18. Anna

18

Anna

Doing my best to hide my horror, I watched as Jax's wolf came out and grew right before my eyes. He was easily bigger than Makayla's wolf, but with the same issues. A hunched back. Dark patchy hair. His muzzle was the wrong proportions, and when he settled on all four legs, he roared.

"Jax," I snapped and moved so I was directly in front of him. "Stop that right now."

His eyes narrowed, and my heart skipped a beat. When I looked into his eyes, I didn't see a speck of Jax in there. Still, I didn't move. "Don't panic. Don't run. Just listen to me. You know me. You love me."

Those words were hard to say out loud, but I found our mating bond. It was still there, healthier than ever. I pushed as much calm through it as I could, and he lowered his head. People were starting to gather, and I could feel the tension in the air.

I never took my eyes off Jax. "I need someone to alert London and Cruz what has happened. Someone needs to tell security that there is a traitor or a rogue in these woods. We're going to the infirmary. Please give us a wide berth."

Thankfully, people scattered, and I put my hand on Jax's nose. "Saul is going to be so mad at you, but not nearly as furious as I am. That shot was for me."

He grunted, and I knew that at least Jax's wolf was still in there, even if Jax was not. "All right, we're going to go to the infirmary. Can you shift back?"

His green eyes only darkened, and I saw a moment of panic in them. "Easy. It's okay. Makayla had this problem too, but she did shift back eventually."

Makayla. Who was in a coma and sharing someone else's life essence so she could stay alive.

I couldn't panic. The moment I panicked, he would panic. Instead, I smiled. "I'm still a little tired from my run. Kenzi says I'm out of shape, and she's not wrong. You've spoiled me. Let's take this nice and easy."

Every step that Jax's wolf took, he seemed to get more and more anxious. It took us ten minutes to walk back to the infirmary, and it felt like the longest ten minutes of my life. I continued to push as many calming vibes as possible through our bond, but my own panic was getting harder and harder to mask. If I lost it, then so would he.

London and ten other guards were waiting for us by the door. They'd been preparing for the worst. Jax's wolf didn't seem to mind, but I could feel his senses sharpening. He would be ready for a fight if one came.

"This isn't good," London said in a tight voice. "But I see you aren't panicking. That helps. You'll have to go through the delivery door around the back. You're too large to fit here."

We led him through the infirmary. Once he saw the empty room for him, he tried to turn and run, and I stood right in his path. "I know you don't like this. I don't like this either, but Saul needs to examine you if he's going to help you. I need you to do this for me, Jax. Please."

Was it my imagination, or did his eyes lighten just a little?

Jax's wolf hobbled into the room, and I started to go after him. "Anna," London said in a low voice. "That's not a good idea."

"He's not a monster," I told London. "Jax's wolf is in there, and he's in control. He just doesn't look like himself. I can feel our mating bond. Your concern right now needs to be the asshole who tried to shoot me full of this dope. If it wasn't for Jax, I'd be in there as well. This is the second time someone tried to shoot me. I'm taking that personally."

"I'll need your report." He glanced wearily into the room. "You can give it to me while Saul examines him."

"I will give it to you afterward," I said firmly. "I'm not leaving him."

"Anna—"

Stepping inside, I closed the door and rolled my eyes before turning to Jax's wolf. "Is that your annoyed face that you have on?" I asked as I planted my hands on my hips? "You think London is right? Too damn bad. I'm pretty annoyed, myself. How dare you step in front of that dart! My wolf would actually like to be a little bit bigger, and you took that away from me!"

He growled, and I smacked his nose lightly. "Don't you sass me. Wow, your skin is really dry. I'm going to borrow some of that lotion Kenzi has that makes her skin fricking glow and slather it all over you."

"He definitely needs it," Kenzi's voice came over the intercom. I turned to see her, Finn, and Amelia pressed up against the window. "What the fuck happened?"

"Asshole in camo. See if you can return to the scene and help catch his scent to track him."

Kenzi nodded and tugged Finn along with her. Amelia looked visibly worried through the window, but the door opened, and Saul walked in. "Get him to shift back, Anna. Immediately," he barked.

My eyes widened. "I...what?"

"The longer he stays in wolf form, the more damage he does. Order him through the mating bond."

"Order him?" Had he lost his mind? "I can't order him to do anything. I can't even feel him! It's just Jax's wolf."

"The less time he spends as a wolf, the more time I have to save his life."

Well, shit. I turned to Jax. "You heard what the man said. You want to live, you let Jax back out."

Light flared in his eyes as the wolf took an even stronger hold, and I sighed. Of course he would be just as stubborn as his human. Closing my eyes, I searched for our mating bond.

Please , I whispered through the bond. Please. I could lose you both if you don't do this. I know you want to protect me, but your pack is here. They will protect me. I just need you to be you again. Our future depends on it.

His wolf made a little crying noise, a strange sound from a beast so large. I opened my eyes to see him practically collapsing in on himself as he started to change.

Just like Makayla, it took far too long for him to shift. The minutes felt like an eternity. Naked and shivery, Jax sagged against the wall.

Saul and Amelia raced in to help me move him to the table. "Did you…tell London." Jax gasped.

"Yes. London knows you're Mr. Hyde now," I told him.

"No. About…the…traitor…"

"Yes. Kenzi and Finn are trying to track him down as we speak. That is not your concern."

"Can't…protect you."

Saul jabbed an IV into Jax's arm, and Jax snarled at him. I smooth my hand over Jax's hair. He was freezing and sweaty at the same time.

"I won't leave the infirmary. I promise." I glanced up at Saul. "Are you sure about this? Makayla did not look this bad when she shifted, and she was a wolf for a whole hell of a lot longer."

"I won't know anything for sure until I test his blood. I don't even know if he was given the same chemicals. He's bigger and stronger. It might mean that he falls faster," Saul said tensely. "Someone deliberately targeted you?"

I nodded.

"That's something to consider. Do you mind if I test your blood?"

"Take whatever you need. Do you think it will help?"

"I don't think Makayla ordered this stuff. I think someone is using London's pack as a Petri dish. I found a bug in the software of the computer. Someone is reading my reports. If they're targeting you, it might just be because someone doesn't like you."

"I'm pretty sure that's the social club on this mountain."

"Or they think it might react differently to you."

"Why would it…because I'm a null? You think that somehow changes my DNA?"

"Roll up your sleeves. We're about to find out."