Jace’s POV
“Did you have to say such harsh words to her?” I asked calmly once I had taken over.
“What was I supposed to do? Entertain that whore?” Ridge asked.
“Well, no but …”
“But nothing, we have a mate who we never want to hurt. Are you going to be nice to that slut and make our mate suffer?” He asked as I sighed heavily.
“No,” I answered.
Why would I hurt our mate again? I chose her over Leah a billion times, and now that she was comfortable around us, I wanted to slowly approach her. But that didn’t mean I was going to easily forget how Leah’s parents raised us.
“But remember how Leah’s parents were there for us in the past?” I asked seriously.
“I do, and I believe we have already paid that debt. Not only did we dress their child in the finest jewelry and clothes, we made everyone who looked down on her show respect,” he answered.
“I get it, but still, they gave us a happy life that was taken away from us in the past,” I said silently.
“Stop talking about them!” He growled in warning.
“You know, you are at times stubborn,” I said softly and then walked out of the room and went to our office.
When I walked in, I went straight to open the window with a smile, enjoying the light breeze that I was feeling.
I was envious of how Lillian and Ridge were chatting and making out here and there throughout the night, yet I couldn’t do or say anything to disturb them because she was happier than I had ever seen her in my life.
Now that she wasn’t showing anger and hate towards me, I was thinking of ways to improve our pack, but before that, I needed to introduce her to the rest of the pack members and claim her as my own.
When the door opened and someone walked in, I held in a growl that was about to slip past my lips. I knew who it was before I could turn.
“I’m sorry,” she whispered in a small voice as she sniffed.
I turned and looked at her seriously.
Her face instantly lit up, and she wasted no time in running into my arms.
“Oh my goodness, Jace, finally I can talk to you. I’m so happy,” she cried loudly.
“Get rid of her,” Ridge warned loudly.
I pushed her back slowly and then brushed my hand through my hair.
“Jace,” she called softly with a frown on her face. She was surprised by my actions.
“Leah, I think it’s time to go our separate ways,” I said then frowned deeply.
“No, I don’t think those are the correct words. We are done, and as of today, there is nothing between us,” I said firmly as she widened her eyes in disbelief.
“What?” She asked in a cracked voice.
“You have heard me. The sex was good for both of us, and you benefited so much from being with me, but everything now has to come to an end. I don’t know if I’m in love with my mate or if what I feel is respect. All I know is that I care for her more than I care about myself, and you talking to me or looking at her is a nuisance,” I answered as she wiped away her tears and walked to the whisky table, grabbing the bottle and opening it.
“Jace, Jace, Jace,” she whispered over and over again and then took a mouthful of the content, then turned to look at me.
“You don’t get it, do you?” She asked as her eyes flickered between her wolf and mine.
“You don’t get to end what you didn’t start. I was the one who made the first move, and I will be the one who ends it all,” she said, upsetting me.
I was too lenient with her all this time, and she was now showing me how she had no respect for me, despite me being her Alpha.
“Get out,” I spat seriously.
“You don’t fucking get to dump me after all those years of us being together; I won’t allow it!” She screamed at the top of her voice and then shattered the bottle, making me furious.
“Get the fuck out, now!” I growled loudly as Ridge took over for a second.
She gasped, then raised her trembling hand and pointed at herself.
“Jace, did you just yell at me?” She asked in a cracked voice.
“Get the fuck out!” I growled furiously as the widow behind me cracked.
She quickly turned and ran out without another word.
“Fuck,” I muttered to myself as I went out of the office with a heavy heart.
She was crossing the line by disrespecting me, but I still felt a little guilty over being harsh to her.
When I reached Lillian’s room, I stood outside for a second then walked in without knocking.
She quickly turned facing me, then squatted with her arms wrapped around her body covering her breast. She was naked and her face was flushed red. She looked embarrassed as she tried to do her best to avoid my eyes.
