Jaxon's POV
“Don’t touch me, Jaxon!” Melanie hisses, her voice sharp and defiant. She pushes her long, ash-brown hair out of her face. I love it when she wears her hair down; it frames her face perfectly. She’s sexy as fuck when she’s pissed off —fierce, untamed, like a volcano about to erupt.
“I’m just trying to help,” I mutter, raising my hand in a defensive gesture. I back away a step to give her space, knowing better not to push her. She’s already pissed about the whole Alpha thing,
She scoffs. “Well don’t.” She rolls those beautiful, violet eyes and it only makes me want to bend her over and punish her. She really does need someone to fuck this bad attitude out of her.
“You know what, since it’s our last day, let’s spar,” I suggest eagerly. “I know how much you love being pinned underneath me.”
She narrows her eyes at me, emitting a low growl. Without a word, she sinks into a crouch, her body taut and ready to strike. We begin to circle each other, moving with a fluid rhythm that feels almost like a dance. She smirks, bouncing back and forth on her heels, her long hair flowing with each movement. “C’mon, Jaxon. What are you waiting for?” she taunts, motioning for me to come at her.
I don’t hesitate. I launch myself toward her, but she’s quick, dodging my attack with lightning speed. “Gotta be faster than that,” she teases, her smirk widening as she glances over her shoulder at me.
I growl. She’s currently a bit too cocky for my liking. I lunge at her again, and she dodges the same way as before. Since I anticipated this, I swiftly grab her by the waist and knock her down on the mat. Her eyes blaze as she scrambles to get up, but I use my weight to trap her, pressing her back into the soft, rubbery surface.
Her body writhes beneath me as I grab her hands and pin them above her head. The heat from her skin seeps into mine, and her scent fills my senses. I lean down, whispering in her ear, “Tap out, baby girl.”
“Negative,” she hisses, her eyes darkening to an eggplant purple.
Her legs move with sudden agility, trying to wrap around mine to flip us over. She’s strong, but not strong enough to shift our position. I brace myself, keeping her pinned beneath me.
I smirk as she continues her escape attempt, little grunts escaping from her mouth. I’m about to let her go before the smell of her arousal hits my nose. Shadow starts going crazy; he wants nothing more than for me to bury myself inside of her. I swiftly position myself so that she can’t feel my erection.
Melanie and I lock eyes, and it’s as if the entire room fades away, leaving just us and the crackling tension I’ve never felt before. Before I can gather the courage to speak, a powerful aura sweeps into the room.
Alpha Damon.
I scramble to my feet and help Melanie up, joining the others as they bow their heads in respect. I notice everyone is doing it besides Melanie, whose eyes flash gold at the sight of her dad.
As Alpha Damon approaches us, Mel begins to walk in the opposite direction, but his furious growl freezes her in place. “Mel, I didn’t dismiss you.” There’s a warning in his voice that I’m all too familiar with.
Relutantly, she stands beside me, her face hard as a rock.
“As you already know, since today marks your final day in the Academy, I will be announcing Jaxon as the new Alpha to the pack tonight.” He declares, shooting a cold glare towards his daughter. “I hope everything goes smoothly.”
She folds her arms, retorting, “What is that supposed to mean?”
“I mean I don’t want you ruining Jaxon’s big moment just because you act infantile when you don’t get your way.” He steps forward until his huge form is towering over her. Any other wolf would be cowering in fear and shitting their pants, but she doesn’t back down.
She scoffs. “Don’t worry, Dad. I would never want to embarrass your golden child,” she spits with venom. I don’t want to be in the middle of this shit, but I quickly realize I AM the middle of it, thanks to Alpha Damon.
His face darkens, the wrinkles in his forehead deepening across his forehead. “Stop acting like a fucking brat, Melanie! I told you why I didn’t choose you,” he snaps through clenched teeth.
“Yeah, because you were never going to,” she retorts bitterly. “I don’t even know why I thought I could change your mind.”
“You’re so stubborn, ungrateful, and downright disrespectful. The Alpha male who becomes your mate will surely reject you on the spot,” Alpha Damon spits back.
