Chapter 4: Jayce

Jayce walked off the plane in Texas. It was Novemeber and still quite warm. How he wished for snow and ice. His phone buzzed in his pocket and he noticed Damion calling him.

"I just landed in Texas, you couldn't wait until..."

"Jayce, this is an emergency." He stated quickly. Jayce tensed up, a million reasons running through his head.

"What is it? Is Lily and Elias okay?" He asked with a growl.

"They're fine. It's me." He said. He sounded almost scared.

"This isn't like you." He said, feeling a little confused on what's happening.

"I don't know what's happening, but it may relate to Erica not being Marked yet." He told him. Jayce stopped as he was heading to his next flight.

"You haven't Marked her yet?"

"No. She's been worried that she wouldn't be who she was once it happens. I tried telling her, but she's just scared." Damion seemed out of breath all of a sudden.

"Are you good?"

"No! Far from it." Damion let out a groan, "My wolf is taking notice of other females, and I'm literally panicking." He stated. Jayce continued walking again.

"That's out of your control. Erica will have to come to her senses soon or she'll be replaced." He walked up to a desk as he claimed his next flight.

"Getting your Mate is a one time deal. After that, your wolf will take whatever partner it wants." Damion emphasized on the 'whatever. Jayce stepped away from the desk, moving to the next terminal.

"Is your wolf eyeing someone already? Who have you..." he stopped again as it finally settled in his mind. A growl ripped from his chest, startling the civilians around him.

"That's why I called you. I didn't want to be that person to keep something from you." Damion told him. Jayce was doing whatever he could from shifting.

"Lily is completely off limits." He snarled.

"Jayce, I'm not asking for a death wish. I'm letting you know what's going on. We've never kept things from each other and I wasn't going to start now." Damion let out a sigh, "Erica comes back next week. She's currently heading to Toronto to meet with another author."

"Some time to leave." Jayce grumbled as he continued his walk.

"Jayce, you know I don't want Lily like that. She's your Mate. You two are destined for each other." He cleared his throat, "By the way, have you and Lily talked about having a family?"

"No. Why? Has she said something?" Jayce asked curiously. He walked for sometime before spotting where his next flight was, just as they were letting people on board.

"I think she's a little bit worried from what it sounded like. She thinks that you might just use her to breed an heir and be done with her." Damion told him. Jayce felt a jolt of pain in his chest. Is that what she thought?

"Foolish woman." He grumbled, rubbing his temple. He passed over his ticket before heading toward the plane, "I'll call her when I land." He hung up. As he made his way toward his next destination, his mind wandered to his Mate. Should he have brought her along instead? What if the other Alphas don't accept his Mate? This gathering would decide his next move for him.

A warm breeze combed through his hair as he took a jeep through the winding hillsides. The palm trees swayed in tune of the wind as he drove up a narrow driveway that had an open gate. Trimmed hedges lined at each side of him until they broke away to reveal a cliffside Mediterranean style house that overlooked the ocean. The driveway circled an antique fountain in the center with a dolphin as its masterpiece. As he pulled to a stop, a man in a Hawaii shirt and cargo pants stepped out of the veranda, his arms open wide with balding hair on top and the sides pulled back into a grey ponytail. Alpha Archibald.

"King Jayce! It's an honor for you to come here." The short man reached out and shook his hand. Jayce nodded, finishing the shake before grabbing his bag.

"Alpha Archibald, I'm grateful that you opened your home to myself and the other Alphas on such short notice." He said to him. Archibald grinned, escorting him inside while a butler parked the jeep off to the side.

"I could never say no to you. You should visit more often. The beach is beautiful, the sunsets are beautiful, and the women." He elbowed his ribs playfully. Normally Jayce would be all over the women, but his heart was taken by another, and his wolf didn't like the idea of being shared.

"Actually, there is a reason I called for this meeting. We'll discuss things once we get inside." Jayce informed him. Archibald shrugged as he walked him through to the living room. The large cathedral style ceilings made it spacious and breathable. All of the windows were open, the breeze coming through. Many others awaited their arrival. Four more Alphas and their Mates were seated around a round table. He could already hear Lily cracking some sort of joke about King Arthur and his knights of the round table. His wolf whimpered.

I miss her to.

"My King." The Alphas stood up in unison and inclined their necks in respect. He did the same, dropping his bag on the ground beside him.

