I woke up some time later feeling much better than I did yesterday, and a bit better than I did before my nap. Checking the time, I saw I only had a few hours to get ready for the feast. I was definitely not as woozy or shaky on my feet as I was even just this morning. I stripped and took the dressing off my wounds to check them. They were almost healed. I couldn’t shift yet, but I would be fine to move around for the night. I got ready after my shower and headed downstairs.
Jo and Charlie were the first ones to see me. Jo’s hand went to her mouth and Charlie’s eyes got misty. I raised an eyebrow, “Sweetie, you look just like your mother the first time she came to visit,” I smiled as Jo embraced me in a motherly hug.
“How do you feel?” Charlie asked.
“Better. Thank you,” I said, stepping out of Jo’s embrace with a small smile fixed to my lips.
We headed to the feast which was being held under a huge pavilion. It was already filled with Jax’s pack mates. The smell of food wafted over to me causing my stomach to growl. Jax laughed, “One of the pack members has a catering business. We always hire him when we have one of these. Their food is so good.” We waited for pack members to get their food and get seated before getting our own food.
Several of the older pack members came up to tell me how much I reminded them of my mom. By the time we got our food, Aaron showed up, fashionably late. “Good evening. I’m so sorry for my tardiness. I was dealing with some things in my clan.”
Charlie got up and gave him a firm handshake, “Not a problem, Aaron. Why don’t you go get yourself a plate of food and join us.”
Aaron glanced at me before he went to grab his plate. Once he turned his back Jax made kissy faces at him. I elbowed him hard in the ribs, “Would you act like an adult for once, please.”
He scoffed, “Me? Never. How boring would that be?”
I glared at him but didn’t get to use my snappy comeback as Aaron made it back to the table. Niamh sent out a wave of overwhelming dominance at him and I hoped it wouldn’t get picked up by the wolves at the table. Aaron coughed and pulled on his tie, “I understand.”
“Do you?” I asked him with narrowed eyes. He nodded, “Good.”
Niamh stopped sending out at least the overwhelming dominance. Jax looked between us, “What just happened?”
Aaron cleared his throat, “Niamh made herself clear on the stance of my proposal and showed I’m not as dominant as her, so even if she did agree, I wouldn’t be able to help-”
“Control,” I interrupted.
“Help,” he insisted, “Amaya when Niamh takes over-”
“If she takes over, which she won’t, because of my training and special relationship with her,” I said, giving him a pointed look.
Aaron sighed but put his hands up in surrender. “Yeah that’s the best course of action, Aaron,” Jax said with a chuckle, “Hey overgrown lizard, hurry up and finish eating so we can go dance.”
He poked me in the arm, side, and side of the head as if pestering me would help me eat faster. I gathered some food on my fork and slowly lifted it to my mouth. Jax groaned, “That’s what you get for annoying me and calling me an overgrown lizard.”
“Alexander leave the girl alone, for goddess’ sake, she’s injured,” Jo said in an attempt to get her son to act the way he should as a prince.
“But Mom-” he started but was silenced by a glare from Jo.
“‘Overgrown lizard’ is he serious?” Aaron asked me.
“He thinks it’s a good insult,” I said with a smile.
Aaron snorted, “Sure it is! Why wouldn’t it be?” Jax said.
“The accuracy leaves something to be desired, Prince,” I said, rolling my eyes.
“I still say it’s better than when you people call us dogs.”
“Of course you would say that. At least mine’s accurate. You have more in common with a dog than I do with a fucking lizard,” I flicked him on the ear as I got up, “Come on you wanted to dance, so let’s dance.”
When we reached the dance floor the band started playing a slower song. We danced along until Aaron came over, “May I cut in?”
Jax looked at me for confirmation before allowing Aaron to take his spot, “If you’re hoping to give me a sales pitch Aaron, you can save your breath.”
“I will always hold out hope you might one day say yes to my proposal and will flirt with you endlessly so you know the offer still stands. However, you are not interested so I won’t press you nor will I allow anyone in the Fire Clan to pressure you.”
I nodded my head, “Thank you Aaron. You will find your mate one day, and it will be amazing when you do.”
“I’ve been thinking about touring the clans to look for her. I’m not getting any younger after all,” he said with a sadness creeping into his eyes.
“Aaron, you’re still young. You’ll live longer than most. You have plenty of time so long as you have patience.”
I felt Niamh reach out for Aaron’s dragon, attempting to comfort him. “See our dragons do like each other,” Aaron said with a flirtatious smile.
I rolled my eyes, “Uh huh. Niamh is just doing her job as queen, giving comfort to those who need it.” He leaned in, “Don’t push it Aaron.”
