Now there's only the epilogue left!
This chapter has a lot of James and Paige in it, okay it's all about them, because I've been getting requests for more of them. It also jumps forward a year so beware.
As you'll see, I skipped over some things because I felt that it wouldn't fit right if I took a chapter just to have "that" happen. You'll understand when you read...
There's a part where it's kind of like a flashback and that part is italicized so keep that in mind
Dedicated to Josenca for the cover on the side. Thank you for making it and I think it looks pretty awesome :) (I really love the picture you used )
Thank you to everyone who voted and commented and fanned and to the silent readers. I appreciate it all (:
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Chapter 31
*1 year later*
James’ POV:
I paused in front of the door and couldn’t contain the smile on my face. I’d been gone awhile and now I was eager to get back to what I had missed the most. A loud shriek followed by a series of giggles greeted my ears as I walked into the apartment. I could hear Paige’s soft voice as she cooed to her little brother and followed the sound until I came to a stop in the doorway of the living room. Jackson sat on Paige’s lap and looked at her adoringly. She ticked his stomach playfully causing him to shriek once again and roll away from her. He climbed unsteadily to his feet and waddled away from her, laughing the whole way. Jackson was just a week short of being a year and had begun the stages of starting to walk. I leaned against the doorway and crossed my arms as I watched the two interact.
“Babysitting again?” I asked. Paige adored Jackson and watched him whenever she was available.
“I haven’t seen the little guy in a while and I missed him.” Paige flicked her eyes up to me and spared me a grin before focusing on Jackson once again.
“And yet you don’t miss me when I’m gone.” I replied flatly, putting on my pouting face. She looked at me once again before sighing and getting up. I didn’t move from my position as she walked up to me and looped her arms around my neck.
“You know I miss you very much when you’re gone.” She said in between peppering my face with kisses.
“I’m not so sure about that.” I knew that if I kept it up just a little bit longer she would give me what I craved.
“Such a crybaby.” She murmured before finally giving in and kissing me.
I sighed as I felt something close to relief fill me at the sensation of Paige’s lips moving against my own. I roped my arms around her waist and held her closer to me, basking in all that was my mate. Her scent engulfed me nose and I inhaled greedily. I’d missed the way she smelled, and how her soft skin felt when I ran my hands over it. I’d missed Paige plain and simple and I wasn’t afraid to admit it.
“I missed you.” She whispered when I pulled away to look at her. Her eyes sparkled with adoration and I knew mine reflected the same.
“I missed you too. You have no idea how much I missed you.” I didn’t give her any time to respond and instead swooped down to engulf her mouth in another kiss.
The last year has been somewhat of a transition year for the both of us. A lot of changes were made and we were just now starting to get settled in. Instead of going to the same high school that I had gone too, Paige opted to finish her schooling online and get her graduation diploma faster. Even though I was a year older and a full two grades ahead of her, she managed to graduate only a few months after me. Around the same time, Jackson was born and living in the pack house was pretty hectic to say the least. I never complained because I knew Paige loved being around her family and wherever she went, I went.
The biggest change came when Evan officially named me third in command. The title meant that I was in charge of keeping peace in the pack and I looked over the training of the teenage kids in the pack. It also meant that I had to lead the raids against known rogue hide outs or safe houses that belonged to hunters. That’s always the downside to being third in command. I never liked being away from Paige but at least once a month I have to leave for anywhere from a few days to a week. She always said it didn’t bother her but I knew deep down it was a sore subject.
Paige has officially become a college student and attends the local community college. She decided that she wasn’t going to sit around all day when I’m attending to pack duties so she figured attending school would give her something to do. While she isn’t sure of what exactly she wants to do she knows it will involve children. I know she’ll be a great mother when we decide to have kids.
The last change came as a big surprise to me. A few months ago Paige decided to move out of the pack house. She’s eighteen so technically she’s a legal adult but it came as a shock to most of the pack. It was always clear that being around her family and friends helped her to overcome her past and the sadness and anger that followed it. When she made the announcement that she was moving into her own apartment, we all just sat in shock. She explained that it was time for her to be more independent and pointed out that it was common for people her age to move out. Sutton and Evan eventually let her go after she promised that she would be close by and at least live where there are plenty of other pack members around. Sometimes you get moments in your life that you never forget and one of mine is the conversation we had about moving.
I took the cap off the Sharpie in my hand and quickly marked the box in front of me with my name. Grabbing the packing tape off the bed, I sealed the box and put it next to the door. I got to work putting more of my clothes into another box before once again hazardously printing my name on the top. I frowned as I realized I still had a lot of things to pack up and that didn’t include the mountain of clothes Paige had yet to put in boxes.
“Uhh, honey?” I turned around to find Paige standing at the door with her eyebrows raised. “Sweetie, what are you doing?”
“What does it look like I’m doing? I’m packing.” I threw my hands in the air and gestured around the room.
“Packing for what?” She asked lamely.
“Well the apartment’s all ready and we have to pack up all of our things before we can move in.” I reminded her.
“We…” She murmured as she looked down.
“Yes. We.” I clarified. “Is there something going on?”
“No, no not at all.” Paige stuttered quickly. “It’s just, I just thought that I was making this move. Alone.”
