73. Jax

73

Jax

I struggled to wrap my head around the amount of power Janelle had. Since the dawn of time, wolf magic and witch magic were separate. Wolves were content knowing that witches couldn't touch wolf magic.

And yet here was Janelle who could manipulate a whole pack. I wanted to recoil in horror, but Janelle looked so damn alone on the floor. I had a feeling this was not the first time she felt like a monster.

"The magic you are born with does not make you an abomination," Saul said quietly from behind me. "Obviously your family has this magic for a reason, but we can all agree it is not so abusive that alphas can gain more power. Can he still use that power now that you're out of the witches' reach?"

Janelle shook her head. "The magic won't sever instantly. There are layers and layers woven into the bond that will gradually fade. His hold on his pack is loosening, but it'll take time before they're all free."

"Huh. So he didn't need to get his hands dirty to kill anyone. He could put a gun in their hands and have them pull the trigger. No wonder he was certain Anna would agree to a pack bond. He probably would have killed half his pack to make it happen," Kenzi said darkly.

Not half his pack. Just one. Despite the hard shell around Anna, she hated to see anyone suffering.

"You lied when he said that he would kill you or drain you dry," Anna pointed out.

"Emerson needs you alive, indefinitely."

"If I told you what was really happening, you wouldn't have gotten me out."

Finn snorted. "You don't know Anna very well. She would have gotten you out. Emerson is the last alpha who should be trusted with that kind of power. Jax won't abuse it."

The witch's eyes were practically vacant as she stared at me. "My mother told me that no alpha can resist my magic. All it takes is one excuse to use it. At first, it's to save, but the hero complex is easily twisted, and they become the villain. You'll use me. They all do. Once I'm well and truly away from Emerson, I need to leave. To take away temptation."

"Jax would never be tempted," Amelia argued. "You're wrong."

I cleared my throat. "She's not. Magic does good in the world, but it often corrupts. It should never be used. Not even once. Not even by me. What I can promise is that I will never blackmail or force you to use your magic. You've pledged your loyalty to me, and I will never use it against you. So long as you don't betray me, you have a home with me. That way I can keep an eye on you."

"So if you ask me to use my magic…"

I wanted to tell her that I would never go that far, but I could already see scenarios where I would break that promise. She was right. The hero complex was a dangerous one, but even more than that, individuals often betrayed others to save someone that they loved.

"Deny me. And remind me that it's my responsibility to protect you just as much as it is to save whoever is in front of me."

She didn't look convinced, but she nodded. "Will you tell your pack what I can do?"

"No. And neither will anyone else here." I gave Kenzi a hard look, and she rolled her eyes. "You said Emerson brought in other witches before he knew what you could do. Do you know what he's doing with them?"

"I don't, and I've never seen them. I just can sense the differences in their magic. One is an elemental witch. An earth witch. I think they're trying to replicate what Irene did to your territory. The land feels just a little bit different every day, but I couldn't tell you why. I think another might be enhancing the soldiers. New guards go in to train, and by the end of the week, they're like completely different wolves."

"Like he's prepping for war," I murmured. "Irene might be able to recognize the different magic. You just need to keep your head down until we can get to her."

I watched Anna yawn and checked my watch. It was still early in the evening, but she needed sleep. We all did. I assigned watch shifts, and we all dispersed. As soon as the room had emptied, Anna started to undress and crawl into bed.

I immediately turned my back to give her space. She'd said that Emerson hadn't touched her like that, and she was in my lap just an hour ago, but I wouldn't pressure her.

"I need you."

The soft whisper had me whirling around and striding toward the bed. Scooping her up, I settled back on the bed and placed in her in my lap while I nuzzled her neck. Her body was still dotted with bruises that hadn't faded yet. "Are those all from Kenzi?"

"Most. I tried injuring myself a few times to get to the infirmary. Some of them I came by honesty at the bar. Some…"

Some were from Emerson.

"They'll fade," she murmured.

"I'll always know that he put his hands on you after I swore that he would never touch you again."

With a sigh, she touched my face. "I went with him. Remember? None of this is on you, Jax. You told me to trust you, and I couldn't do that."

"Can you now?"

For once, she didn't turn away at the intimate question but gave me a soft smile. "I think so."

I kissed her gently. I'd meant to keep things soft and slow. Let her set the pace and give her space to pull back if she needed to.

Something flared to life inside of me, a soft flame, but illuminated a thin and frayed golden thread. With a gasp, Anna shifted and straddled me. "Did you feel that?" She whispered.

"I did. I told you that it would return, although Irene did think it might take more time."

Tears filled her eyes, and when she tried to turn her head, I captured her face and brushed them away. "I know you were scared, Anna. I know you felt alone. If I could have found another way, I would have done it. I swear it. Being without that bond, not being able to feel you, was the emptiest I'd ever felt in my entire life."

Wrapping her arms around my neck, she kissed me, long and deep. Her body rubbed against mine, awakening everything inside me until my cock was straining against the fly of my pants.

"I need you naked. Please," she begged as she awkwardly tried to jerk my shirt over my head. Obligingly, I held my arms up as she pulled it over.

"Don't let go, baby," I muttered as I rocked up to my knees. Her legs wrapped around my waist, and she buried her head in my neck as I undid the fly and zipper of my pants. I pushed them down my hips and flipped us over so I could sink on top of her. She used her feet to frantically push my pants the rest of the way down while I kissed her.

"I couldn't even fuck my own hand while you were gone," I growled. All I could think about was what was happening to you. I took my frustration out on the poor walls of our house."

"Now," she gasped. "I don't need any foreplay. I'm so wet, Jax, and I need you inside me.

Right now."

Despite her desperate plea, I was still gentle as I delved inside of her. She was soaking wet and squirming under me so much that I nearly lost my damn mind. My control frayed until I sank inside her with a roar.

At her whimper, I immediately froze. "Shit, Anna. Did I hurt you? We can stop. I can pull out."

"No." In a panic, her nails dug into my back. "Don't you dare. I'm not hurt. I just need a release. I need you to release me."

I knew exactly how she felt, but I also wanted to draw it out. I never wanted to leave her. I wanted to hear her cries of pleasure all night. Slowly, I withdrew and sank back in. Her eyes widened when she realized what I was doing, and she pulsed and clenched around me.

Capturing her mouth, I kissed her long and slowly, my tongue playing with her as we fucked. Incredibly, our mating bond glowed brighter and grew stronger until I could feel her mentally and physically.

She cried my name until she exploded around me, and I pumped into her until I had nothing left to give. We were both covered in sweat and exhausted when I collapsed next to her and pulled her into my arms.

"I don't think I can leave you again," she whispered.

"Good."