73. Jax

73

Jax

"Avoiding your wolf simply because it does not agree with you is a sign of a weak alpha," Saul said without preamble as he wrapped a bandage around my thigh.

I snarled at him, but it was without heat. After all, he was right. Having a strong wolf and the ability to share my life with my wolf, was where I got my power. It didn't matter. I still didn't bring my wolf out.

With a sigh, the healer finished the job and leaned back against the counter to stare at me. "None of these wounds needed me. What are you really doing here?"

"Anna is pregnant."

"I am aware. She needs to make an appointment with me. She's had so much physical trauma that I want to make certain she's able to carry to term. I thought since her magic could heal, it would heal her as well, but her wolf still has scars. If she has any scar tissue in her womb, I want to know about it immediately."

Fuck. I hadn't even thought of that. "Is the pregnancy dangerous to her?"

"I won't know until I examine her. Perhaps you can encourage her to stop by tomorrow and see me."

"I'm not sure I can encourage her to do much of anything right now," I muttered.

"Ah. So, you are not here about external wounds in the early hours of dawn but internal wounds." Stifling a yawn, he blinked at me. "You have my full attention. Are you conflicted about the baby? Or the possibility that your mate is going to be used to take over the world?"

"I see you have your sense of humor back," I said dryly. "Not too long ago, I was forcing you to sleep."

"I've created the antidote to combat Maeve's virus, although I haven't been able to replicate it to the grand scale that we need. You, on the other hand, have been cold and withdrawn since you returned from the cult. What is on your mind?"

Too much. "I am not afraid to be a father," I told Saul. "Even if the child is not mine, and I think Anna will be an amazing mother…"

"Back up," Saul interrupted. "What do you mean if the child isn't yours? You don't really think that Anna would…Emerson," he breathed. "I thought he didn't touch her."

"She says that he didn't, but the timing checks out."

Saul just stared at me. "My hearing is just fine, so I know you haven't been keeping your hands off her."

My stomach twisted. "There was a prophecy. Broderick seemed to think of it as a failsafe. If they couldn't stop the ternary, her own son would."

"And you've been hoping that Emerson planted an evil child in her?"

I recoiled. "No. Of course not. I just can't imagine a world where my child would harm her. I can't imagine a world where any child would harm her. But if what you fear is true, what if she dies from childbirth? It happens."

"It does. Frequently in wolf shifters because they assume that since they heal from everything, they don't require proper medical care." Saul scrubbed a hand over his face. "What did Anna say when you told her this?"

When I didn't look at him, Saul sighed. "After everything the two of you have been through, you're still keeping things from her. I'm disappointed in you, Jax. You need to talk to her."

"How can I tell her that the child growing inside of her might be destined to kill her?" I demanded. "Every time she touches her belly, this look of love comes over her face. She may not have ever considered a family before, but this is the joy she so desperately needs in the darkest of times. If I tell her the truth, she could lose the last shred of hope she is holding on to."

"How certain are you of this prophecy?"

"I heard it once in the dying breath of someone I was killing," I admitted. "If his only goal was to torture me, then he was correct, but he had no idea that Anna was pregnant. I didn't even know."

"Dumb luck?" Saul suggested. I didn't answer but just rubbed the back of my neck, and he sighed. "Get her in here for an exam. If I see anything worrying, I will discuss it with her."

"With us," I said strongly. "I'll be here for the exam."

"As long as she agrees."

I bared my teeth at him, and he just chuckled. "The world might be ending, but my rules are still the same. Go to your mate, Jax, and get some sleep."

Before I could answer, my phone vibrated, and I pulled it out of my pants.

London.

"I can sleep when I'm dead, which might be sooner than we would all like." After walking out of the infirmary, I answered the call and braced myself for the worst.

"Elonso and I are coming," London said without preamble. "We're both leaving this morning and should get there are roughly the same time, although Elonso's trip is going to be a little more treacherous. He has more rogue territory to go through. We'll both be bringing about a dozen reinforcements. I wish it could be more, but we have to make sure our own territories are left defended."

"Whoa, slow down. What makes you think I need you or your men?"

London paused. "I realize it's early where you are, but this is the part where you thank me for the assistance. You have no idea what Maeve is planning and therefore no idea what you need. I guarantee she doesn't expect you to have help. You're too damn stubborn, and this mountain doesn't have a history of allying themselves."

He wasn't wrong. It was all I could do not to bark at him to turn the fuck back because I didn't need his help, but I didn't know what I needed. "How did you get Elonso to agree with it?"

"I didn't have to. Maeve called him yesterday and tried to seduce him into keeping the same deal she had with Emerson. When he said no, she had his territory attacked. He's furious."

"And you trust him?"

The pause told me that London didn't. "I've discussed the very real possibility that Elonso is luring me to your territory to kill us both at once with my second and third, but they are both strong wolves. If necessary, the shift to their leadership would be seamless and little would be gained with my death. Sources tell me that Elonso has improved his pack. His wolves aren't just happy. They're relieved. He's put down all of Emerson's loyalists. He has nothing to gain by aligning himself with Maeve."

"Except the possibility of more power," I muttered and closed my eyes. "Has Maeve targeted you?"

"Back-to-back shipments of the virus. She knows I'm aware of what it is. She's taunting me. I know you have a plan of attack. I want in on it. We need to show her, and more importantly, show any wolf who follows her, that we will not stand idly by and let this happen."

He sounded like Anna. Everyone wanted me to go on the offensive.

"I'll let my border patrol know to let you through, but Maeve has many rogues under her control. The closer you get to me, the more violent it will be, and I have no wolves to spare to aid you. Be on alert."

"Aid me? I've been itching for a fight," London said darkly before hanging up.

So, London and Elonso were on their way. Three alphas against the one. I wish I felt better, but the truth is that I still had no idea what to expect, and I didn't like that one bit.