Chapter 59
Aurora
Tonight, Jaxson will face his brother in the attack posed to save my best friend. Luke saved my life when we escaped, and he sacrificed himself, knowing he would take the brunt of Xander’s anger and ferocity. I try not to seem anxious but I can’t help pacing in the living room, the evening on it’s way as the sun threatens to fall from the sky too fast.
Jaxson packs a duffle bag with spare clothes and other little necessities. I try to meet his eyes so maybe his calmness will influence me, but I can’t help that my wolf is howling deep in my head. She is upset, rightfully, and she doesn’t want Luke to stay with Xander but she hates to see Jaxson risk his life.
I open my mouth to speak, a little notecard on the kitchen cabinet catching my attention instead. I reach for it, finding a pen, and knowing that it may hurt but it has to happen. I retreat to the bedroom, my heart racing even faster as I sit on the bed and try to get my hand to stop shaking long enough to write this down.
Jaxson mentioned this morning that he has one request after he risks his life to save Luke.
For me and Luke to never speak again.
Jaxson assures me Mary knows he is trying to get Luke back now, and they will be safe, stowed away in another little village somewhere far away from Xander; and myself. I tried to ignore his words then but it’s starting to feel real now. In the end, I can agree it is best for Jaxson and I. Luke will always be my best friend but there’s no ignoring it now.
He was always my first love.
I swallow the sharp ache in my chest, feeling the heat flow through my lungs.
My hand is shaking as I write.
I try to start with thanking him for everything he has done for me. From helping me hide from royals growing up, to holding me when I would get hurt. He was my most trusted confidant. I hate that our last interactions were so brief and horrible. I wanted us both to escape from Xander but Luke took the fall for me. I would love to thank him, embrace him once more, but it has to end here. It has to be over between us.
My wolf craves Jaxson more and more every day. We have had our struggles, and we will continue to, but I can’t deny that he is taking tremendous steps to make it right between us. I mention that in the letter, trying to assure Luke that I’ll be fine and he should simply enjoy his life with Mary. It’s just fated this way.
I wish him the best and sign my name, feeling a tear ripple down my cheek.
“Hey,” Jaxson says, speaking so quiet that I hardly miss his voice.
I turn out of his line of sight, trying to wipe my cries as they come pouring down per the usual. “Hey, sorry,” I breathe, trying to sound somewhat composed. “I was just writing Luke a note for you to give him since I won’t be there to say goodbye.”
I feel him move into the cramped room, hovering just over my shoulder as though to read the note but when I look back, a quick glance, his eyes are stuck on my own. I offer him a dainty smile, my attempt rather pathetic as it falls just seconds later.
“Paul and Row are here,” he says, my wolf buzzing with excitement.
“What? Really?”
“They’re coming to help me,” he says, scratching his neck.
He hadn’t mentioned this prior. “Really? How are they going to help, Jaxson?”
“They know their jobs for now,” he says, brushing off the topic. “I was wondering if you wanted to come see them before we all leave. Once Luke is back, they will probably move to the village where Mary is waiting for him. I tried to get her a spacious place to stay. It will be safe for them all to relocate.”
I hate the idea of being alone out here but at least I’ll have Jaxson. I fold up my note, my hand shaking as I give it to Jaxson. He places it in his pocket without a second thought. Seeing him not want to riffle through my words makes me feel at ease.
I spot Row and Paul on the front porch and race out to them. Row catches me first, embracing me while trying to keep us from both stumbling off into the sand. Paul manages to part us and take over in a tight hug, his scent so woodsy and familiar.
When I back away, I notice Paul holding a small satchel, one I’ve seen before that he carries his little vials of potions into. I saw it before we got to the casino, a few, chaotic, months ago.
“What’s in there?” I ask, curiously tugging at the satchel.
Paul hesitates and I watch him look to Jaxson as though asking for permission.
“What are you planning?” I ask, seeing the pause travel through the group around me like everyone knows a secret I am not allowed to be aware of.
Jaxson leans against the doorway, tall and terrifyingly confident. “I will be the only one to go into his pack house. That means I need a little bit of a distraction.”
“Really?” I cough, looking to Row and Paul. “Bait?!”
Paul looks at me, through me, his glare hot. “I’m not pleased with the plan either, but we have to do something, Aurora. Luke is probably damn near death right now. We will be able to navigate the woods better than his pack can anyways, we grew up there.”
“Doesn’t mean you can take on his whole pack,” I growl. “Xander has hundreds of wolves under his thumb and they all hate commoners, Paul. It’s not safe!”
“You knew it wasn’t safe,” Jaxson shoots back. “But it’s either we risk ourselves or let him die, sweetheart.”
I look back to the ex-prince, too damn self-assured that it almost makes me mad. I wish he would have told me about this horrible plan sooner but I realize if I try to change it, Jaxson will end up being right. They would get hurt, captured or die in the process and I can’t deny that even Luke would meet his demise in the end.
My stomach cramps and my pulse is slow, almost deathly. I am a little glad that he is no longer in my head, able to swoop in and read my every thought. If he could, he would hear how unsure and frustrated I am right now. I want Luke to be okay; he is still there because he saved me.
“It will be alight,” Row hums, always the optimist. “You know we’re the best fighters of North Woods, Aurora. We could take on a hundred rogues with ease. I’m not scared, and neither are they. It will be an easy extraction and then we can all live happily.”
I don’t know why, but the end of his speech almost makes me a little downtrodden. After this, they all leave. It was an easy choice at the time to choose anything that would save Luke’s life, but now it’s too real.
I ignore their stupid, brash plan to lead the killer pack on a wild chase through our old pack lands. I reach for Row first, taking him and Paul in a tight, lasting hug. When they back off, I turn to see Jaxson standing nearby, hands tucked perfectly into his front pockets.
His eyes are cold, almost colorless, and it makes my wolf a little frustrated to see but after everything we’ve been through, I can’t be mad at him right now. Before Xander took me after the blue moon gala, I didn’t get to say a thing to Jaxson. I thought I would die for a moment and thinking back on it, I would hate to never get to say a few lasting words.
“Please, protect them,” I murmur, throwing myself into his chest, his arms squeezing around my shoulders until I gasp under his crippling strength. “You be careful too,” I ask. “Xander is crazy and he is furious. He will try to kill you, Jaxson.”
He grins a lopsided smile. “I’ll be fine, sweetheart. Ann will be over soon. Just promise to stay here and not to wander out too much. If we hit the bee-hive, they’ll swarm. I don’t want them catching your scent. Okay?”
I nod, at least glad I get to spend some time with Ann.
He leans down without warning, his lips pressing to my cheek. I surrender to my wolf, who is edging me to kiss him outright and I do, feeling him reciprocate. My back is slowly pressed into the doorway, his hands wanting to search me all over but instead he refrains, letting them rest easily on my hips while our kiss dwindles.
I want his eyes, and he watches mine, before turning to shift with my oldest friends and run toward the heat of a battle I worry they will not win. Xander is psychotic, dangerous beyond measure, and I don’t think they are prepared for this.
I just hope they figure it out in time to save Luke and get back out alive.
