Jaxon Spencer vs. Catherine 'Kate' Stevens

Pix: The unapologetically gorgeous Kate

Video: Say It Isn't So by Gareth Gates

Dedicated to: NeelamVijay. Belated happy birthday, darling. Blessing!

Cheers!

***

Jaxon hung his towel and headed back to the room. He'd gone for a walk with Ryan in the Stanton Woods after the warlock had suggested it. The lovely weather and good company had made the walk enjoyable. Kate was somewhere on the pack land, going about her duties. The room felt so empty whenever she wasn't around, but Jaxon understood that he couldn't keep her to himself all the time. Just as he finished pulling on sweatpants and a t-shirt, his phone began to ring. It was Kate.

"I was just thinking about you," he murmured, drawing a chuckle from her.

"When are you not?" Kate laughed softly.

"Can you blame me?" Jaxon chuckled. He'd never been one to obsess over a woman or on particular parts of the female body until Kate. Just the mere thought of her generous curves got him primed and ready to worship every inch of that body. "My beautiful, stunningly elegant warrior," he husked teasingly, but the heat in his voice was enough to draw a moan from his smitten mate.

"Stop," Kate giggled, clearly tickled. "How was your walk?"

"You know I love talking to Ryan," Jaxon said. "Add that to the amazing feeling of being outdoors. I enjoyed that walk."

"For someone under house arrest, you sure are enjoying being outdoors a lot," Kate teased. "You need an ankle monitor."

"Fuck off," Jaxon laughed. "Coming back anytime soon?"

"Wrapping up. Assigning some resp... was that a knock?"

"Yeah, someone is at the door," Jaxon confirmed Kate's suspicion as he started for the door.

"But who would be coming there at this time?" Kate sounded wary. Ryan had taken off the warding he'd placed on the room to enable Gloria, Jaxon, and the others go in and out of the room. "I'm not comfortable."

"I will know who it is in a moment," Jaxon said, opening the door. "Fuck!" he gasped in shock and pain when a punch landed on his face. It was so heavy and forceful that it took him off his feet.

Even as Jaxon sailed through the air, he could hear Kate's distant screams over the phone, which dropped from his grasp and smashed on the floor, instantly ending the sounds of her voice. He landed heavily on his back, his head hitting the ground so hard he saw stars. Jaxon heard someone shouting Will's name but couldn't focus much due to the forceful impact from both the punch and the ground. He felt confusion, dizziness, blurred vision, nausea, and was completely disoriented.

From the doorway, Will looked at the unmoving rogue with satisfaction. He didn't even react when his mate pushed him out of the way and entered the room to crouch beside Jaxon.

"Hey, you good?" Stan asked Jaxon, who was staring up with eyes filled with pain.

"Depends," he croaked. "Is your mate done, or does he plan on landing more blows?"

Stan laughed. "You will be fine. Come on let's get you up." The chuckling beta reached down to help Jaxon up and onto the couch. When he heard his mate coming closer, he turned to give him a stern look. "Don't."

"Chill," Will muttered as he drew his mate's head to his for a kiss. "I just needed to get that out of the way," he rasped when he released Stan's lips. Then to Jaxon, he said, "I hope that hurt."

"I'm pretty sure my skull is fractured, you dickknuckle," Jaxon mumbled, his eyes closed.

"Good." To his mate, he said, "I'll be in the suite."

"Hey, are you okay?" Stan asked softly, gently rubbing his mate's knuckles.

"Better than I was five minutes ago," Will drawled. Then, with a quick kiss to Stan's temple, he was gone.

Stan flopped into the seat beside Jaxon, whose eyes were still closed and sighed. "Should I call a healer?" he asked.

"It was just one punch," Jaxon groaned breathlessly. "So why am I..."

"He's an alpha, buddy," Stan scoffed. "Punches from such entities can rearrange your brain. That's why I'm asking whether I should call a healer."

Jaxon snorted. "No need to pretend you're not buzzing the twat got one in," he mumbled. "Y'all did come together."

A comically serious expression crossed Stan's face. "Err... well, it feels great to come togeth..."

"Dude," Jaxon's scandalized groan drew laughter from Stan.

"I was on my phone so Will was some steps ahead of me," Stan explained. "My intention was to see Kate, not to be a witness to a well-deserved punch. Impressive delivery if you ask me," he added with a naughty grin. "Now, about that healer..."

"I'll live," Jaxon groaned. "I'm pretty sure a bullet in the arse is more painful."

Stan's eyes went wide for a second, then he dissolved into laughter. "You're an idiot." He found the absurdity of Jaxon's response hilarious. "You know what? Anytime I've seen you, you look like you have an angry bull-fighting bee up your asshole."

"We've never met, mate," Jaxon snorted.

"Oh, I have seen you," Stan chuckled with mischievous delight. "You didn't see me because you were busy fighting my mate."

"What?" Jaxon gasped as his eyes shot open and turned on Stan. "You were there?"

"Yeah, but don't beat yourself up for not seeing me. Let's just say I hid well."

"What the fuck!" Jaxon growled and then winced in pain. "I knew it! I knew something fishy was going on, you twats." At this point, Stan was roaring with laughter. "I've been trying very hard to convince myself that I'm not crazy. This is not funny, Stan. Fuck, my head hurts," he groaned.

"You'll live." Stan couldn't seem to control his laughter but it faltered when a very naked, bewildered Kate burst into the room. It was obvious she had shifted into her wolf and ran to her mate from wherever she'd been.

"What happened?" She demanded as she rushed to Jaxon.

"Relax, he's fine," Stan said.

"He doesn't look fine to me," she snapped as she leaned over Jaxon and cupped his face lovingly. "Hey, talk to me."

"I'm fine," Jaxon muttered. "Come here." He drew her onto his lap to straddle him and wrapped his arms around her.

"Tell me what happened, please," she whispered, her fingers sliding through his hair tenderly. "I can feel your pain."

"I'm pretty sure whatever you're feeling is my guilt," Jaxon muttered.

"That too, but I'm more concerned about the pain. What did Will do to you?"

"Landed a killer blow on your man," Stan chuckled, drawing a gasp from Kate. "Oh, he took it like a champ."

"Champ?" Jaxon snorted. "I'm almost passed out, fucktard."

Stan laughed. "That's because he took you unawares."

