The Heart of a Beast: A Phoenix Pack Urban Paranormal (Saved By a Beast Book 4)

by Jade Royal

  “Nah, you’re good cocoa bean.”

  “If nothing was on my face what the hell was you staring so hard for?” Jaxson shook his head as he looked at her.

  “You are so goddamn beautiful Kyra. I’m staring at you trying to figure out how the fuck haven’t I noticed you before? How haven’t I realized what a fucking diamond you are?” Kyra felt her cheeks heat to about a thousand degrees. She held her face and tried to hide her blush.

  “You didn’t realize because you were off chasing the tails of the other she-wolves. Plus, I was always kind of lowkey. Didn’t really do much to catch attention.” Jaxson reached out and touched her with his cuffed hand. Kyra looked at the cuffs.

  “What were you punished for?” she questioned.

  “Mira called you a name that I didn’t appreciate. I got angry and grabbed her up around the neck. The females we associate with should not be physically harmed by the male wolves. That’s a top rule, and I broke it.” Kyra was torn. She didn’t like that Jaxson was physical with a female, but on the other hand she didn’t like that he was punished. Plus, he wouldn’t have done it if Mira wasn’t talking bad about her.

  “Thanks for sticking up for me,” Kyra said.

  “But next time just come and tell me. I can defend my own honor. I don’t want you being punished. I don’t want to think that you harm females.”

  Kyra, that’s enough. He has to spend the rest of the night in solitude. Return to the cave, Kellan spoke in her mind.

  “I have to go now,” she sighed.

  “What?” Jaxson asked, almost desperately. He didn’t want her gone.

  “Kellan’s orders. I’m sorry. You know I would stay here with you all night if I had to.”

  “I guess I wouldn’t want you sleeping down here. You deserve a warm bed.” Kyra leaned forward and kissed him on the cheek.

  “See you in the morning,” she said softly. Jaxson smiled at her and watched as she left the cellar. He exhaled and smiled goofily to himself like he was a teenager.

  Chapter Nine

  The moment the sun rose; Kellan was entering the cellar where Jaxson was still sitting up. He had slept for only a few hours before he felt like his wounds were burning again. Kellan came to him with the keys of the cuffs. Jaxson noticed his scent was covered with the scent of Kingston. It was suitable so that even if the pack wasn’t around the baby, they would still be able to learn his scent.

  “How’d the night go?” Kellan asked.

  “As good as being lashed and wearing silver cuffs can get,” Jaxson replied.

  “Ready?” he asked. Jaxson nodded and held his breath. The moment the cuffs were unlatched and taken from his wrists; the power of his wolf zapped through his body; rushing like fire through his veins. Jaxson shouted and cursed as the yellow sapphire eyes of his wolf glowed through the cellar. He gave over the control to his animal and let his muscles contort and pop before his wolf burst to the surface and took complete control. Kellan bowed to his wolf as a show of respect, and Jaxson’s wolf bowed to his alpha. The both of them walked back up to the cave. The rest of the pack was waiting in the dining area ready to go for the morning pack run. Bliss was holding the baby, patting his back to burp him. Since he was in control, Jaxson’s wolf went straight over to Kyra. He plopped down next to her and looked out at the pack as if he was daring someone to tell him to move.

  “Well good morning to you too,” Kyra teased scratching the large animal behind the ear. The wolf’s tongue lolled out, and his tail wagged happily.

  “Someone’s smitten with you,” Bliss smiled. Mira looked at Jaxson’s honey auburn wolf and knew she could do nothing about the fact that he was so damn smitten with Kyra. The man Mira could handle but the wolf; she was powerless.

  “I’ll watch the baby while you shift and run,” Rita said reaching out for Kingston. Bliss handed him over. She was the only wolf who couldn’t shift because of her pregnancy. Bliss hadn’t shifted for two months, and her wolf was antsy to be let out. The moment Kingston was safely in the arms of Rita, Bliss gave into her wolf and shifted with a howl. Even in wolf form, her heart was beating fast as if she couldn’t handle the power of her animal. But Selena was next to her with a hand on her chest to help slow her beating heart. Finally, Bliss felt normal with her wolf in control.

  “Bring the baby over here,” Kellan said to Rita. As she brought Kingston towards Bliss, Kellan shifted and stood next to his mate. Rita held the baby out to them so they could introduce their wolves to their pup. Kingston sniffed and reached his tiny hands out to grab onto their noses and fur.

