49: Jayce

Jayce stood in front of his mirror, his white button up still on done, a vibrant emerald tie sitting

around his neck untouched. He tilted his head slightly until Lily's bite came into view. It had been

roughly a week or so now that she had bit him, and yet it had not healed completely. In her words

and that of his Wolf, their bond was just that strong that her Mark held true. Yet his gut was telling

him something else was at play, but he didn't know as to what yet.

He caressed her teeth indentations, feeling it pulse beneath his fingertips. He couldn't deny that

their connection had come full circle since then. His love for her deepened, growing even stronger

than it did before. He never knew he could love someone so much until she sat in his kitchen the

very first time they met. Now he was marrying her, his true love, his Mate.

A soft knock came from his door before it opened and Elias peered in, his black hair slicked to the

side. As he stepped in more, he was wearing a black suit with an emerald bow tie. Jayce smiled at

his little brother as he opened his arms to him. The boy's eyes lit up instantly, bolting over to him.

Jayce lifted the little one up and spun him around before sitting him on his dresser.

"You look good, Elias." Jayce complimented him. Elias scratched behind his ear with one hand while

tugging on his suit with the other.

"It's tight." He whined softly. Jayce inclined his head before helping Elias take off his jacket and laid

it down on the bed. Elias’ face expressed relief as he breathed a bit easier.

"You don't have to wear the full suit. Lily will love how you look regardless." Jayce told him. Elias

smiled when he brought up Lily. He was amazed with how much bonding they had done while he

was gone.

Jayce reached down into his pocket, pulling out a small, circular object that he had been holding

onto since he left Hawaii. Each day he would pat his pocket where he always placed it, waiting for

the right moment to give it to her, and yet he couldn't find the right way to give it to her. If he knew

anything about Lily at this point, she didn't really like gaudy things. The only jewelry she appeared

to own was his grandmother's necklace he had received on his eighteenth birthday. Now he had

one more to add and he hoped she loved it.

"I have a very important task for you.” Jayce told Elias as he put out his empty hand for his. Elias

relinquished his hand to him and Jayce placed the ring in his palm, closing his fingers around it,

"This is Lily's ring. I'll call for you at the right moment to bring it over, can you do that for me?" He

asked him. Elias opened his hand to look at the ring, his eyes mesmerized before he frowned.

"I can't. I'll lose it." Elias tried giving the ring back, but Jayce wrapped his very large hand around his.

"You won't lose it. I believe in you, Elias. Besides, think how happy Lily would be when she sees you

deliver this." He said to him. Elias cocked his head a bit, smiling as he thought about it. He gave a

quick nod before putting the ring in his breast pocket. Jayce ruffled his hair just as Derek peaked

into the room.

"There you are.” Derek said as he spotted Elias sitting on Jayce's dresser. Elias got down with Jayce's

help, running over to his father. Jayce couldn't lie that he wasn't happy that Derek had a change of

heart after Lily talked to him, but he just couldn't fully trust the man that supposed to be his father.

Derek fixed Elias' hair before gesturing to the door, "I need to speak with your brother for a

moment.” He told him. Elias nodded obediently and left the two Alphas alone. Silence filled the

space between them as Jayce turned back toward the mirror and started buttoning up his shirt.

"I spoke with Luna Selene this morning. I will be traveling with her back to Florida to go through

Lukas' belongings." Derek finally spoke up, remaining by the door.

"She's an Alpha now." Jayce said coldly, leaving his collar up as he started working on his tie next.

He noticed his father falter for a second before clearing his throat.

"Of course, Alpha Selene.” Derek immediately corrected himself which surprised Jayce quite a bit.

He wasn't used to his father just going with what he said without giving some argument in return.

"What do you hope to find amongst his things?" Jayce asked after flattening his collar, checking

himself in the mirror again. He tried to flatten a few wrinkles out in the sleeves with little success.

"Hopefully some evidence to this Karmina witch. I also believe it would be best to keep this

amongst the Alphas and Lunas only to avoid panic amongst the packs.” Derek suggested to him as

Jayce picked up his jacket and slipped it on. He looked fuller with the extra layer of clothing on, his

shoulders and chest wider and squared off.

