53. Jax

53

Jax

It took two days for Finn and Kenzi to find the healer. In that time, the pack was quiet. Not even a whiff of rogue activity outside our territory. No word from Maeve.

I studied the withered face of the older man. He looked like he'd just been riding the storm until it ended. When Anna came into the frame, his eyes gentled, and he smiled. "Bet you don't remember me," he said gruffly.

"I'm sorry. Most of my memories were locked away. You're Hector Ramirez?"

"Hadn't heard that name in years until Finn uttered it. Always knew one day he'd come to me and know it. Boy turned into a good man. I'm glad. I doubt it would have been that way if he'd stayed. Still, hate that he had such a rough life. You too, Andrea. Had no idea. No idea."

His eyes filled with tears, but he blinked them away. "Finn had questions. Guess you do too."

"I might be repeating some of the questions," Anna admitted. "I hope that's all right."

"You deserve the truth. Whatever I can give you."

My office was getting crowded. Amelia was perched on the chair, her pen to a notepad. Saul was the same. Jenson and Lunessa had each taken a corner. Jenson kept glancing at the clock. No doubt he wanted to get back to Irene.

"Why did you tell Maeve that her daughters had died?"

"She'd ordered them killed." His eyes narrowed. "Maeve was a good and strong leader until she became pregnant with her first pup. The witch that was here at the time, Adiya, was a seer. Old as dirt then. Old as I am now," he laughed dryly. "Maeve wanted her to see her kid. To know that she was going to be okay. Damn witch told her that the heart of her daughter would destroy the mountain. First, she thought it might be kid's future mate, so she sought out another witch. Out of the pack. Never knew what the witch said, but when the chit was born, Maeve ordered her killed. I couldn't do it. Smuggled her to a different family."

I leaned forward. "Maeve didn't want to take over the mountain?"

"Not then." Hector sighed. "She got pregnant again. Another girl. Same order. I smuggled her out too. When she got pregnant a third time, she started to go a little mad, I think. She left the mountain again, but when she came back, she was at peace. Fourth kid was Finn. She was at peace with a son, and I thought maybe she'd be okay. By then, Adiya was dead and Katherine was the new pack witch. Shoulda known something was up. The way Maeve was obsessed with Katherine, especially when she got pregnant. She became desperate for a second child. Started taking fertility drugs. She got pregnant again, another girl, but she miscarried. When she had the last girl, she handed her over to me and told me to kill her but give her the baby's heart."

Anna gasped, and Hector shook his head. "I couldn't do it. I smuggled the baby out again. I told her the baby had died almost immediately, and I'd buried her. Told her it wasn't right what she was doing. In retaliation, she killed my mate."

Tears streaked down his cheek, and he wiped them again. "I left after that. Changed my name because I knew she'd be looking for me. Figured I'd die out here in these woods without my mate, but there are too many wolves who need me. Then I learned that Finn was out here on his own, and I knew I had to wait until he knew. Until he came back and got his answers."

"I don't understand. You married again," Anna said.

"Maris? She's not my wife. More like my daughter, although she's no wolf." He cackled a little bit at some private joke. "She's a good doctor, and she needed a place to hide. She's gone, now. Moved on about a year ago, but not before making me promise that I wouldn't take my own life. She'd know, I suspect, too. Knows too damn much, that woman."

"You can come here," Anna said gently. "You've lasted this long. Come here and be part of our pack. We'll protect you."

"Nah. We rogues might not be a pack, but we look out for each other. Can't leave ‘em." He shook his head. "Anyway, that's not what's important. What you want to know is where Maeve went when she left the mountain. She went looking for a witch. Evalina. Powerful seer. Never did find her, but she crossed paths with a group of others looking for Evalina."

Lunessa visibly stiffened, but I kept my eyes trained on the screen. I didn't want her to know that I'd seen. She obviously knew who Evalina was.

"Whatever she said, it made them lose their minds. They tried to kill her in her sleep, but not before telling her who they were. They'd called themselves the Protectors of the Land, damn cult made of wolves and witches. Whatever they told her is what set her on this path, and I don't know what it was. Maeve's mate didn't know either. He was the one who told me. Never heard of the cult other than that, but I'd heard whispers of a weird group of rogues sequestered with witches on the other side of the mountains. I suspect you'll find your cult there."

"Why didn't you tell anyone before?" Anna demanded.

Hector looked at her sadly. "Say what? That Maeve was losing her marbles? She still had the respect of the pack. That something weird was happening? I have no details. I have no idea what she wanted with that baby's heart. Or why she exiled Finn. Or her obsession with you. I know nothing about the cult. I have a fraction of information, and sure, I figured there might be more to it. I'm sorry. Even if I knew what it meant, who would I have told?"

Anna sat back and blew out her breath. "You're right. I'm sorry. I'm frustrated trying to piece everything together."

The old man grunted. "Now, I've given Finn the last location of the girls. They'll be women now. I've told you all I know. My time is coming soon. Maeve won't let this stand, but I have faith that you and Finn are going to come out on the other side of this. You both are on the right side of fate."

"Please come back with Finn," Anna whispered.

"You have a good life," Hector grunted and walked off-screen. A moment later, Finn appeared.

"You want permission to round up your sisters," I said without preamble.

"It's not sentimental. If Maeve gets to them first, she could use them. The first three grew up in the same rogue community. The youngest is in London's pack."

London would want something for us bringing her here. I eyed Lunessa, and she nodded. "I'll talk to London. Take Kenzi."

"What about the cult?" Kenzi asked. "They're a priority, aren't they?"

"They're both a priority. I'll send another team to the cult. Stay safe and watch your backs."

They both nodded and switched off the video call. I looked at Saul and Amelia. "He didn't give us much new information but see what you can find about the cult. Lunessa, I'd like a moment,"

Jenson left with Amelia and Saul. Lunessa sighed. "I can talk to London. Get him to let us protect the fourth daughter."

"I know you will. That's not what I'm here to discuss. Evalina. You know who that is."

She pressed her lips together and briefly closed her eyes. "I do."

"Are you cursed to secrecy or something? Now is not the time to hold back," I demanded. "Who is she?"

"She's the Crone."