Chris POV
('Cause yup! It's fun to be in his head!)

I couldn't get out of that meeting fast enough. Being in the same room with Dimitri just fed my need to beat the shit out of him.

'Do it,' Cyrus eggs me on. 'He disrespected what is ours in front of everyone, he needs a reality check.'

'He's fishing, but he won't get away with it again,' I concede. Cyrus's anger just feeds my own and without Jess here I may just cave.

"Keep glaring at him like that and he may just catch on fire," Kane cuts in with a smirk, breaking me out of my sullen state.

"Thanks for earlier, I've never liked the guy, but principal or not I won't tolerate him talking to Jess like that," I growled.

"I don't blame you, I'd have cracked him right there if it was Willow, but I was closer," he says gruffly with a crooked grin.

"The girls might be onto something, let's get out of here, do you know where they're going?" He asks. I shake my head and grab my cell.

"Hey baby, where are you?" I ask. I can hear the motor of my bike, not surprised. 

"No idea, highway somewhere? Just blowing off steam, what's up?" She asks.

"We're done here, want to meet somewhere for dinner and drinks? There's a pub-"

"Iron Horse got it, we'll double back, we were just driving around," Jess replied. I can't help my jealousy at her cruising around on my bike without me. Kane nods with a raised brow, so I click it on speaker.

"You're on speaker, where's Willow?" I ask.

"On the bike with me," she replies, he looks shocked.

"You, got Willow on a motorcycle?" He asks, stunned.

"Yeah, why? I can pull over and let her off to the truck?" Jess asks, confusion clear.

"Please Kane, I'm having fun," Willow begged quietly.

"By all means, I'm just surprised is all. You good for dinner and drinks or do you want to go home?" He asked.

"Can't we stay here with them?" She asks.

"Yeah, we'll meet you there," he said with a sigh before hanging up.

"Looks like you lucked out in the mate department too, eh?" I ask. He just grunts. Kane has never been overly talkative but over all he's a decent guy. We tend to be on the same side for issues and a shared dislike for Dimitri.

"Trouble in paradise?" I asked just to be an ass.

"The girl's fucking scared of everything," he snaps. "For six months I've tried to get her on my bike, your mate has her on one in five minutes, the fuck is that?!" 

"Jess has a way with people, they either love her or hate her, there's no middle ground," I admit with a shrug. Willow seems thoroughly attached and Dimitri is on the other end on the spectrum.

"My truck's outback, you ready?" Kane asks. I nod and before long we're hitting the highway. He's got good taste, a fully tricked out red ram 4x4 with custom black interior.

I can't help but laugh when Jess and Willow pull up beside us mid highway. Willow must have pointed out his truck. 

Both women look to be having a great time based on their glowing smiles. A moment later she drops the throttle leaving us behind. Xavier and Claire pass on a second bike as Jace zips by on his rice burner. Jude and Nex follow up in his black ram pickup.

"Never thought I'd see the day you'd let anyone on your bike," Kane laughs. "But damn they look good on it!" I just grin back, I love how Jess looks on my bike.

A bit later we turned into the Iron Horse Pub, pulling up alongside the girls. The stress of the day just melted away when her honey brown eyes met mine.

"Feeling better baby?" I ask.

"Absolutely," she says grinning as she steps into me, wrapping her arms around my waist. "That place is just a lot of, I don't know, it's just a lot," she says with a sigh.

"I know, but you're doing so well, let's go blow off some steam," I say looking over at Kane.

"Did you have fun?" He asks Willow, awkwardly. 

"I did actually, it was scary at first," she trailed off with a frown. "Jess has a bit of a lead foot." I couldn't help but laugh at that, earning an elbow to my ribs. "But once I got used to it, it was fun," she admitted, even giving him a small smile.

I kicked him in the foot and he glared at me before it dawned on him. "So, do you want to come with me next time?" He asked. She paused and I could see him getting mad at the rejection so I kicked him again. If looks could kill I'd be hurting right now.

"Yeah," she finally admitted. "It would be fun, right?" She asked quietly. In all the years I've known him I've never seen him smile like that. Fucking mates, I chuckle.

