Page 24 of Predator (Stope Packs #4)

Jackson finished his second cup of coffee that morning, eyes fixed on the fireplace as Emily slept quietly in the other room. Contentment and restlessness warred inside him, an odd mix he couldn’t quite shake. His life had never been smooth sailing, but last night had settled something deep in his bones while stirring something else entirely.

A scent drifted from outside, pulling him from his thoughts. He stood and crossed the cabin, the floorboards cool beneath his bare feet. Opening the door, he stepped onto the wide front porch. Crisp air bit at his skin, but he welcomed the chill. Snow blanketed the ground, reflecting the pale morning light.

Erik Volk leaned against the porch railing, arms crossed, eyes sharp. His gaze swept over Jackson like a challenge. “I smell Emily all over you. What the hell are you doing?”

Jackson rolled his shoulders, the now dry jeans sitting low on his hips, his chest bare to the cold. He should’ve cared, but the warmth still lingering in his muscles kept the chill at bay. Walking across the smooth planks, he dropped to sit onto the top step, extending his legs down the other three until his feet touched snow. The bite of frost grounded him, steadying his pulse. “None of your business.”

Erik’s gaze flicked to the cabin, then back to him. “She’s not at full strength yet.”

Jackson met the Copper Pack leader’s gaze without flinching. “Do you honestly think I’d take advantage of Emily? Your instincts are better than that.”

Erik looked down at his boots, scuffing snow from the step, then exhaled and nodded. “Yeah, they are. She’s a friend and has been for a long time. I don’t like that someone’s kidnapped her twice.”

Jackson’s gaze stayed steady. The first time, she’d been engaged to Erik. Even he hadn’t found the kidnappers. “I’ll get them,” Jackson said, his voice low but confident. “Don’t worry.”

Erik studied him for a moment longer, then gave a single nod. The cold air swirled between them, but the tension had shifted. Not gone, just waiting.

Jackson had feelers out in every direction, ready to catch the smallest whisper of whoever wanted Emily and would dare to take her out of his territory. The hired thugs showed someone really didn’t want to be identified.

Erik tilted his head slightly, his gaze sharp and unwavering. “You need to start traveling with an Enforcer, Jackson. Especially if Emily’s with you.”

Jackson winced. “I’ve always avoided taking one on. The council bossed me around for too long. I’ve got several good fighters I can call when needed but having one full-time doesn’t work for me.”

The suggestion hung in the air, a hint of concern beneath Erik’s blunt tone. Jackson let the cold bite into his bare chest, grounding himself as the snow beneath his feet soaked into his skin. The pine-laced air filled his lungs, crisp and sharp, a reminder of everything that still needed to be done. “When I take a mate—I’ll hire a couple of Enforcers.”

Erik’s light-blue eyes, clear in the morning light, studied him. His dark-blond hair, pulled back at the nape of his neck, had deepened to brown over the years. “Emily or not?”

“I have an agreement with Philip, but I want one from Emily. She’s getting there.”

Erik studied him. “It’s too bad you can’t just combine the packs, but you’d have a civil war in seconds.”

“Yeah, our packs are too different and our mining operations don’t mesh well.” Jackson ran a hand down his face, the rough scrape of his whiskers grounding him in the moment. “You know, Philip could have more kids.” That would let Emily off the hook.

“Wouldn’t surprise me.” Erik shrugged. “The guy’s still strong and stubborn as hell.”

Jackson huffed a laugh and shook his head. “Yeah.” He should suggest it.

“We’re calling a meeting of the Stope Packs Coalition. All leaders meet today at eleven. I figured you and I could go together,” Erik said. “I assure you Emily will be safe while we’re gone. Luna wants to meet with her anyway to draw more blood.” His tone dropped, turning disgruntled.

Jackson fought a grin. “You don’t know why?”

“No.” Erik growled low. “Luna wouldn’t tell me.”

Jackson rolled his neck, trying to demolish a knot. “That’s both amazing and adorable. Didn’t you ask nicely?”

“Shut up.”

“You shut up.”

Erik tucked his thumbs in the pockets of his jeans, the tension in his shoulders easing slightly. “Luna takes the whole doctor-patient thing seriously. Even though she’s not a doctor. More like a mad scientist.”

“That’s her reputation,” Jackson replied. “But if Emily and Luna aren’t telling you, neither am I.”

Erik’s gaze steadied on him, the humor fading from his eyes. “Is Emily okay?”

Oddly enough, Jackson didn’t want to lie to someone he almost considered a friend, so he said nothing.

Erik’s mouth tightened. “That’s what I thought. Do you think she’ll be okay?”

“Yes,” Jackson answered without hesitation. “I do.” She had to be.

The rumble of an approaching engine drew their attention. The same old, green truck from before rolled to a stop, tires grinding over snow-packed gravel. Oakley jumped out, his high school football jersey visible beneath an unzipped jacket. Jeans tucked into thick boots, he moved with the confidence of someone twice his age.

“Patrolled the eastern side. Guards are rotating.” Oakley shook snow from his sleeves.

Jackson studied the kid. Young to be an Enforcer—too young by most standards—but Oakley carried himself with purpose. From what Jackson had seen, he handled his responsibilities well. “What are you planning after you graduate?”

Oakley smiled, looking like a teenager again. “My mom and sisters come first, but the pack can help with them. I’m thinking of training in warfare and military operations.”

What a smart idea. Jackson gave a firm nod. “I like that you are finally modernizing.” He’d done so for years but needed his allies to catch up.

“We’re working on it,” Erik said, his tone practical. “I think starting a farming community within the pack is a good start. You should do the same.”

