Chapter 7

Alpha King Darkwyn coven was the only witch compound on this side of Shadowed Moon. They were reportedly incredibly powerful. “Being alpha to the biggest pack in the region isn’t good enough for you?” I asked softly. “Greed is an excellent path to death. Just ask my father.” Jax was on his feet and climbing over me in an instant. My back pressed into the mattress, and I stared at him, for the first time, without fear. He needed me. “Snapping my neck isn’t going to get the information that you want.” “True, but there is only so much pain a person can take before they break. Do you know your breaking point?” He whispered. “A lifetime of torture, and no one’s found the breaking point yet.” I held his gaze longer than I’d ever looked any shifter in the eye. My heart pounded in my chest, and I swallowed hard. Heat radiated from where his hard thighs pressed against mine, but there was no fear. Even when his golden eyes flashed. “You want to get to Wisteria Wood. You need me, but I’m not going to tell you how I did it. I’m not that stupid. I don’t get anything out of that.” “Is there something you want, Anna?” Was it just my imagination, or was his voice wrapping around me like that of a lover? I tried not to think about that too hard. “You take me with you, but once you’re there, I’m gone. You let me go with no strings attached.” “You think I trust you enough to lead me and my men through a territory teeming with danger?” “I think if you’re stupid enough to go, you want it enough to do anything. You could torture me for the information, but I guarantee it’s nothing I haven’t already experienced. Hard to torture a broken wolf. You can’t threaten to kill me because I’ve been waiting for death for years. The only thing you can offer me is freedom, and we both know you aren’t going to let me go until you have what you want. If you can fight off the rogue wolves, I can handle the magic of Wisteria Wood. I can get you to the compound, and then we’re done. I go somewhere no one has ever heard of me. I change my name. And we’re both free.” Free of this stupid bond that was clawing into me even now. “Just like your father. No loyalty to anyone but yourself,” he snarled. He was wrong. I had plenty of loyalty. Enough that I would kill him before I let him set foot in that witch’s compound. “If you won’t see a healer, then you need to shift and heal your damn leg. Get some sleep, and pack lightly. We leave first thing Friday morning.” He eased off me and headed for the door. I sucked in a deep breath and pushed myself up. “There’s just one other thing.” With a growl, he turned. “What?” “We have to travel as humans. My wolf will never come out around your guards.” Or you. He snarled and shoved the dresser so hard against the wall that it splintered. I winced at the sound. “One more thing.” “Christ,” he hissed. “Danny isn’t to touch me before we leave. He, or anyone else. He has a key to my apartment. For all I know, they all do.” “Fanged Smile is closed for business until Friday,” he grunted and turned. “But the place will be watched. If you try to leave before then, they’ll take you down, Anna. By any means necessary.”