He chuckled, “Can’t blame a guy for trying.”
The rest of the night passed quickly. I danced with several of Jax’s pack members before the night ended. Jax walked me to my room with his arm slung around my shoulder, “Did you have a good time Little Duck?”
“I did. You guys know how to throw a party,” I said with a smile.
“Yeah we do,” he wrapped me in a tight hug, “Get some rest Little Duck. Tomorrow’s going to be a big day.”
I still slept later than I normally would, but when I checked on my wounds I was completely healed with just pink and white scars to mark my injury. After I showered and got dressed I headed downstairs for breakfast. “How do you feel today, Amaya?” Feray asked.
“Good! I’m all healed up.” I sat down at the table with them, “Ready to get back to kicking Jax’s ass.”
“‘Ready to get back to kicking Jax’s ass,’” Jax mocked as everyone else chuckled, “You’re not funny.”
“At least I’m accurate,” I said, sticking my tongue out at him.
“You two are worse than Ava and Noah when they get started,” Jo said, rolling her eyes.
“Where are they this morning?” I asked.
“Hunting trip with their age group. It’s a whole right of passage thing for young pack members,” Jax explained. His phone dinged, “Ah. Our other guest will be here in about an hour or so.”
“Who will be here in an hour or so?” Aaron asked, walking into the dining room.
“Jax’s mystery guest,” I answered, taking a bite of my eggs. “I didn’t know you were staying here last night Aaron.”
“Yeah. I didn’t feel like driving back last night,” he said with a shrug.
“How’s your training, Aaron?” I asked with a thinly veiled smile hidden behind my coffee mug.
“It’s not too bad.”
“How about we train after breakfast then?”
“Sure,” Jax smiled wide at him, “Why is he looking at me like that?”
I quickly finished my breakfast, “Don’t worry about it.”
I ran upstairs and braided my hair back and secured it tightly. “Ready when you guys are,” I said, running back downstairs and sliding into the dining room.
Jax rolled his eyes, “There’s something wrong with you.”
“Yeah you try not training and doing practically nothing for a few days, and tell me if you wouldn’t be chomping at the bit to get back into training.”
He sighed, “Fine, you fucking psychopath. I’ll take the winner. Come on Aaron before she drags us outside and beats our asses.” I gave him a look which caused him to sigh again, “At least if we go willingly we might have a chance.”
“Keep telling yourself that pup,” I said as I walked out to the training field.
“This is going to suck isn’t it?” Aaron groaned following us out to the field. I chuckled a bit evilly while Jax just hung his head, accepting his fate.
As we stretched, I tested the limits of my newly scarred torso. “Okay Aaron. Let’s do this.”
He rolled his neck and bounced from foot to foot. He struck first, an easy right hook, which I dodged quickly. I took a couple steps back and waited for his next attack. He kicked with his left leg attempting to catch my torso, but I caught it and twisted him around. I released him but gave him a firm kick to the ass that sent him stumbling forward. “You know if you wanted to touch my ass you could’ve just touched it. You didn’t have to fight me,” he said with a chuckle.
“I’ll keep that in mind,” I said as we circled each other. He shifted onto his heels just slightly, meaning he was about to move, so I waited before making my move. He kicked again, which I blocked, and I threw my first actual blow of the fight, a leg sweep, which landed Aaron on his ass.
Jax and I laughed, “Yeah, yeah, laugh it up. You assholes,” Aaron said from the ground. He got up and started his attack again.
Fox’s POV
I turned where my GPS was telling me to, into a long winding driveway. It let out into a large clearing with a huge house. “What the fuck Jax? You’re loaded,” I whispered to myself.
I parked my rental by the house and was greeted by a beautiful black woman and a handsome suntanned man, who both looked vaguely like Jax. “Hi. You must be Fox. I’m Jo, Jax’s mom, and this is my husband, Charlie, Jax’s dad.”
Charlie shook my hand while Jo insisted on a hug. They both smelled faintly like the earth and a bit like a dog. “Come on in. We’ll show you where you’re staying and then you can join Jax down on the field.”
We walked into the house and I couldn’t help but look around in awe. “Your home is beautiful.”
“Thank you,” Jo said, “Charlie’s grandfather built it.”
As we walked through the house I picked up slight hints of petrichor and cinders. My hopes lifted a little that Amaya might be here when I picked up that slight scent of petrichor. She was the only person I had ever known to smell like a rainstorm, but dammit if I couldn’t get enough of it. I dropped my bag in the room Jo and Charlie led me to, “I’ll show you were Jax is,” Charlie said with a small smile on his face.
