Lunar Legacy: Rise Of The Beastlord-Chapter 257: White Knight

Jayden held Jessica’s gaze for a long moment before shaking his head, his expression carefully neutral. "I don’t know what you’re talking about. I’m just as surprised as you are about the level ups."

Jessica’s eyes narrowed. "Don’t give me that," she retorted. "There’s something different. I can feel it."

"Feel what?" Jayden chuckled.

"I don’t know!" She threw her hands up in frustration. "It’s like... there’s this strange feeling toward you. Something I didn’t have before dinner."

Jayden’s lips curved into a small smile. He took a step closer, closing the distance between them until he was mere inches away. His voice dropped to a low, intimate murmur. "Love is a strange feeling, Jessica. I feel the same way about you."

For a moment, Jessica’s breath caught. Her eyes widened, pupils dilating as she stared up at him. The intensity of his gaze, the proximity, the warmth radiating from his body... it was overwhelming. She felt herself leaning in, drawn by some invisible force...

But just as quick, she snapped out of it and shoved him away, though not hard enough to actually move him. "No, you idiot! Not love. I mean... yes, love, but that’s not... ugh!" She ran a hand through her hair in frustration. "This is different. It’s more like... an urge to do whatever you say. Like you’ve suddenly become more... important."

Jayden couldn’t help but laugh, the sound rich and genuine. "Maybe I put a geas on you," he teased.

Despite herself, Jessica chuckled. The tension in the room eased slightly, but her expression soon turned serious again. She stepped closer, her voice softening from demanding to pleading.

"Jayden, please," she said, looking up at him with those expressive brown eyes. "I need answers. You can trust me. You know you can."

Jayden sighed, the smile fading from his face. She was right. She already knew he was a werewolf, so why not just tell her.

"I added you and Tasha to my pack," he admitted quietly.

Jessica blinked. "A pack? Like... an actual wolf pack?"

Jayden nodded. "Yes. Adding you both to my pack increased your strength. It gave you enough energy to push past your current limits and level up. It’s one of the perks of being a member of my pack."

Jessica’s mouth fell open slightly as she processed this information. The suspicion and worry that had been clouding her features melted away, replaced by relief and then growing excitement.

"That’s... that’s incredible," she breathed. Then her lips quirked into a teasing smile. "So you’re the Alpha, huh? Does that mean I have to do everything you say now?"

"No," Jayden said firmly, though his own smile returned. "You still have free will. But... you’ll trust me more. Feel a stronger connection to me."

Jessica groaned dramatically. "As if I didn’t already trust you with my life." She paused, then asked with genuine curiosity, "What are the other perks of being in the pack? And how many members are there already?"

"Just you, Tasha, and me," Jayden replied. "But I’m still figuring out how the pack works. I don’t know everything about it yet. But what I do know is that it’ll help me look after you and Tasha better."

Jessica’s expression softened. She stepped forward and wrapped her arms around his neck, pulling him into a close embrace. "So it’s like those packs in fiction, right? Where you’ll know if I’m in danger?"

Jayden’s arms came up to encircle her waist, holding her close. "Yes. Even if we’re not together, I’ll be able to know if you need help. I’ll be able to sense your general location, your emotional state, if know if you’re hurt."

"Oh wow," Jessica said, her voice taking on a theatrical quality as she leaned closer to him. "I have a bonded white knight. I must be the luckiest lady in the world."

Jayden leaned in, his face inches from hers, his voice a whisper. "You really are."

Jessica’s playful expression faded, replaced by something deeper, more intense. Their eyes locked, amber meeting brown, and the space between them charged with electricity.

Then... they kissed.

It was soft at first, tentative, but quickly deepened as Jessica pressed closer, her fingers threading through his hair. Jayden’s grip on her waist tightened, pulling her flush against him as he poured all his feelings into the kiss.

When they finally pulled apart, both slightly breathless, they rested their foreheads against each other. Neither spoke, content to simply exist in this moment of satisfied silence, feeling the warmth of each other’s presence.

Jessica was the first to break the silence, a small smile playing on her lips. "You know, you haven’t involved me in any werewolf stuff since that night of the full moon."

Jayden smiled wryly. "I haven’t exactly been involved in much werewolf stuff myself since that night. I haven’t even needed to transform much, being that I possess multiple abilities and all."

Jessica’s smile turned knowing. "Well, there’s a full moon this Sunday," she pointed out. "You might need my help."

Jayden sighed. "I already told you... what happened that night was a one-time thing. I won’t be going through any forced transformations anymore."

The worry crept back into Jessica’s eyes, making them shine with concern. "Okay. I was just making sure," she said softly.

Jayden leaned forward and pressed a gentle kiss to her forehead. "I’m fine, Jessica. You don’t need to worry about me."

"Okay," she said softly, though they both knew she would continue to worry regardless. It was part of who she was.

Jessica pulled away reluctantly, already missing his warmth. "I should let you get some sleep. Goodnight, Jayden," she blew him a kiss.

"Goodnight, Jessica," Jayden replied with a chuckle.

She headed toward the door, but paused with her hand on the handle, turning back to him. "Oh, before I forget... we’re having our training session at Cassie’s house on Friday. You’re coming, right?"

Jayden nodded. "Yeah, of course," he replied.

Jessica’s smile brightened. "Good. See you later, Alpha." She added the last word with a playful wink before slipping out and closing the door softly behind her.

Jayden stood there for a moment, staring at the closed door with a small smile on his face. Then he moved to his bed, stripping off his shirt before collapsing onto the mattress with a contented sigh.

His mind wandered over the events of the day as he stared up at the ceiling; Ava’s revelation about his family, leveling up, creating the Twin Crescent pack and adding Jessica and Tasha to it. Each event felt like another step forward, another piece of the puzzle falling into place.

He was getting stronger. Becoming more than he’d ever imagined possible. And with every advancement, he felt closer to his ultimate goals. Closer to being strong enough to protect everyone he cared about. Closer to finding her.

His thoughts drifted, memories shifting from the present to two days ago. Penelope. The goddess who’d appeared in his life unexpectedly and given him an experience he’d never forget: His first time.

It was nothing like the usual foreplay and heated moments he’d shared with Jessica and Tasha... that was the real deal. The memory of her touch, her warmth, the way she’d looked at him and moaned his name... He wished he could experience that feeling again.

But for now, he had responsibilities. A pack to build. Skills to master. People to protect.

Jayden’s eyes grew heavy, the exhaustion of the day finally catching up with him. As sleep claimed him, his last conscious thought was of how good it would feel to finally crush his enemies and relax with his women.