Fighting For A Goddess

So Tell Her

Xander’s pulse pounded in his ears as his eyes swept the crowd. Panic gripped his chest. Jade was nowhere to be found.

Ares’s voice growled in his mind. She's in trouble. Find her.

Xander’s heart raced. He pushed through the crowd, his eyes darting over faces. His thoughts were consumed with one thing: finding her.

Then, a sudden, sharp cry pierced the air—strangled, but unmistakable. His stomach dropped.

Jade.

Xander didn’t hesitate. His feet carried him toward the hot tubs, adrenaline surging. At the top of the stairs, he spotted the first hot tub—empty. His breath caught as he rushed toward the second one. Empty again. But there was a sound—a small, pained whimper.

Jade.

Xander’s body tensed, his heart hammering as he sprinted to the third hot tub. His blood turned cold when he saw her. She was slumped between two men as they were dragging her out of the hot tub. One of them had his arm wrapped around her waist, pinning her to him, while the other had a hand clamped over her mouth. Jade’s eyes were barely open, her body trembling.

Fear exploded in Xander’s chest.

Without thinking, Xander’s wolf took over, his claws scraping against his skin. He yanked the nearest man off Jade with brutal force, tossing him aside like he weighed nothing, sending him crashing across the pavement. The second man lunged at him, but Xander was already moving. With a savage punch, he sent the guy sprawling, his body hitting the ground with a sickening thud. Neither of the men moved. Xander stood over them, chest heaving, his fury burning like wildfire.

Ares snarled in his mind, urging him to end it. Rip them apart. Tear them limb from limb. They’re nothing but prey.

Xander fought the urge with every ounce of control he had. Not here. Not now, he thought, his grip tightening around the raw anger that pulsed in his veins. For Jade’s sake, he held back, knowing she couldn’t see the monster he was capable of becoming.

Jade’s voice broke through the chaos—soft, faint. “Xander…”

Her voice was barely a whisper, but it was enough to stop him in his tracks. Xander’s heart twisted.

He turned to her just as she swayed, her body going limp. She collapsed forward into him. His arms shot out to catch her, his heart stalling. “Jade?” he called, his voice thick with fear. Her head rested against his chest, her body limp and unresponsive.

Her eyes fluttered open, but they were unfocused. A faint tremor passed through her body, but she didn’t speak, her eyelids falling shut again.

Xander’s breath caught as his hand gently cupped her face, desperation edging his voice. “Jade, open your eyes please.”

She didn’t stir. He could feel her body shaking, but she was so unsteady, her weight completely leaning against him. Something was terribly wrong. He moved quickly, cradling her in his arms, and rushed to the truck.

Before Xander could leave, he heard heavy footsteps behind him. Kyle. His frustration flared instantly. He spun around to face him.

Kyle looked up, confusion clouding his face. “What happened? What’s wrong with her?”

Xander’s anger spiked, his voice sharp and unforgiving. “What the hell were you thinking, Kyle? Leaving her alone like that?” His eyes narrowed, teeth gritted.

Kyle took a step back, his face draining of color. “I thought she’d be fine.”

“Well, she’s not,” Xander shot back, his tone biting.

Kyle opened his mouth to respond, but Xander wasn’t interested in anything he had to say. His arms were still tight around Jade, and he was already halfway to the truck. “I’m taking her to my place. You find Monica and her friends, get them out of here.”

Xander didn’t give him a chance to argue. He turned his back on Kyle and made his way toward the truck.

He gently settled Jade into the passenger seat, checking her pulse and adjusting the heat. Her face was pale, her body still trembling.

He gripped the wheel and drove as fast as he could without jarring her too much. Every second felt like an eternity. His mind raced—what had those men done to her? Did they drug her?

She needs a doctor, Xander thought, his mind already turning toward the packhouse.

He made a sharp turn. I’m taking her to see the pack doctor.

Ares didn’t reply right away, but Xander could feel his anger.

You should’ve let me dismember those fuckers, Ares growled out.

Xander’s jaw tightened, his grip on the steering wheel white-knuckled. I nearly did, he growled. It took everything in me to hold back. I wanted them dead just as much as you did—but I couldn’t risk scaring her. She’s human. She doesn’t know a damn thing about us.

So tell her, Ares snarled back.