My Runaway Mate

Chapter 15

I spent the rest of the day with Maddie and Hannah. It was nice just hanging out and getting to know them.

Thankfully, Rachel and Stacey avoided us for the rest of the day.

Maddie and Hannah introduced me too many members of the pack. I'm still not comfortable when they address me as Luna, technically I'm not even a member of this pack yet. I've never rejected Grayson as my Alpha formally. That doesn't mean I'm not going to do it.

Hannah and I are both the same age and Maddie is just a couple years younger than us. Hannah and Nick became official mates when Hannah turned 18. She told me Nick knew she was his mate when he turned eighteen and waited 4 years for her eighteenth birthday to have it confirmed. It's nice that they all grew up together and have all been friends for so long, it's not something I'm used to seeing. Even though I grew up with many pack members at Red River, we weren't friends.

I really didn't have any friends besides Ben and Mrs. Betty.

I was doing my best I keep the emotion off my face, but I still couldn't get over Jax and Rachel. I feel devastated.

"Bailey? What do you think?" Maddie asked me bringing me out of my thoughts

"What? I'm sorry I didn't hear what you said."

Maddie repeated herself "I said who do you think would win in a race Kip, Nick or Jax?"

"Oh I I'm not sure. I mean I've never really seen any of them run."

"Hey, is everything okay?" Maddie asked me "you seemed somewhere else just now."

"I'm fine, I guess I'm just more tired than I thought" I say back to her not wanting her to worry about me.

"Oh ok. Did you want me to walk you back to your room?"

"No, that's ok, thank you. I can manage from here. I'll talk to you guys later, ok?"

They both agree and say goodbye as I head back to my room.

Well that could have gone better. The last thing I wanted was for them to worry about me. Seems to be a habit I'm forming.

And not one I'm happy with. I'm getting my strength back so I'm not feeling so helpless anymore.

And Kip is right, if I'm going to be Luna of this pack, I need to at least be able to stand up for myself. I'm no longer at Red River.

Still, I don't know what I'm going to say to Jax when he comes to see me tonight.

Should I just let it go? Should I at least ask him? Do I even want to know the answer?

As I go into my room I fall on my bed and I can't stop the tears that follow.

******************************************

Jax's POV

I couldn't wait to see Bailey. I was trying to get through my work as fast as I could, but it's just been one of those days.

I'm glad she's getting along with Hannah and Maddie, and that she's making friends here so well.

I leave my office and head over to her room. I knock on the door but there's no answer.

I knocked again.

" Bailey?"

I wait another second and then I hear her.

"Come in"

I open the door and smile as she's sitting up in bed reading a book.

"Hey, how was your day" I asked her.

"It was fine"she says not meeting my eyes.

"Did you have fun with Maddie and Hannah?"

"Yes I did,thank you. Was your day ok?" she asked me.

" It's better now."I tell her smiling at her. she still not meeting my eyes.

I frown. "Bailey, is everything ok?"

"Yes" she replied.

"Honey, what's wrong? I can tell something's bothering you. Did you hear from Ben again?"

"No,it's not that it's..." she stopped.

"It's what? tell me."

"Who's Rachel?"

I was at a loss for words. I had no idea where that question even came from.

" Rachel? She's one of the she-wolves here, why?"

"Are you guys... I mean did you and her ever... is she your..."

" Bailey, just ask me what you want to know."

"Are you sleeping with her?"

"WHAT?!" what on Earth made you think that?" I asked her shocked.

I have no idea where this came from.I know some Alphas do in fact sleep with the she-wolves in their pack but that's not me.

I sit down in front of her holding her face so where her eyes are locked on mine.

"Bailey, listen to me. I promise you, I have never slept with Rachel or any other she wolf from this pack. I never have I never will. There is absolutely nothing between us. What would even make you think this?" I asked her. The tears are welling up in her eyes as I wipe them away.

"When we were at the gym today, she walked up and she just said a couple of things and it got me thinking. I mean Kip was there and he stopped her right away but I didn't want to discuss your personal life with your Beta and your other pack members. I don't know what you let them in on and I just been....Jax I'm so sorry. Please don't hate me." she says to me.

" I would never hate you. I could never hate you. You have nothing to be sorry about. You can always ask me anything I promise you I'll always tell you the truth, but tell me what did Rachel say to you? Did she tell you we were an item?"

"No, she didn't say that. It was more how she was behaving. I've seen she wolves at Red River act like that after they've slept with Grayson. All fighting for him to choose them as Luna, and I just assumed. I'm so sorry Jax. I feel like such a fool, please forgive me."

"There's nothing to forgive sweetheart. One of the rules my father instilled in me that, I've thankfully followed, was to never sleep with she wolves from your own pack. It saves drama and heartache from your Luna and I'm so very glad I listened. I never wanted my Luna, you, to feel like this. Believe me, I will handle this and Rachel will not bother you again."

"Please don't do anything Jax. I don't want to start trouble. Can we just forget about it? Like it never happened?" she asked me

"We shouldn't let something like this go Bailey. It could come back at us"

"Please? Just this once?" she begged again.

After debating for a second and looking at those beautiful blue eyes, I couldn't deny her request.

"Ok. Just this once."

She smiled and leaned in to hug me. As I'm hugging her back, I can feel my heart beating faster. Pounding out of my chest.

As we break away from our hug, I look her in the eyes. She is staring back at mine. Her breath is getting faster as I can hear her heart pounding. Or is that mine?

I can't take it anymore. I place one hand on the back of her neck, and pull her into me, as I crash my lips on hers.

The sparks that erupted have me fighting the urge to take her right now on this bed. We finally break the kiss,both of us needing oxygen.

She looks up at me smiling. We just sat there for a minute, holding each other.

"Bailey?"

"Yeah?"

When I don't say anything, she turns and looks at me.

"What is it?" she asks

"I--I--I'm really happy you are here."

"I'm really happy that I'm here too" she says as she hugs me again.

I need to get out of this room. The intensity of it all is making my wolf go crazy. I'm fighting him for control.

"Ok honey. Get some rest. I'll see you in the morning." I say to her as I lay her down on the bed. I give her a quick kiss on the forehead and make my way to the door.

"Goodnight Jax"

"Goodnight Bailey." I say as I close the door.

Standing outside her door, I take a minute to collect myself. She really is the best things that's ever happen to me.

I head across the hall to my room, to get ready for bed.

Still thinking about how amazing that kiss was, I suddenly need a shower to cool off.