Chapter 34

JAX

"Where's Isabella?" I ask Knox as he takes his place around the table.

"She's out getting some air."

"And you didn't go with her?" I ask him frustrated.

He sighs. "No I didn't go with her. She wanted to get some fresh air on her own for a while and I respected her decision."

"Stop arguing...both of you." Mom interrupts. "Jackson you need to give your mate a break and understand that your brothers have a say in this relationship too." She shakes her head before mumbling. "Poor thing doesn't know what's in store for her with those three."

"Hey, I heard that." I reply vexed.

"What's the big deal? Change your behavior and I won't have any more remarks to make." Knox stifles a laugh. "You're not blameless either. Wait a couple of minutes and if she hasn't come back, meet her outside and offer her your jacket-it's about to get chilly."

"Yes, Mom." He replies.

As soon as I get up from my chair I'm cornered by one of our human resources staff. We exchange a few words and other employees come to talk to me as soon as another leaves. Normally I don't mind giving them my time, but my mind is preoccupied with something else, or rather someone else. When I look towards our table, Mum is in the middle of a discussion with Alex and Knox is beside the table talking to two customers.

I guess this means it's up to me to be a knight in shining armor and join Bella outside.

I make my way out of the greenhouse, taking care to dodge the people trying to stop me? I look for Isabella with my regrad and end up finding her with Asher and two other men I don't recognize from there. From here, they look like a real couple, he's holding her by the waist. They chat and laugh, Asher placing a kiss on the top of her head.

Will we be able to go on living our lives as we are once we've made our relationship with her official? Our non-werewolf employees, customers and partners are bound to judge us for it. My brothers and I haven't spoken yet, but I think we'll have to confine ourselves to our activities with our peers.

My brother and our mate turn around and approach me.

"Hey Bella, it's getting chilly. Would you like my jacket?"

"Thanks." She answers and I take off my jacket and place it on her shoulders.

"We should go back inside", I say. "Mom's alone with Alex. We should save him."

"I confirm." Asher tells me.

"Don't you feel like you're exaggerating? She's not that bad." She says before walking past us to get inside.

We look at each other and raise our eyebrows. Well, I wasn't expecting that but I'm really proud of her for standing up for him. Our mother was often criticized for her tactlessness and outspokenness. Our parents weren't true mates, so some people didn't understand how my father, who was a rather cold and distant descendant of the king, could be with a woman who was his opposite.

We enter the room, just after Isabella, and I'm greeted by curious looks from our collaborators.

"How are we going to do this?" I ask aloud and Asher turns his head, eyebrows furrowed.

"You're going to have to be a little more precise because I'm not a mind reader."

"I meant with Isabella. People probably aren't going to accept the fact that we're in a relationship with the me woman."

"You know very well that I don't give a damn what people think. And if we become kings I think it will be complicated to reconcile our activities here and there."

"Are you planning to get rid of Black Enterprise?"

"Are you kidding? No, just put someone I trust in charge, but we'd still be the ones calling the shots." He sighs. "Look, this isn't the time or place to talk about this, but we'll talk about it all soon with Knox."

You'd think he'd already thought of everything.

ISABELLA

I had a great time dancing with Asher, Jax, Knox and Alex, who also had a great time. He left over an hour ago in charming company. He's one of Black Enterprise's employees who works in the accounts department, who'd have thought?

In the back of the black sedan, I close my eyes and rest my head on Asher's shoulder. Classical music fills the cabin and I feel incredibly soothed.

"Thank you for this evening." I tell him softly.

"Thanks to you for coming. We were proud to share this with you and now everyone knows how much you mean to us."

"Mark your territory."

"If I could mark you." I lift my head, he pushes my hair to access my neck and strokes it with his fingertips.

"We mark by... biting?"

"Yes." He responds by nodding. "But the pain disappears almost immediately, then the two people are connected for life. You feel each other's feelings, each other's lack. You're human so it would stop there."

"I wouldn't become a werewolf?"

"No. You can't become one, you're born that way."

"And... if one day... we have a child? That's an assumption."

"Well, I suppose it would be 50/50."

I nod and rest my head on his shoulder. I catch myself thinking about possible offspring. I'd never considered it aevc Dom, I had a doubt once but when I finally got my period I was relieved. I feel so stupid not to have left him before. Especially now that I know what to expect.

I have very strong feelings for them, even though I haven't known them that long.

I want to spend the night with him but I don't know how the others would react or if I'm really ready. All three of them are really hot, whereas I'm... on I know I tend to devalue myself, but objectively speaking I don't think I fit into the hot category.