CAROLINE POV

I smiled as I watched him sleep. I almost felt crying at the fact how much I loved him- truly loved him.

He slept on his stomach, his hair was messy, his lips pouty- peaceful. His soft snores making me smile but at the same time, it made me guilty. He looked exhausted last night and it was all because of me. I couldn't thank him enough for loving me even though I told him I didn't trust him and constantly pushed him away.

I got closer to his face and softly pin a kiss on his cheek. He stirs up in his sleep and opens his eyes. He asked in his husky voice, rubbing his eye "What time is it?" I shook my head with a smile "I don't know." He put his arm around my waist, pulling me to his side as he asks with his eyes closed "Why didn't you wake me up?"

"I didn't want to. You were sleeping peacefully. And I like watching you sleep."

He smiles and I say "Thank you for last night, Jaxon." The next second, he turned me over to my back, hovering on top of me, his body between my legs as I chuckled. He said playfully "You know it does come with a price." He puts his hand against my right cheek and slowly slides it down to my neck, drawing a lazy circle on where the neck meets the shoulder- to where he once told me where his mark will reside. I grabbed his face, pecking his bottom lip as I said with all seriousness "Anything, Jax." He raises his brow "Anything?" I nodded my head but I was ready to do anything for him. Anything. He kissed my neck as I bite my bottom lip closing my eyes. He trailed his kisses down my shoulder and asked "Even your chocolate pancakes?" I chuckled "Even that." I scrunched his hair between my finger and gently pulled him away from my neck as I said against his lips "I'll do whatever you want me to do today. Anything- whatever you tell me." He looked taken back for a second, checking if I was playing him but he smiled and I smiled back because I knew where his mind went "Don't get cheeky with me." He threw his head back laughing at me and then capturing my lips with his.

Suddenly, he pulled back and his eyes went red. I asked, "What's wrong?" He put his finger against my lips, his eyes traveling around the room like he was hearing something that I couldn't. He looked down at me and shook his head. I nodded understanding as he gets up from me, going to the door. He looks back at me one last time as his canine extend and his claws too. He stands beside the door and I watched the knob turn. My heart sinking to my stomach as I watch Jaxon ready to pounce whoever it is that is about to come through that door.

A girl with maroon hair and grey eyes walks in. Her eyes land on me and Jaxon attack her from behind. Grabbing her by the neck and pinning her against the door, growling at her. She just smiled at him like she was enjoying it. Jaxon suddenly stopped and backed away from her "What the hell are you doing here?" She smiled "To talk to you, baby."

JAXON POV

My eyes widen as I look behind her at Caroline. She mouths with a brow raised and arms wrapped against her chest "Baby?" I quickly walk towards my mate and put an arm around her waist, pulling her to my side "Amara, stop." She sniffs around the room and said "A human? You're with a human? You're cheating on me with a human?!" Caroline looks up at me and mind links me "CHEATING?!" I stuttered "No, not cheating." I looked at Amara "We're not dating!"

"I don't remember you breaking up with me before you left, Jaxon. And have you forgotten what we in your loft a year ago when I came to you in Maple Town?"

This day couldn't get any worse.

Caroline removes my arm from around her and says "You got some things you need to sort through, Jax." And walked away into the bathroom. I looked at Amara and warned, "You need to go now." She smiled "Do you want me to?" She knew I wasn't having it when she blew a kiss on me and left.

I walked to the bathroom and knocked on the door "Caroline." She opens the door and comes out in a crop top and jeans. Ignoring me. I grabbed her hand and turned her around against me. She just stood there with an unreadable expression on her face. I say "I swear it was before I even knew who you are and who you were to me." She looked up at me and asked "How many girls have been in and out of that loft?"

Seventeen.

I lied "I don't know. Just her." She nodded with a smile "Have fun making your chocolate pancakes, wolf boy." Before she could even walk away, I wrap my arms around her waist and asked "What about my anything day?"

"Oh, I took it back. It's your nothing day now."

Oh, the sweet jealousy hormones down the bond were making me purr. This was a new side of Caroline to me. A side where she was too jealous for her good. And I'm not gonna deny and say that I wasn't enjoying it. I loved it.

