Chapter 58
Jason stirred lazily. He reached for the warm body that was always close, only to find he was alone in bed. Groaning, he sat up shivering with a note of panic. Phoebe was nowhere in sight though her scent was still strong. Where?
Where?
The mindlink opened and he felt her amusement flutter through his mind. No doubt she sensed his panic and was now soothing him…but also teasing him. Jason growled, but the open link only vibrated with her laughter.
“I’m in the kitchen,” Phoebe’s voice flitted into his mind. “You better hurry or Luke will get your share of pancakes.”
Jason lurched up with a growl he was certain could be heard throughout the floor. He hurried to the bathroom to relieve himself and splash water on his face as he shook away the last of his drowsiness. Ever since hearing about the meals he shared with Phoebe, Luke and Ben practically begged to taste her cooking too. Their own mates didn’t have much skill in the kitchen and they themselves were walking disasters. To say they were jealous was putting it mildly. They were desperate.
A few weeks after her Luna Ceremony, they all woke to the most delicious smells. Entering the kitchen, they found Phoebe humming over three different pans making scrambled eggs, sausage, bacon and even a peach cobbler for all of them to enjoy. Ben and Luke were practically in ecstasy. If one expected Mona and Lucille to be jealous, they were sorely mistaken. The she-wolves helped themselves to second and third servings.
Since then, Phoebe made at least one meal a week: either breakfast or dinner, for them to enjoy together. Jason certainly didn’t mind indulging in his mate’s cooking, but he didn’t want her
overworking herself either. Quickly pulling on a pair of sweats and a tee-shirt, he headed to the kitchen. There, he found Phoebe humming over a cast iron griddle flipping pancakes.
“Daddy!” Emma squealed, hopping off her seat at the table and running toward him.
Jason scooped her up, nuzzling her. He carried her back to the table and situated her in her
booster seat before tussling Blake’s hair, earning a growl. Jason chuckled.
Over the last few weeks, Blake had not just gotten comfortable around his new family, but he was beginning to gain the confidence of a young alpha. He regularly challenged Jason as a growing boy should. Even in their play group in the pack daycare he was beginning to display dominance, as one would expect of a high-ranking wolf. Jason wrapped his arms around Phoebe and buried his nose in the nape of her neck with a satisfied groan.
“Jason,” Phoebe chuckled, “I’m trying to cook.”
“I’d prefer you to stay in bed until I wake up,” he mumbled. “I hate waking up alone.”
III
Chapter 58
“When I stay in bed you usually want to do other things besides sleep.”
“And?”
“Jason…” Phoebe laughed.
“Really you two? In the kitchen?”
+25 Points
Jason growled, raising his head and looking over at his sister. Lucille had the worst timing. She
smirked as she claimed the orange juice and joined the pups at the table. Jason tightened his
embrace around Phoebe before she turned and handed him two plates with pancakes and bacon.
He stole a kiss before taking the plates and delivering them to the pups. Jason cut up the pancakes for Emma. Blake insisted on doing his own. He took his seat just as Phoebe delivered
the first tray piled high for the adults. Lucille immediately speared several, beating Jason by a
second and earning a warning growl. Emma and Blake giggled at their silliness.
Moments later, Norah, Mona, Luke and Ben emerged. The latter two practically raced each other
to the table. Norah and Mona both shook their heads at their behavior. Phoebe just laughed before
changing out the spent platters for fresh ones.
She helped the pups with seconds and would have kept puttering around if Jason didn’t pull her into his lap where he had a heaping pile waiting for her. Phoebe gave him a disgruntled look, but
stroked his cheek before kissing him and tucking into her meal. Jason held her close, nuzzling her
while she ate. Nothing gave him and his wolf more pleasure than taking care of her.
“You two are so cute together,” Mona chuckled. “Who would have thought our big scary Alpha was
such a softy?”
