by Jade Royal
The crowd gasped and chatted to each other, considering heavily what Kellan had just declared. The shifters could see that the pack was strong not only because of their fighting skills, but most of the wolves were mated. That was combined powers that was a force to be reckoned with. Both the alpha and beta females were pregnant, showing that the Phoenix pack was on the move for growth. It was painfully clear that no one should challenge, but there was always that one person.
“Who’s to say all this power won’t go to his head one day?” A wolf shouted, emerging from the crowd. He stepped into the circle and pointed at Kellan.
“No wolf should be held higher than the rest of us. I know how this ends. You’re going to become cocky and tyrannical and try to take us all out and take over our packs.”
“Kellan has protected us from the very wolf who did just what you said,” Lance, the alpha of Maya, Brandy and Amber’s pack spoke. He still walked with a limp from Maverick’s attack, but he was fully recovered.
“Are you challenging me?” Kellan asked the wolf who’d stepped up. He looked to be only in his 20s and inexperienced.
“That’s exactly what I’m doing!” he snarled. He began to run towards Kellan, but Kellan simply walked towards him. He let the wolf run full speed at him. Before his claws could connect with Kellan’s skin, Kellan sidestepped him then threw his foot out and tripped the young wolf. He fell on his face and cried out at his broken nose. When he rolled over, Kellan put his foot onto the young wolf’s throat. Fear flickered through his eyes when he realized Kellan could easily kill him.
“I give, I GIVE!” He screamed out fighting under the weight of Kellan’s foot. Kellan looked at him and rolled his eyes before moving his foot. The young wolf scrambled away and went back into the crowd. He was met by other younger wolves and his alpha who only smiled at Kellan. Clearly the alpha wanted the young wolf to learn what it was to challenge an alpha. No doubt it would be a lesson the young wolf would never forget.
“Anyone else?” Kellan asked, scanning the crowd. Instead of another challenge; the crowd cheered and howled in respect for the Phoenix Pack. This day marked a new start for the Phoenix Pack. Attacks were always going to come. They would always have an enemy. But as long as they did their work protecting and helping other packs, then they would always have allies. Kellan believed his pack was strong beyond reason and no enemy was going to prosper against them.
Chapter Six
The entire pack was asleep in the living room, sprawled on every surface they could find. After the challenge between Hera and Kyra, they had come back to the cave to celebrate. They played music, danced, cracked jokes and drank even though they couldn’t get drunk. Regardless of the time of the morning, they partied until exhaustion kicked in.
Jaxson woke first, feeling the hardness of his morning wood. He cursed under his breath as his dick strained behind his jeans. Sitting up slowly, he realized he’d knocked out on the ground. The shewolves were all on the large, long sectional while the males were on the floor. Tristan, Jayce, and Kellan were sleeping on the ground next to where their mates laid on the couch. Jaxson smiled. They were cute.
Thinking of cute; he looked at Kyra. She was sleeping soundly still; like an angel. Jaxson couldn’t help but sigh and gaze at her. Then he looked at Mira. She was very, very pretty and he probably would have no problem sliding between her legs and fucking her, but his heart didn’t miss a beat when he looked at her. Kyra of course was another story. Jaxson got up slowly trying not to wake anyone; but the moment he stood upright, Kellan’s eyes popped up, and he drew his claws in defense. Jaxson put his hands up.
“Only me,” he said.
“Fuck. Sorry,” Kellan sighed. He looked up at Bliss, and maybe she felt his eyes or something because her eyes popped open in awareness. Kellan scooped her up in his arms pulled her down from the couch. He kissed her cheek and rubbed her belly.
“How’s my pup?” he whispered.
“Restless, but happy,” Bliss replied.
“How’s his beautiful mother?” he asked. Bliss smiled, blushing.
“She’s happy too.”
