Chapter 50
Jaxom shifted before getting out of the castle. He felt Ksenia clinging to his back, knives at the ready. So fucking impressive. She’d finished the mark. It wasn’t a death mark. It was another guide he intended to figure out. But first, he had to get his Luna to safety.
Drake? Hayden? he said through the mind-link.
Even there, his voice was hoarse. Touching his mates with the power he’d received from Ksenia finishing the mark, had him distracted.
They were aware and on the move. He could feel the pull of their location.
His mates were ready to receive him and their Luna, as long as he got them out alive.
The dark shadows in the forest were waiting for him.
He stepped out into the darkened courtyard embroiled in battle. He saw some shredded cloaks and knew the men who’d protected him through the city were there, fighting for him again. Blue tendrils floated towards him. This second sight was strange but helpful.
Jaxom!? The longing in Drake’s voice echoed his own.
I’m out of the dungeon.
He killed a wolf as it charged him. So easy. The thing was puny and weak compared to his Lycan.
We’re on the way, about an hour from the capital. Head north.
I can feel you, Jaxom huffed as another wolf tried to stop him.
Out of the corner of his eye, Ksenia sent a knife into the heart of another castle warrior.
She was amazing. He wouldn’t be free if it wasn't for her. There was fear in her scent, but more than that, she was fierce. The fear didn’t stop her from having his back. Absolutely unexpected.
The outer gates didn’t stand a chance against his strength but that momentary distraction cost. Ksenia screamed in pain. Jaxom smelled her blood. A quick turn and the bastard got his neck broken, dead at Jaxom’s feet. His Luna wouldn’t get hurt again.
Wolves chased after him. Tendrils told the tale of who they belonged to. Bright blue tendrils touched Jaxom. The same color of the first man with a cloak. It seemed so long ago. Some wolves tried to attack castle warriors with no tendrils of loyalty stretching to anyone.
“Jaxom!” Renz barged out of the castle waving a puny sword. He looked completely ridiculous with his sagging skin and knurled hands.
“You don’t want to get in my way, Maggot King.” Jaxom said out loud without shifting. Wolves couldn’t do that. Jaxom almost laughed, he had more to learn about his Lycan.
A knife flew out of Ksenia’s hand. She must really hate Renz, not that Jaxom could blame her. The feeling was mutual. Her aim was perfect. The result was scary. Renz pulled the knife out of where his heart should have been. The ass should have collapsed, dead at his feet.
Jaxom took off to gain the forest. Chants of ‘Death to the Maggot King’, rang through the city. If there was only one thing he might have done right in the dungeon, sharing Renz’ new name would have been near the top of the list. Renz was beaten, he just didn’t know it yet.
We’re out of the city, Jaxom said through the mind-link. He hoped that his Lycan still blended into the dark in the forest. He didn’t have the ability to physically fight anymore. He only had strength left to run.
We can feel you, Jax, Hayden pushed encouragement through the mate-bond. Jaxom needed every bit of encouragement he could get. He was losing the physical battle. His endurance was waning.
Jaxom pushed harder. They weren’t far. Even stumbling he was still faster than the wolves escorting him.
He saw wolves with no allegiance to him get close, but couldn’t seem to find him.
He was making noise running and breathing, but they couldn’t get his exact position.
The ones with tendrils of loyalty took care of the wolves chasing him and his Luna.
Ksenia was yelling encouragement and petting between his shoulder blades.
Tingles from her touch poured energy into every stride.
She’d been in that damn dungeon with him.
They wouldn’t have found her if he hadn’t been taken.
No way in hell he’d ever thank Renz for that. This all could have been so different.
A moonlit clearing opened up and Drake and Hayden, in Lycan form, shifted to human to greet him.
Jaxom ran the last bit of distance only to collapse at their feet as he shifted.
He quickly flipped to his back to hold Ksenia, very aware she had her knife out and ready.
More than that, he needed to hold her one more time. Maybe the last.
“It’s okay, you’re safe, sweet girl.” He panted as he ran his hands through her hair. “Hayden’s going to get you to safety. You have transport from here?”
Renz has all roads shut down. We need to run, Drake said through the mind-link.
Take her, Hayden. I can’t. Get our Luna safe, Jaxom linked back.
Jaxom nudged Ksenia towards Hayden, hating he couldn’t communicate with her. She was pleading with him, urgency in her every move. Unfortunately, he wasn’t going anywhere. He was absolutely spent.
At least there were warriors surrounding them, blending into the woods.
