35: Jayce

He watched Damion chat on the phone with his Mate, fury fueling his blood. He made it seem so

easy, so casual. Talking to Lily so carefree. He growled, his desk breaking into small splinters

beneath his hand. When Damion hung up on her, he was staring Jayce down. Was he challenging

him?

"What did you do?" Damion asked him, rising from his desk. Jayce rose up with him, his Wolf

snarling aggressively. He watched Damion’s muscles ripple in response.

"l didn't do anything." Jayce growled. His hands sharpened to claws

"Bullshit. What did you do to Lily?" Damion snarled at him. Jayce's growl shook the walls, forcing

Damion down to a knee. He towered over him as he attempted to rise.

"Why do you care so much about her?" He asked him.

"She's the Luna, and Erica's best friend. I have every right to care about her.” Damion told him. Jayce

grabbed Damion by his shoulders and lifted him up. Both of their faces were warped from partially

shifting.

"What happened between you two?" Jayce demanded. Damion looked at him confused.

"What the fuck are you talking about? Nothing happened between us.” Damion told him. Jayce

snarled again, making Damion shift his gaze away.

"Before you Marked Erica, what happened?” He shouted. Damion growled, reaching up and

grabbed his shirt, his claws tearing into it.

"Nothing!" He yelled.

"Bullshit. She's hiding something. What happened?” He shook him. Damion looked up at him for a

moment then away like he was fighting himself from saying anything.

"She has a surprise for you.” He finally said. Jayce felt his claws shrink and fade back into his fingers

Damion retracted his Wolf after he admitted it.

"What surprise?" He asked, slightly calmer this time. Damion grabbed Jayce's hands and forced

them away, peering down at his torn shirt. He stepped away from him, walking over to his desk as

he pulled off his shirt.

"A surprise for your birthday." He threw at him, meeting his gaze after he put on a fresh new shirt.

Jayce looked at him as his fangs receded to their normal size. Damion let out a long breath before

picking up his keys, brushing his fingers through his hair. "I don't get it with you, man. You have a

woman that is head over heels for you. She took on the pack solo for you. She handled the Alphas

when you didn't.” Damion shot his bullets, every word stinging worse than the last. The last remark

pained Jayce more than he wanted to admit. He turned away from his Beta, taking off his shirt.

"Before I Marked Erica, I was able to realize why you loved her in the one week I had to wait. She

gives you everything no other woman could. She makes you actually feel, and now that you have

that, you're so fucking desperate to keep it to yourself. She isn't just yours anymore, she is our

Luna.” Damion wiped his mouth. Jayce pulled out an old shirt from a drawer, staring down at it.

"Is your pride so damaged that you have to give her the cold shoulder?" Damion asked him. He

heard his Wolf huff as if it was agreeing with him. Damion let out a heavy sigh, "Lily is perfect for

you. Don't ruin it." Damion warned him before leaving, slamming the door behind him. Jayce

slipped the old shirt on, letting all of his words sink in. A deep growl rumbled in his head, bringing

him to his knees, his eyes forced shut.

Pathetic.

When Jayce opened his eyes again, he was kneeling in a black void that was endless in all directions.

In front of him was an outline of a giant Wolf with crimson eyes and bared fangs. It didn't look

entirely pleased with him.

"Not you to." Jayce grumbled, trying to stand, but the Wolf's growl kept him down.

You have grown weak.

The Wolf circled him like he was prey. Jayce looked into his eyes, struggling to his feet.

"I'm not weak." He snarled at the beast. The Wolf lunged forward, just barely nipping at his feet.

Jayce tumbled out of the way.

I let you have your fun. Now we have a Mate...

"I know I have a Mate! Why does everyone need to remind me?" He shouted into the depths. His

voice echoed back his question. The Wolf circled him again.

Clearly you have forgotten.

His surroundings suddenly changed. He found himself back at the estate in Hawaii, another

senseless party raging on by Alpha Archibald. Women circled him. Dark skinned, fair skinned,

blonde, red head. Short and tall. Each one with unique qualities about them. His eyes wandered

over them, taking in the details of their breast sizes as his hands lowered down to their...

