7. Jaxon
The past week has been tough to say the least. I’ve barely had a wink of sleep. Every night I stayed awake projecting images into Ava’s mind to stop the nightmares until she was able to fall asleep peacefully.
It’s agonising listening to her screams, knowing I can’t comfort her instead. I’ve been visiting her once or twice a day, but I don’t get a lot back. She hasn’t left her room. She’s barely said two words to me. But I don’t push it. I take every day as it comes.
I hold a cup of coffee in my hand which has turned cold from staring endlessly at the wall. If I don’t, I’ll peer around my kitchen to find plates and cups dotted everywhere as no one bothered to clean up last night. It irks me that my private kitchen is treated like university accommodation.
“No sleep over Ava, huh?” Lucy’s voice echoes around the kitchen as she walks by me. Sebastian follows and gives me a slow nod.
“I have every right to be worried about her,” I grumble under my breath. “And were you guys born in a fucking barn? Every damn morning there are dirty mugs and plates everywhere. Put. Them. In. The. Dishwasher.”
Sebastian and Lucy share a glance before laughing quietly. I don’t even want to know what that means. “Oops.” My sister continues to smile. “Our bad. I’ll do it now.”
“I’ve cut off this section of the house for family only,” I state as I pause by the counter. “Until Ava feels comfortable. So if you see anyone around here, tell them to leave. The guards already know.”
“Sounds fair,” Sebastian comments. “It’s your private annexe, anyway. I’m sure the pack will understand when everything is explained to them.”
Lucy glances at someone behind me. I turn hoping that it’s Ava, but deep down, I know she wouldn’t show her face. Not without being coaxed out by Lucy, which has only happened once and never since.
“Good morning, Kayden,” she greets brightly.
“Morning.” He smiles at both of them and then cuts his brown eyes to me. “You good, Jaxon?”
His hand slaps my shoulder gently. It’s rare that we call each other by our titles when we”re together as a family, but if I’m with the pack, then I expect people to call me Alpha out of respect.
“What’s been happening the last week?” he asks.
I glance at Lucy, and she shrugs back. “I’m surprised gossip hasn’t spread around this pack like wildfire.”
Kayden pauses by the fridge and tenses for a moment before glancing at me. “I mean,” he starts. “Yeah…it has, but I wanted to hear it from you. Rumours are rumours. Right?”
“And the rumours are?”
“That you found a second-chance mate.”
Lucy and Sebastian freeze. “Then, I guess the rumours are true.”
Kayden’s brows hit his hairline. “Wow–” He pulls his head back. “I…I don’t even know what to say. I mean, it’s a shock. Congratulations? That doesn’t even sound right. Eh. How?”
“Trust me, I don’t know what to say either.” I hunch over the counter.
“You get two mates, and I can’t even find one,” Kayden murmurs under his breath and throws his arms in the air. “How the hell is that fair?”
Lucy grips his hand supportively. “She’ll turn up soon. I guarantee it.”
“Goddess. The fifth wheel really is a fun job.” He shakes his head. “I’m happy for you, Jaxon, I am. But I’m ready for it to be my turn now. I’m starting to think I’ve done something to piss off the deities, and I’m being punished. The Moon Goddess hates me.”
“She’ll probably turn up when you least expect i–”
My voice is cut off when a burning sensation spreads across my back like I’ve been set on fire. I release a groan and press a hand to the centre of my spine as it grows in intensity.
“Jaxon?” Kayden is at my side. “What’s happening?”
The pain eases up, and I take a shallow breath. “I’m fine.”
My hand raises to wipe the sweat beading on my forehead, but this time, I flinch when the pain continues to spread over my back. It’s ten times hotter than before. My eyes water at the pressure.
What the fuck is happening?
Then, realisation suddenly hits.
“Ava!”
My body moves faster than I can blink. I sprint out of the kitchen and up the stairs, unable to control the primal desire to protect my mate from whatever she’s experiencing. I knew it was Ava’s pain. She’s hurting herself, and I’m experiencing it through the bond.
Kayden and Lucy instantly run after me, their footsteps echoing in my clouded head. The way my chest heaves has all of the blood in my veins vibrating.
Her scent lingers behind the bathroom door. I stop directly in front of it. My hand latches onto the handle, but it’s locked from the inside. The burning on my back increases, and I bite down to stop the groan falling from my lips. I don’t even hesitate to kick the door in until it snaps off its hinges. My arms throw the door to the side as huge puffs of steam waft towards me.
My eyes narrow as I step inside the misty room. I hear Ava’s whimpers of distress in between deep, uneven breathing. The heat of the room clings to the fabric of my clothes.
As I step closer, I spot the showerhead on full blast, the scalding water pounding heavily against her reddening back. She’s crouched down against the porcelain tub, sobbing over the loudness of the shower.
“Ava,” I rasp pathetically. Before I even think of my next logical thought, I reach in to turn off the taps. The heat from the liquid burns my skin, but I don’t flinch when it hits me.
Lucy stands over me and gasps quietly. “Put her on the floor. I should be able to heal her,” she demands, but the panic is evident in her voice.
