Jax (Immortals of New Orleans Book 7) (5 page)

In his peripheral vision, Jax spied Finn stripping down. The sight of the strong redheaded male preparing for a fight gave confidence to the Alpha’s choice. Jax stared down his pack and set forth with his announcement.

“Agrestis Wolves. I hereby name Finn Cavanagh as my beta.” His eyes darted over to his friend, who remained impassive. If it weren’t for the tick in his forehead, his somber expression would have concealed his irritation. “This is my pack and mine alone. If you challenge me, do it now, but there will be no discourse.”

“I smell the bitch.” Arlo stroked his flaccid cock and sniffed up into the air. “That’s right, Chandler. Her scent is in the wind. You going to let us all have a go?”

“You’d leave your own wolves to go fuck a Lyceum whore?” Easton laughed.

A surge of rage exploded within as the Alpha shifted. The threat toward Katrina had been the trigger; his reaction swift and forceful. Lurching forward, Jax attacked. Although Easton had managed to transform, Jax pounced onto the grey wolf, slicing his teeth into his neck. Blood rushed into his mouth, feeding his fury. The whimpering wolf rolled onto its back in submission, its paws drawn tight to its body. Despite his frenzied state, Jax maintained control. Granting the wolf mercy, he turned his focus to Arlo, whose teeth were firmly embedded into his hackles.

Forcing his body backward, Jax slammed the large brown wolf into the dirt. Arlo had always been a skilled fighter, but he was no match for the powerful Alpha. Jax had ruled for over thirty years, and he’d demonstrate his dominance yet again. In the heat of battle, no compassion would be granted to the wolf who threatened his rank. The Alpha never took killing lightly. Yet tonight death would blanket the forest, its foul stench a reminder to those who challenged him, of who exactly led Agrestis Wolves.

Growling, saliva and blood sprayed into the air as Jax secured his hold. Arlo snapped in an attempt to dislodge the fierce Alpha. Unrelenting, Jax pierced his fangs deep into his opponent’s fur, shredding the skin. The tenacious wolf shoved upward, refusing to submit. With his forepaws, Jax pinned the wolf immobile and lodged his jaws further into Arlo’s neck. Releasing the supreme strength of an Alpha, Jax vigorously shook his challenger. Bones snapped as he crushed its spine, the sanguine essence rushing down his throat.

Jax absorbed the magick as the life drained from the wolf. Raging, he shifted to human and sprang to his feet. A mournful, triumphant howl tore from the Alpha’s lungs, and his wolves rose to meet his call. Overcome with emotion, he both celebrated his victory and grieved the loss of a pack member. For the greater good, blood had been spilled to protect them all. Jax wiped tears from his face, satisfied when Finn nodded and joined him.
My new beta.
No longer divided, Agrestis Wolves were united once again.
The Alpha had risen.

Jax shoved the cabin door open, and Finn followed. They’d run with the pack for over an hour and had returned exhilarated but exhausted. Although Jax had known leaving Katrina was a risk, his wolves took priority over the woman who’d nearly started a territorial war. The attraction between them was undeniable, but he struggled to reconcile his feelings with what she’d done in the past. No matter how beautiful she was, he didn’t yet trust her. Instinct may have urged him to keep her close, but logic told him to question whether she was friend or foe.

The attractive little wolf caused him angst, an emotion he was not at all used to feeling. A curious pang of jealousy had stabbed through him when he’d observed the interaction between Katrina and Jake. His gut twisted as he speculated on the nature of their relationship. She’d told him that they were friends, but was she telling the truth?

Jake was a good friend to his sister Gillian’s mate, Dimitri. He’d shown aggressive tendencies from the moment Jax had met him in New Orleans. While Jake displayed irritation toward him, it was clear the young wolf hadn’t tried to establish himself as Alpha nor had he challenged Finn. On the contrary, his new beta appeared entirely comfortable with the Acadian wolf, welcoming him as a guest.

Jax turned on the kitchen sink spigot and submerged his head in the flowing water. The icy stream did little to thwart the churning thoughts of Katrina, Jake and the challenge. Jax reasoned he’d need a long shower to wash away the death lingering on his skin. Finn’s rough voice drew him out of his contemplation. He jerked his head upward, droplets spraying throughout the kitchen.