“Alone.” I repeated. I didn’t try to keep the hurt off my face. It was painful to think that my mate was moving away and didn’t want me to come with her.
“It’s just that we never talked about it and I thought that you didn’t want to come because you never mentioned anything about it.” Paige rambled.
“So you don’t want me to come then?” I asked. Her eyes widened and she shook her head quickly before running over.
“No! Of course I want you to come with me! I just thought you didn’t want to move away from the pack house and all your friends.” She mumbled while looking down. “Which is stupid of me to think.”
“Paige, why wouldn’t I want to come with you? We’ve been sleeping in the same room in the same bed for almost a year now. You should know by now that anywhere you go, I follow.” I took her into my arms and lifted her head so I could see her eyes.
“Why would you want to move though? All of your friends are here and your duties require you to be here.” Paige looked pained at the thought of me staying and her leaving.
“They require me to be here but not live here. It’s like having a job. I come and I go. Easy as that.” I pushed away a piece of hair that had fallen on her cheek before continuing. “And I want to move because the thought of not being with you is unbearable. It’s not even a possibility. You know I would follow you anywhere because I love you.”
We both caught our breath at the declaration. It was the first time the either of us had said it to each other but it felt right. I knew it was true with every fiber in my body and I was glad that I had finally admitted it.
“What?” Paige finally broke out of her daze.
“I love you. So, so much. You’re strong and beautiful and intelligent and incredibly amazing. I don’t know what I did to deserve such a wonderful mate but I’m glad that I have you.” My voice rang with conviction.
“You-you love me?” She still seemed to be in shock. I chuckled and nodded before kissing her softly.
“I love you more than anything else in the world.” I murmured. Paige broke out into a glorious smile as tears filled her eyes.
“You have no idea how good it feels to hear that.” She said quietly. “And just to let you know, I love you too. I have for a while now; I just wasn’t sure how to tell you.”
“That’s easy. Just like this,” I leaned down and kissed her once again before murmuring the words I know I would say everyday just to see her smile. “I love you.”
I smiled as I was brought back to the present and continued to kiss Paige. Aside from a few hot and heavy moments, we hadn’t been together intimately before that day. That night, however, we fully mated and now wore each other’s marks with pride. I couldn’t help but feel triumphant and proud when I saw my mark on Paige’s neck. I also couldn’t help but feel somewhat turned on.
“If my child grows up to be a horny toad I am going to blame it on the two of you!” We jumped apart and faced a smirking Sutton.
“Sorry.” Paige murmured while blushing.
“Mommy!” Jackson cried while trying his best to run to her. He made it a few steps before falling. We all laughed as he got back up before falling once again. He made the pattern a few more times before he ended up at Sutton’s feet.
“Hi there my precious little boy.” Sutton scooped her son up and nuzzled his hair affectionately.
“Mommy.” He chirped happily. Sutton smiled once more before turning to face us.
“Remind me to never let you babysit again.” She winked at us as she spoke.
“I haven’t seen my woman for a week so excuse me for getting a little excited.” I defended myself.
“Oh I’m just teasing. Evan is ten times worse. I’m lucky if I can get him to wait until the bedroom before he-”
“Your child is in your arms.” Paige pointed out quickly. Sutton blushed and laughed softly.
“Yes and he is living proof of his father’s impatience.” We all laughed at that. “Alright, well I have to get going now. Lisa called and said there was some kind of emergency with the staff in the kitchen. Something about a pan catching on fire and then a cake falling and then a leak in the faucet and a spill. It’s just a mess.” She shook her head before waving and making her way out the door.
“Well that was embarrassing.” Paige muttered. I knew she was referring to Sutton walking in on our make out session but to be fair, Jackson was absorbed in playing with his toy so he never noticed. “We can’t ever do that in front of him again.”
I frowned at her stern voice. Oh no, I don’t think so.
“Is a baby really going to come between our sex life?” I pouted again.
“Yes, yes he is.” Paige looked at me with a glint in her eye and I knew we both craved the same thing.
Each other.
“Well he’s not here now, so…” She squealed as I pulled her up over my shoulder and practically ran to our bedroom.
It may have not been the first time we made love but I always say it feels like each time it only gets better. When you do it with someone that you truly love with every fiber of your being, it feels natural and right. The closeness I feel to Paige every time we make love is indescribable as cliché as that sounds. As we lay panting while basking in the after effects of our love making, I knew that I was ready to take the next step with her. Maybe I was getting a little ahead of myself but when you know, you know. I knew then that I was read to get married to her.
But she wasn’t.
She still had some things to work through and I respected that. Even though she wasn’t ready for marriage, knowing that I already was felt somehow comforting. I knew that a part of her was still held back by her past but day by day, that part of her got smaller. One day she will be ready to take that walk down the aisle and when she is, I’ll be waiting at the end of it ready to call her my wife. After that, we’ll start having kids.
Okay, so now I was most definitely getting a head of myself.
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I was thinking of perhaps doing a rated-r scene of when they first mate or if you guys really want that whole incident of where they first tell each other they love each other and then mate, I'll add it as a bonus chapter so if you guys could give me some feedback if you want either/both/none that would be great...