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
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: 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
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: It was happening… I truly was pregnant with Alex’s baby. I was only hit with the news, full force, as we heard the baby’s heartbeat. And as to be expected, Alex was overjoyed, whereas I had mixed feelings about this. I was young, and still craved many experiences and the freedom to make them happen… More importantly, would I be a good mother to my pup? Was I fit to raise Alex’s pup? Of course you are, my wolf chimed in at once. You’re his mate. Who else would be a better fit? I just… I tried to make sense of what I was feeling, but I couldn’t. You know, Jade. It wouldn’t hurt to trust yourself more. You are Alex’s fated Luna, and he loves you to the moon and back… so much so that he managed to fight off the effect of the potion, and was docile enough to take the milk and olive oil. “We count on your discretion, Dr Barnes,” Alex let out as words of parting. The doctor merely beamed at us, “Naturally.” With the assurance that he wound’t babble to the pack about my p
Alex’s pov: Jade and I were walking idly, side by side, on our way to the nearby beach, when an incoming mind-link, frenetic and desperate came in. “We’re under attack!” I stiffened at once. The words were far too specific for me to not pick on them. There was no mention of rogues, nor vampires, much less witches… Ergo, chances were we were being attacked by a nearby pack. The attack didn’t come as a surprise, but the timing did. It was awfully fortunate that it came when I was away from the pack… A coincidence? I would be foolish to believe in that, especially considering the circumstances. I grabbed my mate’s hand and told her softly, as I placed the key to the jeep in her palm, “Mind taking the wheel for me?”“Sure,” she beamed at me, her eyes sparkling with mirth and joy. I was sad that I needed to drive said mirth and joy away from her expression, but there was no helping it. “Drive as if the devil is on our tail,” I went on grimly. Her expression turned into a grimace of
Jade’s pov: It took us nearly 5 hours to reach Alpha Kade’s pack. And when we did, we breathed out a sigh of relief, for we hadn’t been followed, and we hadn’t been attacked either. We were welcomed in at the gates by one of his warriors, who were polite and courteous, though they sported a guarded look. I could understand it all too well… not only were we strangers, but also strangers that could possibly bring war to their territory. I tried not to let it get to me, and kept my head proudly high and my chin jutted in defiance, while Trevor did the talking. Soon, we reached the pack house which was deep within the forest. And I could tell at once that the pack was almost as wealthy as ours from the size of its house. A man I didn’t recognize was the one to welcome us into the house. “You must be Luna Jade,” he openly smiled at me, though I wasn’t sure whether it was a genuine or a commercial smile, “I am Beta Carson and I am here to welcome to our pack. Gamma Trevor,” he nodde
Alex’s pov: Midnight Moon Pack had come prepared. But we thankfully had gotten many hours of rigid training in as well, so we weren’t caught completely off guard. They had a greater number of fighters, but they were less skilled than ours. And naturally, the numbers tired us, but we thankfully weren’t beat… Not yet. Not if I could help it. It was utter and complete chaos for a solid couple of days, when there barely was a reprieve of a few hours when they retreated to regroup. I chose not to follow after them immediately, because my pack needed the rest as well. During said reprieve, some of Alpha Kade’s warriors came to lend a hand. Luc was the one patrolling at the time, and had thankfully recognized them before mayhem broke out again. At the break of dawn, as we chose to advance and attack them where they had regrouped to the north border, we caught them unaware. Before long, Luc had killed one of the bigger wolves they had, and I went for the prize – the biggest wolf of the
Jade’s pov: The elders were as loathsome as ever, and had made sure to tell me just how useless I was as a Luna. It was our third meeting this week, and they kept stressing over the fact that a pack without its alpha was a pack that could not function properly. As if I didn’t know that already. Luna Sherry and Alpha Kade had to leave the day prior back to their territory, but after telling me repeatedly to reach out to them should there be any news, or if I were to need any help. Looking at the elders, who were actually part of the pack, I felt bile rise in my throat. Oh, heavens only knew how much I was itching for a fight. But I couldn’t. Not only was my wolf basically dormant, nurturing the baby within me, but also because I didn’t care for the mess that would surely follow. “We are talking in circles,” one of them muttered, his eyes spitting fire at me. “We need to take action. We haven’t received any news in regards to Alpha Alexander’s trial, or any other news…” “I won’t t
Jade’s pov: Upon contacting Alpha Ian, he said that he would do his best to assist me in these dire times, just not openly so – no doubt for fear of backlash from the Alpha King. And I understood his reasons all too well. He had a pack to protect, and I would be silly to take offense at that. Alpha Kade, on the other hand, was immediately alarmed by the news of Alex’s imprisonment, and had offered to come visit the pack at once, in the hopes to talk strategy with Luc, Trevor and me. I was currently at the entrance of the pack house as I waited for his and Luna Sherry’s arrival.His mate, absurdly sweet and supportive, had declared that we would be calling one another at 7 pm tops, everyday, without fail. Our conversations varied, and I could feel that she was doing her best to cheer me up. Today marked day 7 since Alex was taken from me and his pack, and we had yet to hear any word from the Alpha King, as to when he would be facing trial. The wait was maddening, and it was all I co
