34. Chapter Three
Chapter Three
Jax
Three weeks had passed since the day Key had vanished, and Jax had attempted every method known to man to find her. Barring criminal activity, every avenue he could explore had been exhausted, but nothing had proven fruitful.
Beneath his skin, his wolf paced endlessly, a half step away from becoming the rabid animal he feared. Jax had taken to nightly runs to burn off the excess, and even when he came back weary and fatigued, the animal’s agitation wouldn’t abate.
He’d given the new commanding officer his notice the day Key had disappeared. With the way things had been shaping up, remaining in the military would be close to impossible—and even if he’d wanted to, Key simply took precedence.
The way she’d looked when she left that day was imprinted on his memories. Despair, fear, sorrow: all of it had told him that she wasn’t coming back from where she was going.
Cursing beneath his breath, his hands fisted at his sides. He should’ve done something more—should have kept her here. It didn’t matter if she’d been the pivotal piece of it all. The woman shouldn’t have had to bite the bullet and lay herself on the line.
Before she’d gone, he had begun to realize just how much she meant to him. There was no going back to the way life was before. Key was his, and when she had left, she’d taken a piece of his soul with her.
Jax laced up his running shoes, well aware of the Husky’s groan. The pair of them had already been out this morning, and Zeus wasn’t in the mood to go again. That was perfectly fine; Jax could run faster without the dog at his side.
A knock on the door made his hands still.
In the corner, Zeus perked. Instead of running to the door, the dog slowly rose to his feet, hackles up, and then tucked tail and slinked over to hide behind the couch.
The odd behavior made Jax reassess.
Preparing himself, he opened the door to a massive man with tea-green eyes and an intensity that seemed to sear skin from bone.
Deep within him, Jax’s wolf sat up and took notice, but not in fear or anger. The beast recognized something in the other man he’d only sensed in one other.
Family .
His guest was another werewolf. Speechless, he frowned when the stranger locked eyes with him. The effect was immediate. A crushing weight slowly settled on his shoulders, and his wolf whined. Though Jax’s training warned him to hold eye contact—to keep his attention on the threat—the beast below his skin won out. Despite how he briefly warred within himself, his wolf tucked tail and lowered his head in submission.
“Good.” Deep tones sounded from the male who’d already proven his dominance. “At least your wolf can recognize me as alpha.”
Not knowing what to do, Jax stood still, his eyes on the ground. When a hand connected with his shoulder, a gentle grip squeezed in camaraderie. Looking up, he found the tangerine color of a wolf’s gaze locked on his own.
“I’m Aidan. Are you Jax Hunter?”
“Yes sir.”
“Bitten by a rabid wolf at one of the facilities we torched?”
Sucking in a breath, Jax nodded. “Yes sir.”
A faint smile flashed on Aidan’s features but dissolved just as quickly. “We’ve been looking for you. Can we come in?”
Having focused solely on Aidan, Jax only then realized that Ava, the woman he’d met earlier, was behind him. Her presence was both soothing and puzzling.
It only took him moments to remember that Key had shared his details with someone else in the werewolf nation—the man who was its leader.
The space suddenly felt too small. Part of him was itching for answers, while the other half was wary and guarded. Even before they were fully seated, he asked the question that’d consumed his thoughts.
“Where is Key?” he asked. “I can’t get ahold of her.”
Aidan grimaced. “This may take some time to explain, but I’ll do my best to answer all of your questions. I know you’ve been pivotal to our cause, and I want to afford you the clarity you deserve. Three weeks ago, the immortals fought in a battle against a terrorist group known as the Citizens .”
Nodding, Jax said, “When she left my apartment that morning, I knew something was wrong.”
“I can still smell traces of her, but part of me is surprised she was here.”
Aidan’s honesty threw him for a loop. “Key had been coming here almost every day for months up until three weeks ago. Where is she? Is she hurt?”
For a moment, the werewolf simply stared at him. Though the intensity of that gaze had softened, there was an element behind Aidan’s stoicism Jax couldn’t identify. The nameless emotion verbalized with a heavy sigh.