  “Ain’t that cute,” Gemma squealed. Bliss and Kellan pulled back, ready to lead the pack on the run. Since Rita couldn’t shift; Jayce stayed back in the cave with her to keep her company and to not have her feel like she was all alone.

  “Here, hold him,” Rita said to Jayce.

  “Nah, I’m good,” Jayce said backing up.

  “You betta take this baby. You’re gonna need practice…daddy,” she scolded.

  “I’ll show you who’s daddy,” he mumbled taking the baby from her.

  ***

  Kyra’s wolf galloped happily through the woods as Jaxson’s wolf chased her down. Kyra was trying to tell the wolf not to be so damn flirtatious and to make him work for her attention, but the animal didn’t care. She was prancing and running about; stroking her tail under his nose, biting and pawing at him playfully. There was no hiding what the animal felt for Jaxson’s wolf. In her peripheral vision, she kept seeing Mira’s wolf just lurking around; watching them. Kyra refused to show her any attention, but the animal was not shy and pushing her obvious attraction to Jaxson’s wolf. When Mira tried to advance towards them, Kyra’s wolf let out a warning growl telling Mira she had better stay back. Mira froze in her spot; heeding Kyra’s warning. That lasted for only a minute. Mira growled right back at Kyra and began trotting towards Jaxson’s wolf. His wolf popped his head up from nibbling at Kyra’s wolf ear. He looked directly at Mira’s animal.

  Do not come over here, Jaxson spoke into her mind.

  I can go wherever I want, she grunted. She jumped up and knocked Jaxson away from Kyra. Kyra’s wolf snarled and howled. She rushed forward; dove and took Mira’s wolf down. She stood above Mira growling and snapping her. A burst of dominant energy radiated from Kyra, catching the attention of each pack member. But just as it came forward; it receded quickly. Kellan howled and ran over to both of the wolves. With a snarl, it got both Mira and Kyra away from each other knowing that if they fought it was going to cause both of them to get punished. Kellan growled at the both of them before he slowly trotted away to stand next to his mate.

  Mira was still snarling; anger filtering through her body. She didn’t know why Kyra wasn’t keeping her damn animal on a leash. She knew well that Jaxson belonged to Mira. Mira’s animal was on the verge of challenging Kyra.

  Back to the cave! Kellan spoke in everyone’s mind. He began trotting towards the cave but for a moment; Mira couldn’t get her wolf to follow. She wanted nothing more than to attack Kyra.

  I said back to the cave! Kellan shouted in her mind. Mira looked as Kyra play fought with Jaxson as they began trotting back to the cave. Growling in anger and finally reaching her snapping point; Mira’s wolf snarled and snapped her jaws at Kyra. She raced after Kyra, leaping into the air and stretching her claws out to attack her from behind.

  Kyra sensed Mira’s attack almost immediately. She let Mira think that she was catching her off guard, however. The moment Mira leapt into the air to pounce; Kyra jumped out of the way and watched as Mira’s wolf fell sloppily to the ground. Kyra was ready to pounce on her and rip her to shreds for trying to attack her, but Tristan and Jaxson’s wolves came in between them. Keeping the peace as enforcers were supposed to do. Kellan came running over to them; still in wolf form.

  What the fuck is going on between you two? He asked.

  Mira attacked Kyra, Jaxson reported. Kellan snarled and snapped his teeth at Mira. Her wol
f cowered and backed away whining. Technically he hadn’t let Niles and Mira into the pack yet so Kellan couldn’t pass down a punishment to Mira for her attack. He could, however, grant Kyra a chance to challenge the wolf.

  We don’t attack people from behind, Kellan spoke. I can’t punish you Mira, but that doesn’t mean you will get away with attacking one of my wolves. Kyra, you can challenge her.

  Kyra looked at Mira’s wolf who continued to back up. Even though Kyra wanted to whoop both Mira and her wolf’s ass, it wasn’t a fight she had to have. Mira knew what was up. She knew that Kyra would kill her wolf.

  No challenge, Kyra said. She just better stay away from me. Next time; I won’t spare her. Kellan was surprised that Kyra wasn’t going for the challenge. It showed incredible strength and restraint. Not too many people had that. Kellan included.