The Wolf snapped his teeth, the image disintegrating before his eyes. Jayce jumped back, looking

around at the darkness. He glanced down at his hands, his hands that were so close to caressing

another females ass without hesitation. He was weak. He violated the very laws of his Mate bond

with Lily. And yet...

"Do you think he'll come around, Damion?" Lily's voice vibrated through the darkness. Jayce looked

around eagerly to find the source when the area around him shifted. He found himself sitting in the

front seat of Damion's truck. He tried to move, but he was frozen in place. Yet the hands moved for

him and played with the golden locks that drapped over his shoulder.

"Lily." He spoke her name tenderly, finally smelling her scent after the confusion went away.

"You know Jayce better than me, he'll be fine." Damion said with distaste. She looked over to him,

his jaw strained as his eyes were fixed on the road.

"I don't think I do though. Ever since he left for Hawaii, it feels like there is this giant wall between us

that he put up.” She sniffled, her tears flowing down her face. He wanted to wipe them away.

"Ever since his Wolf showed me what he nearly had done, I was so close to giving up. So close to

just leaving and never coming back.” She cried. Jayce whimpered softly at her words.

"Am I not enough?” She asked, those words pained him worse than the bullets he took months ago

from Jasper. The truck pulled off to the side and parked. Her eyes moved to Damion when he

shifted in his seat. He reached over, grabbing her face in his hands. Jayce could feel the warmth of

his touch through her skin, the meer contact sending his body into a rage. His Wolf's paw slammed

down on his back, restraining him from doing anything stupid.

"Lily, when Erica was gone for that whole week, my Wolf started to eye you as my next option.” He

admitted easily. She opened her mouth to speak, “I'm sorry if I scared you at any time. I could barely

control him when he got like that, but in that week, I understood why Jayce fell for you." He told

her. Tears continued to flow, but Jayce felt her heart swell.

"I appreciate your confession, but I love Jayce."” She told him. He removed his hands.

"I know. I Marked Erica, everything is fine again, but I mean it. In that short time, I understood what

he had. I wanted it for myself. It's just instinct.” He told her.

"So, nearly cheating on your Mate is instinct?" She asked him.

"No, he's just a fucking idiot." He raked his fingers through his hair, clearly frustrated. He let out a

breath. "But he didn't do it. Sure, it doesn't justify his actions still, but he loves you. More than

anything." He said softly.

"He said he was willing to abandon his title as King for me.” She looked down at her hands. His Wolf

released him, walking in front of him. The image of their conversation faded away and it was just his

Wolf that occupied the space again.

Will you still forfeit?

His Wolf asked him. Jayce slowly got to his knees. He felt wetness on his face, and when he touched

it, he discovered that he was crying. His wolf watched him with curious eyes now.

"I want Lily to be happy. I want to see her smile over the tiniest of things. I want to wake up to her

sleeping face every morning.” He wiped his cheeks as he got to his feet. He looked up at the beast

in front of him. The beast that occupied his soul since he turned three.

"I, Jayce Ryder, hereby forfei.." he went, but the Wolf smacked him with his tail. He grunted as he

fell on his ass. He looked up at the Wolf as he sat across from him, his head held high.

Don't be a fool. As if I'd let you go that easily.

The Wolf growled deep in his chest. Jayce's eyes shot open, his familiar office space filling his vision.

He was laying on his back beside his desk, inhaling deeply. How long was he out for? He sat up,

checking his phone and noticed that a few hours had actually passed by. He groaned, pushing his

sweaty hair from his face. His first thought was of Lily, her doubt about his love for her, her doubt

about him in general

He rose to his feet, his eyes on the documents about the reception. He left so much to her when in

hindsight he went on vacation. She took on the Alphas and his people all on her own. He should be

proud of her. Proud of the Queen she was becoming. He needed to be the King and Mate she

deserved.

He got home late, the dim light of the living room being the only light on from the outside. When

he got in, he smelled cinnamon in the air and freshly baked cookies. Soft music played from the

living room where he saw a Christmas tree in the corner and Lily standing in front of it. She was

adding ornaments to it, humming to herself. He sniffed the air, smelling Nathan and Elias upstairs.

