Chapter 21
“Are you telling me my family was killed because that asshole wanted our land for mining? That sonofabitch! He butchered men, women, and children—all because of greed? My mother and my younger brothers and sisters all slaughtered because he wanted the land? Sonofabitch!!! What’s on our land that’s worth killing for?
Dammit, dammit, dammit!!!” yelled Jackson, anger burning into his heart as grief and frustration shook his body.
He dropped his head into his hands, tears streaming down his face.
Steel gathered his mate in his arms, whispering words of love into Jackson’s ear while rubbing his mate’s back.
He knew it was a lot for him to process—the senseless killing of his family and pack mates in the name of greed.
Steel held Jackson until his tears stopped and his mate’s breath only occasionally hitched.
Finally, Jackson sat up, embarrassed at falling apart in front of Maximus.
Furtively wiping away tear streaks from his face, he turned toward his father-in-law, but Maximus wasn’t there.
Jackson looked questioningly at his mate.
“Dad left the room because he felt you wouldn’t want him to see you cry.
He’ll come back when you’re ready to continue. ”
“I’m sorry about that,” muttered Jackson.
“Babe, there’s nothing to be sorry about. I was shocked when I read Slate’s email, so I can only imagine how you felt when you finally found out. My wolf wants to hunt the Silver Point Pack down and make them pay for what they did to you,” he said softly.
“I appreciate that, but I don’t think that’s the answer. First of all, I could never kill children and women as they did and, secondly, fighting would put my brothers in danger.”
Steel nodded. “I knew that’s how you’d feel, so I came up with a plan that doesn’t include violence. Are you all right now? Can Dad come back in?” he asked.
“I’m okay, thanks, babe. Get your dad back in here and let’s hear your proposal,” Jackson said.
After hearing his son’s voice calling him, Maximus walked in, smiling at Jackson. “Sorry for leaving but I needed to ask my wife a question.”
“Okay, then let’s continue,” said Jackson, grateful for Maximus’ sensitivity. He then looked at his mate, “Why does Silver Point want to mine on our land?”
“According to the application, the Fox River that runs through your land contains gold, and evidently quite a lot of it. It’s in their application—here, have a look at it,” said Steel, handing the paperwork to his mate.
“Gold? On our land? How would they know it was there?” asked Jackson.
“I’m not sure but they must have found it before the massacre took place.
There’s no proof but it’s a reasonable assumption,” replied Steel.
“When I asked your brothers what they knew about the land, Zane told me your father had complained to his brother, Josiah, about their members trespassing on Fox River land.”
“My uncle never took my father’s complaints seriously, though,” said Jackson, “because the two packs got along. We all knew the Silver Point members—they’d join us to celebrate the Long Night Moon Festival. Did Zane say more?”
“That’s all he knew,” Steel answered. “He didn’t think it was serious because he said your father and uncle were always bitching at each other.”
Jackson thought about it for a minute before saying, “On the surface, they seemed to get along but I always thought my uncle—who was the first-born—was pissed off that our father ended up as the Alpha of the Fox River Pack…though, I never heard that brought up.”
Then he asked Steel, “Okay, what’s the plan you want me to approve?”
“First, you need to file a formal complaint with the Universal Paranormal High Council and…”
“I know you’ve told me this before, but nothing has changed—it’s a case of ‘he-said, he-said.’ I have no proof Silver Point Pack is responsible, and if I file, my pack risks being exposed and discovered by their enforcers.”
“I’ve taken that into consideration,” said Steel, “and I still want the complaint filed because it might prompt Silver Point to do something that can be used against them. Next, I want everyone to move to my house. There’s enough room, it’s more remote, and I’ll hire a team of enforcers to provide security for you and your brothers. ”
Jackson leaned back in his chair, thinking about Steel’s plan. “I have some questions before I can agree,” he said, pausing for a moment. “What do you hope the complaint about the massacre will do for us?”
“I think the Silver Point Alpha will pull back his enforcers because it won’t look good if the pack lodging the complaint is suddenly killed.
But more importantly, I also hope it’ll buy us some time to build a case against Silver Point,” said Steel, waving off what he saw as the beginning of an objection from Jackson.
“I know you think it’s your word against theirs but when the word reaches the whole pack that a High Council investigation is taking place, I think some rats will want to jump off the sinking ship because the pressure will be too great. ”
“Okay,” said Jackson, agreeing on that point, “but if the publicity will stop them in their tracks, why should we move to your home?”
“That’s a back-up plan just in case some pack member starts feeling a little too much heat from the High Council’s investigation. The house is plenty big enough and there’s more than enough land for everyone to shift and take runs.”
“Okay, let’s say I agree with your reasoning—if your place is so remote and safe, why a team of enforcers?”
“That’s my security blanket, babe. My wolf is very protective of you and our pup right now. So, with extra manpower, my wolf and I can relax more and I can give you the support you need during your pregnancy,” growled Steel.
Jackson turned to Maximus, “Do you agree the Blackwood Pack should follow Steel’s plan?”
“I do, and I am going to add one more item to his plan. I’ll have Slate come here to help with security.”
Jackson paused, thinking about Steel’s plan and what it would mean to his brothers. He couldn’t deny he was quite shaken about what Steel had told him tonight. And he knew now without a shadow of doubt, his uncle would never stop until he could eliminate the last living thread to that land.
Would it be better to move to Steel’s house?
It certainly was big enough but would my brothers feel comfortable there?
They’d made a home here and everyone is settled in, even Zane, though that’s still a work in progress.
What will the move do to his brother’s fragile equilibrium?
Would Zane have a setback because of another change?
