Jayce’S POV.
The look on Jovan’s face when I left his chambers had me smiling from molar to molar. Our conversation had way gone better than I thought it would and hitting him again after more than a decade was refreshing. My punch sent him flying to the other end of the room. The next time I’ll have to hit him, I’ll make sure he gets hospitalised.
As I ascend the staircase leading to my bedroom, memories of the conversation I had with Reed burn in my eyes. Even though he has been very blunt and almost insensitive about certain things, he was right.
Alora is the future Luna of this pack. The first thing I have to do is organise a welcome ceremony for her where she will be crowned Luna of the pack and after that, I’ll proceed with enrolling her in the pack training academy. She needs to know how to defend herself physically. She has to learn.
When I get to my bedroom door, I knock and twist the doorknob open. I poke my head in and scan around the bedroom, but she’s nowhere to be found. The pleasant smell of her pheromone, however, makes me understand that she is in the bathroom.
In the bathroom.
My mate is in the bathroom, probably taking a shower.
She’s naked.
My body instantly heats up at the thought of her being naked.
Since I brought her home, I’ve been keeping my space so she could get comfortable. I’m dying to touch her, I’m dying to mark her as mine, I’m dying to make love to her. I can’t wait for the day when I’ll have to do all that. I will be the happiest man alive.
Soon, the bathroom door opens and Alora steps out. My eyes almost fall off from their sockets. She has a white towel around her body that ends midthigh. It exposes her legs and her shoulders that are dripping wet.
“Alpha Jayce!” She gasps In shock as she calls my name.
“Oh my God I’m sorry!” I apologise and turn around at the speed of light even though I don’t want to. I want to keep looking at her naked body. I want to go over and take that towel from her body and take her to my bed and make her understand the fact that she is mine and mine alone.
Jovan’s words about him fucking my mate crosses my mind and I go red with rage. I have to protect her at all costs. I will die if anyone else were to ever lay hands on her. She is mine alone.
“I had no idea you were back. I would’ve just gotten dressed in the bathroom.” I quickly turn around to look at her. She looks so shy and scared that I wonder if we are ever going to get to the sex part of this relationship.
“It’s okay. No need to explain. I’ll… I’ll just leave so you can get dressed. Call me when you are done.” And with that, I breathlessly scamper out of the bedroom before my carnal desires take hold of me and make me do something I’m not supposed to.
I have to take baby steps with Alora.
Baby steps.
When I leave my bedroom, I mind link my Beta, Lloyd to meet me at the wine bar in my living room and upon my arrival, I find him sitting on one of the stools, slowly sipping a glass of wine. It makes me smile.
Lloyd is punctual and easy to work with, unlike Reed who is always intentionally tardy, especially when I insist on him being punctual and is difficult to work with because he hardly takes orders from me, his Alpha. He does what he has to do at the time and pace that suits him and it annoys me all the time. He’s a total nutcase, but it hurts me to say that he is weirdly competent! Way more than Lloyd. He does his assignments properly, no mistakes and I never have to go inspect or double check anything he is working on because he’s no doubt going to do a great job.
Reed is a complicated werewolf and not a lot of people can deal with him, that’s why he has no friends at all. No one likes being with him because he’s mean and doesn’t filter the words that come out of his mouth.
“I thought you were retiring for the day.” Lloyd’s voice jabs me out of my thoughts. I walk over to the bar and take a seat on one of the barstools by his side. He pours me some wine and I take a sip.
“I was… but there’s kind of a situation in my bedroom right.”
“Situation?” He squints. I nod.
“Yep. Don’t wanna talk about it, so don’t ask.”
“Wouldn’t dare.”
I don’t want to talk to him about the fact that I saw my mate in a towel. It’ll make him imagine her in a towel which is something I do not like.
“So, how’s it going with our new Luna?” I let out a heavy sigh.
“She’s still walking on eggshells around me, but I can see she’s trying to get comfortable. It might take a while for her to adjust, but I’m willing to be patient with her.”
“Yeah, you have to be. Remember she has been through a lot.”
“She sure has.” Few minutes go by. “I need you to do something for me.” I break the silence. He sets his glass down and turns to look at me.
“What’s that?’
“I need you to keep a close eye on Reed.”
“Why? You think he’s up to something?”
“I hope not. He’s just been acting really weird.” Lloyd chuckles.
“Has there ever been a time when Reed isn’t acting weird?”
Good question.
And the answer is, there hasn’t.
Reed is always weird.
“Nope, there hasn’t.”
“He’s quite a handful, isn’t he?”
“You have no idea.” I roll my eyes in frustration.
“He doesn’t listen to your orders, he walks out on you during meetings, he talks to you like you were some commoner. I’m surprised you haven’t stripped him of his Omega title and had him punished.” There’s bitterness in Lloyd’s words and I completely understand him.
No matter how much Reed disrespects or annoys me, I can’t find in myself to strip him of his Omega title. For some odd reason, I like him very much and his competence makes it impossible for me to get rid of him. I need him by my side.
Ruling this pack would be a lot more difficult if not for him.
So I shake my head at Lloyd’s statement.
“Reed can be the way he is, stubborn, insufferable and mean, but he’s a very competent fellow and we can’t deny that. We need him. I’ll find a way to deal with his arrogance. For now, just keep a close eye on him.”
“I sure will.”
And the conversation goes on. I retire back to my bedroom and meet Alora already fast asleep.
The time will come when I won’t have to leave the bedroom when she wants to get dressed. I’m sure of that.