The Defiant Luna
Chapter 31

Nathan POV

Dinner in the private dining room went well. Jay-la’s whole family attended. Brad arrived with his Mate Victoria, who got an introduction, finally to her new sister, also the Luna to the Pack. He watched as Victoria hugged Jay-la openly, like she was a long lost friend. Bradley even greeted him as he walked in through the door “Alpha.” Was all he said. But it was a start.

Alpha Austin and his Gamma Clark were also there for the dinner, it didn’t really surprise him all that much, when the two men followed Clara into the dining room. He was there to watch Jay-la interact with him and would now get to see her in her family unit. His Gamma would be feeling her out during this dinner, and then likely comparing it to when she went on that walk with Austin later on.

Nathan himself got to sit back, and watch himself, as they all talked and chatted amongst themselves. He smiled when she laughed at something funny, though he did notice it was always at something her dad and brother were recanting to her, things that they thought were funny or embarrassing for each other. They were trying to make fun of each other, it seemed, the entire time.

They might not have had any interactions with him over the past six and a half years inside this pack. But it did appear that they’d still lead their lives and had fun family moments. Those two did work together nearly every day of the week, her brother and father were closely bonded. As she had once been to them both as well.

He sat next to her and was just happy to watch them all talk and catch up. He had a question here or there, directed at him and he answered them. But mostly he stayed out of their interactions. Nathan didn’t want them to feel uncomfortable around him, and he knew they all normally were. He was just trying to get along with them for the first time in a very long time. Also, he wanted them to see that he was not going to be imposing on their dinner.

He sat with his arm draped along the back of her chair when they were not eating. She didn’t seem to mind that his fingers trailed across her back occasionally or her arm, she even smiled at him a few times. He smiled right back at her, it was a really nice feeling to see her smile right at him, have it reach her eyes even.

She was happy right this minute and he knew it. He could also feel it.

Kora had an open link to Havoc, her wolf seemed to like letting them know when Jay-la was happy. Which could only imply that he and Havoc were shut out when she was not happy at all. That Kora didn’t want him to feel what Jay-la was feeling at times. Definitely why she had bitten him, he thought, in response to something Jay-la had been feeling.

Victoria offered to cook next time, stated she could do justice to any meal. Brad vouched for her, as did both Jodi and Vera. Jay-la had smiled and told her that would be nice, it seemed this family dinner thing was going to happen again. He really did like it when Jay-la said things that meant she was going to be there in the future.

He walked with Jay-la and the children to see her family out. It was once again snowing, though only a light flurry, he stood and watched them all hug her one by one. He even got a handshake himself from Jodi, Vera touched his arm gently and thanked him for the use of the private dining room. Nathan smiled at her “Anytime you like Vera.” He returned.

She’d smiled right up at him and he knew she was not only happy about it, but was likely going to take him up on that offer. Alpha Austin had taken a moment after her family was gone to ask him if he was always that quiet during dinner.

Nathan had told him the truth, “Jay-la’s family and I have not been on good terms for a very long time.” He was certain Austin knew this.

Clara would have told him “So I limit interacting to make them feel more comfortable around me. I’m hoping they, like Jay-la, will forgive me my errors of the past. But I know it will take time, so time I will give them.”

Saw the man nod his head, seemed happy with his explanation, then Austin turned to Jay-la after looking at the time.

“We’ll walk tomorrow.

How’s your human sister doing?”

“Alright, she is up in her Mate’s room, hasn’t left him alone at all. Is fully Marked by him now.”

“That didn’t take long.”

“It did not, thankfully.” She nodded.

“We’ll turn in then.” Austin looked back to Nathan with a nod, and he watched both Clark and Clara turn and walk with him up the stairs to do just that.

It was just after nine and he had yet to talk to Jay-la about her being adrenalized all the time. Slipped his hand into hers, she knew it was coming, she had talked to Stephen about it, he’d also mentioned

• wanting to talk to her after the children went to bed.

They all returned to the suite and once the children were settled in their beds and this was easily done, they’d had a big day and a long dinner. The children had been animated during dinner, talking about their wolves and the fun they’d had riding them. Settled in well now.

