Chapter 67

Aurora

Today has been a whirlwind, but I can’t keep my hands off of Jaxson since we got home and he showered off all the blood. He didn’t have to step in, and he could have talked the warriors out of hurting the commoners, but he showed which side he is truly fighting for. he stuck up for commoners like me, scared unmated females who I always thought would face the same fate as I; killed by royal warriors looking for a kick of pleasure.

He is still damp from the shower. I don’t care. I am hiked up in his arms, letting him hold me to his chest, while our lips tingle against one another in a long, breathless kiss. I don’t want to stop, I don’t want him to let go of me, and thankfully he doesn’t want that either. He sits down on the couch, letting me straddle his lap, still pressing his tongue into the lower bay of my lips.

His hands lightly press into the small of my back, taunting me under the cloth of my shirt, feeling his warmth and needing it all, needing it to never stop. I press my chest to his, deepening the kiss. He lightly bites my lip, tugging at it before I plow my kiss back into his lips, letting my tongue have a dance in-between his lips now.

He smiles, giggling, and I pull back to catch my breath. His eyes are the brightest color I’ve ever seen, like diamonds, and they stroll down my face and to my new necklace. He reaches for it, my body flinching ever so slightly, and both of our faces fall somber at the notion.

I look away, ashamed.

“Hey now,” he says, his hands gripping my thighs. “Relax, Aurora. It’s okay.”

I nod, fighting tears, deflecting the sounds of Xander completely ripping me down in every insecurity I have ever known. I picture him holding up my old necklace, the gift from Jaxson before my birthday, and how Xander used it to taunt my mate.

“Stop it,” he groans, almost tapping into a growl. “Don’t think of him.”

My brow furrows. “You’re not in my mating link. How did you know I was—”

Staring at him, he gives me an exasperated look. “I know exactly what you are thinking, even when you don’t think I can read your thoughts, I know. And I understand, Aurora. It’s nothing we can forget but we can outgrow it. You can overcome his torment. You just can’t let him win right now. He is done bothering us.”

“And the other royals?” I ask, thinking to the market today and the horrid screams they caused in such a short notice of time. “What about them?”

“After today, I am sure they will think twice before leaving the palace. If they do, I’ll kill them all. Every single one of them, Aurora, if it means you are safe.”

I fall forward into his hold, pressuring myself to his chest. We sit in silence for a second, our moment gone when smooth drums and a ukulele sounds off in the distance. I perk up, Jaxson’s brow furrowing. We both stand in curiosity, seeing a small fire build in height down the beach where a few members of the pack swarm as the sun almost threatens to set.

Jaxson finds my hand and I hold his back, curiously wondering if we should attend. For a long moment we stand still, watching the Alpha and Luna greet a few of the early attendees, music thumping through the beach and methodically serenading the gentle ocean waves.

Jaxson is first to the front door, leading me out by my hand, and we leave together to march through the sand toward the building fire. It’s taller now that we stand beside it, the Alpha happily surprised as we join the others.

The music is tropical, easy-going, and it makes my heart feel so relaxed. Jaxson grins, pulling me quickly, without warning, and lining me up into his arms. I have no time to protest as we begin a slow, wavering waltz around the fire, a few other mates pairing up and joining, including the elder Alpha and his elegant Luna.

I allow myself to forget my awkwardness, my inability to dance, and let Jaxson control the moment as we sway around the tall bonfire. The sun is setting, leaking colors of orange and red that streak across the sky from the teal horizon.

He leans in for a brief kiss, my hormones so desperately knocking at my abdomen and I stifle a groan, wanting him to take my breath, take my body, but that is a good way to get kicked out of the bonfire party for sure.

Alpha Marc taps on his glass, waving everyone to a set of tables with dishes and plates of all kinds of fresh, homemade food. “Everyone, let’s eat!”

Jaxson and I linger to get our food, finally grabbing our plates when everyone else is satisfied. We sit in the sand, a long stretch from the ballroom and ornate centerpieces and chandeliers. Instead I lean into his shoulder, picking at some green peas, my toes burying in the gritty sand and take in the warmth against my legs.

Alpha Marc is making his rounds around the fire, greeting the group of no more than twenty people. He stops at us soon, resting a hand on Jaxson’s shoulder while holding two empty glass champagne cups. He hands them both to us with a pleased smile.

“Well, my new lovers, I hope you two are partaking in the blood moon potion.”

Jaxson stiffens a little at the mention of a potion. He came from royalty, his father outlawed the use of potions, and I haven’t had the best experience with it myself.

“What is a blood moon potion?” I ask.

Alpha Marc gives me a confused look, like I am an outsider to normal society. “Well, the blood moon is a powerful cycle. It only comes twice a year and most packs aren’t graced to see it in all of its beauty.”

Jaxson nods, looking to me. “We could never really admire it from my previous pack.”

“I don’t think North Woods ever celebrated it or even saw it, either,” I admit.

“We get a great view of it around midnight and when it happens, we drink a homegrown herb blend with a little extra pazazz to boast our wolf energies. Some wolves even claim to see visions from the moon goddess.” His eyes widen and he smiles, something so puerile about his words.

Jaxson doesn’t like this idea. It’s pretty obvious by now that he is weary with me taking in unknown substances, but I’m curious. We have started this new life here, with a new pack and new understand of our love. Why not try this new thing too?

The blue moon gala still haunts him, like it haunts me, but it’s in the past. I don’t even feel like I know that person anymore, or know who I was back then, but it was a night of heartbreaks and insults and a very poor judgement mistake on my part. I should have been more careful, but Alpha Marc is trustworthy. I don’t think he would hurt me, or Jaxson, and I trust that this experience is anything but a kitschy little rumor, blown out of proportion and made into a game.

I doubt it’s true, but I take the glass anyways and watch as the Luna circles the pack, pouring out a deep red liquid into the other glasses of happy partakers. It’s close to midnight, the moon already a threatening orange hue, and I almost feel excitement cancel out my nerves.

Jaxson is a little more weary, watching the Luna pour me a glass and tipping the pitch toward his glass, his hesitation written across his stiff features. He eventually get’s a few sips worth of the liquid, eyeing my glass like I’ve just accepted poison… again.

Alpha Marc raises his glass, the liquid almost the color of the moon ahead that slowly, oddly, turns from a light auburn color into a bright, blood-red shade that casts over us entirely. I already feel my wolf stirring, needing to break loose, and the excitement of the moment finally hits.

“Cheers!”

I down the liquid and brace myself for something to bring me closer to the moon goddess.

Per the usual, she doesn’t disappoint.