Page 19 of Noah (Pecan Pines #4)

Chapter 19

Jackson

The moment the pain ripped through me, I nearly lost control of the car.

One second, I was driving back to town, mind focused on getting home to Noah, and the next, a sharp, searing agony flared through the mate bond.

It wasn’t just a distant discomfort—it was raw, visceral, and real. My vision blurred at the edges, my grip on the steering wheel tightening as my wolf roared in protest.

Noah.

I swerved hard, barely managing to pull over before I did something reckless.

My heart pounded as I put the car in park and pressed a hand to my chest, trying to steady my erratic breathing.

What the hell was that?

I clenched my teeth, reaching through the bond, searching for any sign of him. But there was nothing—just silence.

That absence scared me more than anything. My wolf paced beneath my skin, uneasy and angry, his instincts clawing to take control.

Then my phone rang.

I snatched it up, praying it was Noah, but an unknown number flashed across the screen. Frustration and worry tangled inside me, but I answered anyway.

“Jackson? This is Carter.”

I frowned, my fingers tightening around the phone. Carter—Adrian’s second-in-command.

My gut told me to hang up, to ignore whatever bullshit he was about to spew, but something in his tone stopped me. He sounded off. Nervous. Rushed.

“We—we need to talk in private,” he said quickly.

“I can’t right now,” I snapped. “My mate’s in trouble. I’m sure of it.”

I didn’t know why I admitted that. Maybe because deep down, I knew Carter wasn’t cut from the same cloth as Adrian, Karl, or the wolves Adrian had corrupted.

He’d stopped a fight from breaking out before. He’d never seemed like the kind of wolf who enjoyed the twisted power games Adrian played.

“That’s why I’m calling,” Carter said, exhaling sharply. “Listen, I overheard some of Adrian’s followers earlier. They were bragging about how Adrian had plans for the ‘little wolf’ who humiliated him.”

I went cold. Every muscle in my body locked up as my breath left me in a harsh exhale.

Adrian had plans for Noah.

I had known he wouldn’t take Noah’s rejection lying down. Knew he had too much pride, too much arrogance, to just accept it and move on.

But I had thought—even hoped—that he wouldn’t be reckless enough to try something in the middle of a summit, with so many packs gathered in one place.

I was wrong.

“What plans?” I demanded, my voice like gravel.

Carter hesitated before answering. “I cornered them. Made them talk. Adrian drugged him, Jackson. Knocked him out and took him somewhere. They said it was a cabin at the northern edge of the pack lands, but I couldn’t get an exact location.”

I was already moving, throwing the car into gear, tires screeching as I sped back toward the pack lands.

I called Griffin. He answered immediately. “Jackson?”

I didn’t waste time. “Noah’s been taken. Adrian’s got him.”

A beat of silence. Then Griffin’s voice turned deadly. “Where?”

“Carter said a cabin on the northern side of the territory. I don’t know the location.”

“I’ll gather some of our pack mates and start searching. Let’s all meet up.”

“No.” My knuckles turned white on the wheel. “I’m not waiting. I’m going ahead.”

“Jackson—”

“Noah’s my mate , ” I growled. “I’m not sitting around waiting for backup while Adrian does who knows what to him.”

Another pause. Then Griffin exhaled. “Fine. I’ll send you potential coordinates. There are two abandoned cabins in that area. One of them has to be it.”

I gritted my teeth. “I owe you.”

“You just bring him back safe,” Griffin begged.

The call ended. My heart hammered as I floored the gas pedal, the trees blurring past me. My wolf was raging, clawing at me, desperate to take over.

To run. To hunt.

Noah needed me. I wouldn’t let him down.

By the time I reached the edge of the pack lands, I could barely keep my hands from shaking.

I abandoned my car at the trailhead and took off running, shifting mid-stride.

My wolf hit the ground hard, muscles bunching as I tore through the forest.

The night air was thick with the scent of pine and damp earth as I sprinted through the trees, my paws thudding against the soft ground.

My lungs burned with exertion, but I didn't slow down. I couldn't. Every second counted.

Griffin had given me two sets of coordinates. The first cabin had been empty, its wooden walls caving in, abandoned for years. A dead end.

My frustration had nearly boiled over, my wolf snarling in my head, demanding action, but I forced myself to focus.

Patience. If I lost control now, I might miss something, and I couldn’t afford that. Noah was waiting for me. He needed me.

