Chapter 4 Jealousy.

Jayden's POV.

I followed his gaze and saw Madeline standing a few feet away, she was playing with a kid. Roman was transfixed, his eyes locked on her. I felt a pang of jealousy, but I knew it was silly. I cleared my throat, bringing Roman's attention back to me.

"Sorry," he said, a slight blush rising on his cheeks. "That's my girlfriend Madeline," I said to Roman, trying to keep my tone casual.

He seemed to snap out of his trance, turning to me with a sheepish grin. "Ohhh," he said, his voice a little hoarse.

Madeline must have noticed us because she waved, a smile on her face. Madeline walked towards us, her hips swaying gently as she moved. She had a natural grace, like a dancer. When she reached us, I wrapped her in a hug, feeling her soft body against mine. "Meet my girlfriend Madeline," I said, introducing the two of them. Roman reached out his hand and shook Madeline's, his expression friendly and open. Madeline's eyes sparkled, and she smiled at him.

"It's a pleasure to meet you," she said, her voice gentle and warm. "Are you guys mated?" Roman asked, his voice curious. I shook my head, a smile on my face.

"Not yet," I said. "We are waiting for the full moon to officially mate."

Madeline nodded in agreement, her eyes shining with excitement. I could tell she was just as eager as I was to take the next step in our relationship. Roman looked surprised, but quickly recovered, nodding in understanding.

"Ah, the full moon," he said. "Is there a problem with that?" I asked, my brow furrowing confused.

"No, no," he said, his voice quick and reassuring. "I am just curious to know when you both started dating." I nodded, understanding his interest. "We have been together since we were little, just friends, nothing deep," I said, a smile spreading across my face as I thought back to all the years we'd known each other.

"We officially started dating four years ago when we were sixteen, now we are twenty," I continued. "I'm glad we still have each other."

Madeline squeezed my hand, her eyes twinkling. "Me too," she said, a contented sigh escaping her lips.

"I pray the moon goddess will mate you both," he said, his eyes shining with sincerity.

I felt my heart swell with gratitude for his kind words. But then I noticed Madeline's countenance change, her expression shifting to one of worry. I knew exactly what she was thinking.

I leaned in and whispered in her ear, "Don't worry. We will be mated."

She nodded, but I could tell she was still anxious. I gave her hand another squeeze, hoping to reassure her. Suddenly, Madeline excused herself from our midst, mumbling something about needing a moment alone. I nodded, and she left.

I turned back to Jasper, ready to show him around, when he asked me a question that caught me off guard. "She's beautiful," he said, his eyes following Madeline as she left the room.

"I know right and she has the strongest wolf in the pack among the females," I said proudly. "Both of you would make a perfect couple," he said. I smiled, nodding my head in agreement. I knew he was right.

Madeline was the only one who could be my Luna. The thought of it filled me with a sense of purpose, of certainty. The rest of the day was spent showing Jasper around, introducing him to my friends and sharing stories of our adventures.

We spent hours wandering through the forest, talking and laughing like old friends. As I watched Roman interact with my friends and wander through the forest, I couldn't help but wonder why he was here. I knew it couldn't just be a social visit. I didn't ask Roman, knowing he wouldn't be able to tell me anything. I wanted to hear it from my father. I hoped all was well with his pack, that there was no trouble. But a nagging sense of unease lingered in the back of my mind. I pushed it aside.

As the sun set, we made our way back to the pack house. We entered the dining hall, and I took a seat next to Madeline, our knees brushing against each other under the table. I saw my father and Alpha Jasper talking in hushed tones, their heads bent together. I tried to listen in, but their voices were too low for me to make out what they were saying. From the look on my father's face, I could tell that something was wrong. His brow was furrowed, his lips drawn in a tight line.

I would rather not worry Madeline, so I tried to keep my expression neutral, focusing on my food. I took small, deliberate bites, attempting to ignore the nagging feeling of dread that was growing inside me. I knew I had to wait until we were alone to ask my father what was wrong. I could only hope that the news wasn't as bad as I feared. I was barely halfway through my food when my father stood up and left the dining hall.

I hesitated for a moment, not wanting to leave Madeline alone, but my curiosity got the better of me. I stood up and followed my father, my heart pounding in my chest. He led me to his office, his steps quick and purposeful. I entered the room behind him, feeling a sense of foreboding. The moment the door closed behind me, I couldn't hold back any longer.

"What's the problem?" I blurted out, my voice a little too loud in the small room.

My father turned to face me, his eyes grave. "Alpha Jasper needs our help," he said, his voice steady and calm.

"He's had some trouble with the rogues, and he needs reinforcements."

"But that shouldn't be a problem, right?" I said, my voice full of confidence. "Our armies can go with him right now, and we can help him."

"I'm afraid it's not that simple," my father said, his voice full of regret. "We can only render help after the full moon." My heart sank, confusion and disappointment flooding through me. "Why?" I asked, my voice betraying my emotions.

"You have a lot to learn from me," he said with a sly smile."Never make decisions in haste," he said, his words full of meaning.

I stared at him as I tried to understand what he had just said.