Jaxon's POV"I don't get it," Melanie murmurs, starting to pace back and forth in the little path she has created for herself. "You seem against the mate bond, but you mandate these Mating Balls?"Ayla deadpans. "That is one of the Moon Goddess' wishes. The only way our race will survive is if pups are produced by true mates. The mate bond only imprisons us. Our purpose is different than theirs. We must serve the Moon Goddess and oversee the werewolf world.""Then why give us a mate in the first place?""I wonder that myself, it's a waste of time. Just know that when you reject him, it will make you stronger. If you can handle that kind of pain, you'll be able to handle anything."Melanie balls her fist and lifts her face to look Ayla right in the eyes. "I won't be rejecting him, and what makes you think I want to be a puppet of the Moon Goddess?" she thunders.Ayla crosses her legs on the desk, completely unfazed by her tone. "Well, you won't be tied down by a pack. You can go anywher
Jaxon's POVAs soon as I feel the tingles shoot up my arm, the burning hatred instantly dies back down. My mate wraps her arms around my bicep. "It's okay, Jaxon," she whispers. I nod my head as I take deep, steadying breaths. She turns back to Ayla. "Stop pissing off my mate and tell me what you need from us.""There's been a rogue sighting. I would like you to handle it. Tomorrow night will do." She smirks at me. "Does that sound innocent enough for your Princess, Alpha?""Don't patronize me, Ayla," I growl, shooting another glare in her direction. "By the way...tell me, did he kill my dad?"My question seems to take her by surprise. "When we investigated his death, we could only smell rogues on his remains.""But did you search his memories?" I bite out."No."Fucking liar. "So, when you searched his memories that day, you didn't think to confirm that?"“I don't just see every memory when I touch someone. I only see the ones I'm looking for," she explains quietly.I didn't trust th
Jaxon's POVI feign a smile. "Alpha Philip, how nice to see you again." I want to tell him to fuck off, so I can watch Melanie, but I have better manners than that.I've met Alpha Philip a few times. My pack has an alliance with him and every time I've gone to his pack for meetings with Alpha Damon, he seemed like a good guy. Still looks can be deceiving, and I refuse to let my guard down around someone who was close with him."Have you found your mate?" he asks, poorly sneaking a swig out of the silver flask in his gray dress-jacket. By the smell on his breath, this isn't his first drink.With this being my third year going to the Mating Ball, I can quickly spot who's drunk and who's painfully sober, silently wishing for someone to kill them so they don't have to be here anymore.My throat grows tight. "Unfortunately, not tonight. Maybe I'll have better luck next year."A brick forms in my stomach from the lie and Shadow's growing irritation. It feels wrong not being able to claim her
Jaxon's POVI hate everything about this. I don't want to dance with this girl, I want to dance with my mate. I respect the fact that she wants to hold off from anyone knowing about us, but this is hard already. How are we supposed to do this for an entire month?"Alpha, are you okay?" Daphne asks quietly.I gaze down into her baby-blue eyes. They look too kind, too innocent. I wonder when she asked to dance if she even had a choice in the matter."Tell me Daphne, how old are you?""Why does that matter, Alpha?" Her voice trembles slightly. I can hear her heart suddenly hammering in her chest."Try again.""Sixteen."My jaw tightens.Goddess. Her father is trying to sell her off before she's even old enough to find her mate. Is the Council aware of this?"You don't deserve this, Daphne. You shouldn't even be here until you're old enough to meet your mate," I murmur.My blood is boiling. I'm sure Alpha Damon would've done this same thing if he didn't conclude that Melanie was a lost cau
Mel’s POVI watch in pure rage as my mate dances with she-wolf after she-wolf, looking like a prince straight out of a fairytale. I know he's just giving me what I want, but it feels like torture. Every girl that waltzes into his arms is touching him...flirting with him...trying to seduce him into making them his Luna. Like I get it. He's fucking gorgeous. A young, hot Alpha. Who wouldn't want that? But he's mine!We wouldn't have this problem if you let him mark you, Nina points out angrily.Thanks Captain Obvious, I retort.It's selfish, Melanie. You don't think that hurts him? I know! I shout in my head. You don't think it will hurt him more if I can't outrun my fate? If I give him hope that we can have a happy ever after and I have to rip it away from him? I know I told him it's because I want to finish training camp, but I was also lying to myself about the real reason. He has waited for me for a long time. I don't want to keep him waiting any longer, but we have so much stacked
Mel's POVOnce we're alone again, I turn to Ayla. "So, what is my gift? Seeing if people are good and bad?" I ask sarcastically.She scowls at me. "I think it's subjective. It's not as simple as saying someone is good or evil. It depends on their character, actions, and intentions. I think maybe it can even change." She tilts her head to the side. "I wonder...can you feel my aura?"I immediately shake my head and she frowns. "I know we can't use our powers on each other, but I was hoping you could see we're no threat to you."I guess only time will tell. "I thought it was just Alphas, but I could feel his poor mate's and daughter's energies," I whisper, my voice quivering in horror. "You can’t help them?""We don't interfere in pack relations unless it poses a threat to our world," she states firmly."But they could end up like-" I stop to swallow the lump in my throat.That's why I'm so bothered. I can see me and my mom in them. His mate can't escape, she'll just endure until she ult
Mel's POV"Should I be dancing with my Beta?" Jaxon asks in a low, velvety voice."Probably not, but I couldn't help myself."It's the truth. I need him. It has been too long since we touched, and my body is craving him again like a drug.He smirks devilishly, "I'm not complaining.""Well, I think I ran off your fan club," I mutter, looking over his shoulder at the now empty space. All of the girls seem to have gone back to their tables, but I can still feel eyes on us."Not complaining about that either. There's only one person I need to be a member of my fan club."My heart flutters along with my pussy. "You sure know how to talk your way into a girls panties."He hums, leaning close to my ear. "I've already been there once tonight. I can take you to Poundtown again if you'd like," he murmurs.I can't help but laugh. "Never mind, I'm turned off now."His nostrils flare as my arousal invades them, making his eyes darken with lust. "Tell your pussy that. She's dripping for me."Actual
Mel's POV"Look, I'm sorry!" I exclaim desperately.What for? I don't know. He peeks up from his arms. My heart breaks seeing the tears welling in his eyes, intense agony clouding his perfect features. I've never seen him so vulnerable. "What are you apologizing for? You didn't kill him," he chuckles humorlessly.I don't know what to say, but I just want to take his pain away. I can feel it, whether that be from the mate bond or my gift, and it is fucking suffocating.I sit down beside him and run my fingers in his hair. He instantly leans into my touch, sighing deeply. With my heart hammering in my chest, I quietly ask, "Do you want to talk about it?""No.""Well, do you want to go home?" I don't know why I can't just shut up, but I guess I just want him to keep talking, hoping eventually he'll open to me."How are your ribs doing?" he asks suddenly.Damn. I nearly forgot about that. I wiggle the top half of my body, looking for any pain. There's a little pain, but not enough to be