Jax’s Return

Jax’s Return
The scent of warm rose water curled through the air, wrapping around Tessa like a delicate veil as she sank deeper into the tub. The warmth seeped into her muscles, easing the tension of a long day, and for a rare moment, she let herself breathe. 

Steam rose in lazy tendrils, blurring the edges of the bathroom mirror. She traced absentminded patterns against the water’s surface, her thoughts drifting as she swirled it around her fingertips. 

Lately, she'd been thinking more about Ash—not just about what they had now, but about what might come next. 

Would she ever meet more of his friends? He spoke about them sometimes, in bits and pieces, but she had never asked for more details. Maybe it was time. 

And what about her own life? Would Ash ever meet her mom? The thought unsettled her, not because she didn’t want them to meet, but because she wasn't sure how that conversation would go. 

Her gaze flickered to her phone resting on the table beside her, the screen glowing softly with an unread message. 

Ash: Thinking about me?

A small smirk tugged at her lips. 

Tessa: I was, actually. But not in the way you think.

She watched the screen for a moment, waiting for his reply, fingers hovering. But instead of Ash’s name, another one caught her eye. 

Jax. 

Her chest tightened slightly. Things had been complicated between them. There was distance, unspoken tension—words never said. 
Still, she hesitated only a moment longer before pressing the call button. 

One ring. Two. 
Voicemail. 

The weight in her chest deepened. She sighed, tilting her head back against the tub’s edge. Maybe he was busy. Maybe he didn’t want to talk. 

She closed her eyes briefly, pushing the thoughts aside, before finally peeling herself away from the water. The warmth clung to her skin as she wrapped a towel around herself and stepped onto the cool tiles. 

Her apartment was quiet, the kind of stillness that felt both comforting and lonely all at once. She slipped into an oversized sweater and soft lounge pants, toweling off her damp hair as she padded into the living room. 

A half-empty glass of wine sat on the coffee table, next to an open bottle, its deep red color gleaming in the dim light. She settled onto the couch, tucking herself beneath a blanket, flicking on the TV to some mindless reality show—the kind where people argued over things that didn’t matter. 

It was relaxing, in the way that only nonsense television could be. 

She took a sip of wine, stretching out her legs, absentmindedly painting her nails as the voices from the screen blurred into background noise. She wasn’t really paying attention, just letting the world fade a little, wrapping herself in the comfort of routine. 

But the feeling didn’t last. 

A sharp sound interrupted the quiet. 
She stilled, heart skipping a beat, ears straining. 

Something was wrong. 
A noise outside. 

Faint, barely noticeable over the quiet hum of the night. 

Tessa sat up, ears straining. At first, it was easy to ignore, but then—a voice. 

She frowned, the water suddenly feeling heavier against her skin. A tension she couldn’t explain crept into her limbs as she climbed out, quickly wrapping herself in a towel, moving toward the window. 

Through the dim glow of streetlamps, she saw two figures locked in a struggle. 

Her stomach twisted. 

Ash. 
And someone else. 

She moved before thinking, slipping into clothes as quickly as possible and stepping outside, the cool night air biting against her damp skin. 

As she got closer, the shadows shifted, revealing the other person. 

Wyatt. 

"Stop!" she called out, but neither listened. 

The fight was messy—quick, calculated movements, Ash barely holding his ground. Wyatt was relentless. 

Tessa’s pulse pounded as she moved between them, voice sharp. "Enough!"

Breathless silence followed. 

Wyatt wiped the corner of his mouth, exhaling a dry chuckle. "You do know your boyfriend’s a vampire, right?"

Ash scoffed, rolling his eyes. "And he’s a hunter. Should I be concerned?" 

Tessa exhaled, shaking her head. "I know what both of you are." 

Wyatt raised an eyebrow. "And that doesn’t bother you?"

Her response was firm. "What bothers me is how you two nearly killed each other over it."

Ash’s gaze flickered between them, something unreadable in his eyes. "Wait… You two know each other?"

Wyatt shrugged. "That wasn’t exactly a secret."

Ash frowned. "Could’ve fooled me."

The realization settled awkwardly—Wyatt watching Tessa, Tessa watching Ash, Ash watching Wyatt. 

And in the midst of it all, Jax. 
He had been standing there. Watching. Listening. 

His presence was undeniable, though his expression revealed nothing. 

Tessa felt her chest tighten. 

Before she could speak, before she could take a step toward him— 

He turned.

And walked away. Her breath hitched, but she didn’t stop him. 

Jax pulled out his phone, pressed a single contact. Lucas picked up instantly. 

Jax’s voice was steady, unreadable. 

"We need to talk."