Chapter Thirteen

Chapter Thirteen


THE DAM BROKE

GABRIELLA'S POV

We brought Jax up to his room.

Benson had called in another healer after the first one refused to even cross the threshold. She’d taken one look at Jax. He was still bloody, unconscious, and his veins kept darkening from the Servinium. She turned right around, saying she wasn’t going to throw her life away patching up a feral Alpha that had almost killed her. 

“He’s too far gone,” she had said. “You want miracles, ask the Moon goddess.”

But this one stayed. A younger woman. She was quiet and sharp-eyed. She didn’t hesitate. She started to set up IV bags and drips like she’d done it a thousand times. I didn’t even ask her name.

I just sat by Jax’s side, my fingers laced in his, watching the steady rhythm of fluid entering into his skin.

“He’ll need as many of these as he can take,” she murmured. “Servinium doesn’t just poison. It transforms. It eats away at the wolf first, then the man.”

She left not long after, saying she’d be back in an hour to check vitals again. And then it was just us.

Jax and me.

And Jack, leaning against the counter in the corner of the room, arms crossed, watching us quietly. 

I sat beside Jax’s bed. The room smelled sterile, like alcohol and something slightly bitter. Machines beeped softly beside us.  Yes, they brought machines too. I reached out, brushing a lock of hair off his forehead. His skin was warm, but not feverish anymore. The healer had done something right.

I missed him.

The real Jax, not this version lying still and too quiet. I missed his voice, the way it always dropped a little when he was being serious. I missed how his eyes darkened when he was thinking about something too big to say. I missed him pulling me into his space like I was gravity even though at haven't even spent much time because of all these. 

“You know,” Jack said, breaking the silence. His voice was lazy, almost bored, but I wasn’t fooled. “You haven’t even looked at me since we got here.”

I blinked, pulling my hand back. “I’ve been busy. I'm tired, I'm just…” I sigh, “I've been trying to put myself right on track.”

“Right.” He pushed off the counter, unfolding his arms. “Busy sitting here for the last two hours holding his hand.”

My head snapped up, my brows furrowing in confusion. “What’s your problem?”

He crossed the room in a few strides. “My problem is you acting like I don’t exist.”

“I didn’t say that. What does that even mean?”

“You didn’t have to. You’ve said enough by the way you keep pretending this bond isn’t real.”

Oh, he was talking about the bond. 

I stood. “Jack, this isn’t the time—”

“Isn’t it?” His voice was sharp, but underneath it, I sensed his hurt. “You’re his mate. Fine. I get that. But you’re mine too. Or did you forget? Don't you think I deserve your affection too? Do you think the bond doesn't hurt when you're hurt because of him or when you're in pain?”

I didn’t answer. I couldn’t. Because I hadn’t forgotten. Not for a second. Jack’s pull on me was quieter, but it was no less potent. It was steadier, like a pulse I couldn’t shut out. But Jax? Jax burned like wildfire. He always had. It was intense. It was what I craved. 

Jack took another step forward. “Do you even feel it? Or am I just imagining everything?”

I didn't respond. I only stared straight ahead, my jaw clenching. 

His eyes darkened at my lack of response.

“You fucking do.  You just won't admit it.”

“Of course I feel it!” I yelled.

His hands curled into fists. “It hurts, Gabriella,” he muttered, laughing hysterically, “Fuck, it hurts bad. Being tied to someone who won’t even look at me.”

I stepped toward him, angry now. “Don’t make this about you.”

“Why not? You think I’m not bleeding too?” he snapped. “You think this doesn’t kill me? Watching you sit here with him, knowing you’ll never look at me like that?”

“That’s not true.”

He barked a laugh. “Isn’t it? Tell me something, then. If it were me in that bed, would you be here like this? Would you be whispering for me to come back to you?”

I hesitated.

That was all it took.

Jack’s expression crumpled for a breath, just a flicker of pain. “Yeah. That’s what I thought.”

He turned, like he was going to leave, but my hand shot out and caught his wrist. I don’t know why I did it. Instinct. Bond. Guilt. All of it, maybe.

“Don’t walk away from me,” I whispered.

He froze. He looked back at me. “You don’t get to pull me back just to throw me away.”

“I’m not trying to.”

“You are,” he said, voice rough. “You keep doing this. You keep treating me like a shadow you didn’t ask for.”

“I didn’t ask for any of this!” I snapped. “Not you. Not Jax. Not this damn war. I didn’t ask to be mated to two Alpha brothers and expected to just... deal with it!”

Silence fell and at that moment,  I could feel my chest heaving.

Jack’s eyes locked on mine. “And yet here we are. In this situation.”

I didn’t let go of his wrist and he didn’t bother pulling away.

“You think I like this?” he continued, quieter now. “You think I don’t hate how complicated it is? How much it messes with my head? How much being this close to you and knowing I’ll never come first hurt?”

“Jack...”

His hand reached up, hovered near my face. “I feel you, Gabriella. Every second. And it’s not just a bond. It’s real. I want you. And not just because the moon says I should.”

“I can’t—”

“I don’t want you to pick,” he said. “I just want to matter,” he muttered, all his armour of this cold arrogant man slipping for a film blown minute. 

I swallowed hard. “You do matter…”

He stepped closer. His hand slid into my hair, gently at first, like he wasn’t sure if I’d stop him.

I didn’t, instead, I unconsciously leaned into his touch. 

“I hate him a little,” Jack murmured. “Because he got you first. Because you look at him like he hung the stars. And I’m here... just trying to catch your eyes.”

My breath caught in my throat and before I could say anything, he suddenly, something cracked. The heat between us snapped taut, frayed nerves unraveling all at once.

And he kissed me hard.

It wasn’t soft. It wasn’t sweet.

It was wild and angry and full of everything he hadn’t said. His hands tangled in my hair, pulling me in like he couldn’t get close enough. My back hit the wall and I gasped, but he didn’t stop. His mouth claimed mine with a hunger that felt like he was breaking.

I didn’t move or pull away.

My fingers gripped his shirt, holding on like I was scared of what I’d feel if I let go.

It was wrong. We both knew it… I tasted frustration, longing, and something that might’ve been grief.

At that moment, I wasn’t thinking about Jax.

I wasn’t thinking about right or wrong. I just needed this.

I was only thinking about Jack. And the fire in his touch. And the way my name might sound if he whispered it, broken, in the dark.

Then a low growl from the side snapped me back to reality.