“Don’t any of you motherfuckers know how to do a damn thing right?” Jackson lashed out as he threw the hammer to the ground.

“So-s-sorry, Alpha,” Jesse said, his Adam’s apple bobbing in fear. “We’ll do it right.”

“Make sure that you do,” he growled, before turning around to stomp back toward the house.

He was getting tired of this shit. Being damn angry all the time and taking it out on his crew or anyone who got in the way. He nearly bit the head off some poor greenhorn who had the audacity to ask him a simple question about where to put the tools back.

He raked a hand roughly through his hair. This wasn’t going to work. He had to control himself and his wolf before he lost everyone’s respect. That would mean also losing control of his clan, and he couldn’t risk that. Someone could come and challenge him for the Alpha position. However, he would give all that up if he could change things at home.

Jackson stopped just outside the door of the house. He knew why he hesitated to come in each time, but he did anyway. Taking a deep breath, he opened the door.

Lily was standing over Austin as he sat on the kitchen table, scribbling on a notebook. The moment he entered, his son glanced up at him. The look Austin gave him—anger, disappointment, sadness—made him feel about ten inches tall.

“Jackson, you’re back,” Lily said in a lighthearted voice. “How was today?”

“Same,” he grumbled. “What are you working on, Austin?”

The boy glared at him and then gathered the notebook to his chest. “May I be excused?” he said, looking up at Lily.

“I uh, suppose—”

“Austin.” Jackson advanced toward him. “I asked you a question politely.”

“Yeah? So what?” Austin shot back. “Just cause you’re bein’ all nice to me doesn’t mean I have to be nice back!”

Jackson really was trying. He had been trying the last two weeks not to lose his cool at Austin or answer his baits. The boy was obviously hurting; hell, he was too. But it was like a powder keg in here and it looked like things were about to explode. “Austin, you will stop with that tone and be respectful and polite to your elders.”

“Why? Why do I gotta? Why can’t you leave me alone? You ruined things!” he shot back.

His control snapped. “Oh, that’s rich. I ruined your life? You’re eight years old. You don’t even have a life.” Fuck. He instantly regretted opening mouth.

“Not my life!” Austin said. “You ruined your life. She was the best thing that happened to you and you let her go.” His cheeks were red and puffed up. “You’re an asshole!”

“Austin Campbell Forrest!” he shouted. “You go up to your room now! You’re grounded.”

“For how long?”

“Indefinitely.”

Austin threw his book down. “Fine!” He stomped away, hiccupping as he tried to muffle the sound of his sobs.

“Fuck!” Jackson scrubbed a hand down his face. “Fuck my fucking life.”

“Jackson Logan Forrest!”

“I’m an adult, Momma, I’m allowed to cuss.” He sat down on the chair Austin had vacated and buried his face in his hands.

Austin was right. He’d ruined everything. His life. Austin’s life. Everything around here was falling apart.

And it was his own damn fault. Jordan had been telling him the entire time that there was no chance it would work out between them. They were night and day. Up and down. Black and white. Opposites that would never meet. He only had himself to blame for his broken heart.

A soft, comforting hand landed on his shoulder. “Jackson,” Lily began. “Why don’t you tell me what’s wrong? And don’t say nothing, young man.” He looked up at her, and there it was. Lily’s signature don’t-you-dare-think-you-can-hide-anything-from-me look.

He heaved a big sigh and lifted his head to look at her. “Jordan. She and I—”

“I know,” Lily said in a quiet voice. “So why did she leave?”

“Hell if I know. That night of the camping trip, I was so sure that …” He swallowed a gulp. “So sure of my feelings for her. And that she felt the same way.” He could have bet his life on it. “And then all that stuff happened. I came back, and she said she was leaving. Didn’t want to talk to me.”

“Oh, Jackson.” Lily shook her head. “This reminds me a lot of when Connor and Evie had that big breakup.”

“What are you talking about, Momma?”

“That’s not important now, but can I ask you a question?

“Sure.”

“What the hell is wrong with you?” She slapped him on the arm.

“Ow!” He didn’t know what Lily was going to say, but he sure as hell wasn’t expecting that. “Wrong with me? I’m not the one who left without an explanation.”

“Well, why didn’t you stop her?” Lily said. “Make her explain?”

“Are you serious, Momma?” he exclaimed. “What was I to do? Throw her over my shoulder and lock her up in the attic?”

“If you had to! Don’t you love her? Want her to be your mate?”

“Of course I do!” He slammed a palm down on the kitchen table.

“Then tell her that!” Lily said impatiently. “Are you so damn scared she’s going to hurt you like Arlene did?”