"I have to contact the council after the honeymoon and meet with the other Supernatural leaders. If

the leader of the Light Witches is there, hopefully I'll have an answer to who we're dealing with.” He

let out a breath as he did one last look over in the mirror. He listened to Derek approach and stand

beside him. He was just a couple inches shorter than he was, his silver hair slicked back on top with

his black hair shaved low on the side. He didn't look his age, but after recent events he probably felt

it now. He had a similar black suit, but his tie was red, most likely to match Penelope's dress.

"They haven't spoken to you about the death of that Vampire?" Derek asked him. Jayce shook his

head.

"No, but I won't believe it's just ignored until I hear it from Dante himself." Jayce leaned forward and

picked up his watch. They had an hour before they needed to head to central park. He slipped on

his watch, catching Derek watching him, "What is it?"

"I know it's rather late to say anything, especially since I have neglected you for years.” Derek said,

his silver eyes softening a bit, "I'm proud of you, Jayce." Those words stopped Jayce from tinkering

with his watch. He glanced over to his father who met his gaze, "There is no amount of apologies in

this world that can make up for what I've done. If not for Lily reminding me what truly mattered, I'd

be dead in that hotel room.”

"She does have a way with words.” Jayce said to him, reaching up and touched the Mark again. It

pulsed against his fingers, warming his skin.

"It's the first one I ever played for you, remember?" She asked him and he nodded. He grabbed her

hand, his hand going to her waist as her hand went to his shoulder. They swayed to the song, their

eyes locked on one another. He leaned down, resting his forehead against hers.

"We're going to Hawaii after this.” He informed her. Her eyes lit up at his words before she raised a

brow.

"We're not staying at Alpha Archibald's, are we?" She asked him.

"God no." He told her and she sighed, giggling softly, "There was a summer home for sale on Lanai

Island.”

"Was?" She asked before gasping, "You didn't."

"I did. Every summer we'll vacation there. You, me and the baby. And future children, obviously.” He

said. Lily laughed a bit.

"One baby at a time.” Her brows furrowed suddenly, "Hey, you know my body is going to change

after I have the baby, right?" She asked him

"I'm not too familiar on that." He admitted.

"Well, I'll have gained weight and it could be difficult to lose it if I can lose any at all. I'll have stretch

marks.” Her eyes darkened. He didn't like seeing her getting upset. He lifted her chin so she met his

gaze.

"Lily, no matter what happens, I will always love you. I didn't fall in love with your body, I fell in love

with your heart. Besides," he leaned close to her ear, his breath making her shiver, "I'm a Wolf. The

more meat, the better.” His fangs sharpened slightly, catching her ear. She let out a beautiful gasp,

clutching his shirt.

"Lily, it's time for the bouquet toss." Luna Isis approached them once the song ended. She nodded,

touching his cheek before leaving him be. He watched after her when he felt a strange presence

behind him. As he glanced around at all of the faces, his eyes met with a smoldering gold and red

pair of eyes. While everyone else gathered for the toss, the individual instead moved away toward

the balcony. He followed, listening to Nox grow! defensively.

He stepped out into the cold of the night, his breath smoke before his eyes as he gazed at the back

of the man before him. His short brown hair spiked in different directions, wearing a maroon

colored suit. He finally faced Jayce head on and the realization hit him as he shut the door to the

balcony behind himself.

"Dante?" He asked aloud. The Vampire smiled, giving a mocking bow to him. His eyes looked like

liquid gold with red spiking from the iris. His goatee was sharp and neatly trimmed.

"King Jayce, it's been what? Seven years since we last talked?" His deep, sultry voice made him seem

far older than he appeared to be.

"I didn't realize our invitation reached out to you." He said, walking over to the ledge that gazed out

over the garden below. The full moon shined brightly upon them, showing Jayce the tanned skin of

the immortal being.

"I invited myself actually, though an invitation would have been thoughtful.” Dante rested his arms

on the ledge, "You do know why I came, correct?" Jayce's hands tightened on the stone ledge,

cracking beneath the pressure.

