Infatuated With Denial (Blue Claw Beta Series Book 1)

Chapter 8

Jax’s Pov

I was standing in the shower smirking at myself. I left the bathroom door open intentionally to tease Adyson. Today started off rubbish, she was still avoiding me at training so I couldn’t get into it. Eli has been kicking my a*s and I bet he is so smug about it.

‘You should be taking your frustration out on him instead’

When I saw her walking towards me my emotions just lit up. She looked so beautiful in her leggings and crop top. Her hair was half up and half down, flowing over her shoulders. I crushed her to me straight away.

I am pulled from my thoughts by shouting coming from my bedroom. I quickly shut the water off and wrap a towel around me before heading to my bedroom.

Adyson is standing by my bedroom door with it slightly ajar and holding the door. I could hear someone screaming at her from the other side and as I got closer I realised it was Lila.

“Hey what’s going on?” I shout over Lila and she goes silent as I appear in the doorway behind Adyson.

“Lila said she wanted to apologise but when I wouldn’t let her in your room she started ranting at me,” Adyson explains with a sigh.

“Lila you need to leave,” I tell her whilst wrapping my arm around Adyson. She glares at my arm before throwing daggers at Adyson.

“You b***h, he was mine.” Lila starts to shout again.

“No Lila.” I intervene again. “I was never yours. I always loved Adyson. I think it would be best if you don’t come here anymore,” I tell her with a stern voice. Her mouth drops agape as she stared at me.

‘This girl is impossible’

Before either of us could register what was happening Lila lifts her hand and smacks Adyson across the face.

Echo roars in my head and the growl that tears from my throat is venomous as I pulled Adyson closer to me and glare at Lila.

“What is going on here?” My fathers voice booms from behind Lila. We all stand in silence, I am glaring at Lila and she is glaring at Adyson. Adyson has turned to face me and has her hands on my chest in an attempt to calm me down.

“Lila leave the pack house now,” my father commands using his alpha tone and she immediately walks off.

I close my eyes and start taking deep breaths to calm myself. I bury my head in Adyson’s neck to inhale her scent.

“One of you need to tell me what is happening here?” My father asks in a calmer voice now.

“Lila just slapped Adyson around the face for no reason,” I say through gritted teeth whilst still inhaling Adyson’s scent. I may not be able transform into my wolf until my 18th birthday but it doesn’t mean I can control my temper.

“Adyson?” My father says her name in a questioning tone.

“Apparently she has feelings for Jax but I had no idea,” Adyson explains and sounds sad. I can sense that she is upset because Lila is her friend but she cannot blame Adyson for this.

My father sighs before putting his hand on my arm which was wrapped around Adyson. “I will revoke her invitation onto the alpha floor, I think it would be best to have some distance from Lila for a while.”

I nod in agreement before thanking my father and pulling Adyson back into my room with me.

She settles onto my bed whilst I put some shorts on, I then lay next to her on the bed. I wrap my arms around her and we snuggle in as she starts the movie.

-

I wake to fingers running through my hair and someone whispering my name. I groan and bury my face deeper into Adyson’s neck which causes her to giggle.

“Jax I need the toilet,” she laughs whilst trying to push me off.

I finally roll off her body so she can get up. I had fallen asleep with my arm and leg draped over her and my face in her neck. I hear the toilet flush and the water run from the tap before she comes back into the room.

“I had better head home now Jax,” Adyson states as she starts to gather her things.

I sit up to look at her with puppy dog eyes. “Please don’t leave me.”

She rolls her eyes before continuing to pick up her things. “I am just going home to sleep. I promise you will see me tomorrow.”

‘Just kidnap her’ Echo offers with amusement.

I jump up from the bed and sweep her off the floor. I throw her onto the bed and climb on top of her. “You can’t escape now,” I tease with a smirk.

“I can’t stay here Jax,” she whines as she tries to free herself.

“Why not?” I ask with another smirk.

