Chapter 3. JAXON

My limbs burn, bated breaths escaping my mouth. I glance at my watch noting I had more or less thirty minutes left before I had to leave for work. Yeah, I was working. Don't get your panties in a bundle alright. I had to keep up appearances. Plus I had to eat. There's no garden here like at the pack house to feed me. No friend's cupboard to raid. Well in retrospect, there was Moi, but no.

My only aching agony was the fact that Rider's car was totalled. That idiot. I move off once more, keeping abreast of my surroundings. I might not have had any present threat lingering around or even better, to my knowledge, but my instincts decided against getting rusty. The door opens with ease and I head to the shower, grabbing my towel that's draped over the top of the door. Refreshed, I grab my suit of clothing, rummaging through my cupboard annoyed to find it empty. Right, I needed to head to the store.

Stomach growling and agitated, I went back through the back door, running a hand through my partially damp hair. It's another day to be my apparently grouchy self, hands now tucked into my pockets, casually leaning against a lamp post; watching my happy band of colleagues come driving up the road.

They come to a screeching halt, almost rubbing off the leather from my shoes, Brett's smiling face sticking out the window, the others laughing at whatever stupid joke was shared between them. An eyebrow lifts in the idiot's direction, a subtle question to ask if he thought this was hilarious, the car's tire only inches from my toes.

"Just lighten up will you? " Brett jokes. "Could have been worse. I could have squashed your toes."

Collin laughs along with the idiot, while I huff, holding unto the back of the van before jumping up and over into the opening, settling myself.

"Show-off!" Collin calls.

"Well good morning to you too, Jax," Sylvia speaks up.

I wave her off.

What was so good about the morning? I was starving.

"We're stopping at the gas station," I tell Brett, slapping the side of the van in indication that he could go.

"No breakfast again this morning, Jax?"

"Just drive and mind your own business," I grumbled, glancing at my watch once more. I had six hours until Moi was going to be free.

Six hours to go.

"Dude seriously needs to get laid and get rid of all that pent up energy," Collin comments, hitting the outside of his door. "You hear that grouch? Instead of heading home every evening to pump your hands, stay back and find a real woman, it would do you some good! "

"Guess you would know wouldn't you, Collin? How many times you would have to go pump for you come? Keep your dirty ass to yourself."

The others laugh at my come back, the idiot slumped in his seat brooding, from my glance in the rear mirror. Served him right.

We stop, me marching inside, the door opening behind me as other customers pour in. It's not too busy this morning, only a few trucks outside. All the better. There's an dimwit at the counter, eyes skeptically wondering everywhere while the owner pissed his pants.

Great.

I walk, ignoring everything despite what my senses might alert me to, making my coffee at the machine before grabbing a hot dog. No one else realises there was a heist going on and I mourned the fact that I was a wolf still on alert.

"Are you done robbing the old man?" I questioned, disappointed to find that he was still standing there, reaching the counter.

"Maybe," The bastard's feisty reply comes, as he turns, the nozzle of his weapon now square in my face. "You got a problem?"

A woman shrieks from behind, every single customer now called to attention. The thief hissses, now clearly pissed off from being the center of attention. Maybe thinking a good Samaritan will come to our rescue, only with the cowering bunch before us, that did not seem likely.

"I was actually hoping for this to be a collect and leave without casualties type of day," He hissed beneath his breath. "But I won't turn down freebies." His smile grows wider. "No one moves an inch, you." His eyes move back to my person. "Gather all the valuables from everyone."

The wannabe thief moves to glance through the door, standing by to secure it. When I don't move, however, he snaps.

"Didn't you just hear what I said?"

"Yes, but I'm not your lackey," I respond.

Who the hell he think he is, ordering me around?

"Do you want to die asshole?" He shrieks at me.

I roll my eyes, annoyed with how much my ears ring due to his unnecessary screaming.

"Listen, I just want to pay my bill and get going, I could care less about your circus here."

The thief grits his teeth in anger, money bag stifling within his grip. The anxious woman screeches once more when he replaces the nozzle at the side of my head, marching over.

"Shut your bloody mouth woman!" He snaps, eyes now red as he seethes. "One more scream and it's the last thing you'll say. Everyone on your knees, you too hero."

"No,"

"Looks like you've already picked out a coffin."

"No, but you're holding up my time." I grumble, glancing through the door, noticing how casually everyone was waiting for me.

"You little-" He grits out, moving his finger back to pull the trigger.

I could only move back a damn inch, the bullet grazing the top of my shoulder, shattering a few bottles behind us. Everyone screams, covering their head as the shards fall and broken bottles topple from impact. Taking advantage of the situation, I swing my hand, aiming to punch him in the face, but use my other hand to grip his wrist, twisting it to his back before driving him into the ground. No one moves, not even the owner as the bastard sputters and curses beneath me.

"Take the gun, " I order one of the cowering customer's that was close by.

The ass is hesitant, as if cowardice is a quality we needed at the moment, eyeing the damn metal as if it will snap and take his life.

"Will you hurry the f**k up?!" I snapped blood boiling.

He hurries over, wide eyed and trembling, wringing the thing from the thief's hand who is determined not to let it go.

"You bastard!" He screams from the ground. "I'm going to kill you, I'm going to kill you all!"

"Please tell me you've got something to tie him with?" I tossed at the owner, ignoring the viper, sporting curses and wriggling agitatingly.

"Yes, yes." He answers blinking furiously as if just now coming to his senses.

Damn he must have gone into shock.

The poor human stumbles a few times, hands gripping a roll of rope that he unfurls with much difficulty.

"Start at his feet."

"Don't you dare, you old shit!"

"Shut up, asshole or I'll do it for you." I threaten, pressing his face further into the floor. "Get me something else to bind his hand."