"Let me kiss it and make it better," Kate murmured, ignoring Stan's groan.

With her eyes locked on Jaxon's, she closed the distance between their mouths and kissed him with unmistakable possessiveness. Jaxon didn't mind at all because they both knew she owned him. In the midst of pain caused by jumbled up brains, the feel of her lips against his was the elixir he needed. Her lips were soft and damp against his, demanding in the subtlest of ways. Her tongue licked delicately, savoring, teasing, and arousing him effortlessly. He was so hard. But then, her kisses did that to him. He lived for her hot kisses.

"Okay, enough of that shit," Stan drawled. "I'm only here to hug her, not watch her get impaled on dick."

Kate shook with laughter as she flipped Stan off. The kiss had ended but Jaxon held her tightly, breathing her in, allowing the delicate fragrance of her perfume and the provocative scent that was hers alone to intoxicate him. When Jaxon loosened his hold on her, she turned to Stan and asked quietly;

"Is Will okay?"

"He's fine," Stan responded, getting to his feet. "He needed to get that out of his system, I guess," he said, heading toward the bathroom. When he came out, he had in his hand a bathrobe. "Come, Katie," he called out.

Kate got off Jaxon and went to Stan, who helped her into the bathrobe, tied it up, and then drew her into his arms. When Jaxon gave a weak growl, Stan flipped him off behind Kate.

"I did say I was going to give you a hug the next time I saw you," he murmured against Kate's hair.

"You did," Kate sighed, tightening her hold on Stan.

"I also said nothing was going to stop me. So that brain-muddled mate of yours can go play tag with a shark," Stan drawled, making Kate laugh. "Is he treating you well?" he asked and then gave a satisfied sigh when she nodded. "If he fucks up, let me know. We will sic Will on his arse."

"I heard that," Jaxon said dryly even as Kate laughed.

"You were meant to," Stan shot back as he released Kate. "I'll see you in the morning, yeah? I'm told there's a meeting at eight a.m."

"Really?" Kate looked surprised.

"If only you'd get off that dick for a second and read your mail, Katie," Stan muttered, drawing a chuckle from Jaxon.

"Suck my nonexistent cock, Stanley," Kate shot back. "My love to Will."

"Aw, come on, he doesn't deserve your love, baby," Jaxon gave a mock growl, his eyes still closed. "He fucking hit me."

For a moment, Stan and Kate stared at Jaxon, their expressions one of amused surprise. "Well, you deserved it baby," Kate said so sweetly Stan burst into laughter.

"I'm surprised he even has the strength to growl," Stan chuckled, his expression making Kate laugh. "Maybe I should call Will back."

"Don't you dare, you arsenugget," Jaxon groaned, drawing more laughter from the other two.

"Well, I'll see you guys tomorrow. Sure you're alright, Jaxon?" the beta asked with a look of concern. And when the rogue gave a thumbs-up sign indicating he was okay, Stan nodded with relief.

"And we will continue our conversation tomorrow," Jaxon grunted.

"What conversation?" Kate asked but Jaxon was too busy glaring after Stan to respond.

"Oh, get ready to get your mind blown." Stan gave a laugh that would have made Skeletor proud. That earned him the finger from Jaxon and a face-palm from Kate. "Good night." He threw over his shoulder and closed the door after him.

"You don't look okay, baby." Kate straddled Jaxon again. "What can I do to help?"

"There's nothing a mind-blowing cowgirl wouldn't fix," he rasped, his smoldering gaze making her pulse race.

Kate's eyes dilated with arousal at her mate's words. But she also couldn't help but feel a tinge of worry. Jaxon asking for cowgirl was his way of handing her control which was unlike him. He clearly wasn't okay. Well, time to fuck that punch right out of his system. Her skin was already tingling and tightening expectantly, craving the ecstasy she knew his touch would give her.

"How about we start with a kiss?" She asked in a breathy voice as she leaned in and began to press kisses against Jaxon's lips.

"That works," he murmured with an amused smile. "You know I'd take you any way I can get you. Give me your tongue." His husky demand lit a fire inside her, making her feel all warm and fuzzy inside.

"You're so fucking hot," she whispered, licking her lips seductively as she leaned in to do as had been instructed.

She moaned with delight when she felt the sweet suction on her tongue right in her very core. Even as delicious sensations assailed her senses, her hands moved down to release the heavy length of his cock. As Jaxon sucked sensuously on her tongue, Kate stroked the wide wet head between the slick opening and against her throbbing clit. It felt so good. She writhed and whimpered wantonly as pleasure rippled through her. Kate knew she was teetering dangerously on the edge of a climax but didn't plan on letting go without that warm hardness inside her.

With deliberate slowness, she began to sink onto the pulsing cock, her legs shaking as the thick crest pushed inside her, stretching her. He was so thick, so hard. Her eyes rolled into her head when she finally took all of him to the hilt. The sound that ripped from Kate's throat was inhuman, the savagely erotic feeling of being so deeply penetrated, driving her wild. She clenched her muscles, tightening around Jaxon so exquisitely he lost all coherent thought.

'Fuck,' he hissed on their mind-link when he felt tingles racing along his spine and his balls drawing up. The world could have frozen over at that very moment and Jaxon wouldn't have given a flying fuck! He was right where he wanted to be. 'This is some damn good pussy.'

Kate felt the intense tremor that shook Jaxon's powerful body, saw the passionate lust etched on his face, and heard the harsh sounds of pleasure scraping from his throat and knew she wasn't the only one going out of her mind with unadulterated bliss. His head fell back against the seat, releasing his hold on her tongue. Then Kate saw his chest heaving and his fingers digging into the armrest. She panicked!

"Babe, are you okay?" she breathed.

"I'm sorry," he groaned and then started coming, filling her with thick, hot spurts.

Kate watched as her mate came totally undone and felt her chest swell with feminine pride. The unmistakable vulnerability that sifted across his face captivated her. She loved him so much. Kate didn't think she'd seen a more gorgeous man. Just looking at him in the throes of passion was enough to set her off. Her lips parted sexily as that exquisite feeling that preceded an orgasm began to roil through her. She was so focused on her mate and the sweet sensations within that she didn't notice the hand that moved to where they were joined. All it took was a flick against her engorged clit.