Their tendrils of loyalty touched his body.
He could also seem them touching Hayden and Drake.
It was wild to see. What surprised him were the thin tendrils reaching out to touch Ksenia.
Those wolves knew what they were seeing.
Jaxom knew he was handing her off not only into the safety his mates would provide, but the safety of his pack members, too.
They were already welcoming her into the pack.
She’d live protected from more harm. It was all he could ask for.
Hayden shifting in the moonlight was beauty to behold.
Big and black with a red undertone. Huge.
His human form was shorter than Drake but his Lycan was awesome.
He’d survived his first shift early. Amber eyes stood in contrast to the dark of his coat.
Jaxom longed to run his hands through Hayden’s fur, feel his mate.
There was no time for that. They were still being hunted.
Drake gently picked Ksenia up and put her on Hayden’s back.
Fly, Hayden. Get to safety, Jaxom urged. His heart left and went with his mates. He didn’t need it anymore.
“Hey, hey, Jax. Rest for a moment. It’s so good to see you,” Drake whispered as he kissed his forehead.
“I can’t go any further. I’m spent. Kiss me and go, handsome.”
“Ha, ha,” Drake said in disbelief. “You may be down but you’re not out.
” He took his necklace off and opened a leather bag he’d attached to it.
“First, the necklace you left behind. Second, Hazel said this will get you to our boarder. You’re not done running.
I’ll let you sleep for a week afterward and hold you the whole time. ”
Jaxom eyed the green vial. He shook his head ‘no,’ too tired to lift his head up. Tears swam in Drake’s eyes as he unstoppered the vial. Jaxom tried to lift a hand to protest, stop him. He couldn’t stomach the idea of more witch’s brews, even if it was from Hazel.
“I’m not leaving you here, love. Open up. Suck it up one more time,” Drake growled out. Jaxom saw the determination in his mate’s eyes. The vial was going down whether he wanted it or not.
“It won’t work,” Jaxom said in defeat. There was no way a little green potion could combat sheer fatigue, whippings, beatings, stabbings, and worst of all, rape.
Drake gently held the vial to his mouth, waiting for it to open.
Jaxom shook his head no but opened anyway.
He couldn’t deny Drake. Taking the potion was pointless, though.
He was absolutely finished. Despite the feeling of being cleaned out when the power of the Lycans flowed through him, he knew not all of his wounds would heal completely.
No potion was going to change that. The look in Drake’s eyes wouldn’t let him give up quite yet, though.
Jaxom finally, obediently opened his mouth and let Drake pour it in.
The potion tasted of the smell of fresh grass and sunshine.
Hope rose as the rays of the sun turned the earth warm and green.
It was so gentle. Nothing like that fucking bitch had forced down his throat.
Somehow, the green potion allowed him to tap into his well of power in a way he’d never done before.
However, it wouldn’t last forever. A half a day at best. Warmth and well being seeped into limbs too heavy to lift.
Jaxom breathed in a sigh of relief as energy gently filled him up.
“Damn, she’s good,” Jaxom whispered. Even his voice felt better, for the moment. Somehow, she’d infused in the potion the idea that he would heal, maybe heal completely.
“Up, my love. We need to go,” Drake urged. He was looking over his shoulder. Wolves howled and snarled in the distance.
Jaxom got up on all fours and willed his body to shift.
The rips and tears that shredded his skin still hurt, but it was like a distant irritation, there but bearable.
The shift was fast. Different from shifting into his wolf form.
It was oddly more natural, like the wolf form had been foreign and awkward to mold his body into.
Drake was right beside him, helping Jaxom stay upright.
The soft flood of energy was still filling him.
So different from the harsh brews Magdahl had slammed down his throat.
Maybe Renz could be stopped. Maybe, the real prophecies really would bring prosperity to the people of Ashling and the rest of the Eight Divided Realms. Maybe, the hope Hazel infused in the brew was real.
“Did you know we can speak out-loud now?” Jaxom asked his mate.
Drake’s look of surprise was the last bit of magic Jaxom needed to get moving. He wasn’t going to let anyone take that away again, including himself.
“Cutting through the woods instead of sticking to the roads gets us to pack lands in four hours. Let’s go,” Drake commanded out loud.
Jaxom got his body moving. The Alpha energy fueled each step. Drake’s presence was encouraging, needed, desperately missed. Hayden and Ksenia would be waiting for them. Jaxom’s heart came back to him as they raced home.
To be continued…