Page 104 of Rejected By the Alpha King

I relaxed just a little. “So it’s not affecting all of my wolves?”

“No. Irene is doing some research; she thinks it might be a powerfully spelled salve. She touched Finn, when she killed him, and me when she kidnapped me.”

Jax frowned. “She didn’t touch me.”

“Not at the sight, but she could have touched you at any time. We’ll need to check…well, everyone. Irene is hoping that the spell has an expiration date, but until she knows for sure, anyone Bridget came into contact with is at risk.”

Growling, I pulled her back into my arms. This time, she didn’t stiffen at all. “You’re still tense,” she said quietly. “Is there something you’re keeping from me?”

“Your absence at dinner was noticed. I don’t want you involved in the hunt, but if you skip it, the others might take that personally.”

Her eyes widened. “Jax, I can’t.”

“Your wolf does not have to attend. You can be the judge and hand out the prizes for the most kills and be surrounded by a dozen of my guards.”

“I’ll seem weak,” she snarled. “Like prey.”

“You are not weak, Anna. You are healing from a lifetime of trauma. Stay human. Be protected.”

“Irene saw omens. She thinks someone she knows is going to die tonight.”

I bared my teeth. “That someone is not going to be you.”

47

Anna

The other alphas didn’t question or comment when Jax announced that I was guarding the prize, which was TK, and judging the participants upon their return. It was based on both speed, weight, and takedown, which we were monitoring on cameras.

Quite a few members of our pack were participating, and many of those smirked my way, as if they assumed Jax thought I was too weak to participate.

Only Emerson’s eyes glittered with cold amusement. He probably knew how I felt about showing my wolf.

Unease slithered down my spine. He could not get to me here. I was surrounded by Amelia and a dozen wolves.

I was safe.

As the horn sounded, indicating the beginning of the hunt, the wolves began to shift. Only Jax hesitated and looked my way again, indecision in his eyes.

I gave him a reassuring smile, but that didn’t stop the look of anger in his face as he finally shifted and joined the others.

“If you get any more tense, you’ll break,” Amelia muttered. “Relax. It’s two hours, and then you’ll be safe in the house once again.”

“It’s not just that.” I glanced at the sky, unable to shake Irene’s words. If Emerson was going to make a move, any kind of move, now was certainly the time to do it. Each shifter was on their own, so no one would be watching him. “Something is going to happen in this hunt. Maybe just not to me.”

“You’re worried about Jax? Nobody would be dumb enough to attack him on his own land,” Amelia snorted, but I noticed she also tensed and glanced around. Now she was worried as well.

She’d also heard Irene’s words.

“Eager to get off bodyguard detail?”

“I do as my alpha commands.” She slid her gaze to me and grinned. “Although, I will say it’s never dull being around you.”

“Hold on to that feeling.”

If she or any of the other wolves were upset about not joining the hunt, they didn’t let on.

Even Jenson wasn’t participating. He’d taken to guarding himself tonight.

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