Chapter 15
Sawyer’s jaw dropped at Alex’s question to Glenn since he couldn’t figure out how his mate knew.
He’d made sure his thoughts concerning Glenn’s broken promise were not broadcast through their mind link.
Burying hurt was no stranger to him; he’d done it ever since childhood when his parents would single out his brothers for their achievements at the dinner table.
But his accomplishments, whether learning a new skill on his skateboard or conquering a difficult climb, were only met with faint praise—if that.
Sawyer lost count of the number of times his attempts to impress his parents ended up with “that’s nice, dear” while his more-talented brothers’ basked in his parents’ adulation.
It wasn’t that his parents didn’t love him—he knew they did; what hurt was their lack of pride in what he’d done.
Only Mac knew how slighted he felt, and while his twin tried to make up for it, in the end Sawyer just buried the pain deep within him.
“Don’t be so surprised,” Alex said, using a finger to push Sawyer’s mouth closed.
“How can I not be? I never told you.”
“Wolf mate, you didn’t have to. My dragon was angry at Glenn’s tiger for hurting you, so he told me what happened,” Alex said.
“What the fuck are you talking about?” asked Glenn.
Before Alex could get a word out, Sawyer growled. “Does this sound familiar?” Then making air-quotes with his hands, he mimicked Glenn’s voice. “‘I promise, from now on, you and Alex will be involved in everything I do’.”
“You did say that, tiger mate…I heard it,” Alex confirmed.
“Last night,” said Sawyer, “you called Riley and Ghost about the men who are after Alex but you didn’t say anything about it this morning.
Instead, you sent me and Alex to see the new pups while you met with Dylon.
And then I gave you another chance when I asked you how the meeting went and once again, you shut us out.
” Sawyer’s voice had risen until he was nearly shouting.
“Hey,” Mac said, shutting the door to the nursery behind him. “Keep it down out here. The pups need their sleep.”
Embarrassed at the rebuke from his twin, Sawyer shook his head in frustration before mumbling an apology. Then spinning around, he headed outside, wanting to be alone.
“Oh for fuck’s sake” Glenn muttered.
Mac gazed at his retreating twin, sensing the familiar pain in him once again. Then shifting his eyes, he frowned at Glenn. “What the fuck did you do to my brother?”
“It’s what he didn’t do,” Alex said, trying to be helpful.
“Buttercup…”
“What? It’s true and you know it. You broke your promise to our wolf mate and it hurt him.”
“What promise?” asked Mac.
“It doesn’t concern…”
“Our tiger mate promised to always include us in on everything pertaining to my safety,” explained Alex.
“So, Glenn,” Mac said, “instead of treating my brother as an equal, you decided he wasn’t capable. Correct me if I’m wrong, but did he or did he not save your furry ass in LA?”
Nodding, Alex said, “He’s got you there, tiger mate.”
“Yes, but…”
“But nothing. What else does my brother have to do to prove he’s more than capable of standing by your side to make sure Alex is protected?”
“Dammit! Don’t go putting words in my mouth. Of course he’s capable…I never said he wasn’t.”
“But you treat him as if he isn’t,” Mac growled.
“He’s right, tiger mate,” Alex said, quietly.
“Bullshit! You’re wrong…I’m trying to protect him. Do you know what’ll happen to Sawyer if the word gets out about his cloaking and other powers? It’ll be a fucking shitstorm! Every nutcase in the world will be coming after him.”
“And you think my brother doesn’t know that?” Mac asked, softly.
“Yes…no…maybe he has an idea it might happen, but me…I have intimate knowledge of the dark underbelly of the world we live in. I’ve seen things that would turn your…it doesn’t matter, but trust me, that’s what I’m trying to protect my mate from ever experiencing.”
“But at what cost?” Mac asked. “Are you willing to destroy him to save him?”
“What the fuck? Didn’t you hear me…I’m saving him,” growled Glenn.
“No you aren’t, tiger mate,” Alex said. “What you’re doing is putting him in a cage, very much like the one my father made for me.
Our mate is in pain…pain caused by your decision to keep him in the dark.
I know how it feels to be treated like that…
all in the name of protecting someone. Trust me when I say it’s not a good way to live.
