Page 90 of Wild Games
“As you know, people have been asking questions about your control, about your suitability to even live within a pack, or in close contact with humans.”
Zane takes his coat from the back of his chair and slips his thick arms into the sleeves, his gaze, once again, drawn briefly back to the window.
"I'll be recommending no further action be taken." He pauses, fixing me with a stern look. “For now, but I’ll be keeping a close eye. Expect some visits. But I’m not requesting an assessment at this point.”
The words hang in the air. I'm not sure I heard correctly. From Jax's sharp intake of breath, he's equally stunned.
"What?" Jax's voice is rough.
Zane gives us his full attention now. "Your wolf has stabilized remarkably. Even now, I can feel it. There’s no aggression. The difference between the wolf I first encountered and the one standing before me now is significant."
His gaze drops to our joined hands, then back to Jax's face.
“I saw you in the dining hall. A male bumped into Camille, and you smiled at him.” Zane shakes his head, almost laughing. “That’s quite a turnaround.”
I can’t believe it. I’m afraid to speak in case he changes his mind.
“The presence of your mate, and her influence over your wolf’s demeanour cannot be dismissed.”
Jax lifts my hand to his lips and kisses my palm without breaking eye contact with the man handing him what is, essentially, a stay of execution.
"Once you're properly mated, I expect that stability to increase further, so I’ll come back to ensure it persists. But the council respects mate bonds. They won't separate a mated pair without extraordinary cause, especially if keeping you together allows your wolf to heal."
My eyes brim with tears. I can’t believe this is happening. If Zane wasn’t my boss, and perpetually grumpy, I’d hug him.
"But I almost killed… your father," Jax points out, like he's trying to talk Zane out of giving us good news. “Why would you help me?”
Zane sighs and holds his hands up.
"Yes, but in defence of your mate. After he attempted to murder an enforcer." Zane's tone is matter-of-fact. "Both things that would typically be rewarded and praised by the council if they didn’t involve my father."
Relief floods through me so fast, I feel lightheaded. Jax holds me tightly, and I wrap my arm around his waist, supporting my jelly legs.
"You'll be discharged into Kain's care," Zane continues, returning to his packing as if this is a minor detail.
"Kain?" I ask, looking to Jax for an answer, but he’s equally perplexed. Kain has a new pack to run. He’s hardly going to have time to continue his work with the enforcers.
The door opens, then Kain himself enters, still sweaty from the competition, but already carrying himself with alpha authority. Grass stains and dirt cover his clothes, and there's a bruise forming on his jaw, but his eyes are bright with victory.
Zane nods at him. "I was just explaining the arrangement."
Kain turns to us, and there's understanding in those intense eyes. One catches the light differently than the other. I'd noticed it before, but now, I can see it clearly. An old injury, maybe.
"My last role specialized in rehabilitation. Bringing wolves back from the brink of feral," Kain says simply.
I look at Zane, struggling to see where this is going, but he doesn't meet my eye.
“And I've seen wolves far more gone than Jax recover with the right support. Structure. Purpose. Pack,” Kain says, raising a hand to cut Jax off before he jumps in to defend Dean and his pack. “And while I can see that you have those here, I think your wolf’s problem, in this case, is remaining where those painful memories are. He can’t get peace when he remembers every day.”
Jax doesn’t argue with that.
"Honestly," Zane interjects, stacking the final boxes. "I doubt you'll need much rehabilitation once your wolf gets some distance and a fresh start. But Kain will work with you, and document it to keep the council off your back."
It will be good for him. He already feels lighter just considering it.
“Especially, with a new job as beta to keep you busy.” Kain extends a hand to Jax, who looks stunned but proud, as he takes it, and shakes it hard. “Good. If that’s all agreed, I’m going back to join the party.”
Kain waves farewell and heads back out the door, already settling into his new role.