AT THE SAME TIME
JAXON'S POINT OF VIEW:
I push the door open with my shoulder, careful not to jostle Xavier as I carry him inside. His breathing is soft and steady against my chest, his hands curled lightly against my shirt. Michael's right behind me, the faint scent of cheddar lingering like a damn signature he can't shake. I glance back, and he's got that smug grin plastered on his face, eyes fixed on Xavier.
"Still breathing?" Michael jokes, but there's an edge to his voice, something possessive simmering just beneath. He steps closer, brushing his fingers against Xavier's hair. "He smells different, doesn't he?"
I pause, sniffing the air, and something sharp and sweet flickers at the edge of my senses. It's subtle, barely there, but enough to set my instincts thrumming. My grip tightens around Xavier.
"Yeah." I mutter, voice low. "More... settled."
Michael raises an eyebrow, lips curling into that damned smirk.
"You mean bonded?"He asked.
I shoot him a glare, but he doesn't flinch. He never does.
"Too soon for that." I snapped, carrying Xavier over to the wide bed and laying him down carefully.
His face is peaceful, lashes resting against his cheeks, lips parted just slightly. He looks... softer. Like some of that tension finally melted off him. But Michael's right. He does smell different. Less... resistant. More inviting. Michael stands next to me, arms crossed, eyes flicking over Xavier with a look I don't like.
"Did you feel it? When we walked him in?" His voice is quieter now, almost reverent. "It was like... like something clicked."
I hesitate, the memory flaring up. That warmth in my chest. The tightening of something invisible but strong, like threads binding us closer. I clench my fists, jaw tight.
"I felt it."I said.
Michael chuckleed, low and rough.
"Guess Selene's got bigger plans than we thought." He leaned forward, brushing his fingertips against Xavier's cheek. "You think he felt it, too?"
"Not yet." I murmured, eyes fixed on Xavier. "But he will." I watched Michael's hand linger, irritation sparking up my spine. "That's enough." I growled, stepping between him and Xavier.
Michael just laughed, stepping back with hands raised.
"Easy, Alpha. He's still breathing, isn't he?"Michael smirked.
I glare, but before I can say anything more, Xavier stirs. It's soft at first, a twitch of his fingers, a small sigh escaping his lips. Then his eyelids flutter, and his eyes crack open, glazed and heavy with sleep. He blinks up at me, confusion flickering across his face.
"Jaxon...?"He asked.
"Right here." I said, voice softer than I intended.
I sit down on the edge of the bed, my weight dipping the mattress just enough to pull him closer. His eyes are wide, glassy with sleep, but there's something different there. A flicker of warmth that wasn't there before. Michael steps up beside me, looming over us both with that wolfish grin.
"Good to see you awake, Xavier."Michael said.
Xavier's eyes slide over to him, and for the briefest moment, I see it, a flush of pink across his cheeks, barely noticeable, but real. His lips part, and I catch the tiniest hitch in his breath. I feel my heart lurch, instincts flaring. He looks away, blinking hard.
"What... what happened?"He asked.
I exchange a glance with Michael, whose grin only widens.
"You passed out." I said, keeping my voice steady. "Needed some rest. We got you back here."
Xavier nods slowly, rubbing his eyes.
"I feel... weird." He glances back at me, eyes flicking down to where my hand still rests on his arm. He doesn't pull away. He just... looks. Michael chuckled.
"Good weird or bad weird?"He asked.
I... I don't know." He whispered. But I can feel it. The way he leans just a little closer.
The way his breathing shifts when my hand tightens just slightly on his arm. Michael watched, eyes glinting with something sharp and knowing. He leans against the wall, arms crossed.
"Well, I guess you'll find out soon enough, won't you?"Michael said.
Xavier's eyes snap back to mine, searching, questioning. I offer him a smile, gentle but firm.
"Don't worry. You're safe here. With us."I said.
Michael's grin is damn near predatory.
