Chapter 86 First Moves
1482words
I watched as Alpha Jaxon left the bedroom, my wolf screaming—begging our mate not to go. The mate bond felt like it was growing stronger, pulling us closer by the second, weaving our needs together. Sophia quickly entered, exchanging places with Alpha Jaxon. I wasn't sure when she had time to change into her red flannel pajamas, but I hoped it meant she hadn't heard the goodbye exchange between her brother and me. My cheeks warmed at the mere thought when her eyes met mine.
Sophia held up a matching pair of pajamas with the biggest grin on her face. "Twinning?" she teased, winking at me. I sat up in bed and wrapped the white bedsheet around my body. I paced toward her and pulled her into a hug. It felt good to have her in my life—she was the cheerleader I didn't know I ever needed. Sophia chuckled into my ear. "Well, I'm glad it's not just me who's excited about a kickass slumber party!" Without a doubt, I would have rather had my mate by my side, but since I had no other choice, his sister was a decent second.
I reached for the red flannels from her hand and turned on my heels, heading for a much-needed shower. I knew the bedroom reeked of my arousal but was grateful when Sophia didn't acknowledge it, choosing to turn a blind eye to the goodbye my mate had just given me. "Give me five," I replied. Sophia laid on the bed, taking up her brother's spot and getting comfortable under the covers while flipping through television channels. She reached into her overnight bag for a bottle of rosé wine and poured a glass for both of us.
I closed the washroom door behind me and turned on the warm water before stripping off the bra and panties I still wore. I pulled a fluffy white towel from underneath the sink and placed it on the countertop. When I noticed steam building against the glass, I pulled open the shower door and stepped inside. I stood there for a moment, enjoying how the warm water streamed down my body.
My thoughts still ran wild, reminding me how bizarre the past 24 hours had been. Tomorrow, I was to become Luna of the Midnight Moon—an honor I never dreamed I'd hold. I had never considered what kind of Luna I would be, though. I knew it bothered Alpha Jaxon that I'd never received proper shifter training like many others in my pack. Sharpening those skills would need to become my first priority—I had big shoes to fill. I wanted to make them all proud, but especially my mate, Alpha Jaxon.
I squeezed lavender shampoo into my palms and lathered it into my hair, taking my time as I wondered what tomorrow would hold. After rinsing off the suds, I reached for the fluffy white towel under the sink—first drying my body, then wrapping my hair in it. I put on the flannel pajamas Sophia had given me. I had never felt anything so soft against my skin before.
I opened the washroom door and froze when I saw Alpha Christian sitting beside Sophia on my bed, propped up on his elbows as the two argued about what we should watch.
"Luna, I just came by to make sure you and Sophia were okay. I heard you weren't feeling well. Jaxon panicked and wrapped up our meeting quickly," he admitted. My eyes scanned his body: no longer in the suit he wore to the burial, he was now dressed in a white V-neck T-shirt and grey sweatpants—undeniably handsome. He lifted a wine glass to his lips and sipped, like he'd done this one too many times.
I smiled at Alpha Christian, though his presence made me uneasy. What would Alpha Jaxon say if he found out Alpha Christian had "stopped by" to check on me? We'd all had enough close calls with potential bloodbaths between the two of them.
"I appreciate your visit, Alpha," I replied, staring straight into his intense emerald eyes. "The pack doctor managed to give me some medication, and I'm feeling better." Sophia lay beside Alpha Christian, sprawled out on her stomach and propped on her elbows. "I haven't seen this movie since I was a kid! Can we please watch it? The girl takes her rightful place on the throne, just like Addie's gonna tomorrow!" she shrieked.
Alpha Christian rolled his eyes. A deep laugh rang in my ears as he reached for the remote in Sophia's hands. Suddenly, their playful banter turned to confusion. I jerked back when I realized Alpha Christian's eyes flickered like a lightbulb whenever his hand touched Sophia's. Surely, he knew better than to try to get close to Alpha Jaxon's sister.
I took a deep breath and approached the bed where they lay, sliding in between them and settling into the same relaxed position. "Considering it's my mating ceremony tomorrow, how about I pick something?" I teased, reaching for the remote from Sophia, who still wore a frozen, deer-in-headlights expression, while Alpha Christian's irritation radiated off him in waves. He quickly finished his wine glass in a single gulp, trying to calm his nerves.
Sophia released the remote from her grip, letting me take hold of it as I flipped through the channels, hoping to find something feminine enough to scare Alpha Christian out of my bedroom without actually kicking him out.
"So, are you looking forward to the mating ceremony tomorrow? I've never seen Jaxon so excited about anything before," Alpha Christian asked, his gaze still fixed on the TV.
I nodded, then took a deep breath. "Alpha Jaxon is tough, but he's got a heart of gold. Sometimes I feel bad for actually believing all the stories about him," I admitted, biting my bottom lip.
"She's not kidding about that. Jax really had to break down those walls. He even planned a birthday date for her. The entire pack house was walking on eggshells for days. They were terrified that if something went wrong, Addie would decide to leave—and heads would roll," Sophia said, pulling me closer to kiss my cheek. "But that's long lost history now, because they both fell in love."
I glanced toward Alpha Christian and noticed him glaring at my face from the corner of his eye, as if taking in the information for a moment. "We all live and learn. Jaxon has always put his pack first. It's nice to see him have someone to spend his life with and put her first. And Adeline?" he said.
"Mmhm," I replied, finally settling on a cheesy romance movie, determined to make Alpha Christian catch on that he was overstaying his welcome.
"I'm sorry about everything. I put you in a weird position. Beverly got to me before I could actually see what was happening between one of my oldest friends and his mate. I have all faith that you're going to make him a very happy man and that you two will have a litter of pups one day," he explained, finally turning his head back to the television.
"The Notebook?! Oh, come on! Anything else!" he yelped.
Sophia burst into giggles. "That's what you get for messing with my brother and best friend," she teased, sticking her tongue out at him. He smiled—a tender, soft smile at Sophia. Watching the two of them clearly melt in each other's presence made me wonder if they'd always had such a flirty relationship and I'd somehow missed it.
Halfway through the movie, I glanced side to side and found both Sophia and Alpha Christian fast asleep. Now I was stuck watching the story of two lovers who struggled to be together—a story painfully familiar to me. My heart ached, a sharp pain settling deep inside. I missed my mate. I missed the way his eyes would watch me until I fell asleep, and how his strong arms could easily scoop me into his body.
Pausing the movie, I crept out of bed and into the walk-in closet. My eyes scanned the drawers for a simple T-shirt that might still carry Alpha Jaxon's scent—something to help calm my restless wolf and ease my anxiety before morning.
I finally found a blue jersey shirt at the back of the closet and swapped it with my red flannels, wearing it as a simple nightdress. When I stepped back into the bedroom, I was shocked to see Alpha Christian now spooning Sophia—and Sophia allowing it. I debated waking them but figured I didn't want any confrontations I could avoid. I'd leave them be for a little longer—I couldn't bring myself to sleep anyway.
I quietly snuck out of the bedroom and tiptoed into my favorite room in the pack house, hoping to soothe my wolf and quiet the nerves rushing through us.
