Chapter 23 All Wrapped Up
1380words
I felt the moon's reflection beaming down onto my golden fur as I climbed the stairs of my parents' house. For some odd reason, the moon seemed brighter than usual, as if it was calling out to me, offering comfort and protection. I recalled the events from the past two days. My birthday hadn't gone as expected, but it was definitely a memorable one. I quickly shifted into my human form, making sure my eyes weren't puffy from all the crying I had done on my run back to Silver Shadow Pack, then pulled the handle of the front door in anticipation of seeing my family.
The aroma of strawberries and dark chocolate filled the hallway, and it put an endearing smile on my face. Every year, my mother spent hours slaving away in the kitchen to make sure I had my favorite cake on my birthday: red velvet.
"Adeline? Is that you?" my mother called out from the kitchen. I crept up behind her and gave her a big bear hug, causing her to startle. I replied jokingly, "Are you expecting another birthday girl?"
She hugged me back, pulling me into her warm embrace, and called out to my dad and sister. "You know you've had us worried sick from the rumors that you'd been taken by the Alpha," she shook her head at me. I couldn't admit to my mother the mess I had found myself in and quickly responded, "Mom, I'm 18 now. I can take care of myself. Besides, I'm fine and very much alive! I was at the pack house though—I made a new friend. She's Alpha Jaxon's sister, actually." My mother gave me a horrified look. "Alpha Jaxon's sister?" she paused, "Adeline, surely you know how dangerous that is. He's an unpredictable beast. Any second now, he could rip your throat out for one wrong move."
I was thankful when Dad and my sister entered the kitchen, changing the subject. "Well, if it isn't the birthday girl! Hey Addie, looks like you had fun last night," Leah exclaimed passionately.
I smiled at her, knowing sooner or later I'd have to give her an explanation about my whereabouts from the night before. "It's been one hell of a birthday, I'll give you that," I replied, and both of us burst out laughing.
A knock on the door sent my wolf into a stir-crazy panic rising in my chest. I held my breath until the door flew open, and I recognized that it was Bailey who had come over. "Earth to Adeline! You'd think you'd be used to seeing me by now," she chuckled. Bailey had been my best friend since we were pups; she was very much a part of our family and never missed a holiday at the Taylors. My parents always joked that she was their adoptive daughter.
We settled into the kitchen table, and they all sang me happy birthday. I was grateful that this part of my birthday felt normal, in contrast to everything else that had happened. I bit into the rich red velvet cake and gave my mother a satisfied look. "Mmm, this has to be the best birthday cake you've ever made, Mom," I said as I continued to devour the rest of the cake on my plate.
"So tell us about your birthday adventure, Adeline. Did you find your mate?" my mother focused on me. Her blue eyes widened and gawked at me with curiosity.
I struggled to lie to my family and best friend but knew I couldn't admit that Alpha Jaxon was my mate. I feared their disappointment at the thought. I mustered the calmest, most untroubled look I could and said, "Nope," emphasizing the "p" with a pop. "I just turned 18, Mom! Wherever he is, I'm sure I'll find him soon," I said with a giggle and took a sip of water from my glass.
She let out a deep breath. "I know you're right, sweetheart. I'm just so excited for all of you girls to find your fated mates. It's the most fulfilling part of being a wolf," she said, grabbing her heart and holding it dramatically. "With all the visitors coming into the pack tomorrow for the coronation, who knows? Maybe one of my girls will meet their mate then," she said, locking eyes with Dad. You could feel the love radiating between them.
Bailey pinned her hair up into a slick ponytail as she said, "I still have to pick out my dress for tomorrow. I can't decide what's most fitting for the occasion. Did you know that all the Alphas and Betas in the U.S. are coming? Even an Alpha from Sweden is flying here tomorrow morning!"
"Talk about a big deal," my sister nodded in agreement. I let out a yawn, signaling I was exhausted. "It'll be a big day for the pack. I'm going to fall asleep right here on my plate if I don't get to bed soon," and I gave everyone a kiss on the cheek before making my way to my bedroom. It felt good to be home finally, even though my wolf was upset with me for leaving our mate. She wouldn't even surface to speak to me.
Ignoring my wolf's dramatic behavior, I slid my clothes off and went to take a warm bath to decompress. I added a few drops of lavender to the water, thinking it would give me that extra boost of relaxation. I climbed into the tub and let the water soak my aching muscles. My wolf suddenly grew wide awake and delighted as the smell of sandalwood danced through the steam. "Fuck, I added the wrong oil," I thought and closed my eyes. I was slightly irritated that the scent I'd chosen was so similar to Alpha Jaxon's. I sunk deeper into the water as thoughts of him took over my mind.
My hand urgently dropped between my legs as I fantasized about having his hardness right there, thrusting into my bare pussy in the water. I stroked my clit in small, slow circles while tending to all the folds between my legs and envisioned his chiseled chest and tattooed broad arms pressing down against me, trapping me underneath him. Water rippled around me.
I dipped a single finger inside my core while my other hand tugged and pinched at my pink nipple, causing a sensation of pleasure to envelop my body. My back arched as a soft moan escaped me. I imagined him grabbing my waist as he had earlier that day, making me so fucking wet. His touch made me feel wild things and ignited me. I quickly slipped another finger inside my core, pushing in deeper and thrusting it in and out. I could feel my wetness seeping into the bathwater.
I longed for him to mark me, his huge canines piercing through my skin while his hard cock pulsed inside me. I wanted to feel his come flooding my pussy and creaming my clit. With one hand rubbing my swollen clit and the other aggressively pushing in and out, my body felt like it was on fire. I yelped out, "A-Alpha J-Jaxon."
I rinsed my body quickly, wrung out my hair, and wrapped it in a towel. I took a quick look at the bottle of oil and noticed I indeed put lavender in the bath. Confused, I figured Leah must have used my things and somehow switched the labels. I rubbed lotion into my body, taking care not to miss a spot, and combed out my hair. I hooked on my baby doll dress, which pushed my tits up graciously, and pulled up the matching red G-string. I had always loved cute lingerie for sleeping in. I adjusted the strings of my underwear to the perfect height on my hips and gently let it go, hearing a small snap against my skin.
Satisfied that I was finally ready to sleep, knowing I'd need my rest for the coronation I was dreading, I placed my hand on the doorknob and carefully turned it. I took a step out of the bedroom and lost my breath when I saw two golden eyes glowing in the darkness, staring straight at me, hunger filling them.
