Chapter 86

Aurora

“Please, tell me you’re joking,” I breathe, feeling to stunned to believe it.

Jaxson kisses my temple, shaking his head. “It’s true sweetheart.”

“Every—Everyone?”

He nods once more. I feel tears form in my eyes.

“Because of Xander’s death and the treason on me lifted for leaving the Royal pack,” Jaxson says, brushing a stray tear off my jaw, “I just thought it was now safe enough to allow everyone to come live in Dawn pack.”

I throw myself to my mate, feeling him grab me, hold me, and never intend to let go of me. I cry gently into his chest. I was worried he would miss the royal pack and crave to be the royal king Alpha more than he would want to create a mating bond with me but I was terribly wrong. He has now proven tenfold that he cares for me so deeply that he would invite my parents, my best friends, into the pack we have chosen to live our lives in.

I do worry though, truthfully, that Luke has come for alternative reasons. He hasn’t spoken to me since the beach and I don’t blame him. He is in pain, with his own choices and mine certainly haven’t done much to help. I just hope if he decides to stay with Mary and their little Juniper, that he knows what this means.

We will always be best friends, but not a hint of anything more.

Jaxson purrs as he squeezes me tight and his scent is so overwhelming that I let out a meek moan. His body tenses at the small noise, his lips craving my own and finally devouring them as I kiss my mate tenderly, endlessly, feeling our heat rise until the living room is burning hot with our passion. I dare to undress, hearing a whaling cry erupt from our bedroom.

We break apart into panting, foolish lovers and grin at each other briefly. All three pups begin to cry in a single melody and I compose myself to handle three new babies cranky from a nap.

Jaxson grabs me a little rougher than normal, pinning my back to the wall nearby, standing over me in all of his muscular, towering strength. I shudder, intimidated and turned on. He smiles, smelling my hormones swirl with attraction and utter hope that he acts out on whatever him and his wolf desire to do with me.

He kisses me once, moving his lips to my ear nearby. “This isn’t over, sweetheart.”

“I hope not, Alpha.”

He groans, pushing away from me for both of our benefit, and we meet the triplets together. I take on Lily and Jax, while my mate tries to handle Dawn alone, who has become the most difficult pup to calm down from a tantrum. Jaxson had a single, extra-long, crib made and placed it near our bed but I do realize we will eventually need a larger hut but there’s a semblance of closeness in this home we have together.

I wouldn’t trade it in for anything.

“What are we planning to do today?” I ask, balancing a pup on each hip and bouncing them both until they seem satisfied to not scream their little heads off.

Jaxson struggles with Dawn but she hushes down after a few hard pats to her back where she catches her breath and then promptly falls back into a blissful sleep that her sister and brother are fighting to bypass now that they’ve been woken up.

“Your parent’s hut is ready so we can help them settle in for today, while I have a few other workers busy building the small huts for Paul, Row and Ann.”

I cock my brow. “What about Luke and Mary?”

Jaxson pauses, something so quiet about his thoughts right now. “I was going to ask, but I didn’t want to pry, sweetheart. What did he say to you the other day? When you were alone on the beach together? You both looked upset.”

I try not to let my emotions be misconstrued. I don’t want Jaxson to think I was upset over Luke and I not being mates again, or anything of the sort. I am happy in my choice, in my fated matehood, and I would never portray otherwise. Never.

“He was just upset with how everything has turned out,” I say, watching Jaxson’s face falter just a little, “but I’m not.”

He fakes a pleased grin but I know I’ve hurt him in the past. I can’t ignore what fear I have instilled in him in the past but for now, I have to just accept that he is wounded but he trusts me. Our mating ceremony changed it all and now with these three pups, and my family in Dawn pack, I will never question our bond again. It has brought me so much happiness.

“Don’t worry about Luke. He is adjusting to life now. I did the same thing, and it worked out well for us, right?” I place Jax down in the crib with Dawn, left with Lily Opal who can’t stand not grabbing my short hair and squeezing it through her little fingers. “Let’s go to the market today, Jaxson. Get out of here for a few hours and get some time to ourselves.”

He looks down to Dawn and Jax, finally back into their much-needed nap. “What will we do with the pups, sweetheart?”

I shrug. “You just said my parent’s hut is ready and set up. I’m sure they could use some time with their grandchildren. They would love it.”

He reaches over and pries Lily’s hands from my short, snowy hair and she grows frustrated, taking to my shirt collar to grab a hold of and tug on. I only laugh, waving off Jaxson’s second attempt to appease this forever-restless pup. He chuckles with me for a moment, something so calm and pleasing passing between us in this moment.

I lean forward, kissing him as I stand on the tips of my toes. “I love you, Jaxson Knight.”

I watch a blush travel across his face, so sudden and innocent. “I love you, too, sweetheart.”

I hand him Lily, breaking free of her grabby paws, and finally collapse onto the bed, exhausted but ready for the day ahead. I can’t believe what is happening to our world now. Ann, Paul and Row will be here in Dawn pack, with my parents too and even Luke, whom I will always care for like the best friend he has been to me, but we are finally free of the tug-of-war that has plagued our love lives.

I have my family, my forever mate, and nothing will come between us.

“Sweetheart, do you hear—”

A sudden shift in the ground beneath my feet makes me pop right back up, snatching the other two pups from the crib. Jaxson nudges me to kneel, watching as he clings to Lily and does the same, the world shuttered like an explosion rattles through the world all at once. I find myself panicked, my heart racing, something startling all five of us at once but no one says a single word, or even cries out, a stalled silence falling over my precious family.

I pray to the moon goddess out of innate habit.