I woke up alone on Jackson's bed.

Jackson barely lets me in his room so, me being alone is a big deal. I turned on my side and watched the little specks of light creep through tiny spaces in the blinds, feeling peaceful for once in my crazy life. With all the horrid things that has been happening I was positive I was just going to watch TV all night and do whatever I can to not sleep but, last night I had the best sleep of my life. I felt protected —which with Jackson Miller you always are...unless of course he completely forgets about you but, no hard feelings.

The sound of banging in the kitchen made me finally get up. I stretched and looked around his —surprisingly— clean kept room for my phone. Did I bring it in here last night? I frowned pacing the room what if I left it at Vito's creepy mansion! did I even have—

"Ow" I stubbed my toe on a black case that was sticking out from under the bed. Crouching down to push it further under I noticed an encrypted heart that spirals down and connects to a cross, Just like one of Jackson's tattoo, Just like the tattoo on my dad's arm. Curiosity got the best of me and I opened it.

My mouth fell open.

Now, i'm not good with guns but I could tell that although this one was long it wasn't a shotgun but it had a scope on top of it where you can kinda "zoom" in on your target. In the case, there were about two boxes of bullets and a really sharp looking knife. I looked under the bed, there were about five more cases like it.

I ran my finger over the barrel of the gun.

"What do you think you're doing?" A voice said from behind me. I jumped back. Jackson was standing behind me in a white T-shirt and grey sweats.

" Th-This is a gun, you have a gun...under your bed" I tried to hide the fear in my voice.

" Why are you looking under my bed?" He crossed his arms.

" I wasn't trying to I just...I just, " I started hyperventilating. " You're going back there aren't you"

He chuckled. " You seriously think that asshole is gonna kidnap you and get away with it? Of course i'm going back"

Suddenly I was back in that cold interrogation room curled up in the corner as people were losing their lives fighting to save me. I could feel the panic attack coming along nicely. He's gonna go back, and he's gonna—

"Hey," I didn't know I was shaking until he wrapped his arms around my shoulders, holding me steady. " This isn't because of you, it's...this war has been raging on for some time now, sometimes the Alfa has to show the others why he's Alfa and that's what's happening right now"

" I don't want you to get hurt, Aiden already got injured," I hesitantly looked up at him. " How's Aiden?"

" He's...healing" His jaw clenched and I could tell there was more he wanted to say but didn't.

I wiped away a stray tear feeling embarrassed for having my second mental breakdown in front of him.

" I have to take you back to Jeffrey's mansion, where you're safe" He spoke, keeping his voice low.

" I only feel safe with you" I whispered.

" Now is that because you don't listen, or because I let you get away with not listening?" he joked and a mustered up a smile.

" Both," I said. " Although I wouldn't mind not getting away once in awhile"

His eyes turned dark. " Are you saying, you don't listen to me on purpose?"

" Umm...sometimes" I tried to look away but his gaze was too intense.

" How did I not notice that?" He muttered more to himself than me.

It was silent for a long period of time, with electric tension so strong even I felt it and I can be pretty oblivious sometimes.

"Uh," he cleared his throat. " I made breakfast"

" Great" I got up taking any excuse I can get to leave the room.

***

I emailed my professors my late work and attached an email saying a family member died so i'll be missing class for a while but won't hesitate to complete my assignments online. Jackson went of for a run about an hour ago and I was thankful because the tension never left, in fact i'm pretty sure it got stronger and the fact that I had a dream about him days before dosen't help either.

He sent someone named Jimmy for the guns under his bed and I told him to "accidently" throw them off a bridge but poor Jimmy looked at me like I had just asked him to throw himself off a bridge so I made like Elsa and let it go.

The rest of my day went by pretty quickly Jackson promised he wouldn't leave before telling me so I could prepare and I got to talk to Aiden on the phone.

" Hey sweet tits" He picked up and I somehow managed to cringe and smile at the same time.

" Hi, sorry your girlfriend shot you, twice"

" It was Sadie?," He said in a croaky voice. " Well I do like the crazy ones better, no offence to you"

"None taken" I laughed, me and Aiden in a relationship is a difficult thing for me to picture.

" I hope I'm not the reason you're no longer having sexy time with Jackson" He teased.

I gasped. "When did I ever..?"

" My sources say you guys had a huge makeout session on the rescue mission" I could almost see his cocky grin.

" Wha—! that was because I was panicking and—"

" Whatever helps you sleep at night sweet tarts"

I rolled my eyes. " I'm hanging up"

" Oh Jackson, Oh please, Oh" He fake moaned on the line and I blushed.

" Stop it!" I whisper yelled.

" Goodbye buttercup" He laughed.

" 'Bye Aiden, I love you" I smiled.

" Love you too, muffin" He hung up. Aiden and I have gotten so close over these past few months i've known him, he's almost like the brother I never had.

"OMG Aiden You're so hot I love you!" Jackson stood at the door way mimicking my voice.

" I never said that!," I threw a pillow at him. " When did you get back?"

" Around 20 minutes ago but you were too busy flirting with Aiden to notice," he turned around muttering. " I swear the guy gets shot twice and suddenly..."

An Idea came to my head.

" Are you Jealous?" I followed him into his bedroom, ignoring the strange feelings I got.

" I don't know maybe I should call Zara and ask" He said and I looked away.

" God," He fell back on his bed. " You're so easy to read!"

I stood in the middle of his room not saying anything. Well my plan backfired. Of course i'm Jealous of Zara she's gorgeous, guys stare when she walks into a room, i'm sure of it.

" Come here" Jackson reached out his hand to me. I took it and he pulled me on top of him then rolled over so I was on the bottom.

He opened his mouth to talk but I cut him off.

"Just friends I know"

" Then damn it woman believe me," He sighed. " I never used to care about this kind of stuff you know"

He locked eyes with me and continued. " Whenever a girl would get jealous about me and another girl I never used to care, I used to think 'well it's their fall for being so self-conscious' but...with you it's different, I constantly want to explain myself, that's strange right?"

" Sounds to me like you're changing" I noted.

" But why?" He whispered placing his forehead against mine, so our lips were only centimeters apart.

" You're asking a girl that's never been in a real relationship for relationship advice?" I rose an eyebrow.

He wrapped his arms around me like I couldn't be close enough.

Which I don't mind at all.

Finally he pressed his full lips against mine and I ran my fingers through his hair, never wanting to let him go, never wanting to let this moment go. We pulled away to catch our breaths and this time it was me that kissed him first, his hand traveled up my shirt and his cool fingers gave my body goose bumps.

" Ashley I think I..." He began when we pulled apart again but the doorbell rang making us stop everything completely.

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