Fear of all things is eating Jazmin up inside. Why is there so much fear? Jazmin needs to get over this; it has become ridiculous of her to fear a stranger so much. If she wanted, she could reject him. Jazmin decided that leaving an Alpha wasn't a great idea to do. As they say, the Alpha can't be as horrible. She is just overthinking this yet again like a lunatic.
It's now to never, Jazmin thinks to herself. No matter what happens, she must move forward with this for the best of her pack. The last thing she wants is to make a fool out of her pack in from everyone. Her future comes down to the mere existence of a stranger now. Everything is at stake as this goes well for her.
Jazmin slowly builds her courage as she, Derek, and Claire make their way to the entrance of the pack house. As they open the front door to the pack house, they notice a group of Alphas talking. Among them, she spots her dad introducing the Alphas to someone. Wait, that isn't just anyone, Jazmin realizes. She gulps that it is Alpha Aston as fear bubbles up again inside her.
Jazmin squeezes a little tighter on Derek's and Claire's hands. "Breathe, Jazmin. He isn't going to hurt you." Derek says to her.
"How could you know that, Derek?" Jazmin questions her brother.
"Just trust me, he won't," Derek says, trying to convince Jazmin. Jazmin takes a deep breath in and lets it out slowly. She repeats the breathing and closes her eyes. Jazmin is unprepared for what happens next. Not only that, but she starts to notice a strange aroma.
The smell of winter pines fills Jazmin's nostrils. "Does anyone else smell that?" she asks.
Derek and Claire look at each other confused. "No, what are we supposed to smell?" Claire asks Jazmin.
"It smells like winter, but that makes no sense because it's summer." She says, responding to Claire. A growl interrupts Jazmin's conversation.
Jazmin opens her eyes only to meet those ice-blue eyes that haunted her dreams just days before. Her eyes are locked on his when her wolf suddenly speaks up, 'Mate! Mate! That is Our Mate!' her wolf Amara says. Jazmin's eyes widen at the sudden information. Her father was right about this, but how could that be possible.
Another possessive growl erupts from within his chest as Alpha Aston stalks toward Jazmin swiftly. He's locked on to her like a predator about to pounce on its prey. "MINE!" he growls, now standing right before Jazmin. Alpha Aston shoots threatening glares toward Derek and Claire.
"Easy Alpha Aston, we mean no harm to your mate Jazmin. She is my sister, and this is her best friend, Claire." Derek says to calm Aston's tension.
Derek and Claire slowly back away a few feet from Jazmin. Aston pulls Jazmin into a protective bear hug and inhales her scent. Jazmin is shocked and unsure of what to do next with the events that have unfolded quickly. Jazmin soon realizes how massive his frame is compared to her more petite frame. She can feel every bulking muscle on his upper body through his shirt.
What was once fear is now replaced by comfort. The soothing feeling of Aston's skin contact makes Jazmin feel at peace within the madness. Jazmin calls it emotions. All confusion soon washed away. How would she have known a mate would make her feel this way? She quickly hugs him back while inhaling his scent, a scent that became her inner peace.
They are soon interrupted by someone clearing their throat. "Can you let go of me, now?" Jazmin asks. Aston slowly releases her with hesitation.
"Thank you. Today is a shock for me, and I would appreciate it if we took things slow." Jazmin states to Aston.
"I apologize for evading your space so quickly," Aston says.
"Where are my manners? I am Alpha Aston Collins of Shadow Moon Pack." Aston states to Jazmin.
"Thank you, Alpha Aston. I am Jazmin Locke, daughter of Alpha Thomas of Silver light Pack."
Tension begins to rise in the crowd. "Okay, ladies and gentlemen, now that my daughter and her Alpha mate are familiar. We can proceed with today's birthday party plans." Jazmin's father announced.
Everyone starts clapping, causing Jazmin to become nervous about the sudden attention on her. Aston gently grabs her hand, unsure how Jazmin will react. Jazmin is slightly startled by the sweet gesture. Then she starts to calm at the feeling of the mate bond.
"No need to be scared. I don't bite, at least not yet," Aston says to Jazmin with a giggle. Jazmin inhales deeply, letting all the worries fade away as she exhales.
"I won't have to be scared long as you're around me," Jazmin says as she winks at Aston.
"Easy there, princess, we still need to make it through the rest of the night," Aston says, smirking at Jazmin. She can't help but let a smile appear, like a sick love puppy.
"Fine, then, prince charming, I'll do the honors of showing you around the pack lands," Jazmin says proudly.
"Earth to love birds!" Claire announces with a glare.
"Yes, Claire, do you need something, dear friend?" Jazmin says sarcastically. Claire rolls her eyes at the statement in question.
"Yes, actually I do. Perhaps we could go get that food we were starving over?" Claire says with her arms folded to her chest with a needy tone.
"Well, I suppose we could get a snack since dinner won't be until 6 or 7 pm," Jazmin says to Claire. Just moments after, Claire lights up with happiness.
"Aren't we doing presents before dinner?" Claire asks.
"Yes, the plan is to open gifts around 5 pm." Derek chimes in the conversation. The topic got cut short when Jazmin's mother appeared from the crowd.
"What is going on here, Jazmin?" Her mom questions them. Jazmin soon realizes her mom was absent during the amount of time in which she and Aston met.