The pub was packed and I felt Jess tense up immediately. Jace and the guys had taken over the far corner and were moving some tables together. We sent the girls over while we went to get drinks.

We stopped at the bar and grabbed a few pitchers of beer, a mixed whiskey for Jess and a pop for Claire. "What does Willow drink?" I ask Kane as he shrugs. "Well what does she normally get when you guys are out?" He just growls and looks away.

"We don't go out," he mumbles.

"Why not?" I ask dumbfounded as Jace walks up.

"Not everyone has an easy mate like Jess," he snaps. I'm a bit stunned but Jace bursts out laughing, managing to piss both of us off.

"Jess was anything but easy," he retorts. "Fuck, she ran away from him for like three solid months!" 

"Fuck off Jace," I growl in annoyance.

"No, by all means, go on," Kane cuts in with a grin.

"They've come a long way, like miles-" I cut him off with a punch to his gut.

"Yeah well, I didn't know that Jess didn't have a good past, so when I showed up I may have been a bit of an ass," I trailed off rubbing the back of my neck. I didn't know any of that, I just couldn't understand why she was trying to run so I yelled at her. Not my best moment.

"A bit?" Jace asked with a laugh. "He yelled at her and became a bear for like a month cause he was too Alpha to go after her." This fucker has a death wish tonight.

"Fuck man, they don't come with instuction manuals," I grumbled.

"Because you would have actually read it," he digs, rolling his eyes as he grabs the first two pitchers of beer and takes off.

"Well how'd you do it?" Kane finally asked quietly.

"Not sure, if I'm being honest. I just kept trying and came back every time I fucked up, and there were many," I admit with a sigh. "Eventually she just started to respond to me and we made progress. Just have to give the bond time to work."

"Fuck," he growled. "I'm not a patient man."

"Better learn," I say with a laugh. "Here, give her this." I slide a cherry whiskey and pepsi to him.

We head over to the table and pass out drinks. Jess happily takes the drink and takes a big gulp. I watch Kane give the drink to Willow. She looks and sniffs it like it's a trap. Jess takes a sip and acts excited so she tries it and smiles.

'And she thinks she can't take care of a pup,' Cyrus pipes up.

'I tell her she's a natural but she doesn't believe me,' I reply in frustration.

'Between taking care of Jace and Ethan she's had lots of practice,' he snickers. Cheeky fuck.

"Can we get something to eat?" Jess asks hopeful.

"Of course baby," I say smiling.

"Elf! Get me some loaded nachos!" Jace begs and she rolls her eyes but nods. "Please," he whimpers.

"God, yes just stop whining," she chirps back, laughing. Willow looks over the menu with her before they take off to the bar to order.

"It's funny," Kane says, drawing my attention away from Jess. "I told her to stay away from Jess, of course she didn't listen, but this is the happiest I've ever seen her." I try to ignore the bitterness in his voice, but it's hard.

"She seems like a nice enough girl, just a bit jumpy, play some pool or something after we eat, booze helps," I say with a chuckle.

The ladies come back with fresh drinks and a tray of shots. Guess we're having one of those nights, not that I mind.

"Oh snap, my elfs layin' it down," Jace chirps excitedly, grabbing a shot as he passes them out.

"Your Beta is odd," Kane says looking at Jace like he has two heads. He's not wrong, but most days I wouldn't trade him for the world.

"He has his uses," I say, raising my brow. "Plus he entertains Jess."

The food comes en mass. Jace's loaded nachos, Jude's pizza, onion rings, sliders, chicken wings, you name it. Everyone wants to make life sound so complicated but this is all it takes for peace; good food, drinks and company.

Conversation was easy and light as the food and drinks disappeared. It's simple and relaxing and just what we needed.

"Fancy a game," Jess asks, a mischievous glint in her eyes.

"Sure, doubles?" I ask nodding at Kane and Willow, Jess beams.

"Oh, um I don't know how to play pool," Willow dismisses sadly.

