Page 145 of Psycho Beasts

When Aran finally came into focus, I was not surprised to find both her and Cobra on the bed, kneeling over me.

Cobra had his palm spread in her face and was shoving her head to the side, and Aran was jabbing her elbow into his back as they fought to position themselves over me.

I gave them an unamused glare.

“Holy sun god’s tit, for the love of the moon goddess, Sadie, close your eyes.” Aran’s blue eyes were wide, and she grimaced at me.

“What?”

Jax’s handsome face filled the room as he leaned over me and softly inspected my eyes. “You’ve popped most of the blood vessels in both your eyes.”

“Sexy.” I licked my lips, and the big man grimaced.

“Why did you want to die, little alpha?” he whispered, his thumbs trailing softly across my forehead.

Apparently, being beaten within a centimeter of existence made a girl uncharacteristically honest.

“The pain was like a hundred out of ten, and I’ve caused your pack so much pain and suffering. It would be easier for everyone if I wasn’t around.”

His slate-gray eyes began to glow.

Jax tilted his head back and let out an ungodly roar that shook the room. The girls screamed, and even Aran scurried back in self-preservation.

It sounded very self-sacrificing when I’d said it, but I felt bad at the shattered expression on his face. It hadn’t been that deep; it just hurt like a bitch.

I reached up, grabbed his chin, and gently tugged it downward. “Let me finish.”

He stopped growling and took ragged breaths, like he was desperately trying to calm himself.

I wet my lips, and my voice steadied as the rattling noise in my chest grew faint.

“It was mostly just because of the pain. But the voice in my head showed me a postapocalyptic world from the past, where a massive army battled against shifters. Also, apparently I’m her ‘champion,’ and she said something about me having to lead battles and kneel at her feet.”

Jax’s jaw dropped.

He narrowed his eyes like he couldn’t decide if I was pulling his leg.

“I’m not kidding.”

Something in my expression must have convinced him, because Jax whirled around, grabbed the upholstered chair beside the bed, and chucked it across the room, through the wall.

“Wait, so, sis, you’re supposed to lead a war?” Lucinda asked quietly. She wrung her hands in her lap and looked up at me with familiar ruby eyes.

“Apparently,” I mumbled.

Her expression changed to one of awe. “That is so cool. I always knew you were a warrior.”

Jess and Jala were wearing similar expressions and instantly started whispering to each other.

Even Jinx looked impressed.

Aran glared at me and used Cobra’s stunned shock to push past him and straddle me. “Are you sure?”

I smirked at her. “Yep. Don’t be jealous that the girls think I’m cooler than you now.”

She narrowed her eyes but shook her head with disgust. That was exactly what she was pissed off about.

I knew her so well.

---