  Kellan left her decision as it was, but on the walk back to the cave he walked between the both of them to keep the peace. Bliss was eager to get back to Kingston. Though she was completely healed from her pregnancy, it would take her a few months to be able to be without Kingston for a long period of time. That plus her breasts would leak letting her know that the pup wanted milk. If the pack wasn’t so tight-knit, she wouldn’t have been able to leave Kingston with Rita in the first place.

  The moment they entered the cave; Bliss shifted back and tossed on one of the tunics that lay folded against the cave walls. She rushed through the metal doors with the rest of the pack following after her. Kingston was crying as Rita tried to console him.

  “Just in time,” Rita said.

  “He’s hungry.” Bliss smiled and took her baby from Rita. She wasn’t shy about pulling her breast out and quickly. Kingston latched on and sucked hungrily. Bliss smiled down at her baby and stroked his hair.

  “How was the run?” Rita asked. Kellan went over to Bliss and kissed her cheek, looking on as their son feed.

  “Ya homegirl over there tried to attack me,” Kyra said to Rita. Rita gasped and looked at Mira.

  “What the hell would you do that for?” She asked in defense of Kyra.

  “She knows why,” Mira answered.

  “Like I said before, I spared you this time. But next time I’ll kick your fucking ass.”

  “So then how about you just stay away from him?” Mira snapped. Rita looked at Jaxson who was giving Mira a look. He wasn’t saying anything, but Rita saw the confliction and confusion on his face.

  “I have free will to be around him if I want to you know,” Kyra said.

  “Kyra if that’s her mate then if she feels threatened she’s going to act out that way,” Rita said.

  “Wait,” Jaxson finally spoke up.

  “You told everyone I was your mate? Not just Kyra?” Jaxson asked. Mira was silent, unable to speak about her lies.

  “I can’t believe you,” Jaxson gasped.

  “Why would you spread that kind of lie?”

  “You’re not fucking serious?” Rita shook her head.

  “She’s not my mate!” Jaxson said loudly.

  “Let me clear that shit up right now. I don’t know why the hell she would lie about that.”

  “Then you got some fucking nerve attacking Kyra,” Rita snarled.

  “I should-” Jayce tugged on her arm to keep Rita away from confronting Mira.

  “Everyone calm down,” Jayce spoke up.

  “Mira you definitely can’t attack a wolf here for someone who isn’t your mate,” Bliss said.

  “We finally reached a place of peace in regarding people out to attack us. We don’t need an internal problem like this blowing up in our faces. So you need to calm the hell down.”

  “Why you so quiet huh?” Mira asked Jaxson.

  “Aren’t you going to stick up for me?”

  “Stick up for you?” Jaxson stumbled out. He felt the tug of her scent again, and it made Jaxson uneasy. His felt himself getting aroused, but it was so misplaced.

  “Yes stick up for me,” she said sharply walking towards him. Jaxson felt the heaviness of his mind and the lust filling his body in ways that he couldn’t control. His heart felt constricted, and blackness filled the corners of his eyes.

  “JAXSON!” Mira snapped.

  “Tell her how you feel about me!” She yelled.

  “Something’s wrong,” Selena whispered noticing the increased darkness that was emanating from Jaxson’s body. Kellan perked up feeling the change in the bond he held with Jaxson.

  “Let’s all calm down,” Kellan ordered trying to reign in the situation.

  “No! He’s going to tell Kyra how he feels about me! He’s going to tell her to stay the fuck away from him because he wants to be with me!”

  Kyra noticed the look on Jaxson’s face. She was pissed at him because he was frozen again; not speaking up for the situation. One moment he was telling her how he felt about her but then now she was dealing with Mira saying he was telling her the same thing. Kyra wasn’t about to fight over no wolf that was playing two sides. But then she realized that Jaxson didn’t look like a man that was caught in a lie or trying to save face. He looked genuinely confused as if he was fighting an internal battle. Something was off.

  “No you need to back off,” Kyra spoke up. But Mira kept glaring at Jaxson.

  “Do it!” she ordered.

  “Tell her what I mean to you.”

  “Mira, you don’t mean anything to me,” Jaxson choked out. He fought to speak, and when the words came out of his mouth, he felt something pressing against his throat. The darkness around the edge of his eyes spread further. His wolf whined and pawed at the ground before Jaxson felt darkness take him over.

  Mira snapped out of her angered trance once again when Jaxson crumbled to the ground. She was so heated she didn’t realize she was forcing all of her power onto him in order to get him to say what she wanted. She’d went overboard, and his body paid the price for it.