His mother’s words poured over him like a bucket of ice-cold water. Damn, she was right. All this time …

“Shit! Fuck!” He bolted to his feet. “I gotta go.”

“Go? Now?” Lily exclaimed.

“You want me to go after her, right?” Jackson said.

“I didn’t think you were going right now,” Lily laughed. “Drive safe then.”

“Thanks, Momma.” He leaned down and kissed her on the cheek, then ran to the front hall. His jacket and keys were hanging on the coat rack and he grabbed them as he opened the door. He had been so preoccupied he nearly collided with the figure standing outside. The scent of sweet flowers hit his nostrils.

He blinked a few times, just to make sure he wasn’t seeing things. Jordan was right there in front of him. She was wearing her usual outfit of a gray T-shirt and leggings, and her silky hair was tied back in a ponytail. She peered up at him with those light hazel eyes, her mouth parting slightly.

“Where are you going?” she asked, glancing at the jacket and keys in his hands.

“I was leaving.”

“Leaving? To go where?”

“To New York.”

“Were you going to drive?”

“Uh, yeah.”

She frowned. “Did you even have directions? Or a destination?”

He scratched his head. “Well, my brother lives there, you know.”

“Yeah, I know. Met him yesterday. He is one intense guy.”

He chuckled. “Yup, that’s Connor.” The absurdity of this conversation was unreal, but then again, she wouldn’t be Jordan if they didn’t have these ridiculous exchanges.

“Jackson, why were you coming to New York?”

His heart skipped a beat. “To see you.”

“Why?”

“Because,” he began. “There were so many things I said that I shouldn’t have. And so many I didn’t that I should.”

She looked down at her shoes. “I saw you and Liz kissing.”

“Aww, shit.” He knew there had to be something. “I swear to you, Jordan, she came after me. Before I even came to find you and Austin, Liz had shown her true colors, and I told her to leave.”

“You did?”

“Yeah.” He tipped up her chin. “Jordan, I love you. I think I loved you from the moment I woke you up in the back of that van.” The memory made him smile. “Liz was the safe choice. I didn’t feel anything for her the moment I laid eyes on her. But you … you drove me and my wolf crazy. And then you turned out to be worst choice.”

Jordan rolled her eyes. “Wow, thanks, Jackson, you really know how to make a girl feel special.”

He kissed her on the nose. “What I mean is, I thought you wouldn’t be able to hack it here. I thought you couldn’t handle life here or that you wouldn’t be a good mom to Austin. I was scared to lose my heart again and have another woman walk out that door. I couldn't do that to Austin and frankly, I was too damn scared to do it to myself.”

“Jackson, I didn’t know.”

“How could you?” he said. “I was too stubborn.”

“You’re not the only one.” She took a deep breath. “Jackson … I … All my life I surrounded myself with my books and work because I thought no one would want me. That I was too different; too strange.”

“I want you, Jordan. Even if you are strange. I love every weird and wonderful thing about you.”

She laughed. “I was so focused on how different we were that I just couldn’t see the truth. That I love you, too, Jackson.”

He couldn’t wait any longer. Wrapping his hands around her waist, he pulled her close and kissed her. Her lips tasted divine and her scent surrounded him, intoxicating and arousing at the same time. He could drown in her and die a happy man. Her arms slid up his chest and she angled her head so he could deepen the kiss.

“Is she staying?”

They broke apart. Austin was at the top of the stairs, a big grin on his face.

“Yes,” they said at the same time.

“Am I still grounded?” he asked with a pout.

“Yes,” Jackson said.

“Ugh, this is so unfair!”

“But,” Jackson began, “I’m ungrounding you just for tonight.”

“Yes!” He pumped his fist in the air.

“Now come here and give me a hug!” Jordan opened her arms.

Austin dashed down the stairs and barreled into her legs. Jordan scooped him up. “Oomph. You’re heavier than I thought. I think someday, you’ll be doing the carrying.”

“I’m glad to see you both pulled your head out of your asses,” Lily said wryly as she walked into the hall.

“No cussing, Grams!” Austin said cheekily.

“Oh, you!” Lily wrapped up both Jordan and Austin into a fierce hug. “I’m glad you’re back. What made you change your mind?”

“Well, there was this thing at work and—” Jordan slapped her palm to her forehead. “I almost forgot to tell you.”

“Tell us what?” Jackson said. “And by the way, what do you mean you’ve met Connor?”

“Yeah, about that…” Jordan tugged at his arm. “Let’s go into the kitchen. You need to sit down for this.” Jackson didn’t argue, letting Jordan lead them to the kitchen.

The house was quiet and the air outside was still. The moon rose high, bathing the rolling hills in its dim light. Tranquility and peace swept over the valley. At least it did until a shout rang out.

“You’re pregnant?”