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29
JAX
It’s the first night this week that I haven’t seen Quinn, and honestly, it feels a little weird, like I’m already accustomed to the pattern that we’ve started to fall into. Discontent to go to sleep without at least touching base with her, I send her a quick text as I slide between the sheets to let her know that her car repairs are done. Then I try to be smooth and offer to pick it up for her, but it turns out that Brady gave her a call, too, and she already picked up her car this afternoon.
It’s not a total loss, though, because we spend the next hour sending messages back and forth, chatting about the unreliability of cars and the day we each had and the best and worst pizza toppings. I completely lose track of time, hanging on Quinn’s every word as the conversation flows easily like we’ve known each other for years, not weeks. The truth is, we still barely know one another- but th
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Alpha Jax 30
QUINN It seems that every autumn, there’s a random day or two that’s unseasonably warm, a little glimpse back at summer. Today is one of those days- the sun is shining, the air is hot, and in a surprise twist, the afternoon training sessions were called off for recruits and squad members alike. We’re all at the swimming hole instead, and I’m not sure who pulled this thing together, but it’s turned into a real party- there’s kegs of beer, endless plastic cups, and a speaker playing music. Whether the squad leaders knew we all needed a break or some rogue squad members took charge of planning this impromptu gathering, it has drawn quite a crowd- there’s a sea of bodies both in the water and on the bank, girls clad in skimpy bikinis and cutoff shorts and guys outfitted in nothing but board shorts showing off their muscular chests. The water in the swimming hole is cold, but nobody that’s swimming seems to mind as they splash abou
Alpha Jax 31
JAXLife at the complex is so structured that occasional days like this are necessary to boost squad morale and maintain our sanity. We put it to the squad members and recruits as a last-minute thing, but in truth, me and the other squad leaders have been planning this for a few days now. At our meeting earlier this week, Theo pointed out how unseasonably warm it was going to be on Saturday, and from there the idea for an ‘impromptu’ party at the swimming hole started to take shape.This isn’t the first time we’ve done this, so it didn’t require a whole lot of planning on our part. All we really needed was a hot day, a big speaker for music, and booze. It’s not easy to get the kegs out here- the owner of the Goldenleaf bar drives them out on an ATV, and then me and the guys have to haul them the rest of the way from the trail down to the swimming hole. It’s worth the inconvenience, though
Alpha Jax 32
QUINN My blood runs cold as I hear the sound of somebody nearby clearing their throat. I’m in Jax’s arms- he’s holding me tight, his dick still seated inside of me. We just had hot, dirty sex up against a fucking tree and evidently someone saw us. This is it. The moment the other shoe drops; the moment we get caught. The moment it all ends. I’m not ready. For a second, it’s like time stands still. We both freeze, our bodies going rigid as our eyes meet. Silver flecks swim in the pale blue of his irises, his wolf rising up in response to the perceived threat. My own wolf responds, clawing her way forward. Neither of us moves. Neither of us breathes. Dread coils in my gut as I tear my gaze from Jax to peer past him, in the direction the sound came from. My eyes land on a tall male form a few yards away- he’s got his back turned to me, and it’s covered in tattoos. “Uh… Quinn?” Loga
Alpha Jax 33
JAX“Hey stranger,” Quinn greets, closing her car door with a hip and flashing me a bright smile. “Where are you off to?”I slow to a stop in front of her little blue car, twirling my truck keys around a finger and trailing my eyes down her body appreciatively. “Back home to Westfield. Sunday dinner with the fam.”“Ah, how exciting.” She props an elbow on the roof of her car, leaning against it. “Does your family do that every week or something?”“Oh yeah,” I chuckle. “Their way of checking in with me, I guess.”“That’s nice,” Quinn says, and it’s not in a sarcastic way- there’s an earnestness in the way she says it, almost like she’s envious of my family’s weekly ritual. “Well, have fun.” She gives me a little wave, turning to head for the complex.I don’t kno
Alpha Jax 34
QUINN I shouldn’t have gone home with Jax for Sunday dinner. I knew it from the moment he asked, saying it wasn’t a big deal for him to bring a friend home for dinner- because we’re not friends, not really. I knew it from the moment I stepped foot in his house and met his family- all of whom are lovely and warm and welcoming. I knew it from the moment his little sister said he’d never brought a girl home before, and I knew it when we got cozy on the couch and lost track of time. I shouldn’t have gone, because it took this thing between us across some invisible line, and now I’m not sure if we can go back. I’ve had an unsettled feeling since, like we can’t leave things this way. We need to get back on track, back to the way things are supposed to be between us. Back to simple and uncomplicated. That’s why I send Jax a text shortly after we return to the complex, telling him to leave his door unlocked. I don’t even wait
Alpha Jax 35
JAX Waking up with Quinn in my bed is something I could get used to. She looks so damn cute in the morning with her sleepy eyes and disheveled hair, begging for ten more minutes. I snooze my alarm and she lets me hold her for a little while longer, savoring every second she’s in my arms until it goes off again and she begrudgingly forces herself to sit up. I guess we broke the rules last night- we said we wouldn’t risk sleepovers, but here we are. No regrets. “Good morning, beautiful,” I rasp, stroking Quinn’s back. “How’d you sleep?” She looks down at me, a sleepy smile gracing her lips. “Not as well as you,” she teases, ruffling my hair. “I don’t remember you snoring so loud last time.” “What?” I blink, moving to sit up beside her. “No way, I don’t snore!” “You do too,” Quinn giggles, reaching out to cup my jaw in her palm. “Come to think of it, I’ve never actually seen your wolf… you sure you
Alpha Jax 36
QUINN “Maybe it’s time we tell Theo about us.” I stare at Jax, blinking. Did I just hear him correctly? This is certainly not what I was expecting when he asked me to meet him in the indoor arena tonight. I figured it was to get a little frisky, do it somewhere new. Hell, I even changed into a cute top and freshened up my makeup for this. After I arrived and he locked the door behind me, and my heart started pounding in anticipation. And then he opened that beautiful mouth of his and killed the mood. Alarm bells go off in my head. Jax can’t realize what he’s asking- can he? Telling Theo would effectively end things between us; he’d lose his shit. If and when he ever forgave Jax, he’d never allow us to continue doing what we’ve been doing. And as for me- my brother and I are just building a relationship; would he forgive me for lying to him and sneaking around with his friend behind his back? “What? No.” I scowl
Alpha Jax 37
QUINNI wake up the next morning feeling so fucking numb. I cried myself to sleep, then tossed and turned all night. I regret everything. I regret getting involved with Jax in the first place, I regret catching feelings for him that I knew couldn’t go anywhere, and I regret cutting things off with him last night before hearing him out. What if I was jumping to conclusions? What if he wasn’t trying to end things and I ended them prematurely?Even if he shared the same feelings I do, there’s no way things would’ve worked out between us. First of all, there’s the Theo factor. We’d both have to sacrifice our relationships with Theo to be together, and he’d never approve. Then there’s the fact that we’re from two different packs, and in a mate pairing, the girl always goes to the guy’s pack. I’ve always felt so connected to my pack, especially after losing my mom at a y
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