Chapter 11: Jax
The second Alec had seen Kai's crestfallen face, the Delta had taken it upon himself to negotiate a happy ending for everyone. I can't be mad at him for it, it's what he's supposed to do, but I am mad it means I have to be up as the sun rises.
"Did you have to suggest an official ceremony?" I ask Alec as we hike through the forest.
Alec takes a big whiff of the crisp early morning air and turns around to smile at me.
"Don't be so grumpy Jax," he says, "did you see how excited Kai was? It cheered him up straight away."
"Fine," I say, "but did you have to sign us up to collect the flowers?"
"There isn't much else we can do, I'm still limping everywhere, and I'm stuck with this stupid walking stick," he complains, waving it around.
"It's been four days since your accident," I point out, "it's amazing you aren't in a wheelchair, and it's not a walking stick, it's a hiking stick."
"Well, I don't like it," Alec huffs.
"Whose being grumpy now?" I ask him.
He glares at me playfully and sticks his tongue out.
"Real mature," I say, shaking my head.
I can't help but smile at his antics as I shake my head. A chilling gust of wind reminds me just how early it is. How is he so chipper in the morning?
"It's freezing," I complain.
"It's refreshing," Alec corrects me, "and it'll warm up soon."
"I don't see why we couldn't have gone later," I tell him.
"Jax, we only have today to find the flowers, pick the flowers and weave them into crowns," Alec says seriously, "Luna and Kai are already setting up the decorations for the ceremony and you don't hear them complaining."
"That's because they're at the house and we are in the middle of the forest," I point out.
"Well, I'm sure they aren't," Alec says confidently.
I'm not so sure he's right. Luna complains a lot. Before I could point that out, Alec gasps loudly.
"Look!" he says, pointing to a field of flowers in the distance.
"You're going to make me walk all the way over there just for flowers, aren't you?" I ask him.
"Look how many different colours there are," Alec says, "we could get everything we need from the one spot."
"It would probably take less time to find them individually, look how far away it is," I say.
Alec turns to me to make direct eye contact.
"Please?" he asks.
"Alec, you can barely walk," I start, trying to reason with him.
"But what if we can't find the perfect flowers around here?" he asks.
"We can use whatever we find," I tell him.
"But Jax," Alec whines, "this is going to be the pack's first official ceremony, it should be special."
"It's not a wedding," I joke, rolling my eyes.
"... why would I care about a wedding?" Alec asks me, "that's a human thing."
I chuckle a little at his genuine confusion.
"Right, sorry, let me rephrase, it's not a bonding ceremony," I say.
