"I don't think a Pack picnic is the best idea right now," I murmur flatly as I thumb the dress Jaxon had brought to the cottage. The garment is a mix of patterns and dull colors, reminding me of something my grandmother would have worn.
From my peripheral vision, I see him pull on a Polo over his toned chest. I'm standing a few feet away, adorned in a lace nighty. I turn to him, give him a once-over, and shake my head, "Not that."
He raises an eyebrow at me but pulls the shirt off, nonetheless, and searches for an alternative.
"I think it's the best thing to do right now," He answers as he scrolls through the closet with his fingers. "It will raise morale. Show that we're untouchable and unworried."
"But we're not unworried," I point out.
"They don't know that," He shrugs, pulling out a loose, white, linen button-up. He rolls the sleeves up to his elbows and unbuttons the top few buttons.
"Better," I mumble, still staring at the dress.
"Aren't you going to get dressed?" He questions, passing me and going into the bathroom.
"No, I'm going to wear this," I snark and he growls lowly.
"Isabelle," He warns, popping his head out from the bathroom, his eyes flickering as his wolf makes an appearance.
"I was kidding," I mumble, still thumbing the edge of the dress.
"Put on the dress," He says flatly and I scoff.
"What if I don't want to wear this one?"
"You don't like it?" He comes back out, his black hair slightly gelled to messy perfection.
I shrug, "I mean, it's... interesting."
"You don't like it," He says with finality.
"It's just not my style," I comment.
"Wear it anyway," He commands, passing me to the bed where his phone lies, "we don't have time to get another. The picnic starts in ten and you aren't dressed or ready whatsoever." He becomes preoccupied with his phone screen, fingers flying quickly over the keyboard.
I huff out an annoyed sigh and take the dress off the hanger. I enter into the restroom and quickly change into the offensive garment. Pulling my hair into a casual bun and applying a light layer of makeup, I exit the restroom and slide on a pair of black calf-boots.
"Ready," I open my hands and allow them to fall and smack against my thighs. Jaxon barely spares me a glance before sliding his phone into his pocket and turning and exiting the room.
"Okay, then," I mumble, slowly trailing after him to the front door.
One of the pack vehicles is waiting for us outside and I smoothly slide into the backseat while Jaxon sits in the front with Grant. They speak in low, hushed tones and I roll my eyes. Cool, leave your Luna outâ as always.
"Is something wrong?" Jaxon senses my attitude and catches my eyes in the rearview mirror. I shrug and cross my arms over myself.
"Nope," I pop the 'p' and he presses his fingers to the bridge of his nose but doesn't say anything otherwise.
A few minutes later and we're pulling up at the picnic area. Hundreds of people mill about, mingling and hugging, all seemingly the happiest people on earth.
I sigh dejectedlyâ what I would give to be back with my old pack. Functions like these were the bestâ they made it seem as if I actually had a family.
That's the past. This is the present.
Jaxon's voice rings in my head and I cringe. He'd been spying on my thoughts.
"Why do you do that?" I abruptly say aloud, startling Grant. Jaxon lazily glances back at me before turning to Grant.
"You can go now. We'll join shortly," With these words, Grant nods and exits the vehicle quickly to give us privacy.
Jaxon's eyes find mine once again and he narrows them as they run up and down me before settling back on my gaze.
"You refuse to share your feelings with me, so I have to listen in. Don't want you bolting unexpectedly," He flashes me a smirk and I sigh.
"If I leave, you'll find me. And you don't even take my feelings into account so why would I share them?" I cross my arms about my chest and slump back into my seat.
He sighs, presses his fingertips into his eyes, then looks back to me expectantly, "Go."
"Go?" I scrunch my brow, unsure of what he means.
"Go. Tell me your feelings," He says, his face blank.
I sigh deeply, eyes never leaving his, and begin to speak, "Well I miss my old pack, I'm not going to lie," I shrug and fiddle with my dress. "I really don't want to meet anyone from yours although I know I have to because I'm Luna. I just feel inadequate and young. I feel like no one here likes me, except maybe Grant," He growls at the mention of Grant's name but I continue anyway. "You don't even really like me. You only keep me around because of the mate bond and because you need me to be super Alpha or something. It doesn't seem like anything is being done about Hayes. Even though I may act like I hate it here, I want to be with you, Jax. I don't want him to jeopardize or hurt you in any way. I don't want to be taken away from you," I exhale for a moment before continuing in my long speech. "I want this to work between us but you treat me like a childâ and before you say anything, I know I'm immature sometimes. But I'm eighteen and I don't have any parents. My pack just raised me so I'm not entirely certain of how to be an adult or how to act with my mate. No one really taught me. Last thing," I take another breath, "I'm socially awkward around new people, especially when it seems like they don't like me. That's the main reason why I didn't want to come. It's just uncomfortable for me because I know you're going to ditch me as soon as we get out of this car."
