Chapter 65

Aurora

“Eggs?” Jaxson asks, moving fluidly in the kitchen, his hands working to cook pancakes. I taught him how make the perfect flipped pancake a few days back and ever since I have been waking up to warm, syrupy breakfast. “Sweetheart,” he hums, craning around the kitchen partition to meet my eyes here in the living room. “Do you want any eggs?”

I shake myself out of the haze I’ve been placed in, my hands working on stroking our little kitten that seems heavier and more lanky than I recall he is being when I left. “No, thanks, Jaxson. Are you going for another run this morning?”

He gives a sure nod before returning to his cooking capades. He has been building a routine here since we’ve settled two weeks ago into this new life. He goes on his morning run; let’s his wolf take a sprint down and back up the length of the beach. Then he works for the new Alpha, does a few little chores around the tiny pack in exchange for some gold coins that we take to the market a few packs over, buying groceries and goods to stock our quaint little hut.

Today should be the day he gets compensated for this weeks work and I’m excited to leave the village. This pack is much smaller than the North Woods, and especially the Royal pack, so living this simpler life has been an adjustment. We’ve grown closer, though, and it’s been nice.

I lean back on the couch, watching as this once dominating prince brings in a few dozen stacks of pancakes in hot, buttery syrup. He pushes it all onto small table and grins at his work.

“Feeding an army?” I joke.

He gives me a snarky smile and waves off my joke. “I have mastered the flip, not the quantity.”

“I appreciate it, either way.”

He leans in for a kiss. I wish it would carry on longer, like most of our making out moments have been the last few weeks. He releases though, taking his shirt off and hanging it on the kitchen counter for now. My eyes drift, his face blushes.

“I’ll be back soon, sweetheart,” he hums, readying himself for another morning run.

“Be safe,” I say, the words so heavy. Truthfully, I’ve never felt safer.

We don’t worry about Xander, and I trust my friends are safe and moving on with their own lives. Jaxson enjoys his morning run, time with his wolf, and I spend the morning watching the sun rise every day while indulging in my mate’s perfect breakfast. Snowflake pounces next to my plate, my eyes straining to catch a glimpse of Jaxson as he shifts and takes off running.

I never thought I’d feel this way but I miss him. I miss him dearly.

Somehow it takes five pancakes to knock me out because it isn’t long until my mate returns, rubbing my shoulder gently to wake me. I blink slowly, my head spinning, seeing Jaxson already fitted in a new outfit, although we only have about four outfits between the two of us.

His light eyes scan mine, his dark hair slicked back after a fresh shower. “Ready for the market?”

I nod, fighting a yawn, and sit up while Snowflake jumps off my hip and scurries off to the bedroom. Jaxson holds out his warm hand and I take it, steadying myself. He slips his arm around my back and we leave the hut, away from the beach, and into the tiny little village.

Small children play and chase one another down the path. Jaxson swings me out of the way, two little pups tackling each other with a roll of laughter. I stifle a chuckle, Jaxson doing the same, his eyes scanning my own as we leave the precious moment behind.

“Our pups will be better behaved than that,” he jokes, an innocent comment.

My stomach aches with his words. I feel so new in this affection for Jaxson. The mere idea of that level of love, of commitment, makes me dizzy. I push it aside, though, trying to pretend I hadn’t heard the remark at all.

We near the Alpha’s hut, somewhere I’ve only been once. He’s a gentle man, too old be an alpha that is capable of physically protecting his pack, and he lives with his older mate, both of them the quintessential ideal of lifetime soulmates.

Alpha Marc meets us at the door, baring a small stack of twigs bundled up for a fire. He grins at the sight of us and reaches back inside his quaint home. When he returns he bares a cloth coin purse and tosses it Jaxson. His eyes are dim gray in hue, with matching thinning hair.

“Thanks, Alpha,” Jaxson says, pushing the coin bag into his front pocket. He notions to the buddle of twigs. “What’re you doing today?”

“We’re setting up for a bonfire and feast tonight on the beach,” he says, grinning ear to ear.

“What the occasion?” I ask, curious and clinging to Jaxson.

“The blood moon,” he says, watching us both.

My stomach cramps and I try to hide it’s sudden appearance. Jaxson gives me a sad look, both of us inevitably stuck on the blue moon, the gala, and the terribleness we endured during the last special lunar experience. I cling to his arm tighter, Alpha Marc unaware of the trouble we are focused on.

“We try to have a nice dinner where everyone brings something to nibble on and we play the drums on the beach around the fire,” he hums, as if sensing that we took it like they’re having a sacrifice on the beach and he wants to settle our stiff exteriors.

Jaxson forces a grin, his hand squeezing my hip while I tuck into his side. “That’s a fun idea.”

“You two are always invited,” he says, nodding before heading down the path.

We listen to the Alpha bark at the pups to settle down their play fighting antics, while we stroll out of the small village and toward the next pack over, only a two mile or so walk in this form. It’s awhile before Jaxson’s hand leaves my side, his fingers tangling with mine as we walk through an old beaten trail in the sparce woods.

It’s a slightly cloudy day already, a heavy gray overcast ahead where the clouds threaten to pour over our heads and ruin this market trip. I wouldn’t mind the rain, though, it’s calming and it would certainly tone down the feeling of the sun on our shoulders as we walk.

“I’m sorry,” Jaxson breathes as we near the next pack, breaking our tensile silence.

I squeeze his hand tighter, his knuckles worn from his new work in the pack. “Sorry about what?”

“About the blue moon gala,” he says, shaking his head, looking straight ahead. “I can’t change what happened, and what you heard that night, and I can’t even tell you I found the guy who had hurt you, but I can spend the rest of my life making it up to you. You are my mate, and I would give it all up a hundred times if it meant you were safe.”

I blush, wanting to kiss him; slightly happy he isn’t in the mind link with me to where he could hear my thoughts shift in that direction.

“I can’t forgive you,” I breathe. He flinches. “There is nothing to forgive, Jaxson. It wasn’t your fault. It was mine. I should have never taken that drink and I probably would have been better off just ignoring those girls talking about—”

I hesitate. Their words still sting a little.

He stops, swiveling around to face me. with both of his hands holding mine, I feel small but safe. “It was Stella, the beta’s daughter,” he harrumphs in a heavy sigh. “She tried to make a pass on me after my father announced that you—” he pauses, something so painful his crisp eyes, “that you died. I was furious, Aurora, and I didn’t stand to listen to her slanderous lies.”

“What did you do?” I ask in a meek whisper. Part of me fears his answer. It wouldn’t be unfair for me to be upset if they kissed, or had done more like Xander taunted me with, but it would still wound me deeply.

“I threw her across the office,” he says, firm. “I told her if she ever said something else about you in a negative light, I’d have her sent rouge. I wanted to kill her, and in another time I probably would have done so, but I was too focused on you. I feel so much calmer when I am linked to my true mate, Aurora.”

I nod, knowing that lately I have seen such calmness and it has been amazing. He’s been patient and allowing distance and while he still feels the need to hold my hand when we walk or watch me when I don’t notice him doing so, it’s a night and day comparison from where he used to be.

“I love you, Aurora Hunter.”