Chapter 9
Seeing Theo in the kitchen with Dakota, Kieran told him the good news about Miss L and then crossed the great room to the hallway leading to Cody and Dylon’s suite.
He’d asked for this meeting after he found out about the guilt Cody carried about Arald’s treatment of him and his friends.
It was a big risk but to do nothing wasn’t an option.
Cody saved them, and he would never forget that.
So many others wouldn’t have taken the risk, but Cody did and, for that, Kieran was now bound to him and that meant he had to help.
Reaching Cody’s bedroom, Kieran knocked softly. After a brief pause, Dylon opened the door and invited Kieran in. “If you head through that door, Cody is waiting for you in the sitting room.”
Following Dylon’s instructions, Kieran walked into the sitting room where he found Cody standing by the window looking out. “Hi,” he said softly, “how are you?”
Turning around, Cody gave Kieran a sweet smile. “I’m fine. Dylon said you wanted to speak to me.” Turning to his mate, he said, “Babe, would you check on Jake and Jessica for me? I’m worried about them.”
“Sure,” said Dylon. Turning to Kieran he asked, “Is it okay if I go or do you want to talk to me too?”
“No, go, I just want to speak with Cody.”
“Okay,” Dylon said. “Ma moité, call me if you need me.” Then he wrapped his arms around his mate and lowered his lips and gently brushed them against Cody’s before giving him a gentle kiss.
Kieran could see the love flowing between the two of them and knew the Fates picked the perfect parents for Jake and Jessica.
After he heard the bedroom door close, he said to Cody, “When Dylon told us you blame yourself for not rescuing us sooner, I had to see you…to assure you we don’t blame you for Arald and our parents’ actions.
We’re happy and we want you to be happy too, not dwelling on what happened in the past. This is the time for you to enjoy the twins and watch them grow up, knowing you saved them from a fate far worse than what was happening to us. ”
Cody sighed, taking a minute to gather his thoughts. “I do understand all that, Kieran, but it’s not easy. Tell me truthfully, have you forgotten everything that happened to you?”
“No, of course not,” Kieran replied. He could see the heavy guilt surrounding Cody.
Knowing what he had to do, he walked over to Cody and wrapped his arms around his waist, laying the flat of his hands on Cody’s back.
As they stood there, Kieran felt Cody’s arms grab his shoulders as Cody felt the first inkling of the warmth from Kieran’s hands penetrate his body.
Kieran increased the heat and as he did, he sucked all the guilt from Cody’s mind and body.
Kieran could feel the exchange taking place and he smiled as his head pressed against Cody’s chest, happy he was able to help.
Then as quickly as his hands had heated up they cooled when Cody’s guilt was gone, setting Cody free.
Cody was stunned. When Kieran walked over to hug him, he thought it was a gesture of comfort.
And it was, but it was also so much more.
He could feel all the guilt being pulled from his body and into Kieran’s.
Soothing warmth enveloped him until Cody could no longer feel any of the guilt he’d been burdened these long months.
That’s when he understood?the vision he had long ago that had been forgotten?the vision that had revealed to him what Kieran was and why it was important for him to be saved.
Cody pulled back and grasped Kieran’s upper arms, holding him still as he searched Kieran’s face, looking for any sign that Kieran knew—and found it.
“How did you figure it out?” Kieran whispered.
“The Fates told me in a vision long ago, but I had forgotten it when my visions grew more violent and I was trying to escape the pain. I never made the connection until now.”
“No one can know.”
“No one will but Dylon. He is tied to me heart, mind, body and soul. What I know, he knows. The Fates did it to protect me. But I promise you, he won’t tell anyone.”
Kieran nodded. “Okay.”
“Does Oracle know?” asked Cody.
“Yes, she does, but she cannot say anything, not even to Jackson. Only I have that right.”
“Do you know why the Fates wanted you to come to the Blackwood Pack?”
“No, at least, not yet. And I don’t know why they want me to go to Scotland, but I must.”
“I understand.”
Kieran smiled impishly at Cody. “Frank gave Lizzie permission to go with me, Theo and Norman.”