As Jackson sat mulling it over, he heard a knock on the door and Logan stuck his head in. “Oh sorry, didn’t know you had a meeting. I’ll come back later.”
“No, come in Logan. Steel found out why Silver Point killed our family,” said Jackson, handing his brother the email and application, then waited until Logan read them.
“Sonofabitch!”
“My reaction too.”
“What are you going to do?”
Turning to his mate. “Babe, tell Logan what you propose for the Blackwood Pack.”
Logan sat next to Maximus as Steel told him about the plan to handle the Silver Point Pack issue.
Logan listened intently, contemplating all the points Steel made.
If it means more protection for his brothers, then hell yes, but he knew the move would be unsettling, especially for Zane.
Is the tradeoff worth it? Logan turned it around in his head several times before looking at Jackson. “Are you going to do it?”
Jackson nodded affirmatively. “Do you think it’s a good idea?”
“Yes,” Logan answered, “even with the drawbacks. I always thought we’d have to move at some point so this looks like a golden opportunity—to move to a ready-made house instead of building one like we had to do here.”
Jackson’s face softened with relief. “I’m glad you agree with my decision. Anytime I can give my brothers more protection it’s a no-brainer, even though I know it’ll be hard on some of them,” he said. “Now, what did you want before I got you side-tracked?”
“Dakota needs supplies and he wondered who you wanted to send to get them.”
“Have him prepare his list and Steel and I will go tomorrow morning after I stop at Jimmy’s to tell Mystia what I’ve decided,” replied Jackson. “Now that everything’s settled, let’s have dinner. I’m starving.”
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Waking up the next morning, Steel felt his cock encased in a hot wet mouth.
Rolling onto his back, he lifted the covers, looking down at the most amazing sight that had appeared only in his dreams. Steel groaned at the wantonness of seeing Jackson’s full red lips sucking his cock as if it were the best lollipop his mate ever savored.
Licking, sucking, then a twist of his tip by his mate’s hand while Jackson tongue-fucked his slit before deep-throating him.
Steel moaned at the sensations, his fisted hands twisting the sheets.
His mate was deliberately teasing him with his unhurried actions.
Steel lifted his hips to gain friction so he could come but his mate grabbed him, holding him down while continuing the maddeningly slow torture that Jackson obviously was an expert at.
Frustrated, he was reduced to whimpering for relief, tossing his head from side-to-side.
He was going to explode if Jackson kept this up.
Finally, reduced to begging for release, Steel moaned, “Please…move dammit…more, please more.”
Jackson glanced up at his mate, seeing his unfocused, lust-filled eyes, knowing it was time.
Steel had been reduced to jelly—that was his intention.
Jackson grabbed his mate’s balls, gently rolling them in his hand while increasing his speed of sucking, taking Steel’s cock deep into his throat repeatedly.
Steel screamed and Jackson lifted his head so just Steel’s cock tip was in his mouth, catching his mate’s jism on his tongue and holding it in his mouth.
As Steel came back to earth, he pulled his mate up on his chest, gazing at Jackson’s very swollen lips that were curved into a smile.
Jackson moved slowly up to his mate’s lips, kissing them softly, waiting for Steel to open his mouth. When his mate complied, Jackson thrust his cum-covered tongue in, coating his mate’s mouth with his own essence.
Holy Fuck! That was the sexiest thing anyone had ever done to Steel during a blow job. Swallowing his cum, Steel thrust his tongue into Jackson’s mouth, sweeping through it to seek every bit of it he could find, loving the taste of it mixed with Jackson’s unique flavor.
Slowly, Jackson pulled back, staring down at his mate, “I love you, babe,” he crooned, his fingers carding Steel’s long hair. He lowered his lips to Steel’s neck, gently sucking, leaving a bruise behind.
“Did you just give me a hickey?” growled Steel.
Jackson had his nose buried in his mate’s neck, inhaling deeply, knowing as long as he lived, he would never get enough of that intoxicating scent. “Yup,” he mumbled, thrilled that his mate now wore his mark.
Steel smiled. He’d wear that hickey proudly, knowing his mate was telling all who saw it—this man is mine!
~/~/~/~/~
They finally made it to the dining room where everyone had begun to eat.
“Wow, look, they’re only a little late for breakfast today,” crowed Zane.
At the sound of laughter, Jackson’s cheeks turned pink. Steel whispered in his mate’s ear, “But it was so worth it, mo chroí, wasn’t it?” giving Jackson’s ear a quick lick.
Dakota spoke up, saving Jackson from further embarrassment, “There’s more in the kitchen, so eat up.”
After finishing his breakfast, Jackson poured another cup of coffee for Steel and himself before addressing his brothers.
“Steel and I are heading out in a few minutes to pick up the supplies Dakota needs, so make sure if you want anything, it’s on the list. And a heads-up, Dakota—Steel’s brother Slate will be visiting us soon, so add him to the number of people you’ll be feeding.
” Then he said, “When I get back, there’ll be a short meeting about some decisions I’ve made. ”
Cody turned to Logan after Jackson and Steel left. “Fess up bro, what’s Jackson going to tell us? I know you know, so spill it.”
Logan took a sip of coffee, then slowly lowered his cup to the table, as he glanced at Cody.
“What makes you think I know? And, even if I did, why would I go against our Alpha to tell you when he obviously wants to be the one.” Logan shook his head.
“I think you better get your work done by the time Jackson gets back instead of wasting your time badgering me about something that’s never gonna happen.
Now, if you’ll excuse me, I got work to do,” he growled, rising and leaving the room.
The remaining brothers looked at each other in astonishment at Logan’s reaction to Cody and, when it seemed no one could explain it, they got up and left the room to do their chores.