Chapter 3
“David, it’s me. Can I come in?” asked Morgan, standing in front of the locked break room door, waiting for an answer.
He knew David had panicked—it was the only time he’d use his ability in front of others other than himself.
Not hearing a reply or any noise coming from the break room, he wondered if David had disappeared again instead of waiting for him as he’d asked him to.
Knocking once more, he decided if no answer was forthcoming, he’d unlock the door.
David leaned against the door inside the break room, remaining silent in response to Morgan’s calls.
Sniffing to determine if the man who called him ‘mate’ was with his boss, he failed to pick up any scent other than Morgan’s.
He had no doubt the man in the dining room was his mate—scents of black figs, blood orange and cypress had called to his wolf who now whined in excitement and was still prancing about wagging his tail a mile a minute.
He hadn’t meant to disappear, but when he saw the man Feris had tricked and kidnapped still alive, he panicked.
When his mate rushed him, David couldn’t process that along with the many questions in his mind about how the man escaped and where Feris and Hook were now.
As the shock of finding his mate receded, he realized it was time to face the music and, hopefully, he’d also get some answers to relieve some of his worry about not being able to reach Feris this past week.
Unlocking and opening the door, David said, “Hi Morgan, what did they have to say?”
Entering the break room, Morgan said, “Have a seat David, I have information I think you’ll be interested in.
” Morgan grabbed a chair, turning the back of it toward David, then sat down, straddling it while resting his crossed arms on its back.
Once his waiter was seated on the couch, he spoke.
“David, do you know the man who ‘attacked’ you is your mate?”
“Now I do. I figured it out while I was waiting for you. I’m sorry I told you he attacked me, but when he ran towards me, I was so preoccupied, I didn’t realize who he was until I calmed down and that’s when my wolf told me what happened.”
Chuckling, Morgan said, “I’m not surprised because, truth be told, if some wolf shifter rushed me, I’d think the same thing. Just so you know, I checked on him and his pack with an old buddy of mine and he had nothing but good things to say about your mate…Zane…and the Blackwood Pack.”
Zane! I can’t fucking believe it! My mate’s name is Zane! How fucking cool is that? “Where is the Blackwood Pack located?”
“In California…and I’ve been assured you’ll be protected by the entire pack, so you won’t have to worry about your safety.”
“You mean I’ll have to live in California?”
“Unless your mate is willing to move here but that’s something you can discuss with him before any decision is made. The one thing I do know is you won’t want to be far away from your mate…your wolf won’t let you.”
“No, I’m not moving, at least not now. Maybe afterwards. I guess I better meet him,” David said.
“Good. I’ll go and bring him here, so you can have some privacy.”
“Yeah, that’s fine, but who’s going to serve them tonight? I was supposed to train Anna.”
“I’m going to do it, so Anna will work with me.”
“Uhmm, okay,” David said, nervously.
“Look, David, if you don’t want to meet him right now, I’ll tell him to come back tomorrow.”
“No, no, I better get this over with, otherwise I won’t sleep all night.”
Morgan paused, scenting David’s anxiety, then said, “I’m going to get Zane but will stay with you until you want me to leave. How does that sound?”
David smiled, “Yeah, that sounds good.”
Morgan got up, put the chair back against the wall, and said, “Okay, I’ll be right back.” Giving David a big grin before leaving, he said, “Now, don’t disappear on me.”
~/~/~/~/~
Jackson ended the call with his brother, leaned back in his chair, swiveled and stared at the forest through his window.
Another brother finds his mate but this one can disappear.
How extraordinary! I wonder how he got this rare ability and what it means for my pack.
Why would the Fates bring him here and what the fuck will Zane’s gift be?
It seems my mate was right to plan for more enforcers.
Shit, I’m going to have a small army soon.
Hearing a knock, he turned back around and said, “Come in.”
Carson entered. “You wanted to see me, bro?”
“Have a seat. I have something to talk over with you.”
“Nothing bad, hopefully.”
“Nope. First of all, Zane found the proof we were in Vegas when the massacre took place.”
“That’s fantastic! So, when will our uncle’s complaint against us be dismissed?”
“Not right away. I decided to sit on the proof while our complaint goes forward, but Penn has the evidence and if he needs to, it’ll be submitted.”