He led me outside and I saw her right away, circling a black guy who was well built but basically her same height. Charlie hit my shoulder before walking back to the house. A small gust of wind flirted across my skin, I watched as Amaya breathed in and locked eyes with me. The guy she was fighting attempted to capitalize on the distraction by swinging, but somehow she dodged every swing. She broke eye contact to throw an accusatory glare at Jax, who just shrugged. He walked over to me, “I’m glad you made it.”
“You didn’t tell me Amaya was going to be here,” I said with a raised eyebrow.
“Must’ve slipped my mind,” he said with a shrug.
I gave him a sideways glance, “Who’s the guy she’s sparring with?”
“Family friend. Amaya’s just toying with him though. She’s gotten a lot of training since she left SEAL training.”
Just as he said that Amaya finished off Jax’s family friend with a stunning submission takedown. She got up and she helped him to his feet, “Remind me to stay on your good side.”
She chuckled lightly and they walked over to where Jax and I were standing. “It’s good to see you Fox,” she said before taking me into her arms. I relished in the electricity that passed between us. I didn’t know if she felt it too, but if she did she didn’t give anything away as she pulled back.
“Is it? With that glare you sent Jax I would think you weren’t very happy to see me.”
“He didn’t tell me you would be here. He’s sticking his nose somewhere it doesn’t belong,” she said vaguely with another glare at Jax who looked as innocent as he could.
Before I could say anything else, the family friend stepped forward with his hand out, “It’s nice to meet you Fox. My name is Aaron.”
I took his hand in mine and gave it a firm shake, “It’s nice to meet you.”
I watched as Amaya stretched, “Okay Jax. Your turn.”
He groaned but took off his shoes and shirt, “Try not to toy with me as much as you did Aaron.”
She smiled wickedly, “Whatever you want, Jax.”
“Are they always like this?” Aaron asked me.
I nodded, “All the way through training they were always together, but fought like I do with my siblings, especially in hand to hand training. I haven’t seen her since she rang the bell, so it should be fun to see what she has in store for Jax.”
Aaron smiled, “They’ve been at each other’s throats since I’ve been here. I’m kind of sad I’m leaving in a little while.”
“Do you live in the area?”
“Kind of. I’m down near Barstow. Where are you?”
“I’ll be stationed in Little Creek, Virginia.” He smiled, “What?”
“I’ll let you find out,” is all he said before settling in on the ground to watch Jax get his ass kicked.
I followed his lead and settled in next to him on the ground. “Come on Little Duck. You could be nice for once and just let me off easy.”
As they circled each other, she tilted her head in mock consideration, “I could, but have you ever known me to take it easy on you or anyone?”
Jax sighed, “No, but there’s always a first time for everything.”
“Not today,” she said before taking off her shirt, so she was down to nothing but her sports bra and sweats. The sight made my dick twitch.
When she walked around this time, I noticed she had several new scars on her left side, “Where did she get those scars on her side?”
“She didn’t have those in training?” Aaron asked, nonchalantly.
“No. She had her lightning scar, but not those on her side.” I stated as she jumped on Jax and threw him onto his back.
“That was fair,” I just barely heard him say from where I was.
Aaron had a small smile on his face as if he heard Jax too. “I’m not sure. I hadn’t seen them until just now. That would be something to ask her.”
Amaya had Jax in an arm bar, but Jax easily got out of it. From the smirk on her face, he was supposed to get out of it. He rushed her but she was ready for him. She took his legs out from under him and started circling him again. As she got to his feet, he swept hers out from under her. He got up quickly, but she stayed down until he was in just the right position and sent a beautiful kick to his side while also bringing herself upright. “Christ Little Duck. What was that for?”
She didn’t say anything, just gave him a smirk and a deadly glare. Jax tried to fight back, using every move we learned and that he brought to us, but Amaya had trained more and was better. She dragged it out, but finally went for submission and Jax gave it to her willingly. He flopped out on the ground panting. “You’ve gone soft, my friend.”
“The fuck I have! That was awful. You need to learn how to take it easy on people.”
“The bad guys aren’t going to take it easy on you. Don’t make me come save your ass because you’ve lost a few steps.”
“How would you save his ass? You’re not in the Navy. I know I looked for you after you rang the bell,” I asked.
She and Jax shared a look, or I should say, Amaya glared and Jax actually looked sorry for a change. “I work for a private contracting company.”
“And you were at SEAL training because?” I pressed.
“Training. Just like you and Jax. I was recruited in training and it was worked out with my recruiter and the Navy.”
“What happened to your torso?”
“Some things went wrong on my last mission,” she said vaguely.
My eyes narrowed, “What things?”
