Jax stormed out of the bedroom. He stopped in the hallway and turned around, his eyes locked down on Lola who was still pressed against the wall as though someone held her there.
"We're going home." He commanded, leaving no room for objections.
Lola seethed when she walked out. Melissa stood in the door with the others and Lavina quickly scanned Lola when they walked out.
"Are you leaving?" Melissa asked looking at Lola.
"Yes," Jax answered.
"I wasn't asking you," Melissa said and raised a brow.
Ash was scanning Lola intently, watching how her lips turned and her eyes narrowed and he noticed the flushed cheeks gradually mellowing.
"She'll give you a call," Ash said, mediating the conversation.
"With what?!" Lola snapped.
All eyes turned on her and she felt the burn from Jax's scorching gaze. He was not the only one putting up walls to shield himself from the pain of caring about someone who hurt you.
She felt the walls coming up one by one and soon he would be completely shut out. The thought scared her but not more than he did right now.
The door opened and they left the house. Melissa's parents would be home in a few hours and she'd promised to stay for dinner.
"I'll see you later," Lola said coldly and hugged Melissa.
They got in the car in stiff silence and when the doors closed the anger radiating soon filled the entire vehicle.
"How are you?" Lavina asked sweetly. Lola turned her head- slowly- and looked confounded at her pitiful eyes. She turned back without a response and stared at the road.
Did his ex seriously just ask me that?
It wasn't long until they were outside of the mansion, nobody said another word during the drive, and now when she looked out at the large building, she felt only shame and grief. At least before she could look forward to seeing Jax but now the mansion had nothing to offer her that would make her miss it.
There wasn't any sound when they walked in, everyone from this morning had left and she welcomed the peacefulness it brought to be alone.
Jax walked down the hall to the study and Lavina sighed, following after him.
Lola walked upstairs to the guest room, she opened the door only to have it slammed shut in front of her and she was trapped in the hall between Ash and the door.
Ash's hand held onto the handle. She turned around and saw him leaning over her.
"I heard you, in Melissa's bedroom," Ash said.
"Good for you."
The silence that followed when they didn't speak was all she wanted right now- for everybody to stop talking.
"Do you know what it's like to love someone to an extent that you thought was impossible? When the mere thought of losing them brings you physical pain even though they stand in front of you. To know that half of everything you are, half of your soul, half your heart, could be taken in the blink of an eye and you will never get it back?" Ash asked. Lola didn't speak, she stood still and listened without interruption.
"A mate is someone created for you, not just for sex or objectively but as though your soul is split in two before you're born and you walk the earth hoping to find that other piece of your person. Humans don't have them, you have soulmates but it's not the same thing. For werewolves, it's quite literally the only person you will ever want to be with, the one person made for you when all other relationships come with expiration dates. They are the one person who will see your flaws and mend them with love and care, humans don't have destined mates but werewolves can find theirs in humans. It's a bond that's stronger than anything else and it ties you for life. You don't feel it but Jax does, you're his mate and he will sooner die than stop searching for a way to save your life. I'm not saying that what he did is justified but you don't feel what he feels. You don't live in constant anguish. So, basically what I'm trying to say, is don't take it too hard. His only focus is keeping you alive...keeping you happy will come after." Ash stopped, gazed into her eyes, and held it- only for a moment but it was enough and then he turned around. He didn't say another word but she saw how he, for a moment, let all his walls fall to the ground.
They crumbled for a moment to let her see the truth if she didn't believe the words.
She was at a loss for words, her mind was foggy from the information and the feelings that erupted after what she'd heard.
She held her breath when she walked into the room.
All the colors seemed dull and bleak but her heart pounded faster than it ever had. She released her breath and threw herself on the bed.
Her eyes closed for a moment when they were too heavy to hold up. It was nighttime and it felt like she hadn't slept for a week.
Her head sunk into the pillow and after five seconds of serene peace, there was a knock on the door. Lola flew up and looked around. It was dark still and she thought she couldn't remember if she'd fallen asleep or just rested her eyes.
Ember stuck her head inside the room and smiled, "Can I come in?" She asked.
"Of course," Lola said.
She rubbed her eyes and looked at the clock. It was ten minutes to twelve which meant she slept for over two hours.
Lola yawned and Ember took a seat on the bed.
"I heard about what happened at your friends' house," Ember said.
"It's been intense," Lola laughed.
"Ash told me he explained about the mate bond."
Lola nodded in response.
"Never thought words like that would come from a guy like him," Lola said with an honest hint of shock.
"If you ever ask him about it or tell anyone, he'll deny it til his last breath," Ember said with a grin about her brother.
Lola flung her arms in the air and wiggled closer to Ember.
"Am I supposed to forgive Jax for his behavior because he cares about me?" Lola asked bothered.
Ember giggled but her lips were pulling down.
"Lola, he doesn't only care about you, he's madly in love with you. He's in love in a way that most people don't experience. Not even all werewolves get to experience the mate bond. It's love, Lola, an undying love," she said. Ember's voice had a deep tone to it that soothed Lola whenever she heard her speak. It was a voice that you couldn't other than listen to when she spoke.
"Do you love him?" She asked.
"I- i don't know. I care about him but I feel like it's too soon to say if I love him,"
"Do you feel safe with him?"
"Until today, yes,"
"Do you miss him when he's not around?"
Lola smiled.
"I do,"
"Today, when everything happened, did you feel threatened or scared?" Ember asked.
Lola sighed. Her fingers played with the hem of the blanket.
"I knew he wouldn't hurt me but it was the way he switched to this completely different person. I wasn't afraid, I was angry." Lola explained.
"Love takes time to grow, it has to see everything before it can manifest for humans. For werewolves when we find out mate the love is instant. It's okay that you're not in the same place that he is."
"Does he know how I feel?" Lola asked.
"Have you told him?"
"No, or I don't think I have,"
"Then how can he know?" Ember asked with a sigh. She grabbed Lola's hands.
"He knows you care about him, I'm sure he does, but he will guess how much you feel for him because in the end, he will always feel more for you. He doesn't want to overwhelm you with his emotions, you've been through enough without him throwing that bomb on you as well."
Lola let out a loud scoff and tossed her head back on the bed but Ember was quick to pull her back laughingly and squeezed her hand.
"Just show him you care and that you want to be with him and I promise it will ease some of the tension. Right now he doesn't know where he has you."
"I'm his wife."
"On paper. It's a legally binding contract, not very romantic, and nothing he holds you to. He's still terrified that you'll fall in love with someone else and uproot everything."
"I would never do that." Lola sighed.
"Because you want him or because Mrs. Blackwood threatened you?" Ember asked. Her question made Lola think- Mrs. Blackwood's threat had been a big reason why she ever agreed to this in the first place and why she had stayed so it made sense that Jax would still see it as a big factor.
"He's worried that you'll leave him, that you'll run or get kidnapped or choose someone else. I've never seen him as worried about keeping someone as he does you. Just make sure he knows how you feel and everything will hopefully get a little easier, on both of you." Ember smiled and walked out when she saw that Lola's head was wrapping around the many pieces of information she'd dropped.
Lola was stuck wondering how she could show Jax that she did like him, a lot, without telling him she loved him. It wouldn't be honest right now.