Page 12 of Noah (Pecan Pines #4)

Chapter 12

Jackson

The soft buzz of my phone pulled me from the warmth of sleep. I stirred, blinking against the early morning light filtering through the curtains.

As I became more aware, I realized I wasn’t in my assigned room at the Pecan Pines pack house.

The familiar scent of Noah wrapped around me, grounding me in the present.

His warmth pressed against me, his steady breathing a soothing rhythm that I didn’t want to disturb.

I shifted closer, slipping my arm around his waist, my lips finding the soft curve of his neck. He sighed contentedly, nestling into me.

The buzzing continued, relentless and irritating.

“Aren’t you going to answer that?” Noah’s sleepy voice murmured, laced with amusement.

“Nope,” I whispered, nuzzling his neck, savoring the feel of him against me.

Noah chuckled softly but when the buzzing persisted, he sighed.

“It might be important,” Noah pointed out.

“You’re right,” I grumbled, reluctant to leave the cocoon of warmth we’d created.

I reached over to the nightstand, grabbing my phone and swiping to answer without checking the caller ID.

“Where the hell are you?” Hudson’s voice barked on the other end, his tone already grating on my nerves. “You’re not in your room or anywhere on the Pecan Pines grounds.”

I clenched my jaw, trying to keep my patience.

“Hudson, I’ve been cleaning up your messes this entire time. Where were you when Beck and I dealt with Karl and the other Thornebane wolves?”

There was a pause on the other end, followed by a low growl. Hudson had no answer for that, and I wasn’t about to let him off easy.

“Just come back to the pack house,” Hudson finally snapped before ending the call abruptly.

I sighed, tossing the phone back on the nightstand, the tension in my shoulders easing as I turned back to Noah.

He was watching me, concern softening his features.

“Trouble?” he asked, his fingers brushing against mine as I slipped back under the covers.

I pulled him close, burying my face in his hair, inhaling the calming scent that was uniquely his.

“I think I’m going to leave Hudson to stew in whatever problem he’s found himself in,” I said, feeling a little vengeful.

Noah shifted slightly, his eyes searching mine.

“Doesn’t sound like you,” he said quietly.

I paused, considering his words. He was right.

For all of Hudson’s faults, for all the times he’d driven me to the edge of my patience, he was still my brother.

And despite everything, I still loved him.

“You’re right,” I admitted, brushing my fingers through Noah’s hair. “But right now, I just want to be here with you.”

Noah smiled softly, pressing a kiss to my shoulder. “I like that idea.”

We stayed like that for a while, wrapped in each other, the world outside fading into a distant memory.

Eventually, the growl of my stomach broke the peace, earning a laugh from Noah.

“Guess it’s time for breakfast,” he teased, slipping out of bed and pulling on a shirt.

I watched him move around the small kitchen, his movements fluid and graceful.

The sight of him, so at ease, so comfortable, filled me with a warmth that spread through my chest, settling deep in my bones.

What would it be like, to see this sight the first thing every single morning? The thought slipped into my mind, unbidden but not unwelcome.

Waking up to the scent of coffee and the gentle rustling of Noah moving about, sharing breakfast at the small table before the day pulled us into its demands.

The idea wrapped around my heart, squeezing gently, filling me with a longing I hadn’t fully acknowledged until now.

What would it be like, to be a part of Noah’s life?

The prospect was both exhilarating and terrifying. Exhilarating because the idea of weaving my life with his felt right in a way that few things ever had.

Terrifying because I knew the weight that came with such a commitment. For now, I put those thoughts away from my mind.

I joined him, leaning against the counter as he prepared a quick breakfast. The smell of eggs and toast filled the air, mingling with the scent of coffee brewing.

He handed me a mug, our fingers brushing, sending a spark through me.

“Thanks,” I said, taking a sip, savoring the simple pleasure of being here with him.

We ate in companionable silence, the occasional brush of our hands or shared smile saying more than words ever could.

When the plates were cleared, Noah glanced at me, a question in his eyes.

“Want a ride back to the pack house?” he offered.

I nodded, appreciating the gesture. “Yeah, that’d be good.”

As we drove back, the weight of the morning’s tension began to lift.

Noah’s presence had a way of grounding me, reminding me of what truly mattered. When we pulled up to the pack house, I turned to him, my hand finding his.

“Thanks for everything,” I said, my voice sincere. “For breakfast, for…everything.”

Noah smiled, leaning in to press a soft kiss to my lips. “Anytime, Jackson.”

As soon as I stepped inside the pack house, Beck nearly collided with me, his face pale and eyes wide with panic.

"Jackson, you need to come with me. Now," he said, his voice urgent.

Without waiting for a response, Beck grabbed my arm and tugged me toward the back of the house.

