Chapter 8
After changing his clothes so he looked more respectable, Steel felt ready to claim his mate.
Settling his parents in the back seat of his black Range Rover, he started the car and headed for the gas station where he’d dropped Jackson off.
He hoped someone there could tell him where Jackson lived—if he could convince them to tell him.
No, he would convince them; his mate needed him now.
Wow! My mate! Mine! The man I will love forever, the man I will have a family with, and the man I will protect forever because he is the other half of my heart.
Steel stepped on the gas, ignoring the speed limit—his wolf was snarling and pacing, telling him their mate was in pain.
This time he concurred with his wolf because Jackson’s pain was tangible; he figured it must be because even though he hadn’t scented him yet, he now knew for certain Jackson was his mate.
Shit! He was so distracted and upset yesterday he hadn’t trusted his instincts.
Jackson had been within his grasp. Why wasn’t I more forceful in demanding to take Jackson directly to his home yesterday?
Why didn’t I ask for Jackson’s phone number, or get his last name?
Shit! Shit! Shit! Deciding it didn’t help to dwell on that line of thinking, he focused on his driving so he and his parents would arrive safely at Jimmy’s.
~/~/~/~/~
Jackson sat in his favorite club chair, listening to the concerns of his brothers as they threw questions at Mystia. He was still trying to deal with the hurt and disappointment he’d seen on Logan’s face when she announced he’d met his fated mate.
He knew how it would affect Logan; they were twins, well, fraternal twins, not that it mattered because they told each other everything.
It was Logan who comforted Jackson after the tense episodes with his father.
And Jackson protected his brother from the bullies who attacked him because he was small.
Jackson snorted—not that his brother was small anymore, no, that’s for sure—Logan was six inches taller and much wider than Jackson now.
But size never mattered between them because they’d always been so close and Jackson worried his decision might ruin that.
Yup, he certainly needed to sit down with Logan and hash out any negative feelings.
Jackson’s mind tuned back to the conversation, and realized he’d been asked a question.
Huh? What did I miss? “Say again?” he mumbled, coming out of his reverie.
Zane’s eyes narrowed, looking at Jackson. “I asked what was going to happen to our pack if you are claimed. How do we fit into your new life?” Then, gesturing to all of his brothers, “If you leave our home here, do we have to leave too?”
“I know everyone’s concerned about what this’ll mean but the claiming is not a done deal.
Mystia told me I have a choice, and before I claim Steel, we’ll be discussing those issues first. I didn’t tell any of you about meeting my mate because I knew everyone would be upset, seeing this is the first time in the last few years we’ve had a moment to catch our breath,” Jackson said.
“I want to take this one step at a time.”
During the silence that followed, he looked at his brothers and was overcome with great affection.
When he’d regained control of his emotions he continued, “According to Mystia, Steel will be arriving shortly. After I have a chance to talk with him about my responsibilities and hear what he has to say, then, and only then, will I make a decision as to the claiming.”
As he finished speaking, a cacophony of excited voices rose up, all clamoring to be heard at once.
Finally, Logan’s rose above the others. “What do you mean you have a choice? Mystia said you’d be in pain if you didn’t claim your mate soon.
It looks like you don’t really have a choice,” he said, as the rest of the brothers nodded their heads in agreement.
Jackson wondered how the pain would stop if he didn’t claim his mate, but figured there was an option Mystia knew about but wasn’t going to share with him right now. He absentmindedly rubbed his chest, trying to relieve the pain that only seemed to grow worse all afternoon.
“Look,” he said, becoming slightly angry. “All I know, is Mystia said I have a choice and I believe her. She also told me Steel’s mother would explain more to me. So, let’s wait to see what she has to say before anyone goes off the deep end. I swear, you’ll all be kept safe, no matter what.”
Logan looked hard at Jackson, sensing his change of mood.
If he was reading it right, Jackson was in pain which would mean Mystia was accurate about that much concerning the mating.
“Okay guys,” he said, “I think it’s time for a break.
I don’t think Jackson can tell us anymore until he has a chance to talk to Steel.
“In the meantime, as I understand it, we’re going to have three more guests for dinner, so Dakota, I’ll leave that up to you.
Cody and Colton, please prepare two guest rooms for the Valentins in case they stay overnight.
I want to talk to Jackson about some accounting matters concerning the pack so we’ll be in his study. ”
Logan offered a hand to Jackson, steering him out of the den and into the study.
Once inside, he shut the door as Jackson sat down at his desk.
Logan leaned against the door, staring at Jackson but said nothing and waited.
Jackson returned Logan’s stare and admired his twin’s good looks.
Unlike the triplets, Jackson and Logan did not resemble each other except for dark brown hair.
Logan was taller and more heavily muscled; his face sported a scruff and his deep-set, gold-green eyes gave him a sexy, brooding look.
Just like all the brothers, Logan was an Alpha, but never used the power to challenge Jackson’s decisions or actions.
His brother possessed fierce loyalty to him and would fight to the death if it meant saving Jackson.
He knew how much he relied on Logan and that’s what made him regret he’d kept this information from his twin.
Jackson lowered his eyes, wondering how to start.
He knew why Logan pulled him in here and it had nothing to do with accounting.
Jackson let out a deep sigh, looking up at his brother before saying, “Look, I know you’re hurt Logan, I get that, but I didn’t tell you about my mate because I made a decision I thought was best for the pack.
I’m the Alpha and that’s what I have to do, even if it’s at the expense of my own happiness.
” He paused for a few seconds to let it sink in.
