Chapter 7

INTO THE LION’S DEN

LEXI’S POV

I spent the night by Dexter’s side. Rubbing his wrist reassuringly as I watched him breathe slowly, listening to the machines by his bedside while hoping and praying that he was going to make it through the night.

The mage’s news scared me more than anything, I wasn’t sure if I was ready to deal with the sacrifice that it was going to cost me.

“You haven’t slept,” Jax suddenly called out. I turned to find him walking into the room with a cup of coffee in his hand.

“How can I sleep?” I asked, starting to feel emotional. “My baby is here fighting for his life and I can’t do anything but watch him.” 

He gave me a considerate look, handing me the coffee. “What did the mage say?”

“He said that Dexter needs his twin to survive, that their bond is the only thing strong enough to break the hex.”

“His twin?” he echoed, processing what my words meant.

“Yes,” I nodded, taking a sip of the coffee. 

Jax stayed silent, but I could see the anger in his eyes. “You have to go back there don’t you?”

I didn’t answer. I didn’t have to.

He already knew my decision.

“Lexi, if you go back there, they will kill you on sight,” Jax said, his eyes reflecting his panic. “You will have to deal with Manny and even if he doesn’t hurt you, you know his mother will.”

“What do you expect me to do?!” I found myself yelling. “Do you want me to let Dexter just die?”

“No, I…” Jax trailed off, his eyes softening . “....I just want you to be safe.”

I looked up at him, feeling my eyes moisten. 

He was right, going back to Red Shadow could kill me, but I didn’t exactly have a choice.

“If I don’t go, Dexter will die,” I whispered, turning back to Dexter’s unconscious form.

“Then I am coming with you,” Jax replied firmly, clenching his fists.

“No!!” I said immediately, “If you come with me, they will imprison you as a rogue, besides Nia needs you.”

His eyes softened at the mention of his daughter. 

“Lexi… please,” his voice broke. He reached for my hands, gripping it desperately. “I don’t want to lose you.”

I stared at him, trying not to break into tears. Jax was my savior. He hadn’t just saved my body from the lake that night, he had saved my soul.

 “I don’t want you to do this alone.”

“I have to.” My voice cracked. “For Dexter.”

Jax sighed, nodding like he understood, even if he didn’t accept it. “Let me at least prepare you.” 

I nodded weakly, watching him walk out of the room.

My decision was breaking my heart. For the past five years, I had built a beautiful life with Jax acting as a mother to Nia and now I had to leave him behind, leave everyone that I loved here to save my son.

I had to return back to the man that betrayed me. 

The thought of seeing Manny again left a sharp ache in my heart, the ache of a mate bond that had been broken. 

With Jax, I had built something new. I had a new life here and now my future was uncertain. 

If I returned to the Red Shadow pack, would I be able to come back here? 

Just then, Jax walked back in, with Nia behind him, rubbing sleep from her eyes. 

As soon as she saw Dexter, she rushed to his bed.

“What is wrong with Dexter?” she asked, panic reflected in her eyes as she yanked on his shirt. “Why isn’t he waking up?”

Tears welled up in my eyes as I thought of how to answer her.

“Dexter…” she whimpered, grabbing his limp hand and shaking it gently. “Wake up, Dex… please wake up…”

I watched them, feeling my heart breaking into pieces.

“Dexter is sick honey,” I replied, grabbing her hands and crouching to her. “And mommy needs to take him somewhere to get better.”

Her bottom lip quivered. “But… but you will come back, right? Both of you?”

I looked up at Jax, the sad expression on his face made me want to burst into tears. 

He didn’t think I was coming back.

“I’ll be back baby,” I replied with a forced smile. “I am going to do everything I can to come back to you, I promise.”

Jax knelt beside me, rubbing Nia’s shoulder. “You have to be strong for Dexter, okay?”

Nia nodded, stifling back her tears as she turned back to Dexter. 

“I love you Dex, please be okay,” she said, hugging him.

I watched them, swallowing the sob that was clawing up my throat. Jax pulled me into his arms, holding me against his chest.  And for a moment, I didn’t want to open my eyes and face my reality, all I wanted was to stay in his arms forever. 

“Come back to me, Lexi,” he whispered against my hair, his tone pleading.

I looked up at him, as tears blurred my vision.

“I will,” I whispered back, meaning it.

Manny was the embodiment of my past, but Jax, Jax was my future, and I planned to do everything in my power to come back to him.

Jax smiled sadly, pressing a soft kiss to my forehead, before stepping aside.

“Wait here,” he said before disappearing out the door.

When he returned, he handed me a black wrap cloth. “This will secure him to your chest even when you shift. Keep him close.”

“Thank you,” I said gratefully.

“I’ll have Rogue Haven on high alert,” he said firmly. “If I don’t hear from you in three days, I’m coming after you.”

“Don’t,” I said quickly. “Please, Jax. If you come… they’ll kill you.”

He clenched his jaw but didn’t argue. Instead, he helped me carry Dexter and secure him against my chest. His tiny head lolled against me, his breathing shallow and hot through my thin shirt.

“I have to go now,” I said, calmly. Mentally bracing myself for what was coming next.

Jax stared at me, his eyes dark with pain. “You sure you want to go on foot? I can drive you to the border.”

“No,” I said, shaking my head. “I’ll be faster this way.”

He hesitated, then nodded. “Then go, save our boy.”

I took a deep breath, kissing Nia one last time. “Be good, okay? I love you.”

“I love you too, Mommy,” she whispered, beginning to cry.

I turned to Jax, who pulled her into his arms. “Take care of her.”

“Always.”

I walked out of the hospital just as the sun began to rise. Casting one more glance at Dexter, I shifted quickly. My bones cracked and black fur sprouted from my skin as I took my real form as a large black wolf. 

Then I took off running.

I ran past the trees, the rivers, everything. The entire world seemed to blur around me but I didn’t stop, not even as my paws grew tired and I grew weak from dehydration. 

Keeping Dexter safe was the only thing that mattered to me and I could feel him slipping away from me with each minute spent.

“Hold on for me, baby,” I whispered to him through our bond. “Please… just hold on.”

I ran until the sun began to set, finally reaching my destination.

Red Shadow Pack stood in front of me, marked by its tall iron gates and its intimidating presence. 

I shifted back to human form behind a bush, looking down at Dexter as a sense of dread settled over me

I was really back.

I had no idea what lay in store for me behind those gates, but my fear couldn’t stop me from saving my son.

“We’re here, Dex,” I whispered tensely. “I am going to save you. I promise.”

I braced myself as I headed towards the gates. The guards immediately turned, their eyes narrowing.

“Who is that?” one of them growled suspiciously, his hand already reaching for his sword.

“It’s… it’s Lexi,” I replied softly, my voice trembling despite my best efforts.

They froze immediately.

The tallest of them stepped forward, his eyes wide in shock. “It really is you.”

I held Dexter tighter against me in response.

The surprise on the tall guard’s face quickly morphed into suspicion.

“I can't believe you are alive,” he muttered, eyes narrowing.

“We have to tell the Alpha immediately,” the other guard said and the first guard nodded.

Without breaking eye contact with me, he raised his head, and I sighed deeply, knowing what he was doing.

He was reaching out through the pack link.

I felt the wave of the bond shifting around me as the guard relayed his message to Manny.

Lexi is at the border, she has returned with your child. The bond seemed to say. 

I stayed silent, bracing myself for Manny's response

Suddenly, the guard stiffened, his eyes glowing faintly as Manny’s reply echoed through the link. I couldn't hear the words myself but I could feel the change in energy.

He glared at me before turning sharply to the others. “The Alpha wants her brought to him. Now.”