Chapter 28: Chapter Twenty-Seven

-Two years later-

-Amaya’s POV-

We just got off an assignment but Alanza insisted we had to go out to our usual bar. I should’ve known something was up, considering Alanza started trying to convince me to go out as soon as we stepped on the plane. I barely had time to change out of my mission clothes before Josie and Alanza were knocking on my door.

“Let’s gooooo!” Alanza said, causing me to roll my eyes.

“Okay, okay. I’m coming!” I gave myself one more glance in the mirror.

We headed out on our bikes when we parked, I noticed Jace, Ian, Lavi, and her mate’s vehicles all in the parking lot. Great the gang’s all here, I thought sarcastically to myself.

“We deserve a night out, Amaya. You deserve a night out,” Niamh’s voice sounded in my head.

“Doesn’t mean I have to enjoy it,” I retorted back mentally rolling my eyes.

We found our group easily even in the mess of supernaturals that were in the bar. Alanza went to the bar to get us drinks while Josie and I joined everyone at their table in the back of the bar.

We were chatting and laughing for a little while when the mood in the bar shifted. Niamh cooed and I looked around knowing the cause of the shift. Fox, Jax, and their teammate Matthew walked up to the bar. I glared at Alanza. She gave me a look that said “What did I do?” My eyes narrowed and I growled low.

Jace threw his arm around my shoulder, “It’ll be fine cus,” he whispered softly in my ear.

Jax cleared his throat, “Hey guys,” Alanza and I both got up, I gave him a hug first so Alanza could have her way with him. They pulled apart when Matthew and Fox walked up, “You guys remember my teammates Fox and Matthew.”

Everyone said their hellos except Jace and me. Jace sniffed the air, making sure we were surrounded by supers, I assumed, “So you’re the infamous Fox.”

Fox stiffened, “And you are?”

“Jace. Nice to finally put a face to the name,” it didn’t go unnoticed that Jace didn’t clarify he was my cousin.

“And what makes me so infamous?” He asked with his eyes narrowed.

“You left your mate. Even after you found out what we all are. You still left her,” I could feel Jace’s dragon rising.

“Jace cut it out.” I turned to Josie, “I’m out. I’ve got other shit to do before tomorrow.” I turned back to Jace and pushed my dominance into my voice, “stay in control.”

I felt his dragon fall back and he gave me a nod. I pushed past Fox, relishing the contact we made for just a brief second. Then I was gone, on my bike, on my way back to the compound.

I was in my small apartment nursing a beer still doing paperwork when someone knocked on my door, “What?”

“Can I come in, Little Duck?” Jax’s voice sounded on the other side of the door.

I sighed, “Why not?” I got up to grab him a beer as he let himself into my apartment.

When I came back into the small living room I tried to hand him his beer, but he grabbed my face between his hands and looked at me for a long beat. “You’re not sleeping.”

A statement, not a question. I removed my face from his hands and gave him his beer. “I just got off assignment, Jax.”

“You and I both know that’s not what it is. You’re not sleeping because of the nightmares. It’s not healthy, Amaya. You need Fox.”

I flinched at the mention of his name, “I’m fine Jax. When do you guys leave again?” I was desperate to change the conversation.

Jax sighed, “Day after tomorrow.”

“Go be with your mate Jax.” I pushed him toward the door, “Stop worrying about me and go be with Alanza.”

“Just-”

“No Jax. We’re broken. Just accept it. He’ll never accept me for who I am and I don’t know if I can forgive him for that. Leave it alone,” I shouted at him.

He looked at me hurt and instantly I felt bad for snapping at him. “Right. Please forgive me for caring about you, your majesty.”

Before I could apologize he gave me a deep bow and walked out the door. I fell into a heap on the floor, sobbing uncontrollably. I didn’t realize he came back in until I felt his arms wrap around me and his scent enveloped me. “I’m sorry Jax. You don’t know what it’s like having a mate that doesn’t want you. It hurts so much every time you guys push us together and he doesn’t say or do anything. It’s killing me.” My body was racked with another round of sobs, “I can’t keep seeing him. You guys can’t keep doing this to me. He can’t and won’t ever love me.” I barely got the last sentence out. I was sobbing so hard.

Jax just held me, as I cried, rubbing my back, “I’m sorry, Little Duck. I just want you back, and to have what Alanza and I have. You’ve been an empty shell for two years. We don’t know what else to do.”

His words only made me cry harder. We stayed like that until I stopped crying.

Jax picked me up and placed me in my bed. He more or less tucked me in and kissed my forehead, “Get some rest, Little Duck.”

“Yes, your highness,” I said with a lazy smirk.

“Fuck off, smart ass,” he said, laughing, “Get some sleep you asshole. I’ll see you later.”

I blew him a kiss and he flipped me the bird. I took a shot of the herbal supplement that barely worked anymore, and drifted off to sleep.