her to run away. She loved her daughter, but being away from him wasn't going to be as easy as she thought.
"I can't believe she left me. Did I do something wrong? I've loved her my entire life." Even Trey was getting misty-eyed at the grief he could feel from Saxon. With how close their families were, he was like another son to them.
"You didn't do anything wrong. Trust me, she's more affected by this than she's letting on." Cat led him to the couch, keeping her arms around him as he sobbed. Trey sat on the other side of Saxon and rubbed his back. He can imagine what the young vampire felt. Trey had his own fears when he first met Cat that she would reject him. He would have never survived if she had. His heart still felt like it would explode with how much he loved her. She's always been the most beautiful woman in the world to him, and he would have chased her to the ends of the earth to be with her. Melanie may get mad at what he was about to do, but she'd get over it.
"Go to her." Saxon turned around to stare at Trey in shock.
"What? She said she needed time to think." He said with tears still running down his face. Cat was staring at her mate, just as surprised as Saxon.
"I know what she said, but I'm telling you to be selfish right now. You want her, and you want to be with her. Even if she's angry when she sees you, I guarantee she'll be glad you're there. Saxon, she's chasing after people who are trafficking shifters. Her heart is in the right place, but she's only eighteen. I'm scared that in her mission to help others, she might end up being one of their victims." As much as Cat wanted to argue with him, Trey was right. Melanie was putting herself at risk.
"Aunt Cat, you don't think this will push her further away, do you?" Saxon felt a light beginning to burn inside him. If he could be by her side helping her with the rescues, she'd see they would be stronger together.
"Trey is right. You need to go to her. She may be furious at first, but don't let that get to you. She needs you right now whether she wants to admit it or not." Saxon threw his arms around Trey and then Cat. He was going to get his mate.
After Cat and Trey left, Saxon quickly packed a suitcase and booked a flight to Rio. He would only be about a day behind Melanie. He didn't want to just pop up and surprise her, so he decided he would watch from afar until an opportunity presented itself. She wasn't exactly a typical woman, and he didn't expect her to have a damsel in distress moment, but he would know when the time was right.
The flight seemed to take days instead of hours. Trey had asked Melanie to give him her location so he knew where she was. She sent it without hesitation, and he passed the address on to Saxon. Once he landed, he began running in the direction of where Melanie was. Using his own two legs was faster than going by car.
When he got to the warehouse, he jumped onto the roof and left his bag there. He would retrieve it later. Saxon perched on the edge where he could watch anyone coming or going. He knew he was close to her. The pain he had felt since she gave him that hug on her front porch was decreasing.
The sun was rising, making the entire area seem like it was covered in gold. At least if she was inside, he knew she was safe. That was more important to him than anything.
After he'd been there for a few hours, he heard some movement on the ground. He saw Melanie and six others running out of the warehouse and getting into a large van. Once they pulled away, he started following them on foot. His anxiety was building as he followed them into an area that looked less than appealing. The van came to a stop on the side of a street. Saxon sat in a tree right above it. When the doors opened, his pulse raced.
"Stay here, Mel. This is your first time, so just watch for any runners." Saxon had to hold back his chuckle. He knew Melanie would be angry at being left behind. He didn't like the idea of her being alone like a sitting duck.
The others ran down the street to a house a few doors down from where they had parked. Saxon was impressed with how quiet they were as they stayed near the trees that lined the sidewalk. It was late morning, and there were people everywhere, but no one seemed to pay the three couples any attention. He wanted to see what their strategy was, but something caught his attention.
A large man had been leaning against a fence, but his eyes were firmly glued to the people that had exited the van. Saxon watched as he started crossing the street, heading toward where Melanie was sitting.
He wouldn't move from his spot unless it was necessary. Saxon knew Melanie well, and if he stepped in too soon, she'd turn her anger on him. The man walked to the back of the van and tried the door. When that didn't open, he walked to the side door and pulled it open without a problem.
"Well, what do we have here? Who are you waiting for, sweetheart?" Saxon wanted to rip the guy's head off his shoulders for looking at Melanie. He could see the lust on his face, and it infuriated him.
"That's not any of your concern. Why don't you get the fuck away from here before you regret it." Saxon stopped his chuckle before they could hear him. Melanie's quick tongue was one of the things he loved most about her. From what he could tell, the man was large, but he was human. He would be no competition for the lioness.
"You're going to regret those words ever left your mouth when I get through with you. I know you're one of those freaks that can change into an animal. So tell me. What do you change into?" The guy's words made Saxon more alert. How did he know about shifters?
"I don't have a clue what you're talking about. Keep running your mouth, though, and I'll make sure it never runs again." Saxon prepared to jump on him from above as he reached into the van. However, there was no need. The man suddenly went flying through the air and landed on his back. Melanie stepped out, looking gorgeous and ready to rip the man to shreds.
"You shouldn't have tried to touch me. No one touches me without my consent." Melanie looked down at the man and tried to figure out what to do. He obviously knew about shifters, but she didn't know if he was involved in the trafficking? She decided not to take any chances, so she grabbed some rope from the van and tied his hands together. She then pulled him over and shoved him inside.
As soon as she turned to walk away, he sat up and put his arms around her from behind. He wrapped his legs around her to hold her in place when she tried to twist out of his grasp. Melanie fought, trying to get him off, but his hold got stronger, and he moved his roped hands up to her throat.
"I will touch you whenever I want bitch." Melanie began to feel lightheaded from the pressure of his hands pressing on her throat. Chika wanted to shift and tear him apart, but they couldn't risk being seen. Just as she thought she was going to pass out, she was pulled out of the man's grasp. She took deep breaths, letting the oxygen fill her lungs.
Melanie expected to see Vincent, Karlee, and the others attacking him, but she was wrong. When she saw who turned around after knocking her captive out, she glared at him while ignoring the relief that washed over her body.
"Saxon, what the hell are you doing here?"
