Xavier swore softly when there was a loud knock on his apartment door. He had just finished packing a bag, and was getting ready to head over to Janie’s place to stay with her. She’d finally let him in, allowing him to see a part of her that she had never shared before, and he refused to leave her alone tonight after the way she bared her soul. Whoever was on the other side of that door wasn’t staying long.
“I got it,” Aiden said, as he walked past Xavier’s bedroom in just a pair of loose shorts. His brother was going to take his place at the bottom of Janie’s window. Xavier didn’t fully trust anyone except Aiden to protect them while they slept.
Grabbing his duffle bag, Xavier took one last look around his room. If things went the way he wanted them to, he would only be back to collect the rest of his things. He didn’t plan on waiting much longer to claim his mate, and once he did, there was no way he was going to be apart from her again.
Xavier quickly scanned the living room when he walked in, unable to stop the smile that appeared when he saw Janie sitting on the couch. She’d come to the apartment with him to get his things, but insisted on waiting in the front room, not wanting to invade Aiden’s space. “You ready, sweetheart?” he asked quietly, closing the distance between them and leaning down to place a soft kiss on her lips. Her quiet response was drowned out by his alpha’s voice.
“I’m glad you are here, Janie. I need to speak to both you and Xavier.”
Janie turned to look at Chase, and Xavier stiffened when he saw her eyes widen in surprise as she reached out to grab his hand. Dropping his bag, he sat down beside her and slipped his arm around her, drawing her close before looking over at his alpha. Standing next to Chase was Angel’s son, Jinx. A low growl built in his throat when he felt Janie begin to tremble in his arms.
“Stand down, Xavier,” Chase growled, his clear blue eyes darkening in anger. “You will treat my son with respect.”
“He’s scaring my mate,” Xavier snarled, baring his teeth.
“No,” Janie whispered, grasping his arm tightly, “Jinx doesn’t scare me.”
Xavier looked down in confusion, anger still flowing through him. “You’re shaking, Janie. I can smell your fear.”
“I’m not afraid of him,” Janie insisted, raising a hand to rest it on his chest. “It’s just hard to separate him from the General sometimes,” she admitted, looking over at Jinx. “I’m sorry. We never met when I was being held captive, but I heard about you. Some of the women would whisper about the man who helped them without the General knowing. Going so far as to rescue a few of the lucky ones.” Lowering her eyes, she whispered, “Sometimes I wished it was me that you helped, but I knew you couldn’t save all of us.”
“I would if I could,” Jinx said, slowly walking over to kneel in front of her. “I can’t let the General find out what I do. If too many women go missing, he will start asking questions.”
Janie nodded, “I know.”
“I did help you though, Janie,” Jinx told her, “and with your mate’s permission, I would like to show you.”
Xavier’s eyes narrowed on the man, his arm tightening around his mate. “What do you mean?”
“Janie will only believe me if she sees it for herself,” Jinx told him calmly. “I can show her, if you would allow it. I promise, no harm will come to her.”
Xavier looked down at Janie, a silent question in his eyes. He didn’t have all of the facts, but he knew that some of the new members of his pack had special abilities, psychic gifts they used to help others. Could Jinx have some of the same gifts?
Janie’s eyes met his and she nodded. Taking a deep breath, Xavier muttered, “Do it.”
Janie’s gaze never left Jinx as he slowly lifted his hands and cupped her face in his palms. “Close your eyes, sweet wolf,” he said softly. “I am going to show you that you are finally free to spend the rest of your life without fear.”
“Wolf?”
Jinx smiled, “She’s in there just waiting to come out,” he said. “You know it, too. She will show herself to everyone soon.” Nodding toward Xavier, he said, “She has a very good reason now.”
Janie’s lips trembled as she returned Jinx’s smile. Then she gasped as images started to flood her mind. Closing her eyes, she shuddered, moaning softly when she saw Jinx wielding a sword as it sliced through a man’s neck. Then a knife flew from Jinx’s hand, and was embedded into another man’s chest. “You bastard! The General will hear about this!”
“Oh, God,” Janie whimpered, trying to pull free of the vision. It was Brent. He felt so close.
Hush, little one. Jinx’s voice broke through her terror. He will never hurt you again. Watch.
Janie forced herself to become calm, small whimpers escaping her throat as she watched the scene play out before her.
“Who’s going to tell him?” Jinx asked, raising an eyebrow as a slow grin crossed his lips. “You?” Shaking his head, Jinx raised his sword and pointed it at Brent. “You won’t be around to tell him anything, Brent. You will never threaten another person, never hurt another woman. Janie will be free of you.”
“Why the fuck do you care about that little bitch?” Brent said, swiftly pulling a gun from the back of his jeans. “Who is she to you?”
Jinx seemed to pause for a moment, before he replied, “She’s of the same pack, which makes her family. No one will ever touch her again.”
A shot rang out, but it was too late. The bullet went wide as Jinx swung his sword.
Janie slowly came back to herself, opening eyes that were wet with tears. She was aware of Xavier’s arm around her, but she only had eyes for Jinx. “So many times I prayed you would save me…and you did.”
Jinx let his hands drop from her cheeks, his dark brown eyes guarded as he sat back on his heels. He gave her a short nod.
“Will the General be coming for me?” she asked cautiously, moving to the edge of the couch, closer to him.
“No,” Jinx promised, and she could tell that it was the truth. “The General isn’t going after anyone right now. And when he is ready to, you won’t be on his list to hunt down.”
Janie didn’t bother trying to hide the tears streaming down her face as she leaned forward and wrapped her arms around the man in front of her, burying her face in his neck as she clung to him. “You told him no one would ever hurt me again,” she whispered, “and you meant it. I heard it in your voice. You said we are of the same pack. Family.”
She felt Jinx run a hand gently down her hair before pulling back. “The White River Wolves are the closest thing I have to a pack,” he admitted. “And my dad always told me that everyone in a pack watches over each other.”
“Your dad was right,” Chase said, as he came to stand near them. “And you are a part of this pack, Jinx.”
Jinx stood, but not before Janie saw what she swore was a sheen of tears in his eyes. “I have to go,” he told them. “I have a mission I need to fulfill before I go back.”
“Thank you,” Janie said, rising from the couch. “You don’t know what you have done for me. For my daughter.”
Jinx gave her one last small smile before turning to leave. Aiden moved to block his way. Standing tall and proud, he said, “My brother’s mate has lived here for over a year, terrified that the General and his men were going to come for her. Today, you did something none of us have been able to do. You wiped that terror from her eyes. My family is indebted to you, my friend. If you ever need anything, and I mean anything, you call me. I will be there.”
“That goes for me, too,” Xavier said gruffly from beside her.
Jinx looked down at the hand Aiden held out to him, then back at Xavier. Swallowing hard, he reached out and accepted the handshake. “I will accept your friendship, but there is no debt to repay.”
“You call,” Aiden said again, “and we will be there, Jinx. As friends and as pack.”
Janie clasped Xavier’s hand tightly in hers as she watched Jinx nod, then leave without a backward glance. He had just saved her life, and the life of her child. She did not care what he said, she owed him a debt that she could never hope to repay.