The Defiant Luna
Chapter 36

Nathan POV

Nathan sat staring at Stephen, from benind his desk in the Alpha’s office, there was a deep frown on his face. His Gamma was going on about Jay-la’s birthday. Nathan was well aware of when it was, he did not need a reminder and yes, he was well aware that he had yet to go out and get her anything

But Christmas had come first, and he had wanted to make sure that he didn’t get her something anyone else got her.

Knew that she was going to be spoiled not just by him, but by her own family, her parents in particular, seeing as they were so very happy to have her back.

So he had waited on purpose for this. He had a designer working on her Luna gifts, a beautiful jewellery set that consisted of a necklace, earrings and a matching bracelet.

Not that she knew anything about that. Also, he had his jeweller working on her engagement ring, something he wouldn’t normally need, but with Lauren and Tony going to be in their lives, he was going to do the human thing. It also gave him a reason to spend money on her and buy her things. He wanted to give her everything, including that human world wedding and a Luna Ceremony.

Stephen was still telling him his thoughts. “You should take Jackson and the triplets with you; they’ll be able to help you pick out a nice gift for her.”

“Honestly, Stephen, I think asking Jay-la what she wants would be a better idea.” She had liked her new car, had been happy about it and used it to drive to her parents place on the other side of the pack’s town, and had told him it was dream to drive. That she loved it. He was really happy about that.

“Now you say that, but surprising her is also good, isn’t it now?”

Nathan’s eyes narrowed on the man now, he was really pushing this hard, he thought. “I surprised her with a new car.” He reminded his Gamma.

“Yes, and she loved that surprise. But this is her birthday, the very first one since she’s been back. You need to do something big.”

“Her Luna Ceremony is in three and a half weeks, Stephen, its going to be massive.”

“Oh I know that.” He shook his head and waved a hand in the air in a ‘whatever’ gesture “Everyone knows that, blah, blah, blah. All Luna Ceremonies are expected to be big, bold and lavish. It’s the norm. Her birthday is more important, way more personal or should be to you.”

He stared hard at his Gamma now, looked at Jackson at the slight growl that came from him, not even his Beta was happy about the disrespecting of the Luna Ceremony.

That he was showing. Which Jay-la was finally being involved in.

It had taken several days for her to be swayed and have her agree to helping in anyway. He’d nearly argued with her about her not wanting to help plan it, he’d had to rein in his own temper on more than one occasion with her ‘do what you want.’ Attitude.

Which his own mother had told him, that her attitude towards her Luna Ceremony was still likely to do with his late announcement of her to the pack. That hed picked her dress for her, and not even brought it up to her when he should have, that her attitude was all his fault on the matter.

To contain himself and his own frustration, as it was his own fault and cajoling her into it, was going to be the only way they would get her to do it, not his temper and yelling at her. So, rein it in he had done on all attempts to talk to her about it.

It had taken not just him, but both their mothers to cajole her into just considering helping them. It had actually been Rae-Rae and Margaret that had talked her into it, and they were now also helping her plan it. It seemed Rae-Rae and Margaret were going to be close to her. She actually really liked Margaret, which was good, being that she was Jackson’s Mate and therefore would be part of her social group.

“Watch it, Gamma.” he warned him. He hadn’t really appreciated that disrespect of her Luna’s Ceremony either.

“The children will all want to get her gifts as well.” Stephen went on, completely ignoring the warning he had been given altogether.

But that comment did have his undivided attention, had not thought about that part of his getting her a gift. “

Alright, I will consider it Stephen, though I can just shop online and have something delivered or picked up.”

Watched as Stephen glared right at him, he looked really angry actually. “You need to go and do this yourself.” He snapped “Jay-la is not just your Mate, or the mother of your children. But the love of your life, correct? You do love her, yes? Never want to lose her, right?”

So many questions were fired at him all in that angry tone, that it had not just his undivided attention but Havoc’s as well We love our Mate. His wolf practically snarled at him, he did not like that their Gamma was riling up and firing those questions at them, he was the Gamma and knew what she was feeling better than any one.

“Yes, Havoc we do love her. he told his beast.

“She is not your mother or sister, Nathan.” Stephen went on, shook his head as though he was not only dismayed but disappointed in him, and then just turned and walked out of his office “Bloody fool.” Nathan heard him mutter as the man walked away from the office, Havoc was still all attention “is going to tick her off to no end. Not doing it himself, who the bloody hell doesn’t go and pick a birthday gift in person for the woman they love.”

He could feel Havoc’s anger building inside of him, You won’t tick off our Mate. He snarled all aggression at him. ‘ She’s happy right now.’ He sighed.

