Chapter 128 Old Friends
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Mark quickly returned to the table where Bailey and I were seated, carrying two overfilled plates of mouthwatering pancakes topped with whipped cream and an array of strawberries, blueberries, and blackberries sprinkled throughout. Mark's brows furrowed when he saw Bailey's reddened eyes, but he didn't acknowledge it, which I was silently grateful for, and I gave him a simple nod. He smiled back and slipped through the kitchen doors, leaving Bailey and me staring wide-eyed at the two stacked plates of pancakes.
"Thanks, Addie..." Bailey whimpered before reaching for the fork and knife and wasting no time diving into her plate. I bit my bottom lip and responded in a low voice, "Look, I really want you to stay here. It'll be like old times with all our sleepovers. You might even like it here at the pack house. Maybe I can talk to Jaxon about getting you a job within the pack. You know, set you up independently, away from her."
Bailey slowed her chewing as if deep in thought, then finally replied, "Can I think about it? I mean, it's a big ask. I appreciate it, I just don't want Alpha Jaxon thinking of me as some charity case." I pressed my lips together in a tight line and sighed, scooping a generous portion of pancakes on my fork. "I promise he won't. I'll make sure of it," I reassured her and bit into my meal. I felt my eyes nearly roll to the back of my head, enthralled by all the flavors dancing on my tongue. Mark was really the best of the best when it came to pack chefs, I was sure of it. Somehow, the meal I loved so much tasted even better today, but I chalked it up to the fact that I was probably starved from the trip.
Bailey arched a brow as she watched me devour the food in front of me. "So no heir yet?" she asked, and I suddenly lost my appetite. I shifted uncomfortably in my seat. "Not yet," I admitted, beginning to play with the food on my plate. I knew Bailey picked up on my sudden change in attitude as she put down her fork and leaned in, resting her elbows on the table. "Your turn. Spill. What's wrong?" she prodded. I heaved a sigh. "It's not that anything is wrong. I'm just tired of being seen as some sort of breeding machine, like it's my sole purpose as Luna. I want to have pups with Jaxon, but I want it to be on our terms. It's like everywhere I turn, I hear whispers about producing an heir. It's exhausting. I'm just getting used to all of this."
Bailey shot me a sympathetic glare, and I could see she was carefully selecting her next words. "You've been through a lot, Addie. The pack is just excited. Heck, I'm excited too! Alpha Jaxon was supposedly cursed by the Moon Goddess, destined to have no fated mate, remember? Take your time. No one's going to get mad either way," she replied thoughtfully. I nodded and continued eating the food on my plate, noticing that Bailey's head suddenly shot up toward the corner of the pack house dining hall. I followed her gaze and saw an attractive man with black hair tied up in a man bun. He was built with corded arms, and a tribal tattoo danced down his arm, peeking just underneath his snug baby blue t-shirt that matched his eyes. I knew he'd noticed Bailey as he gave her a small smile from across the dining hall. I turned back to see Bailey, giddy, with her cheeks tinged a shade of pale pink.
I let out a hum sound and chuckled, "So that's Alex?" I asked as my eyebrow shot up.
"Oh my Moon Goddess, Addie. He's more beautiful every time I see him. Look at his jawline — everything about that man is packed. Oh, and don't even get me started on how he is in the sack... ahh... if I wasn't insanely attracted to him as it is, I would ride him just for his massive cock," she admitted, and I couldn't stop myself from laughing out loud.
I cocked my head and giggled, "Maybe he's your mate?"
Bailey shook her head. "My birthday was on Sunday. I would know by now if he was," she replied. More guilt washed over me—I'd even forgotten my best friend's birthday. "Shit, I'm so fucking sorry, Bails," I said, scolding myself for being such a pathetic excuse for a friend. It was a wonder Bailey even showed up to see me today at the pack house. Some friend I was.
"Don't start," she replied, holding up a hand. "You're a Luna now. I know how difficult the adjustment has been for you. First, you get abducted, then your dad gets sick — look, Adeline, I get it. That's all I'm saying."
I pressed my lips together, searching for the words to explain how sorry I was. Bailey had always been there for me—she didn't deserve this kind of treatment, Luna or not. I shook my head and held out my pinky. "Fine, but that doesn't mean we don't get to celebrate your belated birthday. Drinks on me tomorrow night at the Wolf's Den?" I said, and saw Bailey give me a wide grin as she linked her pinky with mine. "Deal," she muttered, just as the broad, blue-eyed hunk approached us.
"If it isn't the little meatball herself," he said in a low husky voice. I clearly missed the joke between the two of them, which made me realize how close they must really be. I cast a subtle side glance at the man with broad shoulders, then returned my gaze to Bailey, who was nearly melting in his presence. It took him a moment to realize, but he straightened his back and cast his gaze downward. "Luna, my apologies. I'm sorry for disrupting your meal," he said in a panicked voice. I thought about pulling rank on him and scaring the life out of this man; after all, he was sleeping with my best friend, who was clearly already head over heels for him but had chosen not to say anything. My wolf still pestering me inside missed our mate. I turned and smiled, enchanted by his baby blue eyes. It was no wonder Bailey had it bad for him.
"Adeline. Any friend of Bailey's is a friend of mine. No need for rank among friends," I replied in a cool, even-toned voice. "I was just about to get going. Care to join our friend here?" I could feel Bailey's eyes burning into mine, but I didn't mind—I was quite proud to be the one playing matchmaker now.