She came with a cry as pleasure racked her body in violent trembles, the relief dizzying. "Jax..." she gasped his name as her mouth blindly sought his. It took both of them a while to descend from their high. When the kiss ended, Kate leaned her forehead against his shoulder, trembling. "How's your head?"

"Better." His hands dropped to her arse.

"Good." She sat up and began to shrug out of her robe. "You asked for cowgirl. And you're going to get it."

"I love you, Kate," Jaxon said softly, almost as if he couldn't help himself.

"I know. Now get ready to get your mind blown."

And for the rest of the night, Kate worked her mate so hard he forgot about the unpleasantness of being at the receiving end of a well-deserved punch.

***

By quarter to eight the next morning, the Luna Hall, where very formal dealings took place, was filled with people waiting to be addressed by Philip. There were about thirty people present. All the heads of functions were present. Also present were seven elders, among whom were Gloria, Joel, Deloris, Anton, and the Chief Priestess. Then there were Ryan and Troy, who hadn't been told by their mates what the verdict was.

Kate sat beside Jaxon to the left of the podium with a pensive look. Even though she had been assured that Jaxon wasn't going to be executed, she dreaded the kind of punishment he was going to be given. Punishments meted out in Stanwood Pack were always harsh. For some reason, she felt very uneasy. Most of the people present hadn't seen Jaxon before so they openly stared at him. But despite the stares, he looked relaxed.

Philip entered the hall and called out a greeting, to which everyone responded. He made a beeline for where Troy sat and bent to give him a kiss before going to his seat on the podium to drop his phone. Then he went to where Kate and Jaxon sat.

"You alright, Kate?" Philip asked Kate, who had gotten to her feet.

"Yes, Lip," Kate said softly as she stepped into Philip's open arms.

Philip hugged her tightly, cradling the back of her head as if she were a child. His embrace visibly calmed Kate. When the hug ended, Philip kissed her on the forehead before stretching out a hand towards Jaxon for a handshake. The rogue, who had also gotten to his feet, shook Philip's hand firmly before taking his seat. On the right side of the podium was a special seat, obviously meant for someone important.

Philip finally took his seat and addressed the people. The alpha formally welcomed everyone to the meeting and thanked them for coming.

"I will crave your indulgence to give Jeremy two minutes to join us before we start," he said. "In the meantime, I know some of you wanted to sit with Kate. You are allowed."

"Thanks, Lip," Stan, who was seated beside Ryan, said as he got to his feet with Paige in tow. They went to sit behind Kate.

"Where's your mate, Stan?" Philip asked just as Jeremy entered the meeting room.

"He's gone to work." After extending his vacation in France, Will didn't have the luxury of taking the day off. "If he's permitted by his superior, he will join us."

The alpha of alphas said a quick good morning to everyone and headed to where his mate sat. Everyone thought he was only going to say hello to his mate, but he surprised them by taking the seat beside Ryan that had been vacated by Stan.

"Son?" Joel called with an amused look. "You need to take your seat." He gestured at the special seat.

"Oh, I'm fine beside my mate, Uncle Joel." He waved a hand, drawing chuckles from the others.

"Protocol, Jeremy." The elder, who was also Jeremy's mentor, said firmly.

"Allow me." Pete, the head of assassins, stood up and quickly picked up a seat with the intention of placing it by Jeremy's seat for Ryan. But Philip raised a hand to stop him.

"I think your seat is big enough for three people," Philip chuckled. "It should seat the two of you perfectly."

"Thanks Pete," Jeremy got to his feet and extended a hand to his blushing mate. "Come on, baby."

After everyone had been seated, Philip finally formally addressed the gathering.

"We all know why we're here this morning," he said. "But before I get to that, I will give a quick summary since most of you don't know the full story. Will went on a mission some months ago, right after he got turned and mated. We were all worried he was going to fuck up and expose us while on the mission, as he was a newly turned werewolf. We know what those are capable of. So we asked Stan to tag along to ensure Will stayed human and not expose us. Of course, Stan couldn't be part of the mission as he isn't an Arrowhead. To sneak him in there, we had to make him invisible, only to be seen by Will. Damn, that was hella fun." He grinned as the others laughed.

Jaxon turned his head to give Stan a look. "We'll talk," Stan whispered.

"Well, in the course of his work, Will encountered a rogue in the person of Jaxon." Philip went on. "Jaxon was on contract to extract some information from a kidnapped individual. By some bad people, if I may add. With the help of his invisible mate, Will rescued whoever they were there to rescue. But Will and Jaxon had a fight at some point during which Will used his abilities on Jaxon. Nobody wants their will taken away so naturally, Jaxon hated that. In addition, the person Jaxon worked with was executed together with his family for not meeting their end of the bargain. So he decided to go on a revenge spree. He started by 'un-aliving' the bad people who murdered that family...which I wish I were there to witness." There was laughter from the people.

"Those evil humans," Pete growled.

"They're human beings, though," one elder spoke up. "It was wrong to kill them."

"But those humans do shit like that all the time and get away with it, Elder," Pete countered. "I think Jaxon deserves national recognition for that."

"Anyway, after dealing with the evil humans, Jaxon set his vengeful sights on our Will... and his pack. That's us, by the way," Philip added, drawing chuckles from the others. "So he came to spend some time in the States, studied our routine, and set a plan in motion. He destroyed Will's properties, shot at us during our basketball tournament, and set our woods on fire. He should have been executed immediately after he was caught. Which would have been a disaster knowing what we know now. Thanks to Ryan, it eventually came to light that he was the mate of none other than our head of warriors, Kate. Our alpha of alphas decreed that execution was not an option at that point. So the elders met and did what they do best. Decide on an appropriate punishment for him. Have I left anything out?" he asked Stan, his head beta.

"You've said it all, boss," Stan gave a thumbs-up.

"Good. Jaxon has expressed his desire to say a few words. So before I proceed, I will allow him if that's okay with our alpha of alphas."

"That's okay," Jeremy nodded.

"You have the floor, Jaxon," Philip invited.

Jaxon got to his feet then, looking casual but sexy in simple black jeans, a navy-blue polo shirt, and trainers.

"Thank you, Alpha." Jaxon's sexy deep voice boomed in the hall. "Hello everyone. I'll be brief. There is no excuse for what I did to all of you. I would like to sincerely apologize for everything. If there is one thing I've learnt from all this, it's not to allow myself to be blinded by anger because it only ends in hasty and foolish actions. My thirst for vengeance nearly cost me everything. And by everything, I mean this beautiful lady right here whom I'm not worthy to call mine." He placed a hand on Kate's shoulder.