Lily stopped, her eyes going down to the ornament in her hands. She sniffled, wiping her face

before putting it on the tree. He stealthed to the entryway, leaning against the frame as his eyes

wandered over the rest of the living room. Garlands stretched over the mantle, a small fire lit in the

fireplace. Seven stockings were pinned high above it, each one labeled with a name. A blanket laid

across the back of one of the couches.. His eyes went to the coffee table where a thin blue box sat

with a satin blue ribbon tied on it.

Lily turned around, stopping as she spots him standing there. Her eyes were glossy from crying for

God knows how long. He took in her appearance. Her hair in a loose braid over her shoulder, a

slightly oversized shirt and basketball shorts that were definitely a man's size. His Wolf growled

hungrily at the sight of her. She wiped her cheeks, looking away from him.

"I can reheat dinner for you.” She told him as she went over to the present on the table and put it

under the tree. He noticed a few other presents already wrapped and ready to go. He was gone all

day and she managed to get all of this together when normally it would take families all month to

get things even remotely perfect.

"I'm not hungry.” He told her. She pushed a loose strand of hair from her face, nodding. She went

over to an empty box on the couch, breaking it down. He stepped into the room as she turned her

back to him. He walked up behind her, grabbing her waist. She tensed up upon contact, her heart

starting to accelerate. He lowered his face to her neck, taking in her scent. She shivered, her ass

pressing against him. His cock came to life instantly, bulging against his jeans.

"You should get some sleep. It's pretty late.” She pried herself away from him. He growled, grabbing

her waist again and pulled her against him. This time he refused to release her.

"We're talking. Now." He told her, his hands moving over her stomach and up to her chest. He was

surprised that she wasn't wearing a bra underneath as he pinched her nipples through the fabric.

She let out a moan as he twisted.

"There's nothing to talk about.” She told him, trying to break free of his hold, but her body wanted

to cave under his touch. He reached under her shirt, feeling her soft skin and massaged her breasts.

She bit her lip, tucking away a moan.

"Lily." He growled into her ear. She grabbed his hands, her hips swaying against his. He moaned

softly as she grinded on him. He released one of her breasts, trailing down below her shorts where

again he was surprised that she wasn't wearing any panties. His fingers glided over her wet sex,

driving circles over her sensitive clit.

"Talk." She moaned, inclining her neck. His eyes fell on his Mark, licking his lips as his fangs

extended. He grazed his fangs over the Mark, remembering the day he first Marked her. Her

assertive behavior was such a turn on for him. She was the submissive type, but every so often she

would surprise him.

"What can I do to appease your mind and your heart of my wrong doings?" He asked her, licking

the arc of her neck. His fingers slipped inside of her, plunging them as deep as he can get them. Lily

panted and squirmed in his arms, but she was no longer fighting him.

"I'd ask you to make a promise..." she let out a gasp when his fingers separated just slightly,

widening her a bit, "but I don’t think you can keep it." She retorted. He growled, nibbling on her ear.

He stopped massaging her breasts and pulled off her shirt. She covered her chest shyly. His hand

slipped back around, sliding up to her throat and squeeze just slightly enough to show he was in

control. He tilted her head back to look up at him. Her eyelids were heavy with desire as she met his

gaze.

"I change my mind, I am hungry." He told her, pulling his fingers out of her. She moaned, biting her

lip as he pulled down her shorts. He spun her to face him, laying her down on the carpet in front of

the fireplace. She stared up at him, her cheeks pink as he looked her over. Each scar gave a story. A

bad memory of her past, but they created the wonderful woman that was his Mate. He moved down

between her legs, looking at the pink folds of her sex as they glistened and shined in the firelight.

He nipped the inside of her thighs, hearing her gasp in response. His tongue flicked her clit while his

eyes moved up the hills of her breasts. She arched her back, her hands going straight into his hair.

She continued to moan, keeping it soft as he ran his tongue over her. He kissed her clit, tugging on

it with his teeth. He shifted lower, his tongue breaching the entrance where her juices pooled for

him. He slid his tongue in, feeling her body tense up for a split second before relaxing. His tongue

explored her sex as he listened to her moans of approval.