“But why? Our names are under a cloud until then.”
“I agree. But let me ask you this…what do you think our uncle will do if we give the High Council our evidence?”
Carson thought about his uncle and all the devious shit he had done so far. “He’d figure out some other way to attack us.”
“Correct. So, do you see any benefit to us…except clearing our names…right now if we disclosed the evidence?”
Carson thought for a moment before answering, “Not really, our dear uncle wouldn’t let it drop. He almost got Colton killed in Mexico and when that failed, he tried provoking us to attack…and I nearly fell into his trap.”
“Carson, sometimes being Alpha means I have to make choices as to which is the lesser of two evils. Of course, I’d prefer our names cleared of his heinous accusations, but hopefully, by keeping our uncle in the dark, all of us will be safer including the pups and the pups yet to be born.
And that’s my primary job as the Alpha of this pack. ”
“Yeah, I get it. There’s lots of things our father told me about being an Alpha that were bullshit. I’m just figuring that out now.”
“But you are figuring it out, and that’s the most important thing of all. I’m proud of you, bro.”
“I appreciate it, but I still have a long way to go, you know.”
“That…what you just said…that shows me more than anything how far you’ve come,” Jackson smiled. “Next thing. Do you remember our cousins? The ones on our mother’s side?”
“Uhmm, faintly. I know they moved away but have no idea where or when; it had to be when I was very young. Also, I never really knew them very well because they were either older than me or younger, so Cody and Colton and I usually played together.”
“They left when I was five,” said Jackson, “so you’d have been three, and like you, Cody only has faint memories of them.”
“Where did they go?”
“Our cousins moved back east when their grandfather was dying so their father could become the Alpha of the Rolling Hill Pack.”
“Why are you asking me about them, now?”
“I received an email from them asking permission to visit and I had Dylon check them out. Everything seems on the up-and-up. I’m going to grant their request, but only for a brief visit. My main concern is Dakota.”
“Why Dakota?”
“Because he’s pregnant and it’ll be hard to explain how an Alpha got pregnant without revealing the gifts from the Fates.”
“Dakota’s pregnant? How come he didn’t tell me?”
“I think he was afraid of how his brothers would react to the news, but after Slate was kidnapped, it came out. Dakota and Slate haven’t made a formal announcement, but I expect they will, when they come home.”
“Would just our cousins be visiting, or would our aunt and uncle also come?”
“Their father died a while back and their mother passed just three months ago.”
“Did the oldest…what’s his name…?”
“Hunter.”
“Did Hunter become Alpha of their pack?”
“Nope, and I have no idea why.”
“What did Cody think?”
“His only concern was keeping all gifts a secret, once Dylon’s research cleared them of being a potential threat.”
Carson gave it some thought, before saying, “And since everyone’s gift is hidden except Dakota’s pregnancy, that’s the only thing we have to worry about. Have you decided how long their visit will be?”
“Dakota will start showing in about three months, but he’ll start to suffer from morning sickness and fatigue soon, so the visit has to work around that…
but I’m thinking two weeks. I haven’t told Dakota or Zane about our cousins yet so that will also factor into when they come.
I didn’t want to say anything until I found out more about them and I’m still concerned as to ‘why now’ but Steel thinks it will be good for everyone, especially Zane, to know we have family out there who aren’t trying to kill us. ”
“True. How many cousins do we have?”
“Six.”
“Okay. I mean, I’m okay with it as long as I don’t have to entertain them. Maximus and Steel are showing me how to run the grant division of Dire Enterprises and I want to devote my time to that.”
“Got it. I don’t see that being a problem. And may I offer you my congratulations on your job promotion.”
“Thanks, it surprised me. I never saw it coming but I’m very excited as it’s one more step toward achieving my goal.”
“Bro, you’re smart and have a great head for business so I think DE is lucky to have you.”
“That’s what Maximus told me!” exclaimed Carson, smiling.
“He was right,” Steel said, adding his two cents, as he entered Jackson’s study. “And Slate and I agree with our father’s assessment of your ability.”
Blushing at the praise from his boss, Carson stood and said, “If there’s nothing else, I better get back to work.”
“Nope, I’m finished,” said Jackson, “but if you see Maximus, would you let him know I want to see him.”
