6. Anna

6

Anna

As soon as the door closed, London straightened and cleared his throat. "I am not unfamiliar with Emerson's brand of violence and torture. I have told Jax that I can have people available for you to speak with."

"He mentioned. Thank you, but I'm good." Cocking my head, I studied the alpha. Snake River was the smallest of the packs, but that didn't mean that London was the weakest of the alphas. From the little that I had seen, his pack was a tight-knit community, and between how far his brewery and distillery distributions reached, I knew that they weren't lacking in money. Still, there was something odd about him. Something I couldn't quite decipher. "What makes you familiar with the things Emerson likes to do behind closed doors?"

"That is a story for another day. For now, let me just say that I will not shed a tear over his loss." He pulled a file out of the desk. "My grandfather was a writer. He studiously journaled his entire life, and I made it a personal project of mine to read through them. He met the last null."

"What?"

"She was a witch, obviously. I've never heard of a werewolf null, but she and my grandfather were good friends. I've spent the last few weeks putting together this file with information that might have some interest for you."

While his fingers drummed on the file, I noticed that he wasn't sliding it over. "You want something in return," I said flatly.

"Yes. Information. On Lunessa."

Well, fuck. London just got more and more interesting. "You know her name. I didn't even know it, and I spent a few weeks in her den hiding from my father."

"Yes, well, I knew Lunessa before she became the Maiden."

Knowing that there was an application of sorts for the position, it didn't surprise me, but it was strange to think of any of the witches as having a life before they became part of the Darkwyn Coven. Lunessa and London must have been close. Friends. Enemies. Something a little more intimate.

It struck me then, the reason that London seemed different. "You feel hollow."

Immediately, his hand jerked back. "Excuse me?"

Blinking, I shook my head. "I'm sorry. I don't know where that came from. I don't know all that much about Lunessa, and I'm not sure I'm all that comfortable talking about her with you."

"She was hiding on your territory while I was there. Were the others with her?"

So he was going to continue with the questions anyway. Still, this seemed like an innocent question. "No. She came to help, on her own. According to Jax, the Crone was furious when she found out."

"As she should have been," London said tightly. "Amaya nearly killed her."

I waited for another question, but his eyes glazed over as if he was lost in thought. "London? Anything else you needed to know?"

"How long ago was it that you were at the witch's den? The first time? It couldn't have been that long ago. You're young."

"Five years ago."

"So she would have been part of the coven for just over a year when you met her. Did she seem happy?"

"London, I was young, scared, and near death by the time I made it to them. All I can tell you is that they were kind to me. They helped me up until they kicked me out. For the record, Lunessa was against it. And when she thought I was in danger, she called."

"Called? Magically?"

I smiled. "No, on a phone. And for the record, no. I couldn't call her back. I did try. I don't know if Lunessa is happy or not, but I know that she's always been there when I needed her. She's driven to help. Why do you care?"

"Curiosity," he said abruptly. "As I said, we knew each other before she joined the coven. Here is your information. I do not know if it will help. Do you know who your mother was?"

"No. Does it matter? I'm told that the power isn't genetic."

"Who told you that?"

"The Crone."

London slid the file toward me. "Perhaps you should not take her words at face value. The coven always has an agenda."

My gaze flew to his. "You're suggesting that my mother was a witch."

"It is rare but not unheard of for a wolf to mate with a witch," London said softly. "You can read it for yourself, but the null my grandfather knew told him that it wasn't passed down through every generation or even every other generation, but that it was a bloodline. I think that your mother being a witch is the simplest explanation for your power. What do you know of her?"

"Nothing." I stared at the folder. "Dirk never talked about her, and when I asked, he told me she was just some bitch he shacked up with and that she died."

"And yet your murderous father thought it was in his best interest to keep his daughter? I suppose that's possible. Who knew what that man was thinking?"

Except that my father rarely did anything without thought. He stayed alive for as long as he did by being cunning.

Slowly, I reached out and took the folder. Did I want to know what was in it? "Thank you. I've been harboring my secret for so long, it feels strange that everyone knows about it now."

"Witches and wolves have never had as intricate of a relationship until now," London mused. "Perhaps you were safer when you were a secret."

"As if I've ever been safe," I murmured and stood. "Thank you again for your hospitality."

He inclined his head just a little, and I slowly walked out of the office, clutching my folder. It didn't surprise me to find someone waiting in the hall for me.

"Finn!" Grinning, I gave him a hug. "It's good to see you back on your feet and not breaking out of a window."

"One window," he protested. "My wolf jumps out of one window, and I'm never going to live it down, am I?"

He looked good. Far more relaxed than he did on the ship, but then, none of us looked our best on water. "I heard Amelia had to go and save you."

"Track me," he corrected as we fell into step next to each other. "Amelia had to track me. I hardly needed saving. I just needed to run a little and find my way back."

I hid my smile. One of these days, they were going to have to admit that they were mates. It was obvious to everyone, but the mating bond hadn't snapped into place. I hadn't smelled it on them, so what exactly was happening? Jax bonded with me immediately and all he wanted to do was kill me. It wasn't like the humans had a choice.

So, what was holding their wolves back?

Then again, maybe we had it backwards. Maybe it was the human halves who were fated to be together, not their wolves. That would suck.

It was still hard to believe in any kind of romance.

"What did London give you?"

"Information," I muttered as I glanced at the folder again. "And I'm not sure if I want it."

"That's vague and not at all cryptic. Jax says I'm to see if you need food. If you don't, then I'm to let you do whatever you want, within reason. It's up to me whether what you want to do is within reason." He gave me a handsome grin. "I'm feeling pretty good right now, so this is the time to get your unreasonable requests in."

"I hear there are paddle boats on the lake."

"Fuck you. You're going to your room," he grumbled.

Laughing, I stepped outside and took a deep breath. "Jax has been shoving food into me all day, so I'm definitely not hungry. I'm up for just walking around and exploring the area."

"In case you want to stay?"

I nearly tripped over my own two feet. "What?"

"I heard you were thinking of leaving. If you were normal, I'd say that no other alpha will take you, but you're not normal. I expect as a null, London, Maeve, and Elonso would fight to the death to be able to claim you in their pack, even if you're Jax's mate. In my time as a messenger, I've never had any issues here. It's a nice quiet place if you want to settle."

I hadn't even considered being part of another pack. I just figured I'd settle in rogue territory, under an assumed name, and live out a quiet and hidden existence. "There are wolves here who hate me. That's why I have a bodyguard, remember?"

"So it's settled. You'll come home and quit planning on running away," he said cheerfully. "Most of Black Diamond is in love with you now and are tripping over themselves to make up for the way they've treated you. And those who aren't, well, you're used to it, aren't you?"

"If only it were that easy." It was one thing to be trapped in a place that I didn't want to be in. I'd experienced that plenty.

Even to be trapped in a place where no one wanted me, I could handle that.

But to stay at Black Diamond when Jax wanted me gone? I wasn't sure I could do that now. I'd never believed in romance or love before, and yet I was going to suffer my first heartbreak. Go figure.