Page 177 of The Alpha King's Fate

‘I’m still healing. I need to rest.’

The wolf shut herself off, but not entirely as she did before. There was still a link between them that reassured her that she wasn’t dreaming. It wasn’t a fluke. Nia was there, even if she was a little weaker than usual. She had used up whatever strength she had to return to her and take care of the people she loved.

Her heart pounded with the adrenaline that rushed through her body, and for the first time, she wasn’t ashamed to admit that she enjoyed what her wolf did.

What she did with her mate and her mother.

Her mate?

Her breath hitched as she turned to Jax, who stood blood and naked behind her. His mouth had dropped open, and his heartpounded as fast as hers. She heard it. She felt it—his love, his overwhelming gratefulness.

The bond snapped back into place as if the Commander had never broken it.

“How?” she whispered.

Was it the bite? She’d felt tired all day, nothing like her awakening when she’d first met Jax. Was it Brit? If her sister’s wolf was anything like Nia, then she would have been able to heal her when they shared the bed. But how did someone heal something that wasn’t there? Or was it the rage she felt? The need to protect the people she loved?

Jax stepped forward, his breath ragged as if he couldn’t believe his eyes. He lifted a shaky hand to her face and brushed strands of her bloody hair out of her face.

“I feel you,” he whispered. “I feel everything.”

His head lowered until his lips met hers. Her eyes closed as relief flooded her. Cain was safe; Jax wouldn’t have to live as just a shell of himself.

Tears fell down her cheeks and mixed with Jackson’s.

‘Can you hear me?’

His voice sounded beautiful in her head. She sobbed against his lips while nodding. Losing Nia blindsided her, but she never once believed she would have her back. She never thought she would bond with the man she loved again.

‘Cain is going to be okay,’ she whispered in his head. ‘We’re going to be okay.’

Jax wrapped his arms around her and deepened the kiss. She didn’t care about the blood or the bodies on the floor as the link with Jax strengthened. She could feel it differently like they had reached a different level in their relationship.

The sound of someone clearing their throat brought her back to the present, and she pulled away despite Jax’s protest. She turned around and saw the whole room full of wolves on theirknees. Rescued wolves and warriors alike. Alphas and Betas. Their heads were lowered, and though they knelt in the blood of their enemies, there wasn’t an ounce of fear in the air.

There was respect. There was gratitude. There was love.

She had believed the opposite to be true when Nia hadn’t been there, but now the extent of their emotions overwhelmed her.

Rebecca stood a little away from everyone else as always, but tears fell down her cheeks.

‘I knew you were strong,’ Rebecca whispered in her head. ‘I knew Fate couldn’t be so cruel to you.’

She walked over to her mother and embraced her. Fate was the cruellest, and she didn’t trust that she could believe in a happy ever after. But for now, this was enough. Being with Jax and protecting Hope was everything she needed.

“If you’re quite done, we still have some business to take care of,” Chase said, looking over at the Alphas who knelt in the corner.

The new Circle member shook so hard she felt sorry for him. But Alpha Hugo kept looking up and stealing glances. His fascination was evident even without having to call on Nia to help her.

“Hugo,” Jax called.

The Alpha stood and helped his teammate to his feet before they came to stand in front of them.

“I swear I didn’t want to be here. I was just doing what Alpha Lincoln told me,” the new Circle member said first. His voice was so shaky it was barely audible.

Jax snorted and pulled her to his side.

“Do you have a name, New Finn?” he asked.

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