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I put on my clothes and walk down the stairs to the first floor. It’s about three in the afternoon, which is when Maisie would be picked up from school or daycare. I follow the sounds of laughter and excitement until I find the room with bright colors and a neon sign that says “Jaxon’s Daycare.”
It’s cute that the daycare is named after Jaxon, but I walk past the entrance and look at the kids until I see Maisie. She’s coloring next to a boy who looks to be about her age (surprise). They are talking about whatever 6-year-olds talk about while they laugh and share crayons. I just watch them with a little smile on my face.
I’m so grateful that she’s safe and happy that I’m not paying attention when one of the daycare workers walks up next to me and clears his throat.
I jump back in shock and put my hand on my beating heart.
A man in his late twenties smiles at me with guilt as he pushes his long blonde hair behind his ears.
“I’m sorry, Luna. I didn’t mean to scare you.”
“Oh, don’t worry,” I say with a laugh at how easily I can be scared. “I was just checking on Maisie. I haven’t been down here yet.”
“I know,” he says in a matter-of-fact tone, then clears his throat and shakes his head nervously. “I would have known if the Luna came down here because I work here.”
I smile at him to try to calm him down a little. I don’t know why he’s acting like I’m a celebrity, but I want him to feel like a normal person around me. I’m just a normal person.
I switch the topic to Maisie.
“So, how has Maisie been since…” I stop talking, knowing he will know what I mean.
He agrees. “Yeah, she’s been great. The boy next to her, Maxwell, has really gotten close to her. They do everything together—play, eat, and nap. It’s really cute, actually.”
It’s good to know that Maisie is making friends. I’m a little worried that the boy is a werewolf because his strength and shifting abilities could put her in danger. However, I trust the pack to keep her safe and teach all of their young shifters how to use their powers. I still want to keep an eye on this friendship and any others she makes. She might forget that she’s a person living with supernatural beings, so she’ll need a big sister to help her.
“I don’t want to bother her if she’s having fun, so I’ll come back later,” I say with a smile. I back up, but the worker calls out to me.
“Wait! You can stay and help if you want, Luna. Maisie talks about you all the time and would love to spend time with you. We were about to go outside to the playground, and you could always come along. Only if you want…”
He talks a lot, just like I used to when I was nervous. I don’t laugh when I say yes to his offer.
“Great!” he says, and then he tells all thirty kids to line up and go to the playground in the back. Maisie spots me and runs over to me.
“Calla! Are you feeling better now?” she asks. She is jumping up and down with excitement at my feet. I can understand her energy because this is the first time she’s seen me walk around.
“Yeah, I feel great,” I say with a smile and then bend down to hug her.
I feel a light tap on my shoulder in the middle of our hug. I let Maisie go so she could see the same dark-haired boy she was with before. He waves at me, then, without warning, bows. I try to keep my face neutral and friendly instead of shocked and confused.
“Hi, Luna. My name is Maxwell and Maisie is my best friend. It’s nice to meet you.” His smile is so big, and I’m instantly impressed by how kind and polite he is.
I put my arms around him so that the three of us could hug.
“It’s a pleasure to meet you, Maxwell.”
He smiles, takes Maisie’s hand, and leads her to the line that is letting people out.
“Come play, Calla!” Maisie yells after me, and I go outside with the kids and other workers. I walk up to the same blonde employee I talked to earlier.
“By the way, what’s your name? I think I was really rude.”
“Oh, don’t worry, Luna. My name is Ashton.”
“Please call me Calla,” I beg. I don’t want every werewolf I talk to to be so nervous and formal with me. I should be scared of them, if anything! People should look up to me as a leader. I want to encourage loyalty, respect, friendship, and kindness. That starts with every relationship I have.
“Okay, Calla.”
Ashton then takes me to a bench and starts telling me everything about the daycare and what Maisie has been doing. It’s nice to talk to someone other than Skyler, Natalie, or Jaxon.
