Chapter 4
Jade
Even though Knox had lied about not liking vegan food. He still wolfed it down like it was his last meal. My parents watched him with a mixture of awe and horror on their faces. “I have to say, I don’t think I have ever seen someone eat as much as you have tonight.”
I snorted at my mother’s words but kept my mouth closed. I was curious as to what Knox would say back. He grinned. “Not many have appetites like my family does. We have this incredible genetic chemistry that allows us to have heightened senses. Because of this, we need to eat more.” He let out a belch to solidify his words. I could have throttled him. “Ya know, Jade has-”
My foot connected with his shin and he let out a cough. His eyes blazed as they connected with mine. I gave him a wolfish grin as I felt my canines elongate slightly. My mom frowned. “Jade has what?”
I answered for him, afraid of what he was going to say before. “Jade has been working really hard and has come to find this place her second home.”
My dad tucked my hand in his. “We are really happy to hear that. I always worried we hovered too much as you grew up. It worried me that you wouldn’t get the social skills you needed to excel in life. Especially with all of that partying you liked to do.”
I cleared my throat but it seemed like Knox knew the perfect thing to say. “If Jade hadn’t gone to all those parties, she probably wouldn’t have met Tracey or Rafe. I know you worry as parents but she found great friendships there.”
His words usually annoyed me but tonight, I could tell that he was trying. He was showing my parents that they could trust him and his family. For once, he put his goofs aside and did something selfless.
As I was cleaning up the dinner, Knox stood beside me at the sink. He washed the dishes and I loaded them into the dishwasher. “Why are you here?” My parents both sat in the living room talking under their breath. If I had wanted to, I could have heard their conversation but I chose to let them have their business. Thankfully, they couldn’t hear us.
Knox took his time answering and just when I was starting to lose my patience with the brute, he answered, “Tracey has been worried that something would go wrong or you wouldn’t know what to say if they asked certain questions. I’ve been a wolf my entire life, it’s easy for me to find the words to skirt around the topic.”
“Tracey told you that?” His words were true but I didn’t think Tracey would go to him with her concerns. She would go to Rafe.
His cheeks stained pink as I handed him another dish. “Not exactly.”
“That’s what I thought,” I snickered.
He leaned his back against the sink and watched my parents. “My parents died when I was young. They were on vacation and got in the middle of a clan feud between vampires. Rafe’s family took me in. Because of that, so did Tracey’s. We were all thick as thieves until we had to leave to be Guardians. I don’t regret that time, but I think Tracey does. I don’t think she will forgive me for leaving.”
I blinked. Uncertainty filled me. I hadn’t heard this story. “I knew you were all close but I didn’t realize that about you and Tracey.”
He shrugged as he folded his arms across his chest. The muscles in his biceps strained against his shirt. “I thought for a long time that we would be more than friends. That there was somethingmorethere but anytime I try to talk to her, she refuses. She tells me that I’m irritating.”
My lips twisted into a smirk. “In her defense, you are irritating.”
He rolled his bright eyes. “Yes, I realize that but I can be serious too.”
“I don’t think Tracey wants what you want, Knox.”
Knox frowned. “I don’t want anything. I just want my friend back. She didn’t tell me, but I can tell. I’ve known her since we were young. She can tell people she hates me but we know each other. I know her. She just refuses to acknowledge it anymore.”
Knox didn’t stay for dessert. I could see it in his shoulders that what we had talked about had made him upset. My mother watched him go with sad eyes. “Is he okay?”
“He’s messed up over Tracey,” I shrugged as I scooped dairy-free ice cream into bowls for all three of us.
My dad let out a whoosh of breath. Alarm snapped through me as I looked at him. His cheeks turned pink with embarrassment. “I’m relieved to know that you don’t have a harem going on around here.”
My mom looked horrified as she smacked his shoulder. “Why would you say such a thing?”
Dad shrugged. “What else am I supposed to think? I know a man’s mind. I was a teenager once. She has men in and out of here. More male friends than female. Can’t a dad worry?”
Mom spoke up before I could. “Why don’t we get going? The snow is supposed to get worse.”
At that, Lucas burst through the front door. Thick patches of snow coated his hair and shoulders. He shot me a sheepish grin. “Sorry, I was planning on staying at Granny’s tonight but there were some complications with their foster.”
Dad gave me thatlookagain. Not the best timing for Lucas to come home.
A nervous laugh escaped my lips. “This is Lucas, Tracey’s brother. He’s living with me currently in the spare bedroom.”
