Page 74 of B Negative
“It’s pack business, Eden. You wouldn’t understand.”
“I don’t know. Why don’t you try explaining it.”
Jaxson gritted his teeth, anger flashing in the amber eyes. But he said nothing.
“OK, well, let me tell you what I know. I know that up until last week, you were hardly on speaking terms with your pack. Then you go and take the leadership role you’d been dodging for who knows how long. You don’t look like you anymore, like at all. And now I’m naked at a wedding that I’m guessing isn’t to a hot shifter dude with a wolf tattoo and a dad bod.”
“Gross. I’d never date someone with a wolf tattoo, Eden, come on.”
But that tiny strand of levity had broken down his walls, just as I hoped it would. “What’s going on, Jax. For real,” I asked softly.
“The pack doesn’t care that I’m gay. They never did. They just want to make sure the alpha line, the leadership line stays pure.”
I shook my head. “You’re gonna have to connect the dots for me, Jax.”
“The marriage isn’t real. It’s just for… you know.”
“No, I don’t know.”
“Jeez, Eden. I can’t make pups with another man. But pups have to happen for the sake of the pack. So I agreed to make them with a high-ranking female in another pack.”
My brain actually exploded.
“You agreed to mate with some poor woman you’ll never love?”
“She’s aware of the situation. This is a business arrangement.”
“Jaxson! This is not a business arrangement!” I stage-whisper-shouted at him. “There are so many ways around this. You can’t…” I paused, needing to clear the rage from my head so I could actually form a whole sentence. “I’m not letting you do this.”
“I don’t have a choice. It was a condition of my taking on my role.”
“Then give it up.” I folded my arms so I wouldn’t smack him in the head.
He served me the iciest glare.
“Yeah, I deserved that. I don’t know what you’re going through, like at all. I don’t know what it’s like to be gay and in a wolf pack. But I do know what it’s like to be a made vampire in a city that looks down on anyone without seven generations of royal vampire blood. And, I gotta tell you, it’s a lot easier to exist when I can actually be myself.”
Jaxson let out a huge, shuddering sigh and nodded. “I know you’re right, Eeds. But I agreed to this. I don’t have a back-up plan, and there are two naked packs waiting for this union to happen.”
“I’m willing to bet that your bride-to-be is just as not OK with this as you are. Maybe have a talk with her. See what she thinks of postponing? Just for now until we can figure out what to do instead of forcing you two to mate.”
Jaxson nodded, shifted his gaze behind me. Without words, he communicated to another pack member to summon the bride.
“Do wolves have, like, a psychic link or something?”
“No, dummy. That shit’s for the movies only. But we are really good at reading body language. Have to be in wolf form.”
Moments later, a beautiful nude woman approached us. Waist-length brunette hair swung behind her. Her gaze was direct, focused. Bold even.
I was gonna like her.
“Nikita, this is my best friend—“
“Eden. It’s nice to finally meet you.” She thrust her hand out.
I took it, trying not to show surprise at how strong her grip was. I guess even lady wolves were stupid strong. “Likewise,” I said.
“It’s been brought to my attention that our packs, while they have the best intentions, may have rushed into this arrangement.” Jaxson modulated his voice lower, more authoritative.