“Key was wounded during the battle, and we are unsure if she will recover.”
“How?” Jax shot to his feet.
“She’d foreseen the battle, and unbeknownst to us,” Aidan bit out, “Key and two others used their abilities to destroy the Citizens to the point of ultimate sacrifice.”
“Key is in a coma on Oahu,” Ava added. “She sustained severe psychic trauma and has been under intensive care since the battle.”
Stars dotted on the edges of Jax’s vision. He collapsed back into his chair and stared sightlessly at the ground before him. The news knifed through his heart, twisting invisible daggers, as he fought to keep control over his whimpering wolf.
“We’re doing everything we can for Key, you have my word.”
Aidan’s words didn’t cut through his despair, but Jax nodded silently. As if drawn by his pain, Zeus inched his way toward him, gently setting his head on Jax’s lap and whining.
“I want to see her.”
“And you will,” the other man replied. “Part of the reason we’re here today is to bring you back into the fold. As Ava told you before, it isn’t good for you to be without a pack.”
Already numb, Jax challenged, “And you’re going to drag me away from my life here?”
“Never. But we will do everything possible to support you—as much as you’ll let us.” Aidan straightened on the couch. “When we lost all those wolves to the Citizens , I realized that I’d been doing a disservice to my people. Lone wolves commonly turned rogue without a community to support them, and those who were without a pack became prey to bigger predators.”
Aidan shook his head, then continued, “I won’t stand by while my people hurt. You’re one of us, Jax, and I’ll do everything in my power to help you assimilate into immortal society.”
Though there was a reassuring sort of hope behind Aidan’s message, the hollowness inside Jax didn’t let up. He simply couldn’t fathom a future without Key.
“You don’t have to give up your life here,” Ava said, “but if you do want to start clean, we can arrange for your Army service to end immediately and incorporate you into a pack.”
She leaned toward him, paper in hand.
“This list covers each of our major dens in the Americas. If you’d prefer Europe or another continent, we can get you those contacts instead.”
“Is there one on Oahu?”
Aidan’s lips thinned. “No. But Key’s clan is there, and that might do for the short term.”
“I worked in one of the Citizens’ kennels. There were wolves at my facility that weren’t rabid,” he said. “I want to see them and make sure they’re alright.”
“Absolutely.”
From what Key had explained, Raeth clans functioned similarly to wolf packs. They were both headed by a leader, alpha and sovereign respectively, and formed a tightly knit community. While Jax hadn’t seen either of them firsthand, he knew that she’d trusted Aidan—and that was good enough for him.
“I want to see Key.”
***
Anxiety crawled over his skin for the entire seven-hour flight. His wolf, nearing a frenzy because of the cramped quarters, itched for the opportunity to see Key again. Zeus had been left with his neighbor, a young woman who adored him. Jax had packed only the essentials, throwing them in a bag that was barely larger than a briefcase, and rushed to the Seattle airport.
He’d refused Aidan’s offer to have a Raeth teleport him there, choosing instead to take emergency leave and book plane tickets. There was something about accepting the offer that unnerved him, and he had come to honor his wolf’s instincts. They hadn’t led him wrong yet.
Aidan had given him directions to the Oahu clan lands and a phone number to call before he entered. Though they already knew he was coming, Raeths were particular about their territories—and no one there besides Key knew who he was.
Wind tossed the plane about as they landed, but the sun was already beginning to shine as he emerged from the airport and rented a car. Finally behind the wheel and driving toward his final destination, his gut twisted into knots. Palm trees lined the perfectly manicured streets with the views of the ocean hinting through homes and gated communities alongside the roadways.
Before him stood the open gates to the private community. Beautiful Hawaiian foliage and flowers decorated the entrance, with massive stones erected on either side in a visually pleasing way.
His foot stomped on the brakes.
Everything about the place was beautiful, but something about it screamed he was unwelcome. Something was setting off his beast, who growled in agitation.
Slowly, he let his foot off the brakes and gently pressed the accelerator down. Crawling further into the grounds, his eyes scoured the landscape for any signs of life.
