56. Anna

56

Anna

Mindy was dead. I'd met her for the first time just a few days ago, crossing her path after one of my failed magic attempts. She'd smiled shyly at me and told me that I was glowing. The thought of that soft and sweet voice made my heart ache. She'd been on the guard for less than six months.

But I couldn't focus on that now. There were rogue wolves pouring out of the woods, and they'd broken the first line of defense. Jenson and I met up with a wolf barreling our way before we could even reach the skirmish. I shifted instantly, launching myself at him. He was easily twice my size, but I didn't have to worry. While he pinned me down, Jenson slit his throat.

Ruthless and efficient. I'd always known, but it was a little terrifying to see the second in action. Jenson shifted afterward and caught up with me. Together, we took down another rogue wolf before we happened upon Mindy's body.

Rage filled me, and I ripped into the fray. Whatever the rogue's plan, these wolves were nothing more than sacrifices. Around us, the ground was already littered with three bodies. It took less than three minutes to put down another two.

I shifted back and scanned the area. "If you abandoned your post, return immediately."

No one moved. Either no one had abandoned their post, or no one was willing to listen to me. I pushed forward, hoping it was the former. "Spread out. Cover the line," I ordered and reached down to pick one of the discarded radios on the ground. "Who's covering the monitors?"

"Evan," a voice reported instantly.

"What do you have for me, Evan?"

"No additional reports of rogues. No one had to leave their post for more than a minute before returning. Jenson's second wave had already embolized at the first call of danger."

A second wave? I raised my eyebrows in Jenson's direction but didn't say anything. "Can you send the feed to my phone?"

"Yes, ma'am. You're one of the programmed contacts. Sending it now."

Ma'am. I nearly wrinkled my nose. "Thank you, Evan. I assume the rest of the perimeter looks clear?"

"Yes. Should I call-in the crews for a hunt?"

I wanted desperately to say yes, but that would take a massive amount of manpower. With Jax gone and us already pulling double-duty on the perimeter, I was loathe to use up that kind of energy without proof. "No. Hold tight but be on alert."

We had four injured wolves. I sent them to the infirmary and had two others collect Mindy's body. Jenson and I split up to check the rest of the perimeter, and I met up with him at the security base. "Still worried about checking on the storage reserves?" I joked lamely. He shot me an unreadable look. "Sorry. I tend to be a little inappropriate when I'm stressed."

"You handled it well," he said gruffly.

Was that a compliment? Maybe this was all just a hazy dream.

"Jax thinks they're testing us," I said as I looked at the monitors. "Our computer security is sound, so they're not eavesdropping on communications. Maybe they're timing how long it takes for a second wave to come in? There has to be something else. For them to breech the inner boundary, they'd need enough wolves to act as a battering ram, and instead, they're just throwing wolves in like sacrificial lambs."

"Maybe they're expecting you on the front line now that Jax is gone," Jenson mused.

Evan, a thin and wiry young werewolf, widened his eyes. "We won't let that happen, ma'am."

Ugh. There was the ma'am again. I gave him a reassuring smile. "First of all, they shouldn't even know that Jax is gone, but that does pose an interesting question."

"What's that?" Even asked.

I met Jenson's eyes. "What if they did expect Jax to leave, and they're waiting for confirmation."

"What kind of confirmation?"

Jenson's face darkened. "Like that his mate is the one giving orders rather than him. Fuck, I should have thought of that."

"It's one theory, and there are a lot of pieces that would have to fall into place for that to happen." Of course, Maeve always seemed to be fifteen to twenty steps ahead of us, so it wasn't unreasonable to think that she'd know Jax would be gone. "The point is that we're not weaker just because he's gone. We can hold the pack just as easily without him."

"But you have to stay away from the perimeter. Even when they attack," Jenson pointed out.

I narrowed my eyes. "Never going to happen."

"It is going to happen. You are going to protect this pack, but this pack is also going to protect you. You stay away from the perimeter, or…"

"Or you'll make me?"

"You outrank me. Nobody is going to make you do anything, Anna," he said in a gentler tone. "But if you don't, then these attacks will keep coming. Not only will we risk our guard, but if you get taken, the lives lost will mean nothing."

Damn it, he was right, and I hated that. "How am I just supposed to stay back while my pack is getting attacked?"

"By knowing how many lives you may save in the process."

I hated being in Jax's room when he was gone, or maybe I just hated being alone. It was midnight before I finally dragged myself up to the room. I was bone tired and mentally exhausted. Ten minutes after my shower, there was a knock at my door.

"It's Jenson."

With a frown, I opened the door. "What is it? What's wrong?"

"Nothing is wrong. I just wanted to check on you before bed."

I was confused for a split-second, and then I stepped back. "Jax asked you to check on me."

His ears turned pink. "Maybe."

"I was alone for so long you'd think I'd be used to being alone again. It's just unsettling to be in his room without him."

"Your room." He stepped inside.

"Excuse me?"

"It's your room just as much as his. Maybe you should redecorate every time he's gone. After so many pink ruffled pillows, he won't leave you as much."

I smiled at the thought. "I don't think I'm a pink ruffles girl."

Jenson shrugged. "Maybe you're still figuring out who you are."

That was oddly introspective for a wolf who didn't want much to do with me. "Speaking from experience?"

Jenson just grunted. "I wasn't always from this pack either. You did well tonight. I wish you'd argue less with me in front of the others, but I get it. I'd be pissed if I was taking out of the action as well."

Still a little restless, I perched on the chair cushion and folded my legs under me. "Somehow, against all odds, they have accepted me. They want to follow me. I don't want to lose that by looking like I'm hiding from them, and I certainly don't want anyone else to die. I've brought this at their doorstep."

He walked to the window and gazed out. "Do you know what went through my mind when I first laid eyes on you?"

"Kill her?"

He didn't turn around. "Yes. You were the daughter of a crazed lunatic. You smelled of blood and death. I couldn't even sense your wolf, and while I could sense your pain, you were not broken. I thought she will not break. She will never break. Kill her now and leave her to rot here. "

I swallowed hard. "How sweet."

"And then that fucking mate bond formed, and I knew our pack would never be the same again. I knew there had to be more to you, something I couldn't sense, for Jax's wolf to choose you."

I snorted. "You should have told him that. Make him listen. If you'd have listened to your instincts, everyone would be safe."

"Would we?" Jenson turned. "Maeve's plan was already in motion. She would have released the vials anyway, and there would have been no cure. We would have all turned into monsters. An army for her."

I opened my mouth and shut it again. "You don't know that for sure."

"This is just one example of how you are the hero and not the villain, Anna. That is Maeve. That was Emerson. That was your father. Everything has been done to you, but now you have the chance to fight back. Let's be clear. I don't like you. I want to blame you for everything shitty that has happened, but I know, deep down, that when you face Maeve, you will save us all."

"And if I don't?"

"Then Jax will no doubt burn the world down before Maeve could ever get her hands on it."