Chapter 37

Jaxon’s POV

I slip off my clothes and step into the warm water, the sediment at the bottom of the lake squishing between my toes. The sun is beginning to set, but the summer air is still very warm, matching the temperature of the lake.

Nervousness creeps in as I stand before the entire pack. Everyone is seated in rows, dressed in white outfits that will be shredded when they all shift for our first run with me being Alpha.

My heart pounds in my ears and sweat dampens the back of my neck. I scan through the crowd of faces I’ve known my entire life until I find those alluring violet eyes staring back at me. Melanie gives me a small smile, and it seems to make everything okay. I swear, I want to drown in those eyes. Hell, I’ll volunteer to drown between her legs if she’d let me.

Alpha Damon clears his voice loudly to gain everyone’s attention as he stands beside me. This is rather intimate—us standing in the water naked together. I’d prefer literally anyone else.

"Greetings!” he booms. “T