"Alpha Jax Blackwood, how disappointing to see that you have disregarded the first rule of the Doe." His attempt to convey sadness was lost on his face. "Surely someone must have told you that the Doe is not yours to keep. She is for no one to keep. Her beauty is for all to see and admire, and her powers are to be used to the advantage of the strong. She is not for a world of love. It is not her calling." He took a step to the side, eyeing the stall where Lola was shutting her eyes and holding Melissa close.
A sneeze echoed in the barn, and Ash closed his eyes.
"Seriously." Ash gritted.
Jax bit down on his tongue and shook his head.
"Are you going to tell me that was a mouse?" the man asked.
"Will you believe us if we do?" Ash asked and squinted.
"I'll be grabbing the girl and taking my leave now if you don't mind."
Jax reached out his hand and pressed it against the man's shoulder. "I do mind. She isn't yours to take." he said and snapped the man's neck.
The other two rushed toward them. All the while, Casper was waking up on the ground and heard the debacle.
Ash turned around and saw him moving.
"You didn't kill him?" he spat to Jax.
"I was too busy killing the other one," Jax seethed and ripped the heart from the vampires chest. Jax took too long turning around, and two hands flung him onto the stall and through the wooden door.
Jax got back up, and Ash was fighting the other vampire.
"You've got to learn to go for the heart!" Ash said and pressed his hand into the man's chest, pulling the heart out and throwing it onto the wall.
The crimson mark started dripping to the floor. Jax turned around only to fall into a chair when Casper's fist landed on his face.
"Go for the heart," Jax sarcastically remarked.
Ash groaned and stood back up, and the guys charged at Casper. He stepped to the side and slammed his fist into Jax's core. Ash's eyes glowed as his wolf stepped up, and he grabbed Casper's arm, breaking it in the air.
The thuds and groans had the girls pressing themselves further back onto the wall.
"Behind you!" Ash said.
Jax turned around. He couldn't fathom the strength that Casper had.
Jax grabbed Casper's shoulders and raised his fist to meet his temple. Casper was back within seconds. Ash ran around the barn and came up behind him. He wrapped his arm around Casper's neck, and Ash pressed his hand into his chest. Casper grabbed Ash's arm and bent it. He pushed him back and sunk his fangs into Jax's arm.
Jax looked down. The venom spread in seconds and caused his vision to get blurry. This was the first stage of the wolf being weakened.
He pressed his hand into Casper's chest once more and ripped his heart out. Casper fell dead to the ground, and Ash stood up. He cracked his arm back in place while his wolf slowly healed him and looked at Jax's arm.
"He bit you?"
Jax nodded.
They looked back. A gust of wind vanished through the doors, and the body of the formidable man was no longer on the ground.
Ash ran over and grabbed Jax's arm. He lifted it to assess the bite, and the yellow fester grew rapidly. The red swelling had already begun, and Jax's vision was gravely affected. He was unsteady on his feet, and Ash looked at the stall where the girls were hiding.
He went over and opened the door for them. They flew up quickly, and Melissa ran outside in an instant to get a breath of fresh air. Her eyes were swollen, and the red blotches shone through her makeup.
"What happened to you?" Lola asked and ran over to Jax.
She grabbed his arm, watching the sweat drip from his face and his eyes unable to stay open.
"Oh no," Lola breathed. She lifted her hand and was about to offer it to Jax.
They locked gazes, and Jax shook his head. He grabbed her hand and lowered it when she was about to give him her blood.
"Not here," he said.
"We have to get out of here," Ash said and lifted Jax's arm over his shoulder.
He winced from the pain. The poison was now serenading through his nerves, contracting them and causing a burning sensation as though he'd been set on fire.
"Landon?" he asked in hopes of hearing from his wolf. "Landon, you with me?"
"Not for long," he responded tiredly.
The lights in the chateau were on. The doors had been closed, and everyone was mingling still. Everyone was blissfully unaware of what had happened, and for that, the group was grateful because it meant a clean getaway.
Ash had called the Alphas warriors to come and clean up the mess in the barn before anyone else saw it.
Melissa opened the passenger door, and Ash helped his cousin inside.
"Get in," he ordered the girls and quickly went behind the wheel.
He started the car and cursed as she slammed his fist against the wheel. "How could you let yourself get bitten?" he murmured under his breath.
"I thought it'd be a fun experience," Jax rasped out, and his head fell to the side to watch Ash.
He groaned and drove away from the chateau.
They had an hour's drive back home, and Ash didn't waste time abiding by traffic laws. He turned the corners as though he was flying a rocketship and didn't slow down for a single speed bump, all the while casting glances to the side and observing Jax's weakened state.
"It's not a plane you're driving," Melissa seethed from the back.
Lola was far too preoccupied with keeping an eye on Jax to mind the recklessness of Ash's driving.
"Fasten your seatbelts and keep your chairs in an upright position. This will be a real bumpy ride," he responded and picked up the speed.
Lola grabbed Jax's hand. He turned and lifted his heavy head. He fought to open his eyes, and his chapped lips moved soundlessly.
"You're gonna be fine..." she said and stroked the back of his hand. "You are going to be just fine." Lola looked to the side at Ash. "Can you drive faster, please?" she snapped.
"No!" Melissa intervened.
"Your word is my law," Ash said and winked at Melissa through the rearview mirror.
She pulled back and grabbed the handle on the ceiling, holding on for her life as the car drove past the others on the road. It wasn't altogether clear, but everyone moved out of the way in fear of getting hit.
"Let me help you," she begged and moved her thumb over his cheek.
"Soon," he said and closed his eyes.
Lola could feel Ash's gaze warming the side of her face, but she didn't care if he knew or not. All she cared about was Jax getting better.
"We're almost there," Ash said.
"What is that?" Lola asked and looked at Jax's mouth.
She leaned in and saw the white bubbles forming by the side of his mouth.
"Fuck," Ash spat and drove through the gates.
Lola turned back to check on Melissa and saw her green face and clenched eyes.
"Mell, are you all right there?"
"Mhm," she said, nodding repeatedly.
"We're almost at the house," Lola encouraged and grabbed Melissa's hand.
Ash drove up the road past all the other houses and finally reached the top of the hill. He parked on the gravel, and they all poured out of the car. Ash grabbed Jax and flung his arm over his shoulders to help him inside.
One of the servants opened the doors. They looked in horror as Jax was carried inside by his cousin.
"What happened?" the old lady asked and reached out to them.
"He's drunk. Just needs to lay down for a while," Ash said in the passing.
"Oh," the old lady exhaled and cupped her hands in front of her chest.
"Will he be all right?" she asked, unconvinced by Ash's excuse.
She turned to Lola, who stopped for a second to reply.
"He will be fine. He just needs some rest," she assured.
The old lady stepped back. Lola turned her head as she walked up the stairs and saw the lady pulling a phone from the pocket of her apron.
Lola groaned. She knew exactly who would receive that worried phone call.
"Mrs. Blackwood is about to be informed," Lola hissed as they entered Jax's bedroom.
Ash put him down on top of the covers and touched his forehead. He turned around and faced Lola, his eyes brimming with determination.
"Not before you heal him," he said coldly.