Chapter Five

I sat there eating my food as Ezra, Echo and Torrance chattered animatedly about the summit with everyone else at our table, and let my eyes wander out across the dining hall and all the gathered pack members. I saw Jax sitting at a table close to the head table with a group of his friends, a pretty she-wolf in his lap, his arm around her waist.

I sighed softly, a sense of distaste in my mouth as I saw him kiss her neck, my lip curling slightly as I heard her giggle from his attention. I hated this part of our agreement, keeping our relationship a complete secret and having other partners in the open. As the Alpha’s sob, next in line for the position, he had every she-wolf vying for his attention. I on the other hand don’t have an endless parade of men.

“Earth to Kara. You in there?”  Echo asked with a rumble-like laugh, tapping me on the forehead with two fingers. I gave a small start in surprise and smile sheepishly at him.

“Yeah, I’m here. Just in a daze, I guess. We still on for tonight?” I asked Echo with a hopeful smile. He grinned at me and winked as he ran one hand through his hair.

“Of course we are babe. Not going to pass up date night with you.” I smile and lean over the table, giving a small chaste kiss to his lips before standing up with my empty dishes.

“Perfect. See you later then.” I wave to them all with a smile and make my way into the kitchen with my dishes and place them on the counter, thanking the kitchen staff for a delicious meal, before heading out of the packhouse and back to the training grounds. Maybe I can still help the omega’s doing laundry before my date.

Entering into the laundry room in the back of the building, I see a few people working and folding towels. I smile s I spot my favourite person and come up behind her as she folds linen at the back table. I wrap my arms around her and give her a nice long hug. She chuckles and turns in my arms, holding me close and smoothing the hair away from my face.

“Well hello, my Little Bug. What brings you here? I thought you were done for the day.”

“Hi, Gigi. I wanted to see if I could help, I feel bad that you guys had to take over my job on top of what you already have to do.” I answered honestly as I gazed at Gigi. She smiled warmly at me, her blue eyes sparkling as she pushed my long hair over my shoulders.

“Oh, pish-tosh dear. We don’t mind. It’s a quiet and soothing task compared to some. But since you are here, you can help me fold.” I nod and smile, stepping up beside her and folding towels with her. She takes a moment and reties her long grey hair into a braid, pushing it over her shoulder out of the way once done. “Tell me, dear, a few more days till your birthday, yes?”

“A little over a week yeah. I’m looking forward to it. I’ll be able to join the warrior ranks full-time instead of filling in with odd jobs here and there. I want more of a routine.” I admitted with a shrug. Of course, it's a partial truth, I wanted to join the warrior ranks full time to get better, getting stronger so when the time came to take my pack back, I could do it by force if need be. She smiled at me and raised an eyebrow.

“You sure it’s just a routine you want dear? Or is it the possibility of finding your mate?” I shrugged again slowly in response and mulled over my thoughts before replying. A mate would be nice, but it would also throw a rather large wrench into mine and Jax’s plan.

“I’m indifferent about it, I think. I respect the mate bond and take it seriously. If I find my mate I will take my time before solidifying the bond, only if the person is decent. If it is someone I hate, a bad person, I’ll reject them. I’m not being tied to someone for the rest of my life that has no redeeming qualities.” I finally state and look over at Gigi. She looks surprised by my answer but thoughtful.

“You’d reject the mate bond? Not many do, considering the pain you’d both go through.” 

“Temporary pain is a small price to pay to avoid a lifetime of pain being bonded to an asshole or an abuser.” Is my matter-of-fact response. Gigi let out a surprised chuckle and shook her head at me fondly.

“You never cease to amaze me, girl. That will be a brave thing to do. Not that many are brave or strong enough to endure that.”

“I just don’t want to live with regrets or mistakes more than I already do, you know?” I say with a shrug and a soft sigh, thinking about the day my pack was taken over, my father betrayed. I don’t want to make similar mistakes in my life.

