Chapter Nineteen
Taking advantage of Joe’s absence, Melissa seized the opportunity to return to her everyday routine. Certainly, helping around in her brothers’ workshop and cooking for them was not the most prestigious or exciting job in the world, but neglecting it had filled her with regret. None of them had complained – proving to her that they could understand what she had been going through – but still, she had missed offering a helping hand and having fun with them, especially on their breaks. More often or not, she would prepare delicious refreshments, catch up with them, or tease her most favorite brother of all: Dean.
On a blazing hot, mid-August morning, Melissa made a large jar of peach ice tea, put it on a tray along with four glasses, and walked out of her cabin. The scent of testosterone was thick in the air, as she headed towards the bustling workshop: no surprises there. The Bradford brothers often worked amid excessive noise. They were forced to yell at each other. Shifters could also smell each other’s hormones from a mile away. But, as Melissa would come to discover, testosterone only masked the scent of another person in her brothers’ workplace. Amazingly enough, Helena was in there, talking to Raul, while Dean and Ray had focused their attention on a red Harley at the far end of the room.
“Ahem…” Melissa made herself known by clearing her throat. “I’ve brought you guys some tea. Good morning, Helena. I wasn’t expecting to find you here.”
“Good morning, my young one.” The witch responded with a smile, as Ray and Dean jogged towards their sister. “Joe left last night in a hurry. Tell me, what is his decision? I detected his absence last night.”
“He’s doing what you asked of him,” Melissa declared, her heart racing in excitement. “He’s in New York, tying up loose ends.”
“Very well,” Helena gave an appraising nod, as her lips curled into a smile. “Tell him I’m ready when you are. I would discuss the details of my plan with you all, but Joe needs to be present as well. Come to me, when he returns. Have a nice day.”
With a snap of her fingers, the witch disappeared in a plume of red smoke, as Melissa’s brothers quenched their thirst.
“Man, this is so good,” Raul commented, pulling his glass away from his lips. “A hell of a lot better than that piss Ray served yesterday.”
“Make your own tea next time,” Ray smirked. “Let’s see if it’s any better than mine.”
“Boys…” Melissa grumbled, shaking her head in frustration. “You’re always arguing about the stupidest of things.”
“Who said we were arguing?” Ray shrugged his shoulders.
“She hasn’t been here in a while. She’s forgotten how it is. It’s either that, or she’s stressed about something.” Dean interjected his opinion, just before downing his tea.
“Guys, are you kidding me here?” Melissa exclaimed, thrusting her arms out to either side. “We’re going up against a demon; what did you expect?”
“True,” Raul said with a firm nod. “But, according to Helena, this kind of demon won’t go after anyone else other than the person mentioned on the contract, unless they feel threatened. And I don’t intend to…” he paused, “…threaten Azazel.”
“You don’t?” she inquired, her eyes widening in surprise.
“We’ll all be there,” Raul assured her, making his tone quite emphatic. “I just won’t risk engaging that demon, unless he attacks you, Dean or Ray. I’m not putting my neck on the line for your boyfriend, Mel. Monica’s pregnant. I don’t want my child to grow up without a father.”
“If Joe dies…” Melissa faltered, her voice quivering with emotion, “your child will have to grow up without his aunt.”
“You’re…” Raul started to say.
“In love with him,” she finished her Alpha’s sentence, feeling heat rising up into her cheeks, as she lowered her gaze from his.
“Damn!” Raul cried out, jerking his head away from her in a spasm of anger, as he kicked a tool shed by his feet.
“Oh, come on!” Dean shouted, throwing a nasty glare up at his brother. “Even a blind man could see this coming. Don’t tell me you didn’t suspect it. She’s been planning this contract break for days. Why else do you think she would do it?”
“I suspected it,” Raul admitted, his breath coming in short bursts, as he brought his attention back to his sister. “I just didn’t want to believe it.”
“Look, I didn’t mean to get involved with someone that had sold his soul to the devil, but I did,” Melissa claimed, struggling to steady her voice. “It happened; just like it happened with you and Monica…” then she turned her gaze to Dean, “…and you and Kate. Did either of you want to start a war? No. You had to. Ok, my fight might be a lot more dangerous than yours, but I’m fighting for the same thing you guys did, my happiness. And…” sadly for her, her efforts did not pay off. The fear of death that loomed over her and Joe sent her heart into a downward spiral, shattering her voice, as tears welled up in her eyes. “And if you won’t help him, then…”
“Hey, hey…” Dean whispered, tossing his glass across the counter beside him to throw his arms around her. “We will help him. You have my word. Nothing bad is going to happen to him.”
“I love him, Dean,” Melissa sniffled, a tear streaming down her cheek, as she lifted her hands to place them on his chest. “I didn’t mean to drag you into this, but you guys are all I have.”
“Just have your boy meet us when he gets back from New York,” and now she detected a drastic change in the Alpha’s tone. There was no stress or frustration in it. Instead, Raul’s stentorian voice rumbled yet again, showcasing courage and decisiveness, as if he had been meaning to set her fears at ease. “We are sending that demon back down to hell,” he added, his eyes blazing with determination, as he settled his gaze on Dean.
A wave of relief washed over her as he uttered his last few words. Melissa’s brothers would be with her. Would that be enough for them to defeat Azazel? She couldn’t know. All she did know was that the dream of her happiness was worth every last drop of her blood. Melissa would either make it come true, or die trying.