Jax (Immortals of New Orleans Book 7) (38 page)

Jax gingerly placed Katrina’s body onto the grass and cradled her head to his chest. The turbulent spring weather had calmed, the sky clearing, stars shining bright. His wolf howled uncontrollably as the grief crushed his chest. Being Alpha was all Jax had known up until the moment he’d met Katrina Livingston. He’d never anticipated the soulful connection he’d forge with his mate. A life-altering experience, the incredible female now consumed his thoughts.

“I love you so much.” Numb, he rocked Katrina, whispering in her ear as if she were still alive. Her wolf completely gone, there was no detectable magick left within her beautiful spirit. Ignoring Jake’s plea to release her, he’d lost track of time, refusing to let her body go.

A baby’s cry broke his trance, and he lifted his gaze to the redheaded witch his mate had died saving. Samantha carefully knelt beside him, Luca supporting her arms as she joined him. Wrapped in Katrina’s leather jacket, the infant quieted in his presence.

“She needs her,” Samantha stated.

“Kat’s gone.” Jax turned his focus back to his mate, brushing his lips to her cool forehead.

“Kate. We named her after Katrina,” she told him.

Jax sucked back a sob. While he appreciated the gesture, he couldn’t bring himself to say a word. His thoughts spiraled. After he buried his mate, he’d step down as Alpha and become a lone wolf. There was nothing left for him to give anyone. Not his friends, not his pack.

“Katrina needs her. Please Jax,” Samantha pressed.

“I…I can’t right now,” Jax managed. His bloodshot eyes met hers, tears fresh on his face.

“Her magick…”

“It’s gone. She’s gone,” he cried. “Sam, look, I need to be alone with her and say goodbye. Please…”

“Katrina needs Kate,” Samantha repeated.

With no fight left, confusion twisted through him as she reached for Katrina’s hand. Her limp arm rolled onto the grass and he choked as her lifeless fingers touched the ground.

“No…what are you doing? You need to leave her alone,” Jax pleaded.

“Just please, let me do this,” Samantha told him, her voice calm.

Jax licked the salty moisture from his lips, perplexed by her actions. She unwrapped the child and kissed her forehead. Samantha smiled up at Luca and gently placed the baby onto Katrina’s chest. As the infant cooed against his mate, he immediately sensed the surge of magick tingling through Katrina’s fingertips.

“What is she doing?” He wore a stunned expression, his eyes widening at the sensation.

“Our little Kate is very powerful, much more powerful than most witches suspect. But Mick, he must have done his research. He knew what kind of magick our special miracle would bring to this world.” Samantha set her palm to the Alpha’s cheek. “It’s true that Katrina’s magick was siphoned. But our little Kate, she didn’t let him have it. She took it. It’s inside her. And now,” she smiled to Katrina, whose chest rose in a shallow breath, “her magick has been restored.”

Jax, too tired to argue with Samantha, closed his eyes. Emotionally and physically exhausted, he threaded his fingers through Katrina’s, a scant quiver of life flittering over his skin. Jax jolted upright, observing his mate’s eyelids flutter.

“Jax,” Katrina breathed, a loud gasp escaping her lips.

“Kat,” Jax cried. His palm grazed over the baby’s back in amazement. “How did she do that?”

“She’s a very special child. A first witch. An old soul.” Samantha scooped the infant into her arms, giving him a broad knowing smile. “Luca and I are going to have our hands full with little Kate.”

“Sam…tell me this is real,” Jax blinked, terrified to believe his own ears and eyes.

“It’s okay, Jax. She needs to shift. You’re her Alpha. Call to her.” Samantha focused on her infant, playing with her tiny fingers.

“Baby, can you hear me?” Jax gave a small laugh as Katrina squeezed his hand. A small smile formed on her lips. “That’s it. Oh Goddess…”

“My Alpha…” She wheezed, a hand moving to her bloodied abdomen. “I feel awful.”

“You need to shift,” he told her.

“Help me,” she managed.

Jax carefully removed her clothing. Shocked Katrina was alive, he lifted her into his embrace. Skin to skin, their energies merged. He smiled as she opened her eyes, his chest tightening in emotion.

“Let’s go for a run, little wolf.” With a gentle kiss, he breathed in relief as Katrina shifted. The small white wolf gave a bark and he laughed.

“You’re beautiful,” he told her and transformed, freeing his beast.

