The candles flickered around them reminding her of the plans she’d made to, for the first time, do something romantic for the man she’d married. All the while he was downstairs, working on god knew what but here she stood with files in hand that told her much more than she wanted to know. Jax had been in New York, yes, but not alone.Spotted going into the Ritz and out the next morning- at restaurants and cafes, museums and parks- was Jax and Lavina. The pictures were time-stamped, they looked to have been taken with a long-range camera by someone hidden in a car or behind a bush and why would they do that?That smile she saw on Jax’s face made her shrink.He had his arm hooked in Lavina’s when they walked and in the rain, he held an umbrella over her head. In one picture they were dressed up, she wore a gown and pearls and he had on a suit.“Isn’t he handsome?” She said, her voice broken and meek.Ash watched her shrink and succumb to pain and heartache. It was like he could see it
The green in his eyes shone like emerald in a royal crown. But as he watched the picture fall from the delicate pinch of her fingers, fluttering toward the floor from her squatted position they darkened. The picture, weighing less than a feather, fell toward the flame next to Lola. She didn't notice, caught up in a whirlpool of pain and suffering she stared mindlessly at the floorboards while the picture landed in the flame and caught fire. The fire spread onto the resting pictures on the ground and they all set aflame like burning domino tiles. Heat quickly swallowed the room and smoke rose around them suffocating the air. The flames spread big and wild around them but Lola sat still, the heat didn't bother her, she barely felt it against the coldness of her skin. “Lola!” He grabbed her arms, yanked her up on her feet, and pulled her behind him but Lola jerked away and shook her head. The golden strands of her hair illuminated under the light of the fire and she shook her head, th
“Yes sir.” Ash gripped the phone roughly in his hand and only eased when he heard the first crack.The warrior looked with a worrisome gaze as Ash nearly broke his phone.“No, but sir…” he groaned and hung his head.“Yes, I understand. Yes, sir.” He gritted his teeth and the rage returned tenfold in his eyes as they darkened and the green swirled around lightly in the black.He lowered his hand with dark eyes and the frown deepened as he handed the phone back to the warrior- who gulped and was careful with each move as he took the phone and left.Someone audibly burped and the smell of beer sifted down the entrance in a hurry.Ash turned and watched a semi-drunk wizard stumble into the pillar around the stairs, he held the bottle with one hand and chugged what was left and with the other, he held himself stable enough not to fall over.“Nash.” Ash barked.“Hey!” Nash stumbled over the newly polished floors and cheered in the air with the now empty bottle.His skinny legs buckled benea
The stillness of the afternoon sun shining down on the town and the quiet of the chilly air as winter came mimicked perfectly the atmosphere inside the Blackwood mansion.Their icy breaths could’ve sent clouds from their lips and the looks baring distrust and lack of conviction only added fuel to the fire within the walls. The lavish interior sat bleakly on its tables and pedestals, showcasing to everyone what kind of wealth the Blackwoods dealt with as guests entered the mansion.No less so when the mayor decided to make a surprise visit and drive by this Thursday afternoon.The sound of tires screeching against the gravel alerted everyone on the ground that there was a visit.The gatekeeper had notified Alpha Jax who then sent a mind link to his pack telling them to behave; in which it was included that no one shifted or started fighting on open grounds whilst the humans were present.Jax and his mother welcomed Mayor Clan as he entered the mansion and guided him to the common room
The mayor had left, sensing the tension and knowing it wouldn't do him any good to stick around. After several times of being sidelined by Lavina, Lola was now fed up with the whispers and the backhanded comments.They stood face to face, Lola’s hands coiled into fists and she glared at the girl who had caused nothing but problems since her arrival. She was reminded of every occasion where Lavina had shown up with a backhanded comment, an inappropriate touch, or that smile that swayed with Mrs. Blackwood in unison in a way that Lola never had. Perhaps it was jealousy, or maybe she was starting to see what she had been warned about by Melissa and Ash- that her true intentions weren't as honorable as Lola had defended them.“I thought you were here because you needed to be among friends- but it’s not like that is it?” Lola asked.Lavina looked around the room, it looked like she needed time to think of a retort, she sucked in her lip and softly allowed her gaze to land back on Lola.“Wh
Mrs. Blackwood turned her head and with a softened glare looked at Lola.She swallowed and clenched her jaw; it was clear that this was a very difficult task at hand for her.“Lola,” she started and pinched her pearls between her fingers. She smiled, or at least she tried though it looked less human and more like the smile on a ceramic doll that stared in nightmares.“I apologize if my behavior-““No.” Jax interrupted, cutting off the strained apology and stepping in front of her.“I told you to leave.” He ordered.“But I’m apologizing,”“The only person that would believe that apology is Dad and that is only because he has been force-fed those half-assed apologies since the day you met him and not accepting them would give him more headache. You won't be poisoning my wife with those words but you can come back when it’s sincere.”They all stood around and watched as Mrs. Blackwood shrunk but as soon as she caught herself and remembered that they weren't alone she lifted herself back
Lola stood in disbelief staring at the empty spot where Mrs. Blackwood had stood when she gave the order. Lavina was gone since a while back and again, she stood alone in the room that her husband had left her in less than an hour ago.She leaned back her head and looked at the moldings around the ceiling. In the middle of the roof hung a lamp consisting of a cluster of glass orbs- around the lamp were moldings with beautiful leaves and branches stretching around.Lola shook her head and dragged her hand over her face, she couldn't stand there forever and also didn't want someone else coming in with more news so she decided to finally move her heavy feet and go for a walk.She only made it to the hallway when she saw Ash disappear out the door so she followed, figuring that she could hang out with him for a while and maybe receive some helpful advice about Lavina. His company has shown to be a pleasant time consumer these days.The weather was as it usually is in Wild Cliff, still and