"Life is all about lessons we’d rather avoid. Never seems to be the case I’m afraid. We’re just not that lucky.” Gigi patted my hand softly, before smiling warmly at me and moving some hair out of my face. “But that’s a worry for another day. Tonight you are done with chores. Go have fun.” I smiled and gave her another quick squeeze, happy to have a hug from her, the only mother figure I’ve had in a very long time. She holds me for a few extra seconds before shooing me from the room.

I give the others a wave goodbye and leave the building. I make my way back to the packhouse in search of Echo. Just as I bound up the straps to head inside, the door opens and a group of people walk out. I recognize his smell immediately and step to the side to allow them to pass first. I watch as Jaz strolls out, his arm around a leggy blonde she-wolf, his friend Silas with him and two she-wolves on either arm.

I rolled my eyes when I noticed that the blonde was none other than Talia Marden. She was notorious for sleeping her way through the pack hierarchy. Apparently, she now had her sights set on Jax. Normally I’d never shame a woman using her body any way they wanted. Not about that judgemental life. However, I’d make an exception for Talia. I just don’t like her. She’s a vile conniving bitch who rides her parent’s coat-tails as they are some of the highest-ranking pack warriors. She thinks with their protection she can do no wrong.

The moment she sees me she curls her lip in disgust and clings to Jax’s arm even tighter if that was possible. Since the 5 of them were still blocking the doorway I just stood and waited, rolling my eyes as Talia gave me a very exaggerated once over.

“Well if it isn’t little orphan Kara. Heard you got let out of your duties this afternoon. What did you do with the Alpha to allow you that I wonder?” she sneered at me while the two she-wolves on either side of Silas snickered. I just sighed and looked at her with open disdain. I crossed my arms over my chest and cocked my hip to the side.

“Nothing you would do Talia. Unlike you, I don’t do anything with mated wolves.” I retorted flatly, a bored look on my face. She was outraged the moment I finished speaking, her face contorted and her cheeks flushing with her anger.

“How dare you?! You can’t talk to me like that. You’re nothing but orphan filth and I outrank you.” I snorted and smirked at her.

“Actually, you don’t. Your parents outrank me. You on the other hand take no part in pack training where rank is determined. So no, you don’t outrank me.” I watched happily as a wave of understanding washed over her, her face going slack in surprise, her eyes widening. I curled my lips and bared my teeth in a show of aggression, loving the fact that she took a step back in fear.

I could see Silas bite his lip to hide his smirk out of the corner of my eye but I refused to take my eyes off Talia. She was clinging to Jax, her nails digging into his skin. Her friends were staying close to Silas and watching the exchange closely. Talia tugged at Jax’s shirt and looked up at him, his face neutral as he watched our exchange.

“I’m your girlfriend Jax. She can’t talk to me like that. Put this disgusting orphan in her place.” she whined at him, making her face into what she thought was an attractive pout. I rolled my eyes at her antics before looking at Jax, my face neutral in return. His dark eyes flicked to my face before looking down at Talia. 

“You’re not my girlfriend Talia, we are by no means exclusive. And Kara is within her rights to challenge you if she wants. She’s right about the technicality of pack ranking.” he responded cooly as he moved her hand away from his shirt and pulled her nails out of his arm, little indents showing in his skin. “And don’t ever think you have the right to try and draw blood from me.”

She looked shocked before a flurry of emotions flitted across her face and she finally settled on anger. She glared up at him and stomped her foot in annoyance. Silas snorted in laughter and stepped away from the two girls to stand next to Jax and look down at Talia.

“Sleeping with Jax doesn’t make you special Talia, just like sleeping with his father doesn’t make you special.” he patted Jax on the back and looked between the three girls before shaking his head. “I’m not feeling this. Why don’t we go for some drinks and play pool?” Jax nodded thoughtfully before responding.

“You’re right man. Later Talia, have a nice night.” he dismissed her, a neutral almost bored look on his face. Talia looked outraged before snarling and stomping down the steps, her two friends following behind her as they headed off down the sidewalk to their homes.