I relax and enjoy Ashton’s company as time goes by. He tells me all about his friend Juliet, whom he met almost ten years ago. I sit and listen to him talk about how much he loves her, even after all these years. I hope it is that way for me and Jaxon…
Ashton is laughing so hard while telling me about a time when Juliet made him a terrible dinner that he stopped talking. He is the chef in the relationship, it seems. It looks like the world stops for a second as every werewolf in the area stops moving and looks at me.
I swallow hard and quickly turn to Ashton for help. He tugs on his collar and smiles at me, but it isn’t very strong.
“He says, “Alpha’s looking for you.”
Uh oh. I think Jaxon still thought I was on bedrest and went to look for me.
“I’m sorry, but I told him you were at the daycare,” Ashton says.
“That’s fine; I can’t mindlink or anything, and I don’t have my phone with me. I guess we’ll just have to wait for the big bad Alpha to show up,” I say jokingly.
Ashton doesn’t think my joke is funny.
It only takes a minute for Jaxon to leave the pack house and look around until he finds me. He walks straight toward me and doesn’t stop until he gets there.
Ashton moves farther away from me on the bench.
“Why are you out here?” he asks in a rough voice.
“I wanted to see Maisie, but Ashton was talking to me about the daycare and what happens here every day, and I lost track of time.”
At that point, Jaxon realizes that Ashton is there. He looks him over, and a growl of possession rises in his throat. Ashton swallows hard and steps back.
“No, you can’t be all growly around every male pack member I talk to! Ashton was very nice to me and told me all about his mate, whom he loves very much.”
I look at Ashton and smile a little.
“Thanks for today. I appreciate you being there for me.”
He smiles back, but only after a moment, and says he hopes to see me at the daycare more often.
I get up from the bench, say goodbye to Maisie, and then follow Jaxon inside, who is angry and quiet. I don’t know why he’s so mad right now, but this is the most upset I’ve seen him in a long time. I have to push him to find out how he really feels.
I don’t even have to ask him where he’s going; I can tell he’s going to his bedroom. That room and his office are two of the few that are soundproofed, so he can be Jaxon and not Alpha Jaxon.
I close the door behind us and lean against it while he walks back and forth. He runs a hand through his dark hair. He breathes in through his nose and out through his mouth, which is a clear way for him to calm down after he’s gotten worked up.
I push against the wall and sign.
I ask in a voice that is almost monotone, “What’s wrong, Jaxon?”
He stops walking and glares at me.
He says, “I think it’s pretty clear what’s wrong, Calla.” He sees me standing there, takes a deep breath, and then takes my hand and leads me to his bed to sit down.
I roll my eyes, but I let him pull me.
He sees my face and leans over me, putting one hand on each side of my thighs so that he is hovering over me and I can’t get away.
“Did you just roll your eyes at me, baby?” he asks, and his eyes get a little darker.
We’re getting somewhere now.
“And if I did? You deserve it,” I huff back.
He growls softly and then pushes me down on the bed so that he is just a few inches away from me. He has a cocky smirk on his lips that makes them turn up at the corners.
“I don’t think so. You can’t follow orders. I deserve your attitude.” He kisses my neck lightly once, then a little harder as he moves down the side and finds his mark. I take a small breath, but he hears it.
“I’m the Luna, so I don’t have to do what you say.”
When he nips at my neck, I close my eyes as a small punishment for sassing him.
He suddenly sounds more serious than before when he says, “I told you to stay on bed rest. You’re still healing.”
“The doctor said I was fine, Jaxon!” I sit up and glare at him. “Look at me! I can walk, talk, and eat like normal. I’m not in any pain anymore. You can’t keep me locked up just because you’re scared something might happen to me.”
When he clenches his jaw, I know I hit a nerve.
“Calla, it’s not like I’m afraid for no reason. You got hurt again! I’m always falling short with you, and if you stay inside and listen to me, I know you’ll be safe!” He starts to pace back and forth in front of the bed. I watch him walk and see his muscles get tighter and tighter. I’m getting dizzy just watching him walk around so much.
He turns and is right in front of me in a flash.
“Run, damn it!” he yells, letting out all of his anger, frustration, and fear.