  “Jax!” Kyra gasped rushing over to him. She fell to her knees next to him. She placed his head on her lap, but he did not wake. He was out cold. Kyra ran her fingers over his face.

  “What the fuck did you do to him?” she gritted at Mira.

  “Nothing,” Mira breathed. Selena rushed over to Jaxson to assess what was happening. She tried to take his head from Kyra’s lap, but Kyra growled involuntarily not wanting to let Selena have him. Selena gave her a soothing pat on the back before leaving Jaxson’s head in her lap. She took her glowing hands and let them hover over Jaxson’s body. She closed her eyes as she performed the assessment. Her brows furrowed and that told Kyra that something was up.

  “Can you heal him?” Kyra asked.

  “Unfortunately, no,” Selena replied with a deep sigh.

  “No?!” Kellan asked; shocked. Selena nodded at him. Kellan looked at his mate.

  “Take the pup to our room,” he ordered. Bliss wasted no time hurrying off. She didn’t know what was going on, but she wanted Kingston to be nowhere near it. Rita followed behind her, to keep Bliss company.

  “Why can’t you heal him?” Kellan asked going over to his fallen friend. He felt Jaxson’s heartbeat, but beyond that, he could feel nothing else in their bond. If it wasn’t for his heartbeat, Kellan would think his friend was dead.

  “The darkness I was telling you about is all over him Kellan,” Selena said.

  “It’s all internal and emotions. I can’t heal emotions. He’s going to have to come out of this himself.”

  “Can you tell what made him pass out?” Kellan asked.

  “It’s like his brain went into overload. I don’t see anything alarming in regards to him not being able to wake up. We have to give him time.”

  “You can’t tell what this darkness is?” Kellan asked. Selena shook her head.

  “I’m still reading my healing books to figure it out.”

  “Let’s hope for the best,” Kellan sighed.

  “Thanks, Selena.” Kneeling, Kellan grunted as he picked Jaxson up over his shoulder.

  “I
’m going to take him to his room. Kyra, you can follow me.”

  “What about me?” Mira asked.

  “What about you?” Kellan asked, shrugging. Kyra had to smile. Kellan always knew the right thing to say. His statement had shut Mira up, letting her know that Kellan wasn’t for her bullshit.

  Kellan walked with long strides to Jaxson’s bedroom. Kyra had to jog to keep up with him. Inside the room, he placed Jaxson on the bed softly. Kyra wasn’t shy about getting in the bed next to him.

  “Watch him carefully. Let me know if anything changes.”

  “Definitely,” Kyra said without even looking at Kellan as she ran her fingers through Jaxson’s beard. Kellan looked at them for a moment. He didn’t understand why they weren’t mates. It was pretty clear that they had a liking to each other that wasn’t just platonic.

  “I don’t think I have to tell you that I don’t want a big problem between you and Mira. If you want to challenge her then feel free, but I’m not into that random ass fighting or yelling and shouting matches. Not around my newborn.”

  “I know,” she replied.

  “It didn’t make sense to challenge her seen as we all know I’ll wash her. But if she hurts him again, I’ll make it my business to challenge her.”

  “You think she hurt him?” Kellan asked.

  “That’s what my gut instinct is telling me. I mean; just the way she was staring at him and acting like she could force him to say whatever she wanted him to say. Then all of a sudden he passes out? I don’t know. I just think something fishy is up.”

  “I’ll have a talk with Jayce to see what we should do about her. I will not induct her into the pack until all this mess is sorted out. I can ill afford internal attacks at the moment. Not with a newborn and a pregnant she-wolf.”

  “Let me know if I can help in any way.”

  “You’re helping out just fine by staying with him. Thank you, Kyra.” She responded with a simple smile before returning her eyes to Jaxson.

  ***

  Something warm was against his body. Jaxson let out a satisfied groan as he felt comforted by whatever was blanketing his skin. For the first time in a long time; he felt like his head was completely clear. Every thought in his brain belonged to him, and nothing seemed out of place. Hot chocolate. He smelled hot chocolate. Growling seductively; he opened his eyes and was greeted with the tattoos adorning the right side of Kyra from her arms, to the side of her stomach and down her creamy thigh. He gazed at the intricate designs loving the different creativity in each tattoo. Licking his lips, he raised his head up and looked over at her. Her eyes were closed, her lashes beautifully touching her cheeks and her mouth pouty.