A Mother Before A Mate

I drop Molly off with the kids again, because I anticipate being on edge for these fights, and Molly is so intuitive of

emotions, I don't want to upset her. We're sitting on the bleachers when it’s announced that only two Alphas signed up

because of the short notice. Short notice? Sure. They're afraid of losing. Jack just looks at me and smiles. I can tell he's

thinking exactly what 1 am. Then I hear Jett mind-linking me,

-Lexi, can you come up to the packhouse? Grace is a wreck about me fighting. Can you help me talk to her?

Of course-

“I have to g0 to the packhouse. Jett needs me to talk to Grace. She's not happy about Jett fighting," I tell Jack.

“rll come with you."

When we get there, Grace is sobbing and begging Jett not to go. “Look, baby. Look at Lex. She fought like 5 times today, ar

she looks fine. We heal fast, you don't need to worry. Just stay in here, and I'll be back soon, okay?” Jett tries to reason wif

her.

“He's right, Grace. We get hurt all the time during training, and we heal so fast no one really notices. He's going to be fine.

Trust me,” I try to reassure her.

“I can't just stay in here when you're out fighting, and I can't go and watch you fight,” Grace argues as big tears fall down I

cheek.

“ll stay with you if you want," I offer.

“Please Jett?" she sobs, and I can’t stand to see her so upset.

“Okay, your mate and our Luna is pregnant, and she’s stressed out. That's not good for her or your pup, Jett. Is this

meaningless fight worth it?” I ask as I hold a protective hand over her stomach, and he groans.

I look at Jack, with pleading eyes, and he rolls his, “I understand if you want to cancel the fight. If I were in your position,

wouldn't be able to refuse my mate,” Jack admits.

I can't even help that I am beaming at his response. I move to Jack and snake my arms around his waist. I feel so small in

his arms, but it's like we're perfect puzzle pieces. He wraps his strong arms around me and holds me close.

“Thank you,” I whisper. I stand on my tiptoes, and he gives me a sweet peck. “Let's take a little walk before we pick Molly

for dinner,” I whisper.

Jack smiles, “Make an announcement we both wanted to cancel the fight," Jack says while grabbing my hand, and leaving

the packhouse.

We walk behind the packhouse away from everyone. I look at my watch, “It's 6:10. I need to pick Molly up at 6:30pm. We

have 20 minutes," I tell him as we walk hand in hand. He pulls my arm so I'm facing him. I see the mischievous smile on h

face, and it gives me butterflies. He pulls me in and kisses me. It's a slow and passionate kiss, and I can feel the desire in

He grabs my a*s and pulls me up, so I have my legs wrapped around his waist. Our bodies so close together feels so goo

When we break the kiss, I find myself giddy with excitement. Jack is smiling, as he continues to carry me further away fron

everyone, and just the sight of that beautiful smile does something to my insides. I've never felt anything like this before

few minutes later, after passing some trees, he finds the perfect private grassy spot.

“I just want to hold you for a few minutes without anyone else,” Jack admits.

“Me tool” I agree. Jack sits down without letting me go, so I'm straddling him now. At first, 1 just hold him close for a minu

breathing in his delicious manly scent and enjoying the way his body feels against mine. The way the sparks feel on my

hand as it caresses his neck. I feel like I've needed this contact so desperately all day. Finally, I pull away a little to look a

him. I trail my fingertips across his face, studying each bit of it. His strong jawline, his 5 o'clock shadow, his perfectly

straight nose, and his deep green eyes. “You're so handsome; I admit to him as I lean in to kiss him.

He smiles into my lips and kisses me back. It starts soft but I soon find myself lying on the grass, with Jack on top of me,

kissing me with my legs wrapped around his hips. Our kisses deepen, and it's getting more intense. He grabs my face and

moves it to the side as he kisses his way to my neck. It all feels so good. It feels like my entire body is tingling, and it can

only be described as euphoric.

{find myself trying to catch my breath and maintain control, but when I feel his hardness pushed against me, a moan

escapes my lips. That only seems to have added fuel to our fire, because he’s kissing with more urgency and now I'm

grinding into him, chasing my own pleasure.

I feel desperate for him, all of him. But we can't. Not here. Not now. “Wait, what time is itz” I pant. I look at my watch and

it's 6:22 pm. I groan, and he grabs my arm to take a look.

“Two more minutes,” he pants, and his lips crash against mine. I trail my fingernails gently on his back, under his t-shirt ai

when he groans, I pull him closer to me. I feel like I want to tell him I love him right now, as well as tell him how much I

want him inside of me, but it's too soon for love, and he obviously can't be inside me right now, so I keep my thoughts to

myself. He pulls away, but comes back to give me one more kiss and then looks me in the eyes. I see the flecks of black

swirling in them, and I love it.

