Chapter 0312

"Ch, come on,” Jackson says, keeping his spot on the window seat and spreading out his hands, the seriousness of his gesture ruined a bit by the

fact that he's holding a raspberry pastry. "Do any of you honestly think that my presence at the Grant family home is going to help anything today?”

“It's going to help Ariel,” Jesse says, eyebrows raised, pointing at me. My own eyebrows go up because...I mean, is it?

“Ariel can handle herself,” Jackson sighs, rolling his eyes a little bit and dropping his hands to his knees. I mean, I get being over-protective in the

Academy where people are trying to beat the shit out of her —*

“You included,” Jesse says, crossing his arms and glaring at my mate.

Jackson just returns his glare and keeps going. “But, Ariel is smart and capable — she doesn't need her big brute mate coming along when she’s got

her big brute brother and big brute cousin at her side. Besides, you know my being there is just going to set Luca off. It's not worth it.

I beam a little at my mate, because even if he is declining to come and defend my honor, he's doing it because he thinks that I'm perfectly capable of

defending myself. And there's something really nice in that — in Jackson's utter faith in me.

I send a grateful, warm little pulse down our bond, letting him know that I love that he sees me that way, and Jackson turns to give me a little wink

before returning his gaze to Rafe and Jesse.

“Nah, I think he's right,” Rafe says, turning to Jesse. "Jackson's great backup, and he's on Ari's side, but in this case...it might be toc much backup

Showing up to a knife fight with a rocket launcher. We want to keep this quiet, even if we do want to get to the bottom of it. Ariel's two mates getting

into a brawl before Luca's fight isn't going to help anyone.”

Jesse scowls but puts his hands up, willing to be outvated. But then he turns his head to Jacks. “So, what are you going to do all morning, then?”

‘[ don't know,” Jacks says, giving a shrug, looking between the three of us. “Ella said something about...shoes.

"Shoes?" I ask, bursting into a grin, dead pleased.

“Yeah.” he says with a confused frown, even though he doesn’t seem bothered by it. Then he looks down at himself and gestures casually with his

hand towards his new clothes. "She did all of...this.. yesterday.”

"Ohhhh." Jesse says, grinning now as Jackson looks back up at us. "So that's where the glow-up came from — Auntie Ells.”

"What's a glow up?” Jackson asks, frowning.

I can't help my laughter as I grin at my mate. “Wait, so...mom took you shopping?

“She brought the shopping here,” he

says, frowning a little at the

nemory. “She.came and got me

om my roar, and then there were

Il these people, and all these ~

clothes, ind someone cut my hair?

and th§n I had to try on everything —

took hours. And by the endof it

your mom filled the whole room

attached to my room with clothes.

And she told me they're all mine, and

I can wear whatever I want. And that

today we're doing...shoes.” He

shrugs, his eyes a little unfocused,

like he’s remembering a fever

dream.

-—

jak]

Which, considering mom's shopping methods...is probably a pretty accurate description

"Wait," Rafe says, fighting a grin as he steps forward towards Jacks. "What do you mean, a room attached to your room?”

“I don’t know how to be clearer than that,” Jackson says, frowning at Rafe.

“Like, the room next door to your room?” Rafe asks

“No.” Jackson says, shaking his head slowly and looking between us. “You can only get to it from my room.”

“I think he means a closet,” Jesse whispers, grinning with delight.

“No, it's a room — a whole room, with

a door," Jackson says, holding his

arms out tohis sides to

demonstrate how big it is. “And it’ Ss

just fi led with clothes. A closet->

is. small. This one's big — like you

could put a bed in there.” He frowns

asgund at us, dropping his-arms

while we all do our very Best not to

laugh.

“Yeah, that's your closet, Jacks.” I say, taking another bite of my pastry and smiling at him. “It's called a walk-in. And it's your fault for letting mom

have free reign over it — she'll never stop now.”

"So, all those clothes. . are for me?” He stares around at us like that can't possibly be true.

“That's just the winter line, Jacks,” Rafe says, coming forward and patting him on the shoulder. "Wait till you see what she brings in for the spring.”

Jackson stares at my brother like he has absolutely no idea what that means, and he's a little scared of it. “Wait so,” he whispers, shifting his eyes to

me. "How many.. shoes do I get?”

Instead of answering — because I

know the trus-answer will freak him

out - I just laugh and swoop down te

give him@ quick kiss on the cheek’

He resgonds instantly, almost

autarviatically, raising a hand that

brushes quickly down the length of

Hy side, a caress and a farewell.