chapter 22

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After the words left my lips, it was like a sort of relief rushed over me. It felt like a massive weight had been taken off my chest. It scared me the kind of impact he had over me as my mate and how willing I was to go back into his arms. If he broke me, I wasn’t sure I was going to be able to handle it.

Before I could even process my thoughts after saying yes, Jaxon kis*ed me and soon we were a mess of tangled limbs between the sheets. It felt a little more different than the other times. There was a connection that we didn’t have before and it felt intense. It threatened to swallow me whole and I thought I was going crazy from it.

When he emptied himself inside me, his lips moved to my neck and he sunk his canines into me. First it was shock then came the blinding pain that quickly morphed into pleasure. I found my release as his canines pulled out of me and it wasn’t until I came down from my high that I realized the enormity of the entire situation.

“You marked me,” I said and he blinked at me twice before nodding. “Do you realize what you just did?”

“I made you my mate officially,” he said as if it was the simplest thing in the world. “I thought that was what you wanted. I thought that was what we agreed on.”

“Breaking the bond after a mark is excruciatingly painful. It would have been a lot easier to reject me without the

mark.”

“I don’t plan on rejecting you.”

“You might change your mind.”

He let out a sigh and leaned over to brush a stray strand of hair off my sweaty forehead. “I’m not changing my

mind.”

I didn’t completely believe him but I didn’t want to argue so I just nodded. He pressed a ki*s to my forehead and i braced myself for him to leave, but to my surprise, he got up from the bed and moved over to the bathroom. When he returned, there was a washcloth in his hands and a bowl. He wiped me down gently and;returned the

bowl back to the bathroom.

When he returned, I saw him begin to pick up his clothes and I thought he was going to leave but he simply folded them and placed them on my dressing table. He did the same to my clothes and to my shock, he made his way over to the bed and climbed in next to me. I blinked at him twice but before I could even open my mo*th, he pulled me into his side.

I was completely shocked and thrown off balance. I wasn’t used to the level of affection from anyone much less

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him. He did it as if it was so natural but I felt out of my element and I wasn’t sure how to react. Was I meant to lie down and pretend like nothing happening? Was I meant to hold him as well? I felt my skin clam up and my spine straightened as I tried to hold my breath so he wouldn’t feel uncomfortable.

“You’re thinking too much,”

laughed from beneath me as he held me. “I know this is out of your element but just enjoy it.”

“I don’t know how to.”

“It’s easy,” he began with a slight shrug. “Just close your eyes and fall asleep.

“Don’t we have things to do today? I have a lot of questions.”

“The palace can last one day without . I will answer all your questions once you wake up.”

I wanted to protest but I realized that I actually tired and he had worn me out with the sex and marking. I tried to fight the weariness and stay awake but before I realized it, I had drifted off into the darkness.

When I woke up, it was completely bright and I thought I hadn’t slept long until I realized that the light was from the bulb which was completely bright. I pulled myself out of bed and the first thing I did was check the window. I was shocked by how dark it was and when I checked the time, it was already seven at night.

I was shocked I had slept that long and I was more shocked that Jaxon didn’t wake me. His side of the bed was so I knew he had been up for a while. I quietly put my clothes and just before I creeped out of the room I

decided to see what my mark looked like.

It was at the base of my neck and it was just two puncture wounds. I had heard about lycans and their unique ability to mark their mates wherever they wished instead of just their necks. I also knew that as it healed, it was going to take the form of a crescent moon. Somehow, I was excited to see it and I felt giddy as I looked at it.

I had to remind myself not to get my hopes up and I finally left the room. A lot of the maids who passed me stared openly and some of them even blushed. I knew they smelled Jaxon on me and although it had me flushing pink, It also had me excited on the inside because it felt like I was marking my territory I knew none of them was going to make a move on him but it still felt good to mark my territory and let them, all know that he

was my mate.

My feet led me to the dining room and to my surprise, both Jaxon and Kiara were there. They were talking animatedly and when Jaxon saw me, the corner of his lips tilted up. I took a seat next to him and saw that he had. already chopped up Kiara’s food. For some reason, it didn’t annoy me like it usually wood and when he shot me an apologetic lock, I just waved him off to let him know it wasn’t a big deal.

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Chapter 22

We ate in mostly silence while Kiara spoke animatedly about the story that Nadia had told her. Apparently she had told her how the hunter and the moon goddess crossed paths for first time.

Apparently, the hunter had heard of the goddess of the hunt and decided to pray to her for a good hunting season due to the fact that their town was suffering. The goddess was moved by his dedication that she

blessed him.

Watching Kiara with such excitement was fun me to watch and I found myself smiling as I listened to

her.

Do you to see something cool?” Jaxon asked and she nodded. “The hunter’s bow is in this castle. It has been passed down from generation to generation to remind everyone that we are descended from him.”

Kiara’s eyes widened to the size of sa,,,

and for a split second I feared that she was going to combust.

“Can I it?” she asked and Jaxon laughed.

“It’s a weapon so, no, but you can see it. I can take you to it tomorrow and tell you some stories that even Nadia doesn’t know. Stories that are exclusive to our family.”

“Can mummy come?” she asked.

I opened my m*uth to tell her that I wasn’t a lycan and I didn’t have permission to hear the stories. Before I could

speak however, Jaxon cut in with a nod and a firm ‘yes‘ which had Kiara squealing.

“I thought werewolves weren’t allowed to know lycan stories,” I whispered to Jaxon and he shrugged.

“They aren’t,” he said simply. “But the most dangerous story in this castle is about my curse and you already know it. It doesn’t matter if you hear a few more.”

I wanted to tell him that wasn’t a smart choice and he shouldn’t be so quick to trust me but then I realized that it made no sense and I was essentially telling him that I was untrustworthy so I fell silent.

We continued the rest of our meal in silence and just as we were rounding up, Aiden walked in. There was a determined look on his face and he crossed the length of the room and leaned down to whisper something in Jaxon’s ear. Jaxon’s face hardened immediately and he stood to his feet. I wanted to ask him what was going on

but he turned to Kiara.

“Hey princess can you get to your room yourself?” he asked in the softest voice I had ever heard and Kiara nodded eagerly. Your mum and I need to go do something really quickly. We will be there to tuck you into bed

after.”

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Chapter 22

“Okay daddy,” she said and without another word, she leaped out of her chair and practically ran out of the

room.

I waited until she had disappeared before I turned to Jaxon. “What is going on?”

“Come with me.”

I wanted to demand an answer but my curiosity was greater and I stood to my feet and followed him closely behind. He walked with purpose, never once looking back to glance at me as he moved towards what I soon realized was the entrance to the palace.

v

There were guards gathered around the door and I was so confused as to what was happening. When they: us, they cleared a pathway as if they were expecting us and shocked filled me to my bones as I saw who standing there.

“Hello,” Cressida- my step mother stood there with wide smile on blood red lips. “Won’t you invite your mother

in?”

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