Chapter 23

Song: Circles by Post Malone

[Chapter 23 - The Mute Alpha]

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*Jax's POV*

Plates clattered as our silverware dug into our food. I took a bite of tortellini covered in pesto Autumn made while I worked. "Do you like it?" she asked. I smiled at her when she anticipated my reaction to the taste of her meal. The edges of her lips tilted up in satisfaction. We continued to quietly eat, stuffing pasta in our hungry mouths.

"I was thinking," Autumn said. "Maybe when we finish eating this, we can have dessert in the pool. How does that sound?" She smirked at me. "I'm taking that as a yes by the look on your face right now." I laughed and took another bite.

"Don't be mad at me," she paused, " but I've been scheming..." I raised an eyebrow at her. Scheming? I hoped it was not anything bad...

"I...um...invited Kian over for dinner tomorrow night...Please get Theo to come." Oh boy, Theo wouldn't be happy about this... I guess I would have to trick him into coming over. "I thought it would do them some good if they got to know each other. Who knows, maybe they might surprise themselves."

When we finished eating, Autumn grabbed a bathing suit and went out back. While she did that, I dug in the freezer and found alcohol-infused, vanilla bean flavored ice cream. It was a special kind that had the power to give a werewolf a buzz. I scooped the ice cream out and placed them in two bowls. To top it off, I swirled whipped cream, drizzled caramel, and sprinkled chocolate chips on it, hoping Autumn would appreciate it. Satisfied with their appearances, I picked up the bowls and carried them outside.

The torches lining the backyard produced some light as well as the indigo pool lights. As I made my way over to Autumn, who was already in the water, I froze in my tracks when I saw a pile of clothes laying on the ground. Then my eyes wandered over to my mate swimming around. My throat became dry, and I tried my best not to drop everything in my hands.

I sat our ice cream on the ledge of the pool and stared at Autumn. Her body glided through the water as she swam beneath the surface. Fuck, she was so beautiful.

"Well... Are you going to stand there, or will you be joining me?" she teased.

My heart quickened it's pace due to the sultry glimmer in her eyes. I tugged my shirt over my head, the cool, night air nipping my skin. Next went my joggers and boxers as I tossed them off to the side. She eyed me hungrily, her gaze burning my skin. The warm water enveloped me when I slid into the pool. Fortunately the pool had a heater.

"Ice cream!" Autumn squealed in delight as she swam over to the edge of the pool where I sat the bowls. She scooped it up and shoved it in her mouth. "Mmm," she hummed. "This is really good. Is there alcohol in here?" When I nodded, she raised an eyebrow at me. "Are you trying to get me drunk?"

I swam over to her and placed my arms over the ledge to hold myself up. I watched her happily eat the cold treat. Strands of wet hair framed her face and I couldn't stop myself from tucking them behind her ear, allowing my knuckles to graze her cheek. Then I gently tilted her chin up and placed a soft kiss on her sweet lips, tasting the vanilla and bourbon. I smiled at her before grabbing my own bowl and digging in.

***

The smell of steak wafted inside the house from outside as I opened the back door. I carried a tray full of steak I barbecued on the grill. Autumn wanted me to help her prepare dinner, so she asked me to prepare the steak while she made mashed potatoes and roasted vegetables.

"That smells good." Autumn commented as I sat the tray down. "Is Theo on the way?" Earlier that day I told Theo that Autumn decided to cook a nice meal and wanted him to join us. He didn't hesitate because of free food. It honestly surprised me how much he improved from the last time I saw him. It probably had something to do with the other night when we went to the club.

"I'm here," Theo called out as he slammed the front door shut.

"We're in the kitchen!" Autumn responded. A few seconds later, Theo entered the room with a bright smile. His appearance definitely looked way better than earlier. He combed his hair so that it was somewhat tamed and his clothes didn't have any wrinkles. Also, he didn't reek of alcohol.

"It sure smells good in here," Theo sniffed the air and rubbed his hands together. "So what are we eating?"

"You can wait. Can you please help Jax set the table in the dining room?" Autumn asked as she stirred the pot of mashed potatoes. Theo listened and followed me to the table, carrying the silverware. As I placed the plates on the table, Theo noticed the fourth plate.

"Who else is eating with us?" Theo questioned curiously.

'Autumn invited someone,' I responded.

Someone knocked on the door and I went over to open it. "Oh, is she hot?" Theo's voice held a bit of excitement. I wanted to laugh because he was definitely in for a treat.

When I opened the door, the dark-haired man from the ceremony greeted me on the other side. By his expression I could tell how nervous he was. I didn't know if he knew Theo was here. I stepped to the side and allowed Kian to come in. He bowed his head and stepped inside. He followed me into the dining room where Autumn laid the dishes. Theo sat on one of the wooden chairs, complementing Autumn on the food, "Wow that looks delicious."