The gates had indicated he’d entered, but nothing immediately greeted him on the other side. A gigantic wall of naturally formed rock cut off his view of the things beyond—including the ocean—but Jax continued accelerating down the perfectly paved path into what lay beyond.
He didn’t get very far.
Out of nowhere, a black panther leapt onto the road before him, stubbornly standing in front of the car. Jax reacted instinctively.
The tires screeched against pavement in a bid to keep from hitting the animal.
When Jax tried to throw it in reverse, the car didn’t move. No matter how hard he pressed the accelerator down, it wouldn’t budge. His hands gripped tightly against the leather steering wheel, realizing the futility of his situation.
The panther didn’t look particularly vicious, but wild animals could be unpredictable. He wondered if his wolf could take the cat. He briefly contemplated calling animal control, but his thoughts fled when the panther leapt onto the hood of his rental and gazed into his very soul.
Jax stared back.
Suddenly, his fear and apprehension abandoned him. Even more confusing was that curiosity swelled inside him, urging him out of the car to see if the panther’s coat was truly as soft as it looked.
But petting a wild animal was a ludicrous idea, and the fact that it was suddenly all consuming should’ve been his first tip that something was off.
The cat’s coat looked incredibly soft. Jax simply had to know.
Before he could think twice, he threw open the door and walked around to extend his hand toward the panther. Regardless of his wolf’s snarling, he couldn’t stand not knowing whether—
***
Jax awakened to find himself face down on the asphalt. The hot cement burned into his cheek as a knee on his spine held him against the ground, arms captive behind his back. Aggression immediately tore through him at the indefensible position.
Before he could help himself, the wolf took over. Though the beast attempted to force a shift, without his arms free, the only thing he succeeded in doing was causing his skin to burn with pressure as the wolf began to panic.
It felt as if knives were raked down the insides of his skin as his wolf attempted to claw free. A groan escaped through his clenched teeth, drawing the attention of whoever held him captive.
“Are you trying to shift?”
Incredulous, the voice had the softest hint of humor. Jax instantly growled, “Get off me.”
“Get off you, huh? Is that how you ask for permission to enter my territory? Waltz in through the front gates, do your best to run me over, and then try to pet me? ” The mocking laugh from his captor sounded close behind Jax’s head. “Gotta do better than that, my little wolf friend.”
“I was driving and saw a panther and hit the brakes.”
Jax attempted to reposition his head so he didn’t constantly eat pavement with every word. The man on top of him didn’t move.
“And I didn’t try to pet you— holy hell —I tried to pet the panther.”
Anger fled at the thought, fear replacing it. What in the world was wrong with him that he’d literally tried to pet a panther? He’d blacked out at some point, but he scoured the visible landscape for any signs of the predator. Clearly, he was losing his mind. If this was the beginning of going rabid …
Something about his sudden silence must have drawn sympathy from his captor because the pressure on his arms suddenly released and the knee on the middle of his back gave way. Jax, still consumed by the horror of potential hallucinations, didn’t move.
“Who are you?”
Jax fought the rising tide of uneasiness and slowly pushed himself up to sit. Stars whirled on the edges of his vision, and he shook his head to rid himself of the vertigo. When he finally glimpsed the man lording above him, he grimaced.
Easily six and a half feet tall, the Pacific Islander wore a black Henley. Peeking out from beneath the black material were geometric looking tattoos that traced up the man’s arms. He wore confidence like a second skin, and his eyes held far too much comical relief given the situation.
His wolf’s instincts kicked in, the animal sensing what Jax hadn’t. This wasn’t a man. This was a Raeth . Like Key, the immortal before him gave off an otherworldly feeling, an undeniable energy that blistered the air around him.
“Who are you ?”
“I’m Nero, sovereign of the Osé and the territory you’re currently trespassing on.” He cocked an eyebrow. “And you are?”
Jax cursed. In his eagerness to see Key, he’d forgotten to call before he entered clan lands. “I’m Jax Hunter. Sorry—I forgot to call you.”
Chuckling, Nero extended his hand to help him up and they shook. “No harm done, if you excuse the ruthless introduction. Aidan’s shared a few things about you. He says you knew Key. Helped our cause.”
