Page 38 of Fire Bound

“You’ve been told since you were reborn into this world that you are powerful. The strongest even. You’ve been told that you’re the alpha and you must lead your people, but I amnotyour people.” I jab a finger into my chest. “I am your friend, but I am not your people. You do not get to demand answers from me. You do not get to interfere in matters that do not concern you. You are not privy to all my secrets.” I feel my eyes shift into their wicked wolf’s form. “And you are not stronger than me. One wrong slip of the hand, one second of distraction, and I could settle the whole fucking state. It would be wise to remember that there is a reason that I keep secrets. There’s a good chance I do it so I can protectyou.” I flick my eyes over her shoulder toward the area where I know Remington to be sparring. I sensed her the second we pulled up like always. “And her. So, the next time you try to question me or my motives, remember that I’m doing my fucking best to keep her alive.”

Pru shakes her head in jerky movements. “I know you, Jax. You wouldn’t hurt her.”

My head tilts back as I release a cold, almost manic laugh. “I never took you for stupid, Pruitt,” I tell her coldly. “Believing I’ll never accidentally hurt her is foolish.”

“Accidentally,” she repeats with emphasis. “You’d never hurt someone you care about on purpose, Jax. Stop trying to make yourself seem like the evil people who created you. You’re not them.”

“Half of my blood ishis,” I remind her. “Just because I don’t want to hurt people like he does, doesn’t mean I won’t.”

Whatever words that are on her tongue are cut off when the front door of the house is torn open and thundering footsteps pound down the wooden stairs. Moving around the truck, I find Ranger and Ransom charging toward us. Both of their features are pinched with concern. As identical twins, their different hairstyles and personalities are the only things that differentiate them. Ranger is calmer, thoughtful, much like his dad. He thinks before he acts. Ransom is volatile and impulsive. Something I can relate to.

Instantly on guard, Pruitt meets them halfway while I loiter a few feet back. “What happened?” she demands.

“The cameras at my house went down,” Ranger explains as he anxiously presses his phone to his ear. “Kody was watching the cameras today and he said all of the ones we placed around my property are out.”

“Winslow is here, right?” I question. Since things with Sterling have heated up, Ranger very rarely allows his ‘little witch’ out of his sight. Usually, she works at the psychic shop in town with her aunt, but she hasn’t worked in months.

“She’s out back, Beau was showing her something,” Ranger confirms, still looking at his phone. “I’m trying to access the cameras in my house, but they’re not working either.”

“I’m going,” Ransom declares, his shirt already over his head as he prepares to shift.

“I’m going to get Winnie, and then I’ll meet you there,” Ranger tells his twin.

Appearing seemingly out of nowhere, Remington comes around the car. “I’ll go with, Ransom.” Her blue thunderous eyes clash with mine, a hurricane of emotions in them. That storm would scare any mortal man, but it fills me with relief. The fake unemotional mask she’s been wearing for months is starting to break. She’s allowing herself to feel again.

Even if I’m not the reason she’s healing, I’m glad to see the improvement.

“No, we don’t know what’s waiting there.” Ransom shakes his head in disapproval. “I’ll scope it out first.”

Remington pulls the tank top she wears over her head and kicks off her sneakers. “I don’t know who died and made you the boss of me, but I’m going.”

“I outrank you,” Ransom reminds her heatedly. “I’m the beta male.”

Remington flicks her gaze over him with an unimpressed look, before she snaps her fingers and mockingly grimaces. “Oh darn. Looks like I left all my fucks to give in my other pair of pants.” She pouts out her bottom lip. “Better luck next time, butt munch.”

Ransom gives a warning snarl, but it goes unanswered as Remington shifts into her stunning silver wolf.

“Hardheadedness runs in the family,” Ranger remarks, sounding resigned to the situation. He gestures flippantly at Pru’s growing tummy. “That child is going to give you a run for your money. Best of luck with that.”

Remington makes an impatient chuffing noise at her brother. Ransom only hesitates a second before shifting into his own wolf form. Remi’s size isn’t small by any means, but standing next to her brother’s massive wolf form, he dwarfs her.

“I’ll meet you guys there,” I announce to the wolves as I back up from them, calling upon my power.

“What? Jax no—” Pruitt starts but I don’t hear the rest.

With a cocky salute, I hurtle through the planes of this world to Ranger’s house.

Winslow and Ranger’s house looks like a modern treehouse built up into the trees. A unique design I haven’t yet decided if I like yet. All I know is it fits the quirky witch’s vibe to a T. When Winnie first met Ranger, he was living in a sixty-year-old silver airstream trailer with no running water. The weird treehouse that sits in front of me with no signs of life or movement is a serious upgrade.

I stand on the gravel driveway, observing the dark house. If I were Isabeau, I’d be slinking around the dark shadows, trying to be as sly as possible. Her whole schtick is sneaking up on her enemies without them even knowing she’s been there.

I’m not as shifty, I prefer for my enemy to see me coming. My wolf likes it when he can smell the fear seeping out of their pores and see the fear in their eyes.

Nothing has been disturbed. The only signs that someone unwelcome is here right now are the fresh tire tracks left on the unpaved road and the lingering scent of cigarette smoke. I can’t think of a single person in the pack that smokes.

Unhurried, I peruse around the building, looking for signs that something has been tampered with. Things like trip wires or freshly moved dirt, just any sign that traps have been laid out for us.

Odd that they’d start at Winslow’s house, but like Remington, they’re just going after anyone they can. The house was empty since everyone was away at Isabeau’s. They saw an opening and so they took it.

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