Chapter 31

Jaxson

I don’t agree with my mate pushing herself to the physical brink, trying to prove something to herself, maybe even to me, that she won’t let Xander win. It’s hard to watch but I know she needs this. The wolf’s-bane has finally left her system and she feels normal, but she won’t let me into her experiences at the cabin with Xander.

I worry he hurt her beyond repair.

It only drives her to move faster, to do better, and it’s been weeks of her training at the depth of night just to improve on something small, on anything at all, and it breaks my heart to know she is still scared in the palace.

It won’t help that tonight is the Blue Moon Gala. We will be at our most powerful forms, and with her injuries still apparent, I doubt she will want to attend. I’ve had this event planed for over six months, long before I met her, and I’d hate for her to miss the festivities because of her last experience at a gala here.

It’s a special event tonight, though. I hope she agrees to attend on my arm.

For now, she runs laps, outside under the setting sun, the wind a bit cold while she crosses the start line and continues running for her ninth lap tonight. I haven’t had it in me to push her into combat training yet. I don’t want her to get hurt. So, she’s been building endurance, and buying me time to talk her out of this.

Her pace slows and she stops in the middle of the track, hands on her knees. I can hear her pulse, fast, but not excelled beyond anything normal for this exercise. Through the mind link I can hear her fighting back memories, fighting back insults in Xander’s voice, and I can hear her whine through the memory.

She hits the track on her knees, doubling over, and I almost shift as I race over to her side. She is trying to stand back up, blinking fast, her precious eyes a dull hue of gray and black, her mind dragging her back into a nightmare.

“I’m fine,” she says, her tone slurred. “F—Fine—”

“Sit down,” I tell her, helping her move onto the track before I sit down beside her. She buries her head into her arms, gently rocking forward and backward, her mind too chaotic for even me to navigate. “It’s okay, sweetheart. Nothing is going to happen. You’re safe right now,” I assure her, wishing I could help in these episodes more. “You’re safe. He isn’t here. It’s you and me.”

She draws a long, shaky breath. “I just— I should have—”

I rest my arm over her shoulder, pulling her into my side. “Catch your breath and we will talk about it later, okay? Just relax.”

She wipes the sweat off her pale forehead, trying to blink back into reality.

“I know you’ve heard me talking about the gala I’ve been planning for tonight,” I say, seeing no better time to ask than right now. “Are you feeling well enough to attend?”

Her body tenses. “Do— Do I have to go?”

“No, sweetheart, but it would be nice. We can have dinner, maybe dance—”

“I’ve never danced,” she says, like some kind of excuse to skip it.

“I can show you.”

She lets me brush my hand down her flushed cheek, certain movements lately making her flinch away from my touch. I never mention it, though.

“What if—” she doesn’t finish, only shaking her head.

“Every warrior from the royal pack is going to be guarding this place tonight, Aurora. You have nothing to worry about. It’s safe from Xander, from rouges, from whatever. I promise, sweetheart. You will be safe.”

“Everyone will see me,” she hums, looking away. “The commoner. The future Luna from a commoner pack. I already look so weak, Jaxson. I’m still bruised and cut. What will they think… what— what will they say?”

“I don’t care, and you shouldn’t, either. You are my mate. You are the future Luna, so as far as I’m concerned, it doesn’t matter what anyone thinks of your upbringing. You’re here with me now. Plus, I have a surprise for you tonight. But you have to attend the gala to see it.”

She perks at the mention of a surprise. “What is it?”

I release a short, stocky laugh. “You know I can’t answer that.”

Her little nose scrunches up, showing signs of defeat. “Fine. I’ll go.”

“Thank you, sweetheart.”

I kiss her forehead once and she forces herself to a wobbly, unsure stance.

“I’m going to finish my laps,” she huffs, still so pale from her breakdown.

“You don’t have to.”

“Yes, I do.”

She takes off and I watch her take every stride with power, with every bit of strength she can muster, and it forces a smile onto my face. I told her earlier tonight to do fifteen laps, one more than she managed yesterday, and she is proving that she will abide by that request whether she is able to or not. I admire her tenacity.

It makes me love her more.

