Chapter 19 - Brandon
I sighed as I tapped my fingers on the desk. Kaleb sat across from me with Westley and Asher sitting on both sides of him. I stared at the map we had laid out, taking in all the little x’s that were marked. They were places where they spotted a hybrid.
“Have we seen the big army that Chelsey was talking about?” I asked, scanning the map.
“Nope. Just been either individuals or a pair together. No groups yet.”
I huffed and leaned back, shaking my head. “How many other people does she have assigned out there?”
“About twenty,” Westley said. “They are spaced out, working in pairs, and have about fifteen miles.”
“Do you think we should be branching out? I heard that there is an area right here,” Asher waved a finger over a space to the South of the woods. “That has some activity. We could start there. Send a few guys and clear the space out.”
I shook my head. “We don’t have the power to go out and have a killing spree. We also can’t use our energy on doing that when we don’t know where they are waiting. They could easily attack, and we would be lacking.”
“So, we just sit and wait?” Westley asked.
I nodded, knowing it wasn’t something any of us liked to do. We liked to take action and see results. Sitting and waiting wasn’t something we knew how to do.
“How long do we wait before we decide we need to take action, Brandon?” Asher asked, crossing his arms.
“I don’t think it will be long,” Kaleb said. They are an impatient species. It’s only a matter of time, and we need to stay ready.”
I frowned. I figured they would have already attacked us by now. Once they saw we were training and getting stronger, they should have. It didn’t make sense.
We discussed a few other things before I called the meeting to an end. Kaleb remained seated, and I raised an eyebrow at him. Asher and Westley slipped out, and Kaleb stared at me, his eyes focused.
“Did you need something else?” I asked, rolling the map back up.
“How are things with you and Jade?”
The question made me pause, but I understood why. We had a complicated relationship, and it was with his sister. “We’re okay.”
He nodded once. “Just okay?”
“We’re getting along well, and things are good.” I tossed the map toward the other side of the desk. “I feel that you have more to say than just asking how things are between Jade and me.”
“You knocked my sister up, of course, I’m going to have questions.”
“I’ve been waiting for them.”
Kaleb scowled at me, and for the first time in a long time, I could see the anger and frustration. I had expected him to yell at me, but he hadn’t. But it was clear he wasn’t sweeping this under the rug either.
“Why didn’t you tell me you were mates?”
“Because it was between your sister and me.”
“I had a right to know. You spent an endless amount of hours at my house. I trusted you.”
“We slept together once, Kaleb. A few days before I left. It wasn’t like I was sneaking behind your back and banging your sister every chance I got.”
Kaleb’s shoulders relaxed slightly, and he sighed. “Just…tell me you’re not going to repeat history. My sister has had a hard enough life without you screwing it up for her.”
“I don’t intend to repeat history, Brandon. I care about your sister.”
“That doesn’t mean anything. You left her before.”
“Because I had no choice. You know that. This is different.”
“I hope so,” he said, his eyes hardened. “Because it’s not about just you two. Ilsa is part of this, and if you don’t intend to be with my sister or you don’t see being serious, you need to stop it now.”
I placed my hands together on the desk. “Kaleb, I care about your sister and my daughter more than anything in the world. I am not repeating history.”
Kaleb stared at me for another moment, the silence filling the space. After that, he pulled himself up and nodded. “Good, I’d hate to have to kill my best friend.”
He left, and I closed my eyes, leaning back against my chair.
I ran a hand over my face, feeling like I was in quicksand.
I seemed to be getting nowhere with everything.
The pack was better, but not enough to actually fend off an army of hybrids.
Things were fine, but we were no closer to being anything more than what we were.
Ilsa was spending time with me, but she still didn’t know who I was. I felt like I was making no progress.
I packed my stuff up and headed home. As I entered, I found Ilsa and Jade in the kitchen.
Ilsa was dancing to music that Jade had playing from a speaker on the counter.
Jade was standing in front of a cutting board, her hips swaying as she sang with Ilsa.
She was chopping up vegetables and tossing them into a large pot.
Ilsa was the first to spot me, and she beamed. “Brandon’s home.”
My heart flipped as she hurried to me, throwing her arms around my legs. “You want to dance with us?”
I smiled. “I think I want to watch you two.”
Ilsa giggled as she broke herself free and danced back into the kitchen. Jade smiled as she paused her knife, her eyes on Ilsa.
“What are you making?” I asked as I walked into the kitchen.