"Not according to Luna," Stan drawled, making people laugh and lightening the tense mood in the hall.

"Well, I'm grateful to her," Jaxon said. "Whatever punishment I'm to be given, I accept it in good faith. Thank you." He took his seat.

"Very well said," Philip said. "At least some of us have interacted with you and know how genuinely regretful you are. As beasts, we are naturally bound to err even more than humans. In Stanwood Pack, we understand this and always make it a point to forgive where necessary. You are the mate of a very important personality in this pack, Jaxon. That makes you pack. For that alone, on behalf of Stanwood, I gracefully accept your apology."

"Thank you." Jaxon responded.

"As Jeremy and I informed you the other night, even though we get why you acted as you did, and appreciate the fact that you are remorseful, you need to be penalized," Philip said grimly. "The elders have decided that for the next three months, you won't step foot on this land. Neither will you see your mate."

"What?" Kate's gasp was echoed by everyone in the meeting room except Jeremy, Philip, and the elders. For Kate, it was suddenly difficult to breathe.

"You will go back to Australia on this day without your mate, Jaxon." Philip went on quietly.

A horrible sound ripped from Kate's burning throat as she fought for air. "But I can't handle that." She looked bewildered and desperate. "Please, Lip..." she whimpered.

The warrior couldn't stop the violent contractions within. She tried to rein in her emotions but it was difficult. Philip was still speaking but Kate couldn't hear him over the pounding of her heartbeat. She turned desperate eyes on Jeremy.

"Jeremy, please," Kate pleaded shakily as she felt her stomach cramp painfully. "I can't..." A sob burst out. "Mama G?" Her gaze turned to Gloria just as the elder left her seat and started toward her. "This can't be happening." An even more pitiful sob tore out of her.

"Fuck!" Jaxon growled, unable to stand his mate's pain any longer. He pulled her up into his arms just as she finally succumbed to the overwhelming emotions and completely broke down. "I'm so sorry," he mumbled over and over, angry at himself for putting her through that.

"Come here, baby," Gloria said when she got to Kate, drawing her into her arms. She hugged the sobbing warrior fiercely, rocking her gently as she whispered soothing words to her.

At the alpha of alpha's seat, Ryan stared at Jeremy with a look of shock. "Really?" he finally hissed.

"It was worse, baby," Jeremy sighed.

"You're the fucking alpha of alphas, Jeremy," Ryan snapped to the shock of his mate. Ryan hardly cursed.

"Hey..." Jeremy leaned in to press a kiss to Ryan's head. "Relax, we have a plan."

"It had better be a good one," he breathed, the tension in his posture visibly easing.

"Why am I being punished too?" Kate was sobbing so hard no one noticed the door to the meeting room opening.

"The high priestess is here to ensure our Kate does not feel the terrible pain that goes with being apart from one's mate," Philip informed the meeting. "Jaxon will, however, feel the full pain that goes with a separation."

"What?" Will's bellow from the doorway was so loud every head turned in his direction. "You want to separate them as his punishment?" he asked with an incredulous look. Will was noted for his outspoken nature. "You might as well kill the guy."

"It's for three months, Lt. Williams," Elder Anton responded, acknowledging the soldier's rank despite the situation.

Will's chuckle was without humour. "With all due respect, Sir, even if it's for two days, it's still hell. I should know. I experienced it. I almost pulled out of an important mission. If my mate hadn't shown up, I don't think I would have survived. I'm sorry, but this borders on cruelty."

"I guess burning down your house and car was an act of kindness," the elder snorted.

"You have a point there, Sir," Will nodded. "I was very annoyed when he took those things from me. But surely you can't compare material things to an individual's wellbeing."

"Were the gunshot wounds material, though?" the elder shot back.

"Aw, come on, everyone was healed by Ryan." Will looked bemused. "This is a different kind of pain. You're not a werewolf, Sir. You wouldn't understand."

"That's enough, Will," Philip quickly jumped in. "This verdict is final, so hold your horses."

"Bullshit!"

"Ian Williams!" Stan bellowed as he started towards his mate with a stern look.

"I'm sorry, Alpha." Will immediately apologized with a respectful nod at Philip.

"That's alright," Philip chuckled. "For the record, you would have made a brilliant defense attorney."

Will snorted as he raised his hand in a form of surrender to his mate. "I got carried away," he mumbled to Stan, who was now standing toe to toe with him. "I'm sorry."

"I didn't want you here," Stan whispered as Will dropped his hands. But he couldn't suppress his smile when he felt the soldier's hands on his hips.

"Why?" Will rested his forehead against Stan's, the two shutting out the chatter in the hall.

"I thought you would think that whatever punishment given wouldn't be enough and get upset. But here you are, fighting for him." Stan sounded shocked.

"Yeah, the idea of anyone going through that for three months gives me heart palpitations," Will muttered. "That's pure unending torture. Do you know one of the things that thrills me about my main task at work?"

"Tell me."

"The fact that I'm able to get the truth out of people in order to spare them the torture that we are noted to resort to. The mere thought that they're about to be tortured has had people passing out."

"Alright, alright, one meeting please," Philip called the meeting to order. "I'm sorry, Jaxon, but your time on Stanwood Pack is up. You will be given a boost straight home to Australia together with your belongings. The documentation covering your flight will be handled. You have a few minutes to say bye to your mate and anyone you have some last words for."

Jaxon got to his feet again, his face pale. He took a deep breath. "I just have a few things to say." Jaxon rubbed vigorously at his chest as if it hurt. "I wish I could turn back time." He gave a humorless chuckle. "Not because of the punishment I have to endure, but to spare all of you the pain and stress I put you through."

"We know, son," Gloria said softly, rubbing a silently sobbing Kate on the back. "We know."

Jaxon nodded. "I can't thank you enough, Ryan," he said, looking in Ryan's direction. "For sparing me a certain instant death by going with your instincts. But for you, I wouldn't be alive." He nodded at Ryan in thanks. "Thank you, Jeremy for waiving the execution. And Gloria," He smiled at the elegant lady comforting his mate. I really appreciate you helping me realize my mistake and acknowledging how stupid it all was. Thank you."

