6

JAX

Two weeks. It has been almost two weeks exactly since I hooked up with that girl in Stillwater, and I still can’t get her out of my head.

This hasn’t ever happened to me before. Sure, I’ve had one-night stands with women, and some of them were pretty great- but my thoughts about this one are bordering on obsession.

At first, I thought it was because the anonymity of the whole encounter made it feel more exciting, almost dangerous. But it wasn’t just that. It was her- everything about her. For starters, she was a total knockout; quite possibly the most beautiful woman that I’ve ever had the privilege of seeing up close. Then she had this air of confidence about her- she radiated energy and strength, seemed like the kind of girl who knows what she wants and doesn’t take any shit from anyone. And when the two of us were together… the sexual chemistry was combustible. You can’t fake chemistry like that.

Which is why I have to find her. She said she only wanted one night, but one night with her isn’t nearly enough. I’ve gotta have her. I’ve been bugging Reid about her incessantly, but he swears up and down that he can’t think of anyone in his pack that matches my description. I went back to the Stillwater Tap the following Wednesday hoping I’d run into her again, but she wasn’t there. It’s starting to drive me a little fucking crazy, like I’m chasing a ghost.

The guys can tell I’m distracted. We’re having a meeting to discuss details of forming the reserve squad, and my buddy Theo keeps elbowing me every time my eyes glaze over. I catch an elbow to the ribs for the fifth time, shooting him a sideways glare.

“If you’re up for it, Jax, I think it’d make the most sense,” Gray says, looking over at me from his seat at the head of the conference table.

Shit. I totally missed what he said. I lean forward, pinching the bridge of my nose between my thumb and forefinger and squeezing my eyes shut. “Uhhh… up for what?”

Gray sighs, folding his hands in front of him. “For taking the lead on training the reserve squad recruits. We’ve got about eighty of them signed up and they’re starting next week.”

I open my eyes, nodding slowly. I guess it does make sense for me to take the lead- Gray, Reid, and Brock are Alphas of their own packs, which eats up a lot of their time, and Theo has already taken on more responsibility around here by working with the IT unit and getting the new border security system up and running. Compared to what the other guys have on their plates, I’ve basically been sitting on my ass.

After the close call in Denver a couple weeks ago, we’ve been working to formulate plans to shore up our defenses for a shadow pack attack. Our first actions are adding more staff to our IT unit, since the shadow pack’s attack on Denver involved cyber security, and building a reserve squad to protect the six-pack in the event that most of our trained squad has to go to Denver to aid their pack in fending off a physical attack. The reserve squad won’t live at the complex year-round like the other squad members; they’ll just come back one weekend a month to brush up on combat training. Their initial training will be a little more intense, though.

It won’t be as rough as our summer training camp is for new squad recruits. We really put those kids through the paces, weeding out the best of the best to become permanent squad members. The recruits that signed up for the reserve squad are people that either got cut from their training camp round or have never gone out for the squad before. Either way, they won’t be as skilled as our current members, and we don’t expect them to be- serving on the reserve squad is completely voluntary and with any luck, the reserves won’t ever see battle. We just need to get them trained up enough so that if they do, they can hold their own.

“You’ll have help, of course,” Gray continues, leaning back in his chair. “Fallon, Casey, Adrian, and Logan all volunteered to assist with training, and other squad members will cycle in and out as needed.”

I grunt in affirmation, nodding. “Sure, sounds good.”

Gray narrows his eyes at me, slowly arching a brow. “You sure? You seem a little… preoccupied today.”

Damnit. I hate that he’s calling me out.

“Nah, man, I’m good,” I breathe, leaning my chair back on two legs.

“Don’t even tell me this is about your mystery girl again,” Reid groans, scrubbing a hand over his face.

“Mystery girl?” Theo asks, giving me a little nudge. “There’s a mystery girl?”

“He’s been going on and on about her for weeks,” Reid adds, rolling his eyes.

Theo punches my arm playfully. “Dude, why am I just finding out about this?”

“You’ve been a little preoccupied, yourself,” I shoot back. I quickly realize how salty it sounds and add “not that I blame you for spending time with your mate.”

