Jade’s pov:
Word had it that Alex wasn’t coming alone, the Alpha King was with him for some reason that was beyond me. Naturally, I was ecstatic to know my mate was safe and sound, and coming to get me too. But as to be expected, I was on pins and needles as I waited for them at the entrance of Alpha Kade’s pack house.
I was praying, to whatever deity was listening, that the Alpha King’s business was solely with Alpha Kade, as one of Alex’s allies.
For a moment there, I felt like I couldn’t breathe as I watched the sedan approach the pack house. I was extremely aware of the tension that seemed to make everything more vivid. The slight breeze was delightful. On the other hand, the noise the tires made was grating on my nerves. The sun was hiding behind dark gray clouds, and I was almost craving for a touch of sunlight to hit my face. I was also becoming thirsty out of nervousness.
“Luna Jade,” Trevor began in a soft caring tone of voice, “Nothing is going to happen to anyone present.”
I turned to him, and with my eyes bulging like a deer caught in headlights, I thought to myself that I shouldn’t have been that obvious.
And as if he could read me like an open book, Trevor went on, “It’s not that you’re showing any sign of nervousness, but I can feel it as if it were my own. It’s a guttural thing…”
“I didn’t mean to project my feelings onto you,” I told him in a soft tone of voice, not knowing how to react, save for apologizing.
“I am amazed at the fact that I, too, felt it,” Luna Sherry told me, her lips stretching into a small smile.
“Same,” her mate drawled, his eyes narrowing ever so slightly.
And although there was no trace of reprimand in his tone, I knew that it must be upsetting somewhat.
“I am really sorry,” I apologized sincerely. “My wolf is too happy at the prospect of seeing Alex to be of any help.”
Hey, how is this any of my fault? My wolf let out a soft growl, obviously displeased by my words.
Well, I didn’t have this issue before, I retorted.
I’ll explain later, she told me. Alex is here.
Indeed, the moment she said so, the door of the sedan opened even though it had yet to fully stop and Alex jumped out of it.
I didn’t hesitate to rush to him, and hugged him as if my life depended on it, my desperation for him almost knocking the breath out of me.
“Heavens I missed you,” I let out into his chest, even as I did my best and succeeded not to cry.
“I missed you too, love,” he drawled, and his words had the knack to calm me down at once.
A chuckle followed our sweet moment, and soon Alpha Kade was teasing us, “As lovey-dovey as usual.”
“I wouldn’t have figured the cool-headed Alpha from earlier had such a side to him,” a deep authoritative voice rang out, and I felt compelled to step out of Alex’s embrace.
“If I hadn’t seen it, I wouldn’t have believed it,” another male voice quipped, almost just as powerful but less on edge.
“The mate bond effect is real,” Alpha Kade let out jokingly.
Even though we were still on the pack house’s porch, the atmosphere was still stuffy so tense it was almost difficult to breathe despite the fake banter.
The first man to have commented following Alpha Kade’s comment took a step forward as he said, “You must be Jade, the born healer I have heard so much about.”
I looked into his onyx eyes, unable to breathe a word for a moment, the way he spoke about me unsettling me in more ways than one. He hadn’t referred to me as a luna or a wolf, merely as a born healer as if I were some kind of breed he was dying to find out more about.
I nodded curtly at him and said, “I am Alexander Bad’s fated Luna.”
“Naturally,” his lips quirked into a small smirk.
This was, without a shred of doubt, the alpha king the very same wolf who had ended the raging war with a few words. The danger was real, and I felt it through every pore of my exposed skin.
Alex, my sweet loving mate, must have sensed my fear. Thus, to alleviate the unease I felt, he intertwined my fingers with his, and whispered in my ear, “Calm down, love.”
If Luna Sherry’s earlier statement was any indication, I reasoned that it wasn’t merely my pack that was affected by my powerful emotions but maybe all wolves within proximity too.
“She truly possesses the ability to affect others,” the man standing next to the alpha king let out, his eyes narrowing ever so slightly.
“I wouldn’t lie about this,” Alex drawled before kissing the top of my head, seemingly unbothered by the two powerful men standing just a few feet away from us.
“Of course,” the Alpha King’s response was succinct, but spoke louder than any statement could about how he trusted Alex. “You had sent your third-in-command beforehand, telling us of the potential war to come…”
“And your judgment was on point, for conflict did break out between your pack and the neighboring pack,” the one I believed to be the Alpha King’s beta went on.
“How about we take this to the office, your highness?” Alpha’s Kade’s tone of voice was serious, and long gone was his usual jest. “We have prepared refreshments for you.”
The two men exchanged a look before the Alpha King let out, “Lead the way.”
I didn’t know why but the unease never quite left me.