Alex’s pov:
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 naturally only too happy to oblige her. No matter if she was upset with me or not, our chemistry and passion was off the charts, and that reassured me somewhat. It gave me hope hope that our relationship and bond were salvageable.
This time around she didn’t fall asleep afterwards. Instead, she laid on her back, looking thoroughly loved, and said, “Do you realize how sneaky it was of you to hide our bond from me?”
I wasn’t sure I was ready for such pillow talk. Nevertheless I answered her as truthfully as I possibly could, “My intention wasn’t to hurt you, love. I just wanted you to come to love me and appreciate me on your own, instead of being forced into it.”
She let out a soft noncommittal sound in response. Then, turning her face to look me in the eyes, she said, “I said no to marking only because I always wanted it to be a special occasion. I didn’t want my heat to be the decisive factor in my getting marked.”
I nodded at her, a small smile stretching my lips. “You don’t have to explain, love. I respect your decision.”
“I just felt like that didn’t sit well with you, so I just wanted you to know that it wasn’t like I was punishing you or anything. I just…” she responded, trailing off in the end.
She was so sweet, so caring, I wondered what I did to get myself such a mate.
“Don’t worry about me, Jade,” I told her earnestly. “I’m a big boy. Even if it was a punishment on your part, I believe I can take it. I’ll stop at nothing to get your forgiveness, love.”
Her eyes misted with tears and I couldn’t help but reach out to wipe them away the moment they fell. “Why are you crying?” I asked her, beyond confused.
“I’m just wondering what ever I did so right in my previous lifetime to get myself a mate like you.”
I couldn’t help but smile at her at that. “I’m the luckiest one out of us two. I couldn’t have gotten a better mate and match if I tried.”
“Debatable,” she mirrored my smile.
I wasn’t forgiven yet, but it sure felt like she wasn’t as angry with me as she previously had been.
** ** ** ** ** ** ** ** ** ** **
Jade’s heat lasted three days. We spent the time holed up in my wing, either making love passionately, sleeping or talking, with food and bathroom breaks thrown in the midst.
No unmated male was allowed on our floor during that time, Luc my beta included. I trusted the man with my life, but I was not one to tempt werewolf nature.
I learnt more about my sweet mate during her heat than I did during her entire stay with the pack. I knew she trained hard under her parents, and was not someone would want to mess with, as she didn’t tolerate bullying. But I didn’t expect her to be so shy around me that she’d blush many times a day. And boy did I enjoy the sight of her blushing.
She was carefree for the most part although she was worried about her dormant wolf. I tried to reassure her, when she opened up to me about her concerns, by telling her that getting her heat should mean that it wouldn’t be too long before she awakened.
And that was when she seemed to remember a passage in Annabelle’s diaries. It hinted at the possibility of awakening as a born healer before celebrating her nineteenth birthday, provided she met her mate and interacted enough with him.
I rejoiced at the idea of her getting the missing part of her sooner. Her wolf would make her stronger, faster, and much more intuitive. Besides, she would be able to feel what I had been feeling for months now. And for that, I couldn’t wait.
I couldn’t wait to have my love for her reciprocated. Truth be told, the wait was torturous. But I was willing to wait for as long as it took. She was more than worth it.
The day she’d claim me as hers at long last would be my happiest. Of that, I was sure.
Her heat had just receded when I received a mindlink that had me startled. It was but one word. And one word was enough to get me to spring up and out of bed.
ROGUES! It was a call for help, and I immediately understood that we were dealing with rather imposing numbers… otherwise, the patrollers would have dealt with them already.
It had been years since we had last dealt with rogues, and I couldn’t help but wonder if the peace we had fought so hard to maintain was going to crumble so easily.