Chapter 18
“Jackson, got a minute?” asked Dylon as he stood in the doorway to his Alpha’s study
“Sure, come in and have a seat,” Jackson beckoned. “What do you have?”
Dylon handed Jackson a couple of pages. “The tattoo the dead shifter had on his leg isn’t on file with Council Intelligence nor can I find anything about it in any databases I have access to.
Zane might have better luck with his contacts.
Page two shows the results about the photo of him…
no matches. Again, Zane might be more successful in coming up with something. ”
“Probably,” Jackson agreed, “but until we can locate him, that won’t happen.”
“Still no luck with that, huh?”
“No, but Logan has another lead so he and Kieran are heading there tonight.” Then, reaching for his phone and flipping to the photo of the restaurant receipt, he said, “Here’s something else for you.
Logan discovered the full name of the dead shifter…
Antonio Santorelli,” Jackson said, emailing the picture to Dylon. “He was stalking David for months.”
“I’ll get right on it but unless there is a complaint or something like that where Antonio’s name is used without his picture, I don’t think it’ll be much help.”
“Take a shot, who knows, you might just get lucky.”
Rising, Dylon said, “Hopefully. Has Groose increased security?”
“Yeah, according to Logan the floor is now tighter than a virgin asshole…his words, not mine.”
Chuckling, Dylon replied, “Sorry, that sounds too much like Kieran.”
“You could be right,” Jackson snorted. “Logan told me Kieran ordered a book for him…The Joys of Rimming and other Pleasurable Activities…”
“You’ve got to be kidding me.” Dylon sniggered.
“Yeah, well, my brother got a kick out of it until Kieran forgot to put it away before everyone arrived for dinner that night. Let’s just say it was a fun time for everyone else but not so much for my brother,” Jackson said, laughing.
“Poor Logan.”
“Nope, I think Kieran is the best thing that ever happened to him.”
“That I agree with. When we were over there, it was obvious Logan had changed and, according to Cody, for the better,” Dylon said, heading for the door. “I’ll let you know if I find out anything about this Antonio dude.”
Waving him off, Jackson dialed Dakota’s number.
“Hi, Jackson,” Dakota said. “What’s up?”
“How’s the pup coming along?”
“Good except Slate is in his super protective mode and wants to wrap me and the pup in layers of bubble wrap.”
Snorting, Jackson replied, “Sorry bro, been there, had it done to me. Best advice I can give you is go with it because nothing you do or say will make any difference to your mate. But don’t become a door mat. Push back when you’ve had enough.”
“I plan to, but right now it’s not a problem. When we get home, though, I expect there might be a few issues with the hours I spend in the kitchen.”
“Then it’s a good thing Slate’s going to be busy with all the new construction that’s planned, even so, you might feel differently when you’re four months along.”
“I know, but by then, hopefully, I’ll have a sous chef who can take over when needed so my poor mate doesn’t get upset.”
“That’s something we should talk about as soon as you get home.”
“Uh huh, I’d already been thinking of some possibilities but what about my pregnancy? How am I supposed to explain that? All my classmates from cooking school know I’m an alpha.”
“Good point,” agreed Jackson. “Maybe we need to consider someone who doesn’t know you.”
“Hmm,” Dakota said, pausing before answering, “I’m going to ask Slate and Lizzie for recommendations.”
“You do that and I’ll ask Steel. In the meantime, I have something else to ask you. Do you remember our cousins on our mother’s side? The ones that used to spend the summers with us until they moved east when I was five?”
“Not really, Mom talked to me about them a few times, but other than that, no. I would have been about a year old. Did I play with them?”
“Well, the twins…Sawyer and Sam…were about two so yeah, you probably played with them.”
“Nope, don’t remember them at all. Why all the questions?”
“I received an email from them, asking permission to visit…”
“Now? Why after all this time?”
“That was my question, so I asked Dylon to look into them and he didn’t find anything suspicious.
They…Hunter, Mason, Sawyer, Sam, Robin and Quin…
are living together on land Hunter owns…
he’s the oldest. I’m comfortable inviting them for a short visit but before I do, I want to get some input from all my brothers, so that’s why I’m bringing it up. ”
“How long would they stay?”
