7.1: The Three J's

Celeste's POV

I brushed my hair out as gently as I could. Xavier said he wants to introduce officially to those of ranking in his pack. He said technically I've already met them but that no one actually got to introduce themselves. I instantly knew he meant the three pack members who found me along the border and found myself filled with anxieties. I knew that they were only protecting their pack but they still scared the shit out of me that day. I had just gone through something horrible, I was hurt, and they were in no rush to even try to help me. To be fair, I also couldn't mind-link them due to my head injury (or so I've been told) so maybe they thought I was intentionally not speaking to them? I don't know, either way my hand was shaking right now. Xavier gave me a few hours to relax and prepare while he let the guys know to gather.

A polite knock rapped on the door, "Are you feeling-" I turned on the chair in the bathroom to face Xavier who had stuck his head in. His mouth was slightly parted as he looked me up and down. I looked down at the soft yellow dress Zay had brought up for me, wondering if maybe it was see-through and I hadn't previously noticed. Not seeing my nipples blazing in the wind, I looked back up to meet Xavier's eyes.

"Are you okay?" I turned back to the mirror, desperately trying to brush out the back of my hair that I kept fumbling the brush through. I cursed under my breath, dropped the brush on the counter and resorted to patting my hair down with my hand. It was just a little frizzy from my nap earlier and it wasn't like I was used to being any more neat than having twigs in my hair.

"Yeah, I'm good." He took a few even steps until he was behind me. He grabbed a hold of the brush I had just set down. "You just," I brought my eyes to meet his in the mirror. He began to brush the back of my hair. "You look lovely in yellow." He turned a slight shade of red in the mirror, it was amusing to see on a man of his stature and status.

"Thank you. You. . You look good yourself." I wanted to slap myself for saying that. Sure I was just paying back a compliment but Goddess, did I have to sound so awkward? He did look good though. He had changed to a blue button up and dark gray pants and shoes to match.

"Thank you." He seemed to falter for a moment before setting the brush back down. "C'mon, the guys are waiting downstairs and they have to get back to work soon." I nodded. Of course they had work to do. One didn't hold a stance in their pack lightly. What about Xavier? He had spent the last couple of days almost entirely with me, I hope I'm not holding him back from anything important.

Xavier led me downstairs, obviously upset when I insisted on being able to get down the stairs myself, and to a room at the back of the downstairs hallway past the living room. He didn't knock on the door, just opening it gently and holding it for me. I looked up from my focus on the crutches to see a meeting room with a long table with only three of the chairs occupied. All three men sitting rose when we entered. I immediately recognized the tallest of the three as the man who stayed in his human form at the border. His hair is still the same mop of brown hair, not styled in any particular way; looking like he probably often ran a hand through it. It laid down to his mid neck in a confusing array of waves and almost curls. His eyes are a muddled brown, reminding me of a canyon I've come across once or twice in my life. The other two are a bit more unfamiliar but I know from Xavier's words that these two were also at the border that day. They're shorter than the other man and Xavier. One of them holds a wide stance with brown hair shaved closely at the sides, his also brown eyes lighter than the others in the room but they seem. . angrier? I worry about annoying him before I've even opened my mouth. The last man is the shortest of the three, not quite fitting amongst the rest of the testosterone in the room. He's skinnier but not quite as skinny as me with long dark brown hair that he has tied in a loose ponytail at the back of his neck. He smiles at me, the only one in the room to do so. Him and the other shorter one stand next to each other while the other stands on the opposite side of the table.

"Gentlemen," Xavier greets them. The angry one snorts and receives a nudge in his side from the one beside him. "Thank you for meeting us here." Xavier closes the door behind him. I glance back and he motions for me to walk further into the room. "Celeste this is Jared," he motions towards the familiar tall one, "Jacob and Josh," he motions towards the angry one and the long haired one. They all nod, the long haired one giving a polite wave. "Boys, this is Celeste. My mate." I blush at the introduction, I'm not quite sure why. I do know that my heart is beating and that they can definitely hear it and I think that alone is making it beat even faster.