"Let's get started." He said, taking a seat. They all sat down, "Wait, where's Derek?" He asked them all, but they looked amongst one another, shrugging.

"He hasn't told you?" Archibald to a seat to his right.

"Told me what exactly?" He asked, his hands twitching as his nails tried to sharpen.

"He informed me that he wasn't joining the meeting because he was already against what the topic of discussion was." He told him. Jayce's jaw clenched up. Great, that's one Alpha out.

"No matter. I'll get right to the point. I found my Mate a couple of months ago, and extend an invitation to our mating ceremony." He stated bluntly. The Lunas all looked at each other with gleaming smiles. Something with women and wedding bells tends to get them going, but he wasn't here for them. He looked at each Alpha carefully, studying their expressions, their body language. Each one regarded one another carefully.

"We appreciate the invite, your majesty," a man in a light blue button up and slacks chipped in, his golden hair streaked with brown, "but I'm afraid there is a tiny issue." He said. Alpha Jackson

"And what issue would that be?" Jayce asked him.

"From our understanding, your Mate is a human." Another Alpha Javon, spoke up, his dark skin etched with intricate tattoos as he decided against a shirt, but wore red shorts. His caramel colored eyes glittered with specks of gold.

"So?" He asked, very much annoyed that the species card continues to be brought up.

"It's unnatural." A regal gentleman in a full suit and slicked back brown hair spoke up next. Alpha Lucas.

"I'm sorry, being human is unnatural?" He asked him. Did they honestly forget what they were?

"Unless you can manage to persuade us, your Majesty, it's a no from me." Alpha Lucas told him. Jayce looked to each Alpha who all shook their heads. His eyes finally landed on Archibald who had remained quiet during it all. The short man met Jayce's gaze and put up his hands.

"I'd never say no to a good party." He said. Jayce felt a sliver of relief. That's one.

"I'm a bit disappointed. This has been a long time coming after all." He proceeded to stand up and grab his bag.

"Your majesty, it's not the end of the world to get a she-wolf." He heard Alpha Lucas say to him. Jayce let a growl rumble from his throat, shaking the walls a bit.

"I don't need a she-wolf when I have Lily." He snarled at them before walking off. Bunch of imbeciles. He couldn't be too angry with them though. They were raised in old traditions, so of course they'd say no right off the bat.

He heard bare feet follow behind him as he climbed the stairs to his guest room.

"My King, perhaps we can talk?" Archibald spoke up from behind him. Jayce continued walking.

"Speak your mind, Alpha Archibald." He said as he walked through a black curtain. He was met with an open balcony with black curtains pulled back, overlooking the ocean. Why did everything have to be black themed? Even the silk sheets and canopy were black.

"Perhaps having your Mate come here would help with negotiating?" He suggested. Jayce dropped his bag on the bed and stepped out onto the balcony. The breeze was cooler the closer to the ocean. He sighed.

"No, she is handling things back home." He ran his hand through his hair as he gazed over the waves. They seemed so endless. This large body of water separated them. It had only been two days and he ached to be home.

"Well, it was just a thought. I'm throwing a party this evening in celebration of your arrival. Be sure to dress down." He chuckled before leaving. Jayce rolled his eyes. He pulled out his phone.

"Jayce!" Her voice squealed through the phone. He found himself smiling as he laid back on the bed.

"Hey, I hope I got you at a good time."

"Any time for you is a good time." She paused, "Oh my God, that came out wrong. No! Wait! You're always a good time too." She groaned. He chuckled. He could picture her embarrassment.

"Is everything okay on your end?" He asked her.

"Well, I managed to get my hands on as much history as I could, but I never knew that there was so much." He could hear her flipping through pages, "What about you? You didn't call when you landed, so I got worried."

"Sorry, I was little out of it from the time difference. So I waited until I was settled in." He rose up from his bed and walked back out onto the balcony, "You'd like it here, Lily. I have the view of the ocean from my balcony." He told her.

"Wow, that sounds amazing! Have you swam with the dolphins yet?" She asked.

"No, I just got here. However, the Alpha that is hosting is throwing a party in my honor tonight." He told her. She went quiet, "Lily?"

"It sounds like a great time." She let out a breath, "I know you can do this, Jayce. I believe in you." Her words filled his heart with courage.

"Thank you, I needed to hear that." He said, sitting down on a chair, "Have you started any plans for the ceremony?"

"No, I'm waiting for Erica to come back."