They glare at each other, standing only inches apart. The fury radiates from them, the tension in the room like a live wire. “Take that back now,” she growls, her voice low and deadly.
“You are my biggest disappointment, Melanie. I’m just glad I found someone like Jaxon…someone who is worthy of being Alpha.”
I can’t even wrap my head around how he can talk to his own daughter like this, but I also know the man before me. Even with two daughters, he’s not a gentle, loving father you’d expect him to be. It’s also making me uncomfortable that they keep mentioning my name as if I’m not standing right here.
“Fuck you, dad!” she shouts, her voice bouncing off the wall. Then she turns around and walks out of the building, flipping him off.
I don’t know why, but watching her stand up to her dad, even though he’s the strongest werewolf in the room, gets my heart racing and blood pumping. And not just in my heart.
What the fuck is wrong with me?
Mel’s POVI storm out of the Academy flipping off and cursing Dad's name underneath my breath. How fucking dare he says those things to me in front of everyone —especially in front of Jaxon! Jaxon may be his little obedient lap dog, but I’ll never bow down to him!I get into my car, slamming the door as I mind-link Bliss.What's wrong, honey bun? She asks, her tone gentle, as always.My dad is the biggest dick ever! I exclaim.She sighs heavily. We already knew today would be hard for you.Yeah, but I planned to avoid him. Tell me why he purposely sought me out!He didn't!He did! And in front of his little golden child.Wow, I'm so sorry, sis. That's so fucked up. I can't do this anymore, Bliss. I think tonight I'm going to leave, I tell her, my voice hardening with determination.There’s a long silence, and I can almost feel her concern through the mind-link. I really hope you're joking, Mel. I know you want to get away from all this Alpha Damon/Jaxon shit, but please, just wait unt
Donna soon arrives with our pancakes, and gently places them in front of us with a cheerful, “Enjoy, girls!” We thank her and dive into our food, enjoying the quiet comfort of the diner.After a while, I notice Moon’s mood shift, her eyes filled with worry as she stares down at the table."What's wrong, princess?" I ask softly. I set my fork down, ready to listen. I don’t like it when she’s upset, but thankfully, she trusts me enough to talk to me.Moon’s frown deepens. "Are you mad that I'm friends with Ava?" "Why would you think that?""I know you hate her big brother.” She searches my face for a reaction, but I remain composed.I shake my head. "I don't hate him, it's just...complicated."Okay, that’s a lie. But she doesn’t need to know that. "Is it because Daddy is nicer to him than you?" she asks, her brown eyes wide with curiosity."Something like that," I mumble, finishing the last bite of my pancakes. Moon is more observant than I give her credit for. Sometimes, I forget that
Mel's POVThat was the last conversation I had with my mom where she was actually fully mentally present for. I think after that day, Dad started abusing her because she couldn't give him a male heir."Maybe if you weren't such a shitty father, you would have been there to name her, but since you weren't, it was a special name that me and Mom picked out."He glares at me with dangerously black eyes. "Melanie, this is the second time today that you've disrespected me. I won't tolerate this any longer!"He stands up and stalks towards me. My heart begins thudding in my chest, but I can't force myself to move.As he raises his hand to hit me, Mom jumps in the way. "Damon, don't-" she screams. The force of his slap is so hard that she falls to the ground."Mom!" I crouch down to check on her. There's a huge, red handprint on her face, and her eyes are filled with shock and shame."You're a monster!" I scream, looking up at him with hatred burning in my eyes.Dad’s expression hardens, his e
Jaxon’s POVI slowly button up my blue dress shirt and tuck it into my black slacks. Tonight, Alpha Damon is announcing that I am the next Alpha, with the formal ceremony in just four days. I can’t believe that this is finally happening.Excitement buzzes through my veins. I’ve waited years for this moment, ever since Alpha took me under his wing after my dad died in a rogue attack when I was just twelve. Back then, Ava was just a baby, and now she’s growing up in a pack where I’m about to become Alpha.“Jaxon!” Mom calls from downstairs. “Alpha Damon is here!”I check myself out in the mirror one last time before heading down. Alpha Damon is sitting on the couch, his massive arms crossed over his chest. He is wearing a black suit that is tight against his muscular build.“Alpha,” I greet, baring my neck before sitting down on the forest-green love seat across from him.He nods, his expression impossible to read. “I am very proud of you, Son.”“Thank you, Alpha,” I reply, sensing there
