Page 23 of The Alpha King's Fate

“That’s exactly what I thought you’d say,” Brit growled. “I knew they’d brainwashed you, Layla. I’m nothing like you. Take me back home. You can stay here with the new family you’ve chosen.”

Chapter 11

Jax walked into the conference room where Dylan was waiting and went straight for the drinks cabinet.

“A little too early for that, isn’t it?” Dylan said.

He threw his head back and downed the shot before he poured another. And that still wasn’t enough fortification. He turned around and looked at the envelope Dylan placed on the table. There was only one group of people so full of themselves that they still sent messengers when they could easily have called.

The little envelope had its official seal, a raised circle stamped in red wax, and it stank of dark magic.

“It’s been over a year since that incident at the gate and longer since Alpha Finn. Why would they do this now?” Dylan asked.

“Because they’re assholes,” he growled.

He’d started to believe that the Circle accepted his declaration that they were breaking away because he hadn’t heard from them since their last visit. Since Layla grabbed Hugo by his throat. He should have known better. They would never let him go that easily when they coveted his bloodline. And with Layla in the mix, the Circle members were probably getting hard-ons every day, imagining what they could make his little family do.

Whatever was in that envelope was about to mess up his life.

“Putting it off won’t solve anything,” Dylan said. “Open it. Let’s get this over and done with.”

He grabbed the whole bottle of alcohol and an extra glass before walking over to the sofas, completely ignoring the envelope.

“I’ve been trying to put everything behind me. The curse, the witch. Micah. But I have a feeling it’s all about to come back and bite me in my ass,” he said as he poured shots for both of them.

“You went through a lot, so it’s normal,” Dylan said, picking up the envelope before sitting opposite him. “The Circle probably just wants to finalise things. Open it.”

Jax ignored the envelope and downed his shot.

“Have you heard anything else about the missing scouts?” he asked.

“No. We were on standby for an emergency evacuation; I didn’t follow up on that.”

“Ryker’s scouts are missing,” he stated. “That can’t be a coincidence.”

Maybe Hailey had a sibling, or her coven was looking for revenge. He couldn’t ignore that possibility anymore.

“Whatever is happening in the packs, you have to deal with the Circle first,” Dylan insisted, holding out the envelope.

He sighed and put his glass down before taking the envelope. The magic in it sizzled and rippled over his skin when he touched the seal. As the recipient, he was the only one who could break it open, but he always wondered why the Circle used dark magic for that when light magic could have worked as well. They were so used to doing things in the darkness that they weren’t bothered by having it in every aspect of their dealings.

He pulled out the paper inside and took a moment before opening it.

A summons.

He was being summoned to stand trial.

“What do they want?” Dylan asked.

“Jackson King, you are being summoned to stand before The Circle to answer for the following transgressions. The murder of Circle Member Alpha Finn Gideon. The assault of Circle Members Alpha Hugo Byron and Alpha Lincoln Byrd. The refusal to follow the set laws that apply to all,” he read out loud.

“Shit,” Dylan said.

Indeed. When the Circle summoned someone, it never ended well. He couldn’t remember hearing of anyone returning from such meetings. They tended to disappear the way whole packs disappeared when Hunters discovered their location.

But the summons did not mention Hunters, which was odd. He’d come closer than anyone in leading those Hunters almost to their doorstep, which should at least have been stated as his biggest crime.

“We hereby summon the human called Layla Carlisle, who is under your protection,” he continued.

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