Reclaiming Her Heart

Chapter 20 - The Oath

Adam

Several hours passed. None of us moved. All too afraid if we did, the bubble would break, and we would be back in our reality: where Jadea was still missing, and we were all just trying to survive the pain.

Jadea soothed our worries, reminding us this was all real. She was here and wasn't planning on going anywhere.

Since she lost so many years of her memories, she paged through everyone's minds. Looking back. Filling in the gaps. She started with her original pack, wanting to know how Valdis's hunt ended. She saw how we met, during her time in California hunting down Valdis, how it ended in heartbreak because I wasn't ready to be in a relationship yet. Then, during the year we were apart, her pack filled her in on how they transitioned from a hunting pack, to gearing up for council life. She met with Constance and her father more often. They visited the Los Angeles underground immortal city on several occasions. She campaigned to take over her father's seat.

Then came the whirlwind of events set off by Hans and Elam. How I had been captured, my children almost killed and the hunt of her life to save us. Then the debacle of Leviathan when he crashed in on the first debates between Jadea and her brother, Chance, as they vied for the councilor's spot. How Leviathan, a demon lord, forced the collapse of the city, destroying and devastating the mortal's way of life. So many lives would have been lost had Constance and her guard not turned back time and changed the outcome of that day.

Born from that catastrophe, Jadea had been assigned to capture Elam, her grandfather, for the Phoenix. He was playing a large role in Cerberus's defenses at the time and was trying to capture Jadea since she would be an asset to align the primitive wolves behind one cause. And Elam almost succeeded in capturing her. He reached out and used the Draconian pack as a tool to kidnap her. Luckily, Elam's recovery team had not been there when she was initially apprehended. It had given her time to rile the old and decrepit Draconian alpha into agreeing to a challenge. One she ultimately won and in doing so, became the new Draconian alpha. Then, the absolute devastation at losing her father when Harley, her brother, snuck onto the property. How Ariat showed up just after this, answering Lucien's call to arms, and learning Ariat was her true father. Then, she saw the war that was waged with Elam and all the needless lives lost.

Her heart swelled with pride when she realized Caden accepted his place as the Draconian alpha, and how Ty jumped in with both feet into the role of alpha-hood after their father's death. She felt her pack's pride when she'd been officially sworn in as the new councilor. As a councilor, she wasn't only focused on assigning hunting packs, she had taken up the torch to abolish the major trafficking rings that were running rampant and unchecked within the primitive wolf packs. She witnessed our lives as we settled into our routines. Aidan and Anika were home-schooled so they could go on all of our adventures. So they could travel the world with us.

Then, came Blade's and Garret's stories on how they met their mates. Jadea was so overjoyed at this information. Glad they found that everlasting love. She couldn't wait for their family to grow. Which then came the final, monumental surprise. When Jadea realized Briar was pregnant again, she couldn't keep the excited squeal from bursting through her chest. She was up and holding Briar in a fierce hug.

I was surprised she stayed out of my mind. Only brushing it every once in a while.

"It's harder to do a deep dive on a mind that isn't directly connected by blood or oath," Garret explained. That made sense, and got my mind thinking about how we would cross that bridge.

When dinner came around, we all went into the kitchen and cooked. We invited Agamemnon and his pack to join. Together, we devoured the feast, our chatter light and filled with laughter.

Afterward, Jadea made us all lay down on the mass of pillows and eased everyone into a peaceful slumber. Once they were asleep, she sat up and motioned me to follow her. I could feel her desire to talk privately with me. I followed her deeper into the house, disappearing into the room she was staying in. Once I crossed into the room, she closed the door gently and turned to face me, leaning against the door, those sage green eyes studying me curiously.

I didn't know what to expect. I was trying to stay out of her mind, to allow her space and a chance to learn to trust me. I didn't know how she would feel if I was a constant bystander in her mind.

We stood in silence for many long moments. It was starting to feel like a standoff of some sort with the tension that was silently escalating.

"I don't feel comfortable reinstating the mate's bond yet," she admitted finally. I now understood why she was so uneasy. I could feel my wolf's and my disappointment swirl through our chest, though this was something we had expected. "Though, I would like to make a blood bond. I can't deny the chemistry between us or the history we do share, even if I do not have any recollection of it. I do not want to deny ... us this intimacy."

A temporary blood bond would be a good start, I agreed silently. It would give both of us the opportunity to be close without being inexplicably bound. Not that I cared. I trusted her and loved her and had no intention of leaving, no matter what she threw my way. It was more for her to trust in me again.

I stood there, my brow creasing in silent thought as an idea popped into my head. I didn't mind, but wasn't sure how my wolf would feel about it—

Do it. Say it. My wolf commanded. It would put the power in her court. Something she needs in order to feel in control of herself and her pack. It is something she needs to trust us again.

I was rather shocked by his willingness to say the oath to her, to bind us to her wolf and bend to her alpha. To cede power to her in a sense. I knew she would eventually cross a boundary with us. Were we okay when it would happen? Were we going to be okay when we were forced to bend to her will, regardless of how we felt?

Yes. We will be okay. My wolf insisted on a growl.

"Jadea," I called her name, forcing her to refocus on me. "I would be willing to say the oath. To bind my wolf to yours if that is something you want? If it is something you think would help your trust in me?" My wolf and I had been forced to say the oath to her shortly after I was turned. I knew, ultimately, we would be safe in her capable hands, even if she did faltered a few times. "That way we are united. Then, when you are comfortable, we can discuss when we will join in the mate's bond. Regardless of how you feel about the oath, I agree to the temporary blood bond."

I could see the cogs turning in Jadea's mind before she slowly nodded. "I would accept your oath if you wish to give it."

I couldn't help it. I stepped closer to her. My wolf needing to be closer. Needing to touch and devour her. I pinned her between my chest and the door. Felt her heart pounding out a frantic rhythm against my chest. Her breathing ragged as tensions heightened. Leaning my forehead against hers, my lips barely brushing against hers, I spoke the oath into the space between us. The instant it was said, I felt my wolf binding to hers. It was comforting being thusly connected with her again. Though, worryingly enough, I did not feel her wolf responding to mine.

She will come back, my wolf soothed. He was anxious to coax her out, to force Jadea and her wolf to work through their trauma and differences and find their peaceful coexistence once again.