"Well, Mama G's words have a way of setting one's brains right," Philip drawled. "Welcome to the club." There were somber chuckles from the people gathered. Somehow, they couldn't seem to find any joy in what Jaxon was going through because they felt sorry for him.

"Thank you, Will." Jaxon tipped his head respectfully at the soldier. "You certainly deserve my gratitude too because if I hadn't been so angry at you, I wouldn't have come after the pack and met my mate. I mean, something good came out of it." He shrugged.

"Well, that's true, you asshat," Will responded, his voice devoid of any anger or animosity.

"Sorry about your stuff," Jaxon said quietly. "I know some are probably sentimental stuff that are irreplaceable. I'm so sorry for that. But I will replace everything else."

"You don't have to," Will replied.

"He does," Philip said.

"I do and I will," Jaxon sighed, turning to Kate. "And to my mate," he looked at her with eyes filled with so much love, gripping the hand Kate slipped into his. "Thank you for letting me know that life is not all about bitterness and vengeance." He reached out with his free hand to wipe the tears off her cheeks. "I love you," he whispered. "I love you so much. And I'm sorry you have to go through this because of my stupidity and hotheadedness. I'm so sorry."

All that could be heard in the hall were Kate's sobs. Gloria's face was wet with tears too as she held a sobbing Kate. Paige was seated with her head leaning against Kate's lower back and arms around her hips, her body shaking with silent sobs. For once, Jaxon's thoughts were not hidden behind the usual flawless mask. It was obvious from his expression and demeanor that his mate's sobs were tearing him apart. He was shaking so hard everyone looking on felt pity for him. At some point, he decided he couldn't take it anymore.

"Listen, Philip, could you please do what you said would be done to help her cope?" he groaned. "Do it now, please."

"No!" Kate snapped, suddenly looking all serious. She stepped out of Gloria's arms. "I want to feel every single pain."

"Kate, no!" Paige shouted as a collective gasp went up. "Don't do this."

The high priestess and Deloris shot to their feet and started toward Kate. So did Stan and Will. Kate was a warrior. She was strong-willed and never backed down if she could help it.

"Are you nuts?" Stan growled.

"If my mate is going to feel all that pain, then I might as well feel it with him," she said with finality as she turned to face Jaxon. "No one should dare touch me with their wands, otherwise y'all will see another side of me." She threw the warning at the high priestess and Deloris.

"But that's part of the verdict," the high priestess gasped.

"Taking away my pain is no punishment." The sudden burst of calm with which she spoke belied the fiery energy emanating from her. "Just don't try me." She sounded lethal.

"For fuck's sake, Kate," Will growled. "Better do your duty as a mate," he rasped at Jaxon. "Talk some sense into her head."

All eyes seemed to be on Jaxon at that point. He looked like a deer caught in headlights. He had never seen Kate so serious. For a moment, she seemed unreachable. Jaxon didn't think he could talk his mate out of her decision but knew he had to try. He took a deep breath and entwined his fingers with Kate's.

"Listen, baby, I fucked up," Jaxon whispered. "And every fuckup has its consequences. I deserve to pay for what I did. Not only will it be a lesson, but it will also make me a better person. But I've had to endure the terrible thought of the pain my family went through at the hands of our alpha. I only saw their dead bodies. I don't know what torture they had to endure before they gave up the ghost. That thought still torments me to this day, Kate. So I am begging you not to compound that for me, please. It will kill me to know that you're feeling what I'm feeling, baby. Please."

"Oh, god," she dissolved into tears again, sobbing pitifully in Jaxon's arms. "I don't know how I'm going to cope without you," she cried, overwhelmed by the knowledge of how much she needed Jaxon.

"You'll be fine," Jaxon soothed, squeezing her so tight she almost couldn't breathe. "You have all these people to care for you." His voice quivered.

"But who will care for you?" she sobbed, the anguish in Jaxon's voice and the sadness in his eyes twisting into her, hurting her in ways unimaginable.

Jaxon sighed. "I've been taking care of myself since I was a kid." With shaking fingers, he tried to wipe away the wetness but it only returned the instant it was wiped away. "Don't worry about me. I'll live." Her pain was harder for him to deal with than his own.

"You have to say your goodbyes now," Philip said quietly.

"God." Jaxon closed his eyes. His hot, damp forehead touching and nuzzling Kate's such that his sweat rubbed off on her. 'Take care of yourself, baby. That's all I ask,' Jaxon whispered on their mind-link. 'I love you.'

Kate cried as her mate's fervent declaration reverberated through her. She couldn't stop sobbing long enough to say it back. She buried her face in his shoulder and simply cried.

"My angel..." Jaxon breathed, his fist clenching in her hair. "Please..." he drew her head back and began to scatter kisses on her forehead, eyes, nose, cheeks, and finally on her lips.

His mouth found hers soft and hot and wet. He groaned when her tongue sensuously entered his mouth in a kiss flavoured with the salt of her tears. Her lips moved desperately over his, knowing that he'd be gone at any second. Kate wished she had more time to get her fill of her man, wished she could get even an hour to be with him but knew she didn't have that time.

'I love you, Jax,' She finally breathed on their mind-link even as they came up for a much-needed air. Jaxon pressed his lips to her temple and simply held her.

The air was rife with such intense melancholy that it affected the people in the hall. Some sobbed quietly while others wiped at their wet eyes. Even elder Anton felt so affected he shot to his feet at a point and snapped at the high priest to do her job. At a nod from Philip, the high priestess touched Kate with her wand. She instantly began to crumble in a faint but Ryan was there to catch her in a blink.

"I'll take her," Ryan informed the others and disappeared with Kate, leaving Jaxon who began to hyperventilate.

"Hey, breathe." Will was at his side, holding him up. But for his arms, Jaxon would have fallen down. "Breathe."

"Can I at least call her?" he croaked, pounding his chest with a fist as Gloria sobbed by his side. "I need to know she's okay."

"You can't," the high priestess responded. "For the next three months, you can't come to this pack, you can't come to the States as you didn't come here with the best of intentions, Kate can't meet you anywhere, and no, you can't call each other. In fact, you won't be able to do it even if you try. Sorry."

"Fuck, it hurts," Jaxon gasped, dropping to his knees in pain. He suddenly looked as though a water had been poured on him. He was drenched in sweat.

