Heat licked at my skin. White hot desire pooled at my entrance, making me feverish with pure unadulterated need. I badly wanted Alex… scratch that. I needed Alex like I needed my next breath. He had placed me on the bed before disappearing into the bathroom, saying something about running a bath for me. Who cares about bathing right now? I inwardly growled as I began to undress, my clothes suffocating me. Despite the need burning within me, I couldn’t help but wonder how I could go into heat so abruptly. It didn’t make sense, and I wanted to know what was going on. How could I go into heat when I had yet to meet my mate? Surely if I had met him, he would have acknowledged my existence one way or another, no matter if I was unable to feel the bond myself… right? “Alex,” I croaked out his name the moment he appeared next to me as I struggled to get my pants off me. “What’s going on?” “A female goes into heat within three months of meeting her mate, love,” he said simply, his eyes sof
I expected some whining from Jade about how I kept the fact that we were mates from her, but nothing could have prepared me for her doubt and insecurities. It was glaringly obvious that I failed to show her just how much she mattered to me.And then, despite her heat, she forbade me from marking her, and I could only respect her decision even if it hurt me and bruised my ego.I truly did fail her as a mate, I reasoned.That being said, I would happily spend my life making amends to her, if it meant she would choose me.After worshipping her body like the goddess she was, leaving no inch of her untouched or unexplored, claiming her whole, I felt like a changed man. And as she slept, looking beautifully spent from our lovemaking, and I contemplated my next move, while drawing patterns on the soft skin of her back, I knew I had my work cut out for me.She was my mate and luna, and I would happily lay my life for her.Two hours of rest later, she woke up, feverish and in need again. I was
I had never seen Alex fight. Training sessions hardly counted seeing as he was never truly serious. During the vampire attack in which my powers had awakened, I had not been focusing on him… My loss, I know! And this time was no better. I would not be able to lend a helping hand, or support him in any way, much less observe him fight. As the only daughter of two proud warriors, there was so much for me to learn still… and boy how much a part of me wished he’d be the one teaching me! After he announced that there was a rogue attack, and left to fend the intruders off, not before telling me to stay put, I remained in bed, thinking, fretting, worrying about him, and everyone I knew. A pity-party and ten minutes later, I carefully left the bed, and headed straight to the bathroom for a shower which I hoped would soothe my deliciously aching body and frayed nerves. To be honest, it helped… though my mind never stopped conjuring scenarios which were utterly horrible. As I was about to
I headed to the clinic in a rush, the babysitters still trailing behind me.My eyes found Luc’s the moment I entered the austere building. His eyes were void of emotions, and his face impassible. And it was precisely because of his poker face that I was worried. He didn’t even have the heart to bark a joke or anything. He merely looked at me and nodded curtly in acknowledgment. He was that grim and then some.I felt his pain and worry. It was suffocating. And I could barely breathe through it all.I decided to enter the room which he guarded diligently. Luc looked at me, his gaze questioning but didn’t really stop me.“I don’t know how just yet but I believe I can help,” I told him sincerely.He seemed to ponder the risks and the benefits that could come out of my intervening, before he stepped aside, silently allowing me to go inside.I thought I was prepared to see a gravely wounded Trevor, but it turned out I wasn’t ready at all. He laid on his back, face ashen and scrunched up in
Coming to my senses had never been as weird. I felt as if my consciousness had been floating about and my waking up was like my landing. The moment I moved my hand a little, I felt someone squeeze it back.And then I felt sparks or rather acknowledged them. The feeling was so foreign and yet absolutely and undeniably pleasurable. For a moment there I didn’t know what these sparks meant. And then, it hit me. I was feeling my mate’s touch. This was Alex.Oh my god! I mentally exclaimed. Alex! The rogues! What happened?I opened my eyes and my mate’s loving gaze.“You gave me a scare, love,” he told me in a tone that was only half reprimanding. “I have never felt that a few hours could be so long.”“I didn’t mean to worry you,” I croaked out, my voice raspy, trying to convey my feelings to him by holding his gaze captive.“Thank you, luna,” someone began and I tore my gaze away from my mate’s. I saw that Trevor was also in the room - he and Luc both. “Thank you for saving me from death.”