Cody laughed softly, “Why am I not surprised by that?”
“Are you okay now?”
Cody searched his mind for the guilt that had been his constant companion and found it gone.
Looking at his aura and his life thread, he smiled.
“I feel wonderful and it’s amazing.” Then looking at Kieran’s aura, Cody saw the darkness Kieran had taken from him slowly disappearing.
“Ki, when I was invisible in the dungeon, I saw you touching every shifter after you gave them their food. Why?”
“I gave them hope…every time I touched them I gave them some light in a bleak existence. My spirit told me someone would save me, but I was worried about my friends and the rest of the prisoners. I made up my mind I wasn’t going until my savior also agreed to take everyone.”
Cody chuckled. “I remember thinking how brazen you were, insisting I free them all.”
“Yeah, I guess I was, but I didn’t have any choice. The auction was a few days away and I was freaking out wondering how I was going to stop it.”
“But you did,” Cody said, softly. “You saved everyone. I haven’t told you this yet, but you know, the day we returned the prisoners to their families, every single shifter told us how wonderfully you treated them and how they wouldn’t have made it without you.”
With red cheeks, Kieran bowed his head, embarrassed at Cody’s compliments.
He hadn’t done it for any other reason except to help someone in need.
It was so little really, an extra piece of bread, a kind word or a soothing of the spirit.
It was all he could offer, so he did. None of the shifters or the younglings deserved the treatment Arald dished out, so he was glad to hear that the little he did, helped them.
Cody put two fingers under Kieran’s chin and raised his face. “Never be embarrassed at what you do to help a fellow shifter, Kieran. That’s your purpose here on earth. Be proud of who you are and your abilities. That was the hardest thing I ever had to learn.”
“But it was so little, Cody. Nothing like what you or Dylon did. You got all of us out and reunited families. That’s much more than I did.”
“Not true, Kieran, did you ever wonder how many shifters would have survived the brutal treatment if you weren’t there to give them what you did?
How do you think Theo and Norman would’ve fared?
And what about the babies? Who would have kept them safe?
You made it possible for Dylon and me to mount a rescue mission instead of a recovery operation.
Don’t ever underestimate the power you have, Kieran. ”
Listening to Cody’s words was a balm to his heart.
He knew everyone thought the mental luggage he carried resulted from what he’d suffered, but they were wrong—it was his failure to do more for everyone else suffering from Arald’s cruelty.
Smiling softly, he said, “It seems you’re doing my job now. ”
Chuckling, Cody said, “Yes, I guess I am. But you need to listen to me because I’ve been where you are. Come on, let’s sit. I have some more questions.”
When they were settled, Kieran said, “Okay, shoot. What do you want to know?”
“I can’t figure out why your parents sold you? They had to know what you are…didn’t they?”
Kieran sighed before answering, “No, they didn’t.
See I wasn’t their natural born pup. My father found me in a field under an ancient oak tree that grew near the Hill of Tara in Ireland.
They couldn’t have pups so when Da found me, he took it as a sign from the Fates their prayers had been answered.
Before I shifted the first time, a very old Shaman joined my pack and promised the Alpha wealth and prosperity in exchange for a member of his choice to train in the ways of Shamanism.
The Alpha, who was a greedy bastard, agreed.
Everyone in the pack lined up to meet our new Shaman.
My Ma was holding me and when she approached him, he pointed at me and said ‘I pick this one’.
My parents were opposed to it until the Alpha promised them a portion of the wealth.
I spent my childhood living with the Shaman, cut off from everyone else in the pack. ”
“Everyone? Even your parents? What about friends? Did you get to play?”
Shaking his head, Kieran continued, “I never saw my parents again until I was eighteen. My childhood was spent learning about my powers and how to use them. Playing was out of the question as no one was allowed near me. I know it sounds lonely, but I grew up knowing I was loved by the Shaman.”
“So why did he return you to your parents?”
“He didn’t, actually. After he died, my parents asked the Alpha to return me to them and he granted their request. They saw an opportunity to obtain more riches by marrying me off to the Alpha’s daughter. And you know how that ended up.”
