Emily’s POV
Jax had switched on the radio, and he was quietly humming to some unknown tune.
That was what I liked about Jax; he was always quiet, observed things, and kept to himself.
I have been out with Jax on a couple of expeditions, some of which were more dangerous than others. He had my back, and I had his. He was kind of fun to be around, and I could understand why he and Mila fit together perfectly.
“A penny for your thoughts?” Jax asked, shifting his gaze to look at me.
“Just thinking of today’s training sessions,” I answered.
“Did it go well?” he asked, sounding interested.
“The men did okay. They just lack focus,” I said. “And I might have bruised Alpha Alex’s ego, but I did warn him, but he didn’t listen.”
“I heard,” Jax said. “But in his defense, did you tell him about what you were about to do?”
I shook my head.
“No,” I replied. “But I did tell him numerous times to keep his focus. I am capable of fending for myself.”
“It’s instinct,” Jax said. “To protect what is his.”
“I know,” I sighed. “But I am so afraid that he would make the same mistake I did. He needs to stop worrying about me and focus on the things that matter.”
“You are afraid that he would get distracted and lose his title?” He asked.
I nodded.
I was.
I was very afraid that he would lose his Alpha title.
There will never be a more perfect, reasonable, and understanding Alpha for the Opal Pack. If Alex should lose the title, things would go downhill.
Jax gave me a nod of the head.
“How did the she-wolves do?” Jax asked, and my thoughts raced back to earlier today, leaving a definite smile on my face.
“They were interesting,” I told Jax.
“I heard you upped your time!”
“I did,” I replied.
“Mila is so proud of you!” Jax said.
My thoughts wandered off, remembering Angelica’s face frozen in horror as she made her way to the start.
I knew she wouldn’t beat my time, but I was interested to see if she could complete the course at least.
“Ready?” Mila asked.
Angelica shivered visibly, swallowed hard, and managed to nod her head.
“Go!” Mila yelled.
Angelica reached the rope ladder and struggled her way up to the top. I was surprised that she struggled this much; it was one of the easier things on the course.
When she eventually got to the top, her face was flustered, and sweat was running down the side of her face. She looked a bit unfit for a she-wolf.
“You need to get down!” Mila yelled from the side. “You are wasting time!”
Angelica nodded and carefully climbed down the other side.
“Is she trying not to break a nail, or what?” Willow huffed, noticing Angelica taking her sweet time
“Probably trying to not get her hair ruined,” I commented, keeping my eyes on Angelica.
“I wonder how she will do at the next event,” Willow snickered. The mud pit swing was up next.
“The mud will do wonders for her skin,” I teased, seeing Angelica getting ready to run and jump to grab the rope.
“And give her a new color to that ugly bottle-blond hair,” Willow said.
Angelica leaped forward, missed the rope by an inch, and came crashing down in the pool of mud.
“Oh, dear,” One of Luna’s gasped next to me when Angelica got up. Her hair was covered in mud and now had a dirty grayish color added to the blond, and there was some debris tangled in her hair. “Poor girl. She looks like a dirty….”
“Piglet,” Willow commented. “The look suits her! She looks despicable, fitting her personality!”
“Willow,” I said. “That’s not-”
“Get it off! Get it off!” Angelica cried out in panic as she tried to remove the mud from her hair and face. Mud went all directions, spraying some of the other equipment.
“Are you quitting already?” Mila called from the side, a teasing smile playing on the corners of her lips.
“Never!” Angelica sneered, the mud leaving dirty evidence on the side of her face.
I couldn’t help but internally laugh. Willow was right; she did look despicable.
“Very well,” Mila called back. “Continue to the next obstacle.”
Angelica made her way down to the wire network, huffing and puffing all the way. She now looked more like a wet cat. She was shivering with every step she took, and her dirty blond hair was now lying flat against her head.
I kind of felt sorry for her, even if it was for just a moment.
“I wonder when she last trained,” Luna commented behind me.
“Has she ever gone for training?” Another asked.
“How the hell did she beat Parker in the arena?” Another ranked question.
“I heard that there was some foul play involved,” someone else said.
“Really?” Someone else asked. “Do you think Angelica cheated?”
“Well, if you ask me,” Luna said, sure about her next words. “I wouldn’t believe a single word the girl tells you. She must have done something to force Parker to heel.”
“I think you are right,” another agreed. “The evidence is there.”
“Go in low!” Mila yelled, forcing my attention back to Angelica; she had just gotten down on all fours and was attempting to go under the wired network. “Else you will get stuck in the razors.”
Angelica nodded, got on her belly, and started crawling.
“Drop your ass!” Mila yelled, but the warning was too late. Angelica’s pants got caught in one of the razors, and it ripped a hole in them.
“Sh*t!” Angelica cried out, trying to save herself from embarrassment. “Damn it! OUCH!”
I couldn’t help but snicker behind my hand; the scene was hilarious.
“Help her!” Someone yelled from the back, and another girl stormed forward.
“You can’t interfere until Angelica asks for help,” Mila said, stopping a dark-headed girl in her tracks.
“But-”
Mila shook her head.
“Angelica, are you okay?” The girl calls out. “Do you need some help?”
“I’m stuck!” Angelica cried out. “I can’t-”
“Do you need any assistance?” Mila asked, cutting her off.
“Yes, ouch! Please!” Angelica cried out desperately.
Mila gave the signal, and two warriors ran down to assist Angelica.
Five minutes later, she was released and got out.
“Would you like to finish the course?” Mila asked, trying hard to keep a straight face.
Angelica looked up, shivered, and shook her head.
“No,” she whispered. “I’d rather not!”
“We are almost there, Parker,” Jax said, clearing the memory from my mind, and I looked out the window, narrowing my eyes.
“Jax,” I said, having this nagging feeling that something was off creeping up in the back of my mind. “Are you sure we are on the right road?”
“Yes?” He said, turning his attention to me. “Why?”
“This doesn’t look like the road we usually take to the city,” I said.
“It seems fine to me,” he said. “Look!” he gestured to a board at the side of the road coming into view.
I lay forward, narrowing my eyes to take a look, and a cold feeling spiraled down my back when I read the board-we weren’t even near the city.
My heart started to race, and panic rose inside me.
“Jax,” I said, trying hard not to show my true feelings. “Where are you taking me?”
****