As the moon rises

Chapter 8

Sienna's Point of View

I stretch and glance up at my ceiling as I wake up to the brilliant brightness of the sun coming through my drapes.

So, what will I do?

Why can't my pal simply be a regular man from my park or something?

No, he must be a member of the pack that my own pack fears the most. I'm so thrilled Cade is a part of this.

It's comforting to see a familiar face.

I jump in the shower and spend a long time cleaning my body, wishing I could wash away all this tension. I blow dry my hair into long courts and put on trousers and a blouse. I take my tie off during my make-up because I want to appear well for my friend.

I'm already screwed, and this mate connection is just going to become stronger.

As I apply lip liner, I recall the kiss we had the night before.

I contact Cade to let him know I'll be ready shortly, then pack my suitcase for the night. It's strange to be going on a sleepover with the mother back in school or whatever.

I inform my parents that I will be staying at Cassie's evening, and then I FaceTime the ladies so we can have a group chat. I put on my headphones since I didn't want my folks to overhear our talk.

"You found your mare?" Cassie yells, and I wince, lowering the level.

"Oh, my Goddess, Si! This is so exciting!" Kayla exclaims, and I attempt to grin.

"Oh, honey, I know that smile. What's wrong? Is he with someone else?" Cassie inquires.

I think about it for a second; I had no idea he was single! I make a mental point to inquire later about relationships.

"He's Cade's brother, and he's next in line to be Alpha of the Black Mountain pack," I explain to the girls.

It was silence for a little, magical moment, and they both looked at me, full disbelief on their faces.

"Oh my...Sienna, I'm so sorry," she says.

Kayla says, seriously serious in tone.

"How did your parents react?"" Cass inquires, her eyes wide with amazement.

"Of course, I didn't tell them!" I simply soaked him yesterday. I'm going to visit him today to try to work things out."

"I'll be fine, Si," he says, "just don't tell your parents."

"Yeah, I'm aware. I won't." I roll my eyes, but the unpleasant feeling in my gut persists.

"Be careful, Sienna, I've heard they're in the middle of a fight with some rogues right now. Make sure you don't get caught up in it," Kayla cautions, and I roll my eyes once again.

"Don't worry about me, I'll be fine; anyway, Cade is outside, and I have to go!"

I say goodbye to the girls and then to my parents before grabbing my suitcase and heading outside to Cade's BMW.

"Good morning," he begins, his usual cheerful tone lacking.

"What's wrong?" I inquire as he exits my driveway.

"Oh, nothing, just one of my friends is mated to my dickhead brother," he laughs sarcastically as he smiles at me.

"Tell me about it," I murmur, my eyes rolling at him.

"Are you excited to find your mate?" I ask, and Cade's eyes light up.

"No, not after seeing you and my brother." Despite the fact that I doubt we'll ever have as many issues as you have," he wore, but his words wounded.

There are so many "issues" in his family that I'm not even aware of.

"Don't worry, you'll find him soon," I reply nonchalantly, waiting for his reaction.

I see him tightening his hold on the steering wheel.

"Do you mean him?"" Cade inquires, his gaze fixed on the road ahead.

"Come on, Code, Fin isn't dumb. "I've got gay guy friends, and I know about you," I tell him, and I can see him furiously clenching his teeth.

"Don't you dare tell anyone, Sienna," he cautions, looking across at me, and I feel terrible as I see the terror in his eyes.

Squeezing his leg with my hand, I leaned over.

"I'll never tell anyone, Cade, it's none of my business," I assured him, clearly relaxing.

"Thank you so much, Si; you're the best."

"You shouldn't be embarrassed or concerned, you know," I tell him, and he grins.

"When did you first realize?"" I inquire.

"I was sixteen when I first slept with a girl." "After that occurred, I simply thought, nah, this isn't for me," he adds carelessly, and I can't help but beat" chuckle at his casual remark.

"Ever slept with a guy?" I inquire, laughing as his cheeks flush; at least it's not just me!

"There," he mumbles, a smirk on his face.

"Ooh, get you," I joke, and he shoves me in a fun manner.

"Obviously, no one is aware of it.

The men were all Randoms.

I'm a huge enough failure to my parents as it is, Goddess knows how they'd take this as well, which is why I'm dreading seeing my mate, he'll give the entire me away Cade chuckles, rolling his eyes, and I feel so awful for him.

"You should tell your parents; they might surprise you," I suggest, but he frowns.

"Right back at you, Si."

I bite my lower lip. Okay, he has a valid argument.

"Anyway, let's forget about it, we're here," Cade responds, pulling into a garage with around twenty parking slots.

I get out and collect my luggage, and we walk over the gravel to the grassy square in the middle of which all the homes are situated.

My jaw opens wide as I see two men wrestling on the lawn, both shirtless and wearing gloves. A mob has gathered around them, screaming and chanting for them.