Jaxson felt weird watching them share their moment, but he couldn’t help himself. There was just something about the moment that he wished he could share with someone of his own. His time would never come, seen as he didn’t have a mate; but he longed for it immensely. Instinctively, he looked over at Kyra. She groaned in her sleep before opening her eyes and looking directly at him. When her eyes flickered down to his groin; Jaxson remembered he had a fucking hard on. He thought she was about to tease him about his obvious erection, but she only quirked her brows before getting off the couch.
“Morning,” she greeted her alpha pair before she sauntered towards the entrance of one of the tunnels and disappeared. Jaxson’s wolf growled in anger. Kyra never ignored him like that before. But because he didn’t want to upset her any further; he just let her be.
“Jaxson?” Mira called out his name from where she was sitting up on the couch. He turned and looked at her.
“What?” he asked. Something came over him, and although he knew he didn’t want to be near her; he found his legs moving towards her.
“Let’s go to my room,” she whispered. Her scent caressed him, wrapping around him and tugging on his libido. Without question, he scooped her into his arms and carried her away from the living room and through the tunnels.
Kyra cracked her door open and watched as Jaxson walked by with Mira in his arms. She thought Jaxson would be coming after her, and after seeing the thickness of his dick against his thigh, she couldn’t help but have a moment of weakness. She was going to let him into her room and talk those sweet things to her. Then she realized it wasn’t her he was coming to. He was carrying Mira, his mate. That’s who his heavy arousal belonged to. She didn’t know why, but she felt like crying. How could she feel this way over a mated wolf?
Not knowing what else to do; Kyra grabbed the human toy she’d bought in the shape of a lipstick tube. She quickly hopped into her shower and let the hot water caress her sensitive skin, and the vibrating lipstick toy pleasure her pulsing clit. Even if she did pleasure herself; nothing could take her mind from Jaxson.
By 2 in the afternoon, everyone was awake, and the pack was in the full swing of things. Kyra was making pancakes, bacon, grits, and eggs while the rest of the she-wolves talked about both babies. They were planning on going shopping for baby clothes soon. Because Kellan’s mother was expecting Kellan to be starting a family once he moved into the caves; she’d already created a nursery. It was equipped with everything pup related; including a basinet.
“He is eager to get out,” Bliss breathed holding her stomach.
“The pup of an alpha; especially a boy is always like that,” Kyra said.
“Well he needs to calm down,” Bliss laughed.
“You girls are so lucky. To have your mates,” Kyra sighed.
“Speak for them,” Selena said.
“I’m mate-less too.”
“You know that you’ll find someone,” Rita said.
“Not everyone finds their mate you know,” Kyra said.
“How do you know you’re not going to find your mate?” Gemma asked. Kyra looked down into the pot of grits. She stirred slowly.
“I just know,” she whispered. Jaxson’s scent flooded her nose. She didn’t have time to duck away from him. The moment she looked up, he was standing next to her grabbing a piece of bacon from the plate. Kyra tried to slap his hand, but he slid out of her way and went to sit around the table.
“Sorry to break up the girl's talk but I’m starving,” he said.
“I wonder why,” Rita sang.
“Don’t even start with that mess,” he scolded her.
“Jax when was the last time you got some?” Bliss asked. Jaxson gasped at her.
“Kellan would be really disappointed you’re interested in my sex life,” Jaxson said.
“No, he wouldn’t.”
&nb
sp; “You remember what happened the last time he thought you were interested in me?” Bliss remembered how Kellan was going to kill his best friend because the mating bond was just too strong for him to control his possessiveness.
“That’s old news, Jax,” Rita waved him off.
“Tell us the last time you got some.”
“How come you’re asking me and not every other unmated wolf in this cave?” he exclaimed.
“Ky, when was the last time you got some?” Rita asked Kyra.
“Shit…not for a while. Which is so unlike my nature. I love sex. But after Maverick exploited that and took advantage of me I haven’t been with another wolf. Damaged goods.”
“Are you crazy?!” Gemma shrieked.
“Damaged my ass!” Kyra looked at Jaxson who was glaring at her.
“Who was the man that told you that?” he asked.
“And where does he live?”
