Alex’s pov:
Denying jade was the most difficult thing I had to do. Waking up next to her, however, was the best feeling ever. She was so beautiful, I felt blessed to be her mate. But naturally, I wasn’t whipped just because of her looks. She was such a kind and compassionate woman, that it definitely made her perfect luna material.
While I realized rather late that she had not managed to befriend many pack members, I was sure that with what happened during the moon ball, it would prove even more difficult for her. I just hoped she wouldn’t hate me for it. I loved her with every fiber of my being, and it took a lot of willpower on my part to hold back. I didn’t want to scare her away, only choosing to show her the passion I had for her.
Needless to say, with my wolf threatening to take over and claim her at any given moment, I was cautiously threading on dangerous territory.
I trailed my knuckles across her cheek lovingly and then left the bed. It just wouldn’t do for her to wake up and find me staring at her like a creep. I could only hope her wolf would manifest quickly for the wait was killing me slowly, and driving me insane.
I had just finished getting dressed when she stirred and sat up in bed.
“Morning,” she grumbled, looking like she wanted to sleep some more.
“Good morning, love,” I sat on the edge of the bed, gazed at her lovingly and then asked, “Did you sleep well?”
Blushing, she nodded in response.
I repressed the urge to tease her and then announced, “Breakfast will be served in twenty. Let’s get you dressed and freshened up.”
She let out a yawn and then left the bed at long last. I handed her the clothes I had an omega fetch from her room. She gave me the stink eye, a frown marring her face, “You went through my things?”
“No. I had an omega do the task for me,” I told her unapologetically.
It looked like my sweet mate wasn’t a morning person.
“Whatever,” she rolled her eyes at me before going to the bathroom for a quick shower.
She emerged dressed in a pair of skinny black jeans and the skimpiest off-shoulder crop top ever.
I drew in a sharp breath. Was that even a top? What was this omega thinking?
“Love,” I drawled and her eyes met mine, “How about you wear a shirt of mine?”
“How about I don’t?” She retorted with an eyeroll. “You’re being ridiculous right now.”
I did my best not to growl at her in annoyance, and succeeded too. Didn’t she know just how stunning she was? How many times did I have to tell her I would never share?
Instead of showing her my possessiveness in a way that would startle her, and maybe even scare her away, I began to unbutton my shirt.
“Going to change again?” She asked in a puzzled tone, her confusion rather adorable. “Do we have enough time for that?”
Once I threw the shirt on the bed, I turned to face her. Her eyes took me in hungrily and I reveled in the effect I had on her.
“Let’s go,” I told her softly, holding out a hand.
She froze for a moment before telling me, “You’re leaving the room like this?”
“Yeah. What’s wrong with what I am wearing?” I challenged. I was being childish and all kinds of unreasonable but oh well… What was life without some spice?
“Not wearing you mean?” She retorted with yet another eyeroll, her lips pursing. “You’re childish, you know that?”
Then, she took my hand, and with an eyebrow raised, she said, “Let’s.”
It seemed like the plan just back-fired.
We made our way downstairs. I greeted the pack members casually despite the weird looks they were giving me. Sure, we werewolves weren’t exactly shy, and I was no prude, but I wasn’t one to roam the pack house shirtless, unless it was after a training session.
Once we reached the dining room where breakfast was served, Jade was about to leave my side and settle somewhere else at the table, but I held her hand and helped her into the chair next to mine, on the right side the chair which was reserved for my luna.
None of the visiting alphas dared to utter a word. They had enough good sense to keep mum, it would seem.
Making quite the show, Xander. My dad told me via mind-link as he and mom settled on the chairs next to Jade’s. Lost a bet?
I’m just making sure they understand she belongs to me, was my response. And one could say I lost a battle yes.
She does belong to you, but do you have to make her uncomfortable with all the attention?
The old man made a valid point. But then again, Jade herself had yet to realize that we were fated mates. I couldn’t go around scream it on the roofs, no matter how tempting the idea was… but that didn’t mean I couldn’t act in a different manner that was just as loud in getting my point across.
We were halfway through breakfast when a disgruntled Myra made an appearance. Out of all the alphas’ progeny that had come to attend the moon ball, she had to be the most annoying one.
“Xan…” she began in her usual whiny voice and I shot her a glare. She sat down at a vacant seat before saying, “Alpha Xander, if I may, I have a request to make.”
“Which is?” I raised an eyebrow in question.
She dampened her lips nervously. “I’d like to stay back for a week, in the hopes of finding my mate.”
The nerve of this woman! She most definitely had a hidden agenda, and I wasn’t foolish enough to give in to her demands.
Jade stiffened from beside me and found her eggs particularly interesting, focusing all her attention on them.
“I believe you’ve been here enough times to know your mate isn’t from my pack,” I rejected her request immediately, as I placed a comforting hand on my mate’s thigh.
Jade looked at me, a small smile adorning her face. I mirrored her smile.
I leaned forward and pecked her lips lovingly, my smile broadening. She blushed beautifully and then focused back on her breakfast, all the while remaining silent.
Heavens have mercy, I wanted her wolf to come out and claim me as hers already.