“Are you ready for your first date?” Jasmine asks from her place at the kitchen counter, stuffing her face with the brownies we made for my vlog. 

“I’m as ready as I will ever be.” I smile at her over my shoulder. I was nervous but that is to be expected. I decided to give Jax my full trust and not invite someone along, like he suggested. It will be interesting to see what he planned. Over the past week of us spending more time together, whether it be in the library or when he walks me to class afterwards. I feel like I got to see a side of him I never thought existed. 

“Did you ask him where he is taking you?” Rolling my eyes before turning to face her. 

“Umm.. Hello! Didn't we already go over this? You even tried to get it out of him yourself and you kept complaining about it.” How can she forget that already? She basically hounded him all week for an answer. Which she still didn't get. I chuckle to myself, remembering the way she tried to use her puppy dog eyes on Jax. He completely ignored her, which made the pout and the whole look set in even more.

“Sorry I forgot. My mind is still on what happened yesterday. That little jerk didn't have to ruin it for everyone.”

“Jasmine, please don't bring it up. I’m already embarrassed enough as it is. Plus I'm extremely nervous about my date with Jax. I don't have time to worry about that too.”  Turning away from her to finish wiping down the counters before I had to  get the last batch of brownies out of the oven. 

“Okay, okay I get it but I know it’s bothering you.” She isn't wrong. Thinking back on it now, I still don't know what I did to make Thomas so angry. Yesterday was Brenda’s parents anniversary celebration. 

They welcomed both dad and I with open arms and warm smiles. After we moved to Blackwater, they have made us promise to attend all family events if dad wasn't busy at the clinic that is. Aside from Brenda, they have two other children. Christian who is the oldest and Celine the middle child making Brenda the baby of the family. 

This particular event though would've been the first time I saw them since New Years. I was very excited to see everyone, except Thomas who is the oldest son of Celine. He is also the oldest out of all the grandchildren. He has always been indifferent towards me. He would usually just say things so only I heard them but yesterday, he wouldn't let up. He followed me around the entire time and as we were about to sit down for dinner, he refused to sit next to me and kept calling me the intruder. 

I tried to ignore him as much as I can, but you can only take so much. That was in the form of grandma Eileen. I have never seen her upset before. She is usually all smiles and cheer but at that moment she looked like she was ready to kill. Even Celine looked ready to make her son disappear. We didn't stay much longer after that. Brenda was so upset that she didn't say anything to anyone as she left. Just thinking about it makes me feel guilty. I know it wasn't my fault and I have nothing to feel guilty about but I just do. For the first time in a long time, I felt like the odd person out. 

Brenda did call her parents once we got home to apologize for leaving so abruptly. I'm not sure how the conversation went, but Brenda was even more upset by the end of the call. 

“Sean! Your phone is ringing.” I shake the memory of yesterday away and quickly answer my phone. 

“Hello?” I realized too late that I answered the call without seeing who it was.

“Hey! Are you ready?” Jax asks. I can hear the smile in his voice. 

“I’ll be there in ten minutes.” Crap! What time is it? Looking at the clock over the stove. Oh my Goddess! Where did the time go? 

“U-Uhh… Yeah I'm ready. You said I needed to walk with my trunks and a change of clothes. Right?” 

I didn't even remember taking the last batch of brownies out of the oven, but they were right next to me on the counter. 

“Yes, and don't forget sunscreen. It is pretty hot out today.”

After making sure everything was off, I ran upstairs to change and double check that I had everything I needed. 

“Okay. I’ll see you in a bit.” I smile as I hang up the phone after he agrees.

I do wonder what we will be doing. He just kept telling me that I would like it. Then he told me to bring my swim trunks and a change of clothes. I ran through the possibilities of what he could have planned and all I could do now was wait and see. 

I took a quick shower and got dressed. I took my heat suppressant just to be safe before grabbing the bag that I had packed for the day. Making my way down the stairs I hear Jasmine talking to someone. Unless she was on the phone she shouldn't be talking to anyone. Dad is at work and Brenda went to her friend's house. Then I heard a voice reply to whatever Jasmine had said.

“Just keep in mind that if you hurt my bestie ever again, even if you are the son of the Alpha and next in line. I will gut you like a fish and happily accept my punishment.” Oh Goddess, what is she doing?

