22. Jaxon
“Idon”t think you understand; my wedding has to be perfect,” Lucy says as she stares at her laptop screen with wide eyes and flailing fingers over the keys.
My eyes roll automatically. All I’ve heard over the last few months is wedding plans, and I can see her turning into bridezilla within the next few days. The date is getting closer, and she’s about to burst.
“Our wedding, babe.” Sebastian’s voice floats through the kitchen. Lucy glances up at him with a sudden nod—it’s like she didn’t even remember he was here.
Oh, boy.
“Sorry.” A hand raises beside her head. “Our wedding.”
“Well, if you wanted it to be perfect, you wouldn’t be looking for the wedding cake nine days before now…would you?” I quirk a brow in her direction.
Unsurprisingly, she scowls at me with heavy annoyance. “Shut up, Jaxon. It’s not my fault the original cake company didn’t get back to me.”
“Yeah,” I rasp heavily. “It’s called having a backup. I can’t believe you decided to do this yourself and not get a wedding planner.”
Lucy stares at me like I’ve stomped on a puppy. “Until you get married, brother, you have no opinion. Back. Off.”
I glance at Sebastian who rests his head in his hands, muttering words under his breath. The corner of my lips tug. I shouldn’t be getting involved, but it’s far too easy to get under my sister’s skin, and seeing Sebastian fight for his life—and her attention—is something else to add to the morning entertainment.
My head immediately turns to the door. My wolf”s senses are ridiculously alert since Ava helped me shift for the first time in a while. She walks into the kitchen with damp hair over her shoulders and an oversized hoodie clung to her body. The sleeves hang over her wrists. She looks adorable. I clench internally at how she glances at me and offers me the sweetest smile.
“Morning,” I exhale gently.
I flick my eyes down to find her barefoot, the black leggings cutting off at her ankles. The sounds of her footsteps echo in my ears as I watch her near the counter. To human ears, you wouldn’t be able to hear a thing, but I hear those delicate steps.
“Morning,” she greets.
Lucy suddenly turns to my mate. “Oh, thank the Goddess. Ava! I need your opinion. These idiots don’t have the first clue about wedding cakes.”
She blinks at her outburst. “Okay.” A hesitant laugh falls from her lips. “But I don’t know how helpful I’ll be.”
I watch her as she loops around the counter and settles behind my sister, flicking between different slides on the laptop screen. “Trust me, better than this lot.”
“What flavour are you going for?” Ava asks.
“I want it to be three-tiered. The bottom will be raspberry and white chocolate, the middle will be caramel, and the top will be a classic Victoria sponge.” Lucy claps her hands together as she lists each one.
Ava smiles in agreement. “Sounds tasty.”
“But which style do you think? The decoration of the cake is important to me. It has to be a little out there but also not too much.” Lucy bites her lip as if she’s about to chew the entire thing off while Ava moves closer to the screen for better assessment. “This with the bright flowers or this one but with a bit of sparkle?”
I study Ava’s face as she analyses both cakes with her ultimate thinking expression. My shoulders fall relaxed at the way she wants to help my sister but is obviously out of her depth. I adore seeing her like this. “The second one.”
A huge grin stretches across Lucy’s face. “I’m so glad you said that because I think so, too!” Her hands clap together like one of those annoying monkey toys. “I’m going to order it now.”
Ava huffs out air like that was the toughest decision of her life. She meets my eyes as she walks around the counter and then stops. “What?”
I must look like a Cheshire cat. “Nothing.” I shake my head. “Hungry?”
“Yeah.”
My hand reaches over to the vacant stool beside me. I pat at the softness and stand from my own. “Come sit. I’ll make you something.”
She steps to my side and watches me with gentle eyes. “Thank you.”
“Why do you never make us breakfast, Jaxon?”
My patience is wearing thin. “Because I like making sure that Ava is fed. I know you can do that yourself. And you guys never fucking tidy up after yourselves. If we worked together, maybe I’d offer you breakfast, too.”