“Yup,” said Cody. “They sold you to make up for the money they lost when you told them you were gay.”
“You got it. Fucking assholes!”
“Norman told me you slept in a four by four-foot cage every night?”
“Norman has a big mouth…but, yeah, every night I was locked away in a cage in Arald’s bedroom. He thought it was funny and used to show me off to visitors. He’s another asshole.”
“But he let you free during the day.”
“Not at first, but when he got the great idea of auctioning off shifters, he decided I should earn my keep by taking care of his ‘merchandise’.”
“And that’s how you met Theo and Norman, right? Were they the first friends you ever had?”
Kieran nodded. “Theo was in bad shape the first time I saw him. And Norm wasn’t too far behind. It took me a while before they would trust me, but when they finally did, I felt like I’d found a leprechaun’s pot of gold.”
Chuckling, Cody said, “I know that feeling. It’s how I felt when Dylon and I finally claimed each other. I couldn’t live without him nor would I want to. He’s my everything.”
Kieran’s eyes grew dreamy as he stared off in the distance, wondering how it would feel to have someone to love you with every cell of their body.
Then Logan popped into his head and his cock started to harden.
Oh shit! Kieran shifted in his seat, trying to will his erection down.
Changing the subject seemed like the best idea before Cody noticed and started to ask questions.
“What about you? Are you enjoying being a father to Jake and Jessica?” It was a lame question, but it was all his bloodless brain could come up with at the moment, and after watching Cody’s face brighten at the mention of his twins, Kieran knew he picked the right topic.
“Oh, my gods, yes,” said Cody. “Did I tell you Jessica was first to shift a part of her body? She did her ears! Jake followed quickly, and I think those two are always going to be competing with each other. Thank goodness some of my younger siblings were girls because at least I have some idea how to handle a daughter. Dylon on the other hand has allowed Jessica to be the boss and he does anything she wants. I’m waiting for the day when he has to tell her ‘no’…
sure don’t want to be within hearing distance when that happens. ”
Giggling, Kieran pictured the little princess throwing a temper tantrum when she discovered even her daddy had limits. “I’d love to see how Dylon handles that but only if my ears are plugged.”
“Dylon’s on his way back here and he already knows everything we’ve talked about. He did ask me if your parents, Alpha or anyone else in your old pack know about your powers. You told me your parents didn’t know but what about the others?”
“No, no one knew. The Shaman never allowed anyone to see me including my parents. Ditto for the Alpha and the other pack members. I never shifted in front of my parents or pack members either.”
“And I’m guessing you have no intention of undergoing a physical exam here?”
“I can’t. Ian would discover what I am. The only reason you’re safe is because you have Dylon,” Kieran said. “The Shaman made me promise to keep who I am a secret until I found my Fated Mate. Only then would I be safe.”
On hearing about the Shaman’s instructions to Kieran, a thought flitted into Cody’s mind, but was quickly lost when he heard the door to their suite open and Dylon’s voice calling to him.
Rising, he gave Kieran a grin before rushing to the doorway where he was wrapped in a set of heavily muscled arms. Finding Dylon’s lips, Cody gave a punishing kiss before thrusting his tongue inside, craving a taste of his mate.
Lifting Cody until his legs were wrapped around his waist, Dylon walked into the room and placed him on the table, continuing to ravish the mouth that tasted so good. Lost in their world of love, neither saw Kieran get up and tiptoe towards the door.
After seeing the two of them greet each other, Kieran felt he was intruding on a very private moment and after closing the door quietly, he leaned against the wall outside Cody and Dylon’s suite.
OH, MY FUCKING GODS! That was so hot! Kieran reached down and palmed his hard cock.
I want that! To have someone who wants just me, not my powers.
I want to be loved like that! I want hot, mind-blowing, sweaty sex that will drive everything from my mind!
Holy Fuck! Thoughts of what he and Logan could do, both in and out of bed, flooded his mind and with those pictures racing through his head, Kieran ran to his bedroom, no longer able to stop the orgasm his body was itching for.