They even allowed him to help Jay-la tuck them into their beds, and smiled down at them when they all said ‘Good night daddy’ even Nate had said “Good night dad.”

That had made him very happy, both he and Havoc. Seems, today riding around on Havoc had finally bonded him with their son. Nathan stood just outside the room and watched her pull the door closed all bar an inch like she always did and then just hugged her so tightly, he couldn’t keep it in any longer. His joy.

“He called my dad.” He murmured softly, heard his own emotion in his voice.

“I heard.” She chuckled softly and hugged him back. He squeezed her just that little bit more, before letting her go and smiling down at her, knew she would actually be able to see how much it meant to him.

Wanted her to see it, she was smiling right back up at him.

“We should go and chat before I get distracted by that smile.” He grinned at her, with her looking at him like that, wanted nothing more than to take her to bed

“There will only be sleep tonight.” She told him.

He chuckled himself, knew that she wanted to sleep because she intended to go to training in the morning. Didn’t know how he was going to keep his hands to himself, he would try. Had never been able to back in the day, he didn’t think he was going to be able to now.

He let her sit and read both entries in that Luna Communications book, just watched her quietly, didn’t interrupt her at all. Saw her look at her b***d results and then sigh, “I have this, don’t I?”

Nathan nodded “It does appear that way, but it is curable, so that is good.” He told her as he watched her close the book and push it away across the desk.

“Not an easy fix, from what I read.”

“No, not so much.” He agreed. “But Franklin is doing research now on it.

That last entry was over a hundred years ago. Modern medicine might be able to help you out.”

“How concerned are you about this?” She asked a little on the quiet side, sounded a little nervous to him.

“I’m not concerned about you having this. You’re still you Jay-la, just a

• little more of a flight risk is all. But I won’t ever hurt you, or make you feel afraid of me. You have nothing to fear here inside this pack. Inside our pack.”

Saw her nod her head slowly. “It concerns me though, that I could hurt anyone. I know Kora and I, we were ready to take on your father.”

“I know, Iheard about that.”

“Doesn’t that concern you at all?”

“Not really no.” Nathar shook his head “Do you want Havoc’s thoughts on it?” he half smiled at her.

“I guess.” She nodded

“He told me ‘Good, I want a strong Mate.’ There was no concern from him at all.”

“Well, he’s got that in Kora. She’s much bigger and faster now too.

“That’s true, her new size could be to do with all the adrenaline. She used to be so tiny and so cute. She always kind of looked like a puppy to us. Now she’s big and strong. Havoc likes that about his Mate.” She just smiled at him a little, then was quiet for a long while as she looked at her b***d results once more. “Do you think we should test the children? I likely got that way when I was pregnant with them.”

“I don’t think so, they are happy and well adjusted from what I can see.

Felt safe with you all the time. If it did affect them, it is probably gone now. You need yourself to be calm and happy, feel safe to resolve it, they will be fine, but if you want to test them, we can.”

“Better to be safe.” She sighed a little on the heavy side.

“Alright.?” He nodded “How do you feel about all of this?”

“Concerned. I’ve lived with it for years, so I know it’s not out of control, but now I also know that it can get out of control, and what triggers it.

Surely that has got to help reduce stress and bring levels down, right?”

“I’d think so. We’ll also follow along with what they did for Madeline, let you flee and calm down. I just want you to promise me one thing.

“Mm,”

“That you’ll always come home to me.”

Saw her now, looking right at him with a slight frown.

“No one is going to be able to catch you in full flight mode, likely not even Havoc. He barely kept up with Kora last night. So when you go into flight mode, that extra adrenaline flooding your body, you’ll out run everyone, I imagine.”

“I don’t even know where I went last time it happened, when we stopped that night. We had no recollection, or didn’t take in our surroundings as we fled.”

“Hmm, I could lo-jack you, if you like.” He smiled right at her, and saw her roll her eyes and shake her head a little.

“You’ll never get away from me then.” He teased her just a little, was trying to lighten the mood around her concerns.

“I’m not going anywhere. I meant what I said earlier, I would never separate Kora from Havoc.”