Elated, he sprinted, quickly catching up to Katrina. Full of life, she pranced under the moon, her shiny coat reflecting its light. Within seconds the pack surrounded them, and concern they’d challenge her so soon after her recovery surfaced. Establishing her rightful rank within the group, Katrina stared down each and every member. Her ears and tail erect, she stood firm, refusing to back away. Asserting her dominance, she ran a circle around her mate. Jax gave a bark and was pleased as his wolves lowered their bodies in submission to their Alpha pair.

Satisfied, he howled in celebration, but his exhilaration was short-lived as an unfamiliar wolf answered. Katrina took off toward the rustling leaves, in search of the intruder. He cursed, promising to continue her lessons in submission. Within seconds, he surpassed her stride, and was not surprised at his first scent of the wolf.
Tristan.

Jax hesitated, seeing the great brown wolf tear through the forest. Although Tristan was formidable, the Alpha knew he’d crush him. Jax glanced back to Katrina. The joy in her eyes was soon replaced with fear as her brother ran directly toward her mate, and she realized he planned on attacking.

The black Alpha growled in warning but it didn’t deter Tristan. The Lyceum wolf lunged at Jax, and they both barreled down an embankment. As they settled at the creek’s edge, Jax’s nature demanded he take action. Tristan attempted to lodge his teeth into the Alpha’s neck, but Jax easily maneuvered out of reach. Refusing to back down, Jax had little choice but to force him into submission. Leveraging a strong paw into Tristan’s flank, he shoved his opponent into the mud, his fangs settling into the soft fur of his throat. Katrina would never forgive him if he killed her brother. He exercised restraint and snarled rather than tearing open his skin.

“Let him go!” Jax heard the panicked voice of his mate call to him.

His eyes darted up to Katrina, who had taken on her human form. Wolves from both packs stood on alert, but didn’t dare to intervene.

“Tristan, stop this. He’s my mate.” Katrina cautiously walked toward them and held her hand to her brother’s snout. Tristan sniffed and licked at her fingers, and she fell to her knees, placing her palms on each wolf. “Our mating is meant to be…Goddess, please stop.”

Sensing the shift in Tristan as the Lyceum wolf calmed, Jax released him. Waiting for him to shift first, he followed as Tristan shoved to his feet.

“I’m not going to let him do this to you, Kat,” Tristan began.

“Tris…I already explained this to you when I called. I know you haven’t gotten along with Jax. Please. The past is the past. He doesn’t run his pack like his father. He’s not like that.” Katrina glanced to her Alpha and back to her brother. “I love you, but I’m not letting Jax go. You need to accept this. This male is mine. He belongs to me.”

It was a serious moment, but it struck Jax as funny how bluntly she spoke to Tristan. Unable to restrain his emotion, he laughed and shook his head at her words.
This woman is going to kill me, and I’m going to love every goddamned minute,
he thought
.
Her dominance would not be mistaken by a single wolf in either pack. An Alpha’s mate through and through, she spoke her mind with truth and conviction and no one would mess with her.

“What’s so fucking funny?” Tristan asked, smearing the mud from his eye.

“Apple. Tree.” Jax shrugged and winked at Katrina. “Or in this case. Apple.” He pointed to Tristan and then his mate. “Apple. She’s pretty awesome, isn’t she?”

“What kind of mate did you think you’d end up with, my Alpha?” she purred with a sexy smile.

“Ah fuck.” Tristan sighed and threw his head backward, his hands on his hips.

“What?” Katrina pressed.

“You really are mated for real, aren’t you?”

“Yes, of course I am.” She laughed. “I keep trying to tell you that.”

“I’ve only ever wanted to see you happy,” Tristan insisted.

“I love you, Tris. I’m sorry for everything that happened. You need to know that Jax isn’t his father. I love him.”

Tristan stared at Jax for a long minute and extended his hand. “Don’t hurt her.”

“I will protect her with my life. I promise you.” Jax clasped his palm, giving it a firm shake, but his attention was quickly drawn to his mate.

A broad smile crossed his face, his heart pounding so hard he thought it’d explode.
I love her so much.
Strong and compassionate, she professed her feelings for him, her statement spoken loud enough for every wolf to hear.

Without a care as to what anyone thought, Jax released Tristan and reached for Katrina, pulling her into his embrace. Passion for his mate flooded his chest as his lips captured hers. The sound of wolves serenading echoed through the trees, and Jax lost himself in the moment, so in love with the little wolf who owned his heart.