“Beef stew,” Jade said, tossing the last of the vegetables into the pot. She grabbed the pot and placed it onto the stove. “Ilsa requested it.”
“And to watch a movie!” Ilsa chirped up eagerly. “Movie with popcorn.”
“Sounds like fun.”
Ilsa nodded and continued to wiggle as she moved around, dancing to the music. I couldn’t help but chuckle at the sight of her. She was so free-spirited. The more time I spent with Ilsa, the more I found myself loving her.
We had dinner half an hour later and started the movie soon after. Jade sat on the left side of the couch while I sat on the right. Ilsa squeezed in between us, holding the popcorn bucket as she grinned at the TV.
I found myself spending most of the movie watching Ilsa and Jade.
I soaked in their relaxed expressions and all their reactions to the movie.
I watched Ilsa jump when a door opened loudly, and I watched the way Jade smiled when the little girl hugged her mom.
I noticed Ilsa got teary-eyed at the dog in the movie, and that they both stared with amazement.
“Are you even watching the movie?” Jade whispered to me. She raised an eyebrow as she noticed I was staring.
“I am,” I said, taking a handful of popcorn.
“Really? Then what was the mother talking about?”
I smirked at her. “I don’t know.”
A smile pulled at her lips, and she shook her head. She reached for some popcorn, popping a few pieces into her mouth. “You should pay attention.”
“I find other things more entertaining.”
Jade blushed.
I reached for another scoop of popcorn just as Jade did. Our hands touched, and I felt the spark go up my arm. I felt a tug deep in my chest wanting her. Jade pulled her hand back, her face red. Ilsa giggled.
“Are you holding hands?”
“No,” Jade said, squeezing Ilsa’s cheek. “We aren’t.”
Ilsa giggled. “It looked like it.”
Jade blushed, deepened, and I grabbed some popcorn, popping it into my mouth. “I think you’re missing the movie.”
Ilsa turned her gaze back to the movie, and I looked at Jade. She glanced at me, and I could see something in her eyes, but I couldn’t put my finger on what it was.
By the time the movie ended, Ilsa was asleep. She leaned against my shoulder, her hand still in the popcorn bucket. I moved, pulling her into my arms and turned, carrying her up the stairs. I took her to her room and tucked her into bed.
I turned and found Jade leaning against the wall outside. She looked into Ilsa’s room and smiled. “She’s such a sweet kid.”
I nodded. “She is. She takes after you.”
Jade’s eyes flicked up to me, and she blushed. She chewed on her lower lip and pushed off the wall. “She’s a lot like her father, too.”
I raised an eyebrow, a smirk pulled at my lips. “You don’t say?”
She nodded. “Yeah, headstrong and independent. A little bit of a terror when you wake her from a nap too soon.”
I snorted. “I’m sorry. Do you not recall throwing a football at your brother because he was playing music too loud one summer?”
She smirked, a sparkle in her eyes. “Well, I never said she wasn’t like me.”
I wanted her so badly, but I knew that wasn’t what she wanted. Jade stated that she needed space, and I had to give it to her. I needed to give her what she wanted. She wanted to take things slow, and I could do that.
“I suppose I should get some sleep,” Jade said, moving closer to my space. “It’s been a long day.”
I nodded. “It has.”
I reached a hand up, brushing her hair back. “I hope you sleep well.”
Jade stepped into my space, her hands reaching for my shirt. I watched a new emotion swirl in her eyes. Longing.
“Sleep well,” she whispered, her breath hitting my face, and I watched as she waited for me to react. A strong man would step away, but that was not me.
Fuck it.
I reached a hand around, cupping her head, and pulled her closer and kissed her roughly. Jade, meet the want, her fingers digging into my shirt, her body leaning against mine tightly. We fumbled back, slamming against the wall. I could hear it shake, but neither of us pulled away.
She moaned as I kissed her. I reached my hands down, pulling them around her ass, and hoisted her up. I pressed her against the wall, pressing my already hard cock against her center.
“Fuck,” I growled between a kiss. It was taking everything in me not to rip her clothes off and take her right here. But Ilsa was going to hear us out here. I wouldn’t even know how to explain this. I doubt Jade would know how to.
Jade panted against my neck. Her fingers were trailing down my chest, and I pulled her tighter against me. I turned us, pushing open my bedroom door and stepping inside. I kicked it shut softly, not even entirely sure if it shut behind me.
I kissed Jade more softly, sliding my tongue into her mouth. Jade moaned louder, her legs shaking against my hands. I tightened my hold on her, tugging her closer.