"This is just fucked up," Paige cried as the others looked on helplessly. "We all know that the further away he is from Kate, the more severe that pain gets. He might not survive it."

"He will," the high priestess responded. "The mere thought of seeing his mate after the sentence will give him the strength to endure. Jeremy survived the separation, didn't he?"

"Yeah, because he was looking forward to killing you," Stan growled.

"Stanley..." Joel growled in warning.

"Sorry," Stan muttered insincerely with a dark scowl. He completely missed the smile on Jeremy's face.

Just as the high priestess readied herself to stretch forth her wand, Ryan appeared. He went on his knees before Jaxon and hugged him. He didn't speak. He merely offered comfort.

"It's time, Ryan," the high priestess said softly. But Ryan remained where he was. "Alpha Jeremy?" She turned to the alpha of alphas with eyes that said, get your mate.

"Come on, baby," Jeremy muttered when he got to his mate's side. He pulled him up and groaned when he saw his face wet with tears.

Will helped Jaxon up. "Sorry about all this," the soldier said quietly. "Don't be too surprised if you see us in Australia." He gestured at Stan and said, "I know you have questions."

Jaxon nodded. "We can talk about an estimate for the damage and get that sorted."

"That's not why we..." Will started to protest, but got interrupted by Jaxon.

"I know, but it will be a fine opportunity to work on that," he rasped. "Thank you, and I'm sorry once again."

"Don't worry about it," Will said, patting the rogue on the back.

"Good bye, Jaxon," Philip said. "See you soon." The alpha then gave the high priestess the nod.

The glowing wand touched Jaxon then. After about three seconds, he disappeared from their midst. Except for the few snivelings, the hall was filled with an almost eerie silence. Philip cleared his throat after some minutes and addressed everyone;

"Regardless of what he did, I believe that man is a decent person," the alpha said quietly. "With the kind of traumatic childhood he had, I'm even impressed he turned out this way. Yes, he's a rogue, but he's not the typical crazy, rabid type we are all used to. Luna is not stupid. She wouldn't mate our Kate to that man if he was as terrible as we thought. You can all rest assured that our Kate is in good hands and will be treated well by Jaxon. I appeal to all of you to find it in your hearts to..." Philip suddenly paused, looking distracted. "...to forgive him for everything and accept him as part of us." He got to his feet with a worried expression. "Is there anything you'd like to add, boss?" Philip asked Jeremy absentmindedly as he left his seat.

Everyone watched as the alpha made his way to where his mate sat with his head on the table, his body shaking with silent sobs. He pulled the younger man up and enfolded him in his arms tenderly.

"You've said it all, Lip," Jeremy said. "The little I'd like to add is that if there was one thing Kate was scared of, it was being shunned by her pack for being the mate of a rogue." A murmur of surprise went up. "Especially one that did what Jaxon did. So I would appeal to all of you to show her a lot of love. Even though the pain of not being with her mate would not be there, she will still miss him terribly and would be moody, sad and definitely not her usual bubbly self. Just be there for her. Feel free to spread the word, because I won't take it lightly if it gets to me that she's being treated poorly by anyone. I will take it personally." He warned, his voice low and hard. "This is not on her. Hell, I don't even expect Jaxon to be shunned by anyone because, as my mother always says, everything happens for a reason. Lip?" He called to Philip to take over.

"Very well said, boss," Philip left Troy to be consoled by his equally sad mother. "Stanwood is a family," he said as he went back to his seat. "And family does not discriminate but rather cares for one another. For the duration, Paige will have oversight responsibilities for the warriors. Until Kate is herself again. Thank you all for coming. Let's have a fruitful day."

As everyone left the hall, Jeremy, Ryan, Paige, Stan, Will, and Troy remained. Troy, went to sit on Philip's lap as the door shut behind the last person.

"That was brutal," Paige groaned. "Even my heart hurts, and I'm not the one punished."

"So, how are we going to do this?" Philip asked.

"Do what?" Stan asked.

"I think we should move this to the penthouse," Ryan said as he reached out a hand to Jeremy and Will, who were closest to him. "Come on, hold on."

Everyone reached out to touch the person closet, linking all of them to Ryan. In the next instant, they were all inside Jeremy's plush apartment.

**

"I need a drink," Stan said, heading to the bar. "Want one, baby?" he asked Will over his shoulder.

"Please. And make it strong."

"Not going back to the office?" Paige asked as she went to the bar too.

"Nah, told Ty I'm suffering from jet lag."

"Where's Kate?" Philip asked Ryan.

"Asleep in the guest room. So what's this I'm hearing about a plan?" Ryan looked from Philip to Jeremy.

"There's a plan?" Stan asked.

"Well, at the meeting with the elders, Jeremy did add a clause to the sentence," Philip explained. "He said that the punishment automatically ends if pain penetrates the spell cast on Kate. So we were thinking... what if Kate says she feels the pain? Who would know whether it's true or not?"

"That clause was genius, baby," Ryan smiled at his mate. "But that plan is very flawed."

"Well, we haven't thought it out well," Jeremy said. "So let's."

"I think it will be wrong to ask Kate to lie about how she feels," Paige said.

"That is why I said it was flawed," Ryan agreed. "In my case, Paige tried to let me feel the pain."

"And what good came out of that?" Stan snorted.

"At least I didn't have to lie," Ryan shot back. "It was real. I just feel it's wrong for an alpha of alphas and an alpha of a pack to disrespect a decree by conniving with their subordinate to tell a blatant lie. It will be best if she actually feels that pain. That way, the ruling holds. The punishment ends."

"So you're saying Kate should be made to feel pain," Will drawled. "Where the fuck is Paige going to find an albino? She killed the last one."

It took three full seconds for the laughter to erupt. "Fuck you, Ian Williams," Paige chuckled, giving Will the finger.

"You know about the Jackal?" Jeremy asked with a surprised expression, even as he made his way to his brother's side.

"The two of them told me about him," Will chuckled, gesturing at Stan and Paige.

"You good?" Jeremy asked Troy in a whisper. The Jackal had been his guardian but died at the hands of Paige.

"I'm fine," Troy chuckled. "He was a motherfucker."

"That, he was." Jeremy agreed, pressing a kiss to Troy's head. "So what do we do? In the absence of the Jackal that is." They all dissolved into laughter again.