I reasoned "That's not fair! I'll do anything for that day. I swear!" She smiled "Pack brunch in the manor." I groaned "Okay, anything but that." She stood on her toes and said "Pack brunch at the manor and you might get lucky tonight, Moon." She unbuttoned the top of her crop top, her cleavage on display and I'm not ashamed to say that my gaze was on her chest the whole time. She curled a finger under my chin and lifted my head, brushing her lips against mine, whispering "My eyes are up here." My chest purred without meaning too and she smiled against my lips, pecking my bottom lip. Before I could deepen the kiss, she pulls away and walks away, swaying her hips left and right.

I hated two things now: Broccoli and cold showers in the morning because of her. Tanner purred in my head "Oh, I hate the control she has over us." I walked into the bathroom and replied "Liar, you love it."

"I do."

X

CAROLINE POV

We walked through the woods to the Manor and right outside I saw all the pack gathered there. All of them. And three long white tables of everything you could imagine. Different types of meat, cheese, eggs. Three barbecue stands, where women were cooking meat, sausages, and other stuff too. It all smelled mouth-watering.

Will and Patty spotted us and made their way. Will hugged me right after Patty did. I smiled at them as Patty said "I'm glad you're here. I was getting bored." Will raised his brows at her "I'm right here, mate." She shook her head "Yeah, well, I can't talk to you about you, can I?" She looks at me "Mates, am I right?" I agreed "Sometimes you just wanna punch them in the head." Her eyes widened with a smile "I agree!" I looked over at Jaxon, kissing on his cheek "I said sometimes." He shook his head "I'll get you a plate." Will dramatically groaned "Don't leave me with them. I'm coming with you." We giggled as they both walked to the table.

Patty looked at me and held my hands. She looked nervous. She sighed "I'm scared."

"Why? What's wrong?"

She bit her lip "I'm pregnant." I smiled at her "Congratulations!" But she wasn't happy. I asked "Why aren't you happy? It's William's right?" She rolled her eyes "Obviously. I just can't handle the fact that everyone will talk about us having a baby before marriage. The werewolf community tends to be conservative sometimes." I rolled my eyes "It's the twenty-first century, live a little. Does Will know?" She shook her head "No, I don't wanna tell him unless I get it confirmed. I'm going into town tonight because I don't wanna get checked here. Or else, Will won't stop panicking." I nodded my head and kissed her the back of her hand "Everything will be okay. You want me to go with you?" She smiled "Will you? Please!" I chuckled "Yes, I'm come with you to support you."

"What about Jaxon?"

"He could live a day without me."

I've been overwhelmed since last night and I need space to clear my head. Maybe a day or two away from the pack will help that. And Patty will have all my attention. This could be all better.

Meanwhile, I saw Amara come towards me. She wore a sundress with flip-flops. Her arms against her chest "A human." I raised my brow "A wolf." Patty snarled at her "What do you want?" I asked, "You two know each other?" She smiled "Oh, the whole men of the pack knows her." Amara rolled her eyes and threaten me "Stay away from Jaxon." I blinked at her "And why would I do that?" Patty snorted and Amara snarled at me "He doesn't deserve a weak human like you. And you're forgetting that I got claws." Patty said, "And I got manicured nails that turn into claws." This time I snorted.

Suddenly, her whole demeanor changed as she laughed out loud "Oh, Caroline you're so adorably funny." Patty and I looked at each other and then I noticed Jaxon coming towards us with two white plates in his hands.

Two can play this game.

I laughed back "I love your sense of humor, you adorable dork." Her smile fell and she turned around but never leaving without smiling at him which did make me mad. Patty shook her head and asked Jaxon "Is my mate near the hot dogs?" Jaxon chuckled "Drooling his canines out." She sighed and walked away. Jaxon put his hand on my waist and asked with a brow raised "Amara had a sense of humor?" I grabbed one plate and said with a smile "Her threats are hilarious."

"She threatened you?"

"Nothing I can't handle."

He kissed my temple whispering a sorry to me. I asked, "Can I go to the town tonight?" He looked back "Why?"

"A girls trip with Patty."

"For the night?"

"Three days."

He whined, "No, don't go." I chuckle "Please, there's something she needs my help with." He scrunched his nose up and said "You'll call me every hour?" I stood on my toes and pecked his nose "Video call, I promise." He sighed "Deal!"

"Great! Let me go and tell Patty."

JAXON POV

She ran towards the crowd to tell Patty. I wasn't up for her going to the town but if that's what she wants, I can never stop her. Maybe I'll go with her as well.

Amara approached me with her shoulders back, all serious "We need to talk." I shook my head "Not when you threaten my mate."

"I'm here to talk about the rogues."

