"She did an amazing job," Lola said, trying to break the thick ice coating when they were alone.
"She did." He said huskily and looked down at her. His gaze burned into her skin, his eyes glistened as they scanned her as they had many times before and his tongue slid over his lips.
They stood staring into each other's eyes and Lola noticed the life in Jax's eyes had dimmed. It wasn't what she looked into before, he seemed hardened and cold. Not just towards her but in general.
Lola didn't know the first thing about being an Alpha but she was starting to realize that perhaps it entailed your persona shifting from tough but fair to cold and hard.
Was it Alphas or just Jax?
There didn't seem to be any in-between.
"You wanted to talk." He said.
Taken aback by the hurry in his tone she realized he wanted to leave.
"We haven't talked since that night in the guest room. You slept in my bed, told me to be patient with you and then I don't hear from you for weeks."
Jax's brows furrow and a chill pull over her chest from the icy gaze.
"It's been a lot. With my uncle being in town making business and my parents pushing for Ash to join Blackwood Enterprises, it's been a lot to stand in. And I've tried to keep my uncle as far away as possible from you." His words were caring but his tone indicated that it was all a burden that weighed heavy on his shoulders.
"But why?"
Jax stepped closer and his gaze hardened.
"Because if he finds out what you are, he will personally seek out buyers. He will not hesitate to sell you to the highest bidder, there is not one ounce of compassion in him, no humanity, he is a male version of my mother. And if he has the chance to get his hands on you..." Jax stopped and clenched his jaw.
"Just mind your business and I'll take care of mine." He seethed.
Lola drew a shaker breath and blinked away the tears.
"I'm sorry, I just wanted to check in." She said. Without standing around to get frostbite from his glare she turned around and stormed off.
Jax closed his eyes and drew a deep breath, when he opened them she was gone and he stood alone.
"Jax?" He turned around and saw Mrs. Clifton standing with rounded eyes and a frown, looking to where Lola had walked off.
"Why would you talk to her like that?" She asked.
Jax looked around, it was only the two of them now.
"Like what?"
"Like she's a problem you can't wait to get rid of," Mrs. Clifton explained.
"Everything is a little too much right now, I just need to get a handle on things." He defended but it wasn't enough.
"You need to get a handle on your heart or else you'll wake up one day and realize that there is nothing left to handle. She will be gone, having either left on her own or I will have dragged her ass out from your reach," Mrs. Clifton stepped closer, her eyes took on a predatory form and her breathing was controlled and calm but her words were carefully chosen and honest.
"Lola is like my second daughter, I will never stand by and watch someone hurt her. She might have not told me everything that's been going on with you and her or your family but I see things even when they aren't shown to me. I know she's been miserable for months, she gave you her well-protected heart and you cut it up into confetti. Lola is afraid to love, always has been, but she took a chance with you. She lowered all her guards and neglected those survival mode instincts for the first time in her life...for you. You became her shelter, so you better make sure that you goddamn protect her, or I swear on the gods that I will take her away." She said calmly, a thinly veiled threat laced her words and hung in the air.
Jax didn't answer, no retort was necessary. He knew where she came from with her words and he respected her for it, nobody else had protected Lola from him, and nobody would dare, part of him was glad to know that Lola had people like that in her life- people who would stand in the way if ever he became a danger to her. As a Blackwood people were more likely to turn around and turn a blind eye than push up against him.
Mrs. Clifton walked off first to join the rest of the town and Jax followed a few seconds behind.
They walked out as though nothing had happened and blended into the festivities at hand.
The music was playing from the speakers in the trees, Christmas carols were on repeat and the cheer was at an all-time high. Nobody could remember the last time the town had an event quite like this and the mayor hoped they wouldn't get all too used to the lavishness of the Winter Whimsy. He had made sure to include in the Winter Weekly how this event was a once-in-a-lifetime event and wouldn't be repeated, to lower their expectations for the coming years.
There was a frost-covered glass wall separating the dance floor from the refreshment room where they served finger food and beverages.
Lola stood on the dance floor watching as couples and friends took to dancing.
She felt someone stopping behind her, he cleared his throat to make himself known and she turned to face him.
"May I have this dance?" Ash asked, looking dapper in a black suit and his hair parted in the middle, sitting thick on his head.
A few strands fell in front of his eyes and he grinned as he watched Lola blush under his gaze.
"Why not," she smiled and put her hand in his. The touch of his skin against hers sent a tingle down her core, the closeness and human touch was a thing she had craved.
They took to the dance floor and Lola was shown what moves Ash had been sitting on. He rested his hand on her hip, the other hugging her hand and they turned on the floor to the music as though they were the only ones around. Lola's laugh drew gazes from all around.
The tip of her toes dug into the floor when she was spun around and tipped back. Ash never looked away, always kept his gaze on her face, and watched how she laughed with her eyes and her lips pulled back over her teeth in a wide grin.
"You're good at this," She laughed.
His fingers dug into her side, gripping rougher as he pulled her in.
"You make it easy." He said in a low tone.
A breath hitched in her throat and her eyes flickered to his lips. Ash grinned catching the subtle exchange and pulled her closer before spinning her around again. Lola's feet floated across the floor and she faced the frosted wall. As she spun she saw Jax on the other side smiling as he talked to Lavina.
Above Jax's and Lavina's heads, a plant started to grow, it came from thin air, with red berries and thick green leaves. She only saw Lavina's back but watched as she tilted back her head and saw the mistletoe. She laughed and looked at Jax who noticed it as well and shook his head with a smile that stretched from ear to ear.
Lavina leaned in, her hands pressed against his chest- time slowed down. Lola spun, for each spin she saw their faces getting closer, the air between them disappearing and their lips parting as though they welcomed something familiar. One of her hands cupped his cheek and she leaned onto him as their lips pressed against each other.