Chapter 08
Hosting the Winter Solstice Festival was always a pain.
It took every member of their four thousand person pack to ensure it was a success.
Thankfully, it only happened every three years.
Three, a number in honor of the male triad surrounding the ancient Lycan Queens of old. The true Queens and Kings of the world.
Jaxom was right-hand man to his dad this year.
At nineteen he was next in line to be the Alpha of the Blood Moon Pack.
The tradition in this pack was to wait for the new Alpha to find his Luna before he took over the pack.
Jaxom was fine with that. The Blood Moon Pack was well run.
With being a larger pack, Jaxom had plenty of opportunities to flex his own Alpha powers.
His dad insisted he take responsibility and learn the correct way to lead his people.
Asher was Jaxom’s acknowledged future Beta.
They had their own warriors answering directly to them.
His dad had given him responsibility over the eastern border.
They had patrols set and pack lands to monitor for rogue activity.
They were also responsible for training of half the teenage pups.
They also spent time in the Alpha office learning the in’s and outs of contracts between packs, negotiation, politics, and ways to improve their own pack lands for use and conservation.
Since graduating high school the year before, learning pack leadership had become his life.
This time he had under his dad’s leadership and teaching was invaluable.
Not all Alpha’s got such in depth tutelage.
As he’d grown up, other packs had sent their future Alphas to train for a month or two under Alpha Steven.
His reputation had grown as an Alpha that ran a tight ship.
The roles were set out for the pack members.
As long as jobs were taken seriously, the pack was strong, protected and well fed.
These were lessons that Jaxom was intent on learning himself.
The only thing lacking in life as finding his fated mate.
This Winter Solstice Festival Jaxom was intent on finding his Luna.
He didn’t want to find her to take over the pack.
He wanted to find her because having a mate, a fated mate, was a deep-seated need in every wolf.
And, it would stop random female wolves seeking out his company.
Plenty of women had approached him with chosen mate suggestions.
He didn’t want a chosen mate. He wanted the one, or ones, the Moon Goddess had promised him.
Dang Hazel for planting the idea of multiple mates in his mind.
Every few generations a fated wolf mating would be two males and one female.
They said it was a throwback to the time of the Lycans.
It was a rare occurrence but not unheard of.
Every Lycan Queen always had three fated male mates.
Their Betas were always a trio of one woman and two men.
The more males, the more powerful the fated mates were.
They brought status and influence to their own pack.
Such a united front was hard to fight against.
Jaxom had wondered what that type of mate-bond would be like in idle daydreams. And that was all Hazel's fault for saying he'd have multiple mates. He wasn’t attracted to guys. He was also saving himself for his lady. He wanted to have it all with her. His parents had impressed on him that he didn’t want to bring memories of any stupid dalliances into his fated match.
It just caused problems between couples. Best just to avoid that altogether.
The Winter Solstice Festival wasn’t the only time a wolf could find a mate.
It was just the easiest time because so many packs gathered together.
The chances of meeting people from outside one’s own pack was high.
It was awesome to watch fated mates meet each other.
The looks of joy and excitement at finding their other half to make a complete whole, was a sight to see.
The un-mated women coming to the Winter Solstice Festival knew Jaxom was the next Alpha of the Blood Moon Pack.
He had more than his fair share of females to dance with at the Single’s Ball.
How he loved every moment. He wasn’t promiscuous, but he wasn’t a saint either.
The dancing had his blood flowing, anticipating the scent that would capture his attention.
The feel of lush bodies as they danced was enticing, hints of things to come with the right woman.
The music pumped into the night air. Groups of girls laughed and danced together. Plenty sat around the perimeter of the dance floor along with guys used to training to be warriors. Any bump and grind on the dance floor was far outside their comfort zone.
Single ladies surrounded him, hoping they were the one Jaxom was looking for. The whole day had been the same way. Women followed him from a distance hoping he’d look their way. He was so tired of being watched with varying degrees of longing.
The mate-bond began with a smell of something wonderful.
A smell that woke up the senses, making a guy want to breathe it in forever.
