Denied by Destiny: Trapped in the Shadows of the Mate Bond

-Jace-

"You need to control your temper more." Josie unfairly reprimands me as she circles around me in the courtyard outside the alpha house, her wolf shining out through her eyes.

Fuck, she looks like Dad except for her red hair. Those eyes are haunting to look at just like his; grey ash turning to an orange flame every time her wolf comes forward. She was angry at me, but for once I wasn't the asshole...he was. "He jumped me!" Her accusation was unjust, she wasn't even in the Alpha office when Jaxon jumped me...pushing me up against the wall.

I had been all but removed from the alpha office by Knox, even though I was not the one in the wrong.

"Why are you not yelling at him?" I point my fingers back towards the house, full well knowing Knox was now having to deal with Jaxon's temperamental beast.

"Oh, I will believe me. You need to be mindful that your absence hasn't been easy for Jaxon, nor me. Where I use words, Jaxon likes to use his fists."

"Don't I know it." My hand inadvertently rubs against my neck where he had applied most of his

body weight.

I was ready to take him on, to give him that fight he was so desperately craving...and I would have done, if Knox hadn't pulled him off me.

"If it wasn't for your mate..."

"My mate is perfect thank you, remember that next time he is saving your ass." Josie retorts, her eyes darting to the front door as Jaxon exits, followed closely by Knox.

Jaxon's eyes are once again burning with anger, a step made towards me...only for him to stop when Knox places a hand upon his shoulder... pulling him back.

I shouldn't be jealous but I had always been the one to cool Jaxon's fiery temper, now it seemed to be Knox...they seemed to be close, like brothers.

There was a time I was the one that could second guess my brother's actions before he even knew them himself, it would seem I had been replaced. What did I expect though, that my family would press the pause button in my absence...I had brought this on myself.

Yet I couldn't ignore the pang of jealousy as Knox instinctively takes a step forward to block the three of us from Jaxon's glare...before giving my own identical brother an encouraging nod to leave.

As he moves to a pack SUV, my eyes burning into the back of his head, I couldn't shake this feeling that my return wasn't the only thing that had rattled Jaxon.

Something was on the tip of his tongue as he held me against the wall by my throat. But Knox pulled him off me, Jaxon failing to finish his threat.

"Where is he going?" My lips murmur out to Josie, my eyes watching the SUV speed off towards the location of the pack gates.

"I don't know, cooling off somewhere." She shrugs, turning back to me...her mate heading towards us.

"Off pack grounds? I thought everyone needed an escort now."

"Who told you that?" Josie's voice is low, I don't know why, judging by

Knork he isn't shy about

being caught eavesdroppingo

"That's what Dad said." I shrug out, just as Knox joins us.

"What else did he say?" Her eyes turn to look up at her mate's, the energy between them tangible.

"Nice try." Knox smiles out at her lovingly.

Josie would just love to be in on the alpha meetings and for the most part she is, but not the type reserved only between Dad and Jaxon, and previously me.

Not even Mum, which never went down well.

Jaxon was so angry at me, so much masked hatred being sent my way.

But I know he was masking how he

I

really felt...and that was hurt and abandoned. I had always promised him that no matter what I would be by his side. A pact we made as young men...still children really.

We thought we knew it all, but what did we actually really know...not a damn thing.

"You can't react to him, you know that." Josie sighs out, tearing her eyes off Knox and back to me and Callie.

"Josie's right Jace, you need to learn to control yourself around him. This dominant alpha male

thing..." Callie chips in.

"What alpha male thing?" I look at her, perplexed by her comment.noveldrama

"You know, my dick is bigger than yours." That's what I admire about Callie, she doesn't dance around the facts She says it as it is, no sugar coating from her.

"Ew, please don't ever say that in my presence again." Josie's face distorts before fake dry heaving.

"Sorry." Callie apologies, moving closer towards me. She places her hand to my face...her touch putting me on edge.

She rarely touched me, it wasn't a thing for her.

I try not to act surprised especially around my sister who was watching Callie's affectionate

display with keen interest.

"Keep the focus, remember." Callie's eyes burn into mine.