Page 91 of Wild Games

Through the window, I see Raven approaching, his expression dark with intent. He's probably been looking for me since the announcement, ready to make one last play, but Zane spots him too.

"Raven," he calls out sharply through the open door. "Get the car loaded. We leave in ten minutes."

Raven stops. "But I need to…"

Jax growls loudly, making sure Raven knows he’s there.

"Now." The authority in Zane's voice could cut steel. "Unless you'd prefer I include your behaviour in my official report? The inappropriate advances toward a colleague? The deliberate provocation of an unmated male?"

Raven's face goes pale. He shoots one last glare our way, but obeys, grabbing boxes left in the hallway with poor grace before stomping toward the parking area.

“Jane left immediately after the pack run. You’d think he’d have more important things on his mind,” Zane mutters.

Jax is still visibly enraged at Raven’s presence and I squeeze his hand, trying to get him to calm down before Zane rescinds his decision not to require an assessment of Jax’s wolf.

“Not completely stable then,” Zane quips, taking in Jax’s protective stance. “But I don’t blame you. Not after how he behaved.”

Zane drags a hand over his face. "My father won’t be returning as alpha, even if he recovers. Despite the fact he needs to be punished, he… he’ll never be the same wolf again. I’ll take a leave of absence to help sort out the pack and whatever happens next, but contact me if you need anything."

For the first time since everything happened, I see a crack in his professional armour. Just a flicker of grief in his eyes before it's locked away again.

"I'm sorry," Jax says quietly.

Zane nods once, accepting the apology without elaborating. "Take care of each other. Build something good with Kain. Make the most of this second chance. Not everyone gets one."

He crosses to the door and turns back with a grim smile. "And try to avoid choking any more of my staff when they come to retrieve the stone from the bottom of the lake. The paperwork is a nightmare."

The unexpected humour catches me off guard.

"Zane," I call as he heads for the door. "Thank you."

Through the window, we watch him supervise the loading of the car. Every movement is efficient and controlled.

Lynn appears next to him and touches his arm gently, looking up at Zane's who stands frozen to the spot, staring down at her. She starts to walk away, but at the last moment, she turns back, and wraps her arms around his waist. Something passes between them as they stand there, and his hands come up briefly to wrap around her before, with one last deep breath, they part.

As he steps back, Lynn gives a small shrug and a sad shake of her head, then disappears again into crowds moving toward the distant sounds of celebration. There's music and laughter, carrying on the evening air, and a party for the winners that we should really attend.

But suddenly, the air is thick with tension.

Here, it's just us.

And there’s nothing holding us back anymore. We can be together without fear of separation.

Jax’s lips curl up into a dangerous smile as he crowds me toward the door, walking me out of Dean’s office, backward, toward the basement.

“Come here,” he demands, but I shake my head playfully, keeping just out of his reach, as he tries to pull me to him.

His nostrils flare as frustration colours his desire. “You’re mine, Camille. All mine. And I want my mate.”

I quirk an eyebrow, voice dropping to that tone I know drives him crazy. "We're not mated yet, Jax."

His eyes darken immediately, pupils dilating, as a low growl rumbles in his chest.

“Don’t like that?” I step closer, trailing one finger down his chest. "What are you going to do about it?"

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JAX