JAX

What the fuck was wrong with me?

I frowned as I stood outside the room and took a deep breath.

Confused by my own behavior, I slowly made my way to the living room.

It was extremely strange of me to behave the way I did with Echo back there. It was as if an entirely different person.

It's been years and I don't even remember the last time I laughed, but with her, it felt as if the things weighing down on me had suddenly evaporated into thin air.

That was a dangerous thing. However, my wolf seemed to enjoy the whole ordeal. Bastard.

When I entered the room, Arlo was nowhere to be found.

After what happened last night with Echo, the incident mocked me right in the face. It meant that I couldn't keep my pack safe. But more importantly, I couldn't keep my mate safe.

I had to get to the bottom of this so I asked Stone to reach out to Arlo and have him come down here.

He didn't waste any time coming here. Surprisingly, he had come alone. It was a little suspicious since the four of them seemed pretty tight the first night I met them.

It was a little suspicious, but I brushed it off for the time being.

I looked around and walked through the doors onto the patio to my left, but I couldn't find him. I thought of checking out the clubhouse by the pool, but was halted in my tracks when he spoke from behind me.

"What happened?"

I turned to face and I could see genuine concern for Echo. A pang of jealously coated my heart. I hated that he got so much time to spend with my mate and I didn't.

But I couldn't let that cloud my judgment, not until I had the answers I needed. He waltzed into my house an hour before demanding to see her.

A fight was on the verge of breaking out, but he didn't seem scared one bit. It was as if he was ready to die for her. And that told me he was something more or at least he had a thing for her.

I cleared my head and tried to focus.

"We don't have the full story yet, but we found Echo in the lake, deep into the woods. It also seemed that she was bound and purposely thrown into the lake with intent to drown her. Whoever did this knew what they were doing," I seethed with anger as I relayed the events of last night to him.

I wanted to break something and soon I would be breaking the bones of whoever was responsible. They weren't going to be spared.

Arlo was silent and it seemed as if his mind was somewhere else.

"Where were you last evening?" I asked in an accusatory manner.

He was taken aback, but soon recovered.

"Are you seriously asking me I had something to do with this? I should be asking you the same thing. You took her to lunch!"

I pursed my lips and looked away, disgusted in myself.

"Wait a minute," he said before continuing, "You didn't show up, did you?" he scoffed.

"Should've known," he muttered to himself, but I heard him all right.

"If you have something to say, tell it to my face!"

"Yeah! You are a son of a bitch who doesn't care about anyone, but himself. You were the one to ask her out and you stood her up!" He jabbed a finger in my chest and didn't stop.

"You don't deserve her, Alpha. We all have heard the stories. The least you can do is spare her from your ruthlessness and whatever curse has been bestowed up you, if any."

I growled as something snapped inside me.

Nobody had the audacity to disrespect me and this man would know what I did to those who did. I didn't fucking care who he was because at the end of the day, he was a filthy rogue.

I grabbed his hand and twisted it. With my other free hand, I punched him right in the face.

Boy, oh, boy, he didn't hold back as he head butted me and made me stagger a few steps back.

He was strong, I'll give him that, but he was no match to me.

We both growled and were about to throw another punch when I heard the sound of wood snapping.

Both of us turned our head in the direction of the noise.

Echo stood in the doorway with two sticks of wood, one in each hand.

The sight took my breath away.

She was dressed in a white tank top and snugly fitted black shorts. They were way too short for my liking because I didn't want anybody to see so much of her skin, but me.

I knew exactly whom to blame for this outfit – Cleo.

It felt as if I was seeing her for the first time because clearly I missed something yesterday morning. Her arms were delicately inked and it was fucking beautiful.

Echo had no idea what she did to me and the fact that we barely knew each other, bothered me. I needed to change that.

Yes, I may have slept around when I was transitioning into a werewolf, but after that, I swore to never sleep with a woman.

I had to protect the pack and with being an Alpha, I never got the time.

Or you did and just used it as an excuse to keep whatever fucked up self you had left, for you mate.

"Why did you two stop? Go on, I'll join too," she said sarcastically while waving the stick in her right hand.

I must say, it was pretty interesting to watch her thinking she could survive in the fight between us men.

I softly chuckled and shook my head.

"Oh, you find it funny, huh, Alpha?" Echo asked while slowly approaching me.

Letting go of Arlo, I raised my hands up, showing her that I wasn't mocking, but she didn't seem to believe me.

I would give her points for trying as she raised the stick in her hand to hit me, but I blocked the attack effortlessly.

"Do not mock her further," Arlo whispered, but loud enough for me to hear.

"Echo."

She paused and took a step back, averting her gaze towards Arlo.

It was strange watching these two. Her behavior changed in an instant as she dropped the sticks and ran into his arms.

I looked away because the sight made me want to rip her from his arms and tuck her safely in mine. But that was not a possibility right now.

"Are you two done?" I asked as irritation pricked at me.

Arlo cleared his throat while she just rolled her eyes at me. Reminder to self: teach her a lesson.

