52. Ava
Jaxon had an early meeting this morning. He asked if I wanted to join, and I said I’d leave the business side of his pack to him. He wants me to be more involved and grow into my position as their Luna, but I’m still learning the ropes and need more time.
Instead, I’m in the kitchen with Evan, teaching him how to cook. Sam supervises us, and it’s obvious he doesn’t want to be here from his glowering. I ignore him, but Evan’s shoulders are slightly tense.
“How are you settling in?” I ask.
Evan hums softly. “A lot better now. I’m finding my feet, but I’m ready to learn.”
My face stretches into a grin. “Good. I’m pleased, Evan.”
His hand takes hold of a large knife and slices through a bell pepper. I nod at his positioning until he slices a little too hard, and the tip of the knife swipes down his fingers.
Blood trickles onto the cutting board, and he drops the knife onto the counter with a clang. He jumps back, eyes slightly horrified. “It’s alright, it’s alright,” I say calmly as I grab his wrist and pull him over to the sink.
“Oh my Goddess,” he says as he shakes. “I didn–”
I turn on the tap and let the water mix with his blood to slide down the plug hole. “It’s okay.” I hold his hand. “You’ll heal. It’s a small cut. Are you okay?”
His eyes are glued to his fingers, and after a long moment, he nods. “I think so.”
Once the blood is gone, he pulls his hand away and wipes it on a clean kitchen towel. We get back to cooking, but when I peer over, I find his fingers are still bleeding. I frown at the sight. When Jaxon or Lucy get a small graze, it usually starts to heal within minutes. But Evan’s…it’s not healing at all.
I clear my throat, and he turns his attention to me. “Let’s put a plaster on it,” I say with an optimistic smile. “We don’t want it to get infected.”
Evan doesn’t even nod. He stares at his bleeding fingers. I patch him up in no time, but his eyes are glassed over with clear devastation. My heart strains at the sight of him, and I almost draw him into a hug but stop myself.
“Ready to keep going?” I ask.
He meets my gaze, but he’s reserved for a moment. “Yeah.”
When Jaxon comes back from his meeting with Kayden and Sebastian, Lucy meets us in the kitchen, along with Grace and Phia. Everyone’s eyes light up when they find our food sitting on the counter. Jax slides an arm around my waist and kisses my temple. “Nice job, baby,” he murmurs into my hairline. “I can’t wait to dig in. I’m starving.”
I grin at him. “Then, eat.”
We all sit around the counter, and I give Evan a small thumbs up for the help in making everyone a delicious lunch. Kayden walks towards me with a mouthful of pasta. “Holy shit,” he murmurs. “You guys made this?”
“No,” I deadpan. “We ordered it from the North Pole.”
Kayden stops chewing, narrows his eyes, and swallows. “I was going to say it was delicious, but I take it back. It’s awful.”
I snort. “Yeah, right. Tell that to your empty plate.”
“Because I didn’t want to hurt your feelings.” He pulls a fake frown.
I flip him off.
Kayden’s mouth falls open. “Jaxon, did you just see that?”
“Children,” Jax mutters. “I’m living with actual children.”
“Okay, guys.” I hear Lucy shout, and we all turn our attention towards her. She swallows down her large mouthful of pasta and holds her hands up. “Talking of children, Bash and I have some fantastic news we want to share with you.”
All of us remain silent as her eyes practically glow, her smile so big it takes over most of her face. Sebastian sinks into the space beside her and places his arm around her shoulder. “Go on,” Jaxon urges.
“I feel like after what has happened recently, we are all in need of good news. Something to look forward to.” Lucy glances at all of us. “I’m pregnant!”
My hands fly to my mouth at the same time tears swell in my eyes. The room erupts into claps and cheers, and I can’t help the sob that falls from the back of my throat. I push myself off the stool and hug them both.
“Congratulations!” I murmur with a smile. “I’m so happy for you guys.”
Lucy hugs me so hard I almost snap in half. “So are we. Thank you. You’re going to be an amazing auntie to our bundle of joy.”