"What the hell is going on?" I demanded as we hurried down the hallway, my mind already racing to worst-case scenarios.

“It’s Hudson,” Beck said, his words clipped. “He’s picking a fight with Karl.”

I cursed under my breath, the memory of our last encounter with Karl flashing in my mind.

I’d asked Hudson where he had been when Karl taunted us in the cafeteria a few days ago.

It was a jab I shouldn’t have made, one that now seemed to have come back to bite us. But damn it, couldn’t Hudson have better sense or self-control?

Then again, this was Hudson we were talking about.

“Where’s Dad?” I asked, hoping our father could step in and defuse the situation before it spiraled out of control.

“He’s in a meeting with two other alphas in town,” Beck informed me, his steps quickening.

Perfect timing. We reached the back of the pack house just in time to see Hudson standing with two of our pack mates.

They were facing off against Karl and four of his Thornebane wolves.

The tension in the air was palpable, like a coiled spring ready to snap. It was clear they were seconds away from trading blows.

Damn it. How many more fires did I have to put out today? And why the hell wasn’t Adrian reeling in his wolves better?

Hudson spotted us, a smirk curling his lips. “Good, you two are here to even the odds.”

“We’re not here to fight,” I said firmly, stepping between the groups.

I shot Hudson a warning look, hoping he’d take the hint. But Hudson just glowered at me, his pride too bruised to back down.

“You’re the one who keeps telling me to take responsibility,” he snapped.

"Ah, the Silver Crest heirs are at each other's throats again," Karl said, his tone mocking.

His words were like gasoline on an already raging fire, and Hudson’s snarl was instantaneous.

The aggressive energy from both sides surged, crackling like a storm about to break. This wasn’t going to end well, and we all knew it.

“What are we going to do?” Beck asked me, his voice low and tense.

Karl must have overheard him because he sneered, “Planning to run away?”

“Like hell we will,” Hudson growled, his fists clenching.

“What's going on here?” a new voice cut through the tension.

I turned to see Carter, Adrian’s new second, approaching with a calm but authoritative presence.

I didn’t know much about Carter, but Mason and Beck had mentioned he was level-headed and practical, the kind of wolf who could actually keep things from boiling over.

“The future alpha of the Silver Crest pack started it,” Karl said sullenly, sounding like a petulant child.

At the very least, it seemed Karl and the other Thornebane wolves respected Carter’s authority. Carter shot Karl a look that made him shut up instantly.

“Problem?” another voice asked, deeper and more commanding.

I turned to see Cooper Hayes, the alpha of the Pecan Pines pack, approaching with a calm, measured stride.

Despite his calm demeanor, the dominance radiating from him was unmistakable. This was his territory, and he could summon his entire pack with a single call if he needed to.

“It’s all a misunderstanding, alpha,” Carter said, bowing his head in deference. His tone was respectful, but firm. “We’ll handle it.”

Karl began to protest, but another glare from Carter silenced him again.

“Very well,” Cooper said in a measured voice. “Then break this up.”

“Of course,” I said quickly, stepping in as the voice for our pack because Hudson wasn’t saying a damn thing.

I shot Hudson a warning look, silently urging him to stand down.

For a moment, I thought he might push back, but something in Cooper’s gaze must have gotten through to him because he finally took a step back, albeit reluctantly.

The tension in the air began to dissipate, the storm passing without a single blow being exchanged.

I let out a breath I hadn’t realized I was holding, grateful we’d avoided a full-on brawl.

Carter nodded, turning to his wolves. “Let’s go. Now.”

Karl shot one last glare at Hudson but followed Carter without further protest. As the Thornebane wolves retreated, I felt a knot in my chest loosen slightly.

We weren’t out of the woods yet, but at least the immediate danger had passed.

“Thanks,” I said to Cooper, meeting his gaze. “I owe you one.”

Cooper gave me a slight nod, his expression inscrutable. “Keep your brother in check, Jackson. Next time, I might not be so inclined to intervene.”

With that, he turned and walked away, leaving me to face Hudson. Beck stood nearby, his expression a mix of relief and frustration.

“What the hell were you thinking?” I asked Hudson, my voice low but sharp.

Hudson shrugged, looking more defiant than apologetic. “You told me to take responsibility.”

“This isn’t what I meant,” I said, my patience wearing thin. “You could have gotten us all into a fight we didn’t need.”

Hudson opened his mouth to retort, but Beck stepped in, placing a hand on his shoulder. “Come on, let’s just get out of here,” Beck said.

Hudson grumbled but didn’t argue, following Beck back toward the pack house. I stayed behind for a moment, letting the cool morning air calm my racing heart.

Damn it, Hudson. Why did everything have to be a battle with him? And why did I always have to be the one to clean up the mess?