Page 22 of Jesse (Pecan Pines #6)

Jesse

I entered a clearing and immediately crouched behind a fallen log. There, under the moonlight, tied to a thick pine, was Beck.

His arms were stretched above his head, wrists bound in rope and silver duct tape that glinted against the bark.

His head hung forward, his curls soaked with sweat or blood, I couldn’t tell which. His chest rose and fell shallowly. He wasn’t dead, but he wasn’t conscious either.

And the bastard standing in front of him? He was pacing and muttering to himself. In one hand, he held a torn, wrinkled photograph, the edges frayed like it’d been carried for years.

His other hand had partially shifted, fingers twisted into jagged claws, fur already spreading up his arm.

It was a grotesque halfway state, wolf and man blurring together, like he couldn’t even hold one shape without unraveling.

“I finally have him, Adrian…” he muttered. “A life for a life. A brother for a brother. A trade. A message.”

The name hit me like a brick. Adrian. The former lead alpha of the Thronebane pack. I didn’t know much, just rumors.

I might’ve glimpsed him once or twice at the summit a few months back. Twisted, cruel, the kind of alpha who ruled through fear. Jackson had ended him when he tried to make a move on Noah.

Whatever the full story was, I didn’t care. Not right now. All I saw was Beck, tied up, vulnerable and hurt. I simply lost it. No fear, just rage. White-hot, bone-deep rage.

I stood up slowly, stripped off my shirt and boots in seconds, yanking my jeans down enough to shift without tearing them to shreds.

My body burned, bones popping and twisting, fur ripping through my skin like fire. My jaw cracked wide, reshaping into a snout lined with teeth meant to kill.

My claws dug into the earth. The killer froze and sniffed the air, but it was too late. He turned, eyes going wide, and then I was on him.

I launched over the log with a guttural roar, all teeth and claws and fury, and slammed into him before he could fully shift.

We crashed to the ground, and I tore into his side, blood splattering across the pine needles. He howled, his body convulsing, twisting mid-roll as he shifted fully into his wolf.

He was a massive, black-furred brute, bigger than average, his yellow eyes wild with mania. He sprang back up and lunged, and our bodies collided again with a sickening crunch of fur and flesh.

I bit his shoulder; he sank his fangs into my flank. We rolled, snarling, a whirlwind of fur and fury, claws raking, teeth gnashing.

The forest rang with growls and the brutal thuds of our bodies slamming into trees, rocks, the earth itself. I barely felt the pain, just the rage.

I had to win for Beck. But then, through the haze, I heard a low and broken moan. Beck. I turned for just a fraction of a second, eyes scanning, and saw his head lift. His lips moved.

“Jess…”

That was all it took. That one moment of vulnerability and the killer lunged. His jaws sank into my side, right under my ribs, and he ripped. I snarled.

The pain flared red-hot, searing through my nerve endings like lightning. I hit the ground hard, dazed, blood pouring from the wound as my legs kicked instinctively.

The killer stood over me, panting hard, muzzle stained red.

This is it, part of me thought. This is where I die. Where I fail.

“No!” Beck’s voice cut through the clearing like a gunshot.

I twisted my head just in time to see him. He was free . The rope hung in tatters, duct tape dangling from one wrist.

He must’ve wriggled out while we fought, must’ve clawed and bled and fought for every inch of freedom. Without a second thought, Beck launched himself at the wolf.

My wolf wanted to roar in protest. No, baby, stay back!

Too late. Beck tackled the bastard from behind, arms locking around the wolf’s throat. They hit the ground hard, and for a second, the killer was pinned, but not for long.

He snarled and twisted, claws raking Beck’s shoulder, tossing him like a ragdoll into the brush. My heart stopped. Beck hit the ground hard and didn’t move.

Mine. The word tore through my chest like a bolt of lightning. My wolf surged back to the surface. There was no more hesitation and no more restraint.

The killer turned toward Beck again, but I was already moving. I leapt with everything I had, jaws wide, and I sank them into his throat.

The impact knocked him off his paws. We hit the ground together, my teeth locked deep, his screams gurgling, fading beneath the crunch of bone and flood of blood.

He thrashed and kicked, then finally stilled.

When it was over, I stood over him, chest heaving, blood matting my fur, the copper taste thick in my mouth. I turned, limping, still half-shifting back as I crawled toward Beck.

He was groaning, dazed, pushing himself up with shaking arms.

“Beck.” My voice cracked as it came, halfway between growl and plea.

He looked up, eyes wide. Relief hit me like a flood. He was alive. Bloody, bruised, but alive . I collapsed beside him, pulling him into my arms, our bodies trembling against each other.

“We’re good,” I whispered, over and over, pressing my face into his hair. “We’re good now.”

His arms wrapped around me, weak but sure.

I barely remembered calling for Cooper. My head swam with pain and dizziness, and I think I told Beck to help me…or maybe I just thought it. I couldn’t be sure.

The last thing I clearly remembered was Beck’s panicked voice, shouting my name, yelling at me to stay awake.

I’d tried my best, but darkness swallowed me before I could even say his name again.

