Chapter 51 #2
It’s only going to get better, I send him. He deepens the kiss, thrusting his tongue into my mouth; and we both groan at the contact. Knowing I need to end this, I pull back first. Bright blue eyes meet mine. “Let’s go before we end up back in bed again.”
“I don’t see the problem with that,” he says, his voice full of his wolf.
“Come on.” I take his hand in mine, and he reluctantly follows me.
Nearly ten minutes later, we walk up to the building where the meeting is set to take place. Stay close to me, Jackson says, squeezing my hand before he opens the door.
I tense. Are you expecting trouble?
No. There’s going to be unmated males in here; and I need you near me. The bond is still too new. My wolf doesn’t understand why we’re not back at the house in bed.
I feel my face heat. Jackson, you can’t say stuff like that when we’re out in public.
Why not? I love seeing your face flush and knowing I put it there. Did you know that when you flush, it’s not just on your face. It spreads down—
Do not finish that thought!
He chuckles and opens the door. He instantly changes, going on alert and dropping a hand to my back. Ransom and Martin walk over to us. “Morning,” Ransom says, more serious than I’m used to him being.
“Keep an eye on Kayla today,” Jackson tells both of them. “Her safety is top priority.”
I expect Ransom to make a wise crack, but he only gives a short nod.
“Always.” With that, Ransom walks on my other side, and Martin falls into step behind us as we make our way over to where the pack leaders are gathering.
I follow Jackson into an aisle and sit in between him and Ransom, and Martin sits on Jackson’s other side.
“Where’s Noah?” I ask Ransom once we’re settled.
“He’s with the other kids; they’re all kept in a safe place during meetings like this. Don’t worry,” he says, when my eyes meet his. “There’s lots of protection.”
Several of the Northwoods Pack members smile and wave when they see me. Raechel stops at the end of our row. “Did it work?” she calls out, and I want to crawl into the floor and disappear.
“Yes,” Jackson calls out in his deep voice. “I love doing things the old-fashioned way.”
Mortification sweeps through me. ”Oh. My. Word.”
Raechel cackles before Max ushers her forward. “Do I want to know what that was about?” Ransom asks Jackson and me.
“No!” I say quickly, even as I elbow Jackson. He just grins and grabs my hand, intertwining our fingers together. He faces the front, once again serious.
Garrett takes the small stage and greets everyone and then begins to fill everyone in on what’s happened over the last few months.
I mostly tune it out because I don’t really want to relive it, even in my mind.
The meeting finally ends, and I’m grateful.
I stand and stretch, and we move out of the aisle.
“I need to speak with Garrett,” Jackson says close to my ear, so I can hear him.
“I want to thank him for housing us the last month.”
I nod. “I’ll go with you; I want to thank him and Emma both.”
We have to wait our turn to talk to him, but finally, Garrett is available. He turns to us. “Thank you for putting us up for the last month,” Jackson says, getting right to it.
“Yes, thank you; and please thank Emma and your entire pack. This time has been really good,” I add, and Jackson squeezes my hand.
Max, Liam, Ransom, and Martin join us. “When you’re ready to face the vampires, my pack will be at your side,” Jackson says.
I see Ransom’s small smile, and I feel my heart squeeze.
I’m so glad he’s claimed them all as pack.
I’m not exactly sure what that means for Noah and me, but I know I’ll be at Jackson’s side.
We’ll figure out the rest. “There’s something you need to know,” Jackson adds, and I look up at him.
He faces Garrett with a serious expression on his face.
“There was a vampire there that I've never seen before.” He’s quiet a moment.
“I’ve long suspected someone further up the chain was calling the shots, and I believe we met him.
” A look comes over his face. “He was able to control me.” It goes quiet around us, and the tension around us rockets up.
“He was able to control you?” Garrett repeats in a low voice.
Jackson’s body is tight with tension, and he has a hard time getting out the next few words.
