“Because,” Jesse says, patting my knee and then getting up, “you’re safe now, Ari. Nobody’s going to mess with you.” “What?” I ask, my eyes following him as he moves over to his desk, writing something down on a piece of paper. “What are you talking about?” “You don’t have to worry about Wright
“Um,” I say, feeling utterly awkward as I look between Ben’s slack jaw and Jesse’s appalled expression. I am suddenly very, very aware of Jackson’s forearm tucked neatly below my ass, holding me up against him, and the way that my leg intuitively curled itself over his hip, like it belongs there.
“Luca!” Rafe shouts, just as Jesse shouts Jackson’s name, both of them baffled. I shake my head at Jacks, begging him to understand as I keep moving forward, as I place myself between my mates. And the moment I step actually between them, holding out a hand, palm out, towards each, begging them to
The room is silent for a long moment and I’m shocked when it’s Jesse’s voice that breaks it. “Whaaat the fuckkk,” Jesse groans, turning in a tight circle and covering his face with his hands before dragging them down over his features and turning to glare at me, just as Rafe is. The room explode
“What?” he sputters, disbelieving. “It’s true, but it’s not important – but she picked Jackson, she picked both of you for me –“ “That’s fucking impossible!” Luca yells, dropping his hands from my face and throwing them out to the side. “You get one mate – one – I don’t know who told you that yo
And now he thinks he’s lost me. And he’s just…gone. “Stay here, Ariel,” Jesse says, and I jump when I realize that he’s standing at my side. “I’ll go after Jacks. Just…stay in the room, all right?” “Jesse,” I murmur, reaching for him, apology all over my face. “It’s fine,” my good cousin say
“Jacks!” Jackson hears his name called behind him, but he doesn’t register it, or doesn’t care. Instead, he just continues to stride forward in the dark, not really knowing where he’s going, just needing to get…out. Get away. Disappear into the night, into the wilds, into…whatever. Any place but
Jackson nods, and to Jesse’s surprise, lets him walk by his side. They walk for a long time. Jackson is surprised, after a while, at how quiet and stoic Jesse is. Jesse doesn’t sigh or moan that he’s bored, like Jackson thought he would. He doesn’t complain, or fuss, or anything. He just walks qui