She tuts at me before bombarding Ava with a million and one different questions. I absolutely love my sister to pieces, but I can’t wait until this wedding is over. Not that I’m jealous of her happy ending, but I’ve got one too many things on my mind, and once this wedding is out of the way, I can go back to focusing on what’s important.
Like taking Lucien and his foul men out for good.
After ten minutes, I plate up scrambled eggs and avocado on toast for Ava. Her whole expression brightens when I place down the food. She’s always delighted to have a decent meal, which makes me realise how starved she must have been when she was Lucien”s captive.
Malnourished. Neglected. The thought does awful things to my sternum.
“Mmm. Smells delicious.”
“Eat,” I order as I perch beside her. “Don’t let it get cold.”
She doesn’t need to be told twice.
Ava takes her knife and fork to cut into the toast. Her elbow grazes my arm, and despite it being through the material of her hoodie, it still makes my skin vibrate.
“Oh, for fuck’s sake,” Lucy curses and hits her laptop.
Sebastian sighs. “What is it?”
He leans over to rub her shoulder, but it doesn’t help. She exhales a frustrated groan, and I hide my knowing smile. “I literally just got an email saying those embroidered tablecloths I ordered might be late!”
My head tilts to Ava, who is already looking at me. I’m glad I’m not the only one finding this entire situation comical. It’s not new for Ava to smile, but when she does, it’s like time stands still, and I can’t get enough. I want to take a picture of it and keep it in my pocket. My wolf purrs with possessiveness at the idea.
“It’s okay, babe. They’re just tablecloths,” Sebastian tries to calm her, and I wince.
Lucy recoils like she’s been slapped with an iron pole. “Excuse me?”
I brace myself for what’s about to unleash. Sebastian might officially be uninvited to his own wedding. Goddess, how does he put up with this crazy woman?
“They’re just tablecloths?” she spits, slamming the laptop closed. “How dare you, Sebastian? I thought you’d be better than that.”
I can’t tell if that’s fear or frustration behind his eyes. “Luce–”
“Who even are you?”
My hand cups my jaw, but it’s too late. The laugh slips out. The look on Sebastian’s face and the sheer madness my sister has become is like a reality show, and somehow, I’ve got a front-row seat to it.
Lucy’s death glare flicks my way. “Do you think this is funny?”
My sister is a drama queen most of the time, but this is ridiculous. I flash her a slight grin, which she gapes at. Ava gently swats my arm, but she’s also trying her hardest to keep a poker face.
“I’m sure they’ll be here in time,” Ava says, attempting to console her. “It said might, not definitely. Just remain optimistic. I’m praying for you, Lucy.”
Lucy takes a couple of deep breaths and listens to Ava’s wise words. I resist the urge to lean over and squeeze her hand. Instead, I focus on Lucy as she closes her eyes and holds her hands up in front of her face, wiggling her fingers.
“Calm down, Lucy. It’s all going to be okay.” Lucy mutters to herself.
I shake my head. I need to get out of this kitchen now.
“Ooh! I need to go over table plans.” Lucy opens the laptop again and starts tapping away.
Ava finishes her breakfast and places her knife and fork in the middle of the plate neatly.
“Good?” I ask.
“Amazing.” Her eyes light up. “Thanks again.”
She stands to put the plate away, but I grab it before she can and silently usher her to sit back down.
“Are your parents coming to the wedding?” Ava asks curiously.
Lucy looks at me for a moment and sighs, her shoulders tensing. “We haven’t had contact with them in a while,” I admit. “Remember what I told you before?”
She nods once. “Sorry. It slipped my mind.”
“It’s complicated. I know they’d want to be here, but they wouldn’t jeopardise our safety. Who knows if they’re being tracked? It’s tough for us without them, especially for Luce with her wedding day, but I know they’ll be there in spirit.”
