Jade’s pov:
By the time Luc returned with the change of clothes, the elders and even Alex’s parents had left. I took my mate’s beastly face in my hands, and told him in the sweetest tone I could manage, “I am okay now. We’re okay. Can you give back control to Alex?”
His wolf looked reluctant, as if he didn’t believe me, but soon enough the transition took place, and I helped him get dressed. Alex didn’t breathe a word out, seemingly in deep thoughts, and I didn’t dare to break the silence not because I feared him, mind you, but because I knew he was conflicted.
Alexander Bad was known for his astounding control, and such a slip must have bruised his ego… or so I guessed.
He only spoke once he was fully dressed, “I lost control, and for that, I am sorry, Jade.”
“Why do you even feel the need to apologize?” I asked, confused, but also feeling like my mate was taking on a burden that was far too heavy for him, for anyone really.
“Alphas need to have the best control among the pack,” he explained matter-of-factly. “And today, I proved myself unworthy of the title…”
“Don’t say that,” I cut in at once, unable to stand listening to his words any longer. “You’re a wonderful alpha. You care for your pack and put their safety above everything else. You are also the best mate I could have ever asked for… So please don’t call yourself unworthy.”
“But I…” he began to protest, and I pinned him with a frosty look that made him clamp his mouth shut almost comically.
“Don’t sell yourself short,” Luc let out in a friendly tone, which was, in my opinion, exactly what Alex needed. “You’re a great alpha.”
“The best this pack has known, no offense to your father,” Trevor finished Luc’s words for him.
“None taken,” Alex smiled at them, and then stretched back till his neck popped.
“Your control slipped because the elders were being insufferable, as per usual,” I said in a soft tone of voice. “And believe me when I say I was ready to burst at the seams myself.”
“The provocation was meant for you, Jade,” Luc then said, addressing me, “And it’s really for the best that Xander was the one to shift, and you remained cool through it all. I cannot begin to imagine the complications that would arise, had it been the other way around.”
“Yes, they were deliberately trying to upset you,” Trevor nodded in agreement, his face grave and somber. “I wonder why they would even suggest that Xander cared for who that tart took to her bed, when it is plainly obvious that he has only eyes for you.”
“They are still not over the fact that Jade is now their rightful luna,” Alex sighed in dismay, “And that somehow makes them think they have the right to be a royal pain.”
We finally strode out of the conference room once we had agreed on being extra cautious around the pack, and even moreso around the elders. They were apparently waiting for just a chance to get a better control over the pack, and that was something Alex wasn’t willing to let happen.
We went back to the bonfire, as if nothing of importance had happened, and tried to mingle as we usually would. Tyler was the first one to approach me once I had a moment to myself, soon followed by Eli.
“Are you okay?” Tyler asked in a tone that reflected his concern, breaking the silence surrounding us.
“I will be,” I assured him with a small smile.
“The elders looked positively livid, leaving the pack house earlier,” Eli grumbled. “I can’t say I ever liked them though.”
“They know,” I told them in earnest, raising an eyebrow that urged them to understand me without me further explaining things.
“What do they know?” Eli asked, his eyebrows knitted in a confused frown.
“About me,” I said in a hushed tone of voice.
“Oh no,” Tyler let out in a dejected tone, his eyes bulging ever so slightly. He was worried for him, and I was glad I made such a good friend. “How did they react?”
“None too kindly,” I said on a sigh, but adding a shrug in the mix to let them know I wasn’t affected by that much.
“Let them make a fuss,” it was Eli’s turn to show his nonchalance by shrugging, “I am sure the alpha is more than just smart enough to not listen to them blindly.”
“True,” Tyler agreed with him before adding, “But they can be troublesome nonetheless.”
Eli popped his fingers in succession, before saying in a nervous tone of voice, “They wouldn’t take action against you, would they?”
I didn’t want to worry them by telling them all that had occurred this evening, and thus I simply shrugged, feigning ignorance… But I knew. I knew the elders hadn’t liked me from day 1, and it seemed like my being a born healer didn’t help.
A girl soon approached Eli from behind, and put her hands over his eyes.
He wasn’t startled or even surprised, but still he played along, “Hmm… I don’t know.” To which she giggled under her breath, “Tifanny?”
Her eyes narrowed ever so slightly, and I guessed this wasn’t Tiffany. Eli was definitely playing a dangerous game.
“Sasha?” He suggested the second time around.
“Touche,” she said in a soft tone of voice, before she removed her hands.
He turned to face her, and as he was ready to plant a kiss on her lips, she asked in a saccharine tone of voice that was fooling no one, “Who’s Tiffany?”
“No one,” he chuckled. “I was just playing.”
“Keep playing and you won’t have a date to prom,” she let out, pouting ever so slightly.
“You wouldn’t,” he told her in earnest.
“I sure would,” she raised an eyebrow in a challenging manner, and he went quiet at once.
“Eli is speechless. I thought I would never see the day,” I giggled joyously.
“Same, luna Jade,” Tyler agreed with me, without missing a beat.
Sasha was the first one to burst out laughing, and we were soon joining her.