I don’t have time to second-guess her abilities right now; instead, I lean into the tub and pull her body into my chest. I glance down at her face and watch as she falls into a lightheaded state. Her entire body is different shades of red and pink.
Lucy rushes from the room and grabs a dry towel before laying it out on the floor. I flick my gaze to Kayden standing in the doorway, his eyes upon my mate with great horror.
Give us some privacy, I snap.
His head bows, and he turns to leave. Let us know if there is anything we can do.
I place Ava down on the towel and sweep her dark hair away from her injured back. Lucy hisses, and I grit my jaw at the sight before me. “Fuck, Jaxon. This isn’t good.”
Blisters have already started to show. Parts of her skin are broken and weeping. How long was she up here doing this to herself? Heaviness clouds my eyes, and I try to calm myself down.
Lucy kneels beside Ava and places her hands gently on her back.
“If you can’t do it, Gemma will be able to.”
She dismisses the idea. “I can do this.”
I study her every move as she closes her eyes and projects her power onto Ava’s injuries. A minute passes, and nothing happens.
I groan silently. “Lucy,” I warn.
“Shhh.”
I bite down on my lip hard enough to draw blood. This is taking too much time. Knowing the severity of Ava’s health, it could be fatal. My eyes close at the thought.
No. She’ll be okay. Lucy knows what she’s doing.
When I open my eyes and focus on Ava’s back, I release a quiet breath of relief as the blisters and broken skin slowly begin to heal. Lucy’s face is deep in concentration, and I tell myself not to make a sound. Another few minutes pass, and her skin is restored back to its original state. She removes her hands and slumps backwards, her powers instantly lowering her energy.
“Thank you,” I say gratefully. I watch as she peels off her cardigan and wraps it around Ava’s naked body. “Trust me when I say, I’m going to murder those people who have made her do this to herself.”
The bond makes my body tingle as I take her hand delicately between mine—a place where I know she’s safe.
“I know, and you have every right,” she says softly. “But instead of focusing on that, you need to focus on her and her needs.”
As much as I want to rip out Lucien’s throat and anyone else who has ever laid a finger on her, Lucy is right. My priority is building a slow companionship with her—one that is built on trust, safety, and comfort.
“You’re right, Luce. She comes first.”
Ava doesn’t come downin the afternoon, and I need to know if she’s okay without overwhelming her. Three hours has been far too long. My mind can’t fathom the idea of her hurting herself on purpose. It lights a fire inside me that makes me want to tear this world apart.
I knock on the door gently. “Ava? It’s Jaxon. Are you okay?”
For a long moment, I stand at her door. I contemplate knocking again, but I don’t know if I’m doing too much—and yet, not enough. The sound of fumbling echoes loud in my ears until the door opens, and I stare back at Ava and her red-ringed eyes.
All the distress from her body floats into mine. “Hey,” I say calmly. “How are you feeling?”
Those big brown eyes keep me in focus at all times—swimming with tears. She doesn’t respond, and a part of me wonders if she heard me. She takes a step back and looks down at her feet.
“Are you okay?” I ask.
She nods, but we both know it’s far from the truth.
“Lucy is a healer. She healed the burns on your back.”
She gnaws at her lip, clenching her fingers together tightly.
“Hey,” I whisper to catch her attention. I resist the urge to lean over and take her hand. As much as I am in desperate need to, it’s not about what I want. “When you need some support, talk to me. Or Lucy. Or Gemma. Please. None of us want you going through it alone.”
Her wobbly hand presses to her head, eyes closing. “I’m not meant to be here,” she whispers.
“What do you mean?”
“I belong in the human world.” She cups her hand over her mouth. “Not this fantasy world. I know who you are, and I’m not like you. I’m not from here. I want to go home. Please, let me go home.”
My heart cracks like a porcelain doll. Her soft cries make my wolf claw my insides. He wants to tell her she is home—right by our side.
“Where is your home, Ava?”
This halts her crying. She sniffles and raises her head. Those pale lips open, but she doesn’t say a word. Her eyes close as she tries to concentrate. “I-I don’t know,” she whimpers. “Why can’t I remember?”
The haunting edge to her voice makes me want to wrap her up in my arms again and rock her until she knows she’s going to be okay. But I don’t. We’re far from that kind of affection.
Ava’s arms gather in goosebumps as she whips her head around the room. “Was someone else here?”
“What?”
“Who else has been here?”
My brows crease at her words. “Lucy and Kayden were here earlier.”
“Kayden?”
“Yes, he’s my Beta.”
“Y-your Beta?”
“Yes.” There is a slight hitch in her breathing, and I lean forward. “What’s the matter?”
She shakes her head, avoiding eye contact. She shifts back into the shell she protects herself with. “Do you want to get some dinner?” I offer, changing the subject. “I bet you’re super hungry. Lucy will be downstairs.”
Those tears on her cheeks begin to dry, and she holds my stare. “I don’t have an appetite,” she admits.
“Well, what if you pick at some of the food?” I suggest.
She follows me with her eyes. “I can’t go down there.”
“Okay. Then I’ll bring it up. Hmm?”
Ava doesn’t nod; she just stares.
“Why don’t you wait here, and I’ll be back with something to eat?”
She doesn’t protest, and I give her a gentle smile before leaving.