Chapter 17: Chapter 17

SLADE

Watching her all afternoon in that bikini, laughing and splashing and flirting. Or at least what I hoped was flirting. It drove me crazy. I had wanted to kiss her earlier, but I stopped. I wasn’t ready.

Walking back up to the room, it took all of me not to take her and kiss her. But as she turned away, I didn’t want her to go. “Wait…”

And then she said it. Hearing my name roll off those lips undid me as bad as that little bikini did. Taking a breath, I moved closer. My brain was saying no, but my body wasn’t listening.

As my lips came crashing down onto hers, I was taken in. Her smell, her taste. Touching her skin and holding her close. I could feel myself losing control. I wasn’t ready for that, and so I had to stop.

I could tell she wanted more. Hell, I wanted more! But if we had kept going, I wouldn’t have been able to stop. So I slipped into my room and took a quick shower to cool my mind.

I had beaten her downstairs, and it made me smile to see her walk up. I hadn’t planned on asking her to sit with me, just like I hadn’t planned on taking her hand halfway through dinner.

But I wanted to be close to her. The tingling that shot up my arm when I took her hand had me flying. As the evening wound down, we made our way upstairs.

“Good night,” she said as she smiled up at me warmly.

“Good night, Addison, see you tomorrow for the big day,” I replied, not wanting to let her walk away.

But just then she turned around, surprising me as her arms flew around my neck and her lips pressed against mine in a gentle kiss.

It only lasted for a moment, but as she walked away, it was my turn to stand there in shock.

***

I woke up early to the sound and smell of food. Someone was banging around at six in the morning. Who does that?!

Groaning, I rolled out of bed and walked down the hall to find Addison cooking furiously in the small kitchen of our apartment.

“Addison, what are you…” I squinted my still-sleepy eyes at her.

“Oh! Did I wake you? I’m so sorry. I’m a nervous cook. I tend to bake when I’m anxious.” She walked around the small kitchen island and bounced up to me, giving me a peck on the cheek.

“Come sit, I’ll get you some coffee.”

The girl was a hot mess. Hair thrown on top of her head, pajamas covered in whatever ingredients she was using. But her eyes were bright, and the coffee was hot.

Sipping from my cup, I nodded to the oven. “So? What’s for breakfast?”

She beamed. I knew it was because the last time I had refused her. “Cinnamon rolls! Giant ones, as big as your head.” She smiled, and even though she was nervous, she was still sunny.

After eating some of the best cinnamon rolls I’d probably ever had, we went our separate ways. We each had our own things to do before the ceremony tonight.

I hadn’t seen Addison all day until I heard her laugh come from somewhere in the house. I followed the sound to find Addison, Hannah, and Olivia practically crying from laughing so hard.

I didn’t know what was funny, but that picture was enough to get me through to at least dinnertime as I walked back to my office.

***

I walked up to my room after dinner to get ready. After showering, shaving, and putting on my suit, I made my way down to the amphitheater.

The stage was set up so that I wouldn’t be able to see her until she stepped up onto the stage. The anticipation was killing me. As I watched the pack assemble, I looked up. It was almost time.

I was given the signal that Addison was here and I could start.

Standing to the microphone, I spoke warmly. “Members of the White Moon Pack, we are here today to celebrate and welcome our new luna, Addison Jennings.

“Tonight, under the full moon, she will make her pledge as your luna and will be officially accepted into the pack.

“As our blood is shared with hers, she will become a part of this pack and a part of this family.”

I nodded, and she walked onto the stage, leaving me frozen in awe.

She was breathtaking. Her white, satin dress fitting to her as though it was made specifically for her, the lace sensually playing down her arms.

Her dark-brown curls were put up so I could see her long neck. She looked up with her big, turquoise eyes, and I was lost.

“Alpha,” she said softly with a smile.

ADDISON

After dinner, I was joined in my room by Olivia and Hannah who helped me get ready for the ceremony.