"You talk to Alpha King then. I have no business with anyone."

"That's what Alpha King said too. He told me to come to you."

"Fine, what is it?"

"We think it's an inside job. There's a snitch in the pack. The last attack on the mating season was because of that snitch."

My chest growled as my vision turned red. A snitch made that attack happen also means a snitch that let Greg in the borders and I was not having it.

I nodded and said, "Come with me."

But I mind linked Will "If Caroline looks for me, tell her to come to the study." And he just said okay.

X

I lead her towards the manor and inside the study of Alpha King. The room where everything is decided. Where wars are planned, where the other Alphas gather.

Once we were behind closed doors, I asked "What is it about?" She looked sad for some reason and said "I wanna talk about us." I held the bridge of my nose and said "Amara, there's no us. We were just a high school fling. Nothing more." She scoffed "A high school fling? I was your first and you were mine. Jaxon, we made a pact together. A pact that if we don't find our mates at the age of thirty, we'll be together."

"Well, I found my mate, Amara."

"A human mate, Jaxon. You know she's not worth it. She can never be the Luna."

I growled "Watch your mouth, Amara. You're getting my wolf on edge." She snarled "And you're getting mine on edge!" She calmed herself down "She can never be a Luna, Jaxon." I roared "I DO NOT WANT HER TO BE THE LUNA. I JUST WANT HER TO BE MY MATE. That's all I want. That's all I will ever need." She huffed "You're saying that just because of the bond. Once you reject her, you'll look at her differently too. How we look at her. Do you know the things that are being said to you in this pack? They think you're a pussy- that you're cursed to be burdened with a weak little human." She sighs "Does she ever fulfilled your needs, Jaxon? I don't see a mark on her which I know that you haven't Mated yet. Does she know how much pain you go through every day?" She took steps towards me and put her hands on my cheek "Does she know the desperation you're in every day? She doesn't, does she? Because she cares about herself and her little body. And even if you mate, you know she can never fulfill the hunger you have. Her fragile body can never handle your roughness like I always did."

I grabbed her wrist and warned, "Stop touching me." Instantly, she had her lips on mine. One minute I was standing and the next, she pushes me against the table with a growl, using her strength. I grab her by the neck to pull her away. She pushed me back against the table, knocking everything on the ground. I pull away and push her against the wall hard in rage that it cracks but she just moans and pulls me against her, kissing me again. Her claws scratching against my chest, drawing out blood. I pull away from her and said "You're crazy." But she tackles me on the ground, straddling my hips and kissing me again. I push her to the side and hover on her, she scratches my back and pulls me again into the kiss.

The door suddenly opens and I whip my head towards the person who gasped. My mate was that person. Her bottom lip trembled as I felt her sadness inside me. She bit her lip and I realized how it looked. I looked down at the fabric of Amara's dress tore off in my hand and down at her and everything around me.

Fuck.

I said, "Caroline, this is not what it looks like." Before her tear could even fall on her cheek, she ran from there. I got up and ran behind her, forgetting Amara.

CAROLINE POV

I ran out of there.

I wanted to cry and scream loud but I needed to get out from here first.

I ran out the manor and through the woods, making my way to our- his cabin. I closed the door and cursed because I couldn't lock it.

Walking to the room, I locked the door and I let myself break down. My heartfelt pain as I grabbed my breast, crying. My hand was on my mouth to muffle my voice. I looked at the ring he gave me, taking it off, I kept it on his side table.

I heard the main door close and I knew he'd be here. I ran into the bathroom, grabbing my things, and when I walked into the room as I wiped my tears, face straight. I gasped as I saw him in the room. I wiped my tears away because I will never let him see me cry. Never.

Grabbing my suitcase and putting it on the bed, I began putting my clothes in from the closet as well as my other things. He said, "Caroline, this isn't what it looks like." I stopped to look at him. There was a scratch mark on his chest that was healing fast. He followed my gaze and said, "I swear, this isn't what it looks like." I nodded and said, "Whatever, I'm going to the town because Patty leaves in about ten minutes." He put his hand on my shoulder but I pulled away from his touch. I didn't want his comfort. Not when he was the one to hurt me. Looking back at him, I looked at the broken buttons of his shirt and shook my hand in disappointment. My lips trembling again but I bit my bottom lip to stop myself from breaking down in front of him.

