Chapter 16 – JAX
JAX
Iwake in darkness with the bite of silver against my wrists, but my first coherent thought isn’t about the pain or the cold concrete beneath me.
It’s her.
It’s that I’m drowning in Camille’s scent.
She’s everywhere. On my skin, in my hair, saturating the surrounding air. My heart pounds as I struggle to separate my dreams from reality.
What the hell did I do?
I scramble to free myself, my hands shaking as I pull the key from my pocket and unlock the shackles. Raising my hand to touch the scarf around my neck, I breathe a sigh of relief.
At least I know that part was real. But the rest?
Forcing myself to breathe slowly, I catalogue what I know. I woke up still chained, still in the basement. No blood, no signs of violence, and no shredded clothing. Just her scent wrapping around me like a blanket, and my wolf radiating smug pleasure.
The need to find her, to know what happened, drives me up the stairs faster than wise. I barely remember to grab clothes, throwing on clean jeans and a T-shirt while my wolf pushes urgently at my control.
Find her.
The packhouse is buzzing with morning activity. I follow the sounds to the dining hall and pause just outside the door. Her scent hits me first, distinct amongst the crowd. I rush forward, ignoring the stares I get as the other wolves in the room pick up on my frenzied energy.
They clear a path for the alpha’s feral brother, allowing me to shove my way through the crowd, scanning left and right for Camille, praying I haven’t done anything to push her further away.
I finally spot her, sitting at the head table with Dean, both their heads tipped together in a serious conversation. To one side, Jamie makes small talk with another man, the sight of whom makes my blood run cold.
Jamie locks eyes with me, jerking her head toward the door, telling me to get the hell out of here, but it’s pointless.
Even knowing Zane, the region’s head enforcer, is here, there’s no way my wolf will let me leave without making sure she’s okay.
Camille sits there, eyes skimming over me casually as she glances around the room, looking every inch the professional investigator in dark slacks and a cream sweater.
My wolf rumbles with satisfaction and flashes a memory behind my eyes, her body pressed to mine, the feel of her wrapped in my arms.
I watch her, full of admiration. She’s good at her job, excellent in fact, and this morning, she’s all business.
Except she’s nervous. I can feel it; I just don’t understand why.
Until I spot the wolf with jet-black hair, sitting on Zane’s other side, staring at her.
“Settle down.” Dean’s loud voice booms out, cutting through my thoughts as he stands at the front of the room, and something in his expression makes my instincts sharpen. I look at Callum, and he grimaces, filling me with worry.
What’s going on?
“Now that everyone’s present, I have an announcement.”
Dean’s eyes dart to Camille, who continues to look mildly out at the crowd, while dread pools in my stomach as comprehension dawns. This is all about Camille.
He wouldn’t.
“As you know, we’ve had some concerning incidents during the Games.” His booming alpha voice carries easily through the space without the need for a microphone. “I’ve asked Council Investigator Camille Black to look into these matters.”
The room fills with hushed whispers, and voices rise sharply in surprise as they all turn to stare at her. The roar of blood in my ears is deafening as rage builds inside me like a tidal wave.
My brother just painted a target on her back.
Somewhere in this room is the culprit. And that someone really won’t want Camille to interfere with their plans. They’ve already shown how ruthless they can be. There’s every chance they’ll target her next.
My fingers dig into my palms as I fight back my wolf. Blinking hard, I lock eyes with Callum, who sucks in a deep breath, trying to tell me to do the same.
Every instinct screams to charge forward, to get between her and the dozens of potential threats eyeing her warily. Some wolves watch her with suspicion. Others, unmated males in particular, are looking at her now with undisguised interest.
She’s hot and smart, and strong enough to be an enforcer to boot; a dynamite combination for any dominant wolf looking to choose a mate.
A low rumbling growl starts low in my belly, but I can’t move, can’t do anything rash, because Zane is the only person in the room not looking at her. His attention is firmly fixed on me.
“I expect full cooperation with Investigator Black from absolutely everyone. No exceptions. Competitors, spectators, alphas, and of course, my own pack…” Dean continues. “Any interference with her work will be dealt with severely.”
Camille rises gracefully, nodding to acknowledge Dean’s introduction. She doesn’t look at me, but I catch the slight tension in her shoulders. She knows I’m here, and she knows I’m barely holding on.
Other males track her movement, and my vision edges red. Before yesterday, they looked at her with casual interest. Now, they’re evaluating her as either a threat or an opportunity. And my wolf doesn’t like it.
My low growl builds, getting louder and more aggressive before I can stop it.
Zane’s eyes narrow, taking in my rigid stance and the way my hands shake with the effort of not shifting.
I need to leave. Now. Before I do something that ruins the investigation for Camille, and the rest of the Games for Dean, who’s willing me to get it together and not lose it in front of the one man who has the power to sign off on putting me to sleep permanently.
Camille’s eyes finally meet mine across the room, pleading. Just for a second. Long enough for me to understand.
Go. I’ve got this.
She’s right. My presence will only complicate her mission and draw the wrong kind of attention.
I force my feet to move. One step. Two. Each step away from my mate feels like a betrayal. My wolf fights me, desperate to return to her side, to stand guard over her now that she’s put herself in danger.
But she’s better off without me, in every sense of the word.
At the door, I pause. I can’t help myself. I look back to find Zane watching me with brows drawn down low, standing now, hands on his hips.
The dark haired shifter at his side, tilts his head, looking from me to Camille and back again. Then, he pushes off from the wall and starts moving. Not toward me. Toward her. Taunting me into reacting.
Every muscle in my body locks. My wolf roars denial, demanding we stop him, protect her and claim her before this enforcer gets close enough to...
Zane’s eyes find mine again, waiting to see what I’ll do.
I bare my teeth briefly but force myself through the dining room door, hurrying down the hallway as my skin ripples, my wolf fighting for control.
I just need to make it outside…
Rushing into the mudroom, I cross to the rear exit, chest heaving.
The wood splinters under my hands as I shove through it, leaving a hairline crack in the heavy door.
I’m already shifting as I hit the grass, clothes shredding.
Four legs are faster than two, and I need speed to create some distance, fast.
The forest swallows me, but even here, I can’t escape. Her scent clings to my fur. The memory of her warmth haunts me.
She’s put herself in the firing line, and now, I’ve no choice but to sit back and wait to see what happens.
My howl echoes through the morning air, equal parts rage and despair. All he knows is that if anyone hurts her, even if it means Zane Williams locks me up and throws away the key, I’ll kill them.