"Jayce... I'm going to..." her breath came in quick gasps as she gripped his hair. His hands moved

under her ass, lifting her slightly so his tongue could reach in deeper. She let out a soft scream as

she came. He watched her body tremble, her heart pounding away in her chest. He licked his lips,

sitting up and pulled off his shirt. As he worked on his jeans, Lily finally sat up on her knees, her

hands on his. They met gazes as she helped take his pants off. His cock jumped out for freedom,

throbbing for her touch.

"No promises.” He told her as he sat back. She moved forward, pulling her hair from her braid and

licked the full length of his shaft. He inhaled sharply as she cushioned herself between his legs. As

her mouth reacquainted with his dick, her hands moved lower and grasped his balls. He jumped in

surprise, but she gripped and massaged them carefully. His mind went blank as stars flashed behind

his closed eyelids. She worked him until she knew he was ready to take her. She swirled her tongue

around the tip, licking up the precum as she stroked him.

"Then why should I if you won't make a promise?” She asked as she finally pulled away from him.

His eyes refocused on her as she was kneeling in front of him. He growled, prowling toward her

until she was on her back. He knelt in front of her, placing her legs over his arms as his cock

prepared to enter her.

"Promises can take forever, but I'd rather just..." he slid in, inch by inch. He watched her eyes roll

back as he pushed his way in. Once he was fully inside of her, he felt her walls squeeze him, her

juices soaking the base and streaming downward. "Show you.” With that, he thrusted slow, but hard.

He swayed his hips against hers, making sure she felt every inch of force fucking her body. She

moaned, her arms laying above her head. He leaned forward, angling himself as he pushed her legs

slightly up and in. He grabbed her thighs, thrusting harder. He needed her to know. He needed her

to feel.

"Jayce." She moaned his name, his Wolf groaned in response. He shifted slightly, his nails

sharpening and digging into her thighs. His cock thickened inside of her, stretching to

accommodate his new size. Her eyes widened at the change, drool at the corner of her lips. She was

lost in the lust they shared, but he needed to show her more.

He pulled out, his cock aching to go back inside and turned her onto her hands and knees. His

hands ran over her ass, giving it a playful smack. She moaned, his hands trailing up her back, tracing

the scars along the way. He gripped her shoulders as he pushed back in. He focused his energy on

thrusting into her as hard as he could. She moaned, gripping the carpet. The flames of the fireplace

danced along her skin. He grabbed her arms, pulling her up so her head rested against his shoulder.

His cock angled again, hitting her deepest spot yet. She laid her head back, looking up at him.

"Tell me you love me." She told him. He growled softly at her, his arms snaking around and

clutching her against him.

"I love you." He said, thrusting faster. Her ass bounced off of his hips, but he kept her tightly against

him.

"Again." She ordered him, reaching up and grabbing his hair. He growled when she pulled. He felt

his face partially shift, his fangs stabbing into his bottom lip, drawing a little bit of blood.

"I love you." His guttural voice came through. He felt her sex spasm around him, but he didn't let

up. One of his hands snaked up to her neck again, holding her in place so she never looked away.

"Again." She gasped out, her juices running like rivers down her thighs. He inhaled her arousing

scent, his Wolf wanting to take over more. He snarled lightly, increasing his speed even more than

humanly possible.

"I... fuck..." he grunted, feeling his cock thicken as he neared his end. She orgasmed again, harder

than last time. "I'm in love with you.” He groaned, his Wolf howling within him. Lily's eyes rolled

back as she came one last time. He pumped once more before releasing inside of her. He held onto

her as her body went limp for a moment, trying to catch her breath. He slowly pulled out of her,

sitting back. She swayed for a moment, falling back onto him

"Lily?" He asked her worriedly. Her eyes fluttered open, looking up at him and gives a very faint

smile. He reached up to the couch, pulling the blanket down and wrapped it around them. She

snuggled against his chest, shutting her eyes. The crackling of the fire, the soft Christmas music, the

dim glow of the multi-colored Christmas lights. He glanced down at her, her eyes already shut and

softly snoring. He rested his cheek against her head as he watched the flames dance.