"What the f**k's going on!?" I exclaim, since nothing like this has ever occurred in my group.

"Training, it's a Bet's job to train the new recruits, and your mate is giving a lesson," Cade says.

I'm becoming more concerned as we approach closer.

to see my friend hitting a much smaller, much thinner guy. He grabs the man and tosses him backward, causing him to lie on his back on the grass. I exhale a sense of relief as he helps the man up and they both remove their gloves, shaking hands.

The throng begins to separate.

The training is clearly finished. My mate's opponent is sitting on the ground, panting fiercely and sipping his water. My friend takes his water and drinks it, Cade and I go up, and I take my time admiring the incredibly magnificent specimen that happens to be mine.

The sun is blazing brilliantly down.

showing off his dark, tanned skin, gleaming with perspiration. I bite my lower lip to keep my lips from opening as I take in every shape of his abs and pecks, as well as every ripple of his arms.

I grimace as I see a gathering of females staring at him.

Do they have no shame?

I'm permitted since I'm his friend. They, on the other hand, are not being subtle.

I give Cade my backpack and walk onto the grass; Jax must have smelled me because he turns to greet me with a heart-stopping smile. I return his grin and enter into his outstretched arms. I don't mind the perspiration because I wrap my arms around his neck and press my lips against his.

He takes control, his lips gliding boldly over my, his massive hands reaching down to cup any pressing it not lightly.

Cade clears his throat and thrusts his tongue teasingly along my lower lip. I step back and remove the lipstick off his lips. I cast a quick peek across to the group of females who are staring at me with hatred on their features.

That's too awful.

"I'll be inside," I say, hastily nibbling his lips before turning around and heading up to Cade, who is standing there with a frown on his lovely face.

"Sorry, it had to be done," I'll say as I return any bags and we head over to the pack house.

"Well, I think it worked," Cade said, and I smiled back.

I don't mind if you call me petty.

I sit with Cade in the enormous pack kitchen, wondering when I'll meet their parents, even though I'm not sure I want to. Jax walks in ten minutes later, his black hair wet from a shower, and he looks amazing.

He approaches me as I settle on a bar stool and throws his arms around me, kissing my neck. I never anticipated this yesterday, but I'm finding it difficult to say no to him.

"Care to explain what that was about outside?" he says, standing up so I can gaze at him.

"I have no idea what you're talking about," I say innocently, as Cade scoffs next to me.

"It's okay, baby, I'm possessive, too," he says quietly, taking me into his arms and licking my brow.

"All right, I'm leaving before I vomit," Cade says as he marches out of the room, groaning deeply.

"Do you want to put your things in my house? You are staying over, right?" Jax says, and my heart warms at the optimism in his eyes.

"That depends," I say, "do you have a spare room?" Jax frowns.

"What? Baby, that's not fair; do you know how long I've wanted you?" he whines, struggling to preserve my resolution. I take my purse and make my way to the rear door.

"Well, if you've already waited that long, you can wait a little longer." I sneer at him and stroll outside into the sunlight, chuckling as I hear bim expand behind me.

"Come on, it's this way." He grabs my hand in his and tries to keep my joy at holding hands in check. It seems ridiculous, but I can't recall the last time I felt so...satisfied.

He walks across the square, past the too-large, two-story home. It's lovely, with bay windows and shutters.

"Mum designed it, don't ask," he mumbles as he unlocks the door and ushers me inside.

Jax chuckles as I remove my shoes as soon as I notice the cream carpeting.

"So well-trained," he quips, and I smirk.

I check my phone and find a text from my mother wishing me a good time at Cassie's; I roll my eyes and swiftly respond.

He shows me through his property; he has a large living room with a TV that rivals mine, a magnificent kitchen, and two bedrooms with en suites upstairs.

He completes the tour in his bedroom. The walls are white like the rest of the home, but all of the furniture, including his king-sized bed, is black. The whole room smells like him, and I feel like I've died and gone to paradise as I soak in it.

"You can put your stuff in the spare room if you want," he suggests.

But he seemed hesitant.

"I don't want you to get the wrong impression of me if I sleep in your bed right away," I tell him, knowing full well that my father would never let him sleep in my bed at my place.

"Sienna, you're my mate; no one would think anything of us if we mated on the first date!" For f**k sake," he shrugs, and I know he's right. It's totally different in our world, where you're more likely to be criticized if you don't mate with your partner right soon.

"Yeah, okay, I guess." I'll remain in here as long as nothing happens, okay? I tell him, and he smiles, pressing me up against his magnificent chest.

"I can't promise anything," he mumbles as he kisses the back of my neck. I push him away and place my hands on my hips.

"Fine, fine," he says, backing up and raising his hand in surrender. "I promise I won't do anything you don't want, which means if you want it, I can do it," the cockily smiled at me.

I snarl and take a pillow from his bed, throwing it at him before fleeing the room and downstairs.

This will be an exciting night.