She finally finishes and I toss her a towel to press to her sweaty cheeks and neck, still trying to catch her breath while I lead her back to her bedroom. We’ve been trading since the incident with Xander; she cannot sleep alone without some sort of nightmare. I don’t mind it, either. I enjoy keeping her close to me at all times.

I release her to go shower, setting up my uniform for tonight, hearing the chaos begin downstairs as the first set of guests begin to arrive. The sun has officially fallen over the horizon when Aurora gets out of the shower. I have the maids ready to help her get ready. She hates being fussed over but I know it helps her relax before having to get presentable enough for a royal gala.

It doesn’t take long for her to be done getting ready; I tell her every day that she is already perfect. I straighten out my black uniform coat, making sure each metal is centered while the maids scurry out of the room.

Aurora clears her throat, forcing me to turn and face the doorway of the bathroom. She’s in a light pink, sheer dress, layered with tool and cut in a way that makes her body look impeccably perfect. My heart beats faster at the sight. She adjusts the shoulder straps, encrusted with shiny jewels, the opal necklace on her throat the same as it has been since I had it fixed and gave it back to her.

Her fingertip brushes the necklace, knowing I admire her wearing my gift, walking over in her tall nude-colored heels until I can wrap her in my arms. I spin her around once, off the floor, hearing her laugh. It’s been rare the last couple of weeks.

I release her, holding my arm out for her to take and she does, clinging to it as tight as possible. I can see the maids had try to cover her wrist bruises up, including a small little patch to hide the wound where I can assume metal cuffs cut at her veins.

She looks away, obviously hearing my thoughts.

“You’re beautiful,” I say, kissing her lips once, quick, while I pull her toward the ballroom downstairs. “I asked them not to announce names tonight,” I add, hearing her heart race. Her hands on my arm relax, not as tight as before. “We will walk in just like everyone else. No pressure, sweetheart.”

She is finally relaxed as we enter into the large room, royals all over the dance floor and sitting at tables, dining. Blue and white decorations fill the space, the entire room under a cyan color light, as though to mimic the moonlight we will get to experience tonight. She takes in the sight of the little jewels sprinkled over the navy tablecloths, large bouquets of white flowers of all species filling the room.

The guests stop and stare, as I had figured they would, but she ignores it for the most part, letting me lead her to the back of the room where my father always sits. At his table is Vivian and Nadia, both of them in matching blue dresses, and to his left is a set of people I know Aurora will be pleased to see.

She jumps at the sight of her parents, and even her friends, stating at the same table as my father and his wife. She pulls away from me and greets them all with a hug, all except Luke, who I felt obligated to invite. He helped me find her and had stayed the next few nights in the palace with his mate, Mary, to ensure the threat from Xander had been successfully deterred.

We have our issues. I let them slide for tonight seeing him cling to his mate’s hand and only offer her a simple head tilt. At least he has learned a little respect. She jumps back toward me for an embrace, her lips curled so high in a grin I never want to see her frown again. She exhales against my chest, my father slipping in beside us, his hand on her back taking her attention.

“I’m glad to see you again,” he says, giving her a hug. He has kept his distance since she has returned, considering he and I have had our squabbles over his second son. That’s why I haven’t spoken to Vivian, too. She is whispering in his ear to give Xander a third chance. “You look marvelous in that dress,” my father says.

She blushes. “Thank you, Alpha.”

The music changes and the room goes still, the sounds of a soft melody forcing my father to take Vivian by her hand and to the dance floor where everyone clears out for the Alpha and his Luna. Aurora looks at me in fear, unsure if I will make her do that as well. By practice, I should be with my mate out there, swaying to the music, but I can tell from the anxiety in her beautiful eyes that she isn’t ready for that attention.

Instead, I take her hand, pulling her out to the courtyard, the music playing through the open windows, the moon and stars hanging overhead as I take her body in my grasp and steady us for a waltz around the cobble stones.

She looks down, unsure. I remove my hand from her side long enough to tip her chin upward, kissing her lips quick, and then setting my grip back on her body so I can move us to the slow, melodic tone. She buries her head into my chest, letting me holder her tighter, closer, while I lead her back and forth through the courtyard. It’s cold, the moon is full and bright in color, filling my wolf with power.

I cling to her tighter, never wanting to let go.