19. Old Friends
Old Friends
Roan - Earlier That Day
“I ’ve found him. Ryder. I’ve got eyes on him.
He’s in Sweetwater and partially bonded to the alpha of the pack.
You need to get here before that bond becomes permanent.
Though Blake’s days are numbered, so maybe it doesn’t matter.
Depends if you want damaged goods or not.
” I bristled at how callous he was towards his own son’s wellbeing.
Like Ryder, no, Kade didn’t matter a jot to him. I hated Rincoln Hayes.
The man may have been my alpha at one point, but I’d long since lost respect for the man. I hated everything that he believed in, everything that he stood for.
“Are you sure it’s him?” My tone was sharp, reminding Rincoln that this wouldn’t be the first time that he’d sent me on a wild goose chase. He’d used our hunts for Kade and Jasper as a test of my loyalty after my “screw up.”
“I caught his scent and my source confirmed his new name. Even let me look at their gate book with all the people allowed on the property. Had his new picture. He’s prettier now, he’s got himself a new face. Hope you won’t miss the red hair too much. It’s brown now.”
“What do you need me to do?” I worked to keep my tone even.
“Just get here to make your claim.”
“I’ll be there by tomorrow,” I said to buy myself time.
Once the call disconnected, I immediately called my council contact to give my report.
The council was made up of alphas, most stuck in their ways, but increasingly more.
.. progressive alphas were taking up seats.
My contact was one of them having been warned that Jasper and Ryder Hayes were going to be important to shifters in the future in some sort of vision sent to one of his pack elders years ago.
“He’s making a move now that he’s identified him, Sir. He’s seen photos this time.”
“Hmm... We knew it was coming. You have permission to get the cuffs removed. I’ll call Poppy and let her know. Keep your scent charm on, though. You need not be seen or detected in the area until it’s time to make a move. If Rincoln can get his hands on Ryder —“
“Kade.”
“Yes, Kade. Then we will have the evidence to end him. We have almost all the votes we need. Taking a mated omega, even one with a partial bond, from their alpha is grounds for punishment. Trying to force a mating means death.”
I rolled my eyes, knowing all this already. For the last five years, I was the puppet, and the council held the strings.
“I understand. Don’t make a move unless Kade is in real danger of harm. Stick to my story.”
“Roan? Do this and we will pardon you. You can get on with your life.” He paused and left me hanging. “Are you sure you don’t want to continue to work for the council?”
I scoffed internally. It wasn’t like the council paid me, so it wasn’t exactly a job. They gave me a stipend for expenses, and I had managed to get some freelance editing work so I could earn some extra cash around watching out for Kade.
For the last two years, I’d lived down the street from my ex and he hadn’t known a thing about it. I had keyed his alarms to my house and the police in secret. Few knew about my place in his life; lingering on the periphery.
The council had held my life in their hands for the last five years, ever since I’d gone to them with proof that Rincoln had tried to trap both me and Kade into a mating with getting pregnant. My former alpha had tried to use a potency boosting potion on me instead of a contraceptive.
They’d faked a car accident as cover for why I’d missed Kade’s heat, and Rincoln, already in the hands of the council awaiting sentencing, had bought it.
Rincoln Hayes was a smart man, managing to evade proper punishment from the council on technicalities and half truths.
It helped that he had people in high places in his pocket.
He hadn’t fully trusted me since, keeping me at a distance from his plans.
My only regret was not being there to help my betrothed escape his father. I’d lived with the emotional scars of knowing that Kade had nearly died because I’d run away. The guilt ate at me every damn day.
Five years of trying to get proof enough to convince a half corrupt council had me desperate for change. I couldn’t live like this forever.
“No, I want my life back, Sir. I want to earn my forgiveness and move on.”
“As much as I understand, I do wish that you’d reconsider. I have the feeling that you are going to be very important one day.”
I scoffed, and there was a rumbling growl down the line. “I apologize, Sir. It’s just difficult for me to believe. I’m nobody.”
“Maybe so right now. You’ve many years ahead of you.”
“And Rincoln Hayes does not. I need to get these cuffs off and get back to protecting Kade.”
“Keep me updated,” he said and then hung up the call.
