Chapter 49 Uprising
1286words
Adeline laughed, filling my ears with the sound I craved most. She pulled herself up and jumped off the rock in a single leap. She raised her arms above her head in a stretch, causing her perky tits to lift, making my wolf go wild to grab her perfectly molded breasts in my hands again. She caught my stare at her chest and giggled, instantly shifting into her wolf. Tease, I chuckled to myself. I shifted into my wolf form and joined her as we ran through the forest happily, with my mate by my side. We took our time and enjoyed running in each other's company until we arrived at the spot where we stripped off our clothes. I thought to myself I could get used to these runs with Adeline, maybe even multiple times a day.
She shifted back into her human form first, grabbing the black spandex shorts and tight white T-shirt Sophia had left in my closet earlier for her. "Do you feel the power of the moon right now? Ugh, I feel so alive underneath it," she asked. I shifted back into my human form too, cocking my head at her question. "Does your wolf usually feel alive under the moon?" I asked as I pulled up my gray sweatpants. I was slowly starting to piece together that my mark on her neck might have awakened strength within her wolf. Panic washed over me, realizing I had forgotten to tell her that I had no choice but to mark her. I was nervous how she would respond to being forcefully marked. Her eyes danced to the groin of my sweatpants; I could see she was enjoying how they gently outlined my long shaft. I made a mental note to wear more of these around her later.
She paused to think about my question for a moment. "No, actually, but something just feels so different. I can't really explain it," she said. I reached for her hand, interlacing our fingers as we walked back to the pack house. "You never know, maybe your wolf is getting stronger," I suggested, trying to hide the glint of curiosity in my eye. She shook her head. "If what you said about being a red wolf is true, it still can't be my wolf getting stronger—remember," she teased, exposing her neck with my purple love bite covering my mark, "still not mated." My hand gripped hers tighter, and my broad shoulders stiffened briefly. "About that, Adeline, I need to confess something to you," I said, feeling the remorse hit me like a truck.
She stopped in her tracks and pulled her arms around my waist. "Jaxon, you know you can tell me anything. I never want you to hold back with me." A loud patter of footsteps approached us in surprise; Beta Don, Beverly, and a few Deltas shifted from their wolf forms. "Alpha, we have been looking all over for you. We have discovered new information about the rogue attack. I have called a pack meeting with the higher-ranking wolves in your absence. This cannot wait," Beta Don said as an angry growl left my chest. "This better be of the utmost importance, Beta Don, if you decided to take it upon yourself to call a meeting," I continued with agitation.
Beta Don locked his gaze on the floor in submission. "It is Alpha Jaxon, otherwise I never would have done it. I tried to mind link you, but you blocked me out." The realization that I had unintentionally blocked my pack stabbed regret through my heart in a constant motion.
I let out a sigh. "Let me walk Adeline back to her room, and I'll meet you in my office shortly." "With all due respect, sir, this is extremely time sensitive," Beta Don belted out, worry etched in his voice.
Adeline smiled and looked up at me, those crystal blue eyes dancing in the moonlight. "Don't worry about me, I'll be fine. I'm going to grab something to eat from the pack house kitchen anyway, then I'm off to bed," she assured me. I was hesitant to leave my mate alone. I knew none of the Midnight Pack shifters would harm their own, but I also recalled how the rogue wolf who attacked her must have hidden his scent. I wasn't ready to leave her out of my sight. I could feel myself fighting with my wolf too; his first priority was our mate. We were clearly becoming more possessive of our little mate faster than I had realized. I pushed down the raging wolf inside me—I was also an Alpha who needed to attend to the rogue issues in his pack.
She pulled her arms away from my waist and tossed her hair in a flirty attempt. "See you soon, Alpha," she said and turned to head back to the pack house. A furious growl came from Beverly, her eyes locked on Adeline's neck. "Are you fucking serious, Jaxon?!" she pinched the bridge of her nose between her fingers. Adeline must have found her huffing and puffing funny because she accidentally let out a giggle. Beverly shifted instantly while mid-air, and her canines probed through her gums, launching directly at my little mate. Before anyone could blink, my black wolf shifted and intercepted her. I dodged her out of the way, causing us to land in a rolling motion. I was ready to kill her right in front of the pack house. I had warned her about her threats and taunts toward my mate. No harm was to come to Adeline, at any point, by anyone who wanted to live.
I could feel Adeline losing control over the fury boiling within her, and she let out a loud roar, baring her teeth. I knew her emotions had gotten the best of her just then; I didn't even think she expected what had come out of her. I knew the look on her face—that of a wolf craving blood. Everyone stared at her with wide eyes, frozen in place, filled with pure shock. Beverly and I quickly shifted back to our human forms.
"I have had enough of you and your childish threats, Beverly. I was fucking attacked by a rogue mere hours ago. I have no energy for this bullshit. If you want a fight, I'll gladly accept right here and now. But even if you kill me, I'll always be something you'll never be—Jaxon's fated mate," she taunted Beverly, anger spilling out of her in waves.
I could hear her catch her breath and watched her eyes widen. She was equally stunned that those words had blurted out of her mouth. I braced myself for Beverly to challenge Adeline. I wouldn't allow the challenge to happen; I would snap her neck before she could even come near my mate.
Beverly pulled her mouth off the floor; she definitely hadn't been expecting that reaction out of Adeline. She glared at my mate for a moment longer, then glanced at me, and I slightly shook my head. "We'll talk about this after the meeting, Jaxon," she said in a whimper and rushed off in the other direction.
"W-what was that?!" Beta Don stuttered in awe. Adeline smiled at him and responded, "I didn't mean to, but she's always such a bitch!" She stomped one foot on the ground and walked off to the pack house. I found her little temper tantrum cute. I could feel her stomach growling, opening me to feel the random sensation she was experiencing from the mark I had placed on her neck. I was positive she was off to destroy the entire pantry in the pack house kitchen.