The healers, who had been busy trying to save Trevor before I intervened, had naturally had a talk with Alex before I woke up. They had sworn to keep my secret safe.While my mate was only too happy to tell the pack about my wolf, they didn’t need to know about my being a born healer just yet, according to him. And since I trusted the man, not only with my heart, but with my very existence, I let him call the shots. The full moon was tomorrow, and I was still amazed by the sparks each time I felt them. They were so pleasurable, I believed I could never properly get used to them. It was so unsettling, but in a good sense. So, I wasn't complaining. As for the feelings I harbored for Alex, my wonderful loving mate, they heightened and made me feel like I was close to bursting at the seams. All I could say was that no one compared to him in my book. I could only imagine how much self-control he must have exerted not to claim me as his from day one... the mate bond truly was something el
As a mated pair, it was only natural that Alex and I now wore our marks on our necks… and yet, it made me feel proud and slightly self-conscious each time someone stared at my neck. I was fairly sure he only felt pride contrarily to me. Indeed, since he had played the waiting game, it was understandable how he wasn't feeling any of my self-consciousness. Besides, marks were so common in the werewolf community that I was a bit of an odd one, according to mom that was. Admittedly, I had much more pressing issues to worry about. Tonight was the full moon, and my talkative wolf was more than ready for our first shift.The closer we were getting to the fateful hour, the more restless she was becoming. By the time the light went out and night set in, I was more worried than excited if I were to be honest.What if something went wrong? What if much like my sixteen birthday, my attempts proved to be unsuccessful? I was beyond nervous, and full of insecurities too. My 16th birthday was night
Training should have been the least of my worries. My wolf definitely had great focus and was also good speed wise. I was no way near my parents’ level but I could keep up with the training, and it turned out it wasn’t as harsh as I had expected it.We were out in the open field, and we had gathered a little bit of a crowd, mostly kids who had just finished school, and were cheering me on.All in all, if I were to be honest, training was enjoyable.“I’m proud of you, sweetheart,” my dad let out as we finished our first training session.Tears stung my eyes at that.“We’re proud of you,” my mom put emphasis on the we part. “You did incredibly well for someone who just shifted yesterday.”“You think so?” I asked, incredulous beyond words.“You’re definitely gifted,” my dad reassured me.“She’s got good genes playing for her too,” mom bumped shoulders with him, and he smiled down at her. His smile spoke louder about his love than any words could.I admired their complicity, loving the wa
Jade’s pov: Now that our bond sparks came back with passion, I was amazed at the feeling, almost as if I were newly mated to Alex. As I leaned against his chest, sated but also high on adrenaline – the thought of possibly getting caught being the biggest turn-on – I couldn’t help but think of everything that had occurred over the past few weeks. Ever since Camelia stepped into our lives, it seemed like we could barely talk things through. She had managed to plant the seed of doubt in me, despite my love for my mate and my devotion to the pack. “A penny for your thoughts, love?” Alex asked as he caressed my cheek lovingly. “I am angry at Camelia but also at myself,” I admitted sotto-voce. “I love you more than I could put it into words, and yet she still managed to drift us apart somehow.” Alex’s expression turned grim at once, and I inhaled deeply as I tried to keep my emotions in check. What if that damned witch had succeeded in separating us totally? What if Alex could no lon
Jade’s pov: As to be expected, Camelia objected at once, “You don’t know if you can trust your third in command or anyone really. Besides, you’re perfectly fine, aren’t you?” Alex seemed to ponder her words for a moment, but his eyes turned black at once, a sign that his wolf wanted to take over, “I will rip you to shreds, witch…” At that point, Luc didn’t hesitate to give her a powerful blow on the back of her head, thus rendering her unconscious. “We’re in this together. I will drink the milk and the olive oil, along with you,” I told Alex in a soothing tone of voice. He shook his head negatively, “No.” I didn’t know what he was objecting to exactly, but stood frozen in my spot, as I waited for his next words. “The baby will get hurt,” he said in his deep alpha voice, and his eyes, albeit still black like night, were definitely tender on me. “Give me that,” he then instructed Trevor, who handed him both the olive oil and the milk without delay. After drinking more than eno
Alex’s pov:Ever since Jade’s father passed away, we had not been intimate… and no, I meant more than just sex. Even the usual morning kiss became a little bit of a chore to her, it would seem.I was trying to give her time and space, not knowing what went through that beautiful head of hers… And that might have been quite the mistake!Indeed, in hindsight, I realized that giving her space and time allowed doubt to fester. And trust was fundamental in any relationship.I was thinking of taking her on a date, seeing as it had been quite some time since our last one. I was about to start making arrangements, and even call her, when there was a knock on the door of my office.I straightened up, sensing Camelia, and wondered if today was the day she would bear good news for me.As per usual, before long, her overly potent perfume permeated the air, and I had the urge to open a window, but I didn’t, knowing that she had caught a cold.“Hello, Xander,” she greeted me softly, her eyes twinkli
