Wolves of Enchantment

Chapter 10: Unexpected

Jax’s Point of View

I had always assumed that Lilith would be disappointed in me for not having the same level of s*x appeal as my brothers. I was known as the "good kid" - dependable, responsible, and predictable. I got some attention from girls during football season, but all eyes were on Axel and Jackson for the rest of the school year. Axel never seemed interested in anyone; he was like a fortress with high walls. But Jackson? Different girls constantly surrounded him. It seemed like they were just a revolving door to him; none stayed long enough to make an impression.

I was most comfortable hanging out with Juniper anyway. I had a crush on Prue, but I’d long accepted she wasn’t into me. It would make it awkward to try and pursue her. I still tried to impress Prue, but that didn’t get me anywhere.

Sometimes, people thought Juniper and I were together. We were always hanging out and texting each other, but we were best friends and had been since we were little. We were technically not related, but I’d never thought of her in that way. Don’t get me wrong; she was beautiful, funny, and fun. Juniper was supportive, kind, and generous; any guy would be lucky to have her heart. She just never seemed interested in being with anyone.

I had been looking forward to meeting Lilith from how my little sister had described her. I would still like to ride with her, but now I wasn’t sure if she’d be interested. I shouldn’t have been staring at Lilith like that. It caught me off guard how pretty she was and how much of a badass. She was a natural beauty, with no makeup or clothing worn to enhance her assets. Lilith was…unexpected. I didn’t know how else to explain it.

Juniper’s Point of View

Jax was so clueless, honestly. He never realized when girls were hitting on him. When they threw themselves at him during football season, he noticed them. But the casual, flirty glances they gave him the rest of the school year went unnoticed. Given his family and supernatural gifts, I understood Jax felt limited in who he could date. But, Jax missed countless opportunities to date girls because he never noticed that they were interested in him and never really put himself out there.

After observing Prue today, I finally accepted that she would never be interested in Jax. She and her twin sister couldn't keep their eyes off Axel, who was busy helping with the barbecue. They had positioned themselves to sunbathe, hoping to catch his attention while he assisted the adults. However, it was clear that Axel wasn't interested in either of them. It was both amusing and a little sad at the same time.

Lilith was unexpected. She was everything Jax needed in his life, and they had similar interests. I was thrilled that Lilith had agreed to stay over. My best friend needed a little push to let someone other than me see how amazing he was.

I wondered if Axel was interested in her, though. He didn’t usually make this much of an effort with girls. The way Axel looked at her, with fascination and admiration, made Hazel and Prue green with envy. The twins were more than a little jealous, watching from a distance.

I hoped Hazel and Prue wouldn't cause trouble for Lilith once school started, but it seemed inevitable based on how they were looking at her now. Despite their best efforts, she had managed to capture and hold Axel's attention effortlessly.

My feelings were mixed about the situation. A part of me wanted Jax to start dating, but I was afraid of losing my best friend. I also enjoyed spending time with Lilith and didn’t want that to change. If she started dating any of the triplets and it didn’t work out, I knew there was a possibility that our friendship would suffer. Was it wrong for me to want to keep her as a friend, too?

Axel’s Point of View

Lilith didn’t look pleased to learn about my demonic heritage. It bothered me, and I don’t know why. I usually didn’t give a s**t if a girl was interested in me or not. My eyes flickered to hers when she realized how, or I guess, what I was. Lilith didn’t seem disgusted by it but somewhat guarded, like a wall suddenly appeared between us. I was disappointed. I thought maybe we could have been friends. I really liked talking with her. I thought that she was different. I guess I was wrong.

Lilith spoke softly, “You don't take advantage of your abilities like Jackson. That's uncommon. It's surprising. You're a walking contradiction, Axel. I have a feeling we'll be good friends."

My mind was occupied with thoughts when her voice startled me. Her eyes crinkled with warmth and sincerity as she spoke, and I felt my lips involuntarily form a smile. It was one of the kindest compliments I had ever received. I wanted to be her friend—I really did. I hoped that her words were genuine.

I wondered if Lilith was the one I had been dreaming about. I had listened carefully to her voice as she spoke trying to determine if it sounded the same as the one in my dreams. I couldn’t tell, though. Was she someone who needed my help? I thought Lilith was more than capable of taking care of herself and would be unlikely to need my help.

Lilith’s Point of View

Jax and Axel were different from what I initially perceived them as. Jackson though? He was precisely what I had assumed. I would be nice to him as planned but guarded because I didn’t want him to try and influence me using his particular skills.

I noticed that both Jax and Axel were giving me strange looks. I turned to Juniper, hoping to ask for an explanation silently. However, she seemed lost in her thoughts. The only one who was paying close attention without saying a word was Ember. She had a smug grin on her face, clearly satisfied with something.

Whatever. I didn't care. I was enjoying myself and had no desire to date anyone or engage in petty games. School was starting soon, and I planned to spend time with my friends Jax, Axel, and Juniper. They were good people who were genuinely enjoyable to be around. I was stuck in this small town until I graduated high school with Emily and Jason as my guardians. I might as well make the most of it.