Chapter 2

Jax Pov

We had spent a few hours by the pool just sunbathing and talking about school. I had watched my best friend Ady apply sun cream and had to make an excuse to go inside.

I splash cold water on my face and try to pull it together. She may have been my best friend since we were babies, but I am deeply in love with her. I would have confessed to my feelings for her, but I know she wants to leave. I am the future Alpha of the Blue Claw pack and need to find my mate when I turn eighteen, so that she can be Luna to my pack.

I would give anything to choose Adyson as my mate, but I know she will reject me.

I head back outside and see that Ady is now standing near the edge of the water dipping her toes in. I smirk as I run at her and drag her into the pool with a splash. She glares at me playfully and scolds me, but I know she isn’t serious. Then Lila decides to pipe in too. Lila is like an annoying little sister, she follows us everywhere and is always trying to get our attention. Sometimes I just want alone time with Adyson and Lila always interrupts.

I brush her off and Adyson sits on the edge of the pool with her legs in the water. I can’t help but put my arms on her legs to relax, I need to touch her. My body craves to be near hers.

Then I hear a voice that makes my insides cringe. Bethany approaches us and I wave to be polite. As the alpha's son, I have to be kind and fair to everyone in the pack. When she asks me to help with her straps, I know that she is throwing herself at me. I hope that I might be able to make Ady a little jealous, so I oblige. However, Ady stands up calmly and walks away. When I question where she is going she throws a couple of insults at Bethany. I am not sure, but I think she may have actually been jealous.

‘Well obviously’ Echo pipes in.

She flicks her hair and walks away. Lila soon follows her and Bethany slides her hand over my shoulder which brings me out of my trance. I decline her offer to play spin the bottle and run after Ady. That girl cannot take a hint.

We are strolling to Adyson’s house when she suddenly squeals Eli’s name and runs towards her house. She jumps into his arms and kisses him. I feel my heart break into a million pieces. I want her to run to me like that. I want to rip that good for nothing Eli apart.

Adyson has dated a few guys from the pack since we started high school. I don’t like any of them, she is better than them all. I close my eyes to regain my composure and then follow Lila over to them.

Eli starts telling her how he found his mate. I am about to lose my s**t at him when Adyson beat me to it. She dives at him and I grab her waist to stop her from doing any damage. She is tearing strips off him with just her words and I could not be prouder. I am beaming with pride whilst she put him in his place.

A crowd starts to gather and I know that I have to calm her down as my dad wouldn’t like this. Eli finally leaves and we head inside. She goes straight to the shower and I flop onto the bed. Lila sits down beside me a little too close, so I roll over away from her and pick up a book from Ady's bedside table.

There is an awkward silence whilst we waited and then I finally hear the water switch off. When Ady steps out, she is just wearing a towel. I swear this girl is trying to kill me. I have to fight with my urges and with my wolf to not move from the bed. She gives me a curious look and I am almost certain my eyes flicked to black as my wolf fought me. She goes in the closet and comes back out in tight workout shorts and a crop top.

She is absolutely trying to kill me. Dead.

She drops on the bed in between me and Lila on her stomach. I want to lean over and bite her cute perky a*s, but I bite my bottom lip instead and trace patterns on her back.

‘Wait for our mate.’

‘I know, Echo.’ my wolf likes Adyson but wants to wait for our true mate. ‘You don’t make it any easier when you lose control too’

‘Sometimes I can’t resist either’

I suddenly remember the game we played as kids where you would trace a word on each other's back and guess the word. She gets annoyed quickly at my simple words and I chuckle at her cuteness.

Then right on cue Lila butts in and tries to drag her away from me. I try to refuse, but Ady thinks I am pitying her. As we all head out of the house and over to Lila’s my dad mind links myself and Ady to come to his office. I knock before we enter and my dad shouts to come in. I head in first with a huge innocent grin and hold my hand out for my dad to fist bump.

“Dad.” I nod and he sighs before returning my gesture with a slight smile. He then pulls Ady into a hug.

“Hi, Uncle Derek.” Ady says sweetly and gives her best puppy dog eyes. The girl is good at wrapping my dad around her finger. We both sit on the sofa and I put my arm around Ady.

“What happened earlier, guys?” My dad questions with his serious eyes, but I know he is only trying to be tough.

“Eli showed up at my house telling me he returned two days ago with his mate.” Ady grumbles out and pouts at him. “He didn’t even break up with me before he mated with her.”

I pull her closer to me and pretend to comfort her. I know she isn’t really upset but she is putting on a show for my dad. He will let us both off lightly this way.

“That little s**t did what?” My dad roars a little too loudly and we both flinch. We may be high ranking but the alpha’s voice still affects us both.

“Nobody hurts my girl without punishment.” My dad is rubbing his chin thinking before a smirk crossed his face. “I may not be able to kick his a*s as Alpha, but I will make it difficult for him in this pack.”

I could see the gears going in his head before his eyes cloud over to mind link. We all sit quietly for the next few minutes before there is a knock and my dad smirks again. I still have Ady tightly tucked under my arm and I am enjoying it.

My dad opens the door and in walks Eli and his new mate. My dad tells them to sit by his desk. I notice Eli glancing over at me and Ady with confusion and I smirk before raising my eyebrows at him.

“I called you here Eli as you disrespected the future beta of this pack.” My dad says to him, and Eli tenses and looks at his mate worried. That i***t did not tell his mate about Adyson.

“I understand the instinct in being with your mate but you could have called Adyson out of courtesy to tell her before acting.”

Eli’s mate looks confused and turns to look at us.

“It is clear your mate is lost, Eli. What is your name?” My dad askes the girl.

She bows her head before answering, “Sorry Alpha, my name is Amber. I have no idea what you are referring too.”

“Well Amber, Eli here was dating Adyson over there when he left for training camp. When he met you, he should have informed Adyson right away. Instead, he waited until this morning to tell her.” My dad explains and Amber shoots Eli a disgusted glare.

Amber then stands and walks over to Adyson with a shy smile. “Adyson, I am really sorry. Had I known then I would have insisted Eli talk to you first.” She holds out her hand to Adyson.

Adyson stands up, looking at her hand for a moment and I am actually tense about what she is going to do. Then a smile breaks out on Adysons face and she pulls Amber into a hug.

“I hope we can be friends Amber, despite Eli being an idiot.” Adyson tells her whilst hugging. They both laughed and then step back.

Adyson walks over and hugs my dad saying bye and then grabs my hand and drags me out of the room. Once we are out of the room she jumps on my back and I carry her up to my room. I am still wearing my swim shorts and no top so I need to change. Once in my room I throw her on the bed and then pin her down whilst I tickle her sides. She is laughing hysterically and I can’t stop my own laughter at how cute she is.

“Please!” She begs out between laughs. “Stop, Jax.” She begs again I finally stop but do not move.

I look into her eyes, our faces inches apart and I can hear her heartbeat increase. She doesn’t make a move or try to push me away, she just stares back at me. Maybe she wants this to, her lips are so close. I lean forward slightly so that our lips are almost touching and I look down at her. She slowly moves forward and closes the gap between us. Just as our lips brush there is a knock at the door which pulls us both back to reality.

I damn whoever is knocking on my door right now.

‘Wait for our mate.’

‘Enough Echo’

I walk over to open it and find Lila. Every time with this girl, she just wants to ruin my chances with Adyson, I swear. I tell her to wait downstairs for us and shut the door again before Adyson can see who it is. I am annoyed that she interrupted us again.

I turn back to Adyson and she is sitting on the bed flicking through a magazine as if nothing happened. I head into the shower and decide to turn it cold today.