Olivia had styled my hair up, her reasoning that the back of the dress shouldn’t be covered.

Hannah had helped with my makeup, opting for something natural but with a dramatic eye that made my turquoise eyes pop. Standing in front of the mirror, I looked amazing.

It was getting dark, and it was almost time. I was nervous. As we made our way down to the amphitheater, I felt like passing out. Hearing Slade’s words of welcome helped a bit.

As I walked up onto the stage, I locked eyes with Slade.

“Alpha.” It was all I said, but it woke him up.

He looked amazing. He was in an all-black suit, but it didn’t hide a thing. You could still see his broad chest and strong arms under the jacket. Clean and shaved, you could perfectly see his jawline.

And looking up into his golden eyes had me inhale sharply. If we couldn’t feel the tension before, we could definitely feel it now.

Slade took my hand, warning me. “I have to cut you with this, but don’t worry, it will only sting for a second.” Then hesitating, he said, “Also…what is your middle name? I don’t think I ever asked you.”

I smiled. “Lee.”

Nodding his head with a warm smile, he took the gold-decorated dagger and made a small cut in my palm. I winced at the pain, but it wasn’t awful. Then doing the same to himself, he clasped our hands together.

“Do you, Addison Lee Jennings, promise to uphold pack laws in the role as luna?”

“I do.”

“Do you promise to do all you can to help the pack keep its strength and its security?”

“I do.”

“Do you promise to assist in keeping the traditions of the pack?”

“I do.”

Slade smiled, and I felt my knees go weak. “Welcome, Luna.” The pack cheered. I was a part of the pack now, and I was their luna.

The reception after the ceremony was small and quiet. Every pack member came up to welcome me and show their support for their alpha and his luna.

Late in the evening, we finally made our way back to the pack house. I looked up the giant staircase and huffed. I was not about to walk up two flights of stairs in heels.

Kicking them off, I made my way up as Slade quietly laughed at me. He hadn’t taken his eyes off me the whole evening, and I enjoyed his attention.

When we finally made it upstairs and to the point of separation, I was suddenly jerked in the opposite direction. Slade had grabbed my hand and pulled me inside his room, pulling me close to him.

“Luna…,” he said in a husky voice, making my breath catch.

“Alpha.” I barely breathed the word out. My whole body was tingling. The mate pull was even stronger now that I was official.

“There has only been one thing on my mind tonight since seeing you walk onto that stage. As much as I fight it, I can’t keep myself from you,” Slade whispered into my neck, inhaling my scent.

The touch made me shiver, making Slade smirk. Pulling me into him, our bodies closer, I held on to his arms as he rolled me back and kissed my neck. A moan escaped my lips, which made him heated.

As our mouths met, passion rolled off them. His tongue reached into my mouth and tasted me. I matched his need with mine. His hands reached down the back of my dress, touching as much of me as he could.

But then I stopped it, placing my hands on his chest and gently pushing back, signaling to him. Slade wasn’t ready to trust me yet, and so we cooled down, Slade giving gentle, nipping kisses along my jaw.

The sensation just about sent me flying back, but I wasn’t about to make the first move. When he was ready, he would open up to me. At least, that was what I hoped.

I went back to my room, a bit disheveled, knees wobbly. I sat down on my bed collecting my mind and my breath. Sitting there, I thought of Slade.

Something had hurt him in his past. And until he was ready to share that with me, we weren’t going anywhere. Not when it had affected our relationship so much up to this point.

Maybe I could get Hannah to tell me what had happened to him so I could know how to help him. Shaking the thought out of my head, I got up and walked to the bathroom.

After changing and rinsing off my makeup, I lay down in my bed and drifted off to sleep.

***

Morning came too soon, and today I was tired, the day before catching up to me. I let myself sleep in. I knew I would miss breakfast, but honestly, I didn’t care. Groaning, I rolled over.

I didn’t really have anything to do today. So I decided to take a personal day, chuckling to myself at the thought as I relaxed and fell back to sleep.