Chapter 7
Steel entered Jackson’s study after giving their son to his parents and found his mate staring out the window at the trees surrounding the house. Alarmed when Jackson didn’t turn around, he asked, “Babe, is everything all right? Was your uncle’s complaint about Dylon?”
Jackson just sat there, not responding to Steel’s questions.
How the fuck did this happen? My son, what about Daniel?
What have I done? I have put my brothers in a worse position than they were.
As those thoughts ran through his mind, tears began to fall as the full ramifications hit him hard.
He had nothing to disprove his uncle’s lies.
It was a spur of the moment trip with his brothers, the only ones who survived the massacre.
How fucking clever my uncle is! The best defense is a great offense and boy this was a doozy.
How in hell can I prove every one of my brothers is innocent?
How can I save my son? Then he felt himself lifted up in Steel’s big arms and ended up nestled against his mate’s chest as Steel sat down.
“Mo chroí, what is it? What is your uncle claiming Dylon did? Do you want me to get him?”
Jackson buried his nose in Steel’s neck and inhaled his mate’s calming scent of oranges, cloves, and bourbon.
Finally, he was able to give voice to the nightmare he was now facing.
“It’s not about Dylon. My uncle is claiming my brothers and I committed the massacre.
That we killed our parents and our sibl…
” Jackson couldn’t finish saying that word.
Just the thought of what they were accused of brought a fresh round of tears followed by the sound of sobs tearing themselves from his soul. Oh, my gods! What have I done?
Steel was finally able to piece together what had happened and a deep rage burned through his body as he swore to himself the death of Josiah would happen sooner than later.
This man had gone too far. To accuse his mate of such a heinous crime was unthinkable and if Josiah did it thinking he could escape the consequences of killing the Fox River Pack, he was in for a rude awakening.
Jackson’s sobs penetrated his ears and Steel’s heart broke at the hopelessness he heard from Jackson.
Whispering soothing words to his mate while rubbing Jackson’s back, Steel felt helpless to protect Jackson from his uncle’s hate.
Time moved slowly as they sat together, one broken, the other trying to offer support and love. Finally, Jackson’s tears stopped, and all Steel heard was the occasional hitches of his mate’s breaths. “Mo chroí, may I read the complaint?”
Inhaling Steel’s scent one last time, Jackson finally raised his head, then kissed his mate’s jaw.
“Thank you, babe, I’m sorry I fell apart like that.
” Jackson stood, so he could reach the mouse, and hit ‘print’, before explaining, “My fucking uncle is claiming that my brothers and I were the ones who massacred my family and he filed the complaint on behalf of his deceased brother. He is asking the High Council to strip ownership of the Fox River Pack land from me and give it to him as compensation.” Laying a finger on his mate’s lips, he added, “He wants that done first so I can sign all the necessary papers giving clear title before my brothers and I are put to death.”
“What the fuc…”
“He also wants guardianship of all and any children that have been born or will be born in the pack.”
On hearing the demands, Steel’s wolf rose and howled the death sentence for Josiah.
Unable to control himself, Steel jumped up as his wolf demanded blood.
Anger consumed his body and his blood began to boil in readiness for battle.
No one who threatened his mate and his son would ever survive. Finally Steel found his voice.
“NO FUCKING WAY! NO FUCKING WAY WILL YOU DIE! NO FUCKING WAY WILL YOUR brOTHERS DIE!! AND NO FUCKING WAY WILL YOUR UNCLE GET ANYWHERE NEAR OUR SON OR ANY OTHER PUP IN THIS PACK!!!! NO FUCKING WAY WILL I LET THIS HAPPEN!!!!! UNDERSTAND??? IF I PERSONALLY HAVE TO KILL EVERY FUCKING MEMBER OF THAT PACK, I WILL!!!”
The room vibrated as Steel’s voice crashed off the walls of Jackson’s study.
Steel’s wolf was making an appearance in full fighting mode and Jackson had never seen Steel so out of control as he was now.
Jackson’s wolf responded to his mate’s battle cry and was pacing back and forth at hearing the call.
Knowing he needed his mate to calm down so they could figure out how to fight these accusations, Jackson reached out and laid his hands on Steel’s chest. He wasn’t sure why he did it, he just knew he had to in order to prevent an all-out war between the two packs.
