Chapter 47 Alleviation
1702words
I wasn't convinced that Alpha Jaxon was going to agree to take me on a run—I could hear the hesitation in his voice, especially because I was still recovering from a rogue attack. I was pleasantly surprised at how easily I managed to sway him with just a few sappy pouts. I figured my best chance of getting out of this room was to ask him to take me. Truthfully, I had never been one of those shifters who needed to run or risk their wolf taking control, like my sister. A run through the forest every few days was enough to satisfy my wolf, keeping her calm and at bay. Bailey was the same, although we replaced that need with treks through the forest. Admittedly, it was mostly just to check out the male wolves in the pack, but the fresh air certainly didn't hurt. I wasn't sure what had come over my wolf this time—she had enough energy to ravage the entire forest.
Before Alpha Jaxon could change his mind, I slipped into the walk-in closet in his bedroom, remembering that Sophia had left a few changes of clothes for me earlier. I knew my defiance had riled Alpha Jaxon up, and I was delighted to be able to push his buttons the way I did. I thought I had won that round, but—boy, was I ever wrong. I felt a bulky bicep press me into the wall, locking my arms above my head with the other hand with such force. Unable to wriggle out of his hold, he pressed his face into the crook of my neck. Bolts of lightning electrified my body as he began to lay sensuous kisses along it. I couldn't hold back the small moans that escaped my lips. I could feel his hardness against my core as his chiseled body pressed against mine. I knew I was ready right then—I wanted him to rip my virginity away from me. I wanted to submit to this sex god who had me trapped under him. A gasp abruptly left my chest, making me feel like I was drowning as he took hold of my neck and sucked hard. I felt the wetness oozing out of me. He pulled back with darkened eyes and a sinful grin. "Watch how you speak to your Alpha, little mate." Fuck, even more wetness. When he released me, I nearly collapsed. I made a mental note to rile him up more often.
Feeling challenged, I pulled out the skimpiest outfit I could find and walked out of the closet nearly naked, with only my bra on. Payback was going to be a bitch. I smirked in my head as I turned my back to him and bent over slowly, exposing my bare pussy to him. When I reached my hand between my thighs, I could hear a growl from the other side of the room. Feeling accomplished, I began toying with my clit and turned back to enjoy his reaction. I was stunned to find that he had pulled out his hard cock and was stroking it—I was just hoping to get a reaction for how he'd made me feel pressed against the closet wall.
I stuck my finger inside and debated my next move. With this new sense of confidence, I walked over and pressed it against his lips until he took my finger in and sucked on it. The sensation sent my mind into a frenzy, black dots dancing in my vision. I quickly bolted to the other side of the room where I had left my white T-shirt and threw it on, determined to go on this run. He was watching me intently, making me feel so sexy under his gaze.
We made our way out of the pack house and into the depths of the forest. The sun had just set and the moon was making her appearance. The moon was particularly bright tonight, its reflection bouncing off Alpha Jaxon's sculpted face. Just when I thought Alpha Jaxon couldn't be more handsome, he proved me wrong. My wolf was relishing the cool night air that stung deep in my lungs, begging to be released and run free with her mate. Alpha Jaxon's eyes began to glow with excitement, though he still seemed hesitant about something. "Are you sure you want to do this, Adeline? We can wait until morning. I don't want you straining your wolf and delaying your recovery," he said. His voice held so much tenderness, but I could see his wolf was tormenting him, desperate to be let out. I nodded with certainty, unable to speak, trapped in his glowing honey eyes.
"Shift," he commanded. I stripped out of my clothes and, though I dreaded the shift, I proceeded promptly. Usually, the snapping and mending of bones and my body contorting would take a moment and leave me sore for days afterward. Not this time, though—as I shifted, I felt so free and careless. I could still hear and feel the changes happening, but I was surprised that none of it hurt for once. It all just felt so easy and natural. Alpha Jaxon's eyes widened, losing their glow, and I could hear his heartbeat pick up—faster than I'd ever heard it. He was frozen in place as if his legs were tree stumps rooted in the ground. Was he disappointed with my wolf? Did he think I was a freak? Most of the shifters in Silver Moon had accepted my fate, but I realized that none of the shifters in Midnight Moon knew.