"Kane was a decent player, last I checked," I egg him on, he just scowls at me. "I mean if he's not up to the task, I'd be happy to teach you," I say winking at her. Kane just growls and moves closer.

"Worry about your own mate, I'll take care of mine," he snarls. I just grin, wonder if I was that bad at first?

A council guard enters and instantly my mood sours. The fuck do they want here, they've already eaten up more then enough of my day.

"Baby why don't you take Willow and get started," I say kissing her on the head as I head out with the guard and Kane.

"What is it now?" I growl.

"We were dispatched to discuss tomorrow's schedule but neither of you were at your houses." He addressed us like runaway children and it irritates me to no end.

"You want to try that again?" Kane growls, crowding the guard who visibly pales. "Last I checked, there was no curfew, you got a curfew, Chris?"

"I'm a bit fucking grown for a curfew," I say with a smirk.

"Um, well I was sent, and um you've always stayed-" he stammers. 

"Don't count on it this year," I snap, cutting him off. "Out with it man, I have better things to do with my night."

"Of course Alpha's," he replies having recovered. "I apologize, it can be dealt with tomorrow, your meeting got pushed back to 11."

"Is that it?" Kane asks dumbfounded. The guard nods. "Leave a message next time," he growls heading back.

"Fucking Council's getting on my nerves this year, more then ever," he growls. 

"Not wrong there," I agree.

Jess was bent over the pool table when we got back, she looked up at me with those honey brown eyes and smirks. She hit the ball and botches the shot. 

"Looking a lil' rusty there baby," I tease raising a brow. "Need a refresher?" 

"I guess so," she says, flashing me a sly smile.

Kane reracks the balls as I guide Jess to the end of the table. I bend her over the table and wrap myself around her as we line up the shot. 

All I can focus on is the feel of her body under me. God her scent is intoxicating, I can't help but nuzzle her neck sending shivers down her spine.

"Focus little one, eye on the ball," I whisper as we draw the cue and break. One of each finds a pocket.

"Stripes," Jess calls in a breathless voice.

We move around to the side and I bend her over again as she lines up the shot. I feel her shiver under my touch as I guide her hips. She gasps as I widen her stance leaving my leg between hers.

"Head in the game," I whisper. She shoots and sinks the four in the side pocket. "Nice," I say, patting her butt. Willow giggles watching us and Kane studies her like an alien.

I slide her down over the table for the third time, already grinning. She deliberately grinds her ass against my groin making me instantly hard. Fuck.

She looks back over her shoulder at me and grins. "Two can play at that," she teases. Touché. "Not feeling so cocky now?" Her attempted innocence has me itching to show her just how cocky I'm feeling.

"Careful kitten, keep pushing and I'll take you on this table with an audience," I growl out, nipping her ear. Needless to say we botched the shot.

Kane and Willow were like watching a pup chase a bitch in heat, the dumb bastard has zero game. He took a less hands on approach, but started to show her how to play. Jess showed up with two more rounds of shots and refills.

Before long things were rolling pretty good. With enough booze to put Jace down for the night, Kane finally loosened up and the games were getting pretty loud. By last call the only sober ones were Jude, Claire and Nex. I was fine, Jess was happily buzzed but Kane was definitely drunk.

I dragged him outside for some air as Nex brought up his truck.

"You make it look so fucken easy," he complains. "You're an asshole and you've got Jess and she loves you." 

"Asshole eh?" I grit out with a frown. "You're welcome dickhead."

"Don't be a cunt, you know what I mean. We're both assholes, always been." He groans and leans against the wall. "I want that. She doesn't even let me touch her."

"Don't be a bitch. She had no problem with you touching her tonight at the pool table," I replied with a smirk. "Start small and don't hump her leg."

"Ass," he grumbles as everyone joins us outside.

"Are you good to ride baby?" I ask as she walks over. 

"Yeah, and we can take your bike back too," she says with a sly smile. I just laugh at her forwardness, drunk Jess has no walls.

I catch Willow wrapped around Kane and give him a knowing smirk. Before long I'm on my bike with Jess wrapped around me heading back with a stupid grin on my face.