“I did what I could, but it doesn’t seem like it was enough.”
Face falling, Nero sighed. “You aren’t the only one who feels that way. Grab your rental and you can follow me into town.”
Quicker than Jax could react, the man shifted into his panther. Though his own wolf prowled forward at the sight, he did as the Raeth had instructed. Shadowing the cat into a community of immortals was oddly invigorating. No one stared, even as they crept along pathways that were seemingly too small.
When the panther came to a stop in front of a larger home, Jax put the car in park. Aidan was already striding out to meet him, true to his word.
“Jax,” Aidan greeted, “I’m glad you made it.”
Though he gave an acknowledging nod, Jax’s thoughts were focused on one thing. “Is Key here?”
“She is,” Nero replied, suddenly growing wary. “Why do you want to see her?”
“Key is important to me. She’s—” Jax paused, trying to explain that she was everything to him. Words couldn’t seem to encompass the truth, and his tongue tied in knots.
“Key was with Jax the night before the battle, Nero,” Aidan explained into the resulting silence. “They’d been seeing each other for months.”
The Raeth looked shell shocked. “You were seeing Key? Socially?”
“We met on a mountain peak in Seattle,” he explained. “After that, we saw each other almost every day. Spent our nights together. What we had was … special.”
Though it seemed as though Jax had just changed the rotation of the Earth on Nero, he nodded. “She hasn’t woken up, Jax, but she’s alive. We’re doing everything we can to help her.”
Nero showed them into the home. As Aidan took a seat in the living room, the Raeth motioned for Jax to follow him. The pair climbed a staircase toward the second level and opened the door to the first room on the right. The scent of fresh mint made his heart stutter.
Key was here. Sleeping and still, but alive.
He strode to the queen bed where she lay, taking great care when he sifted his fingers through hers. He raised her hand to his mouth and pressed a kiss into her knuckles. After two weeks of fearing the worst, seeing her again was a balm to his aching soul.
“Oh, Key,” he whispered, fighting the sudden tears that blurred his vision.
What he wouldn’t give to see her eyes open—to apologize for asking her to stay with him when so much had ridden on her guidance. He understood now that it’d been selfish of him, but all he’d wanted was her safety. It hadn’t mattered if it had been with him or across the world.
“You loved her.”
The sound of Nero’s voice startled him. Everything else had fallen away the moment he’d seen Key. Glancing up, he frowned at the Raeth sovereign.
“I still do.”
Something broke behind Nero’s gaze. With a choked sound, he left the room. Alone with Key, Jax sank to the bed beside her, nearly shaking with the need to hold her. His thumb gently traced over her cheekbone. No matter what it took, he’d help her recover. No other outcome was acceptable.
Darkness crested over the horizon before someone finally breeched the room’s sanctuary. Slowly, the door opened, a creak in the hinges making Jax’s wolf bare his teeth in silent warning.
It didn’t dissuade the woman from entering.
“I’m not here to hurt her, Jax. Her vitals need checked.”
Attempting to contain his territorial wolf, Jax simply nodded. Shaking his head to rid himself of the urge to stand over Key protectively, he sighed. His attention never left Zia.
The female Raeth flipped on a light next to Key, the soft lighting brightening the space instantly. Showing that she trusted Jax, Zia’s attention changed from him to the monitors, and she made quick work of noting the instrument’s read outs on a notebook on the side table.
“What has Key told you about the immortal societies?”
The question made him frown. “When we were together, she covered every immortal race and went through their nuances. Ruling parties, abilities, social customs. It was fascinating to me, and she seemed to enjoy speaking about it.”
“And did she speak to you about the concept of mates?”
“Only briefly.”
“A mated pair is linked by a psychic bond,” she began, her voice low. “It’s unbreakable. It exists as a connection far deeper than marriage: it forms the lifeblood of a relationship. Our mates are the other half of our soul. My mate, Jeremiah, is my everything. Before I met him, I didn’t know a connection could be so important, but it is.”
“Why are you telling me this?”
Zia looked at him sadly. “Because we think that you and Key might be mates.”