Chapter 19
Zane opened his eyes, staring into David’s.
“After that happened, I refused to attend any more lessons. I saw my father for what he was…a bully…someone who was supposed to love us unconditionally but had hatred in his heart for any of his children who didn’t fit his mold.
I retreated to my bedroom and lost myself with nerds like me in the internet world.
I wrote a letter to Kota, apologizing for what I did, and he responded, telling me not to worry because he was okay.
“In early spring, my grandparents died in an accident and all my brothers came home for the funeral except Kota. Jackson told me that Kota didn’t want to come due to how my father might behave when he saw him.
As much as I wanted to see him, I knew he made the right decision because my father would have started up on him again.
That’s when my hate for my father grew even more. ”
“Why?” asked David, not understanding fully.
“My grandparents who died? They were my mother’s parents and she was devastated.
Her twin sister couldn’t make it because she was caring for her sick husband so mom was all alone except for us but the one who was closest to her wasn’t there.
” Zane choked up at the memory before continuing.
“You see, by the time he was five, Kota spent every day in the kitchen with our mother except for the times she kicked him out and made him go camping with us. They had a very special bond and I know it would have meant so much to her if he was at her side, when grandma and grandpop were laid to rest.”
“I’m so sorry,” David commiserated.
Now tears were streaming down Zane’s face again as he continued, “That was the last time my older brothers ever saw our mother and I took that away from Kota. Me…only me…because of my selfish desire for my father’s attention even though I knew I’d never be the Alpha of a pack.
I can never give Kota back what I took from him, because our mother was killed a few months later. ”
“How old were you when that happened?”
“S-s-s-ixteen,” Zane answered his voice hitching as he tried to stop crying.
“Sixteen? And you were trying to deal with an adult…a parent no less…who should have known better. I’m sure your brother isn’t angry at you.
Your father, not you, is responsible for all of it, from the hate he had for his gay sons to the anger at your brother’s choice of careers.
And listen, there wasn’t any way your father didn’t know Dakota made those cookies…
really, think about it. You said it yourself!
Your brother was in the kitchen cooking with your mother for how many years?
Twelve, thirteen? I don’t know much about the role of an Alpha but isn’t he supposed to know what is happening in his pack…
and that would include what his children were up to? ”
“I guess, but…”
“No ‘buts’…you know it,” David said emphatically, his hands cupping Zane’s face as his thumbs wiped away his mate’s tears.
Then, more softly, he said again, “No, you know it.” He paused a moment to let Zane think about it, before continuing, “You’re not to blame for your father’s deplorable behavior.
No one, especially a parent, has the right to force a child to hide who he is. ”
Zane took a deep breath; he knew David was right but would his mate feel the same way when he heard the rest of his story? “There’s more to tell,” he said, reluctantly.
“Then tell me, because whatever you say, I’ll still want you to claim me.”
Zane took a deep breath before continuing.
“I was so angry after my grandparents’ funeral; I didn’t know how to handle it.
I had never felt that way before and now it was the only emotion I had.
I began to blame my father for fucking up my life and my hatred of him became all-consuming.
How many days I wished for his death I can’t even begin to tell you, but by the end of the school year, I knew I had to escape or else I’d kill him.
I convinced my mother to let me visit the college I’d be going to in the fall and help my brothers pack up their stuff. She agreed, so off I went.”
“Did that help you?” asked David.
“Oh my gods, yes! Kota and I had a long talk that helped me understand I wasn’t to blame…
that my father had used me as a listening post to pass on his messages of hate.
For the first time, I was able to stand back and examine what happened without my emotions getting in the way.
But what really helped was when he told me he had snuck home late one evening and, while our father and siblings were asleep, talked all night with our mother before leaving in the early morning.
Just knowing Kota saw her took an enormous burden of guilt off my shoulders.
He told me he’d gotten a job for the summer but the next time he came home, he’d be sure to let me know so I could see him. ”
“See,” said David gently, “you are the innocent in this mess.”
“Maybe,” conceded Zane, “but there’s more.
After we got everything packed at the college, we decided to stop off in Las Vegas on the way home for some fun.