They had been getting along really well for the most part.

His eyes moved to Jackson, who just shook his head and shrugged at him, stated “I wouldn’t mind going shopping.

Get something for Margaret, I’ve not done that other than for Christmas, something just because I love her, no reason needed.”

“I don’t think Jackson, this is about her birthday. I only brought that up with her yesterday, she just shrugged at me and said ‘cake would be nice.’ If I recall correctly. She loves a good black forest cake. I have already spoken to the pack chef, hes going to make one for her.”

“Then what do you think it is about?”

“I don’t know,” his eyes moved to the adjoining door that led to her office. She was in there right this minute. Though the door was closed, so she was unaware of the conversation that had just taken place with Stephen.

Perhaps that man had picked something up that he nor

Havoc had.

She had gotten those charges against him dropped, hed heard the not so nice words Eric Stanton had snapped at her down the phone, when she’d told him she wanted them officially dropped

He had been very unhappy about her decision and her being here with him. He’d asked Jay-la point blankly if she was being coerced into dropping them? If she felt threatened? Was being made to stay there inside Browning Corporation? Was Nathan using the children to get her to remain there? Was he using his wealth and legal team to threaten her with the loss of her children, going for full custody? Could she not get herself off of company grounds?

The man had practically interrogated her, like she was a witness on the stand, and he was cross-examining her, trying to get her to slip up. Nathan had gotten more than annoyed himself, but Jay-la had held up a hand to him on more than one occasion, to make him hold his own tongue.

To stop him from taking that phone from her and having a piece of that man himself.

Shed not once looked at him either, had just known he was getting ticked off about the line of questioning she was getting, shed likely felt his anger rolling off of him or Kora had known Havoc was unhappy. She’d known he was using his wolf’s hearing to listen to the other side of her conversation.

Shed not walked out of the room or asked him to leave the room when shed picked up the phone, shed been waiting for a return call from Eric, hed been busy when shed called him. Didn’t seem to mind that he was there for it, he did know she was going to close out her human life, it was just a matter of time.

It had all been settled before Christmas, not that Eric was happy about it. Nathan and Havoc were happy about it though, she had told Eric that it came down to the fact that Nathan had not actually laid a hand on her, and she didn’t want the charge against him to remain for the children to see.

His eyes were on her office door as he thought about just what to do. Jay-la was currently in there. He could feel that through their tether to each other, likely with the children, though neither of their mothers were in there at this time.

Their relationship was much better and she smiled at him a lot, shed even taken to pulling him into their bed of a night, once the triplets were all tucked in and asleep for the night. His favourite memory right this minute though, had More Rewards

CH 3б

this.”

to be that soft m**n of “Goddess, I really did miss

Just the other night as she’d sat atop of him in their bed she had woken him up and taken him for herself, shoved him over, down under her, had climbed right on top of him, the scent of her arousal had been so strong hed been ready for her by the time shed climbed on top of him, enjoy being woken in the middle of the night by her.

She had taken him into herself with a sigh of pleasure and then had just sat there for a good 15 or 20 seconds, her eyes were closed and there had been a smile on her face, and from what he could tell she was just enjoying the feeling of him hard inside of her.

Smiled to himself at the memory, he’d also enjoyed it, even more so, knowing she took so much pleasure from it, shook it off before he went and had his way with her, but did get up and head into her office to talk to her. The children were not with her, were she stated, with Halley down in the entertainment zone, just hanging out.

He really did like that Nate always called him dad now. The girls still called him daddy. He loved it all. That they were all bonded finally and the children were happy and settled they were happy to climb on him and ask him to tuck them in or read them a story before bed as well.

Nate was still protective of his sisters and now Halley as well, it seemed. They were all the same age. Well, Halley was a month older than they were. But Nate was taller and had seemed to just start doing the typical Alpha male thing, of watching over the three girls.

The boy had asked just yesterday, when Halley was going to come and play with them, looked up at Nathan expectantly almost. As if it was just now normal for the four of them to be together every day. They had spent nearly every day since Jay-la had gone into heat with Halley, and had bonded well with her.

His own mother had chuckled down the mind-link when hed asked the question, so he could answer Nate. She’d murmured “I remember you wanting to know where your sister was all the time.” Then she had told him shed have Lidia, Halley’s nanny bring her down to play.

Now he stood in Jay-la’s office and smiled at her answer about where the children were, she was smiling up at him herself. Heard Havoc purr all loud for her and shook his head, his beast was always purring for her when she smiled at him. Though today there was amusement in his beast as well, because there was amusement in Jay-la’s smile and it was also rolling off of Kora and Havoc could feel it.