They walked around the field. The sound of bones breaking and fists slamming against the leathered pads was all that was heard, you wouldn't believe you were in the middle of a neighborhood.Everyone was divided into groups of four, paired up with a partner and three trainers who kept everyone in check and made sure they knew what to practice.Some were on the grass, others on the concrete and it didn't matter what lay beneath you- they still threw each other up in the air and landed on the ground.One of the guys tossed the girl up using his shoulder, he grabbed around her throat midair and slammed her down into the concrete.Lola winced, the sound of the girl's back echoed like pop rocks and sent fantom pains down Lola’s own body. Never having experienced pain like these warriors had she couldn't know what exactly they went through but it wasn't impossible to imagine.“She’ll heal,” Ash said, not a shred of empathy detectable in his voice.She continued after him, trying to keep up
“Get your butt in here right now, young lady!” Lola scolded while running around with a towel chasing her two-year-old daughter who was running down the hallways butt naked. With her arms swinging in the air and laughing menacingly, the water traced her steps on the carpets, and she headed towards the stairs. Just before reaching the end of the hallway, she was lifted into the air by two large arms and flown around like an airplane. “Daddy!” “My darling Ophelia,” he said and lowered her gently. He tickled her nose and hugged her tight when Lola came to a stop with the towel. “That little girl is definitely wolf,” Lola panted. She halted to a stop and raised a brow when she took in Jax’s appearance. “Daddy indeed,” Lola purred when she watched her husband’s bare upper body as he stood sweating after his workout with the warriors. “She could be a Doe,” Jax said and looked into his daughters’ eyes. “She has your big, beautiful eyes,” he remarked. Lola giggled and cupped Jax’s che
They were back at the mansion and had constructed a plan on the way. The danger was still not altogether eliminated, not all enemies had been neutralized and they were those on the inside still aiming to break Jax and Lola apart.Jax and Ash walked into the mansion with Lola keeping her distance behind them. She turned away from them and hid where they wouldn't see her until it was time. Jax had called for a meeting on the way and told his parents and Lavina to meet him in the study. Nobody had suspected a thing, they were all just glad to hear that he was alright and their Alpha and son were returning home. The Blackwood boys entered the office and let the door fall to a near close. “It is so good to see you again, darling,” Mrs. Blackwood gleamed.Lavina ran up and wrapped her arms around him. The wide smile on her face and the wrinkles on her eyes deepened as relief washed over her. “I was so worried I almost went after you myself but Lola insisted she had it covered,” she said
Lucien clapped his hands, starting slow as the sound echoed in the room before he picked up the speed and laughed menacingly. He slammed his fist in the air and blew into his hands in celebration.“I have played this in my mind for months, going over what it would be like to have you all here and to tell you the things I knew but now that it is happening, holy shit, there is not a feeling like it.” He licked his lips and wiped the sweat from his face.He used his speed and kneeled next to Lola in a second. She fell back and tried to widen the distance between them by crawling backward but Lucien circled his fingers around her ankle and pulled her in with a rough grip. He gestured with his hand towards Jax and said through a deep smirk, “How I have been waiting for this. Be honest now, which do you prefer- getting fucked by a werewolf-” he grabbed her chin and forced her head back, “-or a vampire?” He asked. Jax’s mouth fell open and his eyes glistened as though all the pain came rus
Ash’s eyes glowed as his wolf stepped up, his canines extended and his growl shook the walls of the house when he pulled the knife out of his side and he flung it at his cousin's hands. They all turned their heads and watched as the knife cut through the air and went clean through the chains that bound Jax's hands. Jax fell into a pool of his blood, his heart barely beating and his body weakened from the poison in his wounds.“What the fuck?” One of the vampires spat and tried to overrun Ash. Ash grabbed the vampire's arm and spared no time as he ripped his head clean of his body and through against one of the windows, shattering the glass.“Let go of her.” He growled and walked towards Lucien. Whatever they had laced the blade with was eating at his insides, burning his flesh like acid but Ash refused to fall, not until he knew that she was safe.Lucien pulled out his fangs and lifted his head, looking toward the ceiling in a euphoric high.Three of his men jumped on Ash who was alre
They went to sleep not long after their talk and Ash slept on top of the covers. He watched Lola drift off into slumber and lay awake completing his choices.His cousin had been taken and he was making moves on his girl. Though he knew what he wanted, he now began to regret the many decisions he’d made that had led him this far. He looked at her lips slightly parted in her sleep and her eyes softly closed still, the faint freckles on her nose and her thick hair landing over her shoulder.She was a special girl, loved by many and desired by more. Perhaps it was the curse of being the Doe or maybe it was just her heart that sparked interest once she trusted people enough to show it to them. Regardless of the reasons, Ash realized now that his fighting was futile because her heart was not his to win. He should've been grateful to have felt her love, the one she gave him when she chose to trust him. The love was addictive, at first taste he wanted more, and he wanted what his cousin had.