“Sure,” Carson said. “Later, then.”
Steel watched him leave as he sat down next to Jackson, smiling at Carson’s reaction to his compliment. Then, giving his mate a kiss and a lick on his mating scar, he asked, “Hey, what’s up, babe?”
“Logan called and told me Zane found his Fated Mate at the Wolf Pack Pub.”
“No shit!”
“Uh-huh, an Italian Wolf shifter named David who works there as a waiter.”
“Oh, oh, what’s the problem?”
“Why do you think there’s a problem?”
“Babe, I can feel the tension in your body.”
“Fuck! Jeez, well, Logan told me Zane’s mate can disappear and I have no idea how rare that is, but I can guess.”
“Disappear? Like Cody? He can become invisible?”
“No, I don’t think so from what Logan said. I think it’s more like…poof!...he’s gone from the room.”
“Holy shit! I’ve never heard of a shifter doing that,” Steel said, thinking it over before continuing. “So, that’s why you want to talk to Dad. Shouldn’t you talk to Mom too?”
“I plan to, but I wonder if David is like Daniel…you know, like there’s a myth or legend about a shifter who can do this. And besides, your mom won’t say a thing until she speaks to Zane.”
“Good point. I guess I better get the plane ready for Mom since she’ll be going to Scotland soon.”
“Yeah, Dakota and Slate are supposed to leave for here tomorrow, but I think they should stay, just in case they’re needed. Logan told me Zane’s wolf says David is in trouble.”
Chuckling, Steel said, “Are you willing to put up with my cooking for a little while longer?”
“You’re getting better,” Jackson teased. “See, your mother was right.”
“Hush, don’t even say that.”
“Maybe I should mention it to your mother and see if she agrees with me,” Jackson said, with a wry grin.
In one swift move, Steel had his mate sitting on his lap, his fingers running up and down Jackson’s ticklish side.
Giggling, Jackson protested, “No babe, I promise, I won’t say a word.”
“Promise?”
“Yes…this time,” Jackson grinned, “but if you blow me, my lips will be forever sealed about your improved cooking skills.”
“Forever. Huh? Well, I can’t pass that up and, lucky for you, Daniel is playing with Jake and Jessica, so we can seal the deal.” Steel grinned, then licked his lips.
“Go lock the door. The last thing I want is your mother or father walking in on us.”
Steel rose with Jackson in his arms and set him down on his desk. “Stay there and I’ll be right back to fulfill my part of the bargain.”
~/~/~/~/~
Now Zane’s leg was bouncing as the time stretched on. Five more minutes. If he doesn’t come back and take me to David in five minutes, I’m leaving to find my mate on my own. So intent on watching the minute hand of the old cuckoo clock on the far wall, he never heard the door open.
“Zane?” Morgan growled.
Startled, Zane turned to the voice, hoping to see David standing there with the manager. No such luck. Fuck! Jumping up, Zane said, “Yes, sir?”
“Come, David is waiting for you,” said Morgan.
Unwilling to let his brother go off alone to who-knew-where, Logan rose and said, “Zane, do you mind if I come with you? Just to make sure everything is all right?”
“Sure, that’s fine,” Zane said, relieved at his brother’s suggestion especially after having been told what happened to Slate in this place.
Morgan bristled. “Your brother is perfectly safe with me.”
Kieran walked over to Morgan and touched his shoulder. “I’m sure he is, but our Alpha would be pleased if you’d allow his second-in-command to accompany Zane.”
Looking at Kieran, Morgan saw the power emanating from the Shaman.
Nodding, he said, “I understand.” Smiling at Lizzie and the rest of the group, he said, “David has asked me to stay with him initially, so I’m sending another waiter to take your orders.
Please order anything you want because your meal is on the house tonight.
” Then he walked out with Zane at his side, followed by Logan.
Morgan led them down the stairs, through a narrow hallway with a number of doors, finally stopping at the last door on the left. Knocking, he waited, before hearing David unlock the door and open it wide.
Zane gazed at the beautiful sexy man in front of him with intriguing face tattoos—his cock hardened, and his wolf howled in delight at finally finding him.
In his soul, David was doing a happy dance as he stared at his gorgeous mate, not believing the Fates had given him someone so powerful. For the first time in many months, hope rose within him.