Page 100 of Rejected By the Alpha King

Jax tried to tell me that there was no shame in it, but I still couldn’t shake the feeling. If Amelia was annoyed at having to meet at the house at such an early hour, she didn’t show it.

“Finn first. Then the woods, and then Irene,” I said as I climbed into the truck. “And if I didn’t say so last night, I’m sorry, Amelia.”

“You didn’t have a choice, did you?” Without looking at me, she started the vehicle and pulled out. “And she tried to kill Finn.”

“You care for him.”

“She liked him. She thought he’d make a good wolf. How did you get the jump on the two of them anyway? They were both stronger than you.”

That stung, but she wasn’t wrong. “They were both focused on Jax, and Bridget relied too heavily on her gun. I’m not all that dominant, but my wolf and I are close. I can shift quickly.”

“And you know how to kill.”

“And you don’t? Are we going to have a problem? I didn’t want to kill Bridget. I’d never really had a friend before, and honestly thought maybe she and I were heading in that direction.

Instead, she was just trying to get me to trust her so she could hand deliver me to Emerson.”

Salt stung my eyes, but I blinked back the tears. I must be tired if I was about to cry over a friendship that never happened.

We drove in silence until we reached the infirmary. When Amelia killed the ignition, she sighed and turned to me. “I’m sorry. I’m struggling with her betrayal and her death. You’re safe with me, Anna. I just might be a little ornery from time to time.”

“I get it.” I reached for the handle. “How about we just don’t talk about it?”

“Works for me.”

Jax must have called ahead. Saul was waiting for us when we walked inside, along with a female that I didn’t recognize. I was immediately on alert.

“It’s all right, Anna. This is Tiana. She’s the other healer. She was here yesterday when Finn was brought in,” Saul said gently.

Tiana sized me up and then rolled her eyes. “You certainly don’t look like much,” she grunted.

Talk about an injured ego. “Some days I don’t feel like much, either.”

“If you can explain why a strange woman dropped the newest member of our pack at my doorstep, maybe we can be friends.”

“I suppose we’ll have to work on our friendship the hard way. Can I see him?”

“Look, you might be Jax’s mate, but in this infirmary, even Jax answers to me. Why should I let you in?” She demanded.

Amelia cleared her throat. “It’s important, Tiana. Besides, Finn and Anna are friends. She’s not going to hurt him.”

“Fine. I guess you want to be alone with him, too?”

I nodded, and she growled but moved out of the way. Amelia took one look at Finn, sniffed, and turned. “I’ll be right outside the door.”

She had a soft spot for Finn, and she hated it. I could relate.

Finn had been given his own room in the infirmary. There were no visible signs of injury, but he appeared to be sleeping deeply. I scooted my chair up to the bed and sat down. “You’re an idiot, you know. If you’d stayed in the damn woods, this never would have happened. People around me die, Finn. I hope you remember that when you wake-up and run as far and as fast as you can from me.”

There was a beep, and I jumped. From the bed, Finn chuckled hoarsely. “It’s just keeping an eye on my vitals,” he rasped. “Saul was actually excited to use it. Wolves don’t usually require so much monitoring after an injury.”

“You’re awake.” The idiot. Tension lifted from my shoulders, and I glared at him. “I meant what I said.”

“I know you did. But I’m an idiot, as you pointed out, and I’m not leaving just because the girl tried to kill me. And don’t worry, I’m not telling anyone else that.”

“She’s dead. She was working with Dean.” Reaching over, I placed a hand on his chest. I wanted to see if any of the spell lingered on him, but we weren’t bonded like Jax and I were.

I couldn’t sense anything in him.

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