He’s My Alpha by Cassandra M (Jake & Clair)
Chapter 78
Clair
The moment Alpha Aeon tapped the ground, I let go of the breath I was holding for a long time and dropped to my knees. My whole body started to shake as relief washed over me and I let the tears flow, letting my heart heal from it.
The thought of losing Jake in this fight was more than what my heart could handle but the Goddess was on our side this time. “Thank you! Thank you!” I mumbled under my breath as tears kept running down my cheeks.
“You’re welcome.” A cheeky voice penetrated my senses and a smile automatically curved into my lips as I raised my head to look at the only man I wanted to see and wanted to be with.
He reached out his hand for me to take. His eyes gazed softly at mine with longing, lips tugging into a toothless grin that showed off his deep dimples. I couldn’t wipe off the smile on my face as I accepted his hand. My heart was overflowing with too many emotions, all directed to my Alpha.
In an instant, he pulled me up into my feet and wrapped his sturdy arms around me, my chest colliding with his. The air around us smelled of sweat and blood but my senses only captured his scent. I leaned my face closer, resting my cheek on his sweaty chest, letting his scent calm me.
“Jake… you came for me,” I whispered hoarsely against his chest. I could hear his steady heartbeat and at that moment I knew, it was a sound I would never get tired of hearing.
“Did you even think for a second that I will just let you slip away? You can’t get rid of me yet, little
mate.” He chuckled, he made it sound like it was a joke but I heard the authenticity of his words.
“Wait, we need to do something first.” He pulled away and tilted my chin up, forcing my eyes to look at his.
“I want you back in my pack. Did Noah take you on his pack?” His brows furrowed.
I nodded and bit my lower lip.
“Can you reject him and his pack? Would you like to be in my pack again?” The last question came out with a hoarse voice, laced with uncertainties.
I smiled. He surely looked uncomfortable right now. Would he think I would never go back to his pack again?
I nodded again as I felt my cheeks start to burn.
“Do it now. I need you in my head.” A teasing smile slowly crept into his mouth, before he bit his lower lip to suppress his smile.
I rolled my eyes at him playfully before taking a deep breath. I stepped back from his hold and stare at him right through his deep blue eyes.
“I, Absaline Clair Montrell, denounce Night Howler Pack as my pack and Alpha Noah Furroway as my Alpha.”
I couldn’t help smiling. This was all too much for me.
Without any more words between us, just our smiling lips and eyes, he took my palm into his and nodded, motioning for me to start my pledge to his pack.
“I, Absaline Clair Montrell,” His claw came out of his fingers and sliced my palm with it before he did the same thing with his. “…pledge my allegiance to Black Shadow Pack and accept you, Alpha Jacob Galhart as my Alpha… my only Alpha.” My eyes fixed with his while I emphasized the last three words.
I saw his eyes flash solid black for a moment with my words before they returned to normal, his smile never faltered until it was time for him to accept me. “I, Alpha Jacob Galhart…” He placed my sliced palm on top of his and covered it with his other hand, eyes still locked with mine before he continued. “… accepts you, Absaline Clair Montrell as a member of my pack, the Black Shadow pack, and I vow to keep you safe this time around as your Alpha… your only Alpha.” He bit his lower lip after the last part to suppress a smile from curving on it.
I giggled softly, and at that exact moment as our blood mixed in our palms, I felt a pack bond open. I was not able to revel in it as Jake pulled me into his arms and crushed his lips into mine.
The arena vanished from my hindsight as I slowly closed my eyes, my arms wrapped into his neck, body pressed against his torso. I’ve dreamed of this for days and I never thought I would be able to experience this moment again.
Sparks and tingles rushed all over my body as Jake held me tighter, his lips molding with mine with a kiss full of passion and hunger. A low groan vibrated from his throat before he pulled me away from him, his eyes switched from obsidian black to his deep dark blue as he locked with my eyes.
“We need to get out of the arena first, or this Claiming is not yet over.” He told me, his breath hitching and his chest heaving.
I nodded and let him clasp my hand with his, ready to make our way to the stage at the other end of the arena only for him to halt and turn back to face me. “Hop on my back, it’ll be faster if I run.” He winked at me.
“On your back? In front of those people? No way!” My forehead creased at his suggestion.
“If you would rather walk 200 meters long, then I’ m fine with it. But don’t go crying if some Alpha comes and challenges me for you. I might be too tired to fight and just leave you with him.” He said c*oc*kily, without bothering to hide the smug grin on his face.
My eyes widened before I threw a punch on his shoulder. “Get down then!” I ordered him playfully, but deep inside I was worried. I could never stand another fight so better get on with this and get out of here.