Jazmin tries to stay calm as possible, "Mom, this is Alpha Aston of Shadow moon pack. Aston, this is my mom, Luna of Sliver light pack."
Jazmin is praying that her mom and Aston's meeting goes well. "Mom, what dad had said is true." Her mom's eyes widen.
"He's my true mate." Jazmin finished saying.
A smile soon appeared on her mom's face, "Oh honey, that's great news!" Her mom says gleefully, pulling Jazmin into a loving hug.
"Alpha Aston, you better treat our daughter proper. Our pack values her." Jazmin's father speaks up upon approaching the conversation. Aston extends his hand to shake Jazmin's father's hand in acceptance of the easy terms.
Jazmin starts to feel bubbly with happiness inside. She smiles wide and confident. Jazmin feels as if she could take on the world. Deep in thought, Jazmin is unaware of the conversation taking place.
"Jazmin, did you hear me, sweetie?" Her mom asks.
"OH! Sorry, I was thinking about this," Jazmin responded.
"I'm glad you are taking this much better." Jazmin's mom says.
It's funny how she was panicking about it not long ago, and now she's cool as a cucumber about having a mate.
"The bond is so strong and hard to resist. Why would someone want to walk about from that."? Jazmin says, thinking about how the bond makes her feel while near Aston.
"The bond yields power, that's for sure," Aston says, stepping into the topic.
"When your dad talked to me earlier today, I thought he was insane with the idea that we could be true mates. But now I see and understand what he meant." Aston says proudly towards Jazmin.
There's that feeling again, showing up, making her feel like a live sick puppy all over again looking into Aston's eyes. Those loving ice blue eyes of his. She could get lost in those eyes and never regret it. As he takes her hand, tingles creep up her arm again. Jazmin starts to enjoy his skin contact more each time.
The way his smile radiates warms Jazmin's heart to its core. Her wolf bounces around, playfully wagging her tail in Jazmin's mind.
"Shall we get set up for opening presents soon?" Aston asks Jazmin, pulling her out of her deep trance.
"Yes, that would be lovely," Jazmin responded.
"Mom, Dad, lead the way to the presents!" Jazmin says.
They head up the steps back into the pack house. They follow her parents into the large dining room. Jazmin notices that her parents had all the presents carefully placed to the side next to a chair. Jazmin will have to open all the gifts in front of everyone.
She becomes a little nervous at the thought of that. She's never opened presents in front of a large crowd of other wolves. Jazmin spent most of her birthdays in private with her family and best friend, Claire. The pack didn't usually throw great birthday parties for her. Aston notices her hesitation. He quickly walks up behind her, squeezing Jazmin's hand comfortably.
"Have faith in yourself, and you can do this. I will be right here next to you the whole night." Aston whispers in Jazmin's ear.
Jazmin glances up to Aston with a smile, "Thank you. I apprentice it. I know we only just met. Furthermore, I am grateful that you are here." Jazmin says with love towards Aston. Wait, love? Does she love him already? Jazmin questions her feelings.
"Don't only thank me for being here, Jazmin. You have your father to thank as well." Aston mentions Jazmin.
"Also, before I forget again, I need to introduce you to my Beta and warriors. I will call them over for you to meet them." Aston says. Jazmin quickly realizes, in the chaos, that she was never acknowledged and introduced to his pack members.
"That's okay, and it can wait. Maybe after opening presents would be best." Jazmin speaks up. She hopes he'll accept her opinion.
"If that is what you wish, we can wait for things to settle down," Aston says, smiling at Jazmin.
Their discussion is quickly interrupted by Claire. Claire is rambling on as she walks toward them.
"Claire is starting up again…" Jazmin mumbles under her breath. "What do you mean by that, Jazmin?" Aston says, becoming alert. He scans the surrounding area with caution. "Jazmin! We need to talk as soon as we get the chance.
We got a problem." Claire states as she reaches Jazmin and Aston.
What Claire says catches Aston's full attention. "I'm sure it's nothing I can't help handle," Aston states to Jazmin and Claire. Both girls are surprised by his willingness to help in any way he can.
"What? Jazmin, you are my mate. I won't ever let anything comes between us." Aston's announcement makes her feel the need to jump in his arms and kiss him. Jazmin does precisely that, throwing a surprising curveball at Aston. Jazmin ends up tackling Aston to the ground in determination.
Her lips hit their mark, colliding with Aston's lips with a thud as they hit the floor. "Whoa! Where did that come from, Jazmin." Aston questions in shock. Jazmin landed directly on top of Aston.
Jazmin nervously shifts, "I'm sorry, I had a forceful urge to kiss you, and that wasn't the first time." Jazmin admits to Aston. Embarrassment rushes through Jazmin. She quickly gets up off Aston and, rambling, apologize in the process.
"Hey, hey, calm down. Everything is fine. Don't freak out on me now." Aston says to Jazmin, trying to ease her embarrassment.
Claire looks at Jazmin, confused that such a girl like Jazmin, who was always so cautious, not fearless, openly tackled Aston.
"You have your hands full of this one, Alpha." Aston's Beta steps forward with a grin. Jazmin growls as her eyes flash black. Her wolf feels threatened.
"Easy Cinderella, don't turn me into a pumpkin," Aston's Beta jokes.
"Jazmin, meet my Beta, Clyde," Aston says, trying to get her to relax a little. Jazmin soon comes to her senses. The only thing she came to blame for her actions today was the mate bond.