Chapter 36

Jax

I hit the call button, stifling a yawn. Sleep has been elusive for me and my pack. The weight of sleep deprivation is starting to press down on me, but there are more urgent matters at hand.

I’ve spent the last few hours organizing a joint funeral for later today at eleven o’clock and have let the pack know. Now, I’m reaching out to a friend who might be the only one who can help in this situation.

His name is Mateo. He’s part of the werewolf council and we’ve been close since childhood. I’m confident he’ll be able to assist me.

Ring. Ring. Ring. Pick up, Mateo. The werewolf council’s headquarters are in Rio, Brazil. I glance at the clock on my computer screen. It’s 5:22 AM.

Rio is four hours behind England, which means it’s about 1 AM for Mateo. That explains why he’s not picking up immediately. After a few more rings, he finally answers.

“Jax? Why are you calling me at... 1 in the morning?” Mateo’s voice is thick with sleep.

“Hey, Mateo. I’m sorry for the early call and the circumstances, but I need your help.”

“What’s going on?” he asks, his tone serious. I rarely call Mateo unless it’s crucial, so he must sense the gravity of the situation.

“My pack was attacked. Rogues invaded my territory tonight, under orders from Alpha Mason of the Bloodnight Pack."

“That’s a serious accusation, Jax. Why do you think Alpha Mason is behind the attack?” I hear rustling on the other end of the line. He’s probably getting out of bed and heading to his office.

“I have evidence to back it up. He’s after Hayley, my mate. Mason is Hayley's father, but he’s been torturing her since she was a child.

“He blames her for his mate's death. Because Hayley lost her wolf, he kept her locked away. She was a human who knew about our kind. It’s a complicated situation, Mateo, but you have to believe me.

“Mason attacked my pack last night and a few weeks ago. He ordered the death of twenty-six of my pack members," I say, hoping to drive my point home.

There’s a heavy silence on the line before Mateo finally speaks. “I’m sorry to hear about your losses and what your mate has been through.

“Abusing another wolf within the same pack is illegal. If you can prove Mason did this, he’ll be charged.

“Regardless of whether your mate lost her wolf, she still has Alpha blood. She shouldn’t have been harmed for that." He pauses before continuing, "I have to ask, Jax. Did you retaliate? If you did, I can’t help you.”

If we had attacked the Bloodnight Pack, all our evidence would be dismissed. It would be seen as an eye for an eye. The council would consider justice served and wouldn’t interfere.

That’s why I’ve been so adamant about not going to war. This way, they’ll face real justice, locked in a cell to rot.

“Mateo, I swear on my pack, we didn’t. None of my warriors have left our territory to attack the Bloodnight Pack.”

"Alright. As long as you have evidence and you didn’t attack the Bloodnight Pack, I can help. I’ll catch the earliest flight and be at your pack tonight. Have all the evidence ready when I get there.”

“Thank you, Mateo. I really appreciate your help.”

“Don’t mention it. Just doing my job,” he says, downplaying the importance of his role. “Goodbye, Jax.”

“Goodbye, Mateo.” I hang up the phone just as someone knocks on the door. With a deep sigh and an eye roll, I call out, “Come in,” after identifying the visitor by scent.

Hayley

I left Lily reluctantly less than five minutes ago to find Jax. I haven’t seen him in a few hours, and I’m starting to worry. Something feels off, and I need to know what it is.

Axton is by my side as I use my heightened senses to guide me to my mate. I enter the packhouse and catch a faint whiff of Jax and someone else leading to his office.

I climb the stairs and am about to open the door when I hear a high-pitched voice screech, “You know you want me, baby, just like the good old times. Hayley will never have to know. She will never have to find out.”

“Samantha,” so that’s who the other woman is. I remember her. How could I forget? She flirted with my mate right in front of me as if I wasn’t there, as if I meant nothing.

“I will never mate with you, heat or no heat. I have my mate, and you’re not her. You’re trying to go behind my Luna’s back, just to get a fuck out of me, something I won’t tolerate.

“If you keep suggesting we mate, Samantha, I’ll have no choice but to label you a rogue. You can either leave and pretend this never happened, keeping your dignity intact, or you’ll be banished from the Midnight Rose Pack,” he growls. “The choice is yours.”

“Please, baby,” she whines, probably pouting. I can smell her sickly sweet heat from out here.