“Were you really going to challenge her?” I turned to see Silas looking at me curiously while Jax remained quiet.

“If she kept pushing I would have. She’s a spoiled brat who thinks she’s entitled to whatever or whoever she wants. Someone’s going to put her in her place sooner or later.” I said with a shrug. Silas snorted and looked at me with an assessing look.

“Well dad did say you are improving in training, he has no doubts that you’ll climb higher in the ranks soon.” he nodded with approval as he seemed to agree with his dad Dorin, the current Beta. I raised an eyebrow in surprise, not realizing that Dorin didn’t have a negative opinion of me. I felt proud that someone as strong as Dorin had praised my skill.

Before I could respond, however, the front door opened and Echo stepped out, his eyes flicking over Silas and Jax and settling on me. He shut the door behind him and came down the steps to me, putting his arm around my waist and pulled me flush to his body, his other hand cupping the side of my face. I looked up at him with a smile, my hands moving to rest on his chest. He smirked and traced his thumb over my lip before he leaned down and kissed me softly. I held onto his shirt as I returned the kiss, pulling away when I felt his hand tense on my back.

I looked up at him in question and his eyes flicked to Jax and Silas before looking back at me. He kept his arm around my waist but moved sideways so we were both facing the other two men. I looked over them questioningly as something made Echo sense a threat. Silas looked intrigued while Jax looked neutral, the only sign he moved was his hands fisted at his side. I frowned at the response and hoped that Silas didn’t notice. Jax and I weren’t exclusive for obvious reasons.

“You two are together?” Silas asked, his eyes moving between the three of us thoughtfully. Shit.  Echo nodded, his signature mischievous smirk on his face, looking the picture of ease with his arm around my waist. I could feel, however, that he was tense and ready for a confrontation if it came to it.

“We are yea, have been for quite a while now.” his voice rumbled with laughter that still somehow sounded dangerous. “Right babe?” he looked down at me, his grey eyes bright in the darkening sky, a sign his wolf was near the surface. I looked up at him with a raised brow but smiled softly before turning to Silas and Jax.

“Yeah, for the past six months now.” I shrugged as I watched them. Jax clenched his jaw and Silas looked surprised.

“Well damn Kara. You definitely know how to be discreet. No one had any idea you two were together.”

“I’m not the type to flaunt what I have.” I shrugged, not feeling comfortable with the line of questioning but since he outranked me I couldn’t tell him to shut up.

“Well this has been fun boys but if we’re done here I’d like to take my girl and go. Do you have everything you need babe?” Echo asked smoothly before turning to me with a smile.

“I have my phone.” I patted the mesh pocket of my tights where I stuffed my cell. “ And I have clothes and things at your place so I’ll be good.”

“Perfect. I also got your body wash so you don’t have to keep using mine. Though I do love it when your skin smells of me.” his voice got deeper with a low rumble as he spoke, skimming his nose down my neck.

I laughed and pushed him away slightly as his breath tickled me. I took his hand and laced our fingers together and tugged him gently in the direction of the parking lot. He took his keys out and followed me, his rumble laugh carrying in the air. I glanced back and locked eyes with Jax, his dark eyes burning with anger. I looked away and shook my head slightly. I was not going to put up with double standards. No way, no how.

We got into Echo’s truck and he started the engine with a rumble, putting it in gear and leaving the packhouse parking lot. He smiled at me and gave me his phone to choose the music. I put some on as background noise and slid over in the bench seat so I was sitting right beside him. He placed his large warm hand on my thigh and squeezed it as he focused on driving.

I like Echo a lot, and we have a great time together, the affection comes easy and the sex is downright amazing, so rough and dominating. I won’t be made to feel guilty about our relationship when Jax is sleeping with any other she-wolf that goes to him. Echo knows I see someone else sometimes and he’s ok with it. Why can’t Jax be?