Chapter Seventeen

GABRIELLA'S POV

The moment Flynn disappeared into the trees, the air around the pack changed. The warriors stood still, waiting for Jax to give the next command, but he didn’t say anything. He only stared into the dark woods, his jaw tight and his hands clenched into fists.

I stood frozen, the weight of Flynn’s words sinking into my bones. It felt like war was already here.

Jack stood next to me, close enough that I could feel the heat from his body. He said nothing, and neither did I. I knew that the situation was getting out of hand.

When Jax finally turned to face the pack, his voice was hard and sharp. "Double the patrols. Everyone stays alert. Any strange movement around the border, you report to me immediately, do you hear me?”

The crowd stiffened, “Yes, Alpha!” Their voices echoed.

“Now get to work!”

The pack scattered to obey, but Jax didn’t move. His eyes found mine, and for a second, I saw past the cold Alpha to the man I was starting to fall for. He walked over to me, slow and steady, like he was still deciding whether or not to fall apart in front of me.

"You should be inside," he said, his voice low.

"I needed to see you," I whispered back.

His hand brushed against mine, his touch both tender and heavy with meaning. "I won't let him hurt you," he promised. "Not you or my baby."

I wanted to believe him. I wanted to trust that everything would be fine. But deep down, I knew the world wasn’t that simple. I had seen too much, lived through too much to believe in easy endings.

Jack cleared his throat behind us, breaking the moment. "We should all get some rest," he said, though his voice sounded distant, almost bitter.

Jax nodded, and for the first time, I noticed the silent war brewing between them. There was more than just pack politics between the two of them. There was me. And I wasn’t sure which of them I was hurting more.

That night, I couldn’t sleep. Every time I closed my eyes, I saw Flynn’s smile. I saw the way Jack looked at me. I saw the way Jax held back every emotion like it was a weapon that could explode if he let it slip.

Morning came too fast. I stood by the window, watching the pack get ready for whatever came next. My thoughts drifted to Jack again. Jack felt like a best friend I could lean on, even though he might be…unpredictable at times, unfortunately both the brothers were unpredictable, but it was Jax my heart kept pulling toward.

Later that day, I found myself walking the halls of the mansion, my thoughts a mess. Jax found me by the stairs, his face softer than it had been all day.

"Come with me," he said.

I followed him to the back garden, where the world felt quieter. The rain had stopped, leaving behind a damp smell that mixed with pine and earth. He sat on the stone bench, pulling me gently down beside him.

"I’m scared," I confessed before he could speak.

"Me too," he admitted, surprising me. "But I won’t let that fear stop me. And I won’t let it stop us."

The word “us” echoed in my head. I wasn’t sure if I deserved it, but I wanted it.

Before I could answer, the sound of a car pulling into the driveway reached us. Jax stood, his expression sharp and alert. I followed, curious but nervous, as we both moved toward the front of the house.

The car door opened, and a woman stepped out. She was beautiful in a way that was almost painful to look at — tall, dressed in sleek, expensive clothes, her dark hair pinned perfectly, her posture sharp and confident. She looked like she belonged in a magazine, not standing on pack land.

Her heels clicked against the pavement as she walked toward us, her smile sweet but cold around the edges. Her eyes locked onto Jax with a familiarity I didn’t like.

"Jax," she greeted, her voice smooth and soft. "It’s been a long time."

Jax’s face barely changed, but I saw it — the flicker of recognition, and something else. History.

"Samantha, you’re early,” he said simply.

Samantha turned toward him, her smile widening. "I wanted to surprise  both you and Jack. Don't you miss me?” She blinked with a smile.

The both part made my stomach twist. She spoke about both brothers like she belonged to them or maybe like they belonged to her. Like they had history. The way she moved, the way her eyes softened when they met Jax’s... it was clear. She wasn’t just an old friend. She had history with them.

And I wasn’t sure I wanted to know the details because my stomach feels weak at the thought.

Jax kept his tone cool. "Why are you here, Sam?"

Sam. He called her Sam.

She tilted her head, that perfect smile never fading. "Just visiting," she said sweetly. "And maybe reminding you of things you used to care about."

The words hit harder than I expected. I felt like an outsider watching two worlds collide.  Jax’s past and my uncertain future.

Her eyes drifted to me and it was polite but distant. "You must be Gabriella. I’ve heard so much about you." Her smile never reached her eyes.

"Nice to meet you," I said quietly.

"Jax has always had a thing for saving people," she added softly. "It’s just who he is."

I didn’t know what to say to that. Was it a warning? A reminder? Or just the truth?

Jax cleared his throat, stepping between us slightly. "Gabriella isn’t just anyone, Sam. She's very dear to me. She's my mate,” he wrapped his hands around my waist possessively and I felt my stomach flutter.

Her expression flickered, only for a second. "I can see that," she replied, her voice light but her meaning heavy.

Before the conversation could go deeper, Jack returned, his face pale.

"We have a problem," he said flatly. "Flynn left a message. He wants to meet. Alone."

Jax’s whole body tensed. "When?"

"Tonight." Jack looked at both of us, and then at Samantha. "He says it’s about Gabriella."