Chapter 20

I saw his face drawing closer to me, closer than normal, or maybe I was overthinking things, or maybe not. But his face continued to draw closer. 'Liora," he called me softly. It was with a voice that I hadn't heard him use before, not even on Seraphina, a voice filled with emotions. 'You have no idea what you've done today, how you stepped in to salvage a dangerous situation. I am super proud of what you have become. You demonstrated a level of bravery that is still beyond comprehension; you were fiercely capable, displaying unbeatable skills. At some point, I was scared to my marrow that I almost lost you when the battle intensified, but you made us alive, even healing others in the process; you returned to me." I kept mute as I watched him keenly, I was hoping he could finally stop as my heart rate kept skipping a beat. The look he was giving me was strange; every eye contact had a secret message to convey, but I couldn't place my hands in it. It was an intense gaze but with a recognizable tenderness. I remained conscious of his touch on my lap, I tried blocking it off, but no, my senses were already alerted. I wanted to caution him, to push him away, but something kept on withholding me. 'I have no idea what would have become of me or this pack without your timely intervention," he said in a whisper, his eyes glowing with untamed desire. He leaned in, yes, I saw him again. He leaned closer, this time, I could comfortably feel the warmth emanating from his nostrils. My pulse accelerated, and I involuntarily waited in anticipation. I was sure he desired to kiss me so badly but was restraining himself. The longing was evident in his eyes, if left to him, he would quickly close the gap between us. What surprised me the most was why my wolf stirred up within me, waiting and also longing for when he would lock his lips with mine. I wasn't back for him to take me back after rejecting me on the moon ceremony; I know he would be willing to take me as his Luna in a blink, but that wasn't the plan I had for myself, and neither am I back for revenge like Darius Isolde and Morgath. I am here to prove that I am not who they thought I was. Their humiliation, their rejection, needed to be handled, but Jaxon seemed to have something else in his mind. But as his mouth got closer to me, Jaxon paused, retreating in his action, but his lips were only hovering a few inches away from mine. His eyes sold him out, so they burned with desire, a struggle to control himself. He smiled, swallowed hard, and stylishly pulled back, but his hands were still resting on my lap. 'I… I wanted to...to kiss you," he genuinely confessed, with his voice husked. 'But I had to control myself, and not cross any boundaries. At least, not without your permission." The sincerity in his voice and the maturity he displayed for not violating my rights melted my heart. I could see how he deeply wanted me for himself, but that wish would be hard to be granted, at least not after rejecting me. He made his choice and should live with it. I smiled at the thought of him making efforts to bring us back together; I adjusted myself on the bed and moved closer to gently cup his cheek. 'Thank you so much, Jaxon. For everything you put together to make me comfortable." He exhaled, obviously agitating. 'You deserve everything and more; your place is with the Alphas, the Lunas, and the nobles; no one is permitted to treat you less, Liora. I am ready to make amends, to give you all that you've lost, everything and every one of them. But I won't push it; I will allow it at your own pace." I nodded, at his thoughtfulness, how appreciating the space he was giving me, even as my heart yearned for more. 'Right now, you seriously need to rest now," Jaxon tried explaining. 'Tonight, the pack of Silver Moon celebrates you. Tomorrow, we'll concentrate on other things together As he took his leave from the room, I quietly lay back on the bed prepared for me, my mind a whirlwind of thoughts, thoughts of what happened that day. I hadn't been treated better in my entire life, I felt alive, I felt more connection to my pack, that I belonged to Silver Moon Pack for the first time, and my body kept pushing Jaxon away but my wolf got excited once he's close by, it feels alive with Jaxon and it left me confused. And the events of the day brought nothing but peace to my soul. I felt a strange connection that was sweet in a way. I felt acceptance, which I have been pushing for a long time, apart from my friend Mira. Nobody cared about me, but right now, I am the center of attention. Jaxon's POV The very moment Liora's feet stepped back into the pack she had run away from, Silver Moon Pack, everything turned back to normal again. I had stood most of the time watching her use her incredible skills on the battlefield, seeing her demonstrate and fight with a level of fierceness I hadn't imagined my entire life. She was so gifted and skilled that I had no one to equate her with, not even some of our ancestors. At one point, I wondered if it wasn't her spirit that came back to defend her pack, as the weak Liora that I knew before could not transform within months in that manner. She was better than me, despite my years of training, and I give her the credit she deserves. And now, after fighting for us in the field, she had also taken her time to heal the wounded and the sick. We had searched for a healer in the neighboring pack, but none was coming forth; maybe they feared because of the war that just ended that we might attack them, or they were telling the truth about not having anyone left of the healing family again. Out of compassion and love for the dying wolves, she had reached out and magically healed them. She was returning to us victorious, her face weary, but the victory she brought along with her covered everything. Liora wasn't the weak Omega everyone knew her to be before; she had transformed into fiercer, yes, a force worthy of reckoning, as she had the wolves and also saved me, not looking at all I made her pass through before. The cheers from the pack members had started in a low tone among some pack members, but quickly expanded, and all I could hear was their echoes across the entire pack. I stood there, like a statue, speechlessly watching as my people, Silver Moon Pack, all gathered around her just to accord her the respect she so deserved; the young ones all admired her bravery and also strived to be like her. The pack couldn't believe that the one they had rejected had become their savior in time of trouble. We owed her a lot, even more than we can remember. I pushed myself through the crowd of joyful pack members, my heart swelling in gratitude to her, as I moved towards her direction. At first, she didn't see me coming, as her attention was on the pack members all around her, trying to show their respect and acknowledgment of who she had become l. I saw many of them bowing down their heads in reverence to her. And then, she looked up and saw me coming. Her beautiful and charming eyes met mine, and at that moment, I became lost, lost in the world of wonders, and everything under the sun slowed down. She smiled angelically; the purest of heart smiled at me, and my chest tightened. That smile, yes, that smile, was capable of bonding the strongest of warriors and taking him captive into a strange land. It was like a balm to my wound, even to the worry I had endured because of Darius and his associates and the stress from the moment the fight started. She was here for me, for the whole pack when we needed her the most, and she died while saving her people. 'Liora," I called out immediately. I got to where she was standing, and without thinking, I pulled her in for a warm hug, making sure to engulf all her being, her small statue covered by my masculine arms. I couldn't care less about the meaning that those watching could read into it; all I wanted was that hug, and I got it. 'You're back again. I thought I had lost you forever, I thought I had pushed you into danger, into the arms of rogues. I had blamed myself for nights and couldn't forgive myself, but I'm glad you are alive now." She allowed herself to lean into me, and I could see her restraining herself. Her small frame threw itself on me, and I made sure to wrap my whole being around her. I never knew I could be this happy again; I never imagined I could see her again in my life. 'You also played a great role in who I am today; if you hadn't rejected me or pushed me away, I wouldn't have seen the need to hone my skills and develop into who I am today. I also owe everything to you; I see only the positive side of the past," she narrated in her soft and sweet voice. I pulled back a bit, just enough to stare into those blue eyes of hers, those captivating charming eyes that she has. 'No, Liora, I wronged you. But see you turning everything positively, and not like others who came back for revenge even when they are truly wrong. You have the purest of hearts, Liora; you are amazing l, you're our hero." We stared at each other for minutes, my wolf getting even more excited as the time prolonged. My wolf urged me to do what my heart was telling me, not to use my head, and I lost control of myself; I was tired of thinking, of wishing to do to her body as I wished. And I leaned in, even close.