"Thank you!" my mate smiled, blushing. "Jax barbecued the steak."

"Jax? Cooking? That's ridic-" Theo paused mid-sentence when he noticed Kian standing next to me. His eyebrows raised in shock and his jaw slackened.

'What the hell is he doing here?' Theo mindlinked me. I could detect the anger in his tone.

'It was all Autumn's idea,' I shot back, not wanting him to get mad at me.

Theo's glare shifted from me to Autumn, his fingers gripping the edge of the table. The tension in the air thickened when Kian took a seat across from Theo. "Babe, can you help me in the kitchen real quick? I need to get us some drinks."

While we grabbed some wine and glasses, Autumn turned to me nervously. "Maybe this wasn't such a good idea..." I placed my hand on her shoulder and gave her an encouraging smile. This may not have been the nicest thing to do for Theo, but I think he needed the push. It would do him some good, or else they wouldn't get anywhere.

When we entered the room again, Theo and Kian sat there awkwardly. Theo played with the mat in front of him while Kian stared at his own lap where he fiddled with the hem of his shirt. I almost felt bad for them, but I knew they'd come around eventually. The mate bond was inevitable.

We silently served ourselves and stuffed our faces, the only sounds came from the clattering of the silverware against our plates.

"This is really good, Luna..." Kian finally said after a long moment of uncomfortable silence. "And thank you for inviting me."

I watched Theo look at his mate out of the corner of his eye. It seemed to me that he was observing him, and I couldn't help but allow a small smirk to form on my lips. Theo caught my eyes and flipped me off, but his red cheeks proved that my assumption was, in fact, correct.

"So Kian, what do you like to do for fun?" Autumn asked before scooping some succotash and eating it.

Kian glanced at Theo before turning his full attention to his plate where her pushed his vegetables around with his fork. "Go out with my friends. Party I guess..."

"Theo's a real partier. Isn't that right, Theo?" What was she doing? Theo glared at Autumn in a way that would make anybody cower away. Not her. Instead, she smirked.

"Yes," he gritted out through clenched teeth.

"Maybe you guys should go to the club together," Autumn suggested. "Wouldn't that be fun?"

"I don't like going there," Theo lied.

"You seemed to be enjoying yourself the other night," Autumn teased. Theo choked on the wine he drank as his cheeks turned red. I, too, felt my face heating up. "Especially with Jax."

"Will you shut up, Autumn?" Theo groaned as he pinched the bridge of his nose.

"Why?" she laughed. "Am I making you uncomfortable.?" Theo covered his face in embarrassment.

"Wait, that was you?" Kian asked. The question was directed to me. So I looked at him and scanned his face. His green eyes pierced my own. Was he jealous? I doubted it. Then again, they were mates and the bond had the ability to spike jealousy even if he didn't have feelings towards his mate.

When I nodded my head, Kian looked back at his plate and continued eating. "It was really funny, actually. Theo were you trying to make a girl jealous? Perhaps one of your previous one night stands?" Autumn was so clueless sometimes. Maybe she wanted to try to get them to talk to each other. Either way, she made it more awkward.

"Something like that..." Theo muttered under his breath.

***

The sky darkened as the sun began to set. The cool air weaved itself through my fur as I ran. I decided to go for a run tonight after dinner. It had been a while since I last shifted, so it felt nice to finally let him free.

I really needed to get away from all that tension. It felt as if I suffocated from all of that awkwardness. Kian left shortly after we finished eating. Theo stayed a bit to give Autumn a piece of his mind for putting him in that horrible situation. Of course Autumn won the argument.

The sound of the waves crashing against the shore made me feel at peace. Even though darkness surrounded, the moonlight peeking through the dark clouds provided just enough light. I've been out for about an hour. So it was definitely time for me to go back.

As I ran home, thunder rumbled off in the distance as it started to drizzle. Great. I needed to hurry before it got any worse. Suddenly the rain poured even harder, coating my fur with water. I growled out in annoyance.

Eventually, my house came into view. I shifted back into my human form and continued walking. Lightning flashed and lit up the sky. I halted in my tracks when I spotted a shadowy figure standing in front of my house. My body tensed in alarm as the creature advanced towards me. I growled at them, but they ignored it. I was about to attack. However, I refrained myself when they stuck their hand out towards me, holding out an envelope.

Hesitantly, I took the paper, and they vanished in a blink of an eye. My heart raced as I ran a hand through my soaked hair. Who the fuck was that? I rushed inside, closing the door behind me. I leaned my back against it and tried to catch my breath.

I glanced down at the blank envelope in my hand and slowly opened it. When I pulled out the letter and read it, my fingers clenched the paper in anger.

Fucking hell.

***

Hey guys! I'm back again with another chapter. The story is finally moving forward! I hope you all enjoyed it! Don't forget to check out my other story Switched. Anyways, please vote and comment your feedback. Love you guys!

~Jtmay10 <3

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