“I promise you that I will try my best. I just want Sean to be happy in life and with his choice for a mate.” 

Rushing the rest of the way down the stairs, I come to a stop just beside the front door where Jasmine is standing. 

“Why didn't you let him in?” I ask Jasmine as I slap the back of her head softly.

“It’s not her fault. I told her that I would wait for you out here. Besides, we should get going before it gets too late. We do have school tomorrow.” Jax says saving Jasmine from me. He holds out his hand. Not thinking anything of it I place my hand in his. Jasmine laughs when none of us make a move.

“I think he was asking to take your bag, not your hand. You doof.” Feeling my face heat in embarrassment, I try pulling my hand away but Jax holds on tight. 

“Let’s get out of here. Shall we?” He winks at me and I swear I just about swoon. I nod and let him lead me to his car. 

“See you later Jas.” I say before getting into Jax’s car. She waves us off and then heads back into the house. Knowing Jasmine, she is going to eat most of the brownies and binge watch Criminal Minds on Netflix. That is what our usual Sundays would be like. 

“Will Jasmine be okay by herself?” 

“Yeah, if she gets bored she will either go to sleep or go home.” He seems satisfied with my answer as we pull away from the curb.

“If you say so.”

“Are you going to tell me now where we are going?” He chuckles as he shakes his head.

“Nope. You will just have to wait and see. I hope you will like it at least a little bit.” We sat in a comfortable silence for the next twenty minutes with the radio playing softly in the background. We are somewhere close to our pack meeting grounds we use for full moon festivals but that is as much as I can identify. Jax continues to drive along until he turns off onto a dirt road. I don't ask any questions because I know he won't answer them. We drove down that path for about fifteen more minutes, the further on we went the thicker the brush got. Just when I think we can't go any further, Jax makes a sharp right turn and my jaw drops open. 

In front of us was a beautiful field of wildflowers but what took my breath away was the waterfall that led to a nice sized pond that is in the heart of it all.

I wish I had brought my sketchbook to capture this moment.

“W-What is this place? Are we even still on pack property?” I was a bit panicked.

“Yes we are still on pack land. I wouldn't endanger you like that.” Jax says as he gets out of the car. I’m still in a bit of shock that I didn't realize Jax had made his way around to my side and held the door open for me to get out. 

“This is a place that I found when I was a little pup. I used to always run away from my parents whenever they had a meeting near the meeting grounds. When I found this place I was scared that I had gone over pack lines. At first I kept it a secret, but I didn't want to be attacked out here and then no one know where I was.” Nodding at his explanation, I tried to relax and enjoy the view. Jax pointed beyond the waterfall to a trail.

“That trail leads to an overlook. The view is amazing, especially during sunset.” He walks to the trunk of his car. I was still caught up in the scenery and took a couple steps closer to the clearing of flowers that outlined the wildflowers. As I got closer I noticed that there were some gardening tools off to the side. I look over my shoulder at Jax. Did he plant these? I wonder who else knows about this place.

“So… Who did you tell about this place?” I couldn't help but ask. 

“I told my dad ofcourse, I brought him here one day after school. I was scared to show it to him but I had to.” He now held a large picnic basket in one hand with a blanket in the other, and a duffel bag slung across his chest.

“He was just as shocked by it as I was. Come on. Let’s find a good spot and get comfortable. I will tell you everything you would like to know.” He heads towards one of the shadest spots that was still close enough to the water. He sets the picnic basket down first and puts the blanket over it. I stand off to the side watching him move. He pulls something out of his bag and shakes it out. I still don't know what it is, but I watch as he hooks it up. When he is finished hanging it up to his satisfaction, it’s then that it clicks that he hung a mesh net to keep out the bugs. 

“Does someone tend to this place?

“That would be me. To be honest I like gardening. I started helping my mom with her garden at home.” I point to the flowers that outline the wildflowers I saw earlier.

“Did you plant those yourself?” He rubs the back of his necks and sheepishly nods,

“I wanted to try my hand at my own garden, but with school and helping my dad. I wouldn't be able to give it the care it needs.” I didn't expect this from Jax. To think that he likes gardening. Who would've thought it?