When I came to, the sharp scent of antiseptic hit me first. My body ached, the dull throb of my ribs reminding me that I was lucky to be breathing.

I blinked against the harsh ceiling lights of the pack clinic. My throat felt like sandpaper. I tried to speak but only managed a rasp.

Then I saw Beck sat slumped on the chair next to my bed, head bowed over his phone. His hair was a mess, sticking up like he’d run his hands through it a hundred times.

There were dark circles under his eyes and a tension in his jaw that only melted when he looked up and saw me awake.

"Jesse!" The phone clattered to the floor as he leapt from the chair. In a heartbeat, he was at my side, arms slipping around me with trembling care.

I grunted as my ribs did not appreciate the affection, but hell, I wouldn’t trade that moment for anything.

“You scared the shit out of me,” Beck whispered against my temple. “Don’t ever do that again.”

“I should be the one saying that,” I croaked. “Seeing you get taken took years off my life.”

He laughed wetly, brushing his fingers along my cheek. “I love you so much.”

I didn’t have the strength to say it back just then, but I hoped he saw it in my eyes.

Ethan pushed through the door a second later, brows raising as he took in the scene. “Easy there, Beck,” he teased. “Let the man breathe.”

Beck rolled his eyes but reluctantly stepped back. Ethan moved to check my vitals, tapping on his clipboard and muttering to himself.

“Well,” he finally said, glancing at me with a tired smile, “you’re awake, which is already ahead of schedule. You’ve got two cracked ribs, some torn muscle from the fight, and a minor concussion. You’ll live.”

“Great,” I mumbled. “Can I go beat someone up again now?”

Ethan snorted. “I’ll tell Cooper you’re up.”

He left, and Beck didn’t waste time climbing into the bed beside me, careful not to jostle anything. I didn’t care about the pain.

I needed him close. He settled against my uninjured side, his fingers curling around mine. The door creaked again a few minutes later. Cooper entered first, followed by Jackson.

Jackson’s eyes found mine immediately. “You protected my brother,” he said, voice thick. “You protected Beck. Thank you, Jesse.”

I blinked, a little stunned. “He’s my mate,” I said quietly. “Of course I did.”

Jackson looked like he wanted to say more, but he hesitated.

“What?” I asked.

He rubbed a hand down his face. “When we recovered the body, we found a photo.”

“A photo?” Beck echoed, sitting up straighter. Oh right, Beck had still been unconscious when I spotted the killer muttering to the photo.

Jackson nodded grimly. “It was old, but I recognized one of the people in it. Adrian. Younger, maybe in his teens, but it was definitely him.”

“Adrian? The former lead alpha of Thronebane?” I had to confirm, although I already suspected.

Cooper stepped in then. “I reached out to Carter, the new Thornebane alpha. He confirmed the identity.”

Beck’s grip on my hand tightened.

“Aiden,” Cooper said slowly, “was Adrian’s half-brother. Same mother, different fathers. According to Carter, Aiden was always unstable. He hero-worshipped Adrian and followed him around like a shadow. But he was never officially part of the Thronebane pack. More like… a ghost on the edges.”

“Will they come after us?” Beck asked, voice tense. “For killing him?”

Jackson shook his head. “Carter said Aiden was a liability even when Adrian was alive. They won’t hold you responsible. In fact, Carter thanked us for ending it.”

I let out a breath I didn’t know I was holding. Relief mixed with the lingering tremor of adrenaline. It was over. The threat to Beck was gone.

When Jackson and Cooper left, followed shortly by Ethan with a reminder to rest , I turned to Beck. He was quiet, watching me with something soft and unspoken in his eyes.

“What is it?” I asked, shifting slightly to face him.

He didn’t answer right away. Instead, he leaned down and pressed a kiss to my forehead. Then one to my nose. Then, finally, to my lips.

I kissed him back, slow and deep. Our mouths moved like we were rediscovering each other, like we hadn’t just lived through hell. His hand cupped my jaw, thumb brushing under my eye.

“I thought I lost you back there,” he whispered.

“You didn’t,” I said, kissing him again. “You never will.”

Beck hesitated again, searching my eyes. “Jesse… I want your mark.”

My breath caught. My wolf howled with joy in the back of my mind.

“Are you sure?” I asked, voice hoarse.

He nodded. “I want everyone to know I’m yours. I want to feel it, Jesse. I want it to be real.”

My heart beat like thunder. Carefully, I shifted to the side, gritting against the pain, and guided Beck closer. He tilted his head, exposing the curve of his neck, and my wolf surged forward at the sight.

I pressed my lips to his skin first, murmuring words only he was meant to hear. A promise. A vow. That I’d protect him until my last breath, love him even beyond that.

Then, I let my fangs drop.

Beck didn’t flinch when I bit down. He gasped, gripping my arm tight. The taste of him hit my tongue, rich with the bond that had always existed between us but now flared into something blinding and eternal.

I pulled back, licking over the mark to seal it. Beck was breathing hard, eyes wide and luminous.

“I love you,” I said, voice shaking.

“I love you too,” he whispered.

Then he leaned in, and our foreheads touched.

Mate. Partner. Home.

For the first time in days, I didn’t feel fear or fury or dread. I felt whole.