“Only a couple of weeks. I want them gone before you start to show.”
“Are their parents living with them?”
“No, their father died a while back and their mother a couple of months ago.”
Shutting his eyes at the sudden stabbing pain in his chest, Dakota gritted his teeth as a flashback of his mother’s face formed in his mind.
The news shook him, but he wasn’t sure if it was sadness at his aunt’s death or relief, he wouldn’t have to see the spitting image of his mother every time he looked at his aunt.
“Dakota? Are you all right?”
Coming back to his brother’s voice, Dakota said, “Yeah, I’m okay. Uhmm, so how long would they stay?”
“Listen, if you’re uncomfortable with them visiting, then they don’t come. It’s that simple.”
“Thanks, I get that but I don’t really have a problem with seeing them. In fact, I think it’ll be good to reconnect with Mom’s family. She would have wanted that.”
“Okay then, it’s not a done deal yet because I still have to talk to Zane whenever that will be. Logan thinks we need to put a tracker on our brother since he has a mate who can pop him anywhere,” Jackson sniggered.
“It is pretty amazing,” Dakota said. “I never knew wolf shifters could do that and even Slate was impressed.”
Groaning, Jackson said, “Trust Zane to get a mate who can do that. I can only imagine what the Fates’ gift to our brother will be.”
“They are a cute couple.”
“So Logan said.”
“Did he tell you about Norman proposing to Theo?”
“WHAT? No! When did this happen?”
“Last night. Theo asked me to be his best man and Kieran’s going to officiate and also help plan the wedding. I’m guessing Norman didn’t speak to you about it.”
“No, but not a big deal. If that’s what they want, I would never stand in their way. When will it be?”
“Don’t know. They just became engaged so give them a little time and, besides, knowing Kieran, he’ll have everything planned down to the second. I don’t envy Logan because his mate will be talking weddings, weddings, weddings, until it happens.”
“Somehow, I don’t think Logan will mind.”
“You’re probably right,” Dakota said chuckling.
“By the way, how’s Slate doing?”
“Good, really good. He is the best mate ever. Did you know he arranged for us to spend a day at five-hour Thai Cookery Masterclass?”
“No, but I can see why you think he is the best mate ever,” Jackson laughed. “Are Thai dishes in my future?”
“Maybe…probably. I’m dying to get back in the kitchen to try some of the recipes I learned. Oops, my mate just walked in. I’m sure he’ll have some ideas. Talk to you later, okay?”
“Sure. Say hello to Slate from me. Bye.”
“What will I have some ideas on, babe?” asked Slate, scooping Dakota up into his arms and sitting down with his mate on his lap.
Grinning, Dakota replied, “Jackson and I agreed none of my classmates will do as my sous chef because how do you explain a pregnant alpha? We need someone who doesn’t know me, and I thought in all of your travels you might have crossed paths with some chefs who might be able to take on a few months’ work. ”
Burying his nose in Dakota’s curls, Slate inhaled the scent he loved while thinking about possibilities before saying, “Maybe. I’ll have my secretary forward the resumes of several chefs who work for Dire Enterprises for you to review.
All of them are good…not as good as you, my love…
but are good enough to keep everyone from complaining. ”
“Perfecto!”
“Oh fuck, not you, too!”
Giggling, Dakota nestled against his mate’s broad chest, loving every minute in Slate’s arms. “Perfecto!” he said again, as Slate groaned.
~/~/~/~/~
“Do you want to bite me first?” David asked, hoping his mate would because then he’d know what to do when it was his turn.
“Yes, but before I do, there’s something else…well, a couple of things…I need to tell you.” Zane led his mate back to the fireplace where he sat down, pulling David onto his lap. Making sure his mate was comfortable, Zane began. “Remember when I told you about Jackson’s gift?”
“Yes. I think it’s amazing.”
“I do too…at least now I do.”
“What do you mean?”