"Maybe we should give it a week or two. Then Jeremy can revoke the punishment," Will suggested.

"He can't do that." Philip shook his head. "His endorsement carries too much weight. Once he stamped on what was agreed with the elders, he can't go back on his word."

"So Kate needs to feel some pain," Stan groaned. "That's our best bet."

"I think we need to allow things to run its course," Paige sighed. "After all, Kate is not in pain."

"Yeah, but Jaxon is," Will muttered. "And you saw him. He has to live with that for the next three months. Not cool."

"What doesn't kill you, makes you stronger, Will." Paige shrugged. "Sometimes, when we interfere in things, we only end up making the situation worse. I learnt that the hard way." She shrugged.

"What you did was very important in the grand scheme of things, Paige," Ryan said softly. "We were all against you at the time but if you hadn't done that to push me to bring Jer back, he would have stayed in purgatory for two years."

"Facts!" Philip nodded. "Everything happens for a reason."

"Luna would have found a way to bring him back," Paige scoffed. "None of you have any idea what I went through," she whispered. "I will live with that near disaster for the rest of my life. It isn't pleasant. So I think we should leave it. If it's meant to end before the stipulated three months, it will."

"And Jaxon?" Troy asked in a small voice. "He was in so much pain. From what we know about him, he has no one."

"At this point, our priority is Kate, darling," Philip said. "All things being equal, Jaxon needs to feel the brunt of our wrath. What he did was serious. It's a punishment. He needs to feel it. Like the high priestess said, knowing that he gets to be with his mate after would give him the strength to endure it. He will be fine."

"So are we going to let things be?" Stan asked.

"I think like Paige said, if it's meant to end earlier, it will," Ryan sighed. "Interfering can backfire. Besides, it's wrong for these two, especially," he pointed at Jeremy and Philip. "To deceive the elders and the pack as a whole."

"Fair point," Jeremy nodded. "I heard you say something about a visit. When?" he asked Stan and Will.

"Check your schedule and let's see," Stan told Will.

"I'll do that."

"Maybe we could all go spend a weekend with him," Jeremy muttered.

"Aw, that would be great," Troy gushed. "I've never been to Australia. And maybe while we're there, we can call so he speaks to Kate."

"Not possible," Jeremy, Philip, Paige, and Stan responded in unison. "They won't be able to even hear each other's voice," Stan added.

"At least we will be there to try and get his mind off his pain for a while," Ryan said, getting to his feet and making a beeline for the phone. "I'm ordering us some food."

"Great idea, baby."

*

Hours later, Kate sat in bed in the apartment of the alpha of alphas and wept. She didn't think she'd ever felt that wretched. She would pity herself in one moment, curse Jaxon for acting stupidly the next moment, and then pray he was okay in another moment. In as much as she didn't feel the pain she's felt when she ignored Jason's mark and traveled to France, the emptiness was even worse. How was she expected to cope? Kate sat up, crossed her legs under her, and buried her face in her palms as she succumbed to her misery. Who told those elders that missing a mate, with or without pain, was bearable?

With a frustrated growl, she wiped her face and got out of bed. There was only one place Kate wanted to be at that moment. A place where she could smell him, feel his presence, and feel closest to her mate. And that was the room she shared with Jaxon.

She started for the door.

***

In the thick rainforest in Sydney, Australia, a lone wolf howled to the skies. The howl was filled with pain and anguish. As was the hallmark of every predator when angered or in pain, the wolf looked feral. Its howls of pain sent danger signals to other animals around to take cover.

When Jaxon materialized in his studio apartment in Sydney, he'd let himself go and cried like he never had before. He had wept for hours. He was a wreck, and didn't know what to do about it. Then the anger set in. He'd taken his emotions out on his apartment by giving it a proper trashing. And even after the thrashing, he still wasn't okay. Jaxon had gotten into his classy all-black Jeep Wrangler and sped off to the thick rainforest noted for its feral predators. And for a week, he'd been in the forest, running, hunting and howling his pain to the heavens. He was in so much pain that he couldn't even eat what he hunted. For a week, all he'd been able to keep down was water. He felt weak due to the lack of food but he didn't dwell on that.

Jaxon knew that it was not good practice to remain in wolf form for long. A werewolf had the potential to go fully feral if they stayed in their wolf form for long without the sanity that the human form brought. But Jaxon didn't think his human could endure the pain of being apart from his mate without breaking down. At least it was better for his human, in that initial stage, to be shielded.

The wolf was miserable and angry but that anger was directed at himself. He raged at himself for landing himself in that situation by acting so recklessly. His love for vengeance had made him put people's lives in danger when they had done nothing wrong. If he had taken the time to think, he wouldn't be in his current situation.

'But how would I have found her otherwise?' the wolf growled at the wind in misery. Somehow, his love for vengeance had led him to his mate but at the same time, caused their separation. The irony of fate!

Jaxon knew he needed to shift, get back to civilization, and immerse himself in something that would hopefully take his mind off the pain. It would be very unfortunate and irresponsible on his part to become completely feral by the time he got back with his mate. That would mean extending his time away from her just to regain his humanity. That wouldn't be fair to Kate. He thought about his life and how different it was going to be now that he had a mate. If his time with her at Stanwood Pack was anything to go by, they would have a great life together. He couldn't wait to live with Kate. He pictured Kate in his currently trashed apartment and groaned. Trashed or not, that studio apartment was definitely not appropriate for a couple. He'd always lived a simple life. He had enough wealth to live anywhere he wanted but had opted for a simple studio apartment as he spent more time in his office.

The wolf suddenly went very still; its ears perked up, and its head tilted to the side as if it was lost in thought. Then it started running out of the forest, in the direction of a certain Wrangler Jeep. By the time Jaxon shifted back to human and dressed up, he knew exactly what he needed to do. He had less than three months to put things in place.

***

"This is perfect," Jaxon muttered as he looked up at the building before him, particularly drawn to the forested landscape attached to the building, which blended contemporary architecture with the natural environment.

He'd read somewhere that good architecture enhanced the lives of those that lived within it. He wanted the best life for Kate and their children if they had any. He loved the neighborhood and the beautiful view it offered.

"It is beautiful," his assistant gushed beside him. "But don't you think it's too big?"

