Page 82 of Rejected By the Alpha King

“I don’t know,” I said honestly. “The witches are attached to us, but they don’t share the same loyalty that pack animals do. They keep their own secrets. If it suits them, they won’t say anything.”

“Then I guess we’ll see who is loyal and who isn’t,” she said grimly.

37

Jax

London Elwes arrived first. The alpha was as quiet and unreadable as his pack. The deepest into the mountains, the Snake River pack was the smallest and they kept to themselves. When my brother was alpha, London’s predecessor wanted to merge the two packs in a violent manner.

He might have succeeded too, had I not realized what was happening.

A month before my brother challenged my father, I nearly took control of the Snake River when I killed their alpha. Instead, I ceded to London and set my sights on better protecting my own.

I had very little contact with London, although his beer was apparently making the rounds.

His witch, Ava Starret, was an older woman although it was impossible to tell her age.

London’s second helped her out of the car, and she looked me over coolly. “Alpha Jax,” she said as her eyes darkened. “You’re standing at a crossroads, and you’re choosing the wrong path.”

“I love a little premonition first thing in the morning,” I said as I bowed my head. “Welcome, Ava. London.”

“Jax,” London greeted as he bowed his head in respect. “My second car was delayed, but they should be here in about an hour. Until then, my witch better be safe.”

“Maeve and her young witch are already here. My guards will show you to your rooms and keep an eye on Ava.”

“Maeve beat me here?” London asked with a raised eyebrow before he grinned. “She arrived yesterday, didn’t she?”

“She did.”

“I suppose you should have seen that coming. Still, she always manages to one-up us.”

Peering over my shoulder, he narrowed his eyes. “And there’s the woman no one can stop gossiping about. Anna Kipling. Your mate.”

I glanced over my shoulder to see that Ava had stopped her and was speaking intensely to her. I tensed, but Anna suddenly smiled, and the tension melted off me. That smile was breathtaking.

“That would be her.”

“This will be an interesting weekend,” London murmured. “How is Irene?”

“News of my witch has spread as quickly as news of my mate,” I said as I studied him. “And what do you know of Irene?”

“I know there was a time when I wanted her to be my witch. No hard feelings, but I know how powerful she is. Ava wanted her.”

“Does Ava still want her?”

London chuckled softly. “Paranoia doesn’t look well on you, Jax.”

“It’s not paranoia when someone is targeting our witches,” I sighed. “Ava and Anna seem to be bonding. Any idea what they’re talking about?”

“A rising darkness surrounding you? That’s all she’s been discussing as of late,” London frowned. “It’s really put a damper on recent dinners. I don’t suppose you know what this darkness is?”

“That’s what we’re here about.”

London disappeared into the house after his witch, and I studied Anna. She hadn’t said a word when we went to bed last night or this morning when we woke up.

Even after I’d fucked her twice more. She still had one foot out the door, and I was pushing her the rest of the way even if I just wanted to grip her tight and yank her closer.

There were a thousand things I could ask her. “What did Ava say to you?”

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