“He almost got me to hurt my mate.” Several growls sound around us, and Jackson moves closer to me.
“It would have happened too; I couldn’t resist the command.
He was too strong; I couldn’t shake off the compulsion.
The only reason nothing happened is because they had an intruder, which we now know was Hunter and Sherese.
” I take in the faces of the males standing around me.
They all look thunderstruck. “He’s strong,” Jackson finishes quietly.
“If you’re an alpha, and you can’t stand against him,” Liam starts but doesn’t finish.
“Garrett, you might be able to stand against him.” But we all hear the doubt in Jackson’s voice.
“You’re going to need a more dominant alpha,” Ransom says.
“There is nobody more dominant than Garrett,” Liam says, crossing his arms over his chest.
I’m wondering what Ransom’s thinking because everybody says Garrett’s the strongest alpha in the country. Ransom and Jackson exchange a look, but it’s Martin that speaks. “There is.”
“Who?” There’s a lot of threat in that one word from Garrett.
It's quiet a beat. “There’s a rogue,” Ransom starts. “He’s powerful.” He runs a hand through his hair and gives a small chuckle. “I don’t even know if he’s real. But he’s rumored to be covered in alpha marks.”
“He’s real,” Martin says quietly, and every head turns to him. “But he’s incredibly dangerous.” There’s hesitation in his voice, and I wonder at what he’s not saying. “He was an alpha at one time but lost his entire pack.” Silence follows his words.
“Sometimes,” Ransom says quietly. “You need a monster to fight a monster.”
It’s silent in the group for several long seconds. “Where is he now?” Garrett asks.
Martin shakes his head and blows out a breath, sounding weary. “Last I heard, he was rumored to be in the mountains of Wyoming somewhere.”
It's quiet again, but I can practically see Garrett’s mind racing. “We’ll track him down.” His face hardens. “And then it’s time to go hunting.” A shiver runs down my spine at those words, and Jackson squeezes my hand.
“Can I go with?” a voice pipes up behind us. I notice that not one of the guys jumps; they all knew she was there. I didn’t, however.
I turn to Jade. “Where?” I ask.
“To Wyoming to find the alpha.”
Garrett and Jackson are already shaking their heads. She shrugs. “I’m going with either way. Either I’ll go with whatever team you send, or I’ll go on my own,” she says stubbornly.
“Why?” I ask.
Her gaze meets mine, and I see the shadows in her eyes.
“Because I want to fight back, and I know I can’t literally do that.
I know I won’t be able to go with the team that actually takes out the vampires.
But this, this is something I can do. I can help find the alpha that can help us take down the vampires once and for all. ”
I get it; I really do. Push to let her go, I send to Jackson.
It could be dangerous, he sends back, sounding uncertain.
She needs this, Jackson.
He turns to Garrett. “Let her go.”
Garrett meets his eyes, and it seems like they have an entire conversation in that one look. Garrett finally nods and looks at Jade. “I don’t like it, but we’ll let you go. But you have to agree to the rules we set.”
Jade nods. “I will.” The group continues talking, but Jade pulls me aside. “Thank you for whatever you did to get Jackson to push for this.”
I meet her gaze. “Are you sure?” I ask simply.
“Absolutely.”
“Okay. Then you’d better get packed; you have got an alpha to find.”
She grins and hugs me. “Stay in touch.”
“I will; I promise.” I watch her go and wonder if I made the right decision in swaying Jackson. But I get wanting to fight back. We all have to choose our own way, and if this is hers, then I’m going to help her all I can.
“Ready to go?” Jackson asks a minute later.
I nod. “Yes.” I look up at him. “I’m ready to get back to our life now.”
“Me too, Baby.” He kisses me and takes my hand in his as we make our way out of the building with Ransom and Martin following. We’re headed back to Oklahoma tomorrow morning. I’m not sure what the future looks like just yet, but I know with Jackson and Noah at my side, it’s all going to work out.