"His death was justified." Jayce growled at him. Dante however put up a hand to stop him.

"Of course it was. I saw what was in his apartment after all.” Dante shuddered, "Vile. I love women,

but not to the point of beating them near to death.” He hissed.

"Then why...?"

"For starters, to congratulate you. You were nearly dethroned after all. Of all the Werewolf Kings,

you're probably my favorite.” He put a finger to his lips, "But don't tell anyone I told you.” He joked.

He couldn't remember Dante being this... laid back before.

"And to let you know that there are no repercussions for what you did. As it all turned out, Jasper

Goldstein was not a Vampire of mine, so to speak.” He said to him.

"As much as I'd like to hear as to what you meant by that, I'm afraid this visit will have to be cut

short.” Jayce informed him as he glanced back at the door. Dante nodded, getting off the ledge.

"Of course, don't want to keep you from your new wife. She's a looker, by the way." He licked his

lips. Jayce snarled aggressively, his hands shifting and breaking the ledge beneath his hands. Dante

cocked a brow at him, "Down boy, it's a compliment.” He waved off Jayce's anger. Jayce took several

deep breaths until he was relatively back to normal.

"Thank you. I wasn't sure what was happening, but I'm glad it was you that delivered the news to

me." Jayce told him.

"Wow, she did settle the beast.” Dante tilted his head with interest before shrugging, "I'll be going

now." He waved as he headed for the door.

"Dante," he called over to him, the Vampire stopping with the door partially open, "since when have

you become a bit of a jester?” He asked. Dante peered back at him, his dark brows coming together

before giving him a sad smile.

"If you have lived as long as I have, you'd understand.” And with that, the man disappeared inside.

Jayce rubbed his hands together as her scent wrapped around him as she appeared at the door.

"There you are. They're getting ready to cut the cake." She said, then her lips turned downward

slightly as she noticed the crumbled ledge pieces before him, "Are you okay?" She walked over,

taking his hands and looked them over. He watched her carefully as she examined him.

"Lily, if you were to have lived as an immortal, how would you feel?" He asked her. She blinked,

looking up at him. She held his hands as she thought over his question for a moment.

"Well, I'd probably feel sad. My family would be long gone, my friends long gone. Sure the idea of it

at first sounds amazing, but after awhile, what would be the point of it anymore?” She asked in

return. He inclined his head, cupping her cheek. She leaned into his touch, "Is that why you came

out here?"

"No, I was actually speaking with someone.” He looked up at the moon once more, it's brightness

nearly blinding.

"Oh? Who?" She asked curiously as she stood beside him, following his gaze up. He moved behind

her, wrapping his arms around her to warm her up.

"Dante." He said, her head tilting up toward him.

"The Vampire?" She asked. He nodded, "Well that was rude. He didn't stick around for cake.” She

pouted. He couldn't help laughing, "What's so funny?"

"You're upset that he didn't stay for cake, not for the fact that a Vampire showed up unexpected?”

"Well yeah.” She said, looking back at the moon, "I know you would always protect me, so I don't

feel scared." She smiled. He kissed her hair.

"Will you howl with me?" He asked her. She looked up at him, then to the garden below, then back

to him again.

"Really?" She asked him.

"Of course. You don't need to be a She-Wolf to howl." He told her, lifting her hands to her face,

"Cup your hands together, take a deep breath and just howl." He whispered to her. She cupped her

hands around her mouth, but she hesitated at first. He cupped his hands around his mouth, inhaling

deeply before releasing the loudest howl he could in this form. Lily waited for him to finish before

taking a deep breath and let out a howl that sang to his heart. He could feel his knees growing weak

as he listened.

"Was that okay?" She asked him when she finished. He nodded, collecting himself once more.

“Together.” He told her and she nodded, this time more determined. Together they faced the moon,

their hands in place to project their voices. He inhaled as deep as he could and in sync, they howled

together. Their howls mingled together in perfect harmony as it carried on the gentle, chilling

breeze and into the night.