My Mate Is An Omega
My Mate Is A Virgin Chapter 29

Jasper POV

As soon as I walked out of the bathroom, my mate's serene expression turned into a frown.

"What? Is this not appropriate?" I glanced down at the suit I had picked out of the many in my collection.

"You're taking this 'king' thing too seriously." She stood up from the bed, rolling her eyes as she marched in my direction. "It's a secret pre-party with the girls, not your coronation."

A couple of days had gone by since the youngest huntress approached us in the forest to invite us to some kind of get-together with games and alcohol that would happen tonight, precisely twenty-four hours prior to the King and Queen Ceremony. I was certainly taken by surprise, but since it had been a while since I had last let loose, the idea seemed very appealing. Even if Her Majesty wasn't aware of our little before party, I thought I was supposed to follow the usual clothing etiquette. Apparently, I was wrong. Andromeda stopped mere inches away from me. I watched her closely as she unceremoniously removed my suit, letting it fall to the floor. Her skilled fingers proceeded to untie my black tie and toss it behind her, not bothering to look at where it had landed. I lifted my head when her hands moved back to my neck, allowing her to undo the top three buttons of my wine-red shirt. Lastly, she rolled up both of my sleeves, sending shivers down my spine when she touched her mark on my wrist. Stepping back, she took a good look at the adjustments she had made before a satisfied smile crossed her face.

"Now you're ready," my mate stated as her arms wrapped around my neck. My hands instinctively searched for her waist.

"Aw. I was hoping you would strip me naked." I pouted jokingly.

"Maybe later..." She let her hands slide down my arms until they landed on top of mine, and she unexpectedly moved them to her firm a*s. A grunt of desire broke through my lips as my fingertips dug into her flesh through the thin fabric of her red satin dress; I wanted nothing more than to tear it off. But then, her voice sounded again. "If you behave."

I grunted again; this time, in annoyance. "I shouldn't have taught you how to tease me."

"Oh, my prince... You didn't teach me that. I've known how to get your attention from the moment I laid eyes on you." Well, how could I disagree?

I was forced to shake off my dirty thoughts when my princess grabbed me by my arm to lead me out of our room. Together, we walked through dozens of hallways until we made it to the royal dining room, where our little event was being hosted. A little risky if you ask me, but the huntresses were sure it was the best place to have a secret party since it was soundproof.

As I was about to knock on the double doors, they opened up, with Alula poking her head through them. The moment her eyes landed on us, she flashed us her usual excited smile. Sometimes, I wondered how such a happy-go-lucky girl had been born among a hundred stoic lynxes.

"Welcome, Princess Andromeda. Prince Jasper," the albino whispered. The next second, she seemed to forget all about discretion as she yelled to the huntresses inside the room, "Girls! Our honorable guests are finally here!"

"Alula!" They all scolded in unison, causing the poor female to shrink into herself guiltly.

"Sorry. I got excited." She flashed us an apologetic smile before opening the door wider. "Come on in! Let's get this party started!"

My eyes scoured through the large room as we stepped inside. The usual lights were turned off; instead, colorful disco lights had been installed on the ceiling. There were various types of finger food on the left counter, and different kinds of alcohol on the right counter. Even the wide dinner table had been turned into a beer pong table.

The huntresses were scattered around the room, and it didn't take me long to realize Wade was among them. He was never invited to any of our formal meetings, but since he was Adriana's brother, I guess it made sense for him to be here tonight. Our eyes met for a moment, and we glared at each other until Calynn's voice caught my attention.

"What do you think, Prince Jasper?" The brunette gestured towards the room around her, a proud smile on her lips. She seemed shy in the beginning, but the more I got to know her, the more her extrovert side came to light. "Honestly, I'm impressed. I wasn't aware that you cats knew how to party," I said, half-joking.

"And I suppose you do know how to party, Mr. Wolf?" Adriana crossed her arms, clearly taking offense.

"Oh, you have no idea." My mate rolled her eyes before flashing me a side glance. I winked in response.

"Well, can we start drinking already? It took you long enough to show up." Laina, who was leaning on a corner, didn't bother masking her impatience.

"Right! Look what we got from the cellar!" Alula jumped excitedly towards the counter with the drinks, and I found myself following after her. "Only the finest! Did you have access to this kind of stuff back at your pack, Prince Jasper?"

"Yeah. Only after I became Gamma, though." I grabbed a bottle of bourbon, realizing it was the same brand we used to drink at Diamond Tempest. It certainly brought back memories, but it probably wasn't the best spirit to start off the night. Taking a closer look at my options, I noticed all of the ingredients for a certain recipe were available. An idea immediately crossed my mind. "Does anyone want some Screaming O*****s?"

The room went silent. I could feel the women's horrified gazes on me as they wondered if I was joking. My mate seemed just as confused, yet she remained calm, waiting for an explanation.

"What? Wolf got your tongue?" I said playfully as I turned to them. "It's just the name of a shot." Their mouths turned the shape of an 'O' in a mix of relief and comprehension. Well, except for Kindra; her expression remained as unamused as always. "In that case, I'm in!" Alula raised her hand.

