Chapter 4

Jaxon’s POV

She narrows her eyes at me, emitting a low growl. Without a word, she sinks into a crouch, her body taut and ready to strike. We begin to circle each other, moving with a fluid rhythm that feels almost like a dance. She smirks, bouncing back and forth on her heels, her long hair flowing with each movement. “C’mon, Jaxon. What are you waiting for?” she taunts, motioning for me to come at her.

I don’t hesitate. I launch myself toward her, but she’s quick, dodging my attack with lightning speed. “Gotta be faster than that,” she teases, her smirk widening as she glances over her shoulder at me.

I growl. She’s currently a bit too cocky for my liking. I lunge at her again, and she dodges the same way as before. Since I anticipated this, I swiftly grab her by the waist and knock her down on the mat. Her eyes blaze as she scrambles to get up, but I use my weight to trap her, pressing her back into the soft, rubbery surface.

Her body writhes beneath me as I grab her hands and pin them above her head. The heat from her skin seeps into mine, and her scent fills my senses. I lean down, whispering in her ear, “Tap out, baby girl.”

“Negative,” she hisses, her eyes darkening to an eggplant purple.

Her legs move with sudden agility, trying to wrap around mine to flip us over. She’s strong, but not strong enough to shift our position. I brace myself, keeping her pinned beneath me.

I smirk as she continues her escape attempt, little grunts escaping from her mouth. I’m about to let her go before the smell of her arousal hits my nose. Shadow starts going crazy; he wants nothing more than for me to bury myself inside of her. I swiftly position myself so that she can’t feel my erection.

Melanie and I lock eyes, and it’s as if the entire room fades away, leaving just us and the crackling tension I’ve never felt before. Before I can gather the courage to speak, a powerful aura sweeps into the room.

Alpha Damon.

I scramble to my feet and help Melanie up, joining the others as they bow their heads in respect. I notice everyone is doing it besides Melanie, whose eyes flash gold at the sight of her dad.

As Alpha Damon approaches us, Mel begins to walk in the opposite direction, but his furious growl freezes her in place. “Mel, I didn’t dismiss you.” There’s a warning in his voice that I’m all too familiar with.

Relutantly, she stands beside me, her face hard as a rock.

“As you already know, since today marks your final day in the Academy, I will be announcing Jaxon as the new Alpha to the pack tonight.” He declares, shooting a cold glare towards his daughter. “I hope everything goes smoothly.”

She folds her arms, retorting, “What is that supposed to mean?”

“I mean I don’t want you ruining Jaxon’s big moment just because you act infantile when you don’t get your way.” He steps forward until his huge form is towering over her. Any other wolf would be cowering in fear and shitting their pants, but she doesn’t back down.

She scoffs. “Don’t worry, Dad. I would never want to embarrass your golden child,” she spits with venom. I don’t want to be in the middle of this shit, but I quickly realize I AM the middle of it, thanks to Alpha Damon.

His face darkens, the wrinkles in his forehead deepening across his forehead. “Stop acting like a fucking brat, Melanie! I told you why I didn’t choose you,” he snaps through clenched teeth.

“Yeah, because you were never going to,” she retorts bitterly. “I don’t even know why I thought I could change your mind.”

“You’re so stubborn, ungrateful, and downright disrespectful. The Alpha male who becomes your mate will surely reject you on the spot,” Alpha Damon spits back.

They glare at each other, standing only inches apart. The fury radiates from them, the tension in the room like a live wire. “Take that back now,” she growls, her voice low and deadly.

“You are my biggest disappointment, Melanie. I’m just glad I found someone like Jaxon…someone who is worthy of being Alpha.”

I can’t even wrap my head around how he can talk to his own daughter like this, but I also know the man before me. Even with two daughters, he’s not a gentle, loving father you’d expect him to be. It’s also making me uncomfortable that they keep mentioning my name as if I’m not standing right here.

“Fuck you, dad!” she shouts, her voice bouncing off the wall. Then she turns around and walks out of the building, flipping him off.

I don’t know why, but watching her stand up to her dad, even though he’s the strongest werewolf in the room, gets my heart racing and blood pumping. And not just in my heart.

What the fuck is wrong with me?