Jaxon didn't take his gaze off the magnificent building. "It's perfect for a family, don't you think?" he breathed, surprised at the image that popped into his mind. He could picture kids running around the huge compound, rolling on the lawn happily, and wolves frolicking freely in the attached private forested landscape. "I want this."

"Wait, am I missing something?" the assistant asked with a curious look.

"Harper, come on..."

"No. You go MIA for over a month, reappear just two days ago..."

"I told you I came back over a week ago," Jaxon groaned.

"Well, you got in touch just two days ago," she snorted. "And look at you... you've lost so much weight, only God knows what you've been up to." She gave him a once-over. "Do you even eat? Are you okay? Are you sick?"

"I am fine, Harper. I just want to buy this house, that's all."

"Just out of the blue, you want to buy a 10-bedroom house? Who are you, and what have you done with our Jaxon Spencer?" she screeched. "Planning on running a guest house or something?" she waved to get the attention of the realtor who was to show them the house.

"Or maybe I've met someone?" Jaxon muttered.

"Met someone!" Harper fixed her eyes on her boss. He'd never been in a relationship. Well, not since she'd known him. "Are you shitting me? So are you trying to tell me you've been shacked up with this person all this while?"

"Hello, Mr. Spencer," the realtor greeted when he got to them.

"Jaxon," Jaxon said, shaking the man's hand. "Matthew, right?"

"Yes. Ready for a tour?"

"Sure." Jaxon nodded.

"Great." Matthew moved toward the house, followed by Jaxon and Harper. "Let's begin from the outdoor then. This is an ultra-sleek building as you can see. It sits on approximately twenty-one acres of land."

Harper gasped. "What? I know that a football field is about 1.32 acres. So, twenty-one acres is as large as approximately twenty football fields," she screeched.

"Fifteen," Jaxon corrected. "Mind you, the bigger part is a forest area."

"Whatever," Harper snorted. "Are you planning on building an entire community or something? Isn't this a waste of money?"

"Harper? Shut up!" Jaxon breathed. To an amused Matthew, he said, "Go on."

The outdoor features included resort-style amenities like a covered patio with a fireplace, a pool, a spa, an outdoor kitchen, and a pool house that was a lovely option for guests who wanted to be close but have their own space. The underground car garage was just brilliant. Jaxon loved the way the house was integrated into the existing landscape, surrounded by trees and a flower garden which boast a beautiful jogging trail into the forested area. It made the outdoor living space phenomenal. For a werewolf, the vast spectacular scenery which seemed to connect the building with the surrounding nature was definitely a plus.

"This is a family home designed for entertaining family and friends inside and outside," Matthew said. "The building is a bit isolated from the neighbours which gives it a private feel."

After going around, they finally entered the house. It had a grand entry that opened into a massive living room with twenty-foot-high ceilings, floor-to-ceiling windows, large glass walls, large custom chandeliers accenting multiple great rooms, a majestic stylish staircase, and sliding doors that allowed for so much sunlight that it enhanced the sense of openness and connection with the outdoors.

"The design reduces the need for artificial lighting during the day," Matthew said. "Let's check out the bedrooms."

The bedrooms were spacious sanctuaries with spa-like en-suite Japanese-inspired bathrooms. Every room was highlighted by a different colour scheme which offered a distinctive style that was simply lovely. The master bedroom had a large room-size closet which Jaxon loved because his mate was a model and so needed the space for her clothes.

There were two family areas designed for relaxation and entertainment downstairs and another living room upstairs. The house had a cute TV room, a den that had a relaxing view, and a study that was big enough to accommodate him and Kate. Maybe the bar in there added some panache to the setting.

"This house comes with a state-of-the-art technology that is so impressive," Matthew informed them as they descended the stairs. "Technology is seamlessly integrated, providing unparalleled convenience and control over lighting, security, and entertainment systems. Wait till you see the kitchen."

The kitchen was spacious and equipped with ultra-modern appliances. It featured a large island that served as both a cooking area and a social hub. Jaxon knew that Kate would love how large the kitchen was. She'd told him once that tiny kitchens didn't give her the urge to cook. The 1,600-bottle wine cellar was just icing on the cake. When they got to the back terrace, all three were amazed at the view from there.

"Whew! The view from here is just beautiful," Harper breathed. "The house feels both comfortable and gracious, I must admit." She turned to say something to Jaxon but seemed to pause in surprise at what she saw. Jaxon looked like a wet chicken. He was sweating profusely.

"Yeah, everything about the house is wonderful," an oblivious Matthew chuckled. "The attention to detail is incredible. I particularly like the fact that the land is so vast that you can decide to put up more structures if you so wish. Wanna see the basement?"

"Not necessary, I'll take it," Jaxon rasped, stretching out a hand to shake Matthew's hand. His eyes stung as rivulets of sweat ran down his forehead. "Harper will get the lawyer to handle the paperwork," he said as he turned to go.

"Jaxon?" Harper ran after Jaxon.

"See to the paperwork and get a good interior designer to spec the place up," Jaxon said without turning around.

"Are you okay?" she asked.

"I'm fine," Jaxon breathed, trying to bring his breathing under control. "Get it sorted in the shortest possible time, please. And tell the designer not to hold back."

"You know Bob will have questions."

"He's not paid to ask questions, Harper," Jaxon snorted.

"I'm sure he would beg to differ."

The only person Jaxon had contacted since he got back from his trip and week-long run was Harper. And that was because he'd needed her to set up a meeting with a realtor. Jaxon knew that Bob, his attorney, was one of the few people who would be fuming in reaction to his silence, but he was determined to put off work till he got started on finding his mate an appropriate abode. Getting his phone smashed had its advantages, after all. No one could contact him. After all, the one person he wanted to hear from couldn't link up with him, thanks to whatever spell that old lady had cast.

"Who would have questions when they see this masterfully crafted house?" Jaxon joked, but his voice sounded as if he was being strangled.

"Boss, you don't sound okay," Harper frowned, but Jaxon responded to the observation with a dismissive gesture, clearly uninterested in encouraging that line of conversation.

"You have a maximum of one month, Harper. And remember to demarcate a spot for choppers."

With that final instruction, Jaxon hurried to his car, got in, and sped off. His chest felt as if it was about to explode. He needed to run to make the pain a bit bearable.

"Fuck!"

And for the umpteenth time, Jaxon Spencer cursed himself for his stupidity.

***

Please don't forget to vote, comment, and follow!

Jah bless!