“What things do you think? The kind of things that left me on R&R for the last month and a half while I healed. Jax reached out and said I should come out and it sounded like a good idea.” She grabbed her shirt off the ground and threw it back on before storming off back to the house. Aaron followed behind her mumbling something about needing to get on the road.
I stood there startled, “Don’t worry man. She’s more pissed at me than she is at you.” I looked at Jax, “Amaya doesn’t like surprises. I shouldn’t have sprung you on her. I just thought there was something between you two, and I would help the both of you out by doing this.”
I rubbed my face with my hand, “You shouldn’t meddle in things Jax. Even if there is something there, and I don’t think she likes me like that, you shouldn’t meddle. She always seems to hold me at arm’s length.” I blew out a sigh, “Then some of the things she says are so vague, I don’t know what to do with them. I mean I haven’t stopped thinking about her since she left.”
“I’ve learned just to let the vague things go. Most of the time she’s saying as much as she can. She might have a reason for keeping you at arm’s length, I can’t speak for her. All I know is she has a reason for everything she does. I bet she hasn’t stopped thinking of you since she left either.” He clasped me on the shoulder before walking over to pick up his shirt and shoes, “Come on let’s go inside.”
“Speaking of inside, you never said you were rich or that your family is super loaded. What the hell is that house?”
He rolled his eyes, “My family has made a lot of great investments over the years, so yeah we’re a little rich. The money is, for the most part, tied up in other things though. The house is a family home. My great grandpa built it.”
When we reached the house Amaya was nowhere to be found. “She went for a run,” Charlie said from the kitchen, “Said something about my second son being a dickhead and his friend not being much better, so she needed some space,” he gave Jax a pointed look and Jax sighed.
“Should she be running so soon after her injury?” I asked.
Jo smiled at me over Charlie’s shoulder, “Don’t worry about her. She knows her limits.”
Amaya’s POV
“You should’ve been kinder to our mate,” Niamh growled.
“He was being an ass. Are you telling me the Queen of Dragons bows to no one but her mate? Just because he doesn’t know what we are doesn’t mean we give him a break when he’s an ass.”
She growled but didn’t argue. We were flying high over Jax’s parent’s territory, heading nowhere in particular. I kept an eye on the terrain below, and I noticed something odd. I flew down low and shifted mid air, rolling to my feet. I took in the scene before me. It appeared I was at the border of the Pacific Moon Pack, but the sentries had been killed. I took in a deep breath, rogues. I looked around in the hopes of finding something that might resemble a phone. I couldn’t find one so I moved out of the area before shifting.
Once I made it back I pulled Charlie aside and let him know what I found. “We felt the connection break, but where were they exactly?”
“Northern border, almost dead center,” Niamh relayed to him.
He nodded, his eyes going glassy, “Okay they’ve been found. The question now is: where are the rogues?”
“Are you guys able to track the scent?”
He nodded, “I’ve got trackers working on it now, but I don’t like not knowing ahead of time how many we’re up against.”
“If you need me. I’ll gladly help.”
He nodded, “I might just take you up on that. Our only problem will be finding a way around the human.”
I smiled, “He probably has to find out some time.”
“He’s your mate isn’t he?” I nodded, “Goddess my son is a jackass. I swear we didn’t raise him that way.”
I laughed, “His heart was in the right place, or at least I think it was. Plus it gave me an excuse to actually kick his ass.”
He gave me a tight smile, “Good. He needs a good ass kicking every now and then. I’ll let you know if we need your help.”
We rejoined Jo, Jax, and Fox, “Would you like some lunch Amaya?”
I nodded, “Thank you, Jo.” I ate quickly, “I’m going to go take a shower.”
“Thank God. You smell awful,” Jax said. Before Charlie got the chance to smack him I slapped him upside the head as I walked past him, “Ow! That wasn’t necessary!”
“You’re not necessary, Alexander,” I said as I left the room.
“That doesn’t even make sense!” He shouted after me, “Ow!”
“Leave her alone, jackass,” Fox said, making me smile.
Fox’s POV
“You didn’t have to hit me so hard, kiss ass,” Jax said after Amaya left the room.
“Yeah I did, jackass,” I replied. “She might’ve kicked your ass already but I still owe you an ass kicking for meddling.”
“Yeah yeah. Can’t wait. Come on, let’s go into town and see if we can find something for Amaya.”
I raised an eyebrow but didn’t press him. Once we were in town, we stopped by several different shops. “What exactly are we looking for?”
Jax shrugged, “Something that feels like her.”
I nodded, browsing through the store we were at currently. I picked up trinkets, but nothing seemed like something she would like. I came across a set of books, looking through them, they were perfect for her. I looked around for Jax but didn’t see him, so I checked out with the books.
