The Prophecy Series: The Black Wolf
Author
H. Knight
Reads
3.0M
Chapters
41
Addison has been away from her pack after years of travel and training. Now sheโs back with a newly emerged wolf. Coming home means facing past heartache, old friendships and pack dynamics - not the least with Jaxon, the future alpha. Long-buried secrets start to emerge.
Can Addison and Jaxon move beyond the pain of the past or will the weight of secrets and power struggles tear them apart?
Chapter 1
SIX YEARS AGO
Addison is eighteen and Jaxon is twenty years old.
ADDISON
I looked at myself in the mirror one last time. The red satin dress clung to my torso and flowed out at my hips, reaching down to my ankles. It was a real head-turner and completely out of my comfort zone. Luna Alaina and Hayden had selected it for me.
Luna Alaina and Hayden, her daughter, were dead set on my going to prom. I had tried every excuse in the book, but my uncle chimed in, stating that it was an important milestone in every high school career, and I couldnโt skip it. So, I gave in, reluctantly.
My long golden blonde hair was much shorter with the abundance of curls Hayden had given me, and it was much different than my normal long wavy hair. My blue eyes popped with the neutral makeup she had put on me, making me feel a bit uneasy as I had never worn makeup before. I looked like a totally different person all dolled up.
A gold chain sat around my neck with no pendantโit was simple, like me. It had belonged to my father, and he had worn it up until he passed. My mother didnโt want it after he had died, so I took itโฆtruthfully, it was the only thing of his I had left. I only wore it on special occasions, and prom night seemed a special occasion.
I pulled up my dress to look at my red pumps. I had never worn heels before, but Luna Alaina and Hayden said they would come in handy since Jaxon was much taller than my five-foot frame. He was 6โ5, and even with heels, I barely reached his shoulder.
I was still shocked that he had agreed to take me to prom. I knew that Alpha Hale and Luna Alaina had convinced him to take me, along with my Uncle Braxton, but the fact that he even agreed shocked me. It was embarrassing, to say the least.
I took a deep breath and tucked my hair behind my ear before exiting the room and walking down the stairs. My uncleโs laugh echoed through the house; I assumed he was speaking with Alpha Hale. When I entered the living room, Alpha Hale and Luna Alaina stood there with bright smiles on their faces. Braxton quickly turned around and smiled at me.
โYou look beautiful, Addison,โ Braxton said, pulling me into a hug.
โI agree with Braxton,โ Alpha Hale said, nodding and smiling at me.
He was a man of few wordsโat least around me, but that didnโt mean much since I never spoke unless necessary. Luna Alaina pulled me into a hug; it was a hug only a mother could give. I hugged her back tightly, knowing the memory of hugs with my real mother had never been like this.
โYou look stunning.โ She smiled after stepping back.
โThank you.โ
โWe are here,โ Hayden said from the front door. I sucked in a breath and turned to face her. She had left twenty minutes ago to help Jaxon finish getting ready.
Hayden smiled and moved out of the way. I felt my heartbeat faster as our eyes locked. JaxonโฆGoddess, he was gorgeous. He looked me over and blinked once, then twice. If I didnโt know any better, Iโd say that he was shocked by my appearance.
โHi,โ he said with a nod.
โHi,โ I said, clasping my hands together in front of me. This was awkward.
โLetโs get a picture of you two in front of the fireplace,โ Luna Alaina said, and Hayden was quick to pose us.
I stood in front of Jaxon with his hands on my waist. We smiledโor at least I did. Then Hayden made us stand next to each other with his arm around my waist and his other hand shoved into his slack pocket. One of my arms was on his back, and my other hand was placed on his stomach. After a few more pictures, we were free to leave.
I could feel myself growing hot by the closeness between us, but I quickly shook it off. I wasnโt used to the attention. It wasnโt that I wasnโt pretty; it was more that I was the pack joke.
โShall we?โ Jaxon asked, raising his brows. I could sense that he was also feeling uncomfortable, but I wasnโt sure if it was because of me. I nodded and followed him out of the house.
He walked me toward his large black truck and helped me inside the passenger seat.
โThank you,โ I said before he shut the door. He was quick to get into the driverโs side and drive off.
โUh, I know this is awkward, but I wanted to thank you for taking me,โ I said after a few moments.
โI think my mother was disappointed I didnโt go to my prom, so she is using yours to make up for it.โ He shrugged.
โWhy didnโt you?โ I asked, glancing over at him.
He seemed tense. I wasnโt sure if it was me or if it was something else. As far back as I can remember, he had been tense and brooding. I knew whyโฆhe had witnessed his brother die right in front of him.
