I ran my hands across my hip, my fingers crossing my lightly bruised skin. I was healing well and things seemed to be coming along great. Soon, I will be up and moving like new. I had a cheeky grin on my face. A grin that that quickly faded before I thought of the conversation Xavier and I shared recently.

He was a damn fool!

Who did he think it was telling me who I could and could not associate myself with? I appreciate his dedication and respect for my father but has no right to talk to me as he was some sort of god.

I took in a deep breath as I pushed the entire event to the back of my mind.

As I un-wrapped the last bandage, my door opened as Brittany and Angela entered my room.

"Hey, how are you feeling doll?"

"Much better." I seemed overjoyed.

"Soo how does it feel being a free woman?" Angela nudged me.

I shrugged. I had no idea what she was even referring too.

"What do you mean?"

"You know the 'Off limit' thing? Xavier retracted the whole thing."

Oh?

"I didn't know that he did that. Do you know why?" I questioned her. She would know more than anyone else.

"No."..

The sun was at its highest. Its rays of light shined down on to the yellow crystals of the sand and the blue glass of the ocean. I closed my eyes and inhaled, taking in the beauty and relaxing smell of the ocean's water.

It was the perfect day to pack up and hit the beach for new scenery and less tension.

As a few guys, including Steven, played a little sand football and Brittany soaked up some more sun by the water, Angela and I relaxed under the umbrella, avoiding a serious tan.

"You are all dead." I heard Brittany's voice based.

I looked up just in time to watch Brittany emerge from the water, her hair and face drenched with water as she pulled herself up. Laughing, the guys took heed of her warning as they scurried away.

Laughing, I pulled a drink from my cooler before I popped it open and sat back into my beach chair. I extended my drink to Angela. She, being the lost one, did nothing but stare at the man on the beach. Her eyes were focused, staring into the soul of Steven. Before, my assumptions were just that, assumptions. Now, they were more like facts.

"So, how long have you two been messing around?"

She nearly leaped from her skin when I asked her.

"What? What do you mean?" Her biggest mistake was breaking eye contact with me.

"Come on, you and Steven." I laughed. "You two practically eye rape each other every time you two get near each other."

She sighed out, giving in to it.

"Maybe almost a year."

"A year?"

"Yeah, it's... complicated." She rolled her eyes. "Is it that obvious though?"

She collapsed on to her towel.

"Look, no one is supposed to know."

"Why?"

"Because Xavier will go ballistic. The last thing we need is a death." She frowned. "He's so over protective."

I know what she meant. He was crazy as hell.

"Please don't tell anyone." She put her hands together, pleading with me with vast eyes.

"Calm down puppy eyes, I won't." I laughed.

She let out a sigh of relief as she rolled back over on to her stomach and watched on, secretly admiring her hidden secret...

After hours of beach water and sand, we were finally ready to leave. The ride home felt so peaceful, besides the mild headache I was getting from the numerous wine coolers I had.

When we finally reached home, the guys unpacked the Suv as we headed in to the house.

All I could think about is how wonderful a shower or bath would be right now.

I kicked off my sandals at the door.

"This damn sand." Angela began to shake out her clothes.

"I know." I squirmed, agitated with the amount of sand in my bathing suit bra.

As I continued to remove the sand from my things, the girls disappeared into the house. I assumed we all had the same agenda. A shower. After removing as much sand as I possibly could, I gathered my things as I walked into the house.

Standing there was Alpha Xavier and Jaz.

My inner monster did not fancy the two right now.

Xavier was leaning against the wall with his arms folded over his huge chest. Jaz was standing in front of him, twirling her fingers around the thread of the bottom of his shirt. She was batting her eyelashes and mumbling a few words into his listening ear.

I was dumbfounded, left to stare at them two. My gut seemed to twist into a knot as I watched Jaz practically climb all over him.

Suddenly, I was their focus.

"What do you want?" Jaz spat.

Normally my reaction would be something a little more unfriendly. A smart remark? Choke her out? A slap across the face? Those would be my go-to options however today, at this very moment, I just did not find the energy to respond. It was like a part of me lost its strength to even bother.

"Not much." I shoved passed her as I made my way to my room for a shower...

I stepped deeper into the warm water, relaxing as every bead of water caressed my skin. I closed my eyes to relax a little more. Sadly, the relaxation did not come. Instead, I was bombarded with nothing but visual pictures of what I had just saw moments ago. It was something I definitely should not even feed into.

I extended my hand from the shower, reaching for the empty space I normally placed my towels for use.

"Shit."

I ceased the water and stepped out into the cold, dripping wet as I ran to the door. Opening it, I looked down at the purple plush towel at my feet. I picked it up and wrapped it around my body, looking around the room in wonder....