Immediately, Steel felt a coolness wash over his heated body, smothering the flames of anger and bringing him back from the brink of shifting and hunting down Josiah.
Closing his eyes, he concentrated on controlling his wolf first and, when he had him under control, Steel worked on finding his voice of reason, so he would look at this situation without negative emotions clouding his judgment.
When all of that had happened, he said, “Sorry for my outburst. I know we will find a solution for this problem. May I read the complaint now?”
Jackson examined their mind link and saw what Steel said was true.
He reached over, grabbed the complaint from the printer, and handed it to his mate.
Then he waited. He watched Steel’s knuckles turn white as he gripped the paper so hard, Jackson was sure it would be crushed.
The anger was under control but still evident by the tick in his mate’s jaw as Steel continued to read.
When he heard the quick intake of his mate’s breath, Jackson knew what part Steel was reading and wondered if his uncle knew who he was actually threatening.
He would bet anything his uncle was clueless.
Steel threw the complaint down on the desk, disgusted with its foul claims. The first thing that popped into his mind was the amount of detail Josiah had included pertaining to the killings.
It was almost as if he were trying to convict Jackson and his brothers by engendering hatred in the High Council against shifters who could commit such heinous murders.
And right after that, his next thought was where Josiah would get such information that appeared to be firsthand, if he’d just found out about it now. Fuck! We need Penn!
Jackson heard what his mate was thinking, and agreed, but it didn’t make him feel better. “Babe, before we do anything, I think you should call Penn.”
“Yup, I think you’re right.” Steel set down the papers and dug his phone out of his pocket.
Needing to hold his mate, Steel pulled Jackson to him and wrapped his arms around him as he sat down again.
Now, with Jackson once more on Steel’s lap, Steel could breathe knowing his mate was safe for now.
Placing the call to his friend and lawyer, he said, “Babe, please forward the email to him so he can take a look. I know he will insist on it before he offers any advice…Hello? Penn? It’s Steel. ”
“Okay, now what?”
“Fuck! You know me so well.”
“Oh yeah, like you’re so hard to understand…after you met your mate, the only time I hear from you is when you have a problem. Not like before…”
“Uhh, Penn? I have you on speaker phone and Jackson is with me.”
“Oh, hi Jackson. How’s Daniel?”
“Hi, Penn. Daniel’s fine but…” Jackson couldn’t say it and looked at Steel for help.
“Penn, you’re right. We have a huge problem. Jackson’s uncle filed a complaint with the High Council claiming my mate and his brothers are responsible for killing everyone in the Fox River Pack. You should have a copy of it now by email.”
“Just a sec…yes, I have it. Gimme a few minutes and I’ll call you back.”
“Thanks Penn. We’ll be waiting.” Steel ended the call and gazed at his mate. “You know babe, I will never let anything happen to you, our son or your brothers. If I have to tie them up in the Paranormal Courts until the end of time, your uncle will never win this battle. Never! I promise you that!”
Jackson gave his mate a small smile, “I do know that, my love. Let’s hope it doesn’t come to that.”
Steel pulled Jackson tight to his chest. He needed Jackson’s scent to calm him down, so he could clear his head.
This would be the fight for all their lives because if he ever lost Jackson and Daniel, Steel knew he would not survive.
As he sat there holding his soul mate and the owner of his heart, he inhaled deeply the rich scents he was so addicted to and slowly, his mind cleared.
Collecting his thoughts, Steel finally said, “Mo chroí, I have some ideas of what we should do first, but I think we should hear what Penn has to say.”
“Yes, and right on cue…” Jackson said as Steel’s phone rang.
“Penn? I have you on speaker phone with Jackson here beside me. I take it you’ve read it?”
“Yes. My impressions first. On the surface it appears to be a valid complaint. However, even though Josiah has included his affidavit swearing that Jackson and his brothers left school before the massacre, that doesn’t provide the absolute proof needed.
In other words, Josiah’s complaint suffers from the same weakness yours does…
lack of an eyewitness. But aside from that, this complaint is very unusual because it lays out what Silver Point wants as compensation from Jackson and his brothers. ”
“We saw that,” said Steel. “But why is that unusual?”
“Because it brings in a civil component to Josiah’s criminal complaint,” answered Penn.
“Can you clarify what you mean, Penn?” asked Jackson.