10

JAX

The way wolves sometimes shared partners during their sexual play had never really bothered me. Growing up in the Ironwood Pack made it feel ordinary. It was simply part of the culture around us.

Still, when wolves truly mated, something deeper usually followed. A bond formed that no one else could step into.

They became possessive in some ways, yet still open in others. The mix of those two things never made complete sense to me.

“Something or someone, managed to get past the guard,” I said as I moved toward her.

Each step felt heavy with tension. Aggression rolled through my blood. A strong need rose inside me, the need to take control again. To remind her—and maybe even myself—where things stood.

This was my moment.

The pack rules could wait.

Her position in the pack could wait too.

Aurora belonged to both of us.

To Theron and to me.

She shared more than her body. Her warmth and her affection were shared between us as well.

Yet a quiet question pushed through my thoughts. Why did it suddenly matter so much to prove that?

The thought slipped away as quickly as it came. My attention stayed locked on her.

“That’s not a good enough answer,” she snapped.

Aurora shoved the drawer closed with force and turned to face me. The moment her eyes met mine, they widened. She must have seen the intention written clearly across my face.

“No, Jax. Not now,” she said firmly.

My hands moved before anything else. They closed around her shoulders and pulled her against me. Her protest disappeared the second my mouth covered hers.

The kiss was sudden and rough.

Heat spread quickly through my chest. Her taste filled my senses—sweet, warm, and earthy. That taste always did something to me. It reached deeper than it should have.

My mouth moved to her neck, pressing against the tight line of muscle there. At first she stayed tense. Slowly, the tension eased. Her body softened and began to respond.

Our lips found each other again.

Our tongues met and tangled, pushing and pulling as we fought lightly for control.

Aurora never avoided a challenge. She always matched my energy.

Her fingers slipped into my hair and tightened, pulling me closer.

The small key slipped from my hand and dropped somewhere behind us.

Before it even landed, I had already lifted her from the ground. Her body rose easily into my arms as I carried her toward the bed.

The effects of the black moon still hung over us. They would not fade until tomorrow.

Both of us knew what that meant.

Even knowing she would not truly resist, my movements were firm as I laid her down on the bed.

The need inside me was too strong.

Waiting no longer felt possible.

Her hands moved quickly to my jeans. The buttons came undone in seconds. Soon she freed me from the tight fabric.

A low sound slipped from my throat when her slender hands wrapped around me.

The feeling sent a strong wave through my body.

Her thighs stayed locked around me, holding me in place. Without hesitation she guided me toward her warmth.

The tip of me brushed against her already wet skin.

The simple touch nearly pushed me over the edge.

A rough groan escaped as I pulled away from her lips.

“You little tease.”

“That’s Alpha tease now,” she replied with a small laugh.

The proud edge in her voice only made the tension inside me climb higher.

Another second of waiting felt impossible.

My body moved forward. I found her entrance and pushed inside with one deep thrust.

Every inch of me filled her.

Her cry rang out as her hands clawed at my shirt, tearing through the fabric over my chest.

“You may be Alpha now,” I said through clenched teeth as my hips began moving, “but you still belong to me too.”

I pulled back and pushed into her again, faster this time.

The pressure began building quickly along my spine. My body reacted fast, almost too fast.

Not yet.

The urge to finish—to mark her as mine—pressed hard against my control.

“Faster, Jax,” Aurora urged breathlessly. “Do it.”

My hips drove forward again.

The bed shook beneath us.

She moved with me, matching every motion as her body lifted to meet mine. She wanted more.

Anyone could have walked through the door at that moment. Theron included.

The thought barely mattered.

The only thing that mattered right now was making sure my place beside them was clear.

“I won’t stand behind Theron,” I forced out between breaths. “Not ever.”

Aurora’s gaze held steady.

“I wouldn’t want you to,” she said softly. “Now claim me, my love. Do whatever you need.”

Her voice softened further.

“It changes nothing. No matter what happens, the three of us belong together.”

My movements grew stronger.

The metal legs of the bed scraped loudly across the wooden floor as it shifted beneath us. Sweat coated our skin. The heavy scent of our bodies filled the room.

Leaning down, I spoke close to her ear.

“Time to let go, baby,” I growled.

Her nails tore through the sleeves of my shirt. Her body tightened around me with crushing force.

“Now!”

Her shout echoed through the room.

My hips moved faster, harder with every thrust.

The pressure inside me rose until it became impossible to hold back. Her body tightened again, pulling at me, urging the moment closer.

Then everything broke.

My mind went blank as the tension snapped. The release rushed through me as I buried my face against her neck.

Low groans slipped out without control.

Even after the moment passed, my body still moved against hers, chasing the fading heat.

Aurora’s body trembled beneath me as her own climax followed.

Feeling her fall apart like that tightened something deep in my chest.

This woman would be the end of me someday.

There was no denying it.

Anything she wanted… she would have it.

Truth be told, this bond between us had not begun tonight. Being forced to claim her after our narrow escape only made it official.

Aurora had taken hold of my life long before that.

“You’re crazy, Aurora,” I said finally, breathing hard. “There’s no way we’ll be able to keep this a secret forever.”

Her legs slowly loosened as I rolled to the side.

Aurora turned her head toward me.

“We should get up,” she whispered. “We’re about to have company.”

“What?”

I jumped up quickly and shoved myself back into my pants.

She only smiled at me, slow and teasing.

“Relax. It’s probably just Theron.”

The look she gave me stirred the heat in my body again.

Enough of her would never exist.

Still, the situation mattered.

“Even if it is,” I said while adjusting my clothes, “considering the two of you were interrupted earlier, he probably won’t enjoy walking in on us right now.”

I paused for a moment.

“And we still have to deal with whoever broke through the guard.”

Aurora pushed herself upright on the bed.

The playful look vanished from her face instantly.

“Start from the beginning,” she said quietly. “Tell me exactly what happened.”