They drove up to the Inn though it was further away from the street than advertised and they circled a sharp turn that led up a narrow path.As they arrived at a red neon sign saying ’open’ and a lady sitting with headphones on behind the desk inside they looked at each other, a lingering silence that was questioning just how good of an idea it was to go in. The rain poured around them. Drops on the roof of the car began to sound like firecrackers went off in a tunnel.Ash gave Lola his jacket to hold over her head and they shared a look before they ran from the car and slammed open the door as they tumbled inside.The lady looked up, slowly and gently as though a couple of strangers hadn't just tumbled into her hallway. She slowly leaned to the side to look past them and watch the pour outside of the Inn.“You kids don’t listen to the news, do ya?” She laughed.She wiggled her finger in front of Lola and pointed to the den.“There are towels in there, go grab yourselves some and I'll
They were back in the mansion. Ash had gathered the Alpha's warriors and filled them in on the situation. One of the cleaners had turned on the radio and Lola heard on the news that extreme weather was to be expected as she walked down after having changed clothes. Extreme rainfall was to occur during the night and the following days in and around town.She had the keys to her car and a small bag with toiletries.Ash and the warriors came out of the office and saw Lola standing at the entrance. His shoulders rose in a predatory bow as he stalked towards her.“Where do you think you’re going?” He asked. “To find Jax. Whatever he and I are, it’s my fault that he’s been taken. I'm going to bring him home,”Ash was in front of her before she could blink and ripped the keys from her hand.“The hell you are.” He put the keys in his pocket and grabbed her wrists when she tried to get them back. “It’s my fault that he was taken, he was protecting ME!” “And I will get him back!” He growled
She froze, time stilled around them and that picture would now be etched in her mind forever as it was all she saw wherever she looked.Nobody moved, she heard faint gasps and a low growl behind her but she couldn't turn around.For Lola, it felt as though hours passed without either Jax or Lavina moving but when a hand weighed down on her shoulder and forced her to turn she noticed everything moving a lot faster and people not having noticed what happened.She looked over her shoulder at Jax and Lavina and saw that they stood apart from each other, Lavina was by the table and Jax wiped his thumb over his lips and turned his head, his eyes locked with Lola’s, and his hand fell to his side. “Lola,” Ash said and tried to get her attention.Melissa had her arm hooked in Ed’s and watched with a glimmer in her eyes as her worst fear came true.But at that moment Lola couldn't breathe, she couldn't hear what anyone said and needed to get away from all of the people that surrounded her.On
“She did an amazing job,” Lola said, trying to break the thick ice coating when they were alone.“She did.” He said huskily and looked down at her. His gaze burned into her skin, his eyes glistened as they scanned her as they had many times before and his tongue slid over his lips.They stood staring into each other's eyes and Lola noticed the life in Jax’s eyes had dimmed. It wasn't what she looked into before, he seemed hardened and cold. Not just towards her but in general.Lola didn't know the first thing about being an Alpha but she was starting to realize that perhaps it entailed your persona shifting from tough but fair to cold and hard.Was it Alphas or just Jax?There didn't seem to be any in-between.“You wanted to talk.” He said.Taken aback by the hurry in his tone she realized he wanted to leave.“We haven’t talked since that night in the guest room. You slept in my bed, told me to be patient with you and then I don't hear from you for weeks.” Jax’s brows furrow and a ch