Oh yeah- the whole Theo dating Gray’s mate’s sister thing? Totally worked out for him. Turns out that Brooke is his fated mate, and Gray is actually thrilled that the two of them are together. Lucky S.O.B.

“Well fill me in,” Theo laughs, nudging me again.

I grin. “I met her in Stillwater. Total smokeshow. We agreed to this completely anonymous hookup where we didn’t even exchange names, but fuck, bro, she was incredible.”

“Is she part of your pack?” Theo asks Reid, who gives a little shake of his head.

“That’s the thing!” I sigh. “Reid says he doesn’t know who she is, she said she wasn’t from there, and I have no idea how to find her, but I’ve gotta see this girl again.”

Gray clears his throat, speaking up. “What was so special about her?” A small smile plays at his lips. Dude’s a hopeless romantic, deep down.

“Fucking everything,” I groan. “Insane body, perfect tits, mouth like a hoover, pussy like…”

“Whoa whoa whoa,” Brock interrupts, holding up his hands. “We get it, dude. She was good in bed.”

“Unreal,” I correct. “Best I ever had.”

“Seriously?” Theo asks, arching a brow. “Ever?”

I nod. “Hands down.”

Theo grins, leaning back in his chair. “Gotta love a girl who’s not shy about giving a blowy,” he laughs, offering me a fist-bump. “Especially if it’s a good one.”

I touch my fist to his, laughing.

“Alright, I think we’re all done here,” Gray sighs, pushing back his chair and rising to stand. “You two can keep discussing Jax’s mystery girl, but the rest of us have pack business to get back to.”

Theo and I both snicker as the other guys get up and exit the conference room. Out of the five of us, Theo and I are probably the most alike. Both of us enjoy casual hookups, and neither of us have much of a filter when it comes to talking about them. We also tend to lead with humor, which the more serious guys like Brock and Reid find irritating.

“I still feel like she’s gotta be from Reid’s pack,” I mumble, watching as Gray, Reid, and Brock head out the door and disappear down the hall.

“You think Reid’s holding out on you?” Theo asks. “After the way you described her, maybe he wants to keep her for himself.” He waggles his eyebrows.

“I wouldn’t put it past him,” I laugh.

Theo shakes his head, chuckling. “Hey, if I wasn’t already mated to the perfect woman, I’d try to snake her from you, too.”

I deliver a playful jab to his bicep, tilting my chair forward to sit on four legs again and scooting it back.

Theo reaches out to touch my arm. “Hey, before you go…”

I’ve got my palms on the arms of the chair, ready to push up to stand, but I pause, looking over at my buddy. “What’s up?”

He blows out a breath, fiddling with the hem of his t-shirt. “So my sister’s coming up to join the IT unit, and she wants to have a dual role on the squad, so she’s gonna be training with the reserve squad recruits to get up to speed.”

I arch a brow. “No shit?”

I knew Theo had a sister, but not anything about her. Certainly not that she’s an IT brainiac. Until recently, Theo has pretty much avoided going home, so I’ve never had the chance to meet his little sis.

“So what, you want me to take it easy on her?” I smirk.

“No, absolutely not,” Theo chuckles. “She’s tough, I have no doubt that she’ll hold her own when it comes to training. Just… since you’re going to be overseeing training, I was hoping you’d keep an eye on her for me, look out for her. You’ve got sisters, would you want them up here with all of these horn-dog squad guys?”

I wrinkle my nose in disgust. “Absolutely not. I get it, bro, I’ve got your back. I’ll look out for her.”

He gives me a little nod. “Great, thanks man.” He starts to stand up out of his chair and I follow suit.

“The same goes for you, too,” he adds, shooting me a warning look once we’re both on our feet. “Quinn just got out of a relationship, she’s fragile right now, and when I say I don’t want anyone sniffing around her, I mean anyone.”

I let out a laugh, pushing my chair in and leaning toward Theo. “Oh c’mon, dude, I wouldn’t try to nail your sister. It’s bro code. You know me better than that.”

The corners of Theo’s mouth tip up into a grin. “Yeah, I know. I just have to say it.”

He claps me on the shoulder, steering me toward the door of the conference room.

“So tell me more about this mystery girl…”