“Jesus Christ, Jax. Do you think you could have taken five fucking minutes to ask me to take Nick’s place?” Finn glared at his Alpha.

Jax caught the look of disgust that crossed his beta’s face and shrugged. While the debonair Alpha was usually the epitome of a gentleman, he had trouble shaking off the feral tendencies the challenge had brought forth.

“This shouldn’t be a surprise.” Jax grabbed a dishtowel and wiped his face. “You’re my beta.”

“What the hell is going on with you?” Finn gestured to the wet tiles.

“What?” Jax glanced to the floor and chose to ignore the mess. “It’s just water.”

It had been over a year since Jax had visited his private home. While the décor of the cabin was upscale, its exposed beams and soapstone kitchen counters gave it a slightly rustic feel. The great room, with its vaulted ceilings and skylights, soaked in the light of the moon. Despite not visiting there often, he’d utilized a service to keep the home well stocked with supplies.

Naked, Jax strode across the room to the bar, where he reached for a bottle of Lagavulin. Setting four glasses onto the smooth surface, he uncorked the scotch and began to pour.

“Seriously. Have you lost your shit?” Finn snatched a throw blanket off the sofa and wrapped it around his waist.

“What is wrong with you?” The caustic liquor burned his throat as he downed a shot and poured another glass. Offering Finn a tumbler, he handed it off and fell back down onto the black leather sofa.

“Really, you gonna just lie there? Letting it all hang out?” Finn took a swig and wiped his mouth with the back of his hand.

“What do you want me to say?” Jax closed his eyes and opened them, taking a deep breath. His mood grew dark and he continued. “It had to be done. I could not allow Arlo to challenge me further.”

Jax lifted his gaze to meet Finn’s. He wasn’t waiting for judgment. They both knew what he’d done was in the best interest of the pack.

“I’m not talking about that. He was an asshole. He’s been fighting me since the day you went missing, but Jax…fuck. How was I supposed to take over?”

“Did Tristan show his face?” the Alpha asked, stretching his neck from side to side.

“You kiddin’ me? After what went down with Katrina, you think I was going to tell him who I saw in the club? Fuck no. If he was lookin’ for her, I wasn’t volunteering information. He would have been up here tearing the entire city apart.”

“Smart move.” Even though Jax and Tristan had established peace, a truce of sorts, the issue with Katrina had never been resolved. He still believed that Jax had gone after his sister.

“It was Logan who called. Gillian was behind it. Holy shit, man. I’d call her a pit bull but that would be an insult to the breed. The tiger in her…she would not give up. She kept calling here for you and next thing I knew, I had the Alpha of Acadian Wolves threatening me.”

“She’s my sister. The Alpha genes are strong in that one. She won’t submit, you know that, right? Dimitri’s got his hands full with her but I can’t help but be proud. She doesn’t take any shit.”

“Yeah well, tiger girl got Logan involved and before I knew it, Jake was here. Between the two of us, we were able to manage things, but Jax…” Finn took a deep draw and coughed. “What happened to you…you’ve got no idea how fucking happy I am you’re back. But tonight…”

“Ah, the beta thing…” Jax swirled his drink, taking note as the legs ran down the sides of the glass.

“Yeah, that.” Finn shook his head and threw it back against the back of his chair.

“You would have been my choice of beta if you hadn’t left.” Jax lofted the statement in silence, waiting for Finn to acknowledge it, to finally tell him what had happened over in Ireland that had kept him from coming home. He’d never been the same.

“Look, you know I had to go. And hell, I’ve been back for a while now. But your beta?”

“It’s done. Nick was my best friend, you know that. He, uh…” Jax’s voice cracked as his sorrow rose to the surface. He swallowed the last of his scotch and choked back his emotions. “He’s gone. I love him, but there’s no going back.”

“He was a great guy.”

“And so are you. What’s done is done. Finn, this makes sense. You’re the only one I can trust. We’ve been friends a long time. It was the right decision.”