I try to control my anger. I don’t want to judge a female I’ve never spoken to, who’s going through her heat without a choice. But she’s flirting with my mate, and I won’t stand for it.

I get it, heat can mess with your head, but she’s after what’s mine, and that’s not happening. I can feel Jax’s unease and anger through our bond, telling me he doesn’t want Samantha. But it doesn’t do much to cool the fiery rage building inside me.

“I can give you so much more than Hayley can. I can actually make you cum,” she murmurs, trying to sound seductive. That’s it. Game over. I turn to Axton, mouthing, “Wait here,” before I storm in, flinging the door open.

The scene that greets me only stokes my anger. Samantha is perched on Jax’s usually tidy desk—now a mess thanks to her—with her legs spread and leaning in, clearly aiming to kiss my mate.

Her golden hair is perfectly curled and she’s wearing nothing but a skimpy robe, leaving nothing to the imagination. Jax’s arms are at his sides, not touching her at all. He’s gripping his chair so hard his claws are out, Aaron starting to show.

I can only guess he’s not impressed with Samantha, and even more upset to see me distressed because of her.

My sudden entrance makes her whip her head around, shock in her eyes. Threatening growls escape my lips as I stride over to Samantha, yanking her back by her shirt and sending her sprawling on the floor.

She’s back on her feet in an instant, defensive, growling back at me.

I march up to Samantha, standing so close our chests are almost touching. I’m not intimidated by her height advantage. I growl, “You will submit to me.”

She’s pushing my limited control to the brink. If she keeps this up, I won’t be able to stop myself from attacking. No one comes between me and my mate.

He’s mine. “I am your future Luna, and you will respect me.” I stare her down, challenging her. If she holds my gaze, she’s asking for a fight.

It could go either way: she’s a seasoned warrior, but my anger over Lily’s injury and Jax being hit on gives me an emotional edge. Plus, I have Jax to step in if needed.

My hormones are all over the place after my recent shift and I don’t trust myself not to hurt Samantha. Aurora starts to surface, not so much angry about the flirting, but curious about why I’m so protective of Jax.

She’ll slowly realize it’s okay to trust Jax, and then she’ll become possessive of him. Just like me.

Luckily for Samantha, she lowers her gaze to the floor, probably realizing she’d be fighting a losing battle against her Alpha and future Luna. I stalk over to her, leaning in so my lips are near her ear.

“If you ever come near my mate again to flirt or try to get into his pants, I will make you regret it. Do you understand?” I whisper, my voice deadly quiet. She gives a small nod, but that’s not enough for me. “Use your words, Samantha,” I snap.

“I understand,” she squeaks, her body starting to shake. I don’t want to scare her, but if that’s what it takes to make her understand she can’t have Jax, so be it.

“Good. Now leave,” I say, stepping between her and Jax, who’s still sitting in his chair, a smug look on his face.

She bolts out the door, slamming it behind her. I clench and unclench my fists, trying to rein in my anger. I turn to Jax, giving him a pointed look.

“I never touched her. I told her to stop, love. You have to believe me, Hayley, I would never betray you,” he says, pain etched on his face. I walk over to Jax and straddle his lap. Even sitting down, with me perched on his thighs, he’s still taller than me.

“I know, baby,” I whisper, running my fingers through his hair, messing it up in a sexy way. “I heard. She’s a desperate bitch in heat...and she wants to sink her claws into what’s mine. I won’t let...any female do that.”

I lean in, resting my forehead against his as his hands start to massage my hips. I look up at him, lust clear in my eyes as the air around us crackles with intensity.

“For the record, you’re so hot when you’re mad,” Jax murmurs before his lips meet mine in a passionate kiss. All the tension that’s been building up inside me over the last few hours melts away the moment his lips touch mine. His lips are my sanctuary.

This kiss is different. It’s hot and heavy, like never before. His tongue slips over my lips, asking for permission which I readily give. My fingers grip his hair before they skim over his muscular body, perfectly golden, all scratches fully healed, just like mine.

“I only want to touch you,” he murmurs, his lips leaving open-mouthed kisses all over my body. “I only need to touch you.” His hands roam my body, gripping every part he can. Goosebumps rise from his tantalizing touch.

“I love you,” I breathe as he sucks on my neck. This must be what heaven feels like—too good to be true. Everything about me revolves around this man, and I wouldn’t have it any other way.

