Jaxon’s POV"Jaxon, help!" I barrel through the misty forest, trying to find the distressed voice of my father. "Dad? Dad! Where are you?" I shout, panic seeping in my voice. I discover a trail of blood and follow it. I finally find him standing defensively. He's covered in blood and sweat and one of the lenses of his glasses are cracked.It has been so long since I've seen him, even in my dreams. But of course, this has to be a fucking nightmare. "Dad, are you okay?" I try to ask, but nothing comes out. I want him to look at me, but his eyes are focused on something behind us. I quickly turn around and find a huge black wolf with red eyes glaring straight at my father. Alpha Damon suddenly walks into view with a wicked smirk on his face. "Kill him," he orders in a calm voice. "No!" I run towards my father, but it's like my feet can't move fast enough to save him before the wolf jumps over me and breaks his neck before ripping out his throat. His blood begins to pool around my
Jaxon's POVMelanie stands at the bottom of the stairs. She's fully dressed wearing jeans shorts and a floral tank top. Her pendant is missing from her neck. I should be relieved that she loves my gifts enough not to risk losing them in case we need to shift, but there's no trace of my scent on her now. Nobody will know she belongs to me and that's on purpose."How the hell did you get up and dressed so fast?" I ask astonishingly.I've only been done here for like five minutes. She must have gotten up the second I walked out of the room.She snorts. "I just thought I'd go ahead and get the day started since we have such an eventful evening."My entire body tenses up. "I haven't forgotten," I grit out."Good, let's go then."As she walks past me, Charlotte nervously approaches her. "Luna...I mean, Beta Melanie it's so nice to meet you. I'm Charlotte, Ameer's mate," she says, extending a hand to her.Melanie shakes it firmly. "Charlotte, please don't slip up like that again. Someone cou
Jaxon's POV"I thought you weren't coming until tonight?" I asked, clenching my jaw so hard, I'm surprised I don't break a molar."Change of plans," Rubeus responds.I narrow my eyes. "What changed?"Melanie slides past me to greet them. "Jaxon, stop asking so much questions. Who cares, let's just get this done.""Smart girl," Dusk chuckles. Rubeus creates another portal with his finger and motions for us to walk through it.Melanie steps forward, but I grab her arm and yank her beside me. I wrap my arm firmly around her waist. "Jaxon," she protests."First, tell us where the hell we are going," I demand. Shadow peers at them through my eyes. He agrees that we can't trust them at all not to put our mate in danger. So, there's no fucking way we're blindly going anywhere with them.Dusk smirks, amusement dancing in his icy blue eyes. "You still don't trust us, Alpha?"Did he expect my answer to change? Because it never will.Melanie tries to wiggle out of my grip, but I hold her tighter
Jaxon's POVAfter tonight, I swear I won't ever let them near Melanie again. Dusk and Rubeus are dangerous. They can't be trusted, none of them. They are too loyal to Ayla.Rubeus proceeds to tell us how Ayla came to him when he was freshly eighteen years old. How he had found his mate but didn't want to be his pack's Alpha or be tied to the mate bond, but he was too much of a coward to reject her. So, Ayla erased her memory of him, and he willingly handed over his pack to his future Beta so he could run off with her."So, you guys don't regret leaving your packs? Like you're...happy with how things are?" Melanie asks.I could've broken my neck with how fast my head snaps in her direction.Why the hell is she asking that?Rubeus shrugs. "Nothing to complain about. I'm three hundred years old. I've seen and done everything I've ever wanted. I have all the riches anyone could dream of, and I can still come and go as I please."Melanie simply nods. "What about love? You don't desire that
Melanie steps forward, but I reach out for her wrist. "Wait," I demand.She glares back at me with her wolf's eyes. "Jaxon, I'm sick of you trying to control me. Let me go," she seethes.I glare back at her, my nostrils flaring. "Do you really want to do this?"I can see in her eyes that she isn't so sure, but the fire in them rages on. "I can do this, Jaxon.""You'll let Melanie take care of him, right?" Dusk snickers behind us, "I mean, unless you don't believe that she can?""Of course I do," I mumble. I release her and watch helplessly as Dusk lets go of the rogue and throws him towards my mate. Melanie quickly tackles him to the ground, straddling him as she punches him in the face. The sickening crunch of his nose is loud in the air."You bitch, I'll kill you!" he groans loudly.A menacing growl rumbles up my chest, but I let my mate handle her business like I promised.The rogue thrust his hips forward, launching her body forward as he grabs her arm, digging his claws into her
Jaxon's POVMelanie lowers her head in submission, whimpering as she releases the rogue. He scurries on his feet and is only able to take two steps before I pounce on him. The fear in his eyes is prominent, but the innate sense to protect our mate and Shadow's lust for his blood is stronger than empathy could ever be.The rogue's life is over in a flash. I shift and stand up. wiping blood from my lips. I'll have to wash the rest of the blood off my chest and arms later.Melanie continues to stand frozen with emotion glistening in her beautiful, golden eyes.Is that fear aimed towards me?Shift now! I command, keeping my gaze fixed on her.She still doesn't move a muscle.Melanie. Now! I repeat, using my Alpha tone at full force.As soon as she shifts, I pull her into my arms, crushing her against my bare chest. I welcome the sparks coursing through my body from our contact. It means she's alive and unharmed. "You okay?" I ask softly. "I'm sorry if I scared you. That wolf was about to
Mel’s POV"No. It's jab, cross, jab, cross, right knee strike, kick. Do it again," I order.Owen pants, wiping sweat from his brows as he prepares to execute the move again with his partner, Sam.I watch from beside the mat as he does the move exactly the way I had demonstrated it. "Yes, that was perfect!" I exclaim, clapping my hands. "We're going to take five and then Isaac and Liam will go next."A victorious grin spreads across Owen's face as they join the other recruits now chatting or taking a well-deserved water break.We're in the middle of week 3 of training camp and there are only two recruits struggling with the moves we've been practicing, but Charlotte has been a huge help with making sure they get extra practice. Because of her warrior experience, Ameer begged me to let her be my number two. I know I was kind of rude at first, but I actually like her. She's as sweet as a flower and terrifyingly fierce at the same time.I walk over to her and Bliss, tossing them bottles o
Mel's POV"Where are Dusk and Rubeus?" I ask, scanning the area. Maybe she really did come alone because there is no sign of them."They're near, just giving us girls some space to chat."Why are they hiding their auras then? It's not like it's a secret they are here, she just walked into a building full of recruits."So uh, did you get anything out of those rogues?" I ask, chewing on my lip."Yes. They didn't know much, but we have a location of where they are getting the wolfsbane. I believe there are multiple packs involved, but the rogue delivered the package he was caught with to Alpha Carter."That's a major red flag. That means he traveled two states away to receive it, and he was desperate enough to come himself without any warriors. Who are they killing or planning to kill?"Do you think Alpha Kellan is in on it too?" I ask thoughtfully.She hums. "It's a possibility; however, we can't do anything until we get proof, and first we need to take down Alpha Carter. The packs are a