“I have no clothes to change into, or pyjamas,” she states matter of factly.

“You don’t need any,” I wiggle my eyebrows and she swats my arm. “I meant that you can borrow some of mine.”

‘Liar’

“My parents,” she tries again.

“My father mind linked them to say you were staying here already,” I tell her with confidence and she starts chewing her lip.

I sigh and sit up, pulling her with me so she is sitting on my lap.

“What’s wrong Ady?” I ask her whilst tucking a strand of hair behind her ear.

“I’m scared,” she tells me whilst looking down at her nails.

I pull her chin up so she is looking at me, “scared of what Ady?”

She seems to ponder how to respond for a minute before she starts talking again.

“We have been best friends all our lives. Yes we may have had these hidden feelings but I don’t want to jump into this and ruin our friendship. I also still want to travel and see the world. If I am your mate in three days time, I want to know what to expect.” She explains.

“In three days time, when you are my mate, not if Adyson. Then you will be announced as Luna of this pack. Once we have completed the official ceremony then we can travel to greet different packs and form new alliances. You can still travel, but we can do it together.” I try to reassure her that I want her to see everything she desires.

“I am not saying that we won’t be mates,” she says and kisses my cheek. “I just want you to realistic that there is a slight chance we aren’t and how we will manage that.”

“I will think about it,” I tell her and she raises a brow at my tone of voice. “If you stay with me tonight.”

‘Now you’re resorting to bribery, you must be desperate’

‘Says you Echo. You told me to kidnap her’

She rolls her eyes and shoves my arm before standing and holding out her hand. I high five her hand and she scowls at me.

“I wanted you to pass me some clothes to wear for bed,” she orders me with a raised brow and I chuckle. I wander over to my wardrobe and grab a T-shirt for her to wear. I pass it to her and she goes into the bathroom to change. I get into bed and wait for Adyson to come back out.

-

The next few days flew by quickly, tonight I will turn 18 and shift into my wolf for the first time. More importantly I will finally confirm Adyson is my mate. Your mate is the other half of your soul, they will challenge you as much as support and love you. Adyson and I have always had an amazing bond and I could not imagine my life with anyone else. She is strikingly beautiful and just as much stubborn. I can see the fear in her eyes that we are not mates. What she does not understand is that I will reject my mate for her if that happens. I know that sounds terrible and probably makes me an awful person to my mate but Adyson is the one. I cannot and will not live my life with another. I cannot fathom the idea of spending eternity loving someone else. Finding out that Adyson is not my mate and another is will not undo my feelings for Adyson, they are too strong. Besides, our entire pack accepts Adyson as my Luna and knows she is the only option to fulfil the role. I smile down at the beauty lying across my arm as she sleeps soundly. I have been awake for half an hour just watching her sleep. I know she has plans for my birthday party today, it is meant to be a surprise but they are all very obvious with their whispering. However, I want to organise a surprise of my own for Adyson too, to celebrate our mating. I carefully untangle myself from Adyson and sneak out the bed. I quietly pad over to my wardrobe and grab some clothes before heading into the bathroom.

-

I wipe the sweat from my clammy hands before knocking on my father’s door and wait for him to answer. My nerves are skyrocketing as I hear him shout come in. I open the door with shaky hands and step inside closing the door behind me. I start to pace the room whilst flexing my hands, my dad watches me with a curious stare.

“You okay son?” He asks with a bite of concern in his tone.

I continue to pace as I answer, “I want to ask Adyson to marry me.”

‘Yes! Great idea Jax’

The silence between us stretches out. Werewolves do not usually get married, it is uncommon as we rely on the mating system. However, I want to prove to Adyson that our love is eternal. I finally stop pacing and look at my father expectantly. His face slowly starts to turn up into a grin as he stands and walks towards me with arms open. He pulls me into an embrace as his booming laugh fills the room.

“Why do you look so nervous Jax. Of course I approve,” he booms with a grin as he pulls away from the embrace. I let out a breath that I did not realise I was holding in.