The dance committee did their best to scrub the dance floor down.
No strong drinks, food, or candles allowed.
No scents distracting single wolves from finding their fated mates.
The single wolves were told not to wear perfume or cologne to the ball.
The committee did go all out decorating. This year’s theme was similar to the Mate’s Ball. Silver and blue bouquets graced every table. The full moon and stars dangled from the ceiling, lit up in gentle ‘moonlight’ from the chandelier in the center of the ballroom. It was flowing and graceful.
The smell of coffee and maple syrup rushed into his lungs as a lady brushed up against him, but it wasn’t her.
Coffee was the last thing on his mind and not allowed in the ballroom.
It was a drink he hated the taste of, but loved the smell.
Maple syrup and pancakes were the breakfast of champions.
His wolf rose to the surface alerting him. Mate. Mate was here. Mate needed them.
Jaxom pushed through the bodies swirling around him, trying to follow the smell that demanded his attention.
In the corner of the room, three guys were sitting together sipping on punch.
One had his eyes locked on Jaxom. A look of surprise, and what looked to be a fair amount of panic, ran across his handsome face.
A man. Jaxom’s mate was a man. His first mate.
That meant there was at least one more to come.
Their Luna. There was no time to contemplate that right now.
His first mate looked like he was about to bolt as he stumbled out from behind the table.
Jaxom couldn’t help himself. His wolf had partly taken control.
Mate needed them. Mate looked scared. He never needed to fear again. Jaxom would protect him.
Wolves darted out of his path as he moved to get to mate. He must have broadcast that his mate was in the vicinity. Some of the guys guided the ladies they were dancing with out of Jaxom’s way. Jaxom didn’t know if he’d have been able to rein his wolf in if they’d hindered him from getting to mate.
He reached the man who trembled as Jaxom pulled him into a firm embrace. Firm enough to hold him, loose enough to give the guy room to escape if need be. Tingles made Jaxom grip him tighter. He loved the feel of the tingles caressing his body from his mate.
“Mate,” Jaxom said as he gazed into hazel eyes.
So handsome. Freckles dusted high cheekbones.He couldn’t believe he was finally holding his mate in his arms. The pull of the mate-bond was intense.
Nothing else of importance existed but the man in his arms. Jaxom’s heart squeezed in excitement as he stared into his mate’s eyes.
Despite Hazel, holding this man in his arms and longing to do so much more with him was unexpected.
Jaxom wanted to experience everything with this man.
“Mate,” the man whispered back. His hands slowly came to rest on Jaxom’s sides. Sparks flew between them where they touched. He stilled in Jaxom’s arms, letting him lean in for a kiss, soft and light. Coffee and maple syrup washed across his senses, fueling his desire for more.
“I’ve waited for you.”
Jaxom breathed in his mate’s scent, his nose pressed against his cheek.
He couldn’t stop himself from pressing kisses into the stubble running along his mate’s jaw.
Cheers erupted around them. The people watching were too much to bear.
Their presence was a distraction from the man standing in his arms. Their chatter was an irritation intruding on his ability to talk to his mate.
“Let’s get out of here,” Jaxom whispered as he nipped his guy’s ear.
“Okay.” The guy let out as a shaky breath and trembled in Jaxom’s arms. He needed to get mate alone, mark him, keep him forever.
Jaxom took him firmly by the hand and found the exit.
People melted away before them. They knew better than to get in the way of a newly forging mate-bond.
Jaxom would kill them if he had to let go of his mate’s hand.
The exit gave a sense of peace as the night enveloped them.
Mate was too nervous. He needed safety from prying eyes.
“Did you…” he heard his mate say.
Just the sound of his voice made Jaxom stopped walking and turn to him.
Moonlight spilled across wavy brown hair, high cheekbones and that beautiful light dusting of freckles.
Hazel eyes looked at him nervously, as if waiting for a blow.
Didn’t he realize how much Jaxom just wanted to stare at him, memorize every plain of his face and body?
There was no reason for worry here. He had to show him that they were safe in each other’s arms.