Alex’s pov:The Alpha King had an unreadable expression as he looked at me, before a smirk broke out on his face. I didn’t know why but the smirk rubbed me off the wrong way. Nevertheless, I couldn’t break our eye-contact.I was no longer bound by the rules which dictated that I should be mindful of my manners when facing him. But as I remembered my sweet beloved, I averted my gaze, knowing that while he couldn’t go beyond killing me or torturing me to no end, he could hurt Jade.And that wasn’t an option.“You’re not broken,” he let out in an even tone of voice. “I am impressed.”That had the knack to make my eyebrows shoot up in my hairline. Was he taunting me or telling the truth? And to what end was he saying this to me?The sound of other footsteps soon filled the silence that had stretched between us. And before long, Marc, his beta appeared.“You’re quite resilient, Alpha Alexander,” Marc let out the moment he saw me. “But what I like the most about you is how quick-witted you
Jade’s pov:Naturally, because luck was never on my side, the first thing I had to deal with, upon reaching the pack, was the elders.Though I had expected some kind of confrontation, I didn’t believe I was ready for one just yet. I needed time to process everything that had happened over the course of the past 24h, and had many things on my plate already.But they weren’t lenient enough to allow me the time to even breathe.“Let’s talk in the conference room,” Jeremiah, the most daring one in my opinion, let out without so much as a preamble.I didn’t like the way he formulated his sentence, but now wasn’t the time to be a nitpicking wolf.“The luna has just arrived,” Luc spoke up at once, beating me to the punch… and it was for the best, because the scathing answer I had at the tip of my tongue would land me in nothing but trouble. “Surely the meeting can wait.”“It wasn’t a request,” was the retort we received.I raised an eyebrow, and felt my tiredness fade away as anger washed ov
Jade’s pov:Beta Marc was naturally intimidating – with a no-nonsense attitude which was half-frightening and half-infuriating – and possibly moreso because of the deep scowl, which only seemed to disappear whenever he interacted with Paulina and Anna.I had naturally heard the rumors. He had lost his pregnant mate a few years back, and had vowed to remain celibate since then. Though, to be fair, I believed he had a soft spot for Paulina.But now, he appeared as the most frightening foe ever.We were in the Alpha King’s territory, and Alex had had to attack his guards, seeing as they were ready to do the queen’s bidding and throw us all in the dungeons – to do heavens only knew what.I knew the situation was not in our favor, and Alex was ready to take the fall for it, provided I got the chance to leave this damned place. I wanted to do anything to prevent that from happening, but I knew deep down that I was powerless to do anything really.I hated the feeling with passion, and I coul
Alex’s pov:I was happy to see my beautiful Jade up and about. And seeing her interact with Anna, the sweet child who had warmed up to her, made something bloom in my chest. I could picture her with our own child, playing with him, cooing at him softly… The images were comforting given the circumstances, and yet bittersweet at the same time – as I might not be a part of their future.I watched her and Anna laugh merrily, almost unaware of the looming danger. She was not carrying just an alpha, but the alpha of alphas. And although the Alpha King might have taken the news well, the queen, his mother, most definitely did not… Possibly, moreso because The Alpha King had yet to be mated.There was so much to do and say, but all I knew was that we needed some kind of break and alone time too.Cole, I mind-linked the warrior who had tagged along as my driver, Watch out outside the room for any threats. I need to have a word with your Luna.Yes, alpha, was his immediate answer, as he stepped
Jade’s pov: I felt like I was at peace, and yet something in the back of my mind kept telling me I was forgetting something of great importance. Realizing I had basically passed out, in the middle of the chaos that followed the fall of the barrier, I woke up with a jolt. I sat straight, eyes wide, breathing labored, and I vaguely heard someone tell me, “It’s okay, love.” Love? Love? I mentally repeated, a little bit too numb to function or think for a moment there. That could only be Alex, and tears gathered in my eyes as I looked around for him, and saw him sitting on a chair next to the bed I woke up in. I was familiar with the room. And knowing I was still at the Alpha King’s palace made me feel anxious to leave already. “Don’t cry, love,” he drawled as he drew patterns over the top of my hand, and I felt the tingles that followed, and which were as pleasurable as ever. Heavens, I missed him! “The baby?” I asked as I put my hand over my slightly bulging belly. “The baby
Alex’s pov:Soon, I was holding Jade in my arms, bridal style, while following a servant to the hallway where her room was located. Paulina had said she would probably come to on her own, and there was therefore no need to panic. Lucille, Jade’s mother, was led to the clinic, almost against her will, but I naturally sent Cole with her. I couldn’t bring myself to relax around them now that I knew they tried to hurt my mate.Paulina’s little replica, whose name I believed to be Anna, was adamant about staying with Jade, and Paulina had trouble convincing her to go to their room.“It’s okay,” I soon told Paulina. “She’s just a kid.”“Are you sure?” She asked, tilting her head to the side.“Positive.” I assured her with a small smile.“I will be in the room across from this one then,” she declared with a nod.I placed Jade on the bed softly, and seeing the sereine look on her face, I reasoned that she wasn’t in any pain.Anna stayed by the end of the bed, her eyes locked onto Jade’s face,
Alex’s pov:My worry became my fuel as I fought off the guards with barely contained anger. I couldn’t allow myself to be consumed with fury, as I feared I would lose control, which would prove lethal.My wolf could tell that the danger was real, and recognized the witch and her daughter as people who needed our protection, in addition to Jade and Lucille – Jade’s mother – naturally.There was no doubt in my mind that there would be consequences to today’s chaos, but chances were that the Alpha King would not condemn his mother. The queen had naturally retreated along with her servants, and I was left to fend off the attackers.The guards were strong, almost as strong as Trevor, and they knew how to fight in a group, their movements in sync… But I was an Alpha, one of the strongest of the country, and this was my family they were threatening to harm.Even though the territory was foreign, I got the upper hand before long, and they laid wounded and passed out on the soil of the forest.