CHAPTER 22

"This is heaven, bro!" Giovanni exclaimed, staring at the buffet.

"You can eat, you know," Max said in boredom. He only desired to get his mate's attention, but right now, her attention was only on Mia. She was stealing his mate, and he didn't like that, not at all.

"Of course! And Blaze picked up an extra-large pack of pads for me!" Mia laughed with Jayla, who was out of breath.

"That's enough for 'embarrass Blaze time,'" Blaze said, rolling his eyes.

"Honey, it's fun to laugh." She waved him off with her hand.

"You want to play like that? You're sneaky, baby girl." He let out a chuckle.

"Baby girl?" Jayla cringed while saying it.

"Yeah, don't you think it suits her?" Blaze asked, gazing at his mate.

"Not even a little bit," she thought, but then she remembered someone could read her mind.

She snapped her head to Max, who was laughing. People looked at him with curiosity, and Jayla blushed out of embarrassment.

"I'm sorry. Please, continue." Max grinned, sending a wink to Jayla, who frowned.

Today was the day where Jayla met the King and the Queen. As soon as she stepped into the immense castle, Queen Mia escorted her out of her own will. It was amazing how confident she was. Jayla was her student.

She listened to those stories that she always told. She wasn't ashamed to talk comfortably in front of people. She acted like a 20-year-old woman, which made Jayla relieved.

Jayla was scared that a queen would act like an empress, all royalty and softness. Jayla didn't know softness; in fact, the word softness wasn't in her dictionary. She was different. She was used to talking back and not being submissive. She always had this sense of justice and equality.

When she met the King in the courtroom, she was shocked to see that the man was handsome and looked 20 years old.

Max growled beside her when he heard those thoughts. She quickly shook her head and concentrated on her boyfriend. Her boyfriend, who she was lucky to have and felt safe with for some reason.

"Welcome to the palace. It's an honor to meet you. Oh my god, Lydia, bitch! Come here; we have the future queen!" Mia shouted as she called to her friend. Jayla chuckled nervously as Blaze rolled his eyes.

Max groaned and gave a fake smile to Jennifer, Clayton's mate, who was giving him a dirty smirk. She stared at him with a mocking smile.

"What are you looking at?" he said between gritted teeth.

"Respect, son! I deserve respect!" she snarled at Max.

"Yeah, right." He rolled his eyes and groaned again when he felt the pain where Jennifer hit him on his forehead.

"Don't you 'yeah' me!" she scolded him.

Max stayed silent and scowled at Jennifer, who still was glaring at him while petting her cat's head.

"Is your mom always like this?" Jayla whispered to Keaton, who shrugged.

"Yeah, she likes to terrorize people. It's her hobby," he said casually as if it were normal.

Jayla nodded while looking at the tension between Max and Jennifer. It was brutal.

"I hope you liked the dinner," Blaze said kindly, staring at Jayla, who gave him a grin.

"I loved it. It was amazing even though most of it was eaten by Giovanni," she chuckled, glaring at Giovanni, who was still eating his chicken.

"Giovanni is always like that, eating like a pig!" Ach commented.

"I don't, old man!" he snarled, spitting out pieces of chicken that landed on Jack's face.

"Watch out! I'm right in front of you!" he shouted.

"So what? It's just a piece of chicken." He sneered, spitting again.

"Eat properly!" Jack reprimanded him.

"At least Giovanni likes the chicken. That's great." Mia said, giving them a smile that didn't reach her eyes.

"I'm really sorry about his attitude. I don't know what the hell happened to him," Jayla apologized, shaking her head.

"That's just Giovanni." Max sighed as he placed his hands on Jayla's thighs. She tensed and glared at him, only receiving a smirk from him.

"Well, then how is the couple life?" Ach asked Max and Jayla. Unfortunately, Lydia couldn't assist here because she was busy calling her company. She was a famous stylist.

"Got her mom's permission to stay at our pack house for the holidays," Max said truthfully, taking out a pack of cigarettes, but Mia snatched the pack away from him.

"You dare to smoke in front of me?" Mia yelled.

"Baby girl, we have strong lungs," Blaze cooed.

"Could you please not call your mate' baby girl'? I'm sorry, but it bothers me," Jayla asked. She was about to have a mini anxiety attack. You needed to have guts to tell him something that you didn't wish to hear or see.

"Why not?" he asked curiously. Jayla widened her eyes, clearing her throat.

"Because—"

Max stepped in and pulled her away from Blaze, who didn't seem bothered by the exchange at all.

"You want to rest a little bit?" he asked, caressing her cheek.

"Yeah, I would love to."

"Guys, we've finished eating, so we are going to rest," Max said.

"Have fun, love birds. But, please, don't make any babies," Keaton joked, earning a light slap from Jayla on the back of his head.

"Shut up," she said and walked upstairs, following Max.

