Chapter 187
Jake’s thumb brushed against my cheek, slow and deliberate, as if memorizing the feel of my skin beneath his touch. My breath caught, my chest tightening with emotions I wasn’t ready to name.
I could feel his warmth, his presence surrounding me, and for once, he wasn’t pulling away. He wasn’t running.
"Jake…" My voice came out softer than I intended, almost a whisper, as I met his eyes.
He held my gaze, his expression unreadable, but I saw the battle waging inside him. The hesitation. The need. The conflict.
For the first time, it felt like he was allowing himself to just be here with me, in this moment, without the weight of his past dragging him back.
His fingers tightened slightly on my jaw, his body impossibly close to mine. "You make it hard to stay away."
A shiver ran down my spine. "Then don’t."
Something in his expression shifted, something raw and vulnerable flickering in his eyes before he exhaled heavily. "You don’t know what you’re asking for."
"Yes, I do." My hand came up, hesitantly pressing against his chest, feeling the steady beat of his heart beneath my palm. "I’m not asking for promises or for you to be anything other than who you are. I just…" I swallowed hard, my fingers curling slightly against his shirt. "I just want you to stop pushing me away when we both know this is real."
His jaw clenched. "Ayla—"
"Jake." I stepped closer, tilting my head up. "Please."
For a long moment, he didn’t move. He just stood there, breathing heavily, staring at me like I was something he didn’t quite know how to handle.
Then, with a low curse, his lips crashed against mine.
It wasn’t soft or hesitant—it was desperate, almost frustrated. Like he had been fighting this for too long and finally snapped.
I gasped against his mouth, my hands fisting his shirt as his arms wrapped around me, pulling me flush against him. The warmth of his body, the strength in his hold—it was overwhelming, intoxicating.
His fingers tangled in my hair as he deepened the kiss, his other hand gripping my waist, anchoring me to him. My mind went blank, lost in the feel of him, the way his lips moved against mine, the way his body molded so perfectly to mine.
When we finally broke apart, both of us were breathing heavily, our foreheads pressed together.
I searched his face, my heart hammering in my chest. "Still think you can stay away?"
He let out a breathless chuckle, shaking his head. "Not a chance in hell."
A small, triumphant smile tugged at my lips, but before I could say anything else, a knock on the door made us both tense.
Jake let out a low growl, clearly annoyed at the interruption.
"Ayla, are you alive in there, or has the Alpha eaten you whole?" Sophie’s voice was laced with amusement.
I groaned, pressing my face into Jake’s chest while he smirked against my hair.
"She’s fine," he called out, his voice still slightly rough.
Sophie let out a dramatic sigh. "I don’t believe you, but fine. Just don’t forget we have an actual pack meeting soon."
I pulled back, raising an eyebrow at him. "Pack meeting?"
Jake sighed, running a hand through his hair. "Yeah. We need to talk about the security situation and figure out who’s behind what happened with the twins."
Reality hit me like a bucket of cold water. I had been so caught up in this moment with him that I almost forgot about the real danger lurking in the shadows.
I nodded. "Okay. We should go, then."
He studied me for a second before leaning in, pressing one last lingering kiss to my forehead.
"Let’s go."
The pack meeting was held in the large common hall, filled with warriors, council members, and a few trusted advisors. The moment we entered, all eyes turned to us.
Whispers immediately started, and I could feel the weight of their stares. It wasn’t just because of what happened with the twins—it was because of me and Jake, the obvious change in the way we stood close together.
I stiffened slightly, but Jake placed a firm hand on my lower back, guiding me forward.
"Ignore them," he murmured.
Easier said than done.
We took our seats at the front, and soon, the room settled as the meeting began.
One of the senior warriors, Markus, stood. "We’ve done a full investigation into the guard who was drugged during the attack. Someone tampered with his drink hours before the shift change."
Murmurs filled the room.
"Did we figure out who did it?" Jake’s voice was sharp.
Markus shook his head. "Whoever it was covered their tracks well. But we know one thing for certain—the attack wasn’t random. Someone wants the twins."
A chill ran down my spine. I already knew that, but hearing it confirmed again made it feel more real.
"Why?" Sophie asked, leaning forward. "What do they want with two innocent babies?"
Silence stretched for a moment before Fatima spoke. "Because they’re special."
All eyes turned to her.
Jake frowned. "What do you mean?"
Fatima hesitated, glancing at me before sighing. "Ayla told us about what she saw. About Lily making the bubbles float."
I tensed. I had told Sophie and Fatima in confidence, but now the entire room was about to hear it. I was actually very disappointed in Fatima for breaking my trust but at the same time I was glad Jake was actually paying more attention now. He wasn't brushing the matter off.
His jaw tightened. "And you think that’s why they’re being targeted by everyone? These people they could all have different reasons some just to get at me"
"I don’t think," I said firmly. "I know."
The room erupted into chaos, voices overlapping as everyone tried to make sense of it.
Jake stood abruptly, his aura silencing everyone. "Enough."
He turned to me, his expression unreadable. "If what you’re saying is true, then we have to be even more careful. We need to find out who’s behind this before they try again."
Markus nodded. "Understood, Alpha."
The meeting continued, but my mind was elsewhere. I knew Jake still didn’t fully believe in my visions, but at least he was taking this seriously.
And for now, that was enough.
Later that night, I sat by the twins’ cribs, watching them sleep.
Lily let out a tiny sigh in her sleep, and Logan stirred slightly before settling again. My heart swelled with love for them.
"You’re amazing with them."
I jumped slightly, turning to see Jake leaning against the doorway, arms crossed.
"You scared me," I muttered, placing a hand over my chest.
He smirked but stepped inside, moving closer. "I mean it. They feel safe with you."
I shrugged, looking back at the twins. "They are safe with me."
He smiled ... genuinely smiled this time, and it made my heart flatter.
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