Chapter 113 A Luna's Attitude
1129words
My mind raced a thousand miles a second. I couldn't wipe away the hint of caution and hesitation laced in that small smile my mate had rewarded me when I gifted her the black tourmaline necklace. I'd had my men search within a fifty-mile radius for that stone. I knew she had read those notebooks in and out; sometimes I caught Adeline huddled under the covers in the middle of the night, staring at the endless pages of scribbled handwriting. I thought she'd recognize it and be thrilled, but instead, I could tell something was wrong—and she wasn't telling me.
My wolf picked up on it too; it felt like she was hiding something, holding back from her own mate. He hadn't stopped pestering me to fix whatever it was. I wanted to push her, but I knew if I did, she'd shut me out even more. First, I found her nearly screaming in her own dream on the way to Alpha Christian's pack, and now she looked at me like I'd done something wrong.
I felt my wolf perk up when she reached for my hand as we walked toward the pack house for dinner with Alpha Christian and Sophia. Her touch was warm, and the way her small hand slipped into mine made me feel unstoppable—the king of the world. I'd do anything to protect her. My Luna.
It bothered me that we still hadn't found who was responsible for the rogue attack. It irritated me further that now someone was targeting Alpha Christian's pack. His pack was smaller, both in size and numbers. Excellent in defensive tactics but weak on the offensive. Our own lead so far was that the fire was artificially set. Everyone knew Alpha Christian's pack was protected by mine, making this a direct attack on me. I'd pledged to find who was responsible for all of this. Soon, they'd learn that I didn't hand out empty threats—as if they didn't already know how things were handled when matters of Midnight Moon were concerned.
As we approached the pack house, crowds had already begun gathering outside. Adeline's hand squeezed mine when a thunderous applause erupted, showing their unwavering appreciation for my men stepping in and standing by their pack. Enforcers were lined up outside the front door of the pack house, all baring their necks to the Alpha and Luna of Midnight Moon as we walked inside. I smirked as I watched Adeline press her lips together—a nervous tick I'd come to love about her.
I didn't hide the growl that erupted from my chest when I spotted Alpha Christian and Sophia sitting at the long oak dining table, their hands interlaced under the table. I'd given them my blessing, but she wasn't eighteen yet, and until she was, it was my job to protect her. He was given direct orders to ease into the mating, to let her figure it out for herself. I'd known Christian for far too long to not know he was using cheesy pickup lines and showering her with attention and admiration to see her fall this fast and hard for him.
Sophia's face instantly reddened when she saw us, dropping her hand from his under the table. To make matters worse, she reeked of his scent. My jaw went hard as I pulled out Adeline's chair for her and resumed sitting beside her.
"Can you simmer down? Moon Goddess, you're scaring them both," Adeline criticized through the mind link. I squeezed her bare leg under the table as my fingertips glided toward the top of her thigh. "Or what?" I replied, feeling my eyes darken at her sudden attitude.
Adeline quivered under my touch. "Jax, he's her mate. You, of all people, should understand how hard it is to fight the mate bond," she answered in a low voice.
"She's still my sister, and her wolf hasn't identified him as her mate yet. Until then, it's my rules—or we leave," I scolded, grazing just a little higher on her thigh.
Adeline shot to her feet abruptly, casting me a long glare before turning on her heels and storming out of the dining room. Alpha Christian and Sophia stared wide-eyed before Sophia finally stood up and muttered under her breath, "I'll go talk to her."
"No," I said through gritted teeth, "she's my mate. Her problems are my problems. I'm an Alpha; I can damn well handle my Luna." I gripped the bridge of my nose with my index finger and closed my eyes, searching for the last bit of composure I had left after my mate's sudden temper tantrum. It was unlike her to be this on edge.
My gaze burned into Alpha Christian. "I want Sophia back in the cabin after dinner. Do not go back on your promise, Christian. I won't hesitate any longer if you keep pushing me." I pushed off the table and stood up. "Send dinner to the cabin. We'll be eating alone tonight," I instructed before exiting the room and following the lingering trail of my mate's scent.
It didn't take long to find Adeline, who had left the pack house and was now sitting on the cabin steps. I could feel her sorrow and pain vibrating through me. Whatever this was, it ended now.
She had her face buried in the palms of her hands, nearly hyperventilating from fury. "Go away, Jaxon," she begged through choked sobs.
"Inside. Now," I demanded in my Alpha aura. I noticed she shook at the command but still refused to move. "Adeline, I will throw you over my shoulder and carry you in. Inside," I said.
Her head sprang up from her palms, and she gave me a deathly glare as the tears continued to ravage her face. "Are you always such an overbearing asshole, or do you do it just to torment me?" she asked, fury boiling in her voice.
"You haven't seen overbearing asshole yet if you keep acting like a fucking child. I'm your mate, and I can tell when you're hiding something from me. I have enough on my plate as it is without having to worry about what secret you're keeping from me," I replied too quickly, not registering the words as they rolled off my tongue.
Adeline bolted to her feet, kicking off one black stiletto, then the other. She whipped them against the wooden steps and screamed, "I hate you, Alpha!" before making a run for it and dashing into the forest.
For a moment, I couldn't speak. I couldn't think. Her words kept repeating, ringing in my mind on a continuous loop, searing into my chest. My mate fucking hated me. The words had come out all too easily for them not to be true.