He smiled at her gently, would have rather have heard her say she wouldn’t want he and her to be apart, that she would stay with him, that was going to take time still. For now he would just take what he could get. “How is Kora doing with all this?”

“Mmm, she’s quiet, we knew something was wrong with us, or likely to be. Is Havoc concerned at all? Even the smallest bit.”

Nathan snorted “No,” he shook his head. “He is of the belief, you’ll never hurt anyone, even in fight mode he thinks Kora’s love for him will stop her or calm her down.”

“He’s got some real faith in his Mate.”

“Yes, he’s never doubted, not for a single second she would want him and accept him. He was also not wrong. He has complete faith in Kora and their bond with each other.”

“Well, let’s just hope, fight mode doesn’t get activated by anything”

“Honestly I don’t think it will.” he sighed a little on the heavy side, though “What I took from this, how you became adrenalized..” looked right at her apologetically “It’s my fault, I did this to you.. Your fear was always present due to you being afraid of myself turning you rogue, and Sophia being a full threat to the children.you should blame me for this affliction, that you and Kora now have… though I will never hurt you Jay-la. Sophia has also been gone a very long time, so here inside this pack, you are completely safe. With the exception of rogue attacks and the usual pack waring.”

She was watching him now, maybe she’d not thought of blaming him and now he’d given her a reason to. But he didn’t want to let it slide, everything about her not being here, where she belonged, for the past six years and a half years was his fault, and he was willing to own that.

To show her he was willing to accept the blame for it.

She didn’t really say anything much, just stared at him. He didn’t know what she was thinking either. She needed time to absorb everything she’d read today and get her head around it all. “I’m a bit tired.” She finally said in the end “Let’s go to bed. But..” she pointed a finger right at him “If I’m getting up for training, I need proper sleep.”

He smiled right at her, that was a bit more difficult to do. He stood up.” You know Jay-la, we never ever, just actually slept, in a bed before this.

Not once to my recollection did you have a hands-free night with me. I couldn’t keep my hands off you then.”

“Well, you will tonight.” She murmured.

“Hm, I will certainly try for you.” he chuckled “But I’m not promising anything here.”

He got hit by her in the arm as she walked around him. “Behave.” She said, and when a playful growl came from him, saw her eyes widen as she turned and looked at him, then she was just gone.

He laughed, and shot after her. No sleep for her tonight it was. Found her in their bedroom, both hands out in a stop manner, as he closed the door behind him, “No, I need proper sleep.” She was shaking her head.

“I’ll help you to get that proper sleep.” He grinned at her.

“Nathan!”

He took a step towards her and saw her footwork adjust to get ready to run from him, smiled right at her “Please, do run sweetheart, I did always love chasing you, it just excites me more.”

Watched her as she bit her l*p, there was no where to go, he was barring the door, but reached behind him and opened it, to give her an exit, so he could hunt her, stepped away from it even “A game of hunt the prey?” he offered, he hadn’t done that it years and she was the fastest thing in this pack, was itching to stretch his legs.

“Nathan?”

“Just you and me, no wolves, I’ll give you a ten count.” Could already feel pure excitement running through him at the thought of chasing her all over the pack. He took another step away from the door. She looked more than a little nervous to him, she had yet to move, he was willing to bet Kora wanted her to. He’d said no wolves, but without Kora he’d catch her easily and she knew it.

“You’ll mate the hell out of me if I run.” She murmured.

His grin was huge,

“Yes I will, and wherever I catch you.” he nodded. His

whole body was tense and ready to go after her and she knew it. There was nothing more wolves and their human counterparts liked than a game of hunt the prey. Especially mated pairs, this was pretty much what Kora had done to Havoc for nearly half the entire night, last night.

Saw her move slowly, she was not dumb, knew any sudden movement could set him off after her, watched her edge towards the bedroom door, put her hand on it and then just push it closed, he raised an eyebrow at her. She didn’t want to play, all wolves wanted to play. She’d always loved to play as well. Knew she was faster than everyone else, that only he could catch her, or his dad.

“You, just calm down.” She said softly “you’re not going to hunt me today.” She told him and walked over to him.

