"Is it done?"
They stood in the library. Walls covered in shelves with all the books of generations gathered in one place. Two floors with a grand staircase led you up closer to the painted ceiling. Jax grabbed hold of the step on the ladder on which he swung around, playing as a child.
"Not exactly," Jax said through clenched teeth. He turned around and faced their judgmental gazes.
"If you want to take over the title, to rule this pack and become Alpha, then you must take a wife. You will be taking over not only our pack but the businesses, Jax, and you know the board wants someone stable."
Jax scoffed. They wanted someone who wouldn't go around fooling around with different women, partying, and bringing shame over the family name.
"She's here, isn't she?" he spat.
"Listen, son, you were fortunate enough to find her, to find your mate, and the fact that she is human could work in our favor."
Jax shook his head in disbelief. "Not everything is about gain, Father."
His dad walked up, slammed his hand on Jax's shoulder, and smiled. "But it is. It's about power and growth. Your human mate will help us with our footing in human society. Instead of humans looking at us as some unreachable gated community, they will see hope that a mundane young girl can reach these heights. It will help keep us safe."
Jax's mother stepped up next to her husband. A pearl necklace hung heavy around her neck, with matching earrings worth a fortune, and her hair was done in a perfect updo.
"Now, where is the girl?" she asked.
Jax looked between them with a razor-sharp gaze, knowing it was futile to fight their agenda.
He turned around and walked through the double doors and into the adjoining living room. The hallway led to the stairs and up to the first floor, where Lola was safely sleeping in one of the bedrooms.
Jax opened the door, and his parents stood behind him. They stared at the frantic girl running around the room, pulling at the windows.
Jax cleared his throat and side-eyed his mother, who fiddled with the pearls on her necklace.
She stopped, her hair fell in front of her face, and she turned.
"You," Lola seethed and locked eyes with Jax.
"Mom, Dad, meet Lola Graves."
She was breathing rapidly as she stared with furious eyes. Jax's parents stepped into the room. They didn't seem to care about the state of the young girl they forced into their home. All they saw was the victory when a human girl would become part of their family. They saw the gain, the victory, and not the fear in her eyes or the scrapes on her hands from trying to pry the windows open. Her lips were red from the blood that had been coughed up. Inhaling dry herbs was usually a non-lethal, painless experience, which was why that blood piqued their curiosity.
"I'm Margret Blackwood. This is my husband, Michael," Mrs.Blackwood said.
She pressed a finger to Lola's jaw, pushing her face to the side.
"How are you feeling?" She asked. Her brows furrowed together in question, and she puckered her lips.
"Like my lungs are on fire, thanks for asking," Lola seethed.
She turned her head back. Mrs. Blackwood's hand pulled back, and she smiled.
"Interesting. Perhaps my son was a little aggressive when giving you the sedatives," she said with a curious gaze.
"Right. Well, I think I'll be leaving now." Lola stepped around the couple, but her arms were grabbed and held back.
"Why don't you stay for dinner? You've had a rough day." Mrs.Blackwood asked with a smile.
Lola looked up at Jax. She pulled her hand, more as a test, and was shocked at the strength she felt holding her back.
"Why not," Lola eventually agreed.
They walked out of the room. She tried to look around for an exit. There was the door, but she would need to run faster than Jax, and that seemed like a long shot. They were on the first floor. She could jump out through one of the windows. Lola tried to remember the grounds from the last time she was here. There was gravel and grass, a small hedge, and water. Jax had driven them home that day. Where did he drive? Her eyes visibly widened when the memories returned to her.
They drove through a gate. The guard opened it when he saw Jax's car.
Shit.
They walked into the dining room next to the kitchen. A small round table with cloths, utensils and glasses already put out.
Lola figured that if she played along. Maybe Jax would let her leave after they had eaten. She pulled a chair. A warm hand touched her lower back again, and Lola stiffened.
"Over here," Jax whispered. He pulled out another chair and guided her down on it.
A man came out, dressed in a white shirt, black pants, and a black vest. He had a tie around his neck and a towel thrown neatly over his arm.
"Are we expecting more guests, Mr. Blackwood?" the waiter asked.
Lola looked up at him, trying to make eye contact so she could ask for help.
The waiter looked at Mr. and Mrs. Blackwood and never deviated his gaze.
"We're expecting one more guest. Thank you, Grayson." Mr Blackwood answered.
He grabbed his glass and swirled the wine around.
"Lola, please tell us about yourself," he mused.
She bit down on her lip.
"I'm twenty-one, go to school, and work in a coffee shop." That was all there was to her, as far as they were concerned. The Blackwoods, however, weren't impressed.
A slight tug on Mrs. Blackwood's lips made Lola shrink back in her chair.
"A coffee shop, you say. What is that like?"
Lola raised a brow. "You've never been to a café?"
"I have, but I haven't ever worked in one," Mrs. Blackwood said as a matter of fact.
Lola chewed the inside of her cheek. Her eyes graced the walls, and she turned her head.
"I make coffee, greet people, clean up, and when it closes, I take out the trash." Lola smiled.
She liked her job. It was her first, and it kept her sane when she first arrived at Wild Cliff.
Mrs. Blackwood fixed the silverware, placing it in order in front of her.
"Well, you won't need to take out the trash any longer."
She laughed as though it had been an awful thing just listening to it. It was odd how one family could have so much. Lola looked around at the lavish details on each wall. Whether it be art or a lamp, each thing surely costs a fortune.
She remembered her own home, the one she grew up in. How the rooms were barely big enough for one person, yet there were three in each at all times. During winter, the wind would blow in through the broken window seals, and the sound of teeth shaking was heard all night long. She clenched her jaw in annoyance.
Mrs. Blackwood was still laughing, jokingly remarking how fun it would be to see Jax's cousin Olivia in such a job.
"Imagine her picking out trash or making coffee for anyone but herself." Mrs. Blackwood nearly fell off her chair thinking about it.
"Olivia is wise. She knows what jobs are beneath her."
Lola slammed her hands down on the table and stood from her chair.
"That's it. I've tried to be nice, and I've kept my mouth shut while listening to you berate a job that I happen to love! Now, if you'll excuse me, I'm going home, and you can go back to sticking your noses up pretending to be better than us." She stormed around the table toward the door.
He came around the corner, and before she could stop herself, she walked into him. "Oh, sorry."
Ash stared down at her fuming face.
"Where are you going?" he asked.
Lola cleared her throat, her hands brushing against his chest as she stepped back.
"I'm going home," she demanded.
"Did no one tell you yet?" he asked with a smug grin. Ash leaned in, raised his brows, and seemingly reveled in the moment. "You are home."