They found something funny, it seemed. Not a coincidence that Stephen had been in his office, harping at him about her birthday, he thought. Likely those two were up to something. It had not escaped his attention that they’d been hanging out a lot over the past week. They were always off, up on the third floor having coffee together.

Stephen had raised an eyebrow at him for questioning him as to why he was always with Jay-la. Sometimes he felt those two were together more than he and Jay-la were.

Stephen had simply stated You were the one that told me you needed me here for her. So that’s what I’m doing. Shes also helping me with Suzy. We often talk to Suzy together while having coffee, along with the children:

They had mostly convinced Suzy to come here in the new year, her family was another matter, her little sister Maya was in the middle of an accounting or finance degree and her mother Elena was trying to sort out her ruined house.

The insurance company was being a real pain. Were trying to say it was her fault, that she’d lied on her insurance papers that the house hadn’t been up to code and therefore they didn’t have to pay. It was all very stressful over there for Suzy and her family right now.

He knew that Stephen was itching to go and get his Mate and at some point the man was likely to just up and go, even without Nathan’s permission. That thought struck him and he suddenly realised what they were up to.

Those two, Jay-la and Stephen, were working on a plan to get Stephen back to L.A., they’d always been close and enjoyed being mischievous together, though not as much as she and Jackson had back in the day.

They needed him out of the pack so that he wouldn’t realise Stephen was gone. Smiled right at her full amused smile up at him, and now that he was looking at her, really looking at her with that knowledge. He saw it, she was not just amused but had that mischievous look about her, like she used to get.

What he was looking at right this minute, was, he realised.

The old Jay-la, fun and mischievous like she had been when they’d been growing up together. She and Stephen, it seemed, were fully bonded now, and hatching a plan to get him off to Suzy. He walked around her desk and looked right down at her, it was good to really see her. “You’re so very happy today.” He commented softly

“Yes, I’ve had a good morning.”

He was not going to stop their devious plan. This was the woman he wanted to see, had never actually thought he would ever be able to see again, but it seemed that not only was she still in there. Stephen had managed to bring her out, it was a good thing, could only be a good thing. He was so very happy to see that glint in her eyes, shining up at him.

“I’m going to go shopping for your birthday.” He told her, knew this would make her even happier.

“Mm, okay.” She nodded and turned her eyes back to the paperwork she had in her hands. It was a menu, likely for her Luna Ceremony, something she had to sort out, the foods she wanted served there.

“Is there anything in particular you want?” he asked.

“No.” she shook her head, “just cake.”

“Just cake?” he asked with a smile. She couldn’t look at him, was going to give away her secret if she did, he thought to himself. He felt Havoc chortle inside his mind, he also liked seeing her like this.

“I don’t really need anything.” she finally looked up at him.”

When were you thinking of going?” it sounded so casual, but he knew it wasn’t. Her mischievous side was ticking away.

“Tomorrow, I’ll take the unit and if you’re okay with it, I’d like to take the triplets as well. Let them buy something for you too.”

“Oh, I might need Stephen here though, we’re going to really push Suzy tomorrow. Get that solid yes from her, hell want to be here for that.”

“I see..but can’t you do that on your own?” he asked and leaned on her desk

“I don’t think so.” She shook her head. “He’s very charming with Suzy’s mother, Elena. I need him to win that woman over, she’s so very stubborn.”

He leaned there on her desk and pretended to think about it for several minutes.

. “Alright then, about the children

though, is that alright with you? It would be the first time I’d be out with them away from the pack. Are you comfortable with that?”

“They can go with you, if they want to.” She nodded “I have no concerns about you taking them out for a day. I know you will never allow harm to come to them. Protect them always.”

He smiled right down at her, “Thank you, l’Il leave Stephen here with you then, as you request.”

“Alright.” She nodded.

He leaned down and kissed her softly, “I like seeing you like this.” he murmured softly, and then got up to leave her office. Chuckled to himself after he closed the door to her office. Jackson looked right at him.

“What’s so funny?”

“Jay-la and Stephen are hatching a plan to get him off to

L.A.”

“Ah…that’s why all the annoyance, he needs you off pack territory. She can tell him to go.”

“Yes, I believe so.” He nodded “I’m going to let them.

Stephen really does need to go and be with his Mate, bring her back. Let them think I don’t know anything or see that glint in her eye in there.”

“It’s just a few days early anyway” Jackson smiled “She’s finally starting to settle in once more, really settle in then.”

“Yes.” Nathan nodded and he was truly happy about that.

Perhaps one day she would return to the carefree girl she’d once been.