We were having a good time when we learned our family had been killed by our uncle and his pack.
My world fell apart in a heartbeat…and so did I.
I felt guilty because my father was dead and somehow everything got twisted in my head.
I went from hating my father to believing it was my duty to honor him by living my life the way he’d taught me.
It was weird because I felt like two different people.
At some point I realized how fucked up my thinking was, but that didn’t happen for a long time.
I acted like a super alpha right after the massacre and I must have been the biggest pain in the ass to Jackson, who was holding us together by sheer force of will power.
“He got us to safety and found a place where we could slowly put the pieces back together. He did a fantastic job of it but I always felt I was standing on the edge of total disaster so anything that could cause me to fall I resented and rejected. I ended up spending all my time and effort making each day the same as the one before. Knowing what to expect each day was very important to me because I never wanted to be devastated like I was when I found out about the massacre. It was a crutch I used to survive and, when Jackson told me he was a hybrid and was pregnant with a pup, my false existence was shattered. This was a major change; my carefully constructed world was disappearing in a flash. That’s why I was cruel to my brother. ”
David sat quietly, taking it all in, before saying, “Did you apologize to Jackson?”
Nodding, Zane said, “Yeah I did. Jackson sent Logan after me…mainly to protect me…and by the time he found me, I had calmed down, so we talked. The next day, I apologized to Jackson and Steel.”
“Does it bother you anymore about your brother’s ability to have pups?”
“No,” Zane answered. “Now I think it is the neatest thing ev…oh my god, I bet Kota is pregnant with a Dire Pup.”
“Huh? Why do you think that?” asked David, not too sure about what it all meant.
“Because he is mated to Slate, a Dire Wolf and, according to Oracle, the Fates promised her that her sons would find their mates and have pups so the Dire Wolves wouldn’t die out.
Holy shit balls, I can’t wait to see if I’m right but I bet I am.
That’s why he had lemonade instead of ale the night I met you. ”
“If I understand you,” said David, “Kota received the same gift from the Fates Jackson did?”
“I think so. I bet he said something at dinner but I wasn’t really listening since I was thinking only about you.”
“Are you okay with Kota having a pup?”
Zane paused, thinking about his brother, then beamed, “Yup, I am. I can’t wait to meet him.”
“What if it’s a girl?”
“That’s cool too. I don’t care as long as Kota and the pup are healthy.”
“I’m proud of you, love,” smiled David, love and respect showing in his eyes.
“Thanks,” said Zane. “I wanted you to know everything about me, even when I acted like a complete asshole. In looking back at all the shit my father shoveled at me, I realized it was all wrong. Taking someone’s rights away because he’s gay is not the sign of a good alpha. I’m just grateful Jackson forgave me.”
“Your brother sounds like a good guy,” said David.
“He is. Wait till you meet him. Jackson always has my back and he’ll have yours too.”
“That sounds lovely. Nobody ever had my back other than my mother but there was stuff even she couldn’t protect me from.”
Seeing sadness fall on David’s face, Zane quickly responded. “Babe, I can’t change what happened to you in the past, but I can guarantee you I’ll always be here for you no matter what happens in the future.”
David searched Zane’s face and found the truth of his mate’s words reflected there.
But will my mate feel that way when I tell him about who I am?
Chewing his bottom lip, David took a moment to decide.
Then, knowing he had to be as brave as his mate and tell Zane everything before they claimed each other, he took a deep breath before saying, “I think it’s my time for confession. ”
~/~/~/~/~
A soft, misty rain fell from the black velvet sky onto the hotel roof where Logan was standing several yards away from Kieran, Slate and Dakota. After a quick look around, he spoke the words and felt his body shift into a black dragon. Bowing down, he snorted for his passengers to clamber aboard.
“Slate hold onto Dakota,” said Kieran, as he felt the powerful muscles of his mate’s dragon lifting them into the air. After circling the hotel, Logan headed to Loch Ness. Macushla, our spirit is saying Zane and David are in trouble.
I know. I hope Brian can help us because I’ve run out of ideas. I wish our spirit knew where they were.
