Melody's P.O.V

The ride is just as I thought. In one word..... Awkward. I keep shifting side to side uncomfortably and Hunter was silent throughout the drive. He didn't bother to talk to me or even to glance at me once.

Maybe he's regretting asking me to come.....

I stole a glance at him and resulted with a view of his hard and tightened jaw like he's restraining something. His hold on the steering is also too tight that his knuckles turned white.

Oh my! Did I do something wrong?

Gulping down in fear, I was about to open my mouth to ask him about it but suddenly the car halted abruptly making a screeching sound. My words died down in my throat as we stopped infront of a grand mansion. Hunter get out of the car and came to my side opening the door.

Closing my eyes and inhaling deeply, I fiddled with my fingers nervously as I tried once again.

"You know, I can go back if you want as I'm not necessary here" I said looking at him.

His face hardened more if that's even possible as he narrowed his eyes . Gripping my hand strongly, he pulled me out and closed the door with a bang giving me a jerk at the harsh sound. In the next second, I was pressed against the car door and Hunter was connected to my front.

"Yes, you are necessary. And moreover I need a date to go in. I won't find anyone at this time. So, shut your little mouth and come with me. Am I clear?" he hissed angrily.

I'm right..... He regretted asking me. Now he had no choice but me. That's why he's angry.

Suddenly, the little excitement of going out as Hunter's date whooshed completely in me. I feel like someone sucked all my energy till the last drop. I quietly started to walk with him not wanting to irritate him more.

As soon as we reached the inside of the mansion, we were hit by the bright lights and a soft music playing in the background. Hunter wrapped his arm around my waist tightly and bend down to me.

"Stay by my side, okay. Don't go wandering around alone."

My heart flipped at his concern but his voice is telling me different thing. His tone is cold and furious.

I nodded mutely and looked up to see almost every person's gaze upon us in the hall. I squirmed nervously and Hunter's grip tightened more on my hip giving me some sort of comfort.

"Hey man! Been a long time" a man in his late 20's came to us giving a friendly hug to Hunter.

It's a bit awkward for him to hug the person with one hand as his other one is holding me. But still, he didn't leave me at all.

"How are you Richard?" Hunter asked the man politely.

"Good. And.... who's this beauty?" he asked looking at me.

Hunter glanced down at me, "She's Melody. My date tonight."

Somewhere in me wanted him to introduce me as his girl. Like the heroes do in the book out of possessiveness. An unwanted disappointment crawled through me hearing his flat voice.

"Hello, beautiful. I'm Richard. Richard Sterling" Richard gave me his hand to shake.

I blushed at the word 'beautiful', "Nice to meet you, Mr. Sterling" I place my hand in his and surprised when he kissed the back of my hand.

"Darling..... Call me Rick or Richard or whatever you want. But not Mr.Sterling, that's my dad" he cringed and winked at me.

I laughed at his face, "Okay, Richard."

"If your talks are over, we have to meet other people" Hunter gritted out lowly enough to heard by both of us.

Richard tipped his head to a side cocking a brow before smirking at both of us.

"Yep..... Enjoy the party. Meet you again, Melody."

"Mel. Call her Mel. Not Melody" Hunter ordered him.

What's up with him?!

I furrowed my brows at his order. What's his problem in Richard calling me Melody? It's my name for god's sake.....

Richard looks like he's controlling himself from bursting out in laughter. I don't know what he find so funny in this, but Hunter's behavior is really irritating me. Is he really forbidding everyone from calling me by my name? What next? Only God knows!!!

If he doesn't want me here, why did he asked in first place? I started to pray that Daisy and Tyson would come soon before my head explodes. God.... Save me from this infuriating man.

And I know clearly that God heard my prays when I saw them enter the hall. As soon as our eyes met, we shared a smile and immediately I took a step forward to them but stopped by vice like grip on my waist.

"You can meet them later. Let's go, I have to meet others" Hunter said.

Huffing at his command, I sulkily followed him as he met a number of people and introducing me to them as his date. After some time, I started to feel sleepy with this boring party. I didn't expect that my first party with Hunter would be this boring. Well, it's my mistake to expect more from him.

"Is it over yet?" I asked exasperated.

His lips quirked up in a small smile. Thank God..... I thought I would have to bear with a broody Hunter all night.

"No. But you can join Daisy" he replied again in a cold tone.

Back to broody!!!

I narrowed my eyes in anger at him and leave from there. I know if I stayed with him another minute, I would punch him for being so ignorant.

Rushing to Daisy, I sat beside her in the bar stool.

"I hate your brother" I stated loudly to her.

Daisy quirked her brow in amusement, "What did he do?"

"That's the problem!!! He didn't do anything. He could atleast talk to me normally when he's hell bent on making me come here with him" I ranted.

During my rant, I didn't know I gulped a few shots of tequila which are placed for Daisy in irritation. She looked shocked at my outburst.