"Aren't you too young to drink?" I arched an eyebrow at her.

"Please. She's a shapeshifter. Don't act like you weren't drinking before you were legally allowed to," Andromeda pointed out.

"Fair enough." I shrugged.

After preparing the shot recipe I had learned from the Beta Female in my old pack, we continued to drink and chat for an hour or so. Despite Tigger's presence, I was having a good time. In fact, I hadn't even heard his voice yet, probably because his sister had previously warned him to behave. It didn't take me long to stop worrying about him and just enjoy my time with my new friends. Once we were all a little tipsy, I decided it was time to show them how to party Jasper-Stray-style.

"Alright, what do you say we spice things up a little?" Sitting at the table with one arm around my princess' neck, I pulled a card deck out of my pocket. "Have any of you ever played Ring of Fire?" When only silence followed, I continued. "First, we lay the cards down in a circle around, let's say, this bottle of bourbon. Each card represents an action. We take turns drawing them and performing whatever they tell us to do. The game ends when there's no more cards left."

"So, basically the goal is to get wasted?" Kindra furrowed her brows in disapproval, resting her arms over one of the chairs as she looked me dead in the eyes. "You wolves are such noble creatures," she uttered sarcastically, but her remark didn't get to me at all. "Are you afraid of losing control?" The woman might not like me one bit, but I had her figured it out. I knew she would never refuse a challenge.

"I'd be more concerned about you, my Prince," she spat, confirming my suspicions as she pulled out a chair. "Bring it on."

"I'm in, too." Adriana took her seat as well.

The other women reluctantly followed. Needless to say, in less than an hour we were all high as s**t. Whatever happened next was a blur.

***

I don't remember going to bed, but I somehow woke up in the Princess' Chambers with my mate in my arms. Aside from a mild headache, I was surprisingly fine. Maybe I had partied too hard last night, but in a way, it felt invigorating. After going through a long journey of self-discovery, and putting a lot of effort into reaching the expected standards for a king, it was nice to let go for a few hours. Judging by the way the huntresses were dancing and laughing during our pre-party, I suppose they had fun as well. As I shifted a little in bed, my gaze fell on my princess, who still had her eyes closed. Like me, she was only in her underwear, and the feeling of our skins touching was heavenly. Her chest moved up and down as she took long breaths in her sleep. Awestruck by her beauty, I leaned forward ready to kiss her forehead, but her voice startled me before I could.

"My head hurts," she mumbled, not bothering to open her eyes.

I laughed, kissing her at last. "Mine too, and my memory is a little foggy."

"Oh?" The corner of her lips turned up in a small smile. "So you don't remember the ninesome we had?"

"f**k, my wish finally comes true and I have no memory of it? I guess we'll have to do it again." Not a second later, Andromeda punched my arm hard. She could be hungover, but her reflexes were as sharp as ever. "Ouch!"

"You're an a*s!" She chuckled.

"And you're the most breathtakingly beautiful woman in the world," I whispered, wrapping my arms tighter around her to pull her closer. She struggled for a bit, but eventually gave up. My lips pressed against hers and my tongue eagerly pushed them open. I longed to feel her taste.

"Are you ready for your coronation, my king?" Her eyes were full of love when she pulled away. It made my heart melt.

"As long as it means I'll spend my life by your side, then I'm ready." My head spun a little as I sat up. It took me a few seconds to be able to see clearly again. "Just wish we had a little more time to... recover."

"Oh, s**t!" Dree widened her eyes as she shot up in bed. "We have to meet my mom for breakfast to discuss the final details for the ceremony!" Her attention turned to the digital clock on the bedside table.

"We still have an hour." I brushed the back of her hand with my thumb in an attempt to help her relax. "Let me prepare a bath for us, and get you some aspirin." I gave her a quick peck on the lips as I prepared to get off bed. "You spoil me too much, my Prince."

"You're right, maybe I should-" I pretended I was about to lie back down, but she stopped me.

"Just go already!" She laughed, and I did the same before obliging.

After the warm bath, the effects of the hangover thankfully died down. We got dressed quickly in order to be at the dining room on time. I couldn't help but notice how different it looked from last night, and I wondered how the huntresses had managed to clean everything up in the state we all were in last night. Maybe they contacted some servants to make sure it looked impeccable. Either way, judging by the expressionless face the Queen was wearing, she seemed unaware of what had gone down here just a few hours ago.

"Good morning, Prince Jasper. Andromeda," Nymeia greeted us. "Did you rest well?"

"Like pups." I smiled at her before glancing at my mate, who just rolled her eyes. "Thank you for asking, Mother."

"Good. You have to be in your best shape tonight," she continued. "As you know, we-"

Before the queen could finish her sentence, the double doors burst open. She immediately rose from her seat, ready to scold whoever dared interrupt us. For the first time, I noticed her eyes widen a little as she realized who had just walked in.

Wade's furious eyes darted at me. His chest was heaving up and down as he bared his fangs. He still looked slightly drunk, and I wondered if it had anything to do with his unexpected appearance. For some reason, my heart started beating faster. Andromeda squeezed my hand tighter; I couldn't tell if she was tense too or simply trying to reassure me.

