Jaxon’s POVI slowly button up my blue dress shirt and tuck it into my black slacks. Tonight, Alpha Damon is announcing that I am the next Alpha, with the formal ceremony in just four days. I can’t believe that this is finally happening.Excitement buzzes through my veins. I’ve waited years for this moment, ever since Alpha took me under his wing after my dad died in a rogue attack when I was just twelve. Back then, Ava was just a baby, and now she’s growing up in a pack where I’m about to become Alpha.“Jaxon!” Mom calls from downstairs. “Alpha Damon is here!”I check myself out in the mirror one last time before heading down. Alpha Damon is sitting on the couch, his massive arms crossed over his chest. He is wearing a black suit that is tight against his muscular build.“Alpha,” I greet, baring my neck before sitting down on the forest-green love seat across from him.He nods, his expression impossible to read. “I am very proud of you, Son.”“Thank you, Alpha,” I reply, sensing there
Jaxon's POVAfter she calls Ava from her room, we get into my car and head to the dining hall. All I can think about is what to do about Melanie. Although she is a potential threat, I don’t want any harm to come to her. I want to…protect her? No, that can’t be it. I just don’t want her death to be forever on my conscious. Yes, I’ve always had a little crush on her, but she can never be mine. I’ll eventually find my Luna, and If I’m successful at getting her safely away from the pack in time, she’ll meet her Alpha and live happily ever after.We arrive at the dining hall, and I make a beeline for Kaylee. She’s surrounded by a group of her friends, her tight, red dress drawing everyone’s attention. Her cleavage bounces with every movement, and it’s so short, I can nearly see her ass cheeks.My jaw clenches. It isn’t a dress she should be wearing for this kind of occasion. It makes me look bad as her boyfriend, but I’ll address that later. Her eyes light up when she spots me. “Oh, my Godd
Jaxon's POVI look across at Melanie, surprised to see her oddly calm. She’s chewing on her bottom lip, gazing out one of the windows on the wall in front of her. It’s like her mind is elsewhere. What could she be planning? Maybe Alpha is right, should I prepare for a coup?As the applause subsides, I stand up and give a somewhat awkward nod to my future pack members, even though I’ve known them all my life. Heat travels from my neck up to my ears, my cheeks turning redder by the second. I’m pretty sure everyone can see how much I’m blushing and sweating like a moron.“You can sit down now,” Alpha chuckles, noticing my discomfort. I quickly retake my seat, trying to mask my embarrassment. Out of the corner of my eye, I catch Melanie smirking to herself. I choose to ignore it, pretending to listen to Alpha’s speech.“His Alpha ceremony will be on Friday. Attendance is mandatory,” Alpha announces. “That is all. Enjoy your dinner!” His voice booms through the dining hall, and the pack res
Mel’s POVI try to calm my nerves as I place my hands on Jaxon’s taut shoulders, and he holds my waist. At first, we awkwardly sway back and forth, but after the first time he spins me around, I find myself flawlessly gliding across the wooden floor. We move in sync, letting the gentle music guide us.He looks good. He smells good, too. That slutty breakfast aroma mixes well with his cologne. Also, I have never realized that his eyes remind me of the forest in spring; they are bright, gentle and beautiful. I can’t help but get lost in them as we waltz around the room. For a moment, everyone else disappears, and it’s just him and I floating on a cloud.Wait…I’m not supposed to be enjoying this. This is my rival, and I have a mission to accomplish. I don’t have time for this distraction.On the way over to the dining hall, I considered just turning around and leaving this pack for good. But I promised Mom she could have this last night with her. I didn’t know where we’ll go, but I’m adam
Mel's POVI stop dancing and stare at him in shock, my jaw dropping to the fucking floor. “Are you fucking serious right now?” I blurt out before I can stop myself.His eyes widen, and he quickly shushes me. “Shh! Come outside with me for a second,” he mumbles, grabbing my hand.As he pulls me through the crowd toward the foyer, I can feel several eyes drilling into my back. I know Dad is watching us for sure. Maybe Mom, too. And Kaylee, probably thinking I’m trying to steal her man. I grimace at the thought.Never. Jaxon drags me past the double doors into the dark woods, and we walk for a while, far enough that Dad can’t pick up our conversation. Jaxon abruptly turns, causing me to smack right into his muscular chest. “Oh fuck, sorry,” I mumble, catching my balance. “You didn’t bring me out here to kill me, right?” I don’t know why, but being alone with him makes me nervous. Maybe it’s because I don’t trust myself not to fall for his charm.Amusement dances in his eyes, but he does
Jaxon’s POVI can’t stop myself from watching Melanie walk away and join her friend. A part of me wants to grab her right now and take her far away from here, somewhere her father could never find her. I think back to when Alpha Damon mind-linked me in the woods:Good boy. Continue gathering all the evidence you need against her before Friday. The more everyone sees her alone with you, the more believable it will be.Yes Alpha, I simply replied. I figured that if he actually believes I’m planning to get rid of Melanie, he wouldn’t take matters into his own hands.I don’t know what he’ll do if he finds out before the ceremony that I picked her as my Beta. She doesn’t need to be in any more danger than she already is, but I’m hoping her being a high-ranking werewolf will guarantee her safety, at least for a while. He won’t be able to lay a finger on her without getting through me first.As I make my way back to the table, I notice that Kaylee’s seat is empty. I can still pick up her scen
Jaxon's POVI’m seething as Mom opens the back door and straps Ava into her booster seat. Then, she sits down beside me. Once she closes the door, I push-start the engine and start heading home.“Is everything okay?” Mom asks after a long stretch of tense silence.“Yeah,” I mumble, staring at the road ahead. The trees along the roadside blur past in the darkness, the car’s headlights casting long shadows.“Really? Because the steering wheel might disagree.”I glance down and see the color has drained from my knuckles from gripping the steering wheel so tightly. “Sorry.” I immediately relax my hands.“You’ve been so on edge tonight. Is it about becoming Alpha on Friday?” she asks gently, reaching over to rub my back.“Yeah, I guess you could say that.” Actually, the man who has been grooming me to be his successor the past seven years is a monster, I just found my girlfriend banging some random dude in the bathroom, and for some reason, I can’t stop thinking about Melanie.Which reminds
Jaxon's POVWhen I return downstairs, I find Melanie and Moon sitting on the couch across from Mom. Moon looks terrified as she clings tightly to her sister. I feel so bad for her, she probably has no idea what’s going on. I sit down beside Mom, and she begins speaking.“Melanie, Jaxon hasn’t given me many details as to why you need Moon to stay here. I do feel like it’s important we know what’s going on, especially if we’re going to be involved.”Melanie’s eyes dart towards me, seeking reassurance. I give her a subtle nod.Melanie’s teeth graze her bottom lip. “I understand why you are concerned. I…I just fear for her safety. My dad’s anger has been explosive lately, and I just don’t want my sister around that,” she explains, her voice shaky.I clench my fists. I know she isn’t telling the entire story. If he’s willing to kill her, that means he has no problem putting his hands on her or any of the girls in the house. All I want to do is hold Melanie and tell her everything will be ok