I huffed and put my phone away, heading for where I kept my helmet and keys to my motorcycle. The machine was the best thing in my life. It represented something I had little of — freedom. When I rode it, I could be my real self. I had control.
Instead of taking a longer route to enjoy the feeling of the open road, I drove directly to The Spell Shop and one of my few allies in this prison.
Poppy was a decent witch, but the council had put her in a difficult position.
She knew who I was in relation to Kade and had to hide the fact I was living near him to protect him.
We were friends, of a sort. I knew her genuine affection and loyalty lay with Kade, though.
Could hardly blame her. Growing up, until his father had squeezed it out of him, Kade had been sunshine in living form and had this ability to draw people to him.
Falling in love with Ryder had been easy.
Letting go of him was not. I knew the first time that I saw Blake and Kade together that they were fated mates, and that meant my place in Kade’s life would always be as the first love.
The man that he hopefully eventually forgave.
Maybe we could be friends when I got over him.
For two years, while I lived down the street from my ex and watched over him, I’d had him to myself.
I hadn’t had to see him with other guys like in the previous places I’d followed him to.
During that time, I’d seen him fold into himself.
Losing most of his light. Blake’s arrival had Kade shining again and even while it killed my heart, the part of me that would always love the sweet boy I’d once met was happy for him.
I found a place to park up my bike and strolled into The Spell Shop, the ding of the bell heralding my arrival. I pulled off my helmet, thankful that I’d found time to get a haircut, my tight curls were once again buzzed short. No helmet hair to deal with.
A new witch, or at least one I hadn’t seen before, was filling the shelves as I stalked to the counter and gave me an appraising look.
I knew I was a decent-looking guy, with rich deep brown skin and, in my human guise, deep brown eyes.
I kept in decent shape with martial arts training, though I hadn’t sparred in so long since I now trained in the spare room of the house the council had acquired for me.
I ignored the witch’s looks, not overly fond of witches in general. Before, when I had access to my wolf, the magic would tease my nose. Making me sneeze more often than not.
My wolf was just out of reach, and I couldn’t wait for us to be reunited.
“She’s out back,” I’ll just get her, the new witch said, with a wiggle of his ass when he turned to go through the curtain.
“No need, Jacob,” Poppy said, pulling the curtain aside and moving into the main part of the shop.
“I’ve got what we need. Do you want privacy to do this?”
I shook my head. Nerves prickled up and down my body the longer that Kade was out of my sight.
I knew logically that I couldn’t get to him while he was on pack territory and he should be safe from Rincoln or anyone else poised to take him.
Deep down, I knew Rincoln was charming when he wanted to be, and I had no idea how far he’d reached into the Sweetwater pack. He could have allies everywhere.
What I’d seen of Blake had shown me a level-headed alpha. Younger than me by a few years, I was the same age as Kade, and far more mature than me.
Poppy had me swallow down a foul tasting potion, rubbed some weird poultice on me, smearing the gunk under the cuffs, and then chanted as she circled me.
The other people in the shop stopped to stare, and I second guessed not asking for privacy.
Moon help me. I had to pull my shit together or Kade could end up seriously hurt or worse, bonded to someone he hated to keep Blake safe.
Once she had stopped her chanting, Poppy gave me an expectant look before giving an exasperated sigh and whispering her activation word.
Blinding pain ripped through me and the world spun as the barrier between me and my wolf exploded.
The magic Poppy had used like dynamite and concrete meeting.
Falling to my knees, the sensation wrenched a cry from me.
The cuffs cracked apart, the metal splitting and falling off to the floor with a dull thud.
Immediately, people surrounded me. “Get back! He’s fine. Just give him some space!” Poppy yelled, throwing out her arms.
Heaving in deep breaths, the pain soon ebbed, and it reunited me with my wolf. He yipped around in circles, dancing with joy and rubbing up against me as he assaulted me with images of his time during our separation. He’d seen it all but had been cut off.
Tears streamed down my face. Three years was a long time.
The council had repressed my wolf in punishment for my perceived mistake in the last town I’d watched over Kade.
He’d been Duncan then, and I’d slipped up and his ex had sold him out.
I still hated myself for that mistake. The council had to step in to not blow my cover, the pieces not quite in place to nail Rincoln properly.