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
Mel's POVJaxon's grip becomes tighter, nearly cutting off my air supply completely. I feel my pussy clench, the juices that gush out coating his dick. He growls in appreciation.I want him to know he's the only person I would trust to do this with. The only person I'd let hold my life in his hands. The only person I'd give control to after a life of being controlled by my father.Jaxon rolls on top of me, his hips thrusting against mine as he glides in and out of me hard and fast, piercing me repetitively with pleasure.I can feel that he's close and so am I. His eyes are hooded and dark and the deep groans escaping from his lips only add to my arousal.Panic sets in as my fight or flight instincts are activated. Panic that intertwines with pleasure for a perilous dance that quickly drives me to the edge. As soon as I start to see little black spots in my vision, I tap on his arm three times. He instantly removes his hand. "Breathe," he demands.I gasp loudly, taking deep breaths. Th
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