Despite Jaxon's insistence that Kier and I go to the house for dinner, it isn't to fight the challenge as I'd expected.
I should've known that Jaxon wouldn't be in a hurry to fight someone who should already be the alpha of this pack, and would be if he hadn't walked away.
Instead, this dinner seems like nothing more than an attempt by Jaxon to prove he isn't afraid of Kier, which makes me think others believe he is. Maybe rumors are spreading that Jaxon doesn't stand a chance. Now that some of the pack have seen Kier fighting, I wouldn't be surprised if that was a widely held belief.
But shortly after six, Kier and I find ourselves sharing a table with most of the same shifters who were there for our first dinner, again in front of plates filled with steak and potatoes.
I'm trying to avoid meeting Kier's eyes, because every time I have so far, I've been reminded of being wrapped up in his warmth, of him being inside me, of him telling me he loves me.
The memory of our lazy afternoon together has put a ridiculous smile on my face that's a struggle to stifle. But, right now, at a dinner with this pack, I can't afford to be distracted like that. Not when we're surrounded by enemies.
I cut into my steak, but before I can take a bite, Jaxon speaks.
"I take it things are going well between you two."
I lift my head and meet his eyes. "Because we're having sex?"
Jaxon blinks as if surprised by my bluntness.
If he's trying to embarrass me, he'll soon learn it'll take much more than him bringing up me and Kier having sex to do it. A lot more.
"That's part of it. There's a softness in your eyes, perhaps a mating is soon on the way."
Okay, so now I'm feeling a little uncomfortable because this is something we haven't talked about. We've only just admitted to loving each other, a step that took us a month to get to. Something as permanent as Kier biting me-us mating-that's something else entirely.
"We're still in the early stage of our relationship," I say, since I can feel the interest from those around us. Or maybe it's just my nipples attracting attention again. Who can say?
Beside me, Kier remains as silent as before, cutting into his steak and potatoes. If it were anyone else, I'd think they were just trying to keep their head down, not attract attention.
But because of what happened at breakfast, it's probably in everyone's best interest if he concentrates on his meal and I do the talking. Especially since we're sharing a meal with the shifters we were fighting earlier.
Jaxon raises his eyebrow. He's the only one paying no attention to his dinner, just like every meal we've shared with him so far. "Oh." It's a sound loaded with meaning. "I'm a little confused because of your earlier talk about mating with Erin. I believe you expressed a desire to do so?"
Erin? Who the hell is… oh. The mom. He calls his mom Erin?
"Did I?" I ask, knowing full well that he's lying but eager to know where this is all leading.
"Hmmm." Again, it's a sound that could mean anything.
I study him a little longer, trying to work out what game he's playing because he's definitely playing one, make no mistake about it. But what?
"You're hinting at something," I say. "I think I'd prefer if you just said what you meant. You know, so we're not stumbling about in the dark."
"If that's what you'd prefer. You're wasting your time hoping for a mating. Kier isn't the mating kind."
Everyone stops eating. That's when I realize this was the reason he wanted me and Kier at this dinner. Not for Jaxon to go through with the challenge, but to use my presence to hurt Kier.
"Is that so?"
I try not to read too much into Kier's utter stillness.
"I'm assuming from the confusion on your face he hasn't told you about her."
I put my knife and fork down because the rage I feel sweeping through me makes the thought of putting even one bite of food in my mouth impossible. I can't eat. Not now. Instead, I reach for my glass of water. "What he decides to tell me is up to him. I'm not entitled to his secrets. No one is entitled to anyone's secrets."
Even as I'm speaking, I'm thinking about the reason why Kier would leave this pack, and why he would kill the alpha before he did. I suspected a personal reason, and it wouldn't surprise me if this was it.
"I would think it mattered a great deal. Or don't you care about mating? Or about being Luna?"
So this is the other reason for this dinner. To make another play for me.
I put my glass down and smile. "That's very sweet of you to care. But really, Kier and I have never spoken about mating. In fact, right from the start, all I wanted was to get him into bed. Isn't that right, Kier?" I turn to my right.
Kier returns his silverware to the table and meets my eyes. I can tell he's seriously pissed. But there's also a trace of humor in his eyes because he knows me too well. And he knows I'm leading to something. "It is," he admits.
I return my focus to Jaxon. "So, I'd be happy if we just carried on the way we are. We have fun, he makes me happy. That's enough for me. I have no desire to be Luna."
Jaxon raises his eyebrow, appearing unconvinced. "None?"
"None. Besides, it'd likely get in the way of my job."
"You work?" Leo sneers.
I turn to him. "Yes. I work. I'm a blogger."
He snorts. "Now who's empty-headed? You must be crying yourself to sleep every night missing your precious makeup and your pretty clothes."
I laugh. "Beauty blogger? Me? While I love the idea of being sent lots of free stuff, that's not what I do. I mean, look at me, I don't have a scrap of makeup on my face and I've been wearing the same outfit for days. No, I'm no beauty blogger. I write about digital marketing, entrepreneurship, and how to grow and sustain an effective business using new financial services. It keeps me very busy, as you can imagine."
I leave Leo blinking in confusion to shift my focus-and my anger-back to Jaxon.
"But that's not what this dinner is about. You brought us here intending to draw some personal trauma to the surface, hurting Kier, embarrassing me, and breaking us apart."
"I can see you're becoming emotional," Jaxon murmurs.
My laugh is a little more forced this time. I feel Kier's hand on my thigh, gently squeezing.
"Emotional? No. I'm not built that way. What I am is a touch spontaneous, a little sex-mad, at least where Kier is concerned, and not afraid of a challenge. So, this idea of being Luna you brought up earlier sounds pretty exciting now that I've had a chance to think about it."
Jaxon leans toward me, interest flickering in his eyes. "Is that so?"
I nod. "Yes. It's just a pity you'll never get a chance to see how great I'd be."
His confusion is impossible to ignore. "I don't-"
"You'd be dead," I interrupt. "Because of the challenge. It's to the death, right? Anyway, I'm sure Kier won't let you suffer for too long before he puts you out of your misery, so at least that's something to look forward to," I say brightly.
My words plunge the room into silence. I gaze around wide-eyed. "What? Was it something I said?"
Without a word, Jaxon shoves his chair back and rises before storming out, slamming the door shut behind him.
I pick up my glass. "It was something I said."