“You're so beautiful... and those lips,” he groans. He takes a deep breath, “Let's go get Molly,” he says while standing up, a

pulling me up with him. We dust ourselves off, and he “rearranges himself’ and then he picks the strands of grass out of n

hair.

“I don't want any evidence that I was being indecent with you. Well, except for that,” he says as he points to my neck, wit

proud smile.

“What? Did you give me a hickey?" I ask, suddenly feeling mortified.

“I had to, guys have been hitting on you all day," he states plainly. “I needed to let them know you're taken. You're mine!”

He states firmly, and 1 raise my eyebrows.

“And are you mine?” I ask.

“Definitely!” He adds. Maybe I shouldn't like him saying that I'm his, but the way he said “definitely’ with such certainty th

he was mine, just gives me butterflies.

Dinner is a BBQ, but it's served in the packhouse cafeteria. The tables in the Cafeteria fit eight people per table, so our

table consisted of Jack, Molly and I, Jack's parents, Lev and Gracie and Jett. Everyone is getting along well, and Grace is

happy as can be. You'd never know she was having a meltdown 30 minutes ago.

She's quick to point out the hickey and it's so embarrassing, especially because Jack's parents are here. It doesn't seem t

bother Jack though, he just smiles with pride. He's glad everyone knows I'm his. Before we started eating, an

announcement was made that Black moon beat Cold moon by 3 points in the Games. Jack is so proud, and Jett is taking t

loss with a good attitude.

So what's the plan, Lex? When are you moving to Black Moon?” Lev asks. 1 didn't fully wrap my head around the fact that

would be moving 4 hours away. Leaving all my friends and family behind. “I don't know, we haven't talked about it," 1

answer.

“As s00n as possible,” Jack answers and rubs my leg. I give him a small smile. It's a big commitment to just up and leave.

Especially considering I'm picking up Molly's whole life, and uprooting her. Jack is looking at me intently, almost waiting f

an answer.

“We'll talk about it after dinner,” I smile and lean into him.

“I know I'll miss waking up to my little princess every morning,’ Lev adds with a frown and then 1 frown.

“Guys, it's only a 4-hour drive,” Jack adds.

“I'll miss you too, Lex, and your cooking and baking," Lev tells me, with a small smile. I know he's trying to lighten the mo

“Hey, you're about to start travelling more for work, and you're going to find a mate and you'll be glad you're not living wi

your little sister and niece anymore,” I tell him. He nods half-heartedly.

“This auntie is going to miss you both,’ Grace says and starts to cry.

“Gracie, baby, don’t make it harder for her," Jett whispers. Grace doesn't usually cry so much, it must be the pregnancy

hormones. Molly leans over and kisses Grace on the cheek.

“Aunt Guwacie's sad?” Molly asks Grace. Grace lets a little laugh out and scoops her up.

“Now I'm happy. You made me all better” Molly smiles and gives her one more kiss.

“Mama sad?” she asks.

“Ym happy baby, see," I say and smile wide for her. She comes over to me, and kisses me, and hugs me. I was holding it

together well. No one thinks I'm upset, but Molly knows. She senses so much. When we're done, I notice Molly is getting a

little cranky.

“Let's get you home. We'll get you bathed and to bed. You had a big day today, didn't you, Miss Molly?" I coo.

“Do you want to come over and just hang out until I get her to bed, or do you want me to just call you or text you or

something when she’s sleeping so we can figure out a plan?” I ask Jack.

“We were supposed to head back to Black Moon after dinner,” he admits.

“Don’t go," I frown and he smiles broadly and nods.

“Mom, Dad, you guys can go and have someone drop a vehicle off tomorrow morning for me," Jack instructs them. We say

our goodbyes, and Lev, Jack, Molly and I head back to my house.

I take Molly up for a bath right away, and I can hear Lev and Jack talking downstairs. I'm glad they're getting along. As I'm

reading to her in my bed, I hear a knock. 1 look over and Jack is leaning on my door frame.

“Hey, you wanna come listen to the story t00?” 1 ask.

He smiles, and I pat the bed. He comes in and lies on the other side of Molly. I continue. I always use different voices for

the different characters. In this story, I was doing the granny voice, and a baby voice, and when it came to the man's voice

jack chimed in and read those parts. Such a small thing, but it made me so incredibly happy. When the story is done, I tel

Molly it's bedtime.

“Do you want to give Alpha a hug goodnight?” I ask her. She crawls over and lays her head on his chest. He wraps an arm

around her and she just stays there. Then he uses his other hand to stroke her hair. It reminds me of all the times I cuddl

up and hugged my Dad. I always felt so safe and secure in his arms. I hope she has that same feeling with him one day.

I lay beside them and watch as her eyes get heavy. She feels safe with him already. My heart feels like it's going to explod

with pride and love. I'm falling hard.

After a few minutes, “she’s sleeping,” I whisper to him and he smiles and wraps both arms around her and kisses her hea