Me, too!
Logan flew swiftly to the clearing he’d used before, knowing time was of the essence if there was any hope of saving his brother and David.
Spying his landing site, he carefully descended, setting down without a hitch.
After everyone had dismounted, Logan shifted and, grabbing his mate’s hand, said, “Let’s go, guys, Brian’s boat isn’t far. ”
Double-timing it, the group reached their destination quickly. Standing on the dock, Logan called out, “Captain Crannach, the Shaman is here and needs to speak with you.”
After a few moments, a voice boomed up from down below, “Aye, come aboard, I’ll be right up.” After pulling on some jeans and a t-shirt, Brian appeared topside, knowing exactly what the Shaman wanted.
“Hi Brian,” Kieran said, “I brought Dakota and Slate with me this time because Dakota’s very worried about his brother.”
“Shaman,” Brian said warmly, giving a slight bow of his head, “how’s the pup?”
Breaking out in a smile, Kieran said, “The squirt is growing like a weed.”
“Guid,” Brian said, then, turning to Dakota. “Tis’ an honor tae meet you, Empath. What can I do to help ye?”
“I’m worried about my brother Zane and his mate David. They’re in trouble and need our help. Do you know where they are?”
“Ay.”
“Thank goodness!” exclaimed Dakota.
“Where?” asked Logan.
“At my cabin,” Brian said, “safe from the man who tried tae kill them.”
“He’s no longer a threat,” Logan said, “but Zane and David are still in danger. Can you show us where they are on a map?”
“Ay, but why do ye think they’re nae safe?”
Kieran glanced at Logan who nodded, after which he said, “My spirit is telling me David and Zane are in danger…imminent danger…and they need our help.”
~/~/~/~/~
Even though the night was pitch black, Michael was able to spot his men lurking in the woods, waiting for him. “Who has his eyes on where they are?” he asked his second-in-command.
“Tyson. He’s about 25 yards away.”
“Gather up the men and let’s go. Make sure they understand no harm is to come to the target. They can get their jollies off on killing the other one.”
“They know, sir.”
“Let’s go and keep it quiet.” Michael waited until the group of shifters slipped out of the shadows and joined him.
Leading the way, he kept an eye on his phone app map, making sure their target hadn’t left the house.
Progress through the heavy brush was slow but relentless, the silence broken only by the snap of a branch which earned the shifter who caused it a low growl from Michael.
Stopping before reaching the clearing at the edge of the woods, Michael said, “We’ll shift here.
” Putting his phone into a small pack, he hung it around his neck.
Then he shifted. The air was filled with sounds of limbs stretching and bones snapping as the men transformed into their four-legged counterparts.
With a snort, Michael took off on a dead run, heading toward the house.
He was determined to seize his quarry tonight and get him back to Italy where he belonged.
Joining up with Tyson, Michael and his men, lay down on the damp ground, looking for signs of movement from within the whitewashed, stone cottage in front of them.
Seeing none, Michael crept forward, his belly never leaving the ground as he got closer to his prey’s location.
He picked up the scents of both David and the other shifter with him.
His wolf grinning, Michael crept back to his men.
Giving a signal, he watched them scatter, all keeping low to the ground as they surrounded the building.
He headed for the front door, confident that a surprise attack and sudden show of strength would disable David’s ability to disappear by freezing him in place.
Inside the cottage, Zane held David, feeling him tremble, knowing his mate was afraid of telling him who he was. Seeking to put him at ease, Zane said, “Babe, I think we should claim each other first.”
“B-b-but you know nothing about me.”
“That’s not true. I know you are my Fated Mate, that you are gentle, kind, caring, and protective…everything I could hope for in a mate. What ever happened in your past helped make you into the man I love today and I’m so proud the Fates brought us together.”
“But…I’m putting you in danger.”
“No, you aren’t, babe. The men who are after you are putting both of us in danger so let’s place the blame where it belongs. I promise we will defeat them…together we’ll be stronger than all of them.”
At that moment, the front door splintered. Sounds of snarling and howling filled the air.