Chapter 27 Seeing Stars
1693words
I was awakened as the sun barely began to rise by the howls of wolves swirling throughout the forest. Was I the only wolf not ecstatic about the coronation? I huffed out a breath and rolled over, grabbing my pillow and tossing it over my face to silence the racket coming from outside my window. Five more minutes, I begged in my head. Just shut up for five more minutes. My wolf was quick to notice a cold bed. I knew that Alpha Jaxon wouldn't stay the night, but waking up without him next to me still washed a wave of disappointment over my wolf.
Exhaustion took over my body as I remembered Alpha Jaxon's surprise visit to my bedroom last night. That man had some nerve to show up like that—mate or not. Although I did enjoy how my body responded to him so close to mine, the way sparks enthralled me was a feeling I found myself yearning for. I reminded myself it was just the mate bond making me feel so wild for him—a mate I would have to reject.
I reached up over my head with my arms in a stretch and let out a loud yawn before heading downstairs. I smelled my mother's cooking seeping into my bedroom. I knew breakfast was ready, and I figured there was no chance of catching up on any more beauty sleep now.
Still half asleep and very annoyed, I struggled to slip on my black plush robe around my body. I enjoyed how it cocooned me, reminding me of how I had fallen asleep in Alpha Jaxon's arms. Miraculously, I managed to tie the front of the robe into a knot and shuffled my way toward the delightful smells coming from the kitchen.
"Morning—g-g," I called out, full of grogginess, to my mother and sister. I was surprised to even see Bailey sitting at the kitchen island this early. They must have all lost their minds to be awake at this time, energy spewing from them. With the limited sleep I had received the night before, mixed with the flood of emotions and fears that had escaped me to Alpha Jaxon, coffee was the one and only thing on my mind. I thanked the Moon Goddess that my saint of a mother had already brewed a pot and started to fix my cup.
"How is she prancing into the kitchen as if today is just another day? I barely slept last night with all my nerves," Bailey rolled her eyes sarcastically to my sister.
"She certainly looks like she could use that cup of coffee," Leah chuckled back to Bailey. It was evident that they had both showered and were eager to finish breakfast.
I let out a slight smirk as my eyes struggled to stay open and grabbed a couple pieces of bacon sitting on the counter. "Forget the cup, I need the entire pot if I'm going to survive today." They both had wide grins plastered on their faces, clearly amused by my struggle.
Leah and Bailey were deep in conversation about their outfits for the coronation, along with which jewelry would look best, when I winced out a loud "NO" and slammed my head against the counter. The three of them looked up at me in confusion, and before they could ask what was wrong, I said, "I've been so distracted that I hadn't even thought about what I was going to wear."
I rubbed my forehead and pinched the bridge of my nose. "It's fine. My closet is bursting at the seams. I'm sure I have something to wear. It's not that big of a deal."
I watched as their eyes widened and a look of horror took over their faces. "Adeline. What do you mean you haven't picked out something to wear? Do you realize how important the coronation is to the pack? Wolves are coming from packs all over. Not looking the part could make Alpha Jaxon look bad. If he gets upset with our family, you know what that could mean for our destiny in the pack," my mother replied in disappointment.
I knew she was right and I shouldn't have been so careless, yet I felt slightly comforted recalling Alpha Jaxon's assurance to me last night about my family's pack status. I could never tell my family that I knew we would be okay; I was struggling to even tell Bailey right now. They would pester me with questions about how I knew for certain, which would predictably lead to my close relationship with Alpha Jaxon.
Just when I thought my luck couldn't get any worse, there was a hard pounding knock on the door and I felt my core clench. Possibilities of who was standing on the other side terrified me. My mother took a deep breath, puzzled, and walked into the hallway to open the front door. We all held our breaths for a moment, thinking it could be a guard arriving to inform us of our pack status after the re-ranking. It was the visit we had all been dreading, the one that would inevitably come sooner or later.
A familiar voice spoke in a formal and commanding tone, "Good morning, Mrs. Taylor." I walked over to peek from the hallway and noticed my mother slightly bowing her head as she responded, "Beta Don, good morning." My eyes widened at the sight of Beta Don at my family's front door. Why would he possibly be here? "I realize this may not be ideal timing, and your family must be preoccupied preparing for the coronation, but I have a package that Alpha Jaxon requested me personally to deliver to your daughter, Adeline."
My mind raced with excuses I could possibly give my family as I heard footsteps thumping down the stairs. My dad appeared, fully dressed in his suit. "Good morning, Beta Don. Please come in for a cup of coffee," I could hear confusion lingering in his voice.
"Your invitation is kindly appreciated, Mr. Taylor; however, I'm afraid I'm needed at the pack house. Alpha Jaxon will not be pleased if he has to wait for his second in command," he explained with his head held high, power radiating from his words.
I decided to face my fate with the little courage I had and approached the front door, swallowing hard. "Beta Don, good morning," I said, nodding, embarrassed that I was still in pajamas and that my hair was tied up in a bun.
He smirked and chuckled. "Well, good morning, Adeline. You seem to be the only she-wolf in the entire pack who isn't ready for the coronation yet. Long night?" It was clear he was teasing me, but I couldn't help my face turning crimson red with embarrassment. I wasn't sure what he knew about Alpha Jaxon and me, but it was enough to make me want to bury my head in a hole.
Refusing to surrender to his mocking, I rolled my eyes and gave him a witty look. "You don't approve of my outfit selection for the coronation? I was hoping Vogue would capture it for their cover next month."
I could feel my parents' disapproval casting from behind me. I was sure they weren't amused with my humor, but Beta Don shook his head and let out a loud laugh. "Actually, I believe they just passed through pack territory looking for you. I better be the first one with an autographed copy. I have a package for you from the Alpha. He sends his regards." He lifted a red box tied with a white ribbon and handed it to me. The box was light and beautifully wrapped. I raised an eyebrow, looking down at the red package, curiosity running through my mind. Beta Don winked at me with a mischievous smile and bid my parents goodbye.
As my mother closed the door behind us, I could see my parents' eyes bulging out of their heads. Yep, for this I would have some explaining to do. Maybe I would tell them it was a birthday present from the Alpha, as per Midnight Moon tradition? I was grasping at straws at this point for an excuse. As if Alpha Jaxon's unwarranted visit last night wasn't enough, I shook my head in disbelief.
I wandered into the kitchen, placed the package on the table, and continued to drink my coffee as if nothing out of the ordinary had happened.
"ADELINE—WHAT WAS THAT ABOUT?" my mother shrieked frantically. She had completely changed color, as if she had seen a ghost. My entire family gathered around the box, horrified at why I had received an obvious gift from the Alpha.
I thought I was done for—my secret would be out in the open within mere moments—then I blurted out the first thought that popped into my mind: "It's probably just a birthday gift from his sister. I told you guys that I became friends with Sophia." I smiled coyly and resisted making eye contact with any of them.
Leah shifted her weight from one leg to another, still trembling from shock. She placed a hand on her hip. "Well then—open it. We're waiting," she taunted.
I knew there was no chance I could escape opening the package, so I took a deep breath and braced for the unexpected, pulling the box toward me. I popped off the lid of the red gift and pulled out a clear acrylic box with a moon flower the size of my two palms put together. I immediately recognized what the gesture meant, and it took my breath away for a moment as its glow fully radiated. My wolf even started melting at the romantic gesture when a note fell out of the box.
The flower I could somehow explain, but what lay written on the note was a different story. Bailey reached down and picked up the note, handing it to me with panic swirling in her expression. I looked down at the note, saw specks of light through my eyes, and silence filled the room until my head hit the ground.