His laughter filled the air as he crouched to my level, I easily swung my body into his back, my arms wrapped around his neck as his hands glided around my legs and hooked it under my knees to wrap it around his hips, my long dress flowing at my back.
He easily strutted towards the stage, not even in a hurry.
“Do you remember when I used to do this whenever we came back from the stream because you’re too full from eating cakes and too lazy to walk? Was it really the case or do you just want to feel my body?” He asked teasingly.
I dipped my chin into his shoulder and tilted my face so my mouth reached his ears. “I was just lazy. And… I took advantage that you had a crush on me when we were younger and I know you would do whatever I want.” I pecked his neck after I whispered.
He chuckled. “You took advantage of my generosity and innocence.”
“And I’ll do it again, Alpha. Over and over again.” I giggled and rested my face at the nook of his neck, inhaling his calming scent.
“And I would let you, over and over again, princess. “ He replied, in almost a whisper.
I said nothing more and just let myself revel in the fact that he was here with me now.
When we finally reached the stage he slowly placed me on my feet and took my hand.
One of the council members, which I believed was consisted of 5 Alphas, stood up with an intention to meet us but Jake did not stop on our way until he was called out by him.
“Are we not supposed to meet the Alpha Female you claimed, Alpha Jacob?” The man, which would be in his early 40s with black hair and light brown skin called us. He was followed by three men with strong auras but not of an Alpha.
Jake stopped on our track and turned around to face him without letting my hand go. “Alpha Marco. She’ s not my claimed Luna, she’s my fated mate. I just took what’s should have been mine in the first place!” He said firmly, voice filled with formality.
Shocked registered on the faces of the men in front of us. The man he called Alpha Marco was the first one to recover. “What blasphemy is that? How did you allow her to be on the Claiming if you already knew she was your mate?” I could see his nose flaring, it made me realize that despite the Claiming tradition, this Alpha honored and respected the mate bond.
“That’s what I’m trying to find out. This is not the last time the council will hear from me. Once I found out the man responsible for all this, I will reach out to you and let you handle the case.” He said in a cold voice, eyes never faltering from the man in front of us.
Alpha Marco nodded and turned his attention to me. “Well, I don’t know what to say more, let me know if you need a*s*sistance or anything. Lady Clair, my apologies for this big mess but please know that this was something I was not aware of.”
I wanted to say something but my mate squeezed my hand, instead, I just nodded my head before replying. “You will surely hear from us. It was nice to meet you, Alpha Marco. I only hoped it was on a different circumstance.”
The Alpha smiled weakly at me, eyes filled with sincerity as he nodded his head. “I hoped on that as well.”®
“We will head off now, we have other things to take care of. See you around, Marco.” Jake guided me away from the stage without waiting for the Alpha’s response and pulled my body close to him.
As we walked away from the stage and the arena, my mind drifted to the Beta. I almost forgot him! “Jake… wait!” I pulled his hand to stop him from walking.
He immediately turned his body to face me, his brow raised. “Clair?”
“Gavin! I need to see him!” I swallowed an invisible lump in my throat, I couldn’t find the words to explain to my mate that Gavin tried to claim me first.
“That’s exactly where we were heading before you stopped me.”
My eyes widened in surprise. “You knew what happened to Gavin?”
He let out a deep sigh and nodded, I saw regret in his eyes instead of anger that I was expecting which left me confused.
“Are you mad at him?” I asked in a low voice, I peeked at him through my long lashes, worried plastered on my face.
It was his turn to look at me with confusion on his face. “Mad? Why would I be mad at the man that saved you from Aeon’s hand?”
He let go of my hand and cupped my face, he must have read my confusion. “What were you thinking? Do you think Gavin wanted you for himself?”
He placed a soft kiss on my lips before he continued, his eyes fixed on mine. “He volunteered to challenge Aeon to buy me some time. I was still 3 minutes away when the Claiming started and if Gavin didn’t step in on that arena, Aeon would have claimed you before I reached here. Then… it would be too late…” He said the last part with a hoarse, broken voice. He then rested his forehead on mine.
My jaw dropped opened when it hit me, as tears poured from my eyes. I couldn’t believe the Beta offered himself for me.
“He… he al…most die! He almost dies… and he… he doesn’t want., to yield! I had… to beg him… All because… he was… try… trying to., save me?! Your Beta… he’s so… so stupid!” I stuttered between my cries, the side of my fist ramming on his chest at a controlled pace.
Jake coiled his palm at the back of my head and pulled me into his chest, resting his chin at the crown of my head. “Yes. He’s really stupid. But he’s the best Beta around. So I’m keeping him. I hope you don’t mind.”