Taming the Hellbeast

Ch. 8: You ok there, Wes?

Jax drove steadily down the road toward Santine's pack house. The pack patrols at the road had let him through without hesitation when he had told them his name and claimed he came from the Howlers.

Santine and Typhon had already set things in motion.

The meeting the day before had gone in many directions, some of which he had not predicted. In the end, they had come up with a plan which, if it worked, would give him time to win over Santine's pack and be a part of their defense team when whatever their attackers had planned would go down.

They had discussed different strategies for training and patrolling. With the added number of Typhon's people, it would be a lot easier to cover more ground when patrolling, and when the attack would come, they would be stronger with the higher number of fighting wolves.

Loken had called and asked a larger group to travel to Santine's pack house immediately. They had been informed about how they were to treat Jax, even if they did not know him.

None had questioned the orders.

Ace's inputs about the territory and vulnerable points of entry, some of which Jax had not considered all too dangerous before Ace had pointed out why, had been an enormous help. Ace had shown no animosity toward Jax at all. He had been the friendliest of them all since they met.

The others had warmed up to him while they were discussing all the different aspects of what they knew, trying to piece things together. Jax had shared what he had gotten from the rogue he had taken prisoner; Kerr had told about the interrogations of their prisoners.

Despite all their combined information and willingness to talk openly, they had not gotten closer to knowing what was going on and why.

Still, the patrolling plans and training schedules hopefully would improve their defense. Jax had agreed to help with the training under the understanding he would not shift. Nobody should see his wolf. They would know who he was, and their plan would be ruined.

'Are you ok, bro?'

'If I say no, are we going to have a longer pep talk here?'

'I'm asking, Mr. Grumpy Pants.'

'I know, Phoenix.'

'Guys, I know we've agreed to this plan, but how are we going to control it when Santine and Typhon have to act all girlfriend and boyfriend-ish?'

'I wish I knew, Acker.'

Jax was not sure how he would feel seeing Santine with anybody. He was certain she liked him and wanted to be with him. If things had been different, then maybe it would have been easier for them. What he did not care for in all the chaos was having to lie to people and pretend to be somebody he was not. He had always stood by the monster he was, and winning over her pack on a false personality was against his morals.

Morals, that was hilarious in itself.

'I trust her, and strangely enough, I trust him. Typhon seems like a stand-up good guy.'

'Who the fuck are you? And what did you do with the Phoenix we love?'

'Can it, mutt.'

Jax had packed a smaller bag with a few necessities to keep up appearances of him coming from Typhon's pack to join them for training. He could be home in fifteen minutes if he ran fast enough, and he could conjure whatever he needed. That was the only reassuring part of the entire plan, that he could retreat to his home if it became too much.