Chapter 227

“Um,” I say, feeling utterly awkward as I look between Ben’s slack jaw and Jesse’s appalled expression. I am suddenly very, very aware of Jackson’s forearm tucked neatly below my ass, holding me up against him, and the way that my leg intuitively curled itself over his hip, like it belongs there.

Ben’s mouth drops open further as he realizes that this is not a mistake – that I’m not fighting Jackson, demanding that he put me down.

“Get off of her!” Jesse shouts, starting forward, livid, raising his fist like he’s going to beat the shit out of Jacks.

Jackson snarls, taking a step away, holding me possessively to him as Rafe stands and jumps between my mate and my cousin.

“Whoa, whoa, Jess!” Rafe shouts, putting out a hand to stop our cousin in his tracks. “You don’t have all the information here!” Jesse obligingly skitters to a stop, looking between Rafe and me with his mouth open. noveldrama

“What are you talking about!?” Jesse shouts, staring at Rafe in shock. “You’re just – you’re okay with this!? What the hell happened out there –“

“You didn’t tell them?” Jackson murmurs, turning his face to me with a little frown of confusion.

“Tell us what?” Ben asks, eager, sitting forward and resting his chin in his palm. His expression has turned from one of shock to delight at the drama unfolding before him.

“Um,” I reply, going still with awkward fear, having absolutely no idea what to say.

“No, she didn’t tell them,” Rafe sighs, turning back to Jesse. “Though she should have –“

“What information am I missing here,” Jesse says, speaking fast in his outrage and growing panic. “Because, Rafe, I actually think you’re the one missing some facts – Ariel and Jackson cannot date, she’s already –“

“Jesse!” I shout, bursting into action in my panic and wriggling in Jackson’s arms, desperate to get down. “Shut up!”

“Shut up?” Jesse asks, sufficiently diverted but turning to me now, angry. “What…why do you…Ari!” he shouts, stepping towards me now as Jackson hesitantly lowers me to my feet, but doesn’t let me out of his arms. “What the fuck is going on!”

Ben just stares between all of us in shock and delight as Rafe sighs, shrugging at me. “It’s time, Ari. You should just let everyone know now – no reason to keep it a secret anymore.”

I open my mouth, not knowing what to say, feeling that Jackson is looking down at me with love and support in his eyes.

And then, just at the absolute worst moment possible…a little knock comes at the open door.

“Hey, guys, did dinner come up yet?”

We’re all completely silent as we turn to look at Luca, who cheerfully steps into the room and presses the door shut behind him.

“Is Ari here?” he asks, looking around.

And then his eyes fall on me, peeking out from Jackson’s other side, my mate’s arm still wrapped around me. Luca’s face falls slack, probably matching mine for shock and pallor.

Shit shit shit.

How am I not better prepared for this!?

Luca processes his shock faster than mine, instantly moving into rage.

“Get your fucking hands,” he snarls, taking a dangerous step forward into the room, his canines lengthening as he levels a murderous glare at Jackson, “off of my fucking mate.”

“Wait, what?” Rafe snaps, taking an aggressive step towards Luca.

Jackson snarls in response, releasing me from his embrace only to tuck me protectively behind his back. “She is my mate, Grant,” he growls, and I can feel his rage pulsing through him now at the claim Luca is making on me.

The claim Jackson doesn’t know that Luca has every right to make.

“Stop!” I gasp, sensing the perilous edge that both of my mates are teetering on right now, about to tip into violence. I dart to the right, trying to get around Jackson, to meet Luca’s eyes, sending a desperate plea down both of my bonds to stop, to calm, to wait –

Because both of them, I can tell, are on the brink of shifting. And neither is going to survive it if they tear into each other now.

“Ariel!” Luca snaps, “get over here!”

His words are desperate, a plea as much as a command. He’s asking me, publicly, to recognize him – to tell everyone who he is to me, what we are to each other.

Instinctually my feet move, and I step to Jackson’s side, eager to get between them. Jackson gasps, his hand reaching out, grasping my arm. “Ariel,” he stutters, shocked, “what are you –“

“Get off of her!” Luca roars again, taking another step towards us, his eyes locking on Jackson’s hand wrapped possessively around my arm.