Chapter 175 Then I Don't See Why Not
Fennigan’s gaze, sharp and unyielding, met Jax’s. “See to it that he’s not drawing breath when the capital guards arrive. I want no doubt left for them.”
Jax, with a practiced, almost casual efficiency, lifted Northcott’s limp head by a handful of coarse hair. The strangled gurgling that had punctuated Northcott’s final moments had ceased entirely. “I’m thinking that last blow you landed sealed his fate,” Jax murmured, his fingers probing gently for a pulse against the cooling skin. A moment of silence stretched, thick with unspoken understanding. “Aye, he’s gone.”
A grim satisfaction settled over Fennigan. “Good,” he stated, the word clipped and final. “I made it exceedingly clear to them. If they continued to meddle with our family, I would dismantle the High Council, stone by agonizing stone. And now, that makes three. How many more must I send back to them in such a state before they understand?”
“As many as it takes,” Jax responded, his voice steady, his loyalty an unspoken, unshakeable truth. “I’ll be right here, ready for it all. Because, as you said, once they’ve taken Leela and the babies, what’s to stop them from deciding Ginny and Iggy are also guilty by association? Guilty simply for being related. Guilty by blood.”
Fennigan turned to his brother, a profound weariness settling deep within him. The weight of the situation pressed down, the chilling realization that this conflict wasn’t confined to his immediate circle but was spreading, ensnaring their entire extended kin. “I’m sorry, Jax,” he confessed, the apology raw with a pain he couldn't fully articulate.
Jax responded with a firm clap on Fennigan’s back, a gesture of solidarity that spoke volumes. “Don’t even think about it. I wouldn’t be anywhere else. I’d march right into hell for you and Leela. I’d lay down my life for the two of you and those little ones out there.” Even through the grimness of their conversation, the bright, innocent laughter of Caspian and Briar, and the warm, tired chuckles of Toby and Sarah, drifted in from outside, a poignant reminder of what they were fighting to protect.
Fennigan offered his brother a knowing nod, a silent acknowledgment of their shared bond. “I know that,” he said. Again, Sarah’s voice, weary but undeniably cheerful, reached them. Fennigan’s gaze drifted towards a high window, a silent gesture of responsibility. “It’s for those under our watch, too,” he added, his voice dropping slightly. “Those who rely on our protection. Our pack family. Our responsibility extends to every single one of them.”
With a gruff movement, Fennigan wiped the blood from Northcott’s face and shirt onto the fabric of his own pants, an action born of grim necessity rather than tidiness.
“Uh, you do realize Leela is going to have your head when she sees that bloodstain on your good jeans, right?” Jax warned him, a hint of amusement in his tone. “She’ll consider those ruined.”
“Like I’m afraid of her,” Fennigan declared, the bravado a thin veneer. Just then, Leela’s voice, sharp and maternal, cut through the air from outside. “Spit that rock out of your mouth, Briar!” Jax raised an eyebrow, a silent question hanging in the air. Fennigan couldn’t help but smile, the tension of the moment momentarily broken. “Okay,” he admitted with a sheepish grin. “I’m absolutely terrified of her.” The absurdity of their situation, standing over a dead body while contemplating domestic squabbles, struck them both, and they dissolved into laughter, a stark contrast to the grim scene around them. The sudden crackle of Fennigan’s radio shattered the levity. It was the gatehouse, their voices crisp and professional. “Capital guards are here for Chancellor Northcott.”
“Send them on up here,” Fennigan replied into the walkie-talkie, his voice dripping with dry sarcasm. “Northcott is dying to get out of here.”
Fenn and Jax waited, their senses on high alert, as the heavy footsteps of the guards ascended towards their location. "Alpha Blackwood," They nodded curtly at Fennigan, their eyes fixed on the task at hand. They moved towards the cell, reaching for the heavy chains intended to shackle Northcott.
Fennigan stepped forward, his presence commanding. “You won’t be needing those,” he stated calmly, gesturing towards the still form of Northcott. “And please, would you do me a favor? Drape him over your shoulders. I want it to appear as though I’ve merely beaten him to a pulp. I’d prefer my wife and children not witness the indignity of you carrying out a dead body from here.”
The guards exchanged a brief, understanding glance and nodded slowly. With practiced efficiency, they hoisted the lifeless body, hauling it out of the cell and towards the waiting SUV. Northcott was unceremoniously placed in the back seat, and the vehicle drove off, leaving Fennigan and Jax alone once more.
After they had both cleaned themselves thoroughly, they found Leela and Ginny on the front porch, engaged in conversation with Toby and Sarah. The twins, Caspian and Briar, were blissfully occupied, rolling a brightly colored ball back and forth with Toby and Sarah, their joyous squeals filling the air.
“What’s this gathering out here all about?” Fennigan inquired, his tone light as he leaned against the porch railing, drawing close to Leela on the swing.
“Well, Toby came to us with a question,” Leela explained, her gaze meeting Ginny’s with a knowing, shared understanding. It was the kind of glance that conveyed volumes, an unspoken acknowledgment of what Toby had been contemplating long before he’d even voiced it.
Toby sputtered, clearly flustered, and glanced at Sarah for support. She simply offered a shrug, her expression one of amused encouragement. “Okay, okay,” Toby finally managed, turning to Fennigan with a mixture of nerves and earnestness. “Alpha Fennigan, would it be alright if, on the next full moon, you would oversee our mating ceremony?”
A warm smile spread across Fennigan’s face. “Will you both be eighteen by then?” he asked, his voice gentle.
“Yes, sir,” Toby replied, his youthful hope evident.
Fennigan let out a hearty laugh, the sound echoing with genuine warmth. “Then I don’t see why not,” he declared, his approval a clear and welcome gift. Sarah giggled, wrapping her arms around Toby in a spontaneous display of affection, kissing his cheek with a soft, tender sound. To Caspian, the small sound was captivating, instantly becoming his new favorite noise. He puffed out his cheeks and blew a playful raspberry, which was met with an answering giggle and a matching, albeit slightly less coordinated, raspberry from Briar.