No one ever talked about it, but from what I had gathered, Jaxon had quickly changed from a vibrant boy to a quiet one. I had gotten here a year after the incident. Braxton had told me a little about it a couple of years later, and some of the pack members had whispered about the tragic event.
Rogues had entered the territory and attacked. Jaxon and his brother, Conner, were out running in the woods when one of the rogues found them and killed Conner before he could be stopped. Alpha Hale found them, attacked the rogue, and killed him, but it was too late, and Conner was gone. Jaxon was only thirteen at the time and hadnโt even shifted yetโฆthere was nothing that he could have done.
I had heard many stories about it, and it was traumatizing. I wished I had met Jaxon prior to this. I wish I could have been there for him. I donโt know why, but I had always felt drawn to him. We never really spoke much prior to this evening, but I had seen him at pack events and with my Uncle Braxton a lot after I moved here.
โDidnโt feel like it was right. Felt like it would be disrespectful toward my mate,โ he said with a shrug.
โOh,โ I said, nodding. I was surprised that he had felt that way. Most male wolves didnโt really care for their matesโ feelings prior to meeting them.
โWhy did you stop searching for her?โ I asked.
He had traveled for a year after graduation. It was typical of wolves to do this once they graduated and were eighteen, but he came back empty-handedโฆhe said nothing. Braxton had said that he didnโt even want to go in the first place but went because of his parents.
โI found her.โ He shrugged. I looked at him, shocked.
โWhy arenโt you with her?โ I asked softly.
โAddie, letโs talk about something else,โ he said, shaking his head. Addieโฆthat is what he had always called me whenever we did speak.
Jaxon had called me that when we first met. I was only twelve, and after my parentsโ death, I hadnโt said much of anything to anyone. Surprisingly, Jaxon was the first to make me speak after a week of utter silence and thus gave me the nickname. I liked it.
โIโm sorry,โ I said, looking away. I felt bad for pushing him.
โDonโt be. Itโs just complicated. My family and the pack donโt know. Iโd like to keep it that way,โ he said, shaking his head.
โI wonโt say anything, I promise,โ I said, placing my hand on his arm. After a few silent moments, I pulled away.
โI wish I had my wolf so I could find my mate,โ I said softly.
He didnโt say anything, and I didnโt expect him to. It was just a statement. A truthful statement, but there wasnโt much that I could doโif anythingโto change it. After a few minutes, we pulled into the town convention center. It was the place where concerts or town events were stationed.
We parked and walked inside. The local high school was a mix of humans and werewolves, and the occasional random supernatural being that had been given permission by the alpha to attend.
We walked inside and took a picture together. Jaxon stood next to me and placed his arm around my shoulders. I smiled as the photographer took the photo.
Almost everyone looked at Jaxon and whispered. The future alpha was at prom with a she-wolf who wasnโt really a wolf. The human women just looked at him like he was a godโwhich he was. He was perfect, always had been in my eyes.
โI hate when people stare.โ Jaxon rolled his eyes as we sat down at the table that was placed far away from everyone.
โMe too, itโs a constant when you are different though,โ I said with a shrug.
โJust because you donโt have a wolf doesnโt mean that you are different or insignificant in the pack,โ he said, looking into my eyes.
It was like his eyes held the world; the pale blue eyes were perfect and overwhelmingly so. I donโt think that I have ever held his eyes with mine before, not like this.
โWell, the humans think Iโm a freakโa nerd. Just because I like learning doesnโt mean that I am a nerd, but whatโs the point in trying to prove any of these people otherwise,โ I said, shaking my head.
โI just donโt know why they treat you like an outcast.โ
โWell, now that I am at prom with you, Iโm seen as a sleazy whore,โ I said, rolling my eyes.
โWhy?โ
โYouโre the future alpha, and Iโm not your mate. They know that and view me as a slut. Mostly because they want you themselves. Even the humans.โ
โWell, Iโm glad to be here with you and not one of them,โ he said, sending me a soft smile.
I was shocked. The future alpha has never once smiledโthat I saw at least. Yet, right now, here he was smiling. I smiled back, of course.
Goddess, he was stunning.
โDo you even want to be here?โ he asked.
โNo, not even a little bit. Braxton and Luna Alaina seem to think itโs an important milestone, but I donโt,โ I said with a soft laugh.
โLetโs leave,โ he said, standing to his feet.
โAnd go where?โ I asked, looking up at him.
โI want to show you something,โ he said, reaching out for my hand after buttoning his suit jacket.
โOkay,โ I said, taking his hand.