"Yeah, with us. Both of us."He said.
Xavier's eyes widen, but he doesn't flinch away. He just stares, something flickering there I hadn't seen before. Something... softer. And deep down, I know. Whatever Selene did, whatever bond she wove, I'm not about to let him go.
A LITTLE EARLIER
XAVIER'S POINT OF VIEW:
My eyes flutter open, and the room swims into view soft light filtering through heavy curtains, the smell of cedar and... cheddar? I blink hard, my head swimming with leftover exhaustion. My hands feel heavy against the sheets, my body wrapped in a warmth that isn't entirely my own. For a second, I forget where I am, forget everything except the strange feeling lingering in my chest.
"You're awake." A voice murmured low and familiar.
I turn my head and meet Jaxon's eyes. He's sitting right beside me, too close, his gaze sharp and steady. My heart gives a lurch sharp and sudden, like it wasn't ready to beat so damn hard. I grip the sheets tighter, forcing a swallow past the dryness in my throat.
"Yeah..." My voice comes out rough, like I haven't spoken in days.
I clear my throat, glancing around. The room is massive stone walls, high ceilings, a fireplace burning low in the corner. I don't remember getting here. Hell, I barely remember anything after... after Selene's damn moon wing.
Michael's voice cuts through my fog.
"You look like you've seen a ghost." He's leaning against the wall, arms crossed, grin spread wide across his face. That damn grin, sharp and predatory, like he knows something I don't. He probably does. I force a shaky breath, fingers knotting in the blanket.
"I feel... weird." I admit.
It's the only word I can think of that fits. My skin is too sensitive, every breath too loud, and my heart... it won't calm down. Especially not with the two of them so close. I can smell them, woodsy and sharp, bold and bright. It coils around me, thick and heady, like I'm breathing them in with every inhale. Jaxon's eyes narrow, his hand brushing over my arm. I stiffen, but I don't pull away. I don't want to pull away. The realization stabs through me like ice. Since when the hell do I want... I mean, I don't... I can't want this.
"You good?" Jaxon's voice is softer, almost gentle, like he's testing the weight of each word.
His hand is still there, warm and solid against my arm. I should shake it off. I should push him away. But instead, I just stare, heat creeping up my neck.
"I'm fine." I said, voice barely more than a whisper.
It's a lie. I'm anything but fine. There's this... pull. A slow, creeping warmth that spreads from where his hand touches me, down to my fingertips, curling low in my stomach. I don't understand it. I don't want to understand it. But it's there. It's real. And it's getting stronger. Michael steps closer, his presence making the air feel thicker.
"You sure? You don't look fine." He looks at me, assessing, lingering. My heart stutters, and I clench my fists to hide the tremor.
"I—I just need some air." I stammered, voice cracking. I push off the bed, but my legs are unsteady, and I grab the bedpost to keep from collapsing.
Jaxon's hand shoots out, steadying me, fingers curling around my elbow. Warmth flares where he touches me, seeping into my skin, making it hard to breathe.
"Easy." He said, voice low. His fingers tighten, not enough to hurt, but enough to make my heart hammer against my ribs. "Maybe you should sit back down."
"I'm fine." I snap back, too harsh, too quick.
But he doesn't flinch. He just looks at me, eyes sharp, grip steady. Michael's watching too, eyes flicking between us with something that looks suspiciously like amusement. Heat crawls up my neck again, burning at my ears. I'm straight. I know I'm straight. I've always been straight. But the way Jaxon's hand feels on me... the way Michael's gaze lingers... My head spins, and I swallow hard, stepping back, away from their scents, their eyes, their warmth.
"I—I need to clear my head." I force the words out, ripping my arm from Jaxon's grip.
His eyes flash with something I don't want to name. Not right now. Michael just chuckles.
"Run if you want. We'll still be here."He smirked.
Weirdly enough, I was sure about that. It's not like they were planning to let me go anytime soon.