Try Me

Chapter 5

Jacey's POV

The next morning after running some errands I came home and found Willow helping decorate the staircase for Christmas. She was wearing sweats and a tank top, her hair in messy bun, her face free of make up. She also had dark circles under her eyes. How late did she stay up? "Willow," I said and she turned to face me. I held out the white roses I had bought for her. Her eyes widened. "I am sorry for the way I acted and for the things I said yesterday. It was wrong," I told her. "You really don't need to apologize," she whispered. "But I do," I told her. "I am completely oblivious when women hit on me, until they legitimately ask me for something like my number. I am not the brightest when it comes to realizing I should use emotions such as empathy and kindness. I treated you like a warrior and not my mate, and for that I apologize. We're only a few days into our courtship and I'm already fucking up. I didn't even realize how badly I screwed up until I went to your room to apologize and I heard you crying." "I'm not going to lie, what you said did in fact hurt," she said to me. "But I get it. I left my pack behind. Granted, it was under orders, but I could have tried to still fight it. It's been a year, and I still haven't gotten permission to return. It makes me wonder if I'm just so far gone, I will never be able to go back. I may even be too far gone, to be the mate you need." I cupped her cheek, "That's not true Willow. Fate works in mysterious ways. Maybe you just need someone to help you find yourself." She studied me for a moment, and I was going to remove my hand when she leaned into my touch.

"I forgive you Jacey," she said before turning her head to kiss my palm. She took the roses from me, "While I go put these in a vase, can you finish putting the garland on the banister?" I nodded, "Yes ma'am." She then shocked me when she stood on her tip toes to kiss my cheek before leaving the foyer.

I stood there for a moment, stunned. The cheek she kissed, warm. I came out of my trance and set to do the task she asked of me. When she came back down, she went back to decorating. "So when is Winter Solstice," I asked her curiously. "December twenty first," she answered. "What makes a difference between a Solstice gift and a Christmas gift," I asked her next. "Solstice gifts are hand made most times, or they're something you need," she explained. "Solstice gifts also get wrapped in silver or white wrapping paper. Christmas gifts tend to be from a list of things we want or something someone thinks you'd like."

We fell into silence as we finished decorating and my mother came in to inspect. She looked around and gave a nod of approval. After the stairs we went outside where my brothers were putting lights on the place. "Put some fucking clothes on woman," Jax yelled at Willow. "But it's not even that cold here," Willow said as she put her hands in the pockets of her sweats. "It's official, they're both defective," Ethan declared. "I'm not defective, I'm from Alaska," she said. "And she's a wolf with fire magic," my father pointed out. "She probably can't feel cold. Come summer though, I bet it's another story." Willow nodded, "Another story entirely."

A strong winter wind blew and it had me shivering. She stepped closer to me, heat coming from her body. She looked up at me expectantly, and I was hesitant at first, but then I wrapped my arms around her waist. I sighed softly at the warmth she was giving off. "Lucky bastard," Terroce said before throwing a snow ball that hit me in the arm. I used my wind magic to make the snow on the roof, fall and land on him. He yelped and began to dance to get the snow out of his clothes. "You fucker," Terroce cursed. I chuckled softly while Willow laughed.

After we finished helping with the outside decorations on the Temple, my mother wanted us to decorate the inside of our mountain. Our tree in the living space was massive with the ornaments we've collected over the centuries. I had made Willow come along as well since she was mate. My nephews, Drew and Morris, were clawing at the cave wall making their little roars and growls. Dragon Bestias don't shift to their human forms until they're five years, so they had four years to go. Willow crouched down to them and their tails wagged. Since dragons aren't a thing humans know about, we have to keep them in the mountain so it was rare they ever got to meet anyone new. Willow smiled softly at them before standing.