The Prince's Guard
Chapter 28

After leaving the Royal Court, Gamma Jesse lead Jaxson to a storage room, gesturing to a crate for Jaxson to perch on before he sat on another. “You can admit it, you know,” Gamma Jesse announced.

“Admit what?” Jaxson replied, a little too sharply.

The Royal Gamma sighed, running a hand through his sandy hair. “Who do I live with, Jax?”

Jaxson frowned, looking at his superior. As far as he knew, he lived alone.

“I… I’ll admit, I don’t know.”

“I could live in the castle, I don’t. I live on the outskirts, far from prying eyes. Why?”

Why was he asking him all these questions? It wasn’t something he’d ever thought about, Jesse was his boss, his superior, his trainer, his mentor. “Erm… you’re a private person, Gamma?” he took the wild stab, confused.

“That I am. Not the reason for my retreat from the castle, however.” There was a look in the Gamma’s eyes that Jaxson couldn’t pinpoint. Was it pity? Disapproval? Disappointment?

“I’m sorry that I disappointed you, you taught me well, it’s not a reflection on you.”

Whatever the look was, turned to slight amusement. “I know. Your listening needs a little work, however.” His sea eyes glinted a little.

“Sorry, Gamma,” Jaxson mumbled, feeling a little chastised.

Gamma Jesse began undoing the top buttons of his shirt, he regularly wore collared t-shirts, however, today was obviously a more formal day. Jaxson shifted on the crate, he’d never felt so fidgety in his life. Or as nervous.

“Many do not know I am mated.”

Jaxson straightened, no, he had not known that. It wasn’t something often kept secret… in fact… it was never something kept secret. What would make him possibly hide it? As he had declared he was a very private individual, but mateships slipped out, the mark was obvious over t-shirts, well… if you looked. Jaxson didn’t exactly make it a habit of himself to examine other people’s necks, but it was often something noticed and then dropped in conversation.

Jesse tugged the collar of his shirt further down than where the usual mark was, to show the clear mark on his shoulder. “I met my mate a few years ago, I was surprised to say the least. I thought my chance was long gone. Many remain single all their lives, I had resigned myself I would be one of them. But alas, the Goddess obviously knew what she was doing. I didn’t think so at the beginning. I thought she’d made a massive mistake.”

“Why?” Jaxson breathed, almost daring to believe what he thought he may have been hearing.

“Because it certainly wasn’t conventional. I’d smelt them in the crowd, I knew my mate was there, who my mate was, took me by surprise. Not for looks, or anything so shallow. Merely their gender. He’s exactly what I wanted… no… needed of a mate. Exactly how mates were designed, two halves of a whole. I never realised my other half would need to be male.”

Jaxson didn’t move. Didn’t respond. He processed the words, yet didn’t quite take them all in, not in order. It was like the Gamma had begun speaking a new language. As if he were in an interview and while the words were ones he knew, he just couldn’t piece them together into a meaning.

“I didn’t fight it. We just worked out we’d have to hide it. I suppose easier for us. I requested Callum’s transfer to royal packlands… as I hold the ultimate decision on that, it wasn’t hard.”

“Callum?” Jaxson whispered in disbelief.

“Yes. I’m trusting you with this information.” The tone was light, but there was certainly a warning under the surface. Jaxson, of course, would never breathe a word, but why trust him? His rank was gone, he was a nobody. A nothing. He was a prisoner. A wolf on trial for allowing anger to take over. He was sentenced to months in the cells for defending his perfect mate.

“The rumours are true, aren’t they?”

Jaxson looked down, picking a tiny slither of dirt from under his fingernail.

“The charges will be dropped. I’ll have no qualms reinstating you.”

“Jess… I…” There was nothing he could say. The fear was too great, admitting it to the world… it was too much. He didn’t even know if that was what Chris wanted. Curling up in his arms in a dingy cell was one thing… but being in public? Admitting it?

“I know. It’s a little hypocritical… but there are more same-sex pairings than you think… it’ll only take one to speak out… for it to become acceptable.”

“You want me… no you want Chris to be the fall guy?” Jaxson asked with incredulousness.

Alright… he’d basically just admitted it without saying it.

It was obvious Gamma Jesse knew though, or he wouldn’t have pulled him into the tiny storage room to talk mating.

“No, the model. The spokesperson. The brave, courageous wolf to give us all a voice. Give us the ability to live in the open. Rather than cowering in the shadows.”

“I don’t know… I don’t know if I can. The rumours, the looks, the whispers. It’s too much.” His stomach tightened at the idea, let alone the reality.

“It only takes one, others will come forward. The gossip will die down.”

“The King…” he didn’t know how to finish that sentence.

“Won’t rip your balls off if that’s what you’re worried about.” A knowing smile spread over Gamma Jesse’s lips.

“I don’t know if Chris is ready… I don’t-”

“Jax, think of yourself for a minute,” it came out as a plea, a hope? “Do you want to live in the cells for months, or be a free wolf, living with your mate. Admitting it to the council doesn’t mean you’re admitting it to the world. You’re just explaining why you beat the shit out of Craig. That’s all.”

“I don’t think it’s that easy,” he whispered back, his fingernail still appearing very interesting.

“I’ll back you up…” he paused, a slight uncertainty… fear? “I’ll admit my mateship.”

“You would?” Jaxson sat up, his back ramrod straight, he couldn’t hide his shock. For all the Gamma had said before, he would give that up? For him?… no… for others like them.

“Yes.”

No big declaration, just a single word. But it was a word that held so much promise. A promise of a better future.

But could Jaxson be brave enough?

Are we shocked? Did you guess it?

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