"What is the meaning of this, Wade?" The queen's calm tone didn't match the heavy atmosphere.

"I refuse to let this...this dog take over our clan!" he growled, making me frown. "Queen Nymeia, I insist I'm a better mate for your daughter, and there is no doubt I'll be a more adequate king." When his attention fell on me again, I felt compelled to stand up. "Jasper Stray, I challenge you for your position, and for the Princess' hand!"

"Have you lost your mind?!" Andromeda rose as well to shield me behind her body. "Mother-"

"I allow the challenge to happen."

"What?!" My mate widened her eyes in horror. "You can't be serious right now!"

"Do I not look serious?" The woman scrunched her brows at her daughter's tone. "Prince Jasper is to become king tonight. He will be challenged for his spot, and he will have to defend it. Wade has every right to challenge him."

Dree turned to me, fear evident in her eyes. Honestly, I was scared too, but I knew better than to show it. I took a deep breath, nodding at her reassuringly before letting go of her hand to take a step forward.

"I accept your challenge, guard."

"The duel is to happen right now, in the Arena. The only witnesses will be me and my right hand," Nymeia continued.

"Mother, I beg you to reconsider!" My princess insisted.

"My decision has been made. Besides, the Prince has already accepted the challenge. Collect yourself," she warned her daughter, who scowled, but didn't utter another word.

My mind was racing a million miles a second as we all made our way to the indoors arena. This was supposed to be a peaceful breakfast... How did it turn into a battle? It felt as if my heart was going to beat out of my chest. I had been training with Adriana for the past month, and I had taken down a rogue lynx on my own. But did I really stand a chance against Wade?

"f**k your insecurities! How can you even consider losing?" Phoenix growled at me. "He doesn't just want our stupid title, he wants our mate! I will never let him have her!"

The thought of allowing that bastard to take my princess... It disgusted me. "You're right. I'll die before I let him lay a finger on her!"

"I'll kill him for trying!" he countered.

By the time we made it to our destination, adrenaline was pumping through my veins, giving me the courage I needed to go through with the battle. The queen stood on the side of the battlefield with her right hand. I could feel Andromeda's horror through the mate bond as her mother started explaining the rules, but I could barely understand them. All I could focus on was the fucker who was trying to steal my mate.

I was going to f*****g murder him for once.

The room suddenly went silent. When the man standing in front of me shifted into his lynx, I assumed the queen had officially started our combat. Phoenix didn't wait for me to give him control, angrily pushing closer to the surface to take over our body. His eyes were locked on our target, and he didn't waste a second before lunging in the opponent's direction.

My wolf aimed for the creature's neck, just like we had been taught. He missed, and he was soon punished for his mistake. Wade's smoke-gray lynx stretched out his paw, smacking the side of my counterpart's face and sending him crashing to the ground. I could feel the wound on his cheek burn, but the pain didn't slow him down.

In a blaze of rage, Phoenix kept attacking, and Wade dodged every time. After being hit countless times, my wolf's blood was dripping all over the floor. The pain was becoming more intense. I wondered how much longer we could take it. The lynx was faster than us; stronger than us. But we wouldn't give up.

Phoenix prepared to jump at the enemy again, but before he could, Wade came at him at the speed of lightning, successfully knocking him to the ground. The cat's huge paw pressed against his throat, blocking his airway. Then, sharp claws dug into our neck, causing my wolf to cry out in pain for the first time. A sinister smile lit up the lynx's face, but as Phoenix stared into his eyes, he showed no fear.

"Jasper!" Andromeda's fear-filled scream broke through the silence. Her worry hurt more than all of our wounds combined.

And it seemed to ignite a fire inside of my chest.

Pushing through the pain, Phoenix somehow found the strength to struggle away from the opponent's grasp. In a quick movement, he sunk his teeth into the creature's neck, missing his jugular by only a few inches. It didn't matter; we just had to hold on tight. The cat hissed, momentarily losing his balance as he tried to get rid of the wolf, in vain. The more he moved, the more blood oozed out of his injury.

The taste of the enemy's blood only fueled Phoenix's fire. There were flames dancing in his eyes as he readied himself to defeat the fucker. I felt our body heating up, probably as a result from the rage and the adrenaline. The lynx let out an agonized scream, startling us. Then, I saw flames. Actual flames, burning his skin on the exact spot my wolf was biting him.

What?!

Phoenix widened his eyes, immediately letting go. Wade's counterpart immediately backed away, panting. He wasn't bleeding anymore, as the wound seemed to have been cauterized. Taking a closer look, I realized there was an actual burn mark on his neck. What the hell had happened?

"Did you see that?! He spit fire!" Wade yelled, cowering in a corner, already back to his human form. "He's a f*****g freak!"

The silence that followed was deafening. Phoenix turned his attention to the Queen, as if searching for answers, but he got none. Then, his attention fell on our princess, who was just as speechless. The horrified expression on her face made my heart stop.