I pushed forward, my body sleek and agile as I raced toward the second location. The scent hit me before I even saw the cabin.

Blood.

It wasn’t fresh, but it wasn’t old either. My gut twisted. I bared my teeth, a growl rumbling deep in my throat as I slowed, keeping low to the ground.

The cabin came into view, a dark silhouette against the backdrop of the woods. Light flickered inside, shadows shifting beyond the broken windows.

Then I caught another scent.

Karl in human form.

I moved fast, silent as a ghost, circling around until I spotted him standing near the front of the cabin. His posture was alert, his nostrils flaring as he scanned the area.

He knew someone was coming. He just didn’t know it was me.

Good.

I launched myself at him.

Karl barely had time to react before I crashed into him, claws raking against his side as we tumbled to the ground. Despite his injured arm, he managed to shift to his wolf form.

He let out a startled yelp, but recovered fast, twisting beneath me and snapping his jaws at my throat.

I dodged, feeling his fangs graze my fur, and struck again, slamming him into the dirt.

He snarled, lashing out with his hind legs, knocking me off balance. I hit the ground, but before he could take advantage, I rolled, lunging back at him.

Our bodies collided in a brutal tangle of fur and claws. I felt his teeth sink into my shoulder, pain flaring white-hot, but I didn’t let it slow me down.

I wrenched free, blood dripping from the wound, and clamped my jaws around his injured foreleg.

Karl howled in pain, but I didn’t let go. I twisted, forcing him down, my weight pressing him into the dirt.

His struggles weakened as his breaths came in ragged gasps.

I was winning.

Then a massive force slammed into my side, sending me flying.

I crashed against the ground, momentarily dazed. I blinked, shaking my head, and growled low as I forced myself to stand.

My body ached, but I had no time to dwell on it.

Adrian stood between me and Karl, his massive wolf form looming in the moonlight. His eyes gleamed with rage and something darker—something unhinged.

I snarled. He returned the sound, lips peeling back to reveal long, sharp fangs. He wanted a fight? He was about to get one.

We clashed with the force of a thunderstorm. Adrian was bigger than me, heavier, but I was faster.

I ducked beneath his first strike, lunging at his exposed side, but he twisted, catching me off guard. His claws raked my flank, fire-hot pain shooting through me.

I retaliated instantly, clamping my jaws around the thick ruff of his neck and throwing my weight forward.

We tumbled, dirt flying, snapping and tearing at each other. I landed a brutal bite to his shoulder, and he let out a furious snarl, shaking me off.

Karl was moving again, his form staggering toward us, ready to turn the tide of the fight. I was outnumbered.

I wouldn’t back down, but my odds were shrinking by the second.

Then, out of nowhere, another wolf lunged into the fray.

Noah.

My breath caught even in the chaos. He moved like a wildfire, a blur of teeth and claws as he slammed into Karl, knocking him back.

He was hurt—I could smell his blood, see the exhaustion in his movements—but he was fighting. My mate was fighting.

Something surged through me, a primal instinct to protect, to fight at his side.

I turned back to Adrian, dodging his next attack and striking fast. My fangs found purchase in his side, and I held on, even as he thrashed.

Noah and I fought as one, seamless and relentless. Karl faltered under Noah’s onslaught, his attacks growing sluggish.

With a final, vicious snap, Noah sent Karl crashing to the ground, his body limp, chest heaving. Noah didn’t waste any time.

He took Karl out of the game completely, sinking his fangs into Karl’s throat.

I forced Adrian back, snapping at his legs, herding him toward the cabin’s broken porch. He stumbled, panting, blood staining his dark fur.

For the first time, I saw something flicker in Adrian’s eyes—uncertainty. He knew he was losing.

With a final snarl, he turned and fled, disappearing into the trees.

No way I was letting him go.

I lunged after him, paws digging into the dirt as I propelled myself forward. Adrian was fast, but I was faster.

My wolf had been holding back, waiting for this moment. The moment I could end this once and for all.

Adrian’s form weaved through the trees ahead, his breaths ragged, his movements growing desperate. He knew he wouldn’t escape me.

I pushed harder, muscles burning as I closed the distance. My paws thundered against the forest floor, the scent of his blood sharp in my nostrils.

Adrian was wounded, weakened from the fight. He knew he was running out of time.

