Chapter 9: Chapter 8

Over the next few weeks and the next few packs, Chris found himself being propositioned left right and centre… never for mateship, always for sex. Female after female was snuck into his room only then to ensure they left before Jaxson finished his shift.

Yes, Chris had taken to ‘proving’ he didn’t need Jaxson through the only method that shut his wolf up. For a few wonderful hours, his wolf was silent. However, as soon as he came back, he made it known his anger, his irritation, his fury.

His mind was splitting in half, he felt so much of a pull it was a sheer magnet forcing him from his room. But he stayed as he was, head in hands trying to shift the torrent of hatred his wolf was supplying. Letting him out for a run was a bad idea, Chris couldn’t see how he’d be able to prevent the takeover. He’d been at Huntermoon for two days, he had a mere three weeks; three packs left.

He wasn’t sure how he was going to survive. His mind tearing in half, his body vibrating with a need so strong he only wanted to give in…. he’d found two things helped in times like this.

He dragged himself to his trunk, pulling out a bottle of mead he’d received from the Candidus pack. He uncorked it and drank straight from the bottle, gulping the sweet wine. It took half the bottle before his wolf dimmed down.

He’d even debated dosing himself with wolfsbane.

He was breaking, he was deteriorating into someone with no control. He didn’t know how much longer he could take it.

He had to find a mate.

Jaxson pitched over, his hands on his knees after he’d finished the course this pack had set up. It wasn’t as complex as the one in the Royal packlands, but it was a lot longer. His head thudded with exertion… but it was a welcome feeling. “Did that in record time, no wonder you’re protecting the prince.” Matlock approached him, slapping him on the back in congratulations.

“Gotta work hard,” Jaxson panted.

“Yeah, can see that.”

He’d heard bad things about the Huntermoon pack, but so far, he hadn’t sensed any issues. They were welcoming, the Alpha wasn’t as nearly hot-headed as he’d heard, and the warriors trained hard.

Matlock handed him a bottle of water, “Thought you’d want to know, there are a few rumours that have started to get here, about The Prince. His behaviour. Just… a heads up.”

“Thanks. King will lynch us all if what’s been happening gets to him.”

“Can’t have that. Oh, talk of the devil.”

Jaxson whipped his head around, the scent of hundreds of different wolves’ sweat and blood had dulled Chris’ scent. He clenched his teeth as he watched him head to the beginning of the course only to stumble.

Jaxson narrowed his eyes as Chris grabbed onto a monkey bar only to miss. What was up with him? He took a step towards him, firstly wanting to know what was wrong, then wanting to crash him against his chest-

No.

He stopped himself only to see a brunette warrior approach Chris, pressing herself against his side while she ‘helped’ him get a good grip. Chris suddenly didn’t seem too interested in the monkey bars and draped an arm around her shoulders, grinning widely at her. Jaxson’s blood boiled.

He narrowed his eyes again, squinting. Was he drunk?

He was usually a little more discrete with his flirtatious behaviour. Jaxson’s feet were moving before he could stop himself as Chris reached down and began kissing her neck. He was next to them in seconds before he gripped the female and pulled her away from Chris, “You do not touch the Royal Highness!” he sneered. “What the hell are you two doing!” he growled at the guards on shift.

“What the fuck!” Chris fell over his feet making Jaxson grip his upper arm, glad there was cloth between them. The slight buzz of electricity was enough, if it had been full-blown he would not have been able to control himself.

“Your behaviour is going to get back to The Crown!” he hissed quietly.

“Crown, shmown. Who cares?”

Jaxson marched him away from the training field, away from listening ears, “Many do. What the hell have you been drinking?”

“A gift,” Chris hiccuped. “You should try it, wolfie can’t get through, it’s great!”

Jaxson gritted his teeth.

’Mate,’ the whisper from his wolf was pitiful.

“People are going to start talking if you keep this behaviour up. Wanna get drunk? Fine, but stay in your room.”

Chris stopped and faced him, his face twisting into a mock-serious frown as he began wiggling his finger towards Jaxson, “‘You stay in your room, you’re a disgrace, an embarrassment. Don’t embarrass us, la de da de da,’” he mocked.

Jaxson tugged on him to move, “You’re not a disgrace, or embarrassment, but you are behaving rash.”

“So what? I’m living a little, that’s what they told me to do!”

“Don’t think they meant to fuck everything that moved,” Jaxson breathed under his breath.

“Jealous?”

Jaxson didn’t respond as he got Chris back to the Alpha house, setting him at the kitchen table before retrieving a glass of water. “Drink,” he directed.

“Can’t tell me what to do, no one tells me what to do. Don’t want to do what to do, do.”

Jaxson rolled his eyes, “How drunk are you?”

Chris held up his thumb and forefinger.

“Drink, you’ll feel better.”

“Don’t wanna feel better.”

Jaxson sank onto the seat adjacent to him, refraining from reaching out and grasping his forearm, wanting to give him comfort. “I know it’s not been the easiest, I’m sorry.”

“Why’dya come? Why you torturing me?”

Jaxson swallowed, in honesty, he felt it was more a punishment on himself than The Prince but he didn’t say that. “Your brother asked before… you know. I couldn’t back out, it was a promotion, I’d never get another opportunity like this.”

“Opportunity to make it all harder.”

“No, to guard a royal away from packland. It was an honour. It’s still an honour.”

“Don’t even want to have sex with everyone,” Chris mumbled through his water.

“Why do it then?” Jaxson knew he was being both unprofessional and asking what he should never ask. But he had to know, had to know why Chris was tearing them both apart with his behaviour. Having to watch females being paraded in front of him, listen to the amorous activity that sucker-punched him every time he heard it.

“Dulls the pain.” Chris’ head slipped off his hand, landing on his arm as he slumped forward, a quiet snore erupting from his nose.

Letting out a huff, Jaxson rose, slipping Chris’ arm around his shoulder, he reasonably easily lifted him from the chair, supporting his weight from the kitchen and through the house. Chris may have been taller than him by a few inches, but he certainly wasn’t as bulky, Jaxson always supposed the Royals didn’t need to be bulky. That was what wolves like him were for.

As he pulled Chris close into his side to support him up the stairs, he didn’t mind in the slightest, Jaxson’s shoulder nestled quite perfectly under Chris’ arm, his citrusy peppercorn scent marred by sickly alcohol. He couldn’t help turning his head slyly, taking a deeper lungful of the smell he never allowed himself to relish in.

Reaching Chris’ bedroom, he settled him gently on the bed, kneeling to unlace his trainers and slipping them from his feet. He pretended that this was what any guard would do as he slipped the covers over him.

He was lying. No guard would do this.

He retrieved another glass of water from the adjoining bathroom, setting it on the bedside table. He wanted to lean over, make sure he was alright, stay with him in case he were sick. Comfort him when the nightmares struck.

He forced himself away, walking backwards out the door and shutting it softly. His wolf, his body, his mind, screamed at him to open that door and stay. The furthest he managed to pull himself was the wooden chair opposite his door. He sat with the guise of waiting for Matilda and Callum.

It had nothing to do with the painful pull of the bond. Nope.

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