Chapter 31 Surprise Visitor
1611words
My black stilettos clicked and knocked against the hard asphalt of the driveway as we entered my parents' SUV. I let Leah and Bailey slide into the backseat before I carefully slid in, making sure not to damage my black floor-length dress. As my father pulled out of the driveway, I squinted to get a better look at the gray sedan parked across the street. Asher seemed to be looking down at his lap while a light lit up his face; I assumed he was texting on his phone. I was thankful no one else had noticed anything suspicious and assumed it was just a random car parked on the road. Questions about why he was parked across from my house kept playing through my mind, leaving me too wrapped up in my own thoughts to focus on the conversation in the car.
"Addie, hello? Anyone there?" Bailey taunted as she elbowed me in the arm.
I jerked in surprise. "Yeah, sorry, I was just thinking," I said as silence filled the vehicle. Everyone went still, as if they were all thinking about the fact that Alpha Jaxon was my mate, surely pitying me.
"Maybe there's nothing to freak out over. I mean, look at it this way: with Alpha Jaxon being your mate, it basically ensures the Taylors will stay as enforcers," Leah said, playing with the gold necklace at her neckline. It was clear she wasn't fully convinced by her own words.
My mother let out a sigh and nodded. "In light of recent events, that's true. No Alpha would willingly accept an Omega as his mate. That would mean an Omega would become Luna. However, if you reject Alpha Jaxon, I see no reason why he would allow us to stay as enforcers. He may even demote us as payback."
My father sneered at my mother's words and gripped the steering wheel tightly. "Alpha Jaxon is unpredictable and erratic. He took over Silver Shadow without a second thought. His decisions on ranking are irrelevant on whether Adeline accepts him as a mate or not."
I let out an intimidating growl—my wolf was not happy with him doubting our mate bond. She was possessive of him, vowing to protect him at all costs. "S-Sorry, Dad, I didn't mean to growl. I couldn't control it—it just came out. However, I'm fairly certain he's not interested in demoting us. If he was, it would have happened already."
My mother let out a slight giggle. "That's the mate bond, sweetheart. Your wolf is possessive over her mate. Your father and I are very familiar with how that works. You must trust that mate bond, Adeline. Trust that Alpha Jaxon will do the best thing for all of us."
The rest of the car ride was quiet, with only whispered chatter between Bailey and Leah as they used their compact mirrors to touch up their makeup. We approached the downtown core of Midnight Moon, where cars already filled the roads, blocking each other like a game of Tetris. I had never seen so many wolves gathered in one place.
Midnight Moon seemed almost unrecognizable; the town had been completely revamped overnight. I was sure wolves had worked tirelessly to make sure the town looked perfect. String lights were hung on both sides of the streets, and flagpoles stood throughout the pack, each with red flags emblazoned with a silhouette of a black wolf howling. I immediately understood that the black wolf howling was a depiction of Alpha Jaxon. Rows of red roses filled the air and were placed throughout the pack. Wolves conversed and laughed with each other from both packs, and my heart filled with happiness and peace. It was a beautiful sight to see our two packs joining as one. I wasn't sure why—as I resented Alpha Jaxon for taking over Silver Shadow—but at that moment, I was proud of my mate.
As we approached the forest clearing, thousands of chairs were set up on both sides, with a red carpeted walkway down the middle leading to a stage. I took a moment to admire the stunning setup. It was clear that the wolves in Midnight Moon adored Alpha Jaxon. I couldn't believe the amount of effort that had been put in. An entire band stood off to the side of the stage, and the front few rows were reserved for the Alphas and Betas who had traveled to witness the coronation.
An usher stood at the entrance, escorting everyone to their seats. The wolves from Silver Shadow were seated on the left side, while the Midnight Moon wolves were on the right. It felt like a human wedding, with the thrilling concept of "two becoming one." Strangely, I felt connected to it all. Was I ready to become a wolf of the Midnight Moon Pack? I followed behind Bailey, hand in hand with my best friend, as the usher led us to our seats.
I was about to sit down at the end of a long wooden bench when an unease washed over me, as if someone had their eyes locked on me from the front.
My wolf was frantic inside, howling and panicking from fear for some odd reason. I looked in the direction of the unsettling feeling and locked eyes with the most captivating green eyes I had ever seen. They radiated the power of an Alpha to the point that I felt my knees wobble. I held that gaze as long as I could until the feeling was too much to bear, and I fell onto the bench beside Bailey. "Oh my Moon Goddess, who is he?" I whispered, feeling my body heat up.
"That's Alpha Christian. Addie, don't even think about it—he's an absolute womanizer. I'm sure he's even had his way with some she-wolves from Silver Shadow," Bailey said disapprovingly.
"Relax, Bails, you know I have a mate. Or whatever you want to call him," I shot back defensively, fiddling with my rhinestone earring, not daring to glance back at the notorious Alpha Christian. Even though I dismissed Alpha Christian in my mind, all I could picture was the navy blue suit he was wearing and the thin tie tied around his neck. I involuntarily thought about how that tie would feel around my neck while he pushed his fingers deeper inside me with each thrust going deeper and deeper.
"Mate or not, I know he's hot. I don't blame you for staring," Bailey gave me a playful smile, then gently shoved me, causing us both to giggle. "And I really don't blame him for staring. Any big bad wolf would want to eat you all up in that dress!" she said, and I almost snorted from laughing so hard.
We both struggled to compose ourselves when suddenly the trumpet sounded from the front, and all the wolves stood in unison.
"Here ye, here ye. Please remain standing for the entrance of Alpha Jaxon," a loud voice called through the speaker. Bailey and I exchanged a confused look. He wasn't the King of England, after all. The absurd dramatics definitely weren't necessary.
One by one, the high-ranking wolves made their way down the aisle. Each stood tall, exuding confidence with every stride toward the stage until they took their seats. I recognized a few of the wolves walking the red carpet runner toward the front.
When it was Beta Don's turn, I felt his hand lightly brush against mine, causing me to jerk in surprise. It took all my strength not to shriek. Next, Beverly strolled down and made her way to the front of the stage. It was clear she was enjoying all the attention, somewhat like a good Luna would. As she passed by me, she turned her head toward the Midnight Moon wolves and avoided making eye contact with me. She wore a large smile and proceeded to wave as the wolves of Midnight Moon Pack went wild in adoration of their soon-to-be Luna.
When she finally reached the front of the stage and took her seat, the other instruments joined the trumpet, playing a magnificent grand melody that ignited excitement deep within me.
I looked down the aisle and saw Alpha Jaxon making his way toward me. I felt the passion and arousal stir inside me, making my clit pulse beneath my dress.
It felt as if everything around us had paused in time. Nothing else mattered except this sex god standing in front of me. As if he knew the effect he was having on my body, he shot me a smirky smile that made me flush all over. My eyes danced with excitement as I examined him—his dark hair was meticulously styled, not a single strand out of place, while his matte black suit clung to every muscle on his body. I was always a sucker for a man in a suit, but Alpha Jaxon had just set the bar too high for any man to ever achieve.
His scent overwhelmed my senses as he slowed just before passing by me. I clenched my legs tightly, trying to hold back the wetness in my folds. My wolf was desperate for his touch, desperate to mark him right there in the middle of the aisle. He looked delicious.
Just as he passed, he casually turned his head toward me and locked his gaze with mine. My throat went dry as I stared into those irresistible honey-colored eyes. I struggled to breathe, suffocated by their intensity. The air felt thin in his presence. I was sure the other wolves were staring at me, watching me melt away with his closeness.