I zipped the bag and put it on the ground. As I was about to walk past him, he grabbed my arm and said "You can't leave. Not like this." I yanked my arm away "You don't control me, Jaxon!" His voice went deep as his eyes glowed "Yes, I can! I'm your mate!" I shouted at him "You sometimes make me re-think about us being mates, Jaxon!" He looked taken back by my words as he mumbled "You don't mean that." I laugh in pain "I'm starting to!" Tears slipped down his cheeks as he fell on his knees, wrapping his arm around my waist, pulling me towards him so he could rest his head against my stomach "Please don't go. Please don't reject me." My throat pained as I said with a shaky voice "I'm not rejecting you. I just need to be away from you." He said against my stomach "I swear it was not what it looked like."

"Save it, Jaxon. I'm going one way or another. You can't stop me."

I got out of his grip as he stands up to his full height, towering over me "How long will you be gone, three days, right?" And it all made me think about it. Three days weren't enough to heal this pain he caused. He put his hand on my cheek, his thumb softly stroking my cheekbone. It was a fight with myself to not lean in his touch as I said softly "However long it takes. Goodbye, Jaxon." I grabbed my bag and walked out.

I left him- my mate behind in that darkness all alone. I needed space. From him, from his world. I needed time in mine now.

X

I walked to the parking lot and saw Will kissing Patty. They both looked at me and Will asked "Caroline, you okay?" Tears stream down my cheek and in a blink he was in front of me. His hand was on my shoulder as he looked at me "What's wrong?" I looked everywhere but at him, as I said "Take care of him, Will. For me. I just need a little time to myself."

I walked to Patty and put the bag in the trunk of her car. As we get in, I saw Tanner running towards us. I said, "Patty if you love me, you will drive right now before he reaches this damn car." She sighs as she steps on the accelerator, driving out of the parking and away from him.

I could still see him running behind the car through the mirror and I knew he wasn't gonna give up. I knew my wolf. I knew he was determined. I knew that he won't stop running, not until he has me in his arms again. I closed my eyes and mind linked him "If you love me, you'll stop running after the car." And he did. He stopped and the thing that broke me the most was that sad howl of his.

I put my face in my hands as I cried. I broke down in front of Patty. I felt her hand on my back as she smoothly rubs and her wolf whimpers inside her.
I pull back and sit straight up, wiping my tears, turning my expression stone. She asks "You okay?" I say without looking at her "I'm fine."

I'm not.

X

If we loved her? How could she say that?

I went back to the pack, to the cabin. I turned into my human form as I saw Alpha King standing outside with a foreign expression on his face. The expression of a guilty father for the broken heart of his son.

I said, "Came to gloat, Alpha King?" He shook his head as I walked inside "I'm here as a father, Jaxon." I looked at him as he said "Will told me." Walking into my room, I wore my shorts before I sit on the bed. Everything smelled like her. The sheets, her pillow, my pillow, even the discarded shirt on the floor. He puts his hand on my shoulder and sits beside me "I'm sorry Jaxon." I shook my head "What are you sorry about? You don't even like her."

"True. But I do know the longing for a mate, Jaxon."

My Wolf whimpered as I inhaled her scent, taking it in as much as I can, on the verge of crying too. I needed somebody to talk to "She said she needed space- that we needed space." He nods "She's a human. It will take time for her to adjust to this life and I don't blame her. If I were in her shoes- living in the human world, away from my pack, I'd do the same." He patted my shoulder "But hold on to the hope that she hasn't rejected you. She'll come back." I nodded holding on to that hope as he said.

Alpha King stood up and said "Why don't you come work with me? Let's get together as a family, Jaxon. Your mom will be happy and it will take your mind off of things. Think about it, okay?" I nodded and he walked out.

I wiped my tears and I hoped that if I worked for him, I hoped that time will go by fast and she'll be back in my arms sooner than I think. My gaze went to the ring she left on my table and I grabbed it. Smiling at the fact that the ring was small in my hand- just like her hand in mine. I unchained my necklace and put the ring through it, wearing it again as the moonstone dangled with my chain charm.

I said to Tanner "She'll be back soon. I know she will." But he just hides his eyes behind his paws and cries silently.

She'll be back soon... right?

KANE POV

I hoped that she rejected him. He needs someone better in his life. Someone who's a wolf and will stand strong and just one step behind him. Not forward or beside.

He nodded his head and I knew slowly he was considering it. I patted on his back and said"Think about it, son."
I got up and walked out. I knew for a fact that he would never say no because he needed something to take his mind off of her and I'm ready to give my boy the training to be the future Alpha King that he could never get before. He'll become a true king of the wolves and only a she-wolf will stand beside him as he sits on his throne with a crown on his head as he will look down on the people that fear him.