“Relax Jaxson. No one told me that. I just made that assumption.”
“You’re sexy as fuck Kyra; believe that,” Bliss said.
“Any wolf would be happy to have you.”
“Thanks,” Kyra smiled.
“Now it’s your turn,” Selena said to Jaxson.
“I haven’t had sex since I hit puberty during my hearing cycle. Since you’re the last unmated wolf here, ‘fess up.”
“He doesn’t wanna fess up because he had sex just this morning,” Kyra said. The she-wolves gasped and looked at him.
“With who?!” Bliss shrieked.
“What the hell you talking about Kyra?” Jaxson said.
“My dick ain’t been in nothing but my underwear.”
“Wait a minute; you carried Mira out of the living room,” Bliss said.
“Doesn’t mean I stuck my dick in her,” he said.
“And if you must know I haven’t had sex for a while either. Unlike you mated lovebirds, who fuck every two seconds. Unfortunately, I don’t have that luxury or craving.”
“You sure you don’t have the craving?” Bliss asked. She gave him a look as if she could read his deepest of thoughts. Like she knew that he was going crazy over Kyra. Jaxson just looked at her. She winked at him. Yeah, she knew something.
The rest of the males finally came into the kitchen, saving Jaxson from any more questions. He sighed in relief at that. Kyra began putting the food on the table, and he immersed himself in the meal. He was really hungry, and Kyra always made bomb ass meals. Stuffing his face with pancakes, he looked over at her before shaking his head. Damaged goods, she must have been delusional to think anyone would think that about her. If anyone did think that about her; Jaxson was liable to kill them.
“So, what’s on the agenda for the Phoenix pack today?” Jayce asked. Everyone looked at Kellan. With their enemies dead they had no restrictions on what they could do. They didn’t have to worry about anything.
“Honestly, anything we want,” Kellan shrugged.
“Shopping!” Bliss and Rita shouted at the same time.
“What about the lounge?” Zander asked.
“What about it?”
“Well now it’s empty but Bliss, your father, owned that place. Now that he’s dead shouldn’t it belong to you?” The sound of forks hitting plates stopped. No one had thought about that.
“Wait, does it become mine?” Bliss asked Kellan.
“I mean, I don’t see why it shouldn’t,” Kellan said.
“Do you know the things we could do if we were in charge of that place?” Bliss squealed.
“Endless possibilities,” Jayce said.
“Well while we’re in town shopping with these two we can go back to the lounge as well,” Kellan declared.
“Let’s do it,” Tristan said.
Kyra was excited for shopping and for checking out the lounge again. Especially, if it could possibly be owned by Bliss. It would be one more thing that the Phoenix Pack had going for them that could work highly in their favor. She was all smiles and chatter until Mira came into the dining area. Her hair was tousled, and she looked like she was still asleep.
“So no one wakes me up?” she asked. She looked at Niles who shrugged before her eyes found Jaxson. He was sitting across from Kyra; gazing at her like he was some puppy and she was a treat. Mira gritted her teeth and glared at him. She tapped into his senses and made him aware of her. He finally looked up at her.
“Sorry we didn’t wake you,” he said to her.
“Come eat.” Satisfied with his response, Mira bounced over to the table and sat in the chair next to him. She looked at Kyra and smiled devilishly.
He is mine, Mira said to her. Kyra’s wolf eyes flashed before she stood abruptly.
“Excuse me,” she said to the rest of the pack as she picked up her plate and carried it to the kitchen. She dumped out her unfinished food before stomping away angrily.
“What was that all about?” Tristan asked.
“I wonder,” Bliss said looking at Mira. Jaxson was looking out after Kyra, but Mira put her finger under his chin and turned his head, so he was looking at her instead.
“Interesting,” Bliss mumbled. She didn’t know what was going on, but she refused to believe Mira was Jaxson’s mate. Something about it wasn’t right.