“You’ve changed,” he says, pulling back to look into my eyes, his lips parted as he catches his breath.

“I can feel that your power has grown stronger. Aurora is changing your demeanor into one of an Alpha. She’s showing that you’re a born leader,” he continues, rubbing his nose against mine in a loving gesture.

“You’re irresistible, love. Your heat has already synced with the pack’s since you’re a werewolf again. It’s the sweetest scent I’ve ever smelled, my love. It’s mouthwatering.”

I haven’t hit the peak of my heat yet, the part where my body feels like it’s on fire. But my scent is already shifting, designed to lure males into wanting to mate with me.

Jax, being an Alpha, has a better handle on his instincts. He won’t lose control. And I think he doesn’t want to push me into anything. But if I’m being honest, I’m ready. More than ready to mate with Jax. But there’s a time and a place for everything, and this isn’t it.

I don’t want to mate with Jax just because of my heat. I want it to be about love, not when I’m writhing in pain. I’ll have to keep my urges in check for a bit longer.

“We didn’t get a chance to celebrate our marriage,” I murmur, the memories of the horrific scenes that are forever etched in my mind coming back to me. I can’t be selfish and wish that Jax and I had been able to have a romantic night together, not when lives were lost.

So many lives. My heart is still beating, and I should be thankful for that. I get to spend another day with my mate, while others aren’t so fortunate.

“We’ve got time.” I nestle my head into Jax’s neck and let out a deep sigh. This chaos can’t continue. I’ve caused so many deaths, even if it’s not directly my fault. They want me, which means it’s because of me.

The families don’t even know the real reason their pups died—they think it’s some unstoppable rogue attack, but it’s not. We know why they’re here, and we had a warning—this shouldn’t have happened. Guilt is gnawing at me, and I can’t bear it anymore.

“They need to know,” I whisper, and Jax, of course, knows exactly what I’m referring to.

“I didn’t want to pressure you, love. You’ve been doing great, and I didn’t want to disrupt that.” Jax’s lips stop moving, but his voice continues. ~Our pack won’t blame you. They’ll love you no matter what, but you’re too stubborn to listen to me.~ How did he just say that but...

The matebond.

It showed me what Jax was thinking. “You heard that?” he asks, surprised, obviously hearing my thoughts now. Since my shift into Aurora just a few hours ago, I’ve felt this magnetic pull towards Jax. I felt it before my shift, but the intensity has increased significantly.

I didn’t know the matebond could work this quickly and this powerfully. I think in any other situation, I wouldn’t be able to stay away from Jax, but given everything, my Luna side is stronger than the need for my mate. I’m stepping up to be a Luna, a leader.

I think my mom would be proud of me for that.

Remembering to nod at Jax’s questions, I say firmly, “This isn’t about me anymore. They have the right to know. Their pups have died, and they don’t even know the real reason why. That’s not fair to them.”

Jax leans back, mulling over everything. After a while, he says, “If you’re sure about this, love, then you have my full support. We can talk to the pack before the funeral service later this morning, as I’ll be giving a speech in remembrance of the members that passed away.

“I know they won’t blame you for anything that’s happened because you never asked for this, but for your peace of mind, I’ll protect you no matter what if anything does happen, but it won’t come to that.”

“I can’t ask you to choose between me and your pack.”

“I wasn’t asking, I was telling you,” he says with a smirk on his face, and then he switches back into his Alpha mode. Jax then tells me that the council will be here later tonight to collect the evidence against my old pack. I don’t see any reason why they won’t be able to charge them as we have all the proof to back us up.

This is almost over.

“Let’s not tell the pack that Rose is mated to my old pack’s Gamma. She’s having a hard enough time as it is,” I whisper, which Jax agrees to. I give Jax another hug, needing to feel nothing but his embrace.

I take a deep breath, hoping his scent will calm me down, but instead, I’m hit with a floral, musky scent. “You need to go take a shower. Samantha’s scent is still on you,” I grumble, displeased.

“Would you like to join me?” he asks with a smirk.

Despite my obvious blush and forgetting about my annoyance with the she-wolf, I whisper in his ear, “Maybe next time.” Jax blushes too, and I can’t help but laugh at his cuteness. ~Goddess, I love this man,~ I think, knowing that he’ll be able to hear my thoughts...