Now tied up and gagged, the delinquent blinks at everyone, kicking his feet like a petulant child not having had his way. The other customers stand some distance off, the weapon now abandoned on the counter. I think the lot of them might be tramatised, if the huddled way they stuck together was anything to go by. Doubt they would be stopping at a gas station for long periods anytime soon.

Job now done and even more pissed off than I was hungry, I places my shared for the coffee and hot dog near the till.

"You don't need to pay for that, " The old man tells me.

"I'm not a thief," I wave him off, going through the door. "Make sure to call the authorities."

I grimace glancing at my grazed shoulder where the madman had attempted to shoot me.

"Don't say anything." I told Brett, pushing his head back inside the vehicle.

"Just saying, if you needed help using the blasted toilet, you should have just said so."

"Thought we heard a damn gun shot too."

"Are you bleeding?" Asked Trish, moving to palpitate my wound and I brush her hand away.

"You're imaging things. Why don't everyone just mind their damn business! " I hissed.

Five hours until I see Moi, I remind myself, the hours crawling by slowly, even as chop more and more chunks of wood that they haul my way. The sun pelts from above me, sweat running now like a river down my face and into my eyes. It burns, forcing me to close my eyes for a few seconds and extremely now over heated, I remove my shirt, exposing my flesh to the mercy of the sun.

Five hours until, I see Moi, I repeat once more, the small chant that gets me through the worst of days. Someone whistles behind me, Sylvia placing down a bottle of water, while the others rest up to chat.

"Feel like I could pour some maple syrup down your pancakes, Jax," She licks her lips openly, eyeing me appreciatively and I swallow my water without having to choke.

Those compliments do nothing to me anymore.

"You wouldn't be able to handle it." I respond in good measure.

Sylvia is -open. It's an odd way to describe a woman who might f**k anything with a d**k but at least her open flirtations lead to nothing. At least not with me.

Fine, she's nice.

Damn femminist.

"Nothing ventured nothing gained." She tosses back.

"Challenge accepted then,"

Sylvia perks up, twirling a few locks between her digits, watching me kneenly. These days a pretty face doesn't entice me anymore. Actually, if I'm being honest, it's been more than days. Months. Ever since I met that blue headed woman. I feel like a love sick puppy, chasing after a destiny I know is certain for doom. There's an enormous part of me that's still hoping Moi is my mate or will turn out to be. To even have something like Rider does. On second thought, not like Rider does. Chill crawling down my spine thinking of how undisciplined Halie is.

Leading me to think of Allie. I missed her dearly. It ached my heart, but it was a necessary evil I had to survive. But everyday that passes is a day closer to those hopes being dashed against jagged rocks that are certain to eat us whole. My pack will never accept a human Luna, not under the tutelage of my father's reign. My parents will never accept a mate that is wolfless, even with the intervention of my mother. Yet here I was pining, not to meet my mate but thinking of losing what was never mine.

My body suddenly heats up, blood flowing molten within my veins.

Shit. No, no, no, no!

I stiffen hoping to delay the shift and turn the tide of my emotions. My claws elongate and I turn, placing Sylvia to my rear. Clinging my folded fists to my chest. I could hear every fudging shift of a leaf around me.

No, no. Not here not now.

"Name the time and place and I'll meet you there," Sylvia says suddenly and like a hand hitting a glass, everything shatters returning me back to normal.

I'm pensive, afraid to turn and face her. Too terrified of what she might find or anyone else for that matter after she makes an alarm. So I don't. Instead, I turn my face upward, savoring for a few moments what it's like being in my own skin and sane.

"You wouldn't be able to handle it," I tell her, grabbing my axe and going back to work.

***

I don't take the drive home when we're finished for the evening. It's late, darkness already descended and the sky now littered with stars. I trudge through the forest of pines and oaks, heading to Moi's apartment building. I'll wait for her on the steps since she keeps pining about me climbing through the window.

My stomach complains once more, and I clutch it like an open wound, gaping and constantly bleeding despite my attempts at concealing it. Another step forward and I pause, my body paralysed momentaily. I bite my tongue as pain soars through my femur and up my spine, my vision blurring before me.

I can't, I can't.

I force myself to my knees, my head lifting as a fragrance dances through the air. I know it all too well. Lavender.

Moi.

Moi was close.

No. I could feel the hair on the back of my neck growing out, my groaning now turning into aching grunts as I fought to keep myself together. A losing battle I come to find. There's nothing I can say or do to delay or make this shift subside.

Like a deranged animal, I found myself crazed and deluded rushing towards Moi's scent, salivating even if my inner person found it sickening. I couldn't stop myself, I couldn't stop. Crouched low behind a thicken rose bush, I watch as another walks with her, both being playful, though her mouth was turned up into a pout. A low growl emits from my mouth, her male companion pausing a while to cock his ear.

"What is it?" She asks.

"Nothing. Can't I just pause a minute?"

"Seriously?" She retorts.

He takes her by the hand pulling her towards the stairwell.

"Let's go, no point in wasting time. You're right."

"I am?" Moi asks astonished that even she anneals herself to the ground momentarily.

"Yes, Moi, let's go." He tugs once more urgently on her arm as if knowing there was danger lurking by.

"You're acting strange."

I follow them until one feet rested against the first step, and something snaps within me. A predatorial need to be recognized or feed. I howl, the fear that suddenly emits from both humans the energy I needed to consume them both.

"Run!" Her male companion says suddenly.

"What?" Moi screeches in alarm.

"Just run!"

He grabs her arms, pulling her in swift steps up the stairs, gripping the door open before tossing her in first, his eyes meeting mine as the door closes in quick succession.

Safe, for now.