“Oh.” She frowns. “I’m sorry for bringing it up. I hope wherever they are, they’re okay.”
Lucy’s head shakes, her blonde hair flying everywhere. “It’s okay. Bash’s family will be there. Some of our cousins and childhood friends are coming, too. It”ll be lovely, even if our parents won’t see me get married. I know they’re happy for us. Everything they did was to keep us safe, and I’ll forever be grateful for that.”
Ava’s lips part to respond, but another voice cuts her off. “Good morning, everyone.” I turn to find Kayden strolling into the kitchen with a sweat-soaked T-shirt from his morning workout.
“Morning,” Lucy chimes with a smile before sinking her head back into her laptop.
The hairs on my arms tighten, and I turn to find Ava completely rigid. I frown at her body’s reaction as she follows his every move around the kitchen, especially when he pauses by the coffee machine to make a drink.
Before I can register what is happening, Ava leans over to take my hand which is resting on the counter. I know being in the same room as Kayden is a huge step, especially when she told Gemma she wants to battle this head-on. I gently run my thumb over her knuckles in soothing motions.
I got you. Our mindlink opens, and I fill the bond with a safety net.
Within seconds, she exhales a sigh that I realise was constricting her chest. She squeezes my hand, letting me know she’s okay. I let my gaze fall on her, and she nods to herself. I raise her knuckles and kiss the skin gently.
This distracts her for a moment, and her eyes gleam but not with tears.
“H-hey, Kayden.” Her voice is quiet and shaky, but we all hear it.
Kayden looks at us and smiles. “Hi, Ava. Coffee, anyone?”
Lucy points a finger to the sky. “Me, please.”
“Always, Luce.”
The kitchen then is filled with Lucy telling Sebastian the plan for their wedding day. Ava is still holding my hand, breathing a little steadier than before, and I know this is taking everything out of her right now.
I’m so proud of you, I whisper through her mind with every emotion inside my heart. I’d never let anything harm you. You know that, right?
Yes, she shoots back immediately, and it fills me with relief.
“And before you moan, Jaxon.” Kayden glances over his shoulder at me with a cheeky smirk. “Training starts at midday. I’ve got an hour before I take the wolves to the border.”
Quite frankly, the thought of training the pack is the last thing I’m thinking of. Ava, in this moment, has my undivided focus until my eyes dart to the counter beside the coffee machine, and I spot the residue of pressed coffee sprinkled over the marble. I twitch. “That’s not what I’ll be moaning about today,” I murmur.
Kayden rolls his eyes and places a mug down next to Lucy. “Sometimes I think it would be better if you had a cleaner.”
“Sometimes, I think it would be better if people cleaned up after themselves.”
“I’ll do it after breakfast.”
“Which basically means never.”
Kayden releases a laugh. “You’re too easy to wind up.”
“And you are the biggest pain in my ass.”
I turn my attention back to Ava, who is silently watching our encounter.
Are you okay?
Just trying to get used to being around him, she admits.
I appreciate that, and you’re doing amazing.
My throat clears, and Kayden flicks his eyes to me, along with Sebastian. “Well, I think now is a good time to tell you about my wolf.”
“What about your wolf?” Kayden’s brows crease.
“I shifted for the first time in a year.”
Sebastian’s face lights up with amazement, and my sister’s mouth falls open. “No way! How?”
I raise my hand, which is still entwined with Ava’s. “Thanks to this one and our bond. She practically drew it out of me. She has superpowers. She’s very special.”
Ava seems stunned and blinks in shock. “Oh, no.” Her head shakes. “I didn’t do anything.”
“You did everything,” I tell her before kissing her knuckles again. Those cheeks bloom like roses.
“Pack runs together soon?” Kayden suggests.
I nod, my heart slowly mending together again. “Yes. I need it.”
“Good.” Kayden steps towards me and slaps my back. “As much as I hate to admit it, it sucks without you, brother.”