Logan remained quiet as Jackson continued.
“You know how much I worry about keeping all my brothers safe from Silver Point. They’re a daily threat to us and if something happened to one of you on my watch—especially if I had put myself first—it would kill me.
You know all this, Logan, so why are you upset by the decision I made to keep it secret?
I know you well enough to know you’d have fought me on this, so it just seemed better to keep it under wraps and avoid all that shit. ”
Logan walked over and lowered himself into the padded wooden chair in front of Jackson’s desk, trying to sort out why he felt so hurt.
He knew his brother was right and would gladly give up his own life to save the pack.
Logan had always teased Jackson about his “Good Samaritan” tendencies, but behind all the joking, Logan was damned proud of Jackson’s kind and caring personality.
It was the one thing their father hated about Jackson and tried so hard to eradicate.
“An Alpha can’t behave that way as leader of a pack” still echoed in Logan’s head, etched there by his father’s relentless shouting at Jackson.
He’d lost count of the times he'd consoled his brother during childhood as Jackson cried his heart out over his inability to please their father.
When Jackson entered his teen years, he spent most of his time hiding from their father to avoid the daily dressing-downs. But their mother saw what was happening and defied her
husband, sending Jackson to spend a summer with her parents. Logan wasn’t allowed to go with his twin and it was a wretched time for him, so much so, he always feared it would happen again.
He took steps to avoid it by going to the same college, sharing a dorm room and as many classes as he could with his twin.
When Mystia told them about Jackson’s mate, Logan’s heart sank thinking they’d be parted.
Yeah, he was hurt but more because he feared losing his brother again, rather than Jackson’s decision not to tell him about Steel.
Logan cleared his throat and said, “I do understand why you decided not to tell me about meeting your mate; that you were putting the good of the pack first, but maybe I would have agreed with your decision not to claim your mate.”
Jackson, shocked, blinked several times at the statement and then asked, “Why?”
Logan’s cheeks turned pink as he sheepishly looked at Jackson, muttering, “I don’t want you to go. That was my first thought when I heard you had a mate. I’m really sorry. I know it’s selfish and something you don’t deserve because you’ve always put me and the rest of the pack first.”
Jackson took a deep breath before saying, “Logan, no matter what happens we’ll always be brothers and I’ll always have your back.
I am the Alpha of this pack and I’m not giving that up regardless of who my mate is.
I made that decision today when Mystia and I talked.
How Steel will fit into the pack—or even if he’ll fit at all—is yet to be determined. I’m not going anywhere.”
Jackson’s face grew serious. “My pack is in danger and it’s my duty to protect and defend it.
Maybe when Steel finds out there’s a kill order out for all of us, he won’t want to be claimed.
That’s one of the reasons I wasn’t going to mate with him—because it would put him in danger.
” Jackson paused and then added, “Jeez, what a fucking mess!”
“But you have to claim him because until you do, Mystia said it would get more and more painful for you until it was done. Don’t tell me you’re not in pain!
I can see it. Your shoulders are tense, your face grimaces every couple of minutes, and you keep rubbing your chest. She said you’d be in pain until you mate so what happens if you don’t mate? ” Logan asked.
“According to Mystia, I have a choice, so I presume if either of us decides not to claim the other, my pain will disappear. Look, that doesn’t matter right now but what does matter is your help.
Logan, I need your support going forward and our brothers will look at how you react to whatever happens.
I promise you I will not leave you and the pack,” Jackson said emphatically.
“Thanks bro, I appreciate it, and I’ll be there for you,” Logan said, rising from the chair.
Jackson came around the desk and hugged his brother. “I know you will be. Now, let’s go meet my mate.”
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Steel pulled into Jimmy’s, parked, and turning to his parents, said, “I’m going to see if someone knows where Jackson lives.”
His parents nodded and Steel got out. Striding over to a scrawny young man in a cowboy hat pumping gas, he asked where he could find the owner. The man gave him a searching look before saying, “He ain’t here right now.”
“When will he be back?” asked Steel.
“He said he might be gone until tomorrow. I’m in charge. What can I help you with?” the man asked.
Steel could feel his own frustration showing so he paused, and took a deep breath in an effort to get it under control.
He was wondering how to ask the man if he knew Jackson but didn’t want it to appear as if he was stalking him.
“Do you know a man called Jackson? I dropped him off here the other day but he forgot to give me back some sweatpants I loaned him. I thought I’d stop by at his house and pick them up. ”
Suddenly, the man broke into a smile. “Oh, so you’re the one they told me about.
Hi, I’m Bobby. Jimmy said if a man fitting your description came in asking for Jackson, I was to give you an envelope his wife left here for you.
” Then he wiped his hands off on his already dirty jeans and headed into the building.
Steel followed, hoping he was close to finding out where Jackson lived.
But then, a dark thought crossed his mind.
What if Jackson had left a “Dear John” letter for him—crap, that was a real possibility since Jackson knew Steel was his mate and had already rejected him once.
Hell, Steel thought, there’s no way he was letting Jackson go.
He didn’t care what he had to do, he would claim his mate because the alternative wasn’t something he wanted to consider.
As he opened the letter, Steel took a deep breath, trying to ignore his frantically beating heart.
When he got to the end, he exhaled, closed his eyes, and thanked the Fates who’d arranged this, for there, in the letter, were directions to Jackson’s home.
Letting out a loud whoop, he ran back to the Range Rover, jumped in, gunned it, and tore out of Jimmy’s ignoring his mother’s pleas to slow down.