‘This is going to be perfect’ Echo is excited too.

I give my father a smile of my own before speaking again, “I was wondering if you could help me plan a proposal for tonight. After my first shift.”

“Well of course,” he assures with another smile and gestures to sit at his desk. “What did you have in mind?”

“Adyson will be gathered with the other pack members when the clock strikes midnight, my shift will begin. Do you think a few of the pack members would be able to discreetly set up twinkle lights in the gardens and by the gazebo. And sprinkle some rose petals along the path. Maybe hide the ring by the gazebo for me ?” I asked with excitement sparking my insides. “Then once I shift back and announce her as my mate I can ask the pack to follow us to the gazebo. There I will propose.”

“I know just the ladies to help son. Don’t worry they will certainly be discreet with the matter.” My father announces before his eyes glaze over to mind link. A few minutes pass before my mother and Amber enter the room.

“You asked for us my love,” my mother approached my father and placed a kiss on his cheek.

“Alpha, Jax,” Amber greets with a bow of her head.

“Jax here has a request for you two that must remain discreet until the time of.” My father explains to them before gesturing for me to continue.

“I have a plan to ask Adyson to marry me tonight aft-“ I am cut of abruptly by my mother and ambers squeals. They both jump up and down in excitement. We allow them to get it out of their system for a moment before they quiet down again. Although, the huge grins remain in tact.

“As I was saying,” I chuckle. “I have a plan to ask Adyson to marry me tonight after my first shift. When everyone is gathered at midnight I wondered if you could help me. I wanted some twinkle lights hanging in the gardens and around the gazebo. Rose petals scattered across the paths and the ring to be hidden.”

My mother has tears in her eyes now as she pulls me into her embrace.

“I am so happy for you Sweetheart.” She squeezes me tightly.

“I would be honoured to help Jax,” Amber says with a genuine smile.

As my mother pulls away from the embrace she pulls Amber out the room to start their own planning. My father laughs and I roll my eyes before laughing too.

-

I stand behind the curtain for a moment of privacy. It is almost midnight, Adyson led me down to the ‘surprise’ party around nine o’clock. I am nervous as time gets closer. My plan to propose to Adyson is all in place now and I am getting nervous.

‘Ready Jax’

My wolf is becoming impatient.

I am interrupted when the curtain shifts and Adyson steps through. I smile at her and pull her to me before kissing her. She kisses me back before pulling away to smile at me. I can tell she is nervous.

“I just wanted to see if you were okay?” She asks sweetly.

“I am perfect. Echo is a little impatient though,” I tell her with a smile that she returns.

She runs her hand down my cheek. I notice that her smile is a little sad and does not reach her eyes. Before I have a chance to ask anything she kisses my cheek and pulls away. “I will see you after you shift.”

With that she steps back out the curtain and I sigh. I look down at my phone to see it is two minutes to midnight. I strip down to my shorts and step out of the curtain to face the pack.

“My wolfs name is Echo,” I announce to the pack and they all cheer before starting a chant. They all chant Echo over and over. As the clock strikes midnight I feel my bones start to c***k and rearrange. It is the worst pain I have ever felt. I shout out in agony but it turns into an almighty growl as I transform. Soon I am standing on all fours, paws in contact with the earth beneath. I take a deep breath through my snout and shake my fur out. I open my eyes to see my pack members all looking at me in awe as they continue to chant Echo. I turn to the mirror by my fathers side and see a large grey wolf with striking blue eyes. I have white patches of fur on my feet and ears.

“Take Echo for a run son,” I hear my father say before turning and racing towards the trees. It feels amazing to race through the forest and feel the breeze in my fur.

‘I can sense our mate back at the pack’ Echo shares with excitement. I immediately head back that way to shift back. I go straight behind the curtain and throw my clothes on.

‘Okay Echo this is it’

I take a deep breath and step out from the curtain. I scan the crowd and as my eyes spot her in the crowd myself and Echo say “mate”.