Chapter 4

Jax loved the warm feeling of Amelia’s body next to his he could almost hear her heartbeat. He felt that he needed to protect her and, even though he had to, didn’t want to leave her side. He knew immediately that she had stolen his heart, much to his surprise. A woman had never had such an effect on him. But he knew deep down inside that Amelia was different from any other woman he’d ever met. She was special… more.

He’d always been a ‘lone wolf’ never dating anyone in the pack and batted off their advances, almost embarrassed for them to have tried to win his favor. He always kept to himself when it came to gatherings where the women were involved because he felt it was safer that way. The only way not to get hurt. But being with Amelia felt different. He felt drawn to her. As if their souls were connected. He couldn’t for the life of him understand what was happening to him, but he felt like a giddy little pup. Having his first girl crush. Longing to see her and smiling like a fool whenever he was in her presence.

***

Blake Saint Clare sat deep in thought at his corner office desk which overlooked the skyline. His line buzzed and it brought him back from his deep thoughts.

“Jax is here to see you,” said a voice on the other end of the line. Blake readied himself and asked her to let him in.

“To what do I owe this impromptu visit,” asked Blake before he even turned around in his chair. He had no idea that Jax wasn’t alone. Not until he picked up Amelia’s scent. A scent as sweet as nectar immediately caught his attention and awoke the wolf within him. An emotion that had never stirred in him before. A feeling that he found appealing.

Her bright green eyes met his pitch-black ones and his heart lept. Who was this beautiful creature before him? He had never seen a more beautiful woman. She had the look of an angel.

“Hi, Blake,” answered Jax as he assisted Amelia into the chair opposite him. “This is Amelia. She’s just been attacked by a rogue wolf in the woods.I fought him off but I’m not sure which pack he belongs to.”

“Hi, Amelia,” greeted Blake, an air of power exuding from him. Amelia blushed as their eyes never left contact. She saw straight through his hardened exterior and noticed his onyx eyes staring deep into hers. So deep that she could get lost in them.

“I know that it’s against pack law, but I’m begging that you allow her into the pack in order to heal. I can already see that her wound is getting worse and if she doesn’t get it seen to urgently I’m afraid of the consequences.”

Blake could sense, by his protectiveness, that Jax had softened towards the girl. Something that Jax had never done before. Blake knew his Second very well and this connection was a first.

“Thank you for seeing us,” smiled Amelia before wincing in pain trying not to look at her wound. Too afraid to see how bad it really was. Jax could see that her bite was becoming infected and needed to act fast. His mind willed Blake to say yes.

“You know that humans aren’t allowed onto pack grounds without my permission,” said Blake with a stern look on his face. “But I can see from the severity of the bite that she will surely die should her wound not be seen to.” Blake mulled over the situation and eventually decided to give in to Jax’s request. “Very well, she may enter the grounds for the Salutaries to take a look at her. She would, however, need to leave should she not turn. And she should be under your supervision at all times. Do you understand?”

“Yes, Alpha…Blake. I completely understand.” Answered Jax, who secretly prayed that Amelia would turn. He hoped to have her around for longer than just a salutary visit. He didn’t know how, but she had climbed into his heart and he didn’t want to let her go.

***

All eyes are on them as they entered the compound. Everyone sensed that she was human.

There were so many new smells that attacked Amelia all at once, her sense of smell had already heightened. She could smell the sweat from the Omegas who were busy training on the other side of the compound and the musky smell of the older men as they passed by them.

Amelia felt self-conscious as Jax walked her towards the building where the Salutaries were, but held her head up high as his hand never left the small of her back. His warmth was a welcome feeling. A way of letting her know that everything would be okay.

The Salutary building was at the far end of the compound and Amelia held her composure, feigning the fact that she had fear coursing through her veins and a wound on her shoulder that was literally slowly killing her.

She surveyed her surroundings with a keen eye and noticed a pack sparring in both wolf and human form.

The compound was set up in a U shape, many buildings surrounded the boundaries. There was one entrance/exit with a guard post and two guards on duty. The guards were huge and Amelia knew that no wolf would dare attempt to pass them or get on their bad side. They towered over her and she felt like a meek little mouse next to them.

It was training time for the wolves. She saw both men and women busy doing their drills. Amelia’s eyes almost bulged as she saw the sheer size of the wolves on display. They ranged from pups to wolves huger than the one who had attacked her.

Jax sensed her apprehension as she tensed up beneath his hand. “Don’t worry. No one will hurt you. I’m the Second of the pack and no one goes against the Alpha or me. They know very well what would happen.”

Amelia’s tension seemed to subside a bit and Jax immediately felt it run through her body. Leaving her less apprehensive. This pleased him very much.

They reached the Salutary building and Jax reached forward and opened the door for her. He was such a gentleman and it hadn’t gone unnoticed by Amelia. She didn’t know what to expect, but the inside of the Salutary building almost looked like a hospital with cots neatly structured within.

“We need some help!” shouted Jax as the door closed behind them and someone immediately appeared at his side. Ready to assist. “This is Amelia. She was attacked by a rogue wolf in the woods and has a nasty bite that needs urgent seeing to.” The Salutaries could hear the authority in Jax’s voice and immediately jumped to their task.

“Bring her to the nearest cot and I’ll take a look,” said one of the Salutaires, bowing to her Second’s command. Not because she was frightened of him but because she respected him.

Jax walked Amelia over to the nearest cot and carefully helped her sit down. He could see that the bite was starting to take effect, he could already sense the change in her heartbeat. He knew the bite was severe enough to turn her and his heart fluttered. He knew that he should be afraid for her, but couldn’t help his relief. She wouldn’t be leaving him. He could now pursue her and she would hopefully return his love. Jax felt guilty about his feelings, but he couldn’t help it.

“Let me take a look at your wound, my child?” asked a kind voice, and Amelia allowed her to inspect the wound more closely. “You sure have a nasty bite there. It isn’t fatal, but it is severe enough to cause you to turn.”

Amelia’s heart dropped. How could this be happening to her? How could her human life be stripped away so quickly? It wasn’t as if she had a family waiting for her, but was she ready to become something other than human? She has so many questions and so few answers.

“What will happen to me now?” Asked Amelia as she looked at Jax, her questioning eyes seeking answers. She trembled as she still held his hand. “Do I have to become a wolf? Do I even have a choice?” Her voice cracked and so did Jax’s heart a little.

“I’m so sorry that this happened to you,” replied Jax, he knew that Amelia’s worst fears were about to come true. “But there is nothing that we can do to stop the change. Your other alternative is death, something I’m sure you don’t want.” Jax held her hand even tighter, he didn’t want to let her go. He was too afraid that she would turn him away. He needed to keep her close to him. But was it for her sake or his?

Amelia shook as tears streamed down her cheeks. How had her life taken a turn so suddenly? All her hopes and dreams of a future flashed before her eyes. She knew that life, as she had known it for twenty-five years, was now lost to her.