***
Hey Kyra, I need to talk to you. Come to my office. The sound of Kellan’s voice through her head made Kyra nervous. Had she done something wrong? She was dressed to go into town with the rest of the pack and after she’d left the breakfast table she hadn’t shown her face again. She felt embarrassed and couldn’t handle seeing Jaxson sitting next to his mate.
Nervously, Kyra walked to Kellan’s office. Before she could even knock on the door, he was calling out to her.
“It’s open!” Kyra entered the office and closed the door. Kellan was sitting behind the oak desk looking through some papers.
“Have a seat,” he said without looking at her. Clearing her throat did little to calm her nerves. She sat down in front of the desk and waited until he was ready to speak with her.
“What are you looking at?” Kyra asked, figuring small talk would ease her tension.
“Now that the lounge may be Bliss’s for the taking I got curious about land near it. There happens to be an empty piece of land not too far from the lounge. It’s secluded and up for sale. I’m thinking about purchasing it. It wouldn’t hurt to own something in the human world. Especially, if we have to keep an eye on the human hunters.”
“Wow, that sounds pretty dope.” Kellan looked up from the papers and smiled grimly at her.
“Do you know why I wanted to talk with you?” he asked. Kyra shook her head.
“Well is there something you’d like to talk to me about?” Kellan questioned.
“Um…no I don’t think so.”
“Why did you leave the breakfast table like you did earlier?” He asked. Kyra didn’t know how to tell her alpha the truth without actually telling him the truth.
“I-I was full,” she stuttered.
“Are you aware that I can sense your lies?” He asked.
“I left because I had a personal problem with Mira,” she gritted out.
“What’s the problem?” Kyra remained silent. Now how could she answer that?
“Kyra if you have a problem with Mira then I’d like to know simply because I want all my wolves to accept any new wolf that will come into the pack.”
“My problem is completely biased. It would be unfair to not let her in the pack because of it.” Kellan nodded at her and went silent for a few moments.
“I’ll be completely honest,” he started.
“When I search through our connection; the same connection that formed when we took a vow to each other as alpha and wolf, things don’t feel the same as they used to. You were very happy and content, and eager to live life. Now I feel that there is something missing in our connection. I don’t want to think that your wolf is slowly dissociating itself from me as her alpha.”
“Oh no Kellan,
she wouldn’t do that! I wouldn’t do that. unless I had to, but then I would talk to you about it.”
“So what is missing Kyra? What’s that change that I feel? I would hate to not have you in this pack Kyra; you’re amazing. But if something here is making you unhappy, it is my duty as your alpha to ensure you live the life you want to and not one others’ expect you to live.”
“I used to be happy and content, and very eager. But I don’t know; I guess seeing how everyone else played a role to the growth of the pack; I started to feel deficient.”
“How are you deficient Kyra?” he asked.
“Did someone say that to you?”
“No one said it. But the other she-wolves are mated, and the ones that aren’t have talents. Mira brought Rita back from the fucking dead. Selena can heal any injury. Here I am just dragging my feet along following everyone around not knowing what to do with myself.” Kellan stared at her for a good moment.
“Kyra, you killed a pack of five male wolves by yourself,” he said finally.
“How on god’s green earth is that deficient?” Kyra was silent, not knowing how to answer his question.
“I just want to be an asset to my pack. Winning that challenge with Hera really let me feel as if I was finally doing something worthwhile. That made me happy again. Made me eager. Kellan understood where she was coming from. He planned to fix it.
“I hear you, Kyra,” he said. He wasn’t just bullshitting her. He heard her for sure, and he was going to make sure he did something about it.
“Does your personal problem with Mira have to do with Jaxson?” he asked her. He saw her freeze up as she tried to think and that gave him all the answer he needed.
“If he stays away from me everything will be fine,” Kyra whispered.
“Will it?” Kellan asked. No, it wouldn’t be fine. But Kyra had to fake like it would be. What other choice did she have? That wasn’t her mate, and he didn’t belong to her.
“Thanks for your time,” he said to her.
“I appreciate this talk.”
“You won’t tell him-”
