Page 120 of Rejected By the Alpha King

If wolves were blending in with humans, they would be even harder to control. Why would Emerson want that? “We aren’t the targets, though. Witches are.”

“To target us. You think it’s me. Understandable. I’ve been a villain in your life before. I know it’s not though, and the only way to get you to believe me is to be on your side. Are you certain that you trust Jax?”

Startled, I almost stopped. “You’re going to accuse Jax? Of stripping his own witch of power? Just what the hell does he get from that?”

“What’s happening right now, of course. A plethora of witches. And that’s not my theory.

It’s London’s. I don’t buy it, but then, none of us know Jax very well. When I met him with your father…”

This time, I did stop. And I growled. “You’re a fucking liar. Jax never met my father before the night he killed him.”

Emerson looked at me with concern and slowly nodded. “All right. We don’t have to talk about it now, but the body of a dead witch showing up in the forest is not a good look for him.”

“It took magic to transport that body. With Irene stripped of her magic, Jax doesn’t have access to that kind of power,” I said tightly as I started to stride away. My thoughts were racing.

If Emerson starting pointing the finger at Jax, the other alphas could follow suit.

This meeting of alliance could quickly turn into a war.

I started walking faster.

“I’ve upset you. That was not my intention,” Emerson said quickly. “I know you feel safe here. I’m not trying to take that away from you.”

I whirled around to face him. “Then what the hell are you doing, Emerson? You want an alliance, but you also want everyone suspecting Jax! Did you think that if you took him out of the equation, that Bridget would step up? Kill Jenson and run this pack through her? Or just take it from her? You’ve always wanted power, Emerson. Your pack doesn’t seem to be enough for you. My father held nothing from me. He didn’t have to. He thought I was so snugly under his thumb that he didn’t give a fuck what I saw or heard. I saw you. I saw Dean. I saw the dead bodies. I killed a few of them myself. Jax was never involved. Not until he finally stepped in and did what I should have done years ago.”

Emerson put his hands up and took a step back. “I’m just asking you to be careful. I hope I’m wrong. I think Jax is a good man, and a good alpha, but if I am not wrong, then he will drag you down into this mess. He will use you. I know I don’t have the right to say that, but maybe you’ll listen since it’s coming from me. I know what that is like. And I do know you’re wrong about one thing.”

“What’s that?”

“Irene has magic. And she’s hiding it.”

A scream pierced the woods, and I glared at him. “Why does this always happen when we’re alone?”

“Maybe it’s because you are not with Jax.”

55

Jax

Anna was nowhere to be found. Even though I knew for a fact that it wasn’t Anna screaming, that was all that I could think about. She was not here by my side.

My fault. I was so worried about her that I’d crossed a line and pushed her away. Again.

When would I learn my fucking lesson?

The scream sounded again, and I was on my feet and racing from my house. Maeve, London, and Emerson were all gone since we’d taken a break. My wolves were appearing from buildings and trees, following the sounds of the screams. They led me along a familiar path.

The path that would lead me straight to Irene’s cottage.

The witches.

“Cam!” Maeve’s voice rose above the trees followed closely by her roar. Filled with fear, I ran faster. Irene. I’d brought her back and promised that I would protect her. Now, all I’d done was surround her with people who could hurt her.

I broke through the trees toward the house. Maeve was crouching near her witch who was struggling to a standing position. Blood poured down her arm.

“Cam,” I snarled and raced to her side. “Irene? Ava! Janelle!”

“They’re not here,” Cam whispered as she fell back to the ground.

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