They were all back at the mansion. A group of Omegas had been called to clean up the mess made in the restaurant. Of course, when they were done, it was immaculate and cleaner than before the fight broke out, not a speck of blood could be seen.
Melissa was sitting on the couch with her hands wrapped around a steaming cup of tea given to her by the chef. Lola's cup was on the table, the steam rose and disappeared and the smell of camomile wafted in the air.
The chef had looked at the girls and sighed, his face twisted with worry when he noticed how far off they were from the girls he first met all those months ago.
Lola paced around the living room and refused to go anywhere or do anything until she saw that Justin was alright.
Footsteps closed in on them, sounding louder and heavier the closer they got and she knew it was a man.
Ash stepped inside and raised his brow when he saw Lola's determined expression.
"Enjoy your tea?" He asked, glancing at the untouched cup sitting on the glass table.
"Where is Justin?" She asked. Her voice was strained and her eyes were dull, her skin pale and her clothes bloody and wet.
He saw how exhausted she was, unable to carry herself tall like she normally did.
His eyes softened and his voice took on a melodic tone.
"Justin is fine. He's being tended to by the healer and when his body is healed and strong, Nash will remove the memories that we want him to forget."
A breath of relief let her lips and she closed her eyes as though all the energy suddenly let her body and she was on the verge of collapsing.
Though the silence was welcomed it didn't last for long when a door slamming shut echoed in the hallways. His heavy steps moved fast towards the living room and his Alpha aura filled the mansion, suffocating everything in its way.
"Your boyfriends almost all healed up," Jax said when he entered the room.
"I'm tired, Jax," Lola whispered and shook her head.
His anger didn't go unnoticed by anyone and the housekeepers stopped whatever they were doing in the hallways and scurried off with their eyes glued to the floor.
"You're tired?" He asked and stepped closer. He rolled back his shoulders and made a 'tsk' sound with his tongue.
"You leave your obligation at the Mayor's house to go and drink with some low-life party boy and then I find you, my wife, cuddled up in his arms. But you're too tired to talk about it?"
The blazing fire in her eyes returned for a moment upon hearing her husband's rant. It seemed anger was a fuse that could ignite even the dullest of flames.
"My obligation? So I must throw a party with my husband's ex-girlfriend? Babe, you can take that obligation and shove it up your ass. Me partying with Justin is the least abnormal thing to come out of this year, trust me! He is not some low-life party boy, he's my friend and he has done more for me than you will ever be able to comprehend in that limited brain of yours. And we weren't cuddling but even if we were it would be none of your business because you openly and truthfully told me that you feel NOTHING for me anymore. So don't you dare come riding in here on that high horse acting all high and mighty! You were the one who fucked up!"
The alcohol was still swirling in her veins, fogging her mind and slurring her words but every word was coherent.
"Good to see you moved on so easily," Jax spat, an ominous darkness swirled in his eyes and the air stilled around them.
He was mad because he knew she was right, he knew he brought this upon himself but it was odd how affected he was considering his lack of affection towards her.
Lola scanned his face, she tried to see what it was that kept him on the fence of their relationship, he wasn't completely in, but he wasn't all out either.
This jealousy was proof of his love- or perhaps his possessive nature- whatever it was, Lola was too tired to find out in this moment.
"I haven't moved on from you," she said quietly.
"I don't know if I ever will but I do know that I won't be in a loveless marriage, and I will not force you to find a love that you have lost. You made it clear where you stand, but I need you to decide if you're in or out because I can't do this anymore. I'm tired and I'm hurt so please- please stop pulling me in if you don't want me to stay there." She whispered, her voice too weak to speak any louder. The desperation was entwined in her words and everyone turned away, unable to look at the exchange between Jax and her.
"I don't-" he stopped. his fingers coiled into fists and then stretched out. A muscle feathered in his jaw and he drew a sharp breath.
"-Lola, I can't let you go." His voice was strained as he finished the sentence. She shook her head and smiled.
"It's not your choice anymore. I'll pack a bag and stay with Melissa because I can't, Jax, I can't do this anymore." She walked past him. Determined and fast she hurried up the stairs, hoping she wouldn't hear his footsteps following behind her.
She ran into the guest room and pulled out a bag in which she stuffed everything she could need the coming days.
Maybe she'd stay for a day or two or perhaps she'd start looking for an apartment. The plan wasn't all the way thought through yet but she knew she needed to get out, she needed to leave and create distance between her and Jax.
The feel of her heart being torn from her chest and ripped into pieces was everlasting, the pain was constant.
He walked up the stairs, stepped into the room, and slammed the door shut.
"You're not leaving." He ordered.
But Lola didn't bother to look at him, she was startled by the slamming of the door but continued packing her things and zipped the bag shut. Just as she gripped the handle it was yanked from her hand, the leather burned the tip of her fingers as it dragged over her skin and it was tossed against the wall. She turned her head, her eyes sinking from the anger she saw on his face and the pending eruption.
"I said-" he stepped closer, his eyes blackened as he looked down on her.
"-you're not leaving this house."