Jaxon's POVAfter she calls Ava from her room, we get into my car and head to the dining hall. All I can think about is what to do about Melanie. Although she is a potential threat, I don’t want any harm to come to her. I want to…protect her? No, that can’t be it. I just don’t want her death to be forever on my conscious. Yes, I’ve always had a little crush on her, but she can never be mine. I’ll eventually find my Luna, and If I’m successful at getting her safely away from the pack in time, she’ll meet her Alpha and live happily ever after.We arrive at the dining hall, and I make a beeline for Kaylee. She’s surrounded by a group of her friends, her tight, red dress drawing everyone’s attention. Her cleavage bounces with every movement, and it’s so short, I can nearly see her ass cheeks.My jaw clenches. It isn’t a dress she should be wearing for this kind of occasion. It makes me look bad as her boyfriend, but I’ll address that later. Her eyes light up when she spots me. “Oh, my Godd
Jaxon's POVI look across at Melanie, surprised to see her oddly calm. She’s chewing on her bottom lip, gazing out one of the windows on the wall in front of her. It’s like her mind is elsewhere. What could she be planning? Maybe Alpha is right, should I prepare for a coup?As the applause subsides, I stand up and give a somewhat awkward nod to my future pack members, even though I’ve known them all my life. Heat travels from my neck up to my ears, my cheeks turning redder by the second. I’m pretty sure everyone can see how much I’m blushing and sweating like a moron.“You can sit down now,” Alpha chuckles, noticing my discomfort. I quickly retake my seat, trying to mask my embarrassment. Out of the corner of my eye, I catch Melanie smirking to herself. I choose to ignore it, pretending to listen to Alpha’s speech.“His Alpha ceremony will be on Friday. Attendance is mandatory,” Alpha announces. “That is all. Enjoy your dinner!” His voice booms through the dining hall, and the pack res
Mel’s POVI try to calm my nerves as I place my hands on Jaxon’s taut shoulders, and he holds my waist. At first, we awkwardly sway back and forth, but after the first time he spins me around, I find myself flawlessly gliding across the wooden floor. We move in sync, letting the gentle music guide us.He looks good. He smells good, too. That slutty breakfast aroma mixes well with his cologne. Also, I have never realized that his eyes remind me of the forest in spring; they are bright, gentle and beautiful. I can’t help but get lost in them as we waltz around the room. For a moment, everyone else disappears, and it’s just him and I floating on a cloud.Wait…I’m not supposed to be enjoying this. This is my rival, and I have a mission to accomplish. I don’t have time for this distraction.On the way over to the dining hall, I considered just turning around and leaving this pack for good. But I promised Mom she could have this last night with her. I didn’t know where we’ll go, but I’m adam
Mel's POVI stop dancing and stare at him in shock, my jaw dropping to the fucking floor. “Are you fucking serious right now?” I blurt out before I can stop myself.His eyes widen, and he quickly shushes me. “Shh! Come outside with me for a second,” he mumbles, grabbing my hand.As he pulls me through the crowd toward the foyer, I can feel several eyes drilling into my back. I know Dad is watching us for sure. Maybe Mom, too. And Kaylee, probably thinking I’m trying to steal her man. I grimace at the thought.Never. Jaxon drags me past the double doors into the dark woods, and we walk for a while, far enough that Dad can’t pick up our conversation. Jaxon abruptly turns, causing me to smack right into his muscular chest. “Oh fuck, sorry,” I mumble, catching my balance. “You didn’t bring me out here to kill me, right?” I don’t know why, but being alone with him makes me nervous. Maybe it’s because I don’t trust myself not to fall for his charm.Amusement dances in his eyes, but he does
