Page 82 of The Denver Alpha
I slow to a stop a few steps away, staring into those pale blue eyes with so many questions on the tip of my tongue. Before I can get them out, she speaks again.
“He doesn’t know about us, so don’t -”
The front door swings open, and whatever else she was about to say dies on her lips as her gaze swings toward it.
“Jules!” Jax calls out boisterously, stepping over the threshold and throwing his arms wide.
Her face lights up at the sight of her brother and I finally see the smile I hadn’t realized how much I’d been missing. “Hey, Jaxy.”
He immediately rushes over to Juliet, sweeping her up in his arms and giving her a big bear-hug. She giggles softly, wriggling in mock-protest until he lets her go, then he steps back to give her a once-over, still gripping onto her shoulders. “How’ve you been, little sis?”
I’m not sure if she means to do it, but her eyes dart to me for a moment, her cheerful expression falling. She quickly recovers and looks back to Jax, swallowing hard and forcing another smile. “Fine,” she replies dryly.
“Excuse you,” Quinn laughs, shoving her way between Jax and Juliet to give Jules a hug of her own.
Jax rolls his eyes as he turns in my direction, and I tear my gaze from his sister to meet his, tipping my head in greeting. “Jax.”
“Cole, nice to see you again.” He steps closer and slaps his palm into mine. “Hope you’ve been taking good care of my baby sister.”
I look past him toward Juliet again as I shake his hand, the muscle in my jaw ticking as I clench it tightly. She’s still hugging Quinn and the longer their embrace goes on, the glassier her eyes become, like she’s losing the battle to contain her tears. I can scent them, my wolf pushing to the surface in response, urging me to comfort my mate.
Jax follows my gaze to look toward the girls, and when he turns back to me, I swear I can see his wheels turning. If he suspects, he doesn’t let on, though- he claps me on the shoulder, grinning widely. “Got a few minutes to talk business? I have some updates on the shadow pack splinter groups that I’m sure you’d like to hear about.”
I grunt in affirmation, nodding as I take a step backwards and gesture in the direction on of the living room. The two of us head that way without another word, leaving the girls in the foyer.
“I thought your security squad had already hunted down the last of them,” I mumble as I lead Jax down the hall and into the living room, glancing back at him over my shoulder.
“We have,” he nods.
My brow creases in confusion as I turn to face him. “So…”
Jax’s jovial grin melts away, his eyes narrowing on me. “So how long have you been fucking my sister?”
My heart stops and my jaw goes slack. “Wh…”
I don’t get to finish that thought before pain explodes across my cheek as his fist connects with it. I stumble backwards with a wince, bringing my hand up to rub at the offended skin. “She told you?” I grit out, tasting the metallic tinge of blood in my mouth and prodding the inside of my cheek with my tongue where my teeth have broken through the skin.
Jax shakes his head with a scowl, cradling the hand he just punched me with as he flexes and unflexes his knuckles. “She didn’t have to. One look at the two of you and it was fucking obvious.”
I heave a sigh, spitting blood onto the wood floor while keeping an eye on Jax just in case he tries to punch me again. “Fuck. I’m sorry, man. I didn’t plan on this. I tried to stay away…”
“You do realize she’s like ten years younger than you, right?” he growls.
“Yeah,” I reply hoarsely, hanging my head. “I know. I deserve to be punched in the face for that.”
Jax furrows his brow, shaking his head. “What? That’s not why I punched you, dude.” He frowns, throwing out an arm to gesture behind him. “It’s because my little sister looked like she was about to cry out there, and I’m willing to bet that’s your doing.”
I sidestep and drop down onto the couch, the leather crinkling beneath my weight as I lean forward to rest my elbows on my knees. “We had a fight,” I murmur, burying my face in my hands.
“Well no shit, sherlock,” Jax clucks, rolling his eyes as he moves to the sofa across from me and takes a seat. He rolls his neck on his shoulders as he eases back and spreads his arms wide to rest on the cushions behind him, pinning me with a stern glare. “How do you plan to fix it?”
I lift my head, studying Jax’s serious expression. This definitely isn’t the reaction I expected from him. The punch, sure- I mean, I slept with his little sister. Stole her innocence. But instead of continuing to lay into me, he’s asking how I’m going to make things right- which implies that he condones me pursuing her.
“You’re not mad?” I ask hesitantly.
“Not unless she’s just a conquest.” Anger flickers in his gaze as he raises a hand, pointing a finger at me. “You’d better not say that’s the case, or we’ll have a huge fucking problem.”
I shake my head quickly. “No, it’s not like that.”