"For the love of God, do not let her decide on the theme." He told her.

"Your majesty doesn't want a bondage themed wedding?" She busted out into giggles. He laughed with her. It felt so good to hear her laugh, sense her smile.

"Lily, I know this question is quite sudden, but do you... want to have kids?" He asked her. She was quiet for a long moment. All he could hear was the waves crashing against the cliff walls.

"I do." She said simply, "I think it's rather soon to have kids since we have a wedding and whatnot to go through first." She gasped, "Would they be wolf pups?" She asked him eagerly.

"It could be possible."

"Oh my God, a mini Jayce running around." She was squealing again. He smiled to himself, leaning back.

"What if it's a girl?" He asked her.

"I'd dress her up obviously. Oh, do you think they make dresses for wolf pups?" She asked him. He let out a laugh.

"I wouldn't know, but I also wouldn't be surprised."

"Hey love?" She said softly. His wolf purred.

"What is it?"

"If things don't work out in our favor, it's okay." She said to him. He frowned.

"It won't."

"I'm saying if it does, it won't ever be the reason that I stop loving you. No matter what happens with the Alphas, you still have my unwavering support. I trust you, and I'll love you no matter how the table turns." She said to him. Jayce remained silent as her words dissolved. He let them sink in his mind and his heart. He let his wolf absorb them.

"Lily, no matter what happens, I'll still give you the wedding of your dreams." He told her. She giggled softly.

"I have to go, Elias is hungry. Have fun tonight, okay?"

"I will. I love you, Lily." He said to her.

"I love you to." She said before hanging up. He slipped his phone back into his pocket, looking out over the water with new resolve.

"My my, I'm glad I found you here." Penelope's voice sang from the doorway. She wore a flowing flower dress and a wide brim sun hat.

"I wasn't expecting you to arrive until tomorrow." He told her as she took a seat beside him.

"That was the plan until your father's mood swing had me packing and flying early." She turned back toward the door where a maid stood, "Wine please." She ordered.

"I have one so far." He told her, looking back out over the water again.

"Well, that's better than I expected. You won't receive any approval from Derek, but who needs him." She patted Jayce's knee gently.

"Mom," he said, making her raise a brow, "when did you and Derek stop loving each other?" He asked her. She inclined her head thoughtfully, sweeping her gaze out over the ocean.

"You know your father and I are not Mates. We had our opportunities to find our one love, but it just never happened. Well, for me it didn't." She said as the maid returned with two glasses of red wine. Penelope took both and passed one over to Jayce. He took it, but didn't drink.

"Derek did?" He asked her.

"Yes. He'll never speak a word of it. I just happened to find out by chance one drunken evening." She sipped.

"He rejected her?" He asked.

"Quite the opposite. In fact she rejected him. I guess I should insert the fact that his Mate was human." She mentioned. Jayce stared at her.

"Wait, what? Then why?"

"It's due to that rejection that he has a bitter taste in his mouth about humans." Penelope lowered her gaze to the red liquid in her hand, "He loved her, more than anything, but her heart was elsewhere." She finished her glass. Jayce passed his glass over to her.

"That makes sense now, but to hold that kind of grudge all these years?" He asked her. Penelope shrugged.

"You know how stubborn your father is. You do take after him for the most part." She said, downing the other glass. His mind went to Lily. "I was so happy to find out that Lily accepted you. I wouldn't lie that I feared you'd turn out just like him." She ran her finger along the edge of the glass.

"They won't accept her because she's human. What they fail to realize that she's far stronger than even myself at times." He leaned his cheek against his hand, "She's been through Hell and back. We may have our supernatural abilities to account for, but she has more compassion, more heart than this damn species combined." He shut his eyes, imagining her beautiful face, her smile lighting up her emerald eyes. His wolf howled at her image. How could he even think of swapping her out for a she-wolf? What would be the point of having a Mate then?

"You know, I think she did more good than I realized." Penelope spoke up beside him. He looked over to her, seeing a soft smile on her lips.

"What do you mean?" He asked her. She reached over, pushing his hair from his face.

"You're thinking more like a human than a Werewolf." She said to him. He watched her get up and leave him be with her words. Seagulls sang down below, perching themselves on the cliffs. Jayce closed his eyes as the cool breeze soothed his skin. His wolf growled softly in his head.

"What if this doesn't work?" He asked out loud.

It will. I'll make sure of it.