Mel's POV"He's beautiful, Luna.""He's going to grow up to be such a powerful Alpha."I force a smile, responding almost robotically to their comments and congratulations. I can't shake the feeling that someone's here that shouldn't be, but I'm not picking up any dark energy.When the line finally ends, Jaxon goes to mingle with the other Alphas. Since Zion is safely sleeping in the bassinet, I decide to walk around the building searching for the source of my anxiety. As I grab a flask of sparkling cider from one of the Omegas, I hear a familiar voice behind me. "Luna Melanie, it's nice to see you again," he rumbles, snapping me from my thoughts. It's Alpha Raeden with his mate at his side. "This is my Luna, Caroline."I smile warmly at her. "It's a pleasure to meet you.""Likewise. Your son is so beautiful, I'm still hoping that one day we'll be able to have a baby.""Thank you, and I hope you can too!"Raeden's eyes hold a quiet sadness, a reflection of the pain he must have felt w
Mel’s POVToday is Zion's grand debut with the pack. I dress him up in the most adorable little black suit and hand him over to Jaxon so I can get myself ready.The first few weeks of his life have been hectic, but I have enjoyed every second of it. When Jaxon and Ameer are busy with pack business, Bliss comes with us every time we leave the house. I don't mind the extra protection, plus I get to hang out with my best friend all the time.As I put on my dress and minimal makeup, my eyes are fixed on Jaxon cradling our son. The look of pride on his face is undeniable as he lovingly bounces him up and down, creating a gentle rhythm.I wish Damon would have ever looked at me that way, but I'm so grateful that Zion has a daddy that loves him unconditionally.Our son's adorable coos echo in the air and he has his tiny hand wrapped around Jaxon's finger. His smile widens, "that's right, Son. You're going to meet your pack and a few of our allies today," he says softly, "well, right after we
Mel's POVJudging by his erection, I assume he's excited about this confrontation. Maybe this was intentional, like he wanted to lure us out.There's a smug grin on his face as he gets closer, his yellow eyes twinkling with amusement."Take one more step and I won't hesitate to kill you," I warn callously. Nina flashes in my eyes, but that doesn't seem to deter him.He roars with laughter. "Aww, what are you going to do? I bet you can't even fight your own battles, huh Princess? Got those two men to be your body guards while you pretend to be the big bitch in charge?" he taunts.He couldn't be more wrong. Unlike Ayla, I can fight my own battles. They're just here for backup. But I don't need to prove shit to him.The other rogues are all gathered silently watching the show. They obviously don't want to get involved, or simply not stupid enough to do so.The rogues' leader narrows his brown eyes in recognition."Wait, aren't you that bitch that killed Alpha Kellan? When Alpha Magnus to
Mel’s POV"Jaxon, no fair! You know I'm carrying around a big-ass watermelon!" I growl, missing the volleyball for the twentieth time as he spikes it with all his strength.Ava bursts out laughing. "We win again!" She gives her brother a high five before running over to the ice chest and grabbing a juice box.Jaxon has a huge, cocky grin on his face as he makes his way over to me. "Sorry baby girl, you told not to take it easy on you unless I don't want to touch you for the rest of your pregnancy." He leans down to my ear. "Two months without that beautiful, tight pussy would kill me."I shudder at his words, pleasurable shivers going up my spine. His grin widens at the smell of my arousal. "Although, I'm sure you would've given in before the day was over."I scoff. "No, I wouldn't have."He raises his hands in surrender and takes a step back. "I won't be stupid enough to argue with my gorgeous, pregnant Luna."I shoot him a scowl but can't resist taking his hand as we walk along the
Jaxon's POVI shift and take off into the woods, ensuring that she's right behind me. Once we reach the packhouse, we quickly change into our evening attire and head to the dining hall to join our pack. It Looks like everyone is having a great time!Melanie kisses me passionately before heading off to find her sister and socialize with the rest of the pack. I grab a beer from the bar and sit at our table, watching my amazing mate surrounded by our pack with admiration.I can sense the incredible joy and pride radiating from her. Being embraced by a pack that used to treat her poorly means the world to her. They now accept her as the fierce, determined firecracker she is.Our Luna is perfect, Shadow purrs.She always has been and always will be.Ameer sits down beside me. "Y'all were gone for a while. I was about to send a search party out," he teases, throwing back a shot of whisky."I'd prefer my warriors not be traumatized like that," I chuckle lightly. Although, I'm sure everyone w