I finish my spiel and watch him, his face never leaving mine, a blank slate staring into my soul.
"Thatâ " he sighs, "was a lot of feelings."
"They've been pent up over time," I murmur, still fiddling with my dress. He exhales through his nose, but other than that he has no response. Instead, he gets out of the car, leaving me alone as I'd said he would.
Dick.
My door suddenly flies open and he grumbles, "I'm not a dick. Does a dick open the door for his mate?"
I stare at him, my mouth agape slightly and he becomes impatient, "People are going to think you're rejecting me if you don't get out."
His words spark me to life and I slide out of my seat and into his chest. He briefly places his hand on my waist as he shuts the door, then slides it down and interlaces our fingers. Jaxon presses a chaste kiss to my temple before tugging me forward to the masses, "Everything will be fine. I'll be right here."
My head swims with confusion and I feel as though I'm getting whiplash. He's sweet, he's mean, he's sweet, he's meanâ which is it? Does he hate me or can he ever love me? Can we ever be happy together?
Whispers can be heard sounding through the air as we approach and Jaxon smiles widely at his pack. The whispers cease and beaming smiles come back at us. "Moonlight Pack!" He shouts, lifting out the arm that isn't holding my hand. "Isabelle and I are very glad you could all make it to this outing. We know there are rumors spreading around about Mistletoe, but as soon as anything becomes of these empty threats we will let you know. For now, let's have fun. Semper Lux!"
Hundreds of voices ring out the chant "Semper Lux!" before breaking into applause at their powerful alpha. I can't help but feel a small amount of pride at my mate and his power and I gaze up at his sculpted face which is now outstretched in a smile.
Fake?
It's not, His voice tells me. I love my pack.
I don't say anything else as he leads me into the middle of the crowd and begins introducing me to people. I meet Jason's mate, Lea, who is very nice. After a couple minutes of conversing with the two, she grabs my other hand, "Come, you must meet the other girls."
I glance up at Jaxon, hoping he'll tell her 'no'. Don't get me wrong, Lea is sweet, but I don't want to meet anyone elseâ not without Jaxon.
"Go," He murmurs lowly, slightly tapping me with his shoulder.
Please, I don't want to, I say in my head.
You need to. Lea is nice and she won't leave you. Come find me in a little while, He says and I exhale deeply before putting on a fake smile for Lea and allowing her to lead me through the crowd, my fingers lingering with Jaxon's for a moment before they release.
People greet me as I'm waded through the crowd and I shyly smile back or murmur a greeting. Finally, we break through the large center group to a few picnic tables situated beneath a shady oak tree. I spot all five of Jaxon's sisters as well as a few other faces I don't recognize. They're all laughing and having a good time and Lea squeezes my hand tighter, "You're going to love them."
When we walk up, the talking and laughing halts as the women observe me. I flash black to how I'd treated his sister's the night of my induction and my cheeks tinge red. They hate me now.
It's awkward for another moment before Titania smiles and slides over on the bench, creating a big enough space for both Lea and I to sit. She pats the bench and I meekly sit next to her, pressed in by Lea.
"How are you feeling, Isabelle?" Jocelyn, the oldest sister, questions and I shrug.
"I feel okay. A little nervous," I wring my hands together underneath the table and avoid direct eye contact.
"Is everything going well after the induction?" Laurena, the second oldest, pipes in and I nod with a clearing of my throat.
"All is well."
"So, you and Jax...?" Laurena presses and I blush at the innuendo she's making.
Titania hits her sister from across the table, "Shut up, Laur. You're gonna freak her out even more."
Laurena scoffs, "I just want to make sure she's adjusting well, is all."
"I'm adjusted," I say quickly and unexpectedly, "quite well."
They all just stare at me for a moment before laughter bursts out amongst them. I slowly join in as well, discomfort waning.
"Luna!" A nearby girl calls out. She appears to be around my age with short blond hair and round brown eyes. "It's very nice to meet you. I'm Agan and this is my sister, Hera."
Next to her is another girlâ womanâ who appears to be an older version of the young girl greeting me. She's beautiful with long, pin-straight blond hair, chocolate eyes, and full lips. She's very well-developed in all of the right places and looks to be closer in age to Jaxon. Her facial expression, however, is anything but one of pleasure.
Suddenly, I realize who she is. When I was introduced to the pack for the first time, she'd been hanging all over Jaxon and relentlessly flirting with him.
Anger burns through me but I suppress it as I attempt to prove Jaxon wrong about being immature.
"It's nice to meet you both," I force a smile on my face, my wolf pacing in a rage within me, willing me to kill Hera for touching our mate.
"Anything but," Hera snorts and I bite my lip.
"Hera," Jocelyn warns, "don't start something you won't like the end to."