Katrina took a deep breath, willing the butterflies in her stomach into submission. She glanced in the long mirror, and adjusted the edge of the plunging neckline. Sleeveless, the black ribbing fit her like a glove, the silver pleated skirt flowed easily, its hem brushing her calves. She reached for her lipstick, and smiled, pleased that her auburn locks had returned. Upon Mick’s death, fully healed, she no longer experienced the foreign magick.

Twisting the gloss upward, she gently applied it to her lips, grateful that she’d not only met her mate but that they’d both made it out of that hellhole alive. It wasn’t until after she’d quelled her brother’s fears that they’d returned to the cave. Jake, not belonging to either pack, had stayed to watch over Dominique. The extent of her friend’s compassion never ceased to amaze Katrina. Despite his misgivings, he’d fed the vampire, assuring her survival. While his blood had instantly regenerated her body, Dominique remained despondent.

Because she was sired of Kade Issacson, he’d been contacted right away. But it was Quintus who’d offered to return her to New Orleans. Under any other circumstances, she and Jax might not have agreed to the transportation arrangement. Given her condition, however, Jax permitted the ancient vampire to assist them.

As planned, Jake had set off the C-4 explosives, collapsing the entrances to the cavern. Without inspection, it was difficult to ascertain the condition of the interior, but the former Navy SEAL assured them no one would ever be able to enter. Katrina prayed to the Goddess that whatever demon Mick had summoned had been entombed forever.

The reality was that if he’d allowed it to breach the earthly realm once to grant favors, there was no guarantee it hadn’t escaped. A deal with the devil was not one where the debtor set the terms. It was likely he’d overestimated his ability, bringing a great atrocity into the world. At Jax’s request, they’d conducted an ecumenical service to bless the land and restore it. The ministers, from both human and supernatural religions, had assured them the area had been cleaned. Cautiously optimistic, Jax had allowed wolves to run on the property.

Thoughts of Ilsbeth haunted Katrina. Although her magick no longer sang in her body, she couldn’t help but wonder what had happened to the witch. Mick had never disclosed what he’d done to her but whatever it was, Katrina suspected she’d met a torturous existence. Not convinced Ilsbeth was dead, she’d hired a private detective to search for the witch.

Neither Jax nor Jake had been pleased, but they’d accepted that Katrina sought closure. Despite the high priestess’s heinous attack on Dimitri, she’d gone to great lengths to help Katrina, which had led to Mick’s demise. Convinced the witch regretted her actions, she wished she could thank her.

Katrina’s mind drifted to Jake, who’d asked to stay in Jax’s remote cabin. While she’d thought it odd he didn’t immediately return to New Orleans, she suspected Jax had influenced his decision. An Alpha, Jake would have to decide his own fate. Now that Jax had called him out on leaving his San Diego pack, he’d been given confirmation of what he’d probably known all along. Katrina understood the conflict, having grown up in New Orleans. It had been difficult moving to Philadelphia. Taking her rightful place with her Alpha in New York City, she drew comfort from knowing they’d visit and stay in their French Quarter home on occasion.

Katrina dabbed her lips with a tissue, and wondered what Jax had planned. They’d been home for a week, and he’d worked nonstop, catching up on business. When she’d come home from her new gallery, she’d found a note on the bed instructing her to meet him on the roof at seven. It was the one place in the penthouse he hadn’t allowed her to see yet, and she suspected he’d been planning something special ever since they’d returned to the city.

Remarkably adventurous, her Alpha had a delightful habit of taking her off guard. She’d learned not to expect anything but the unexpected. Falling for the charismatic wolf had been easy, but since the night of her death, they hadn’t professed their love to each other. Although disappointed they hadn’t exchanged the sentiment, she’d never doubted his commitment. Aware of how Nick’s death had affected Jax, she’d patiently wait for him to open his heart fully. There was no place else on the entire Earth she’d rather be than in his arms.

Wearing the dress he’d laid out for her, Katrina stepped into the elevator and pushed the button. As she arrived and the door slid open, she smiled, hearing Mozart play into the night air. The sight of her Alpha took her breath away. Katrina’s eyes were drawn to his clean-shaven face. Sophisticated and debonair, he’d dressed in a suit and tie, his hair once again styled short.

“My queen.” Jax extended his hand with a broad smile.

As Katrina placed her palm in his, she gave a nervous laugh. The sexual tension sizzled between them as her skin touched his. Her face heated, and she brushed her fingertips over her cheek. As he led her out onto the veranda, she smiled, taking in the gorgeous scene.