"Mel, you took 2 shots already. I think it's enough for a starter like you."

"No....." I drink another 2 shots quickly.

My throat burned at the sensation of the drink going down. But it seems less painful compared to the pain of my heart burning.

How dare he ignore me like that?!

That thought alone make me drink another 3 shots one after another.

"Okay. It's enough now" Daisy said taking my glass from my hands.

I glared at her, "Give it to me" I screamed and snatched the glass from her gulping down the liquid whole.

My head started to spin and my vision is blurring. But it didn't stop me from taking my shots. I want to forget Hunter. I want to forget how he's ignoring me. I want to forget how he's not talking to me properly. And mainly, I want to forget how much it's hurting me.

But the last thing I remember is Hunter coming towards me.

***

Hunter's P.O.V.

I'll kill these bastards with my bare hands.....

I could barely control myself from punching these assholes who were giving my Melody their lustful looks.

First Tyson, though he didn't look at her lustfully, he did compliment her beauty and that she looks like a Goddess. I'm not saying what he said was a lie. It's an obvious truth that Melody looks so damn beautiful. But.....Tyson don't need to state it aloud.

Then Richard, he even crossed his limits by kissing her hand. In that moment only god knows how much I have controlled myself from ripping his head off. 

And now, almost all men in the party had their eyes on my girl.

I know I sound like a mad to all. But I don't give a fuck about it. This burning in my heart whenever a man looks at her beauty makes me want to kill. And I know I shouldn't express my anger on Melody. I just couldn't stop it. It's her mistake too. Why did she have to be so beautiful?

I don't give a shit about how it looks to others. All I want is my Melody. Some might call it obsession, but I call it protectiveness. I'm protecting her. How?? By hurting her?! A voice in my head mocked me. Intentional or not, I did hurt her with my behavior. I saw it in her eyes when she reached the hall in the club looking at me expectantly waiting for my words about her appearance. Though I was about to say how beautiful she is, Tyson beat me to it and instantly my possessiveness takes in showing her only my anger. I should apologize to her.

Looking around to find her, I was hit by a strong wave when I saw Melody drinking shots. By looks, Daisy is trying to stop her, but she is stubborn to do it and arguing with her. She's already tipsy and swaying slightly in her chair.

Immediately, I rushed over to stop her from drinking. The minute I went near her, I held her hand restraining from taking more.

"What the hell do you think you are doing?" I hissed at her.

Melody hiccuped looking at me and smiled a wobbly smile, but soon it changed fast into a glare.

"Why do you care?" she screamed hitting on my chest.

Shit!!! She's totally drunk....

"Melody..... Don't create a scene here" I gritted out as my rage is rising enormously.

Her face fell and tears welled up in her eyes. Damn it! I have to keep a check on my anger issues.....

"I HATE YOU" Melody yelled at me.

I felt a pang in my chest hearing those words from her. But somewhere in me knows that I deserve them. I have been a jerk to her all this evening.

She began to hit my arms, chest, stomach..... where ever she could and I let her release the frustration. 

"I hate you... I hate you... I hate you" she keep yelling loudly.

Each word felt like a bullet piercing through my heart.

"W-Why did you b-bring m-me here i-if you d-don't want t-to?"

Melody hiccuped as a lone tear slid down her cheek. I wiped it cupping her face gently making her look into my eyes and asked softly.

"Who said I don't want to?"

"B-But you ignored me" she pouted cutely.

Damn!!!

"Because I couldn't control myself when I'm with you" I told the half truth to her. And because I'm jealous and could show that frustration on you.

Melody furrowed her eyes in confusion over my words. I heard a throat clearing and looked at Daisy gazing at us amused and with excitement.

"I'll just go away from here. You guys carry on" she giggled and went to the other side of the dance floor.

"You also didn't tell me how I look?" Melody whined pouting, "You know, I only wear this dress and makeup to look equally beautiful as you so you won't feel embarrassed to be with me. But you didn't even bothered by it."

"You look like an angel, kitten" I said bringing her to me when she's about to fall.

Widening her eyes, she asked, "Really?"

I nodded and leaned to kiss her cheek but she pushed me away.

What the hell!!!

"No kisses for you cause you make me sad."

"I did tell that you look like an angel, didn't I?" I questioned raising a brow.

She glared at me accusingly, "When? After I asked you? You should tell me before I even utter a word" she huffed and crossed her arms over her chest.

Oh god!!! I love this drunk Melody so much....

Wait..... What!!! LOVE??

You'll be death of me, kitten.....

"You are so hotttt!!!" she exclaimed loudly sighing dreamily at me and started clapping like a kid who just got her candy.

Few people looked at us and go back to what they're doing like they were used to see drunk person tantrums.

Well, you won't call it a tantrum when you love it, right?

Suddenly, she jumped off the stool yelling, "LET'S DANCE."

