Hidden Within

Girlfriend

My head is still swirling with thoughts about the poor dog, but I try to push it to the back of my mind.

After heading down the stairs, we go through a big set of double doors, entering a formal dining area. Again, I am in awe with how stunning it is. A big chandelier hangs above a massive table carved from an oak tree. The table is so large that I wonder how many people live here.

Jax takes my hand, and tingles rush over my fingers. He leads me to a seat at the end of the table while he takes his seat at the head of the table. We sit in silence for a few moments before people start filtering in, filling the empty seats.

I feel there curious eyes on me, but I'm scared to look up. Jay and Anna walk in, and Anna greets me.

"Hi Dalia, I'm glad to see you joined us! fresh air and company is great medicine." she smiles while taking her seat next to me.

I look up to say something when I hear an irritating screechy voice approaching. It is a blonde woman wearing a skin-tight short dress. Her breasts spewed out of it, and her arse cheeks barely covered. She instantly reminds me of my cousin with her thick, cakey makeup. I never understood why she wore it because just like this woman, she looked beautiful without it.

"Jax, you look stressed," her irritating voice coos at him. She leans right over him with her boobs threatening to fall out and whispers in his ear but loud enough for me to hear. "I can help you relieve all that tension." Her voice sounded nasally. I assume she was trying to sound sexy.

I don't know why, but everything in me was raging. I felt like hitting her. Even Yahni was growling in my head.

Turning her eyes on me, she looks me up and down before saying, "You are in my seat, but I will take this one seeing as you're a guest, but next time, do not forget it, omega." she hisses.

I look down at my hands, not even tempted to say anything because I feel like she would rip me to shreds.

She was just about to take her seat when Jax growls at her. "This is my mate, Lacey, and I believe your seat is down there," he says while pointing to a spare seat in the middle of the table. He tells her as his eyes turn dark.

"What do you mean mate she's an omega, and I am your girlfriend." she screeches indignantly at him.

My body, involuntary, stood up at the word girlfriend as I stared between them. My actions caused everyone to look at me, making me feel so uncomfortable. I dont know what came over me, but I felt betrayed.

Jax grabs my hand and pulls me to his lap in one swift movement. Tingles erupt all over my body, my heart pounding in my chest.

"You were never my girlfriend, just a play thing. He smirks at her cruelly. Now sit down there or get out." he says with an air of demand.

Lacey's eyes flicker between black and blue as she stares between us before huffing out loud and leaving the room.

Jax's eyes glaze over for a moment, and then people start bringing in plates of food before they join the table too. Everything goes back to normal, like nothing happened.

So much food was laid out on the table. It smelt amazing. I wanted so badly to eat it, but I was still firmly held in place on Jax's lap. He leans around me and gestures for Jay to pass him a plate. Jay fills a plate up overflowing with a bit of everything and hands it to him.

"Dig in." He says while handing me his fork.

I felt so uncomfortable on his lap. I wanted to be anywhere else but on his lap in front of everyone who kept glancing sideways at me.

"Can I sit back in my seat?" I whisper at him pleadingly. He chuckles but thankfully allows me to get up.

I sink back down in my seat, and Anna hands me my own plate. I start eating. It all tastes amazing, but I really want to get out of here. To many people were looking at me. I eat quickly, I finish before almost everyone.

Noticing I am done, Jax puts his cutlery down and stands, holding his hand out for me. I take it and he leads the way out without a word to anyone else.

Once back in his room, I turn to face Jax. "Why does being an omega bother that woman?

"You're not an omega." is all he says.

"But why did it bother her? I ask again.

"Omegas are the lowest ranking in the pack and some people look down on them," he says, sighing. "It's ridiculous. Without omegas, the pack would not run as well as it does." he finishes.

I don't understand. Why do they have to be lowest in the pack? I frown.

"Because they are no good for fighting and protecting people. Omegas need to be protected. They are weaker." he explains.

"How do you know I am not an omega? I question him as I sit down on the sofa.

"You're not. I can sense your wolf. She is strong." he smiles.

Yahni yaps in my head. "I don't feel strong." I sigh.

"You have been through a lot." Is all he says while crossing the room and disappearing into the walk-in closet.

A moment later, he comes out with an oversized t-shirt and some women's underwear. He hands them to me.

"There's fresh towels in the bathroom. I have to go do some work but help yourself to anything in the room and the TV remote is on the nightstand." he says while making his way to the door.

"Wait, I say before he opens the door. Why did that woman think she was your girlfriend?" I ask, noticing his body tense at the question.

He turns to face me with a look of regret on his face. "I'm sorry," he says while looking around the room. "I looked for my mate for a long time, but I have, ah needs." He says while turning slightly red. "She was never my girlfriend. We just fooled around a bit." he says, looking ashamed.

"Uh huh," I respond, not really sure what else to say because I can't explain the hurt I feel at his words.

He walks back to me and reaches for my hand, I flinch a little but he grabs it anyway. "She knows she isn't my girlfriend. She was just stirring trouble, she means nothing to me." he says, gently leaning down and kissing my hand.

"I really have to go though, we can talk more when I get back." he says while heading back to the door.

I must look stupid because I stand there looking at my hand he just kissed when I heard the door close. I look up and he's gone.

I sigh, feeling drained. I grabbed the clothes Jax had left on the arm-rest for me and headed into the bathroom. This one was much bigger than in the other room. Of course, there is a tub as well. I look at it, but no flashbacks happen. I hated that I had no control over them. Sometimes, I am fine with something, and the next, I am not. It's just another thing in my life that's out of my hands.

I take a long shower mulling over the evening. Apart from the dog incident and the woman at dinner, it seems like a good place, I decide as I walk out of the bathroom. I feel pretty tired now but I just realised, where am I going to sleep? he didn't say. I look around and can only see his bed. I sigh and make my way to the little sofa. I snuggle into it, and it's actually pretty comfortable, I fall asleep quickly.

Sometime during the night, I wake from a nightmare. Only I'm not on the sofa. I'm in the most comfortable bed. I roll over and tingles ignite all over me as a strong arm wraps around my waist. I panic but realise quickly that he is asleep. I try wiggling out from under his arm, but it's no use. His arm weighs a damn tonne. I take a deep breath and close my eyes. I actually feel very relaxed like this. The tingles against my skin, the warmth of his body and the softness of the bed. I drift off again.