Full Moon Rises

Chapter Nine

Daniel quickly changed before shaking his hair like a dog, laughing at himself for doing so, and heading into his own private living room to wait for Jia to emerge from the shower.

He couldn’t believe he had actually woken up naked in the other’s bed this morning. That had been… awkward as hell! But it had also been the best night sleep he had gotten in years, but that was beside the point.

He had no idea what his wolf was thinking last night, but Jia had invited him in, so maybe it wasn’t entirely his fault. 

Everything was just getting so damn hard. He only known Jia for a day, and his world was being picked up and thrown around, everything falling out of place. The only thing that felt right was Jia. And he didn’t have a clue what was happening to him.

The shower clicked off, and Daniel busied himself, trying to think of anything but Jia in the shower. It was pretty hard to do.

A few minutes later, Jia emerged from her bedroom, looking freshly showered and a lot healthier than she did yesterday. Daniel’s insides were screaming at him to run to Jia, to take her and claim her but he stayed seated and instead offered only a warm smile.

“Morning,” Daniel said, hoping that this morning didn’t create some unwanted tension.

“Morning,” Jia replied with a genuine soft smile gracing her features.

“You sleep okay?”

Jia rubbed at the back of her neck, almost bashful. “Yeah, it was good, actually.”

“I’m glad,” he really, really was. “So… will you be staying here with us?” with me left unspoken.

Jia paused for a moment, though it seemed like a lifetime to Daniel. “Yeah,” she finally answered. “I’d like that.”

Daniel let out the breath he didn’t know he was holding, “Great!” and it was, oh god, it was. “Would you like me to take you to where you live so you can get your things? Maybe tell family and friends you’re moving?”

Jia seemed to freeze up for a moment, “Yeah… I… I don’t have much stuff, but it would be nice to get it, and I don’t exactly have any friends or family.” she shrugged like it was nothing. Still, Daniel couldn’t even bear to think of life without his family, he didn’t even think before he wrapped Jia in his arms.

“I’m sorry,” he whispered.

“It’s fine.” was all Jia could reply.

“How about we go down and get some breakfast and then I’ll drive you to get your things?” the sooner Jia was safe here with him and people who could love her, the better.

“Yeah,” she replied, a little bewildered. “That’d be great, thanks, Dan.”

“That my new nickname, huh?” Daniel teased as he led Jia down to the kitchen.

“Oh… uh… don’t you like it?” she blushed, and Daniel wanted to march her back up to his bedroom right now but contained himself.

“I like it when you call me that,” he grinned, making Jia blush even more.

“Then I guess I’ll keep calling you Dan,” Jia seemed to pick up on Daniel’s intention and gave him a pointed look.

“Awesome,” he smiled innocently. “You know, you’re taking everything really well,” he noted.

Jia didn’t seem to be freaking out at all. When Lane first turned, she had single-handedly trashed the house and screamed at anyone who’d have the nerve to go near her. Then again, Daniel suspects he’d have that reaction too if he found out Alex was his mate.

“Trust me, Daniel. I’m freaking out on the inside,” Jia assured him. “It’s just going to take some time to settle in.”

“If you’d like some time alone, then all you have to do is ask,” Daniel didn’t really want to leave Jia alone, but if she needed time, then Daniel would be more than happy to give it to her.

“No,” Jia replied all too quickly.

Daniel’s inner wolf shook its pom-poms and did a cheer dance at Jia’s reluctance to be alone, but Daniel tried to keep his cool. After all, he was an alpha, not a f*****g diva.

“Alright then,” he gripped Jia’s hand reassuringly, and warmth almost radiated out of him at Jia’s tiny smile.

***

The kitchen was full of bodies busily trying to prepare a large wooden table that could probably sit twenty people comfortably.

I tried to help but was quickly placed in the chair next to Daniel by Lane, who assured me everything was taken care of.

“You’re pack beta, freckles, you just sit and relax.” she flashed me a winning smile before she went back to helping the others.

I turned to Daniel, who was currently burying his head in his hands. “What’s pack beta?” I whispered to him, hoping not to sound like too much of an i***t.

“It’s… uh…” Daniel tried to find the words, but it looked like he was struggling.

“It means you’re Daniel’s mate,” the fiery redhead that Jia remembered as Nina answered for him. Though that really wasn’t an answer because I had no idea what a mate was. However, Daniel had said it yesterday when he referred to Steele and Hirano.

“At the risk of sounding like an i***t… what’s a mate?” I asked.

“I think Daniel should tell you,” Nina spoke again, placing a plate of pancakes in front of Daniel and then me. “He’s better with explanations.”

“No, I’m not!” Daniel was clearly trying to avoid this conversation.

“I know,” she winked at him. “But think how much fun Jia will have watching you try and stutter it out!”

“I really wonder sometimes why I let you join this pack,” Daniel glared at her before turning back to me. “I’ll explain it to you later because I think Nina would enjoy it way too much if I explained now.”

“Where are you going later?” Nina pried, eager for some fun, judging by the way she was bouncing on the balls of her feet.

“Taking Jia to get her things,” Daniel responded quickly, tucking into his pancakes as he did so.

“Oh, good, can I come?” she asked hopefully.

“No,” Daniel replied easily, not once taking his eyes off his plate.

“You’re no fun, you know that Greenwood?” she pouted at him before retrieving her own pancakes and sitting at the table, closely followed by the rest of the pack.

“So you’re staying then?” Noelle asked hopefully from where she was seated next to me.

“Yeah, if you’ll have me,” I replied, feeling a little intimidated by all the new faces I was surrounded by.

“Don’t be ridiculous! We’d love to have you here!” she replied earnestly. “Even Alex, the miserable bastard!” she blew an air kiss at Alex, and he responded by giving her the finger. “See how much he loves us all?”

I couldn’t help the small laugh that escaped me, “Maybe it’s just way too early in the morning for smiles.”

“Yes! Finally, somebody with sense!” Alex actually agreed with me, flashing me a smile that didn’t look menacing. Strange.

“Oh god, you’re going to be another Alex, aren’t you, freckles?” Lane groaned. “The world does not need one more Alex.”

“I love you too, sweetheart,” Alex deadpanned, rolling his eyes and reaching for the syrup.

“You know you do!” Lane planted a kiss on Alex’s cheek and sparked a conversation with the tiny brunette I remember as Estela next to her.

Daniel leaned in to whisper in my ear, “Alex and Lane are mates, along with Steele and Hirano, and Nina and Noelle. Sarah, Estela, and Shawn are unmated.” 

I kind of guessed what it meant, but I didn’t know for sure what a mate even was, so I decided to just nod in understanding.

“And you?” I asked, praying that some guy or girl wasn’t just about to walk in and throw themselves on Daniel’s lap. Even though Nina called me Daniel’s mate, she may not have been serious.

“I think I’ve found my mate,” he whispered honestly like he was almost afraid of what I might say.

What else could I say?

“Yeah,” I smiled softly. “Me too.”