Zane’s cheeks turned red, embarrassed as he remembered his initial reaction, but wanting his mate to know all his failings.
“When Jackson first told us, I didn’t react very well.
I told my brother he was an abomination.
” Pausing when he heard David’s gasp, he nevertheless continued.
“I know what you’re thinking…how could I say that?
I’ve been trying to figure that out from the moment it left my mouth.
It’s hard to talk about it but here goes.
“The year leading up to the massacre was a tough one. All of my older brothers were away at school, even Kota, so I became the eldest at home. Suddenly all of my father’s attention was on me…
for the first time in my life…so I guess he decided to make me an alpha he could be proud of.
Every day, I spent hours with him as he taught me about how to be the Alpha of a pack.
“At first, I reveled in his interest in me, something I never had before. Now mind you, I knew I’d never lead a pack because it just wasn’t me; I’m too much of a loner, content to stay in my room, by myself, typing away, writing new programs. But the attention of a parent who never gave me any before was too great a lure for me, even though I knew he wouldn’t give a shit about me if he knew I was gay.
I just ignored that red flag and charged full speed ahead.
“But that changed when my brothers came home for the Long Night Moon Festival. Even with everyone at home my father didn’t stop his lessons.
One day, after a long intense session, when my father told me gay wolves in a pack should have fewer privileges than normal ones, I followed him into the kitchen where Kota was decorating cookies while my younger brothers and sisters helped him.
I never thought much about it since he’d been baking cookies ever since I could remember.
Anyway, after eating a cookie one of my sisters gave him, my father told her she should be proud of her cooking skills…
that she’d make a good mate for some alpha wolf.
“I looked at Kota and saw the pain in his face. I knew just how he felt because my father never passed up an opportunity to disparage my computer skills as worthless. In a split second, I realized I was contributing to Kota’s pain by pretending to be someone I wasn’t.
I told my father Kota made those cookies and he should get the compliments. ”
“Did your father then praise him?” David asked, fascinated by the story.
Zane closed his eyes. “No, he said I was wrong because Kota was an alpha and alphas don’t cook.”
David could see the distress on his mate’s face. Placing his long slender hand on Zane’s cheek, he said, “Don’t tell me anymore, Zane. I don’t need to know any more.”
Rubbing his cheek against the soft hand offering him comfort, Zane said, “No babe, you need to know all of it. After my father’s comment, all the anger I had repressed for the last few months came roaring forward and I snapped back at him, keen to show him he didn’t know everything about being an alpha…
that alphas did, indeed, cook because Kota was a student in culinary school. ”
“What happened then?” David asked, his voice quiet and small.
“My father exploded. He asked my brother if it was true and Kota said ‘yes’.” Tears rolled down Zane’s face as the painful memory of what happened next flashed through him.
“Love, don’t…please,” David crooned, moved by his mate’s reaction. Leaning forward, David wrapped his arms around his mate’s neck, pressing his lips against Zane’s forehead, giving little kisses while murmuring words of comfort.
Finally, Zane’s tears abated, but he kept his eyes closed; he didn’t want to see his mate’s reaction to the rest of what he had to say.
“When I say my father exploded, I mean just that.
His face turned bright red as his anger erupted.
Pounding on the countertop, he screamed at Kota, calling him every dirty, nasty name he could come up with.
Then he issued his edict…my brother was forbidden to return to culinary school after the holiday.
“Oh my gods, David, it was a nightmare. My younger brothers and sisters were crying, not understanding what was going on. Kota stood frozen, not responding to my father, but I suddenly realized what I’d done to him…
the brother who helped me, protected me, watched out for me and who I admired and loved with my whole heart.
All the life faded from his eyes, his face became stone, all emotion gone, and he just stood there, taking it, never defending himself, never responding to anything my father called him.
“I didn’t know what to do to help Kota, but at that moment I remember wanting my father dead and all I could think of was how fast I could kill him.
Just then, Jackson rushed in and took control.
Before I knew what was happening, Jackson and Kota were driving away from the house and I never saw Kota again until the end of the school year when I went to help my brothers pack up their stuff for summer recess. ”