Page 77 of Rejected By the Alpha King

He didn’t want to be near his father, so on his eighteenth birthday, I released him from the pack. Parker was furious, although he never said anything. He nearly drank himself to death until you came along.”

Something still didn’t fit, but I filed the information away as we neared the house. “Maeve was detained in guest quarters,” Jax said in a low voice. “She’ll be pissed that she wasn’t immediately shown to her room, so be prepared.”

“Was it not ready?”

“No, it was, but I don’t allow other alphas into my home when I’m not there.” Jax flashed his teeth. “And they know it.”

Always playing games. The politics were too damn hard to untangle. I wasn’t sure I would ever understand.

And maybe I wouldn’t get the chance. The realization didn’t do anything to settle me.

As we walked up, one of the SUVs pulled into the drive. One of the guards stationed at the house stepped forward and opened the door. A slender woman and an older woman exited first. She seemed almost too dainty to be an alpha. Salt and pepper hair curled at the top of her head, and she was dressed in a red pantsuit that fit her smartly.

Damn. Was it too late for me to say that I wished I could be like her when I got older? She was sophisticated elegance, but there was no mistaking the power that simmered below the skin.

Violence neatly contained in a glamorous package.

This was the woman who’d threatened to murder a child.

And then was unable to go through with it.

“Jax,” she said coldly. “You kept me waiting.”

“You arrived unscheduled and without warning. We don’t just wait around for you, Maeve,” Jax said calmly. “This is Anna, my mate.”

Her gaze turned to me, and her gaze looked me up and down. “Anna Kipling. The daughter of a serial killer.”

“That’s me.” I nodded my head in respect, but only once. She was a superior, but she was not mine. As Jax’s mate, I shared his status, but I wasn’t stupid enough to try and abuse it. It was for show, and everyone knew it.

“My, this will be an interesting trip. May I present Cam Lee, my pack witch.”

A young woman with her black hair, creamy skin, and eyes as dark as night looked around nervously. “Alpha Jax,” she whispered. “Alpha Jax mate.”

Jax had told me that her father had recently been murdered. My heart went out to her, but before I could say anything, Maeve cleared her throat. “Now that the pleasantries are out of the way, you will take me to my room, and I demand to see Finn.”

“I will see you to your room, but your request to see Finn will have to be put on hold. That’s his decision to make.”

Maeve sighed. “I had such high hopes for you when you took power,” she sighed. “But perhaps you don’t have the control I think you do.”

“You won’t be able to manipulate me, Maeve, but I do love to see you work.”

“Excuse me,” Cam said in a low voice. “I am anxious to see Irene. Is that possible?”

The witches were why we were all here. I looked at Jax who nodded. “We can make that happen.”

Cam flashed a smile, and I felt ice prickling up my neck. Maybe I was just being paranoid but that smile looked positively hostile.

Then, before I could even take a breath, I felt her magic lash out around me and squeeze.

35

Anna

“Release me,” I said in a cold tone as I stared at the witch. “Now.”

It was a gamble. I had no idea what the spell was supposed to do. If I’d more time to study the magic wrapping around, I could hazard a guess. I doubted it was meant to do anything too drastic, or Maeve and her witch would be immediately accused.

No, it had to be curiosity.

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