“There are three of us in this relationship, but you’re treating me and Sawyer like children…
making all the decisions for us. Can’t you see…
it’s hurting our wolf mate when you do that.
I know his animal isn’t as strong as yours but he is an Alpha and you’re not respecting that.
And if you keep it up, in the end it’ll destroy all of us. ”
Pain lanced through Glenn’s body at the thought of losing the two people that meant the world to him. That was simply unacceptable; if it meant changing, that’s what would happen. “Buttercup…”
Wrapping his arms around Glenn’s neck, Alex kissed him before murmuring, “I know, tiger mate. Let’s go find our mate so we can give him some love.”
Holding Alex tight to his chest, Glenn whispered, “I’m sorry, buttercup.” Then, kissing his forehead, he sent a wave of love through their mind link to both his mates. No matter what it took, Glenn vowed he’d do it.
~/~/~/~/~
Exiting the pack house, Sawyer stood on the porch, looking at the motorhome still parked in the same place after arriving yesterday.
Frowning, his mind went back to the day he left.
It was just supposed to be a fun trip to LA with some sun, surfing, and sex; instead he ended up with two mates and a shit ton of power, something he could well have done without, just another problem for him to handle.
And now he found himself in the same position he spent his whole life trying to escape from, except this time, it was one of his mates who found him lacking.
It’s my curse…and I guess it always will be.
Once he accepted that as the truth, the question was how to deal with the feelings that always agitated him.
Before a solution came to mind, he felt a whisper of air across his neck and a small hand grasping his.
Turning, he smiled at the witch who’d stepped in to help his cousins after the massacre. “Hi Mystia.”
“Hello Sawyer,” Mystia said softly. “I need your help.”
“Sure…what do you want me to do?”
“Cloak me, please.”
Startled, Sawyer said, “Uhmm, why?”
“It’s a long story.”
“Why don’t you just give me the highlights.”
“By now, the Witches’ Council knows of my involvement in protecting Remy…
the Keeper of All Magic, and his mate, Carson, so I can’t be seen walking the halls of the Council’s building, but I must find out what the members are planning if there’s any chance of thwarting it before it’s put into action. ”
“Okay, but why don’t you use magic to hide yourself? Isn’t there a spell or something that would make you invisible?”
“It would leave a magical signature and alert the guards.”
“Yeah, I can see that could be a problem. Okay, I’ll cloak you,” Sawyer said. “Are you ready right now?”
“Yes…and thank you.”
Looking at Mystia, Sawyer uttered the words Oracle gave him. “You should be cloaked, but I can’t guarantee it since I can still see you. You might check it out with another magic user to make sure you can’t be seen…just to be on the safe side.”
“I will, mon petit Loulou…and thank you,” Mystia murmured, before disappearing.
Second thoughts suddenly swept over Sawyer.
What if someone discovered she was cloaked?
How would she explain it? Could they force the truth from her using magic and if so, what did that mean for Hunter and his cousins?
Did he just put them all in danger? Dammit…
that’s why the Fates made a huge fucking mistake giving me these powers. I’m a fucking fuck up!
Biting his lower lip, Sawyer debated whether he should tell Jackson about it?or maybe Hunter—just in case he shouldn’t have done it.
But then, my cousin and mate are in danger and isn’t that why the Fates wanted me to have the gift?
To help others? And certainly if Mystia was correct, shouldn’t everyone be happy I helped?
But a lifetime of doubting himself wasn’t going to be pushed aside by his small pep talk, especially since one of his own mates didn’t think he was capable of making the right choices.
Needing a break from the demons of doubt that were threatening to overwhelm him, Sawyer removed his clothes and folded them before setting them down on the porch.
Then, calling forth his wolf, he shifted before heading into the forest.
~/~/~/~/~
Mystia transported herself to a spot in the woods surrounding the grounds of the Council’s building where she could stay hidden.
After consulting Oracle, she knew the cloak concealed her, but still wasn’t sure if her magic signature would set off alarms once she was on the Council’s grounds.
Making her way to the edge of the forest, she peered out, hoping to spot a magic user heading to the closed, iron gates.
Fortune favored her when she spied a large group made up of thirty or so young witches and warlocks, along with several adults, heading her way.
Smiling, she couldn’t have conjured up a better diversion than a class trip.