He veered sharply to the left, trying to throw me off, but I anticipated the move. I cut through the underbrush, my body low to the ground, eyes locked on his hind legs.

He was flagging. I could feel it.

With a final burst of speed, I leapt.

I slammed into him, our bodies crashing into the ground with the force of a landslide. Adrian yelped as we tumbled, snapping and clawing at each other.

We hit a fallen log, and I used the momentum to pin him, my teeth bared inches from his throat.

He thrashed, trying to shake me off, but I was done playing games.

I clamped my jaws around his shoulder, sinking my teeth deep. He let out a strangled howl, his legs kicking out wildly, but I refused to let go.

He tried to roll, to break free, but I used my weight to keep him down. His breathing turned erratic, his movements sluggish.

Panic filled his eyes as realization set in.

You should have stayed down, Adrian, I thought. You should have left Noah alone.

He let out a desperate snarl, snapping at my face, but he had nothing left. His body trembled under me, exhaustion dragging him under.

I shifted my grip, my fangs brushing against his throat. A final warning. A chance to beg.

But he only glared at me, chest heaving, eyes filled with hatred and pride.

Fine.

With a savage jerk, I ended it.

Adrian went limp beneath me, the fight leaving his body in an instant. His lifeless form sagged into the dirt, blood seeping into the earth.

I stood over him, my breath heavy, my anger still raging inside me. But it was over.

It was finally over.

I lifted my head, letting out a low, rumbling growl, staking my claim on this victory. No one would ever threaten my mate again.

Behind me, the trees rustled, and I turned to see Noah approaching, his wolf form sleek in the moonlight.

His eyes met mine, and in them, I saw relief, exhaustion, and something else—something unspoken but understood between us.

It was done.

Adrian would never hurt him again.

I turned, shifting back into my human form as I staggered toward him. He was panting hard, sides heaving.

His fur was matted with blood, but his eyes—his eyes were locked onto mine, steady and strong.

I dropped to my knees, reaching for him. “Noah.”

A soft whimper escaped him before he shifted, collapsing against me, his human body trembling.

I caught him, wrapping my arms around him, feeling his warmth, his heartbeat against mine.

He was here. He was safe.

By the time Carter and Griffin found us, I was still holding Noah tightly.

His body felt warm against mine, though I knew he was still tense, still trying to process everything.

He lifted his head for a brief moment, his eyes flashing with a mix of emotions, but they softened when he saw his brother.

"I guess we came late to the party," Griffin said dryly, his gaze flicking from Noah to Karl’s corpse on the ground.

He had a blanket in his hands, and without a word, he handed it to me. I wrapped it around Noah’s shoulders, not caring how it looked to the others.

I didn’t want any other wolf, even his brother, looking at my mate like he was just another member of the pack. No, Noah was mine.

I could feel the weight of the silence between us as Carter took in the scene, his eyes falling on Karl’s lifeless body. His face remained impassive as he asked, “Adrian?”

“Taken care of,” I replied, my voice flat, my jaw tightening. I didn't need to elaborate.

Carter seemed to understand that, nodding curtly, as if he expected nothing less.

The tension in the air thickened, and Carter's gaze shifted to me, narrowing slightly. “What are you going to tell your packs?”

Noah and I exchanged a glance, the question hanging heavy between us. I’d already known it was coming. Carter had warned me about Noah’s kidnapping.

If it wasn’t for him, Noah might not be standing here right now, in my arms, safe.

Griffin scowled at Carter and I could tell he didn’t trust Carter or any of the remaining Thornebane wolves one bit.

“Not all the wolves in the Thornbane Pack are bad,” Noah finally said. “They don’t need to suffer because of their alpha’s actions.”

Noah looked at his brother. “Our pack suffered enough under Ryder. But that’s over now, because of Cooper. We’ve rebuilt, managed to become a stronger pack. Carter and the Thornebane wolves could do the same.”

I felt a surge of pride and gratitude for my mate.

Griffin relaxed at those words. I turned to Carter. “It was internal fighting within the Thornbane Pack that resulted in Karl and Adrian’s deaths,” I said, meeting Carter's eyes.

“If that’s the story we’re spinning, then I accept it. I’ll tell my pack mates Karl got ambitious and challenged Adrian, resulting in both their deaths,” Carter said. “And I can’t thank you enough... for giving me and the rest of my pack a chance.”