She dragged me to the dance floor and began dancing weirdly yet so cutely. I put my hands on her hips to steady her when she tripped over her own feet. I chuckled at her clumsiness and Melody got more closer wrapping her hands round my neck as the music changed into some slow and romantic one. She's swaying her hips sensually and buried her face in the crook of my neck. Her warm breathe hitting my skin and soft lips grazing the nape of my neck makes me sigh in content.

When I felt her inhaling heavily, I couldn't help but chuckle at her antics, "Are you smelling me?"

She nodded, "Any problem?"

I smirked at her response and leaned to her, "No. As long as it's you" I whispered.

Melody jerked her head up with a fire in her eyes, "No one should come this close to you. Understand?"

I tried not to smile at her angry face as she think that I let other women near me. I nodded keeping a straight face but she clearly found out my amusement.

"I'm serious, Hunter. If any other girl come near you like me, I'll strangle her to death and then you."

"Okay baby."

Hearing my words, her eyes watered scaring me.

"Hey, what happened?" I questioned cupping her cheeks confused at her sudden change of behaviour.

"H-He used to call me that" she stuttered between her sobs.

Realising that the situation is getting out of my hands, I quickly pulled her to my side and went through the back door to the garden.

The place was dark and the only brightness here is the lights around the fountain. It's a bit dim but we can be able to make out the surroundings.

I sat on the bench near the fountain and put Melody on my lap as she's still crying so badly and shaking like a leaf.

"Shh..... I've got you" I tried to soothe her. But her sobs only grew more.

"H-He always ca-calls me b-baby. I-I h-h-hate it."

My heart shutters at her every single. She linked her arms around my neck and hide her face in my neck just like earlier on the dance floor. The difference is she had done that then because she wanted to. But, she's doing this now because she needs to. I can clearly figure out that much when her hold on me tightened and she tries to bury more into me like she wants to disappear in me. Soon, her cries toned down to hiccupps. I'm slowly rubbing her back giving as much as comfort I can.

"Relax. It's okay now, you are safe" I said, "I won't call you with that name ever again."

Feeling her shook her head negatively, I got confused and lifted her from my embrace to look into her eyes.

"What?"

"I like it when you call me that. But it also brings me those awfully painful memories I don't ever want to remind. It's just so hard to bear them."

Her face is so broken and in just few minutes it appears like she had grown 10 years with that unknown burden of her past. I can guess Melody's past might be bad. It could be even ugly. Whatever it is, she have us now. Daisy, Jenna, my whole MC club and especially..... me. So, she don't need to be scared or sad, when she have us ready to carry her burdens.

We sat there in comfortable silence and I didn't stop rubbing her back calming her down. It feels so foreign to have Melody in my lap hugging me. I had my fair share of relationships but never felt like this. Never felt this type of peace. So serene.....

"You okay?" I asked softly.

She nodded snuggling more closer to me.

I smiled at her cuteness when she called me, "Hunter..."

"Hmm?"

She replied in husky voice that gives a flip to my heart.

"Take me home"

Something in me stirred in happiness hearing her mentioning my club as her 'home'. I immediately stood up lifting her in my arms and went to the car. After making her sit in car comfortably, I messaged Tyson and Richard about me going home and taking Melody with me.

By the time we reached the estate, Melody was already asleep laying her head on my shoulder. Taking her in my arms, I walked slowly to her room without any fast movements that would wake her up. She needs to change her dress before going to bed. But she's not in her senses to do it. If I wake jenna, I'll be dead in Adrian hands. Sighing, I placed her on the bed and adjusted her comfortably.

Melody is so cute while sleeping. She always was. Just like a kid. I kissed her forehead and turned around to leave but a grip on my wrist and a soft whisper made me stop.

"Hunter"

Looking back, I saw Melody staring at me.

"Yeah sweetheart?"

She gripped my hand in hers tightly bringing it to her, "Will you stay with me tonight, please?"

My heart jumped at her question.

"Why kitten?" I asked gently trying to lower the eagerness in my voice.

Melody looked up scared and I instantly kneeled down next to her tucking a strand of hair behind her ear and grazed her cheek gently telling silently that I'm here for her.

"I'm having nightmares" she whispered brokenly.

"Sure sweetheart" I replied instantly moving back to remove my blazer, tie and belt.

I know in the morning she'd be embarrassed if I'm half naked sleeping next to her. So, I'm leaving my shirt and pants.

Joining in the bed behind her, I put my arm around her waist pulling her to me.

"Sleep" I ordered.

Melody squirmed making herself fitted in my arms, "Hunter, I--"

"Shh....." I stopped her and kissed the back of her neck calming her nerves resulted with a small whimper.

"Sleep sweetheart. I'm with you, don't be scared. I'll fight with your nightmares."

Just like that, we both fall into a deep slumber with Melody putting her hand above mine on her waist holding it tightly like she don't ever want to let go of me.