I squeeze her back at those precious words. “And you’re going to be the best mother ever.”
After everyone says their congratulations and we all toast to the new parents-to-be, I’m filled with joy, love, and contentment—so many emotions I never thought I’d be able to feel again. I’m so full and warm, I could burst.
Jaxon takes my hand and guides us into the living room alone. I sink down onto the sofa beside him as he tugs a blanket over us, my legs resting across his. We watch a movie together, but every time I glance at Jax, he’s staring at the wall.
I nudge him gently, and his eyes find mine. “What’s the matter?” he asks.
My head shakes. “What are you thinking about?”
“Nothing. Just work stuff.”
My brows clench. “You sure? You were quiet when Lucy and Sebastian announced their news.”
“Yeah.” He gives my calf a squeeze. “I wanted them to have their moment.”
“You’re going to be an uncle. Don’t you think that’s exciting?”
The corner of his lip twitches. “Yeah…I guess it is.”
“You guess?”
He shrugs once, which is not at all convincing.
“Do you not want kids?” I tilt my head.
“Yeah, I do. At some point. Not anytime soon. It feels like I’ve been with you for five minutes, Ava. The last thing I want right now is to think about someone else, other than you. I want to enjoy as much alone time as I can with you before we decide to start the next steps. If we agree to have any.” He smooths his thumb across the fabric on my shin.
I chew on the inside of my lip. “Yeah,” I agree. “That’s true.”
He takes my waist in his hands and tugs me up onto his lap. “Good because I want as much time before we have any little devils running around.”
“Did you just call our unborn children ‘little devils’?” I release a soft laugh.
“Sure did.” He grins.
My forehead presses to his and he leaves a kiss on my lips. “Hey, so I’ve been thinking.”
“About what?”
I clamp my teeth down on my lip as I admire his dark blue eyes. “The next time we have sex,” I pull my head back slowly, “I want you to mark me. I want us to be mated.”
Jaxon doesn’t blink, but he holds me close to him. “Ava–”
“I know what you’re going to say. I’m a human, and you don’t know what will happen if you do it. But I want you to. I want to experience it. Let’s see what happens and pray the mark accepts me.”
“Ava, I am not taking any chances if I don’t know what the consequences are.”
“It’s a bite.”
A slash of pain etches across his face. “I could hurt you, Ava.”
“Or it could be incredibly pleasurable.” I lift one shoulder. “Worst comes to worst, I’ll be healed by the pack doctors. But it’s something I want. I trust you. I trust this world. Why would I be in it if we can’t officially mate?”
Jaxon’s expression warps into one of internal conflict. “I want that, baby. I want to mark you. I want to complete our mating process, but I will never live with myself if I hurt you or do something to you that I can’t change.”
“So, what?” I murmur. “We’ll never be officially mated because you don’t want to take that chance.”
“Ava, that’s not what I mean, and you know it. I want to be marked and mated to you more than anything, but your wellbeing is the priority. That’s the only reason why I’m sceptical.” He laces his fingers through mine.
I sigh in defeat. “Okay.”
“I’ll find out more about it,” he counters. “Do some research because I am not putting you at risk before knowing the outcome. I’m sorry. I know this isn’t what you wanted to hear, but I don’t want to take any chances without knowing the outcome.”
My body sinks back into his with a nod. “I know. I’m just desperate to be closer to you and your world.”
“You don’t need to be a wolf to be close to this world. I promise you. You are already in this world, and you have been welcomed with wide arms,” he murmurs against my head. “Being a human doesn’t make you any different because we know that you’re meant to be here.”
“Yeah, I know. Is it greedy to want more?”
Jaxon shakes his head. “No. You deserve everything good in this world, and I won’t rest until I see you have it all.”
My cheeks bleed with a blush. “I already have everything I need.”
“Me, too,” he whispers against my jaw, trailing up to my lips. “But it’s my goal to make you happy every day for the rest of my life.”
“I forgot what happiness was until I met you.”
He smiles, and I lean in to kiss him this time. “And you’re never going to forget again.”