AT THE SAME TIME
JAXON'S POINT OF VIEW:
I didn't waste a second. Xavier was trembling so hard, I swear I could hear his bones shaking. I slid my arms under him, lifting him off the ground like he weighed nothing but fear. His body was limp but his panic screamed through every breath.
"Hold on." I gritted my teeth, picking him up.
His head leaned against my chest, and I felt the tremors rippling through him. The Moon Wing's walls glowed cold and harsh behind me as I stormed toward the exit. His breaths were shallow, quick gasps that tore at my heart.
"Jaxon… I can't…" His voice broke, barely a whisper.
"You're safe." I told him fiercely, voice low but strong. "I'm taking you out. Away from this place."
Soon, I burst through the doorway, the night air sharp against our skin. Xavier's legs buckled the moment we hit the garden stones, but I didn't let him fall. I gripped him tighter, sliding us down against the cold stone bench. His whole body shook, panic pulsing through his veins like poison.
"Hey, look at me." I said, holding his face between my hands. His eyes flickered open, wild and desperate. "Breathe. You're here, with me."
He tried, but his chest was a wreck, fighting against his own body.
"I don't want this… I'm not supposed to be here. I'm not a omega."Xavier whispered.
"I know. But right now, this is what we have. Just breathe with me. In… and out." I demonstrated slow, deep breaths, willing him to copy.
That's when I pulled the vial from my pouch, the calming potion. I twisted the cork off with trembling fingers.
"No! I won't drink that!" He pushed me away, voice raw and panicked.
"Xavier, it's not going to change you. It'll just help you breathe." I didn't give him a choice. I stepped in, grabbed his chin gently, forcing his eyes to mine. "Trust me. You need this."
His breath hitched, eyes searching for any hint of betrayal. Slowly, painfully, he nodded. I tipped the vial to his lips, and he gagged, the bitter taste burning down his throat. I held him steady as he swallowed. The shaking didn't stop right away, but bit by bit, the tension began to ease.
"Shhh, it's okay." I whisper, brushing my fingers through his damp hair, possessive and sure. "You don't have to fight anymore."
"I am tierd."He mutters lightly.
"Rest, i'll take care of you."I whisper softly.
He tries to speak, something broken and scared, but the words catch in his throat. Instead, his body sags into me, surrendering to the pull of sleep.
I hold him tighter, my heart beating faster. He's not just mine by law or chance, he's mine in every broken, beautiful way. His breathing evens out, deep and slow, and I press a soft kiss to his temple.
"You're safe," I murmur. "With me."
He doesn't move, doesn't fight. His fingers twitch weakly on my shirt, a whisper of life, and I slide my thumb over them, rough and possessive. I settle back against the cold stone, holding him close, feeling the warmth of his skin against mine. The jasmine tree scent fills the air, but I only smell him, my damn omega, soft and fragile in my arms. I'm already plotting how I'm going to keep him safe, keep him mine. I don't care about Selene or her plans. And as he sleeps, peaceful and unaware, I swear to myself, no one's going to take him from me. Not now. Not ever. The night is quiet except for his breathing, and I'm grinning like a bastard who just won everything. Because I have. Then, out of nowhere, that ridiculous smell hits me sharp, cheesy, unmistakably Michael. Damn guy always smells like he's been marinating in a block of cheddar.
"Jaxon." His voice is loud, gruff, but there's no teasing tonight.
Just something serious beneath it. I look up to see him striding closer, eyes sharp, immediately locking onto Xavier.
"He's yours, huh? "Michael asked.
"Yeah." I growl, still cradling Xavier like he's fragile glass. "And I'm not letting go."
Michael kneels down beside us, sniffs the air like some kind of wild beast.
"I know that scent." He chuckles darkly. "I met him when he was trying to escape Selene's grip, remember? The Moon Goddess. I got summoned a while back and caught him just before he disappeared."
I tense, but Michael's eyes don't leave Xavier.
"I couldn't forget him after that. Something about him… stuck with me."Michael explained.
"You want him."I said.
Michael shrugs, a grin tugging at his lips.
"I do. But I'm not here to fight. You have him, Jaxon. But maybe…" He pauses, voice softer now, almost vulnerable. "Maybe we share him."
I stare at him, disbelief and something like relief battling inside me. Xavier's asleep, too tired to argue or decide. And honestly? I don't want to fight for him. I want to protect him. Together. After a long beat, I nod slowly.
"We share him."I agrree.
Michael's grin spreads wide, triumphant but gentle.
"Good. Because neither of us is letting go."He said.
I stand up, still holding Xavier's weight in my arms, feeling the steady rise and fall of his chest against me. Michael steps up beside me, that cheesy grin stretched wide across his face like he's just won some private game.
"So." Michael said, voice low, eyes flicking to me with that challenge sparkling behind them. "We're really doing this. Sharing him."
I smirk, letting my gaze lock with his, a silent promise passing between us.
"Yeah. Nobody's taking him from either of us. We're in this together."I said.
Michael's grin deepens, that gleam of alpha hunger clear as day.
"Good. Because I don't just want to protect him, I want to claim him, too."He said.
I chuckle, a rough sound, eyes never leaving his.
"Then we make sure he knows who owns him. Both of us."I said.
Without breaking the tension, I shift Xavier gently in my arms, careful not to wake him. Michael steps closer, his hand brushing mine just for a moment brief, charged contact.
"We take him to your room?" Michael asked, voice smooth like silk but with steel underneath.
I nod, stepping off toward the house, Xavier still cradled against my chest.
"Yeah. It's ours now. His safe place."I said. "Let's show him what it means to be ours."
"I was hoping you'd say that."He said.
Together, we carry Xavier inside, the weight of him anchoring us both. And for the first time since this nightmare started, I feel something sharp and fierce burning inside, possession, protection, and the twisted kind of love that only two Alphas sharing their mate can understand.