I swallowed hard and without thinking much, I rushed to grab a bed sheet which was folded on the bed.
“I’m sorry,” I whispered and then went to her and knelt down on one knee in front of her wrapping the sheet around her body.
“I’m really sorry for not knocking. I just came here because I….,”
I stopped talking when she leaned in and inhaled my scent deeply.
A shiver spread throughout my body as I tried hard to think of other things to avoid getting turned on.
“Lillian,” I called softly after swallowing hard.
“Don’t move,” she said in what sounded like a command.
I stilled my movements and held my breath when she brushed her nose against the side of my neck. I could feel her warm breath on my skin and her scent getting stronger. As I breathed out, I could feel myself getting hard. My heart was beating crazily, and my throat was getting dry.
What exactly was she doing? Was she doing this on purpose to arouse me?
I was about to ask her what she was doing when she pulled back and looked at me with an angry expression on her face.
“Were you with her?” she asked seriously.
What was I to say? No, I don’t understand who you are talking about? Perhaps say maybe? For a few seconds? Yes, just to talk? Or change the topic?
“Answer me,” she said with a glare.
“Yes,” I answered honestly.
“I knew it,” she whispered and then stood up as I quickly did the same.
“Only to talk,” I screamed out as she frowned.
“Right,” she answered in a mocking tone and then turned to walk away when I quickly grabbed her hand.
“I’m telling you the truth, I met her only to talk. To be honest, she was the one who approached me first,” I said softly.
“Do you take me for a fool?” she asked angrily and then turned back to face me.
“No,” I answered in a low tone.
“You can’t have her scent if she didn’t touch you in any way,” she said as I let go of her hand.
“I now realize that it was my mistake to react slowly. If I had pushed her away before she could even touch me, you wouldn’t have been this upset. I am so sorry for thinking slowly, but I needed to end things between us for me to fully start anew with you. So I welcomed her into my office without asking her to leave when she stepped foot in there,” I answered as she raised her brows and kept quiet.
“I am not lying to you and I can’t lie to you. I wanted to set everything straight between Leah and me, that’s why I tolerated her. So as of today, I only belong to you alone, both body and soul,” I said softly.
She tightly wrapped the sheet around her body and then moved to walk to the wardrobe.
“You still reek of her, take your clothes off,” she said as she frowned deeply.
When she glanced at me, she quickly shook her head.
“I didn’t mean that you should do it now and be naked in front of me. I just meant that you should change your clothes,” she said at the top of her voice, making me chuckle.
“I understand,” I answered, then quickly took off my shirt and threw it on the floor.
“Oh my goodness, what are you doing!” she asked loudly when she turned to look at me.
I approached her with a smile and stood in front of her.
“Do I still reek of her?” I asked seriously.
She was about to shift her gaze away when I lifted her up in princess style without warning.
She took in a sharp breath when the sheet rolled to the side revealing her full breasts.
“Don’t look!” she shouted as I smirked.
She had such beautiful breasts and hardened nipples, with a beauty spot between.
Why the hell would I not look? Just staring at them got me aroused.
“Why?” she asked in a cracked voice.
I looked up to meet her gaze seriously.
What did she mean by that question when it was obvious that she was hot and I was dying to see her completely naked?
“I will answer your question if you kiss me,” I answered playfully, expecting her to push me away or get angry.
When she shifted and looked at my lips, I was shocked.
The expression on her face showed me how she was willing to do it, even when it was just a joke.
“I… can’t do that,” she whispered hesitantly.
“You’re amazing,” I whispered back.
“And I’m very lucky to have you,” I said huskily and then leaned in and kissed her cheek.
When I pulled back, she had a smile across her face.
I leaned in again, this time kissing her neck tenderly as a soft sigh escaped her lips.
I didn’t want to rush things between us, although it was getting hard for me to stop at just touching.
When I pulled back again, I smiled and then kissed her lips tenderly as she responded.