When I walked out I saw Jax walking back toward me with a bouquet of flowers and chocolates. “Laying it on a little thick don’t you think, Jax?”
“Oh no. This is perfect. She’ll forgive us, mainly me, in no time. What did you find?” I opened the bag for him to look at the books I found, “She’s going to love those.”
“You think?” I asked, a little unsure of what I picked.
“Yeah man! Great choice!” He responded with a smile on his face.
When we got back to Jax’s house, Amaya was gone again, so we quickly set up the things we bought for her in her room.
Amaya’s POV
“We found the rogues, but it’s not good. I think we may need your help after all Amaya. If you’re still willing that is,” Jo said with a hopeful yet worried look on her face.
“Of course. Where are they?”
“They’ve captured Ava, Noah, and the rest of the kids on the hunting trip. They’re holding them hostage, but they’re only threatening Ava and Noah because of their status,” Charlie growled.
“Let’s go then,” I said, stretching just a little.
“Jo and I are supposed to go alone. If they smell anyone else they’ve said they’ll kill the twins.”
“I’ll fly overhead and shift once things get started. This is the kind of thing I’ve been trained for,” I said, laying a comforting hand on Jo’s shoulder. “I can also make sure if you bring back up they are downwind from the rogues.” They nodded, “okay. Let’s get into position. I’ll track you guys from the sky.”
I headed to the clearing Jax took me to the first day, and shifted, flying high enough in the sky to not be seen or smelled but low enough to still see and smell things with Niamh’s keen senses. We picked up Jo and Charlie’s trail and followed along, keeping the winds blowing toward the Pacific Moon wolves. They made it to the meeting site, and Charlie shifted back into his human form. I created a rainstorm to help saturate the area with the rogues’ scent. “Your Luna shifts too.”
“No. You only need to speak with one of us, so she’ll stay in her wolf form,” Charlie said. The rogue growled, but didn’t try to force him to make her shift or her to shift, knowing he couldn’t. “What do you want?”
“Free range in your territory and for your family to step down as the royal family.” Jo growled but Charlie laughed mirthlessly, “If you don’t, we will kill the wolves here. We’ll save your daughter and son for last, killing them slowly.”
Charles growled along with Jo, I took that as my cue and flew down low enough to shift and shoulder rolled to my feet. “Hello boys and girls. Let the kids go and surrender.”
“Or what?”
I smirked, “I was hoping you would ask.” I bent lightning down and took out two of the seven rogues standing in front of me.
“Fucking lightning dragon,” the rogue walked so that he is right in my face, “This is none of your business, so fly on out of here with your little wings and leave us to work this out.”
I grinned widely but it didn’t reach my eyes. I punched him with most of my strength to knock him out instantly. “Anyone else?” They looked at me stunned, “Let the kids go and surrender.”
Two of them shifted quickly and ran into the woods. We watched as the wolves Charles and Jo brought along chased after them. I raised an eyebrow, “If you move a single inch, I’ll rip the sweet little Princess’s throat out.”
“Are you sure that’s how you feel about it?” She looked at me as if I had lost my mind, “All right, if you’re sold on that course of action. Have it your way,” I bent more lightning down and knocked out the two remaining rogues. I stopped the storm that was still raging overhead.
“Did you kill them?” Charlie asked.
“Nah. Just knocked them out for a few hours. Did the others catch up to the two that ran?” He nodded, “Good I hate loose ends.”
Jo shifted and ran to her kids, “Are all of you okay?”
“We’re fine mom,” Noah said.
“That was so cool Amaya! So you’re a lightning dragon?” Ava asked, looking past her mother’s body.
“Nope. I’m a storm dragon,” I said with a mixture of pride and sadness, “One of the last of my kind.”
Charlie clasped a fatherly hand on my shoulder, “Thank you for your help today, Amaya. Who knows what might’ve happened had you not been here.”
I smiled, “I’m sure you guys could’ve handled it. You don’t become the biggest pack in the country or one of the oldest families by letting dragons settle your rogue problems.”
Charlie laughed, “Very true, but the help is always appreciated.”
“Do you guys need help with transport?” Charlie shook his head no, “Great. I’m going to head back before the guys miss me too much.”
“Thank you, Amaya,” Jo said, placing a kiss on my forehead. “Your mother would be so proud of the woman you’re becoming.”
I smiled sadly as I walked away to a clearing big enough for me and shifted, taking to the sky. Without checking my surroundings, I landed and shifted, “What the fuck? What the actual fuck?!”
Author: Kailan Counahan 