Jaxon's POVMy tongue plunges into her mouth, swallowing every whimper, moan, and cry as I pound into her mercilessly. The sound of our bodies clashing together echoes throughout the cave and it's hot as fuck. With one hand tightly gripping her waist, I close my other around her throat. I pull away from her mouth and slow down my pace to look at her. "I'm so proud of you," I breathe, "you're so amazing in every way and I'm grateful for every day that I get to call you mine."I can see the emotion in her eyes, and I know my words have touched her deeply. After what happened with Ayla, I know her heart was bruised from being used by someone she cared about and looked up to. But she knows my praise is genuine and out of love. She's everything to me, and I'll forever prove to her just how much she means to me.I don't know if she realizes it or not, but she's my saving Grace. She saved me from being a monster like her father. She saved me from the letting the darkness of losing both him a
Jaxon's POVI follow the lingering scent, leading me into a dark cave. My eyes quickly adjust to the lack of light, and I can practically feel the heat rolling off my mate from the other end of the cave. With my head hanging low and teeth bared, I close in on her like a predator about to pounce on its prey. Her eyes dart around, searching for an escape, but she quickly realizes there's no way out. As we both shift, I close the gap between us. She kneels, gazing up at me in the dark. A smirk forms on my face as I say, "Looks like you lost, baby girl. Better luck next time."Her eyes trail down my body until she reaches my throbbing erection. "Pity. Thought I could've gotten you a little more worked up first." Her tongue darts out to lick her lips. "Are you going to breed me, my dear Alpha?"My dick jumps at the idea. She'll grow a big, round belly with our pup, but she won't be in the kitchen. My fiery girl will be on the battlefield.I close my eyes, savoring her intoxicating scent. H
Jaxon’s POVIt's been three days since peace was restored in our world. We've got eleven packs without Alphas, but with Mel's help, Dusk and Rubeus are finding worthy replacements to preserve the peace we fought so hard for. Not only has she proven her worth to the pack, but she eliminated the most corrupt Alphas there were and prevented Ayla from literally taking over the world.Goddess, I can't even describe how thrilled I am that the bitch is dead. The moment she stabbed Melanie, she signed her ticket straight to hell. I'm grateful to both Dusk and Rubeus for being able to see past her bullshit and save me. They had me worried for a minute, but they came through in the end.Today is my mate's big day. She's combining her Luna ceremony and the recruits' graduation ceremony, and tonight we're having a huge feast to celebrate.After the recruits swear their loyalty to me and the safety of the pack, Melanie sinks into the water beside me. The thin material of her white dress hardly con
Mel's POV"B-But how?" Ayla stammers, still in shock."In a dream, the Moon Goddess granted me the Eternalbane dagger,” Dusk explains. “I never expected to use it, but she revealed the growing darkness within your heart. I was too blinded by love to believe it. It wasn't until Jaxon uncovered your role in my mate's death and you erased his memories, I knew that it was time. I would never let you do to Melanie what you did to me!"My mouth drops open. When did she erase Jaxon's memories, and how did I not notice?He quickly helps Rubeus to his feet. "You okay?"He winces, watching Ayla whither on the ground in agony. "I'll be fine. I thought she couldn't die?""The dagger only ended her immortality. Melanie will be the one to finish her off." There's a murderous intensity on his face as he hands me the blade. "Kill her and make it painful."Jaxon's fingers press against my waist, a gentle squeeze before he reluctantly releases his hold. "I can't argue with that," he mumbles.I draw clo