Jason frowned, but there was no fire in his gaze. In truth, when Mona first arrived she had been terrified of her new Alpha. Back then, he suffered from bouts of depression followed by almost frenzied dominance fueled by frustration. Not wanting to hurt the pack members that relied on him, Jason spent much of his time training and patrolling his borders where he could take his anger out on rogues and protect his pack.
In the beginning, she was afraid to even be in the same room as Jason without Luke present. It
wasn’t until early one morning she went searching for Luke in the office only to walk in on Jason, half-naked, attempting to administer his own first aid. He was covered in cuts and one rather deep
gash that should have been stitched.
“…I am so sorry!” Mona squeaked, hurriedly stepping back so she could close the door.
“Don’t…stay.”
It wasn’t a command. In fact, it almost seemed to be pleading for her company. She slowly eased
2/4
~ Chapter 58
back into the room.
“Please, close the door. I don’t want to scare them.”
“Them?”
“The pups and omegas. They won’t like seeing their Alpha covered in blood.”
*…w-why don’t you go to the hospital?” Mona fidgeted in front of the door.
“I don’t want to worry them and I know they would tell Luke and Ben.”
“Tell them what?”
“That I’ve been out all night hunting…again.”
“All night? Again? When’s the last time you slept?”
“Three days.”
+25 Points
“Three days!” Mona exclaimed, surprised by the harshness in her own voice. “You haven’t slept for three days?”
“Can’t. The bed is too big. It’s too…empty,” Jason’s shoulder’s sagged as he fought to control his
churning emotions. Lobo whined in the back of his mind, equally distressed.
Biting her lip, Mona stepped forward, taking the bandage he was trying to wrap around his own arm.
He held still, letting her wrap his injury for him as meek as a pup.
For the first time, Mona was able to see her Alpha without fear. She saw him for what he was: a
broken wolf unable to find its missing piece, his mate. The one person who would be able to share his
burden, who would hold him when he had to fall apart and give him courage when he found himself
lacking; the one who would know his pain, his insecurities, his weaknesses. Without that person, he
was slowly drowning.
***
With the truth finally unveiled, Mona no longer feared him. How could she when she pitied him? But
now…
Mona smiled as Jason tucked his nose close to Phoebe’s neck, breathing in her scent while she
ate. He smiled more in the last few weeks than he had the entirety of his life. His depression was
only a memory, as was his frustration and anger. Jason was relaxed, happy.
It wasn’t just Phoebe who tamed him, Blake and Emma also had their hands on the reins. No
matter what he was doing, the moment either ran up to him, he forgot everything else and focused
only on them. There was no hesitation or reserve despite the fact they were not related by blood and Mona finally understood the strange request Luke made before they marked each other. It had
been the right decision even if it had hurt.
Jason suddenly growled, his eyes glazing over. Luke and Ben froze mid-bite as their eyes also dulled. They leapt to their feet and raced to the door. Jason was slower as he stood, holding
Phoebe close.
“Stay inside. No outings today.”
Kissing her temple, he spun on his heels and hurried after his Beta and Gamma. Phoebe watched him go, her heart suddenly racing.
“Where’s daddy going?” Emma asked.
“He has some important business to take care of,” Phoebe answered before anyone else did. “He’ll
be back as soon as he finishes up.”
Emma nodded and went back to her breakfast. Blake watched them curiously, but also returned to
his breakfast. This wasn’t the first time Jason and the others rushed out the door, and it was becoming more frequent as rogues tested the borders. Once the situation was under control, the rogue remains would be transported to Mona’s research facility and the real work continued, but none of that was spoken allowed as it was considered classified information.
“Phoebe,” Jason’s voice suddenly intruded. “The young Alpha Erick should arrive today. I hate to ask, but could you entertain him until this is settled?”
“Of course. Just focus on coming home. I don’t like to sleep in that big bed alone any more than you
do.”
“Always.”
23
Comments
LUCK DRAW
1.3K
♡
Vote