"I told you so." Giovanni laughed.

Keaton rolled his eyes.

***

"This bed is soft," Jayla said as she came in. She jumped on the bed and enjoyed the soft material.

"Of course. This is the guest room, and the castle provides the best, softest mattresses for their guests," Max replied while locking the door for some privacy.

"Apparently, you are popular in the werewolf world?" she said, raising her eyebrow.

"Eleanor told you? I guess I am." He chuckled, taking off the cape.

"But then, I'm going to be a king, so I need to be strong for them," he said, undoing some of the buttons of his blazer.

"Come here," he said, sitting on the bed. He missed her and her touch.

She nodded and crawled on her knees to him. He grabbed her legs and placed her in his lap, hugging her tight.

"Fuck, I missed you," he groaned huskily as he ran his fingers through her hair. She sighed.

"These gloves are fucking annoying me. Take them off," he said, holding his hands out to Jayla.

She nodded and took off his gloves, then abruptly, he grabbed her cheek and smashed his lips against hers.

His cold hands on her cheek rubbed her softly while kissing her roughly.

"I can't get enough of you." He let her mouth go, letting her breathe as he went down to her collarbone, kissing her hard.

"Why are you always kissing that spot?" she asked, confused.

"Because my wolf is making me want to mark you," he growled while nipping the spot that was bruised now.

"Marking?" she repeated.

"Yeah, it's a common thing here in our world. The marking is a big step for mates. Werewolves mark their mates on their necks so that people recognize you as their mate. There will be a symbol here," he said, touching the spot.

"Will it hurt?" she asked softly.

"My mother told me that it will only give you pleasure and make you horny," he said boldly with a straight face.

"Max!" she yelled in embarrassment, covering her cheeks.

"What? I just gave you an answer." He shrugged and lay on the bed, sitting up against the headboard and beckoning for Jayla to come.

She sighed and walked toward him. She lay her head down on his chest, making herself comfortable with him.

"How are you?" he asked, trailing her arms with his fingers, giving her goosebumps. His touch was sending sparks throughout her body.

"I'm doing fine, and you?" she mumbled.

"Tired."

He looked down at her face, cupping her jaw. She stared at his movements, wondering what he was going to do. He traced her nose with his finger, going down to her lips and drawing the outline of her lips.

"Your lips are soft," he muttered, entering a finger inside of her mouth. She gasped as he went far, pushing in two fingers.

He was gagging her. He groaned as he left her mouth and went down again, placing his hands in front of her vagina.

"Let's see if you can—"

He was interrupted by a banging on the door. Max growled, softly pushed Jayla out of his way, and walked toward the door.

He opened the door, and there was Giovanni smiling sheepishly.

"Hey, brother, we need to go. I got a call from Cole," he said nervously.

"Is it urgent?" Max said.

"Yes."

"Come on, baby. Let's go home," Max said, taking his cape. She nodded and walked out of the room with him, followed by Giovanni.

"It's such a shame that you can't stay here," Mia said with a pout.

"I'm sorry. The food was amazing." Jayla smiled.

"I'm glad you liked it. You can come here anytime you want," she said, pecking her cheek.

"Thank you, my queen." She was about to bow but then was stopped by Mia.

"Nonsense, you are going to be like my future daughter-in-law," she said with a chuckle and hugged her tightly.

"It's time to go," Max said, coming back to Jayla with a stern face.

"Alright, have a safe trip," she said, and Blaze waved them off.

Clay and Keaton escorted them out of the castle. As soon as they stepped outside, they turned to Gio, Jayla, and Max.

"Well, my lady, unfortunately, I have business here, so I won't be protecting you," Keaton said truthfully to Jayla, who nodded.

"Of course. Get some rest," she said kindly.

"Well then, goodbye," Clayton said, nodding at Gio and Max.

"Alpha Max," Keaton said with a salute.

"Have a good night," Max said coldly, opening the car for Jayla. She got in the back seat while Max got in the driver's seat and Giovanni sat in the passenger's seat.

He started to drive while Giovanni put on a call with Cole.

Jayla took out her phone and texted Eleanor.

"Report, now," Max ordered Cole through the call. She couldn't help but listen to their conversation.

"Two rogues were here, attacking an old lady. We saved the lady. She's in the hospital while the rogues are now in prison. We are waiting for you, Alpha," Cole said.

"Give me a brief description of them."

"Well, there is a rogue that has white hair and red eyes, and the other has black hair and red eyes like him," Cole explained.

Jayla widened her eyes.

"Eglantine and Piper?" she asked out loud, making Max and Giovanni turn their heads toward her.

"Call you back." Giovanni hung up.

"Do you know them, Jayla?" Max asked her.

"They are the rogues that wanted to kidnap me," she answered, earning a loud threatening growl from him.

"They are dead," he spat furiously.