Jade’s pov:Soon enough, a couple of weeks went by since my dad’s passing, and Trevor had become my shadow. I believed that Alex, being Alex, only trusted his third-in-command to protect me. Alex’s meetings with Camelia were starting to bother me if I were to be honest. Not only was the witch an attention seeker, but also a cunning woman. She was trying desperately to get as much time with Alex as she could… and while I could understand their need to talk strategy, in an attempt to find a solution to the manipulated rogues issue, did it really have to be on a one-to-one basis? My jealousy was definitely having a field day, and I wasn’t happy about it. I had gone to the training grounds to let off some steam, too irked by the situation to do anything else, moreso because I couldn’t object to it – I didn’t have it in me to be a diplomat after all. And now that I was back to the pack house, I was just about to enter Alex’s office, when Luc caught my attention, near the door. The man w
Jade’s pov:I could understand that my father’s funeral represented an occasion for our pack to know where some of the other packs stood. The beta of The Howling Wolf pack had already made their position quite clear, so I had no qualms sending him away… But that was not why I was preoccupied. I was troubled by the way mom had disappeared into a corner halfway through the funeral. I was anxious to know what Camelia’s endgame was. I was also worried about the future of the pack for many understandable reasons.And to further add to my list of worries, I didn’t know what the future had in store for me and Alex, and our baby.Through the next 3 days, Trevor remained with me whether Alex was beside me or not. And I found his loyalty absolutely endearing, though admittedly he might have been following orders.“Luna Jade,” Trevor began in a feeble tone of voice that was so unlike him, I feared his next words. “Your mother has collapsed and has been taken to the clinic.”I stilled, almost una
Jade’s pov:I was at the funeral, crying as to be expected… and even though I was supposed to be at ease among the pack, with people who loved me, I wasn’t.The same unusual smell from Alex’s office caught me unaware during the funeral, and I found myself trying to find the person whose very scent I had yet to memorize… and it turned out that it came from none other than Camelia.If there was one way to describe it, I would say there was some potent jasmin in the mix, though that wasn’t all there was to it.And though I tried to be reasonable and trust Alex, the fact remained that her perfume was too much for me at the moment, and it also grated on my nerves for some reason.Don't let this witch upset you, my wolf growled in my mind. We must think about our pup.Her reminder gave me back some of my lucidity. I had been planning to pounce on her, and strangle her till she admitted what she was here for, but my wolf's input brought me back to my senses.It was audacious of her to show u
Jade’s pov:I came to the feeling of a pleasurable butterfly caress on the back of my hand. It was kind of unusual, seeing as Alex usually caressed my back during my sleep, but I brushed it off.I came to, after the most terrible nightmare, and I realized I needed to make sure it wouldn't come to pass, ever.“What are you doing up, Alex? It's still early,” I grumbled sleepily, my voice hoarse as one who had slept a lot.“Jade,” mom’s voice reached me even as the hand covering mine tightened ever so slightly.“Mom?” I mumbled and then opened my eyes at long last.I found myself in a room so white it was grating on my nerves. I was in one of the clinic’s rooms, and yet I had no recollection of what might have brought me here.What was going on?“Mom?” I began tentatively, not quite sure how to formulate my thoughts.“Mrs Falls, please call for the nurse,” Alex, who was holding my hand tenderly, preciously, as if to never let go, let out in a weary tone.I looked into his vivid green eye
Alex’s pov: The way Jade stiffened in my lap for a moment, before she burst out in tears was worrying me. She appeared to be in shock – though it was understandable. “You don’t mean that, Luc. That can’t be. It has to be a mistake,” she was telling him frantically in between tears. She then shot out of my lap before I could hold her, and went to Luc, “This isn’t a good joke, Luc…” She shook him and he allowed her to do as she pleased. Her sorrow was almost suffocating me, and yet there was nothing I could do but simply be around for her – for as long as she would need me. “It’s not a joke, Jade,” he said in a hushed bleak tone of voice. “I am so sorry for your loss.” She was startled back and let his hand go as if the very small skin contact burnt her deeply. “But dad was such a strong warrior,” she objected. “How could it be? How did it happen?” “The patrollers were outnumbered, but had the attack covered efficiently for a moment. Then, one of the rogues went for Silas, and
Jade’s pov: There was nothing quite as disheartening as having an argument with one’s significant other. Though if I were to be honest, I wasn’t even sure how it escalated that quickly. The visiting alphas had left while I was on the training grounds, and for that I was glad… I felt like I could breathe more easily without being the main attraction. I could be myself around the pack, no matter if I trusted everyone or not. I knew that my dad was on patrol duty tonight but mom wasn’t. I mind-linked her at once, “Where are you, mom?” “Your father’s out on patrol duty but I am in our room,” she told me without delay, almost as if sensing my urgency. “I am coming,” I told her in a soft tone. The moment I caught sight of her, sitting on the bed, waiting for me, tears fell down my eyes. “Oh, Jade, sweetheart, what’s wrong?” She cooed as she rose to her feet, and hugged me at once. I shook my head negatively and merely nuzzled her, needing the comfort only she could give me. When I