“I’m a little surprised that you like to garden but I think it’s cool.” The more I learn about Jax it makes me like him even more. 

“Come have a seat and get out of the sun for a bit.” Jax says as he pulls me into the mesh tent. He had spread out the blanket while we were talking. There were even a few little pillows.

“Before you ask. No, I haven’t brought anyone here outside of my family. Not even my friends know about this place. I have slept out here a few times and after almost being eaten alive by bugs, my dad helped me set the mesh tent. I take it down so it doesn't get in the way of the animals who call this space home when I leave.” 

We sat talking about what we did yesterday. I told him about going to visit Brenda’s family but I leave out the incident that happened with Thomas. Jax doesn't need to know about any of that. He on the other hand spent the day with his little brother Bryce. I could tell that he loves Bryce very much. His face lights up as he tells me the story of Bryce thinking he was grown and could swim without his floating wings or life vest. Seeing Jax like this was very intoxicating, I hope I can experience more of it.

“Oh here before I forget and Jeremiah drives me crazy.” He hands me a gift bag that I didn't see him have earlier. Taking the bag from him, I don't open it right away. I look at the bag and then to him and back to the bag.

“Just open it. I will explain after you open it. Okay?” I give a slight nod and open the bag. Inside is a sketchpad with colored pencils and markers. I pull them out and look at Jax again. 

“What is all this?”

“Well I know from our talks that you like to draw. I didn't want to give anything away by telling you to bring your sketchbook, so I bought these specially for today.” He looks nervous but continues.

“The other reason is Jeremiah really wants to meet you. So I thought you might like to draw him. He is all for posing for you.” 

I didn't expect that. I definitely wanted to sketch this place when we first arrived. Now Jax is telling me that I not only get to meet his wolf, but I can sketch him too.

“You don't have to if you don't want to. We can just enjoy the water and the picnic.” He says when I take too long to respond.

Shaking my head violently almost to the point of making myself dizzy. 

“No t-that’s not it. I would love to sketch Jeremiah.” I almost jump on him with how excited I am. 

“Are you sure that it would be okay?” Jax nods and this time I do jump on him. When he stiffens under me, I realize what I just did. I am practically straddling him, I can get a full sniff of his scent now if I really wanted to. I don't move, I don't even think I have taken a deep breath yet. 

“Sean?”

“Hmm?”

“I’m really trying to keep both myself and Jeremiah in check here.” I lift my head to look at his face. His voice got deeper and more of a whisper. His eyes were flashing between his usual ocean blue color to the midnight blue of his wolf. 

“Please, have mercy on us.” He gently grabs my waist and lifts me off of him. He set me back down on the blanket.

“I’m sorry. I got a little too excited.” I say while hiding my face. What the hell just came over me. I didn't want to part from him. My body is still buzzing from being that close to him and his scent is driving me insane. I’ve never felt this way before but I have to admit I want more. I have always liked Jax even though I was afraid of him most of the time. Jasmine always joked that I had to be sick in the head. Maybe she was right.

“I think I will go for that swim after all.” I don't wait around for his response. Getting up I take off my shirt and drop it on top of my bag. Just as I am about to walk to the edge of the waterfall, Jax stops me.

“I apologize for my reaction. It’s just being able to be this close to you, getting to know you, seeing all the different sides of you. It’s almost addicting. I loved hanging out with you this past week and right now. I don't want to ruin it by doing something you may later regret.”

He is probably right. We are still getting to know each other and if something were to happen between us now. I’m not quite sure how I will react. I mean he set up this perfect backdrop for our first date. He offered to not only let me meet his wolf but sketch him too.

“I understand. I just got a little over excited. Let's just act like nothing happened. Promise?”

“Yeah, I promise. This stays between us. Just let me know when you are ready to meet Jeremiah.” 

We both made our way into the water after that. At first I was a little timid and stayed close to the edge. Jax didn't waste any time and dived under the water. Taking in everything from a new vantage point, I can see the vines that run up the wall behind the water. I think I can even spot a cave or something back there. 

Jax swam over to me and I thought about asking him about it but then he stood up and I lost all train of thought. I knew Jax was built but not to this extent. 

At this very moment I wish I could either freeze time or take a picture. His body is a work of art that I wouldn't mind studying very closely.