“You could have told me. To just put it out there like that. It’s not like I wasn’t ready to fight tonight. Seriously, I was ready to tear the shit out of Easton and Arlo. Those dickheads have been challenging me since the day you left, but hell, to just do it like that…not tell me.”

“How long have you known me?” Jax stood and went to the bar.

“A long fucking time, that’s how long.” Finn stared at his Alpha, his eyes bloodshot.

“This is why I’m Alpha. I make decisions. There is no wavering. It’s what I do.” Jax didn’t expect others to always understand his responsibility. It was the ultimate burden and opportunity. The lives of hundreds of wolves and the future of their pack rested in his hands.

“I can see you’re going to give me more of your Alpha mumbo jumbo, so let’s move to the next topic. What the fuck is up with your, uh,” Finn gestured to his friend’s dick. His mouth curled up in a half grin, “your lack of clothes? Because I know Jax Chandler, and this is not him.”

“Perhaps I don’t give a fuck what anyone thinks tonight. I’m going back to my nature. I’m raw.” Jax pounded on his chest with a closed fist. The killing had surged a virile energy within him that he struggled to contain.

His thoughts turned to Katrina. The fresh scent of coconut shampoo lingered in the air and he wondered where Jake was. Had he watched her while she ran the soap over her smooth skin? An unfamiliar possessive urge crawled inside his belly and his lips drew tight in agitation. He didn’t want to care who she fucked or what she did.

Jax curled his fingers into the mahogany bar, his claws scratching the wood.
Fuck it all, I need to see her now
, he thought.

“Jax.” He heard her voice softly call to him. As he raised his eyes to hers, the beast inside stirred.
Mine.

The sight of Katrina standing in the hallway took his breath away. She appeared fragile, her wet hair combed behind her shoulders. Her once brunette locks had turned blonde, and he wondered if the change was related to her abduction. His eyes darted to Jake as he brushed by Katrina, giving her a small hug as he passed. The brief but intimate interaction reminded him that no matter his visceral attraction, he didn’t trust her.

“Everything all right?” Jake asked.

“Kat.” Jax ignored the question, his eyes locked on Katrina’s.

“Everything’s great, Jake. Thanks for taking care of my pack while my sorry ass was captured, Jake.” The Acadian wolf gave a smirk, his voice laden with sarcasm. He snatched a tumbler and poured a scotch. “You’re welcome, Alpha. No problem, Alpha.”

“Sometimes showing trust is a form of appreciation.” Jax gave a brief smile to Jake and turned his attention back to Katrina.

As he drew closer to the she-wolf, he noted no other scent on her. As much as Jake grated on his nerves, the confirmation he hadn’t touched Katrina ameliorated the Alpha’s concerns. After Jax had fought to save Dimitri and Gillian, he considered that Logan had returned the favor by sending an honorable wolf to help Finn watch over his pack.

“Sometimes a simple thank you works too, but whatever.” Jake stole a glance at Jax’s bare ass. His eyes darted to Finn, who laughed in response. “And sometimes…just putting on some clothes is a great way to show appreciation. You look like you work out. I’ll give you that. But dude, I don’t need to see your junk all day long. How ‘bout some threads?”

Before Jax had a chance to retort, Katrina approached, distracting him. Her petite form swam in his black cashmere bathrobe. The lapels drifted open, and his eyes fell to the swell of her breasts. A warm hand on his roughened cheek stunned him into silence. His eyes lifted to meet hers.

“Clothes do not make the man. The Alpha can do as he wishes.” Katrina smiled.

“Don’t listen to her, Finn. She grew up with Tristan. That one never gets dressed either,” Jake retorted.

Katrina glared over to Jake for only a second. Jax never lost focus as she spoke to him. Although he towered over her, she commanded his attention.

“Death is never easy,” she told him.

“I’m fine,” he began.

“I smell it on you. Never forget, Jax. I am an Alpha’s daughter. An Alpha’s sister. A death within the pack destroys a wolf to renew the lives of many. The wolves…they’re settled now?”

“Yes. And you are…” He leaned into her touch, within inches of her lips. Jax’s cock jerked as he breathed in her scent. A devious smile crossed his face. “You smell delicious.”