310- JAX

310- JAX
POV Jax:

His fury grew with each word, but he stayed seated and kept eating. London was next to speak. “And the warehouses? Any food or clothing stored? Work supplies?”

“I only saw one, and it was nearly empty. This pack won’t survive the rest of the winter.”

“Black Diamond has more than we need. We’re willing to cut back this year and share. I’ll leave Kenzi here to serve as your support in our name, and as soon as we get home, I’ll send ten percent of our guard to help you fortify the pack and bring supplies. As much as I’d like to see that helicopter burned to ash, it will help you get emergency supplies.”

Finn’s jaw dropped. “Did you not hear what I said? I can’t do this.”

London cleared his throat. “I’ll leave Damien, my third, and I can also spare ten percent of my guard, plus whatever extra supplies we may have.”

“I still need my second and my third, but I’ll provide a strong wolf to help and five percent of my guard. We’re overstocked, so I can supply plenty of clothing and provisions,” Elonso offered.

“You’re all insane.”

“Finn,” I said calmly. “This pack is starving, and you killed anyone who might have been strong enough to lead them. There is literally no one else left to do it. But you’re not some desperate choice. Like it or not, you’re Maeve’s son and once her heir. Your wolf is incredibly powerful and only getting stronger. You spent enough time in my pack to see and learn how a functional one operates. Our thirds will help you with the day-to-day logistics. Hopefully Maeve had some wolves who knew how her pack ran and who didn’t lose their minds under her reign.”

“They hate me.”

“None of us were loved when we took power. Alpha transitions are brutal. These wolves are literally programmed to love their alpha, and usually, those alphas are killed when another takes over. You accepted their bonds in that field, and they gave you their loyalty. Soon, they’ll learn to trust and love you.”

“And if they don’t?”

“Then they can leave,” London said firmly. “It’s unlikely they’ll accept anyone from Maeve’s pack, so either they accept you or accept a life as rogues. You’ll have to be firm but fair these first years. Don’t show weakness, but make them understand you’re unwilling to sacrifice any of them.”

Elonso cleared his throat. “It’ll take time for them to trust you. At least I had their respect as second, but after what Emerson did, it was hard for them to trust me. You’re going to have to work for it. Take a moment to focus on the bonds running through you. What do you feel?”

Finn bared his teeth. That was what had his wolf so agitated. He was fighting not to engage with those bonds. Once he accepted them, it would be hard to turn his back.

“It’s okay,” I told him. “You should have always been here, Finn. So many of these wolves are Maeve’s victims, unwilling participants in her domination ritual. They just want to find a new normal and survive. Breathe and look inward. You’ll see it.”

Closing his eyes, he drew a deep breath. And groaned.

“Fuck,” he whispered. “They’re so weak. She drained so much power from those bonds that most of these wolves barely have anything left. They’re terrified. Starving. Fragile. Afraid we’ll execute them for Maeve’s crimes. I can feel their panic.”

“Use your wolf,” I told him. “Signal them. Not with words, but with feelings. Let them know your strength is their strength.”

For fifteen tense minutes, Finn sat there with his eyes closed, gripping the table, but then he slowly began to relax. His shoulders fell, and the rigidity in his face started to fade.

There was no smile when he opened his eyes, but he looked better. He looked like the old Finn. “It’s calmer.”

“Good. Eat. Rest. For God’s sake, take a bath. I can stay a few days and help you build a foundation.”

London and Elonso echoed the sentiment, and Finn nodded. He had accepted his duty.

He was the Alpha of Indigo Peak.

After eating, we toured the pack with him. A few steps behind, we showed deference to his position here, but also our own power and support. For the first time in a long time, the mountain was united. We were all allies.

As we walked the grounds and spoke about where to begin rebuilding Indigo Peak, my thoughts kept drifting back to Anna, and I began to feel increasingly hollow.

Over for us?

No. No, I would never be over with Anna. As long as she still breathed, she would be mine, and even if she moved to the farthest corners of the world, I would follow. I would give up everything for her.

How could I ever make up for the mistakes I’d made? How could I earn her forgiveness? I had pushed her farther and farther away, and when we were finally starting to move forward, I let my own darkness consume me, and she lost faith in me.

I put her in danger. I put our child in danger, and I nearly lost them both.

My stomach twisted. I still had no idea what she had done to thwart Maeve. Was she okay? Would she trust me with the horrors she had faced so I could hold her until the nightmares passed?

Or would she never trust me again?

“Jax,” London said quietly. “You’re growling at the kitchen staff.”

Immediately, I snapped back. A dozen wolves stared at us, frightened. “My apologies. My thoughts are elsewhere,” I said to Finn. “Please, go on.”

The kitchen staff cleared their throats. “We have access to large herds here, and we used to rely on the witches to magically treat the land to provide fresh game year-round. With the magic redirected,” one wolf said carefully, “much of the game has fallen ill. We’ve tried to preserve the meat, but our former alpha believed only in fresh food and forbade us.”

Finn frowned. “I believe in fresh food, but also in storing for leaner months. I’ll speak to the witches about healing the land again, but I don’t know how long it will take. Do you have supplies to preserve meat?”

One wolf nodded. Finn looked at us. “Do I have your permission to use some of your soldiers for a hunt before you leave?”

We all nodded, and the staff looked relieved. It was a bandage.