66. Anna

66

Anna

The house was empty except for the submissive wolves. Families with children were streaming in to take cover while alarms blared all over the territory.

And there were three of Finn's sisters. "Where's Lucy?" I asked, trying to remain calm. The tremble in my voice gave me away, but if the other sisters were suspicious, they didn't lead on.

"Finn asked for her help. She has some experience healing. He took her to the infirmary," Raven offered.

"You stay here. I don't care who comes to tell you to move. If it's not me or Jax, you don't fucking move. Do you understand me?"

"Is she here?" Raven whispered. "Maeve?"

"No, but you do not trust anyone. Not unless it's me or Jax." I paused. "Not even Finn. Stay here."

Slamming the door shut, I took off after Finn, but once I reached outside the house, I looked around in fear. It was unlikely they'd go to the southern border, but that left three more borders. I didn't think Maeve could hold Finn long enough to actually force the young woman all the way to her territory, but she didn't need to. He could deliver her into the arms of someone waiting, and because it was Finn, none of the guards would think twice about letting him out.

How the hell was I going to find him?

I could wolf out and track them from scent, but there were so many scents.

I could track them through my pack bond.

Couldn't I?

Other than the actual bond and pulling on the bonds for more power, I hadn't focused that much on them. It still scared me to think that this many wolves could be tied to me, even more so now knowing what Maeve had planned to do with me.

But I had to try.

Closing my eyes, I tried to navigate the bonds. First and foremost, I felt Jax. His rage. His pain. Once I sensed that, then I started to feel everyone's pain. Bonds were dimming or going out completely. Wolves were injured. Dying.

My wolves. Our wolves. Tears pricked my eyes, but I had to push it away. I had to focus on Finn.

Finally, I found a thread that was so weak it looked all but dead. Instead of dimming, it was just pulsing, like someone was trying to gain control.

Finn. Maeve had him.

The northern border. I shifted and ran, and the moment I felt them leave the territory, my core shuddered.

I ran faster.

There were no guards posted. I broke through the territory and raced, relying on scent. And that's when I heard it.

The blades of a helicopter.

Maeve had used the rogues to sneak her helicopter in on the other side. Lucy already sat inside, her eyes wide with fear. As Finn started to climb in, I body-slammed him, and we both tumbled out the side.

Keep it grounded. Magic.

I heard my wolf's urging, but I didn't even begin to know how to try. Would a forcefield keep it in? Could I call the magic up from the ground to tie the helicopter to the earth?

Thoughts raced through my head, but none of them came with solutions I could do. Instead, I shifted and turned to Lucy. "Get out," I screamed. "Jump. Jump now!"

Immediately, she launched to the opening, and then her eyes closed, and she fell out of view. A man sat behind her with a satisfied smile on his face, clutching her around the waist. I didn't know who he was, but I could smell the magic on him.

Witch.

Hands wrapped around my waist. Finn. Turning, I smashed the palm of my hands into his nose. Maeve might have control of his body, but that bond was still mine. Grasping it with everything I had, I pulled hard on it. He stumbled and glared. The bond brightened just a little.

"Fight her, Finn. Fight her!" I screamed, but I couldn't be heard over the blades of the helicopter.

The bond darkened, and he reached for me again. Blood ran down his nose, and I did the only thing I knew how to do.

"I'm sorry," I whispered, and I severed the bond.

He dropped, and I turned to the helicopter, but it was already rising in the air.

Lucy. They had her.

By the time Jax arrived, I'd pulled Finn's body back into our territory. He was a shivering husk and barely fought me. As bad as I knew he felt now, it would be nothing compared to how he'd feel when he realized what he'd done.

Amelia was right behind him. With a scream, she threw herself on Finn's body. "Why? What the hell did you do? Fix it," she screamed at me. "Fix it!"

Her pain shot through me, and I closed my eyes.

"Anna?" Jax asked "Anna, are you hurt?"

"Maeve controlled him," I said dully. "He's her blood. I should have known that. I saw him being strange, and I didn't do anything. She had a stronger hold on him than she did Irene. All of this was just a distraction. She's had years to plan it. Years."

Jax framed my face. "What did he do?"

"Lucy. He loaded Lucy up on a helicopter, and she's gift wrapped on her way to Maeve. How long do you think it'll take for Maeve to carve out her heart?"

"Oh God," Amelia whispered. "Oh my God, Finn."

"He tried to take me. I severed the bond. It was the only way I could stop him." Shakily, I pulled myself to my feet. "Are we deluding ourselves in thinking we can win? In thinking we can even begin to fight her?"

Jax pulled me into his arms. "Stop," he whispered. "Don't talk like that."

"I'm pregnant, Jax."

He stiffened. "I know. I'm going to handle it, baby. I'm going to handle everything. No one is going to hurt you."

Or the babe.

When he let go of me, I cradled my hand around my belly. There was so much darkness in my life. Blood. Evil. So much wickedness that was out of my control, but I knew one thing for certain.

This child was going to be the light.

Panic hit me hard when I realized I was carrying a child. Denial. I was on a preventative. How could I have gotten pregnant? Realization hit that I'd stopped taking that preventive when Emerson had taken me.

What kind of mother would I be? What kind of world was I shaping for my child?

But this child was Jax's. It had all of his goodness, and it would have all my strength. Not a ternary. The null talent didn't pass from mother to child. It would be safe.

I would not let anything happen to it.

"No one is going to hurt us," I said in a strong voice. "The rogues?"

"Jenson and Kenzi had a handle on things when I felt you leave the territory. There are at least a dozen of ours dead. I've ordered several of the rogues to be captured and interrogated, but from the vacant look in their eyes, I'd say Maeve has perfected the serum. I think the rogues are literally under her control. Loyal to her without a bond. Willing to kill themselves for her."

"Then I guess we have subjects for Saul to test his antidote. We need to put Finn somewhere safe. See if the witches can figure out a way to block Maeve from reaching him again."

Amelia sobbed. I stared hard at Jax. "Did you find what you were looking for at the Protectors of the Land?"

"A spell with a list of ingredients."

"Let me see it."