Chapter 311 - Birthday Beatdown (2/2)

A frown curved his lips. There was so much he and Jaden needed to talk about... So much he had yet said to her. He turned to face her, taking the phone and sitting it on the ledge of the window. He took both her hands in his and pulled her a step closer. His frown melted away to warm affection. ”It's a nice safeguard for her, especially with all the male guards at the palace... but as for me... This...” He lifted her left hand and placed a kiss on the top of the ring. ”This is enough to keep my feelings for her at bay, whether they were real or from a curse...” He searched her eyes. ”Do you not feel it at all? I... I've imprinted on you...”

It was her turn to frown and look away. ”Imprinting is an old myth. It's not real...”

He released her hands and cupped both sides of her face, bringing her eyes back up to meet his. ”Are you saying you don't feel this odd pull between us then?” He searched her eyes. ”This sense of familiarity... of finding a missing piece... of belonging...” He shook his head. ”It's not love exactly, not yet... but it's definitely something...”

She frowned as she stared up into his beautiful cyan eyes. ”It is only your wolf recognizing the alpha female wolf in me...”

He shook his head. ”No, you're not the first 'alpha female' I've met. Remember, I was supposed to marry another. Believe me, there was no attraction between the two of us. My wolf nor I either one wanted any part of her. I've only ever felt this way toward you...”

Tears burned her eyes as she recalled the attraction she'd been feeling for him. ”I... I... think... I feel the... same...”

A smile curved the corners of his lips. ”I'm glad to hear it...” He bent and pressed his forehead against her, a relieved sigh slipping past his lips. ”So glad...” He placed a light kiss on her lips, but when she suddenly gasped and pulled away from him, he froze. Her eyes reflected terror and some other raw emotion he wasn't able to decipher. ”What is it?” Her hands were cupped over her lips. ”I'm sorry... I'd already kissed you once, and you seemed ok with it... so...”

Her wide eyes searched his. ”Then... then that night in the hotel room... you... you were...”

He furrowed his brows. ”Still straight...” He gave an awkward laugh. ”It was probably one of the hardest nights of my life, to lay there with you all night in my arms without really touching you...”

Her wide eyes held his as tears began freely falling. Her mind going back to the echo of his cries for help, and his angry tear-streaked face as he stormed into his room and slammed the door. Whatever had happened between him and the giant man was unwanted in every way... She'd originally just thought it was because of her, that it was some kind of breakup spat... but no... She flung herself at him, wrapping her arms tightly around his waist. ”I'm sorry... I should have done more...” She whispered past the low, muffled sobs.

He stroked her back and head as he stared down at her in confusion. ”Shh, it's alright... everything's good now... I'm just glad we had this talk and are finally on the same page about things...” He tugged her away. ”Just for the record we are on the same page, right? I really like you, and you... at least kinda like me too, right?”

Jaden let out a surprised, awkward laugh as she nodded yes. She decided it was best to leave the memories of that night for another time, but the clinching in her ċhėst would remain a constant reminder of the kinship they shared... even if it wasn't exactly the same, and she hated the fact he'd gone through such a thing... It was still something else they had in common.

He held her for several long, quiet minutes until finally he gently tugged her away. ”Um... are you ready to head back out now? Even if you're done training for the day, we still need to let the others know.”

Russ and Jaden were both taken aback as they stepped out into the training area. The loud buzz of the watch monitor Jos was forced to wear at all times echoed in the courtyard. ”What in the...” Russ muttered as he watched the sight before them.

”I will not! Please stop this!” Jos cried out as she carefully slapped away one of the girl's hands as another took its place. ”I beg, can we please go back to training! Focus your attention on it, not me!” She jumped as a curious hand curled around her glut. ”Enough!” Jos cried out as tentacles shot out and circled each girl, holding them far away from her.

Russ covered his mouth to hide his amusement as he took in her disheveled appearance. Her shoulder was exposed by the stretched neckline of the already baggy shirt. The hairband of the low sloppy bun was nearly all the way out. ”Um... I'd ask if you needed a hand... but um... looks like you've got it handled.” He teased as he neared her.

”No, not at all. Please just get them to stop touching me!” Her whɨnė sounded funny coming from the masculine vocals of the male form.

Jaden clapped her hands as Jos released the girls. ”Alright, that's enough. Leave her alone and go to your rooms. We're done for the day!”

Jos nearly collapsed onto the ground in relief as the girls did as they were ordered, the buzzing finally fading.

Russ caught her and balanced her against his side. ”You alright?”

Jos nodded sheepishly beside him. ”I'm not sure which is worse at attracting unwanted attention... this form or the other...”

Jaden took one of Jos's hands and gave it a reassuring squeeze. ”I'm sorry for their actions. I'll have words with them. I promise it will not happen again. So please, feel free to return in whatever form you feel most comfortable in.”

Jos's troubled eyes moved from Jaden up to Russ.

He nodded. ”Yes, whatever form you feel most comfortable in. I'm positive I'll be in control, and I'll make sure the others are as well.”

Jos let out a heavy relieved sigh as she let her body shift right there beside them. ”Thank you so much!” She whispered in relief as she flung her arms around Jaden.

Russ pulled them both into his arms and placed kisses on both their heads as relief washed over him. The pull was gone. He could now touch Jos without feeling all the insane emotions as before and without the wolf clawing at him for her... Though it was now clawing for another reason... He released Jos and tugged Jaden beside him, placing another kiss to her head. ”I wasn't sure this day would ever come after what happened during your trials... but I... don't have words to express how happy it makes me that we can be a family again.”

Jos smiled warmly back at both of them.. ”Me too.”