From there, I went to the pack prison with Claude.

He said, "So what now, Alpha King?"

"So.. now that the human is gone, we first complete our deal with the rogue. And then we'll train my son to become Alpha King and yours to be his Beta. It's the beginning of a new era, Claude. I can feel it."

I reached the thick silver gate and punched in the passcode for the door to open. Once, it had open I saw him reading a book on his new mattress that I got him.

He looked at me with a smile and said:
"Tick Tock
As the clock struck

Tick Tock
The Alpha King made his luck

Tick Tock
The human finally sucks

Tick Tock
Now, all I can say for the future is good luck"

I smiled at his little rhyming words because it was all true.

He smiled back and said, "What can I do for you now, Alpha King?" I sat on the metal chair and said"You've done enough, Greg. She's gone and nothing is stopping my boy from becoming the new king."

"Stepping down already?"

"It's time."

He looked at his nails and said"But I must warn you because you've been kind to me." He indirectly pointed to the new bed, books, and good food in his cell and continued"But there's someone more powerful than you."

"Who?"

"The one who wants the girl. The one who'll go to any length to get the girl. I'm just saying... watch your tail, King. You don't know who could grab it."

Phoenix was on edge as he felt like this rogue just questioned his power. I said, "Have you found him?" He looked at me like it was obvious"What do you think? I couldn't find him in three months, and 12 days are too... less."

"How can we find him?"

He smiled"You could always let me go, give me money and let me do my magic." I scoffed"You think I'd let you go?"

"Well, a desperate King always lets out a prisoner when he's... you know... desperate"

"If you think that I'd let you out of this cell, how stupid do you think I am?"

"I don't think you're stupid at all... but I know you wanna find this guy because you're threatened that he might be more powerful than you."

I said "I'll take this under consideration. Then I'll get back to you on this."

I got out of the cell and the building with Claude behind me. He said, "I hope you're not seriously considering letting that rogue go, Alpha King." I shrugged"I might." He said"You do know that he attacked our pack with a bunch of other rogues. How many of our people were injured." I turned around, phoenix on edge as my eye glowed silver" AND YOU DO KNOW THAT IT ALL HAPPENED BECAUSE OF THAT ONE LITTLE WEAK HUMAN!"

Claude bowed down his head in respect. He whispered, "All I'm saying... is just think about it, Alpha King."

"I will, Claude. I will."

This is why my father never made him the King. Because he knew how soft Claude could get. Even though he was the elder brother.

X

I went into my manor and up to my room. As I got in, I saw Lucinda sleeping.

I had to tell her about the human left.

When I lied beside her, her eyes opened and she smiled and said"You're in late?" I smiled "I have the greatest news to tell you."

"What is it?"

"The human left."

She sat up straight and said"WHAT?" And started coughing. I got up and grabbed her a glass of water, helping her drink it too. She lied back and said, "What did you do, Kane?"

"I called Amara."

"Amara? You know how much Jaxon hates her."

"She was his first girlfriend."

"Yes, and the first one to leave him when the whole pack started laughing at him for not fighting in that war."

"I don't care about that. All I know is that the human left him. Unfortunately, she didn't reject him."

"Kane, understand how much he loves that girl. He'd give up his life for her."

"For a human?!"

"He doesn't care. He just believes that the Moon Goddess gave him someone who he could love and protect."

"But now that she's gone, Jaxon has finally agreed to do Alpha King duties, Lucy. Our son is gonna do the work that he was born to do. Be who he was born to be. Finally, luck is on our side. Can't you feel it? William And Jaxon. Their bond was always strong since childhood. Imagine them as Beta and King."

She just nodded her head in disappointment and said"You know the consequences going against the Moon Goddesses wishes, Kane. I hope you're careful."

"I am, Lucy. Don't worry."

I knew for a fact that Jaxon is gonna be the best new Alpha King.

X

He was working hard. Knowing every little thing about the territory. The secrets. The wars. He was even training as a warrior again. My boy was becoming stronger. He knew how to take care of his pack. Make new deals. Eliminate threats or people who make them. Dealing with someone who doesn't obey the King.

She didn't show up for three months and yet, he was stronger when she was never around. She made him weak and vulnerable. And without her, he was gonna be the King that he was born to be.

Alpha Jaxon

•••••