It was a pity, he did want to and he knew she could see it. She put a hand on his chest. “Settle down.”

“But I really want to chase you.” he murmured.

“You just want to have me.”

“That I do.” He nodded as he slid his hand over hers as it rested on his chest, held it to his chest, she’d be able to feel his heart racing with excitement. Wanted her to feel it.

“Calm down.” She stated again.

“K**s me and I’ll calm down.” He smiled at her.

“Oh, I’m not falling for that, I’ve heard that before.”

He smiled right at her, yes she had. He had tricked her more than once or twice with it back in the day, to get her into his arms, close enough to grab onto her. It was good that she could recall their old times, the fun they’d had together. He also liked that she referred to it as well.

“It’s just one little k**s, what harm could it do?” he smirked a little, slid his hand down along her arm and pulled her closer to him, “Just one.” His voice dropped to that rich deep baritone, full of desire, “I just want to k**s the woman I love.” He told her sliding his other hand around her waist and pulling her body gently up against his.

“You bastard,” she gasped as her belly met with his hardened c**k, straining at his clothes, rocked it against her “Mm, I can be.” he smiled” One k**s is all I ask.” He murmured softly and leaned down to k**s her, she didn’t even object to it, tilted her mouth up to meet it even.

He kissed her long and slow, a hand on the small of her back, ground himself against her slowly, picked her up the moment her arms wound their way around his neck and walked her right over to the bed. “T’ll be gentle.” He told her “You’ll sleep well, I promise.”

“Shh,” she murmured and pulled his mouth back to hers, enjoyed the feeling her hands pull at his clothes, helped her from her clothes and leaned over her, looked down at her beautiful naked body beneath his, slid a hand down her body softly, slowly to stroke her intimately smiled as he saw her eyes close as a soft m**n came from her lips.

Leaned down and kissed her neck in light lingering k****s, he was going to take his time with her, trailed slow k****s down her neck, lingered on her mark spot just a little. Smelled her arousal increase and then moved lower to take a hardened n****e in his mouth, the whole time his finger was rolling over her clit in firm circles, he could feel her building to an o****m, let her. Didn’t take anything for himself.

Just enjoyed hearing her, knowing that he could please her; slid his mouth down over her belly to between her thighs to taste her and g*****d deeply, as he did. She was the most delicate thing he’d ever tasted, tasted every part of her, till his tongue was pushing inside of her, sliding in and out of her, he was never going to tire of tasting her, the scent of her was all he could think about, as he breathed her in, felt another o****m roll through her body and g*****d as he got to taste her c*m, drank it all down.

Then he was kissing her a moment later. Her hands in his hair, “Jay-la,” he asked against her mouth, his c**k was so hard, ached to be inside of her, it was damn near painful as he slid it through her folds in long slow strokes. “I want you,” he told her.

“Yes.” She m****d right into his mouth two strokes later, he took her in a long slow stroke, pushed himself inside of her, allowing himself to feel all of her as she took him, she was so tight around him “F**k” M****d himself as his h**s finally met hers, was buried all the way inside of her.

Kissed her deeply, and moved slowly but firmly, taking her gently the whole time, held back his urge to mate her furiously, and just kept it slow and firm till she was gasping and moaning, crying out and clinging on to him. Even ignored her pleas to pick up the pace, he wanted to show her he could love her, in their bed as well as out of it.

Felt her nails digging into him and smiled as he felt her o****m reach its peek, her body clamping tightly all around him, fluttering all over his hard c**k. But he still didn’t stop, was not even close to being done pleasing her, rolled her right into another, smiled as he watched her body writhe and turn, twitch and arch up as another o****m was starting to roll through her body, knew this was it even for him, her whole body was arched up and her eyes were closed, saw as her mouth parted and a scream of pleasure erupted from her as he pushed inside of her one last time and came himself.

His seed spilled into her and a guttural g***n came from himself, he slipped from her body a minute later and smiled down at her, kissed her softly and settled on the bed next to her, tugged her gently over to him and she came willingly to lay in his arms, her naked body pressed up against his. “I love you Jay-la.” He murmured as sleep came to claim him.