When The Moon Rises
Chapter Twenty-Four

Sienna’s POV.

I’m nervous as hell when we pull up in front of my parents’ house. My mum is no doubt trying to keep my dad calm inside the house. I really hope that this goes well.

I hold Jax’s hand tightly as we walk up to the door. I ring the bell and wait for our fate.

The door opens and my mother gives us a wide, but forced, smile.

“Sienna, darling! You must be Jax?” She says warmly. “It’s lovely to meet you. Come inside.”

We step into the house and the smell of home-cooked food reaches my nose. My dad is sat in the living room, reading the paper.

He looks at Jax and I over the top of the paper when we step into the room. With a sigh, he folds it up and stands. He pulls me into a hug whilst looking Jax up and down warily.

“Are you alright?” He asks me. “Is he treating you well?”

He asks me like Jax isn’t stood right next to me. I roll my eyes at him.

“Daddy, he’s amazing, don’t be like that. This is my mate, Jax, be nice,” I tell him pointedly.

“It’s a pleasure to meet you, Sir,’ Jax says and offers his hand.

My dad glares at him a bit but shakes his hand reluctantly.

“You too,” he grumbles.

“Drinks, anyone?” Mum asks from the doorway.

I grab Jax’s hand, not wanting to leave him alone with my grumpy dad and pull him through to the kitchen.

“How is Dad gonna be do you think?” I ask Mum as she pours us drinks.

“I don’t know,” she says tiredly. “I threatened him with no dinner if he doesn’t behave, but now, I think he’s going to eat a big lunch and fill himself up, you know?”

“We’ll leave if he gets rude.”

“I don’t think he will, Sienna. He’s not keen on your pack, Jax,” she explains. “It’s not personal to you, it’s about your pack’s history.”

“It’s my dad’s reputation, I know,” Jax replies. “But, if it makes your husband feel any better, I exiled my parents from my pack this afternoon.”

Shock comes over my mother’s face. “You did?”

“Yes. They were not accepting of my brother’s mate and a whole bunch of other things. They can come back if they have a change of heart, which I doubt.”

“I’m so sorry.”

Jax smiles. “Thank you, but I’m not. Now, is there anything you want me to do? Set the table?”

And just like that, my mother loves Jax.

One parent down, one to go.

We sit around the table, cutlery clinking on plates, silence setting in like fog around us.

“So, Jax, tell us about your plans for the pack now that you are Alpha,” my mother says, attempting to start conversation.

“Sure,” my mate replies easily. “Firstly, I’m going to prioritise mending some of the bridges my father burned with our allies.”

My father snorts from his end of the table. “Good luck with that,” he mutters under his breath.

Jax remains unfazed. “It will definitely take work. I will have to prove that I am nothing like my father, but I am willing to go the distance and put in the work.”

I don’t miss the double-meaning to his words. He’s looking pointedly at my father as he says this.

“It will take time, but, hopefully, I can make the Black Mountain pack a respected name again, one that isn’t spoken in fear. That’s the goal, anyway.”

“That sounds wonderful. I’m glad that you’re changing things,” Mum says proudly.

Dad remains relatively silent for the meal. Like my mum predicted, he focusses on eating as much food as possible, just in case the offer of dinner is retracted, and he has to actually cook for himself for once.

After we’ve finished helping Mum clear up, we go through to the living room for an awkward cup of coffee.

Eventually, things get too much, and I ask to speak to my dad alone in his study. He shuts the door behind us and faces me. His arms are crossed over his chest and he’s frowning deeply.

“What is it, Sienna?”

“You’re being rude to my mate for no reason,” I tell him bluntly.

He narrows his eyes at me. “It is not without reason, Sienna, and you know it.”

“I completely understand why you don’t like his pack and what his father did, but there is no justification for taking it out on my mate,” I respond firmly. “Jax has done nothing but be good to me. He has supported me and looked after me more than you know.”

I neglected to tell my parents about mine and Kayla’s kidnapping. I thought it was cause unnecessary stress, Seok is dead, there is no threat to us anymore. Besides, my dad doesn’t need any more ammunition against my mate.

“Jax is a great Alpha. He is making sure that the pack is respected again. He is making amends for his father’s behaviour. Do you know that, just this morning, he exiled his parents from the pack?”

Surprise comes over my father’s face. He doesn’t know the lengths Jax is willing to go to improve the pack.

“He kicked them out because they didn’t agree with his actions. He’s a good guy, Dad. I wish you would give him a chance.”

My father is quiet for a long time. I start to worry that he is going to ask us to leave. Eventually, he sighs and runs his hand through his hair.

“I’m sorry, Sienna. I can see that he is very different to his father, at least, from what I’ve heard. I’m pleased to hear that his parents are not in the pack anymore. I don’t want you anywhere near their bad influence. I will give Jax a chance to prove himself.”

I smile gratefully. “That’s all he wants, Dad.”

When we go to leave, Dad actually shakes Jax’s hand this time. We’re making progress.

We stop by the supermarket on the way home and buy ingredients for tonight’s dinner. We’re having Cade and his mate round; I want to cook something special for them.

I’m bursting with excitement when Cade and his mate arrive. Jax is in the kitchen, adding the final touches to dinner.

Cade and his mate are on the doorstep, holding a bottle of wine and a bunch of flowers.

“Come in!” I greet them excitedly and usher them inside.

“Si, this is my mate, Jude. Jude, this is Sienna.”

Jude has dark blonde hair and pale hazel eyes. He gives me a warm smile and then holds out his hand to me. I push his hand out of the way and then pull him into a hug.

“It’s so nice to meet you, Jude. Come into the kitchen and meet my mate.”

Jax turns around from the oven when we enter. He shakes Jude’s hand.

“Alpha Jax, it’s great to meet you,” Jude says politely.

“Please, just call me Jax, you’re family now,” Jax replies and slaps Cade on the back.

We serve up dinner a few minutes later and take a seat around the table. Poor Jude is asked a million questions from us.

I’m grinning from ear to ear. It makes me so happy to see how loved-up Cade is. He has been waiting to meet his mate for so long, he finally has him.

They stay for a few hours before taking their leave. I help Jax clear up and then we sit on the sofa for a while, discussing what a day it has been.

“You survived exiling your parents, meeting my parents and meeting Cade’s boyfriend,” I tell Jax. “I’m so proud of you.”

He grins at me. “It’s been a hell of a day. I’m glad it’s over, to be honest.”

“Me, too. I’m so pleased for Cade, though. He’s so happy.”

“Yeah, it’s good to see him like that. Life is better when you’re with your mate.”

“Damn right,” I reply with a chuckle.

Jax leans in and kisses me softly. I kiss him back more firmly, wanting more.

“How about I take you upstairs and show you just how much you mean to me?” He offers, kissing his way along my jaw and down my neck.

He sucks gently on his mark and pleasurable tingles shoot through my body. I lace my fingers in his dark hair and manage to find my voice.

“Yes please, Alpha.”

The End.

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