I gestured the two of them to take a seat on the wooden chairs that were neatly arranged overlooking the pool.

Arlo sat on the opposite chair of mine while Echo took a seat on my left. I was a little relieved that she wasn't sitting close to him. I didn't think I could stand even one more second of them touching.

"I need you to tell us everything that you remember from yesterday."

She seemed nervous and shaken up. Echo gingerly placed her hands on the table and took a deep breath.

"I remember waiting for you," her eyes flickered to mine with hurt as she continued, "but you didn't show up so I left to have dinner by myself. As I was turning the corner, I felt as if someone was watching me and then I bumped into someone."

"What happened after that?" I asked.

"I felt a sharp pain, right here. After that, it's a blank slate," she said while pointing at the left side of her neck.

Since Arlo was on that side of her, he inspected the area. I tried to restrain myself, but I growled as he touched her.

"There's a small needle mark."

I slammed the table. Hard.

Arlo was not too surprised by all of this and I was about to question him, but then I noticed that Echo's reaction matched his.

There was something that these two were not telling me.

"What are you guys hiding?"

They both seemed taken aback by my question, but shook their heads.

"I swear, if you are lying to me, it won't be good!"

"I think we should leave, Echo. Let's get you home," Arlo told her while helping her to stand up.

And I almost let her go.

I just sat there, watching her go with him through the French door and out of nowhere, I spoke up, "Stay."

They both stopped and she looked over her shoulder, considering whether she wanted to stay while Arlo whispered something into her ear – probably convincing her otherwise.

A moment later, he seemed angry by her response and it could mean only one thing, she had decided to stay.

I stood up and walked towards them while he gave me a dirty look before rushing out of my house.

Her back was towards me and she didn't take any efforts to turn around which gave me enough time to take in her behind. She had a perfect ass that I would like to spank.

When I reach her, she straightened her back as if sensing me and as much as I was itching to touch her, I made no such attempt.

My wolf was going crazy being this close to her. He wanted me to mark her and with her bare neck taunting me, I was very close to losing control.

"What are you thinking?" I asked softly while leaning down.

She inhaled sharply.

"N-nothing."

"Lie. Do you reach want to lie to me, Echo?"

"No."

"Then speak the truth."

"I am."

"No, you are not. I can hear your heart beating wildly. Are you going to stand here and telling me I am wrong?"

"Yes, because you are," she said and whipped around.

Her eyes were hooded and her lips slightly parted. She pushed the tip of her tongue and licked her lips. That made me fucking hard.

I wanted to kiss that pretty mouth of hers and I wanted to fuck it too.

"Don't do that," I warned her.

"Do what?" she asked while tilting her head a little.

I honestly thought she was clueless until she did it again with a playful glint in her eyes.

Echo smirked as she stood at the tip of her toes to reach my face, her lips so dangerously close to mine. If I were to move an inch, I would be kissing her.

This was not going to end well for her if she took it any further.

I growled when I felt her finger caressing my jaw.

"Don't start something you can't finish," I warned her.

"You started this, Jax," she said cheekily.

This was the first time she had addressed me by my name and I fucking loved it. She didn't use my title and I could care less at this point.

"Say it again," I whispered against her lips and she knew exactly what I was talking about.

"Jax..."

I grabbed her hair and pulled her hair back. If I hadn't I would have kissed her.

Her chest heaved as she breathed hard and my eyes travelled downwards. I could see a bit of ink teasing me from her cleavage.

I groaned and closed my eyes shut while harshly letting go of her.

Echo stumbled a few steps back.

"What's wrong?"

"Nothing."

"Now who's the one lying their ass off?"

A look of hurt crossed her beautiful face when I opened my eyes. I had nothing to say to her anymore, but more importantly, I wasn't answerable to her.

I clenched my jaw and looked away.

"Look at me," she said with her voice raised.

When I didn't, she scoffed and laughed humorlessly, "You know what, this was a mistake. I should've left with Arlo."

That definitely did the trick.

"What are you so angry about? I don't get you. One moment, you are this caring person and the next, you are giving me a cold shoulder. Just pick one thing, for goodness sake!" She rambled with frustration.

"I am not a good person. I don't care for people, I just protect my pack."

"Yeah? Then why ask me to stay? Answer me!"

I snarled at her while grabbing her by her arm.

"I am not your pet and I don't answer to you. I am a fucking Alpha, so show me some respect!"

She struggled to get out of my grip, but I held her in place. Enough was enough.

"Respect is given to those who deserve it, not to people who demand it," she said bitterly, but it made me loosen the grip I had on her. That statement was like a slap to my face. And coming from her, my mate, it made me feel something I hadn't in years.

"LEAVE." I roared.

"W-what?"

"I said, leave and don't come back here, Echo. You are no longer welcome."

And that was the biggest regret of my miserable life.

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VOTE. COMMENT. FOLLOW. xx

QOTD: Whose point of view do you enjoy the most - Echo's or Jax's?

A lovely person also mentioned a possibility of a love triangle. Do you agree? :P

xoxo,
Grace Clarke