My wolf panicked and whimpered, thoughts of Alpha Jaxon rejecting us pounding through my subconscious. He was THE Alpha Jaxon; he wouldn't want a freak of a mate like me, I winced. I had let this whole thing get too far—I should have packed up my belongings and gone rogue the moment I realized he was my fated mate. I lowered my head in submission to Alpha Jaxon, feeling the pain sear through my heart.
"Adeline, you—you have a red wolf?" he stammered, eyebrows raised and jaw slack. I had always known red wolves were rare; my parents told me I inherited it from my great-great-great-grandfather. Many were hunted by humans for their fur back in the 1960s. Others were hunted by shifters, since legend had it that if you killed a red wolf, you would inherit their strength. I was a broken red wolf, though—there would be nothing to inherit, which is probably why my pack never seemed to care much. I was dainty, after all, not strong like the others. My father always called me his "dainty little flower" as a pup because I never wanted to run wild in the woods with the others in Silver Moon pack. I would rather play in the meadows and pick flowers for my mother.
I shifted back quickly and tears streamed down my face. "I'm sorry, Alpha Jaxon. I shouldn't have kept this secret from you. I got so wrapped up in finding my mate that I—I just forgot." He wrapped his arms around me and stroked my hair. "Little mate, it's okay. I'm not upset. I was just shocked—red wolves are exceptionally rare, just like you." I looked up at Alpha Jaxon, pain vibrating through me. "I think it's better if you just rip it off like a band-aid, Alpha. Go ahead and reject me. You deserve better than a freak of a mate."
He cocked his eyebrow at me in confusion and belted out a loud laugh. "You can't be serious right now, Adeline. I wouldn't reject you even if you had no mate. I l-lov—" He grabbed my jaw, pulling me into a deep kiss. It wasn't rough or passionate; it was sweet and caring. He pulled back and sighed. "What I meant to say is that having a red wolf as Luna is very special. Being a red wolf holds immense power." Was he dense? What power? He called me a little wolf all the time!
"Power? Jaxon," I said, refusing to use the word 'Alpha' this time, "you've said yourself that I'm a meek wolf. I have no power, and once Beverly officially challenges me, I'll be a dead wolf quickly. I was planning on fighting in human form to save my family the embarrassment—no one in Midnight Moon knows."
He looked at me sympathetically and shook his head, wrapping his arms around my waist in a close, comforting embrace. "I need to tell you something, Adeline. My mother was a red wolf. She and my father always used to joke that she could probably snag the Alpha title from him in a challenge because she was supposedly that much stronger. An Alpha! That day when the rogues killed my father, we found out much later that they were there to kill my mother for their own sick and twisted idea that she would make them strong enough to one day take over Midnight Moon territory," he said evenly.
I covered my face with my hands as I found myself unable to control the tears. "That's great—she was strong, but I'm not. I'm not your mom, Jaxon," I said, looking up at him. He shook his head impatiently, as if annoyed that I didn't understand his point. "My mother's strength and power only surfaced after she was mated to my father, Adeline. My grandfather almost rejected their mating because he didn't see her as fit to be Luna. Female red wolves work differently than male red wolves. I'm not sure why, but it has something to do with acceptance from their mate, Adeline."
I stepped back and looked at him, squinting my eyes and studying his face thoroughly. "What if this profound strength you speak of never shows up? I'll be a burden to you and the pack." He smiled at me, and the glow I loved so much returned to his eyes. "Sweetheart, you'd never be a burden to me. You're always going to be my alleviation."
I was falling for this man faster than I could keep up with. I stepped back, easily shifted into my wolf, and bolted through the forest.