"Hi," I mumble. I clear my throat, "Nice to meet you. . Officially, I mean," there goes that damned blush again. Xavier pulls a chair to sit jointly at the head of the table and motions for me to sit. I lower myself gently before leaning the crutches against the table. Xavier sits next to me and the guys all follow our actions. "I um. . . I wanted to apologize for any trouble I may have brought you all. I never meant to-"

"No," Jared interrupts. "I should apologize. I- We have been having rogue problems lately and when I saw you, I assumed you were a ploy. I shouldn't have been so aggressive that day." Xavier seems to deflate. I hadn't even noticed he was tense.

"It's okay," I looked down, fiddling with my fingers. A silence rang through the room.

"So can we g-"

"Well I'm very excited to meet you!" I looked up at the duo on the left side of the table. The angry one, Jacob, rolled his eyes but I could see a smile twitching on the corner of his lips. I looked at Josh who has a wide smile on his lips. "I've been telling Jacob for years now that Xavier needs to find his mate," he gave a small chuckle.

Xavier grumbled for a second, "What, was there something wrong with me without a mate?" I looked at him, he has a lazy smile on his lips.

"No!" Josh insisted a little too quickly.

"Just always thought he'd be better if he got laid," my eyes widened at Jacob's words. Xavier growled as I turned completely red, my cooling skin once again blazing. Jared burst out laughing.

"Admit it Xav, you've always been a little tense!" Xavier turned his glare to Jared. "As the only one with a mate previously, I think there's many benefits to finding your mate. I can already tell you're a bit less tense. Hell, I didn't even have to fight you to take on some of your work while you dealt with everything with Celeste and Zay."

"That's true," Josh interjected. "Even when you've traveled before for business, you've always put up fights insisting that you can get the rest of your work done before or during the trips." So he does have work he's allocated to them for me? That's very nice of them but I hope they don't do it for much longer. I mean, I want to get to know Xavier, yes, but I also know that an Alpha's job is important work and that it takes years to train for and take on the job.

"Do you remember when we were younger and your dad gave you that treaty to go over, fix, and take to another pack? You literally forgot my birthday because you were so focused!"

"Hey! I did not forget your birthday! I forgot what day it actively was. . . Which is probably much worse but that treaty hasn't needed any adjustments since!" I laughed at the bickering boys, bringing Xavier's eyes back to me. I gave him a smile and he gently put his hand on my arm, rubbing soft circles with his thumb.

"So you've all known each other for a long time then?" I've often thought about what it would have been like growing up regularly. Having a pack, having friends, a close knit community. My 'community' broke the second we accepted the after effects of the attack. Sure, I had friends for a bit but they quickly moved to giving me hell once I guess they realized they had nothing better to do. I even had a best friend before the attack. Mom used to say him and I made a cute pair. I always felt that was weird to say about two literal children but to each their own I suppose. I also made a friend in my rogue days but he wasn't always there. I loved when he was but. . . I don't like to think about it. . .

Jacob laughed a bit too loudly but it was brief. "No, no, no. Josh and I joined the pack years ago. We ran from our former pack, ended up near here and Xavier was. . kind enough to let us join."

"I'm very grateful for it," Josh says. "I was never happy at our old pack but when I came here, I realized just how good people, a pack, could be." He turned to Jacob and gave him a smile. Those two. . I thought I caught Jared saying he was the only one with a mate before Xavier but. . . Maybe I shouldn't assume things.

"You were with another pack?" I question instead and they nod. I turn to Jared, "And you?"

"I have known Xavier for a long time. We've been friends since before we both even formed memories. I'm older than him but only by a few years so I don't really remember life without him. My dad was the previous Beta like his was the previous Alpha so naturally we trained together, went to school together, did occasional vacations together both with and without our families. Zay is my sister so we also spent a lot of time with her as well. Her and Xavier are much closer in age, they were in a lot of the same classes growing up. I was actually with Xavier when I met my mate, Katherine. We were at the beach and I literally pushed Xavier into the water and out of my way when I first caught her scent," he gave a slight chuckle as I also giggled with the picture of Xavier being shoved into the water without warning. "Xavier was there when our little girl was born too," he aims his smile at Xavier now, "And I'm glad that I got to be here for you finding your way to him." I turn to Xavier and gave him a wide smile. Xavier has a bestie. "And I'm sorry this has been so short but I really must be going now. Katherine has an appointment in about an hour and the human town is a bit out of the way. It was nice to meet you Celeste, I look forward to getting to know you."

"I'll walk you out." Xavier's hand leaves my arm and chairs scrape as the two leave. I dance my eyes between Jacob and Josh.