"The end is Jaxon and Iâ matesâ and she is irrelevant," Hera speaks boldly and my eyes widen.
This was her. This was the girl Jaxon was going to replace me with.
I suppose she would've been an okay enough Luna based off age and beauty, but the disrespect of the natural mate bond as well as her hostility shows a lack in leadership. Her mistrust in the Moon Goddess's matches also raises red flags.
"Jaxon is my mate," I say without even thinking.
She sneers at me, "He's going to replace you. We've been planning it for a while now."
"Before she was inducted," Titania adds in.
"Meaning now that they're bonded, nothing can break it," Laurena pipes in as well, coming to my defense.
"Jaxon and I also have all of the mate parametersâ I'm in the pack, we've had sex," She argues and tears spring in my eyes.
They slept together?
Betrayal races through me and I suppose it can be seen on my face because she smirks, "Pretty recently, actually. Just a few weeks ago."
"Before her induction," Titania adds again and Hera growls at her.
More tears spring into my eyes and one escapes, rolling slowly down my cheek.
"I guess you just can't satisfy him like I can," Hera shrugs, examining her nails.
"You're forgetting a few things," Jocelyn fires at her, yet her tone is uncannily calm as Jaxon's is. "You are not his mate and you never will be. He'll always long for Isabelle, not you. Also, Jaxon's never marked you. He has marked Isabelle."
"At least I didn't turn him into the Council. At least I'm not going to have him killed," She hisses at me and I go rigid. Jaxon's sisters don't seem surprised by the confession and I take it that they'd already heard the news.
"You're forgetting something else," I suddenly say, power lacing my tone, all tears dried up at this point. I stand to my feet, my hands on the tabletop. "Your place. I am the Luna of this pack, despite any circumstances surrounding it. You submit to me." The edge my wolf is on spurs the power-driven comment I'd made.
"I only submit to my Alpha," She mouths back and I exhale deeply, more than prepared to kill her.
Do it do it do it, my wolf urges me on and I can barely hold her back any longer when a clipped voice comes from behind me.
"What's going on here?"
Hera's face brightens at the appearance of Jaxon and I calm instantly at his presence.
"Oh, nothing, Jax," Hera says in a sing-song voice and my eye twitches.
His blue orbs shift to me, a questioning look in them.
"Everything is fine," I say shortly, trying to be mature and fight my own battles instead of whining back to him like a little girl.
He narrows his eyes at me for a brief moment before jerking his head back toward the crowd. "Isabelle, there are some people I want you to meet. Come," Both of his hands are locked behind his back and I maneuver my way out from behind the table and approach him. He rests his hand on my waist and guides me into the masses. It takes all the power within me not to throw Hera a look over my shoulder. Maturity, Isabelle. You're Luna. You're Luna.
Instead of actually meeting someone as I'd expected, Jaxon leads me beyond the crowds and a short way into the woods out of hearing range. He then presses my back against a tree and takes a short step away, commanding with his eyes for me to stay put. I do as he silently requests and he huffs as he examines me.
"What really happened back there?" He questions after a moment of silence. "I could sense your distress then a sudden burst of power."
I shrug, "Nothing I can't handle."
He exhales gruffly, "Tell me."
I sigh, "Hera was just saying that you two were going to become mates and that she belonged in the Luna position. I was crying, but then I made it clear to her that I was the Lunaâ not that she responded to my authority anyway."
He stares at me blankly for a split moment, deciphering my words before nodding shortly, "She was my chosen replacement mate."
"I figured," I shrug and cross my arms about myself.
"But the inductionâ " He begins but I stop him.
"You don't have to say anything. I understand."
He runs his fingers through his inky locks and he exhales briefly, "I should say something to her."
I shake my head, "Please don't. It will just cause more drama."
"Or put a stop to it," He notes and I nod.
"Maybe."
He steps closer to me, his hand moving to cup my face. I find myself leaning into his touch without even thinking about it.
"Thank you for trying to get along with my sisters," He mumbles.
"They're sweet," I murmur, becoming less coherent as his lips near mine.
He presses them sweetly and softly against my ownâ completely different from a normal kiss from him which is usually demanding and possessive.
I deepen the kiss, pulling him closer by wrapping my arms around his neck. He shifts and grips my thighs, pulling me up and I lock my ankles around his back.
We make-out senselessly until a voice interrupts us, "Alpha, Luna, we have aâ"
Grant stops as soon as he sees us, his face tingeing red and turning away from us immediately.
"Grant," Jaxon's voice grates out as he still holds me in the air.
"It's Annabeth," He says, panic seeping into his tone, "she's gone."
A/N: Don't forget, Annabeth is Jaxon's little sister.
What did y'all think? Only took me a year haha.
1) Who do you think took Annabeth?
2) Will Jaxon and Isabelle fall in love? Do they have a chance?
3) How is Hera going to play into this situation?