Chapter 111
I woke the next morning to the sound of birds chirping outside my window. The packhouse felt quieter now, the hum of the previous night’s celebrations replaced by a calm stillness. As I stretched, my thoughts lingered on the twins. Their small hands, their innocent giggles—they’d made me feel something I hadn’t felt in years.
But the Alpha... Jake.
He was a puzzle I couldn’t piece together. His coldness was a shield, a barrier so firmly in place it felt like a tangible wall between us. I wasn’t naive. Losing his mate must’ve broken him in ways I couldn’t fathom, but his indifference toward me stung more than I cared to admit.
I needed coffee. Badly.
Sliding out of bed, I threw on a hoodie and leggings and made my way downstairs. The kitchen in the packhouse was massive, with sleek countertops and polished appliances that gleamed in the sunlight streaming through the windows. I figured I’d sneak in, grab my coffee, and retreat back to my room unnoticed.
But, of course, nothing ever goes as planned.
The moment I rounded the corner, I froze. Jake stood by the counter, his broad shoulders hunched slightly as he sipped from a steaming mug. He wore a black T-shirt and dark jeans, his messy hair still damp from a shower.
My breath hitched. I hadn’t expected to see him here.
He glanced up, and our eyes met. For a second, neither of us moved.
“Luna,” he greeted, his voice low and curt.
“Alpha,” I replied, trying to keep my tone neutral.
We stood there in awkward silence, the air between us thick with tension. I could feel his gaze on me, assessing, and it made me hyper-aware of every movement I made.
“I... I didn’t think anyone would be in here,” I mumbled, heading toward the coffee maker.
“It’s a kitchen,” he said simply, taking another sip of his coffee.
I bit back a retort. Of course, it was a kitchen. What a stupid thing to say.
I busied myself with the coffee machine, my hands fumbling more than once as I poured the grounds and water. My mind raced with questions I didn’t dare ask. Did he always come down here? Did he feel as awkward around me as I did around him?
The silence stretched on, unbearable. Finally, I couldn’t take it anymore. “About last night...”
He raised an eyebrow, waiting.
“I wasn’t trying to overstep,” I said quickly. “With the twins, I mean. I just... I heard them crying, and I thought I could help.”
His expression didn’t change, but I noticed the slight tightening of his jaw. “They stopped crying when you held them.”
“Yes,” I said, hesitating. “It was strange, but—”
“Strange doesn’t cover it,” he interrupted. “They’ve never calmed like that for anyone else. Not even Sophie.”
I blinked, surprised by his honesty. “Oh.”
Another awkward silence fell between us. Jake set his mug down and crossed his arms, leaning back against the counter.
“Why do you think that is?” he asked, his tone almost accusatory.
I swallowed hard, unsure of how to respond. “I don’t know. I just feel... connected to them, I guess.”
His gray eyes narrowed, scrutinizing me. “Connected.”
“Yes.”
He didn’t say anything, but the weight of his gaze made me want to shrink into myself.
“You don’t trust me,” I blurted out before I could stop myself.
His eyes flickered with something—surprise, maybe—but it was gone as quickly as it came. “I don’t know you,” he said bluntly.
“And you haven’t tried to,” I shot back, my frustration bubbling to the surface.
Jake straightened, his posture rigid. “Because I didn’t ask for this.”
Neither did I, I wanted to say, but the words caught in my throat. Instead, I stared at him, my heart pounding.
“I know you didn’t,” I said softly. “But I’m here now, and I’m not going anywhere. Whether you like it or not.”
His lips pressed into a thin line, and for a moment, I thought he was going to argue. But then he sighed, running a hand through his hair.
“I’m not trying to make this harder than it already is,” he said quietly. “But this... arrangement isn’t easy for me.”
“Do you think it’s easy for me?” I countered, my voice shaking. “Do you think I wanted to be uprooted from my life and thrown into this role I’m not ready for?”
Jake’s expression softened, just a fraction. “No,” he admitted. “I don’t.”
We stood there, the tension between us ebbing slightly as our honesty hung in the air.
The sound of tiny giggles broke the moment. I turned to see Sophie entering the kitchen, the twins in tow. Lily and Logan both lit up when they saw me, their chubby little arms reaching out as Sophie approached.
“Well, good morning,” she said cheerfully. “Looks like these two already have a favorite.”
I couldn’t help but smile as I took Lily into my arms. She nuzzled against me, her soft hair tickling my cheek. Logan grabbed at my hoodie, his toothless grin melting my heart.
Jake watched us, his expression unreadable.
“They really do adore you,” Sophie said, glancing between me and the Alpha. “It’s almost... uncanny.”
Jake didn’t respond, but his gaze lingered on the twins for a moment before he turned away.
“I have work to do,” he said abruptly, grabbing his mug and heading for the door.
“Jake,” Sophie called after him, her tone scolding.
He paused but didn’t turn around.
“Aren’t you forgetting something?” she asked, gesturing toward the twins.
His shoulders tensed, but he didn’t respond. Instead, he left without another word.
Sophie sighed, shaking her head. “He’s impossible sometimes.”
I shifted Lily in my arms, unsure of what to say. “Does he... does he spend time with them?”
“Not as much as he should,” Sophie admitted, her smile fading. “It’s hard for him. They remind him too much of their mother.”
I nodded, my heart aching for the twins. “I wish I could help.”
Sophie smiled, her warmth returning. “You already are. They’re happy with you, Ayla. That’s more than I’ve seen in a long time.”
Her words comforted me, but they also added to the weight I felt on my shoulders. I wanted to be there for the twins, but the strained dynamic with Jake made everything so much more complicated.
“I’ll take them back to their room,” Sophie said, reaching for Logan. “But maybe you should talk to him.”
“Jake?” I asked, startled.
She nodded. “He’s not as unfeeling as he seems. He just... needs time.”
I wasn’t sure what Sophie expected me to say to him, but I knew she was right. If I was going to find my place here, I couldn’t avoid him forever.
\---
Later that afternoon, I found Jake in his office. The door was slightly open, and I hesitated before knocking softly.
“Come in,” he called, his voice gruff.
I stepped inside, my palms sweaty. Jake sat behind a large wooden desk, papers spread out in front of him. He looked up, his brow furrowing when he saw me.
“Ayla,” he said, surprised. “What do you need?”
I took a deep breath, steeling myself. “I just wanted to talk.”
He leaned back in his chair, crossing his arms. “About what?”
“About us,” I said, my voice steady despite my nerves. “About how we’re supposed to make this work.”
Jake sighed, running a hand over his face. “I don’t know if we can.”
“We have to try,” I insisted. “For the pack. For the twins.”
At the mention of the twins, his expression softened slightly. “They deserve stability,” he admitted.
“Then let’s give it to them,” I said. “We don’t have to like each other, but we can at least try to get along.”
Jake studied me for a long moment, his gray eyes searching mine. Finally, he nodded.
“Okay,” he said. “We’ll try.”
It wasn’t much, but it was a start. And for now, that was enough.
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