Chapter 90

Jaxson

I still fear for my mate. I watch her more than she would ever know. She is calmer now, not as frightened or startled as she used to be. She was never meant to be scared, to be worried that the world we live in would hurt her but I am not the maker of the world. I am not the keeper of knowledge and I am not a king.

I’m but a humble Alpha, a father to three pups, a mate to an amazing Luna, and I am finally okay with that. I have let my childhood fantasies run free and I stopped chasing them at last. My life has become simple, not waited on by terrified maids, worried they will be slapped for missing an order or mispronouncing a name of a royal.

My Luna has taught me the right way to live, easily, and she does so even now, holding one pup on her hip, stirring a pot for dinner and tending to the other two on the floor at her ankles, playing with large plastic utensils like they’re in a band. I watch her move through her night with a flow, a vine in the wind, easy and pretty.

For a moment, even when I hate to do so, I think back to our lives together and where we have ended up now. She was wounded before, petrified and scared. She was a hurt soul and I wanted nothing but to keep her as my dove, in my cage up high, so beautifully seen by all who bore witness to the sight of her rarity.

Now I’ve become selfish.

I want her for myself, always to myself, and it’s almost painful to think of a different outcome. She is too pretty for anyone else to touch, to stare, and I would never want anyone else to ever come close to having what I have.

“My Luna,” I breathe.

She turns around with a sparkle in her eye, twinkling with a smile. “My Alpha.”

Luke

Juniper has grown accustomed to our nightly walks on the beach. She laughs at the waves, giggling at the sunset and sandy winds. She is still so small, so tiny to this world, and yet she is so willing and accustomed to our nightly walks so much that if I’m late, she cries until we get to our place together.

I do it for Juniper, sure, but I also do it so I can see her. I just want to check in, make sure all is well, and it brings me peace to see her every night with her small family, in her small hut on the beach, her and mate and their pups one cohesive pack within their pack.

I hold Juniper to the setting sun. the warmth on our faces so familiar and calming. My little she-wolf pup smiles and nestles into my chest, needing me like I need her. She has become so large in my life, larger than I ever pictured.

Aurora had been that part of my life I never thought I could give up. I couldn’t even picture not having my best friend, my longest first crush, and even though I met Mary and it was great at first, I still felt that hole missing of being unconditionally loved, undoubtably cared for and having Juniper has changed that.

I feel that gap finally full at last. I feel needed, I feel accounted for and loved. I know that without me, this little pup would be in trouble and knowing that, I could never give her up. Maybe this was all what was meant to happen. Maybe every heartbreak I’ve had with Aurora and Mary was meant to lead me somewhere in the middle, rejected by both but needed by one.

I cradle my pup, unable to sever from her now. I let go of too many women I love in this life to let go of this one. She doesn’t seem ready to do so anyways. Her light hair, light eyes and simple smile has my heart beating straight out of my chest.

The sunset reflect orange and yellow streaks overhead, a beautiful ending to another day in the Dawn pack. I didn’t think I’d like this pack, seeing Aurora so happy with someone else but something tells me it’s all for the best either way.

King Alpha Kennedy

I think about my son. I lay awake at night in bed beside Vivian, watching her sleep so gently through the night, while my mind wanders from topic to topic until I can’t hardly stand it anymore. I think of Jaxson and his new life, his offspring and my grandchildren. They may be commoners, but that has never been an issue before.

My wife Lily was the understanding one. She believed we were all equals, commoners included, and she was the most amazing Luna I could ever imagine. She taught me to cherish all wolves, of every pack, but when she passed away I thought I had changed. Of course I was cold, a little disconnected, but I never thought I would grow to where it has now.

I was a strong leader, a vicious warrior, and I didn’t know things would flip so fast and so hard that I didn’t care to stop the trajectory of it all. I allowed my warriors to rebel against my wishes, the wishes of my son who would be the future Alpha of my pack, and I ignored his needs to filter the easiest outcome forward.

In that moment, I didn’t want to loose the numbers of my warriors, the strength and intimidation of the Royal pack, but in doing so, I lost my son. He can be a lot of things, my son, and headstrong is one but to leave me for his mate, I would have never anticipated it. But the one thing I can say about it all, is I am damn proud of Jaxson for doing so.

He is like his mother, a lover and I fighter for the one that means the most to him in life. Lily fought for me so hard, and I fought for her, and that made us as strong as any mating pair could have ever been. Lily would have left the Royal pack if it meant being with me, and I’m scared I wouldn’t have had the same courage of my own son.

Jaxson made sacrifices, some of them painful for us both, and I could see it in his face when he held that little girl, seeing his mate hold his only male offspring, and watching me bounce the other little she-wolf pup on my knee.

He left for the right reasons and I should have made the right changes to keep my son here with me, to take over my pack, but instead I let him slip away. It aches to think that my own son’s pups won’t be running my halls but I have come learn it’s all meant to be. Even if I hate it.