Hidden Within

The Kiss

Jax stands and holds his hand out for me to get up. My face is surely beet red as I take it and stand up. I don't really know what to do now, so I just apologise. "I'm sorry."

"What happened just now?" he asks while walking to the little lounge area and plonking down on the armchair.

I follow and sit opposite him, but now we are facing each other, I wish I had chosen a different seat.

"I um, I don't know. I do know, but it happened a long time ago, so I'm not sure why I freaked out." I try to explain my little episode to him.

"I know you were reliving a memory, so what happened?" he asks this time, but without it actually being a question.

I sigh. It can't hurt to tell him. It's in the past now, anyway, I think to myself.

"When I was about 14, my aunt threw me into a bathtub full of scalding water and used a mop head to hold me under." I see his body stiffen as I speak. "When Jay showed me the bathroom, I saw the tub, and the memory came back." I glance down to my hands because his body language was making me uncomfortable. "It felt like it was really happening again, I could feel my skin burning." I whisper it out ashamed that I am being so weak.

He hasn't said anything, so I look up and see him staring at me with a look that sends shivers down my spine. I want to move away from him.

Jax POV

My body was trembling from the strength it takes to not shift right now. I was so angry that someone hurt my mate like that. I will kill this aunt of hers. My fist ripped the leather couch from how hard I was grasping it.

"She's scared." Sonny says in my head, and I realise he is right. She is trying to sink into the back of the couch. Her tiny body has a slight tremble to it.

"I won't hurt you."I blurt out, not knowing what else to say. "It's just what you're telling me makes me so angry." I explain, "but not at you, I mean. I'm angry at the people who hurt you." I try to explain.

She studies me for a moment with her green eyes and then seems to relax a little.

"It doesn't matter now. It's all in the past." she says in her soft voice.

A knock at the door interrupts us. "Enter." I say relieved for the interruption from how tense this feels.

It's an omega with Dalia's afternoon snack. She places the tray down in front of us, bows slightly, and leaves probably sensing the tension in the air.

"Eat," I tell her.

She eyes the food and I can tell she wants it but she doesn't move.

"Eat," I tell her again, but this time, I lean forward and grab a handful of the berries on the tray, popping some in my mouth.

She immediately follows my suit.

"Mmm, she moans with a mouthful. "These taste so good." she says with glee in her voice.

"Little wolf, stop making that noise, or I will need another kiss from you." I tell her with lust laced in every word.

She gulps and coughs on the berries.

"Excuse me," she choked out while trying to get the mouthful down. "I had no control over that kiss. My wolf said it's natural instinct. Don't think it's going to happen again. I don't even know you." She says with the most confidence her sweet little voice could muster.

"Is that so?" I question with a devilish smile starting on my face.

Challenge accepted, I lean right over the table towards her.

"What are you doing?" she says now not so confidently.

I get to about an inch from her face and I know I've got her. Her eyes are focused on mine and I can hear her heart race with excitement. Lifting my hand up to her face, I brush a piece of hair from her cheek. That's all it took. She leans closer, closing the gap. Her lips meet mine. Tingles erupt all over my face. It takes everything in me not to push her down on this couch and ravish her sweet frail body.

After a moment, I draw back, breaking the kiss and smile a wicked smile. I give her a moment to come back to her senses.

"Natural instinct huh", I whisper in her face.

I watch her face go from confused to embarrassed and then angry.

"How dare you!" she splutters out indignantly. "You are taking advantage of me because I don't know anything about what I am or wolves or," her eyes frantically move around, trying to get the words out, "or mates." she finishes.

Maybe I shouldn't have done that, I think to myself as I watch her huff.

"I can't help myself, I'm sorry." I sigh. Will you forgive me?

She studies me for a moment, "I want someone to teach me about me." she responds. "I want to know everything I need to know because right now, nothing makes any sense!" She huffs, and this time, I can see how uneasy she's feeling.

"Ok, I can help and so can Jay and Annie." I tell her reassuringly. We have loads of books too. I'll get someone to bring them up." My eyes glaze over as I link Rachel, the pack teacher, to gather the books.

"I don't read well, though." she says shyly.

I didn't think of that. She's probably never had any schooling. I link Rachel again and ask for children's books and easy to read ones.

"That's ok. We can get them up here and if you want to, you can look at them. If not, it doesn't matter." I tell her gently, not mentioning I asked for childrens books.

"We can start now if you like? Ask me anything." I say enthusiastically, just happy she seems to have gotten over the kiss.

She thinks for a moment. "How do I change into my wolf, like the man in the forrest?"

"It's called shifting, and you can change into your wolf on the first full moon after receiving your wolf." I explain. "So for you, that's in a week and two days. I tell her, while she studies me intently.

"And how do I change?" she asks, "but what happens to me? Does yahni take over, or am I still me but in an animal form?" she says with a very confused expression on her face.

"Yahni will take over, but you will still be you. You will be in your head like Yahni is now. You can still see everything, but just in Yahni's view." I respond confidently to try to make her feel better.

I can see she is already becoming overwhelmed. I wonder what I would do in her situation. Surely, this would all sound crazy and ridiculous.

"So what does it mean to be Alpha," she asks, finally after thinking about the last question.

"An Alpha is the leader of the pack." I tell her. "We are classed as the strongest, and that power is able to control a whole pack." I try to explain in a way that's easy to understand. "The hierarchy of a pack is the Alpha and Luna and then the beta. After that comes the gamma and then warriors and then omegas." I tell her while I eat some more fruit from the tray.

"You need to eat some more." I add because she hasn't touched anything since the kiss.

"What is a Luna?" she asks while scooping some berries into her hand.

"Luna is the Alphas mate, equal authority over the pack." I respond with a wink, wondering if she realises she is the Luna of our pack.

I got a link from a warrior informing me some rogues were spotted on the east border. I stand abruptly. Startling Dalia, who whimpers and moves back onto the couch.

"Sorry, I didn't mean to frighten you, but I need to go check something out." I tell her gently. "I'll get Annie up her soon, and she can show you around if your upto it?" I say as I start heading to the door.

"I'll join you for dinner tonight." I add as I reach the door.

"Ok." is all she responds, and I leave to check the east border. I'm happy about the time I got to spend with her and already looking forward to tonight, I think to myself.

Author Note:

Hi readers, I'm new here. I'm trying my best to tell a story I have in my head. Please, if you enjoy reading this and notice any mistakes, make a comment, and I'll fix it up. 😊