Page 73 of Alpha Jax

Shit,he’sright. I never considered that side of things, but he’s absolutely right. This goes beyond me being a terrible friend or breaking bro code- as the future Alpha of the Westfield pack, all of my actions have potential consequences. I can’t be responsible for compromising our position in the six-pack alliance because I couldn’t keep it in my pants.

“You two are going to have to work together for a long time,” Reid sighs, his tone reminding me of a stern father. “Is it really worth it to put everything on the line over a girl?”

I don’t need to contemplate that question- the answer has always been yes. Quinn’s worth it. She’s worth risking everything.

As if he can read my mind, Reid claps me on the shoulder, offering me a wry smile. “If it is, then tell him, don’t let him find out on his own. Honestly, it’s a miracle he hasn’t already, with how subtle you two have been. You’re lucky he’s been in a love bubble with his new mate and is clueless to the world around him these days.” He leans in, dropping his voice a little lower. “He’ll be mad at first, but he’ll get over it eventually and be glad you manned up and came to him with it. And if it’s not worth all that, then like I said, end it now.”

I nod slowly, still processing his words. As difficult as they are to hear, he isn’t wrong- it was foolish to think that Quinn and I could keep this secret forever and nobody would get hurt. It may have started out as fun and games, but we both know it has since evolved into something different. Something real. And if we try to go on pretending that it hasn’t, we’ll only be fooling ourselves.

Reid takes a step back, giving me a little nod. He’s a good friend, coming to me like this, trying to talk some sense into me. Keeping my secret even though it’s bound to cause a rift among our group. “Think about what I said,” he adds, backing toward the complex. “It’s up to you, but I know you’ll do the right thing.”

CHAPTER THIRTY-SIX

Quinn

“Maybe it’s time we tell Theo about us.”

I stare at Jax, blinking.Did I just hear him correctly?This is certainly not what I was expecting when he asked me to meet him in the indoor arena tonight. I figured it was to get a little frisky, do it somewhere new. Hell, I even changed into a cute top and freshened up my makeup for this. After I arrived and he locked the door behind me, my heart started pounding in anticipation. And then he opened that beautiful mouth of his and killed the mood.

Alarm bells go off in my head. Jax can’t realize what he’s asking-can he?Telling Theo would effectively end things between us; he’d lose his shit. If and when he ever forgave Jax, he’d never allow us to continue doing what we’ve been doing. And as for me- my brother and I are just building a relationship; would he forgive me for lying to him and sneaking around with his friend behind his back?

“What? No.” I scowl, shaking my head. “No way.”

Jax draws a breath, running a hand through his dark blonde hair as he takes a step closer to me. “Other people are starting to catch on, Quinn. It’ll be better coming from us than him figuring it out on his own.”

This is totally out of left field. Jax has always been mister ‘bro code’, and suddenly he’s ready to come clean that he broke it?No way. This has boy-scout Reid writtenallover it.

I shake my head again, more adamantly this time. “No, I’m not doing it. We agreed that he’d never know, Jaxon!”

I fold my arms over my chest, watching Jax intently. Those pale blue eyes drift to the ground, his square jaw ticks.

“Things were different then.”

“What was different?” I demand. “He was stillmybrother, he was stillyourfriend. Nothing has changed.”

Jax sighs, his eyes meeting mine. “I’m getting real fucking sick of sneaking around. Sick of lying to my friend…”

“You think I’m not? I almost threw up today when he said he heard us fucking last night.” I shudder at the memory- I could’ve gone my whole life without knowing that my brother heard what I sound like in the throes of passion. If only I’d sat somewhere else for lunch today so I didn’t have to be privy to that conversation. “What do you think he’d do if he knew that was me in your room, huh?”

Jax snaps his mouth shut. I got him with that one.

I press further. “C’mon, what would you do if the roles were reversed, if Theo got with one of your sisters?”

Jax visibly stiffens, his jaw twitching. Without missing a beat, he says, “I’d fucking murder him.”

I point a finger in his direction. “Exactly. You just proved my point.”

“But Quinn…”

I shake my head again. “No. Telling him is off the table.”

Jax blows out a breath, still visibly agitated. Wait a second- is he trying to scare me off by suggesting we tell Theo? He has to know I’d never agree, unless there was a compelling reason behind it. So what isn’t he saying? Is he trying to pull the plug on our arrangement without actually saying it?

Iknewthings changed between us last night. He felt it too, and I’ll bet he’s getting cold feet. I’ll bet he’s sensed a shift in me, that I’m becoming emotionally invested- and I guess I don’t blame him for wanting to run in the other direction. We agreed that we’d keep this thing between us light and fun and uncomplicated. This was never supposed to be a love story.

I move toward Jax, reaching out to touch his face. “Can’t we just forget about Theo?” I ask softly, searching his eyes for some hint as to where his head’s at. Desperately wishing we could just hit rewind on this whole conversation and go back to the way things were.

I can’t read him. Those pale eyes are clouded with uncertainty, a storm of conflict. There’s only one way I know how to smooth things over, to make things better again…

---