“I’m planning on it,” Jackson replied. Wolves had always taken from the wild or bartered with humans, so creating a farm was modernizing for them. The logistics weighed on him already. Raya could probably handle organizing it, but she had enough on her plate. Emily’s sister crossed his mind. She knew farming and would probably like to help, but her hands had to be full with joining the Slate Pack. Still, it might be worth asking.

“Training’s about more than muscle these days,” Erik added. “We need strategy and discipline. Tech, too. It’s not enough to fight. We have to think ahead.”

Jackson had sources everywhere and needed to check in with them. Unlike the other packs, he’d been thinking ahead since he turned sixteen. His gaze drifted toward the cabin. Emily’s presence lingered like a steady heartbeat, grounding him even from a distance. “Yeah. We need to be ready for whatever’s coming next.”

“It’s always coming.” Erik’s eyes met his. “Best we meet it head-on from every front, including owning cattle. Never thought I’d own cattle.”

“I don’t suppose we could combine farmland,” Jackson murmured.

Erik huffed out a breath. “We’ve always had problems combining land. Even if you’re letting Philip use the Embervault Mine, I’m sure you just granted him a license.”

“Of course, I did.”

Oakley snorted. “I’ve gotta get to school. Erik, don’t forget that prom’s Friday night, so I’m off duty.”

“I won’t forget,” Erik said. “Did you get your tux?”

“Yeah. I had Mrs. Pompion change the cummerbund. Apparently, there’s a difference between eggplant and purple.” Oakley shook his head, muttering something before jumping into his truck. “Later.”

Snow flew under the tires as the truck pulled away, leaving clouds of exhaust in the cold air.

Jackson watched the vehicle disappear down the road. “He’s an odd choice for an Enforcer, but he fits.”

Erik pushed away from his truck as snow began drifting down again. “He’s good at the job. I’ve got a couple of older members backing him up, but that kid’s gonna be valuable. I like him. He stepped up after his dad died. It’s not easy, but he’s doing it.”

“Look at you, all domesticated and responsible,” Jackson said, half-smiling. “Taking care of a whole pack.”

Erik brushed snow off his shoulders. “I don’t know how you did it starting at fifteen.”

“I had the damn council breathing down my neck.” It was time for all three of those males to find a hobby before he found one for them thousands of miles away from his territory.

“I can imagine that was a pain in the ass.” Erik chuckled, shaking his head. “And they’re still holding on, huh?”

“Unfortunately, but I’m about to take care of that problem.” Jackson blew out a breath, watching it fog the air. He studied his ally. “When I was at Nightsom’s the other day, Victor mentioned something about being ready for the trials to step up as the Alpha. You know anything about that?”

Erik frowned, the lines around his mouth deepening. “Trials?”

“Yeah.”

Erik exhaled slowly. “I think my pack had a series of trials several centuries ago that Alphas had to endure before claiming leadership. Strength, endurance, strategy, and they had to survive them all. But we scrapped that stupidity generations ago. Too many good wolves died proving a useless point.”

How dumb. “You think the Slate Pack still does that crap?”

“I don’t know, but if Victor said it, maybe. Their pack leans more toward the traditional. Sometimes, old traditions die hard.”

Jackson considered that, tension sliding along his spine. “I should ask Emily.”

Erik’s gaze sharpened with something unreadable. “You two seem pretty close these days. What’s going on between you, anyway?”

“None of your damn business.” Jackson pushed to his feet.

Erik chuckled, low and rough. “So you already said. I’ll see you in about an hour.”

“Looking forward to it.”

Erik lifted two fingers in a mock salute. “Say hi to Emily for me.”

Jackson didn’t bother replying. He watched Erik move toward his truck, boots smashing packed snow. The engine rumbled to life, and as the vehicle pulled away, Jackson let out a slow breath, the air fogging white in front of him. Something about Victor’s words stuck like a splinter beneath his skin. The Slate Pack couldn’t be so backward that they still had physical trials, could they?

He wouldn’t ever let one of his kids endure a stupid trial. So he’d have to become Alpha of another pack. Emily was worth it.

Jackson turned and walked back into the cabin, the warmth of Emily’s presence still clinging to the air. One night with her, and the thought of moving forward without her wrapped a band around his chest. She belonged with him. He’d held back last night, kept control, made himself gentle when his instincts urged him to claim.

Footsteps shuffled across the floorboards. Emily stumbled out of the bedroom, her platinum hair tousled, the oversized shirt she wore falling to her knees. The sight of her so sleep-warmed and slightly rumpled stole the air from his lungs. His gaze snagged on the bare skin of her legs, and heat flared low in his gut.

Her eyes landed on his mug on the table. “Coffee?”

He crossed to her without hesitation, his body already awake, the hard press of his cock uncomfortably tight against his jeans. Lifting her as if she weighed nothing, he reveled in her surprised laugh, light and free and so damn perfect it cracked something inside him. He wanted her agreement, though.

“Jackson,” she protested, wrapping her arms around his neck.

“Morning,” he murmured against her hair, inhaling the scent of wild berries and sleep. He carried her back to the bedroom, sitting with her tucked against him. She tipped her head back, meeting his gaze with a smile that made his chest ache.

“I don’t usually laugh before coffee,” she teased.

“Guess I’m good for something.”

Her smile softened, something unspoken passing between them. He wanted to hold her tighter, to tell her that last night had meant more than he could explain. Instead, he captured her gaze. “The night isn’t over.”

Her soft laugh right before he took her mouth broke something inside him, even as he let the flames retake them both.

He’d do what he had to do to gain her agreement. She might not be ready, but there was no turning back for either of them.