Chapter 16
His eyes flooded after hearing the desolation in his mate’s voice.
Leaning his cheek against Cody’s soft hair, he cried with his mate.
Cried about the pain, the suffering, the evil in the world forcing his mate to the breaking point.
Listening to the sobs racking his mate’s body was heartbreaking, but there wasn’t anything he could do except hold him and send his love to Cody through their life thread.
Dylon was exhausted—and this was only after a few days of living with Cody’s visions.
While he saw the pain and suffering in the visions his mate had to endure, Dylon was spared suffering them.
How had Cody survived this long? The two of them, locked in love and pain, sat until Cody had no more tears to give before finally falling asleep.
After his mate’s confession, Dylon knew why he was brought into Cody’s life.
He wanted—no needed—to bring the light back into Cody’s world.
By gods, I will. Whatever it takes, no matter what I have to do, my mate will have a happy life! I swear it!
~/~/~/~/~
Frank had finally chosen a course of action.
He was going to ‘poke the bear’ and see the reaction.
By all that was holy, Jackson should have called him out for his outrageous behavior last night.
It was a test—a litmus test, so to speak—by which he was able to judge the strength and character of an Alpha to determine if his pack was adequately protected.
But in all his years, no one ever reacted the way Jackson had.
Calm and cool, he just pushed Frank back in his place without raising a finger.
That raised the hair on the back of Frank’s neck.
No matter how much of his Alpha power was pushed out, it was met with Jackson’s, but just enough to keep Frank’s at bay—not enough to make him submit.
He had finally realized last night what irked him about Jackson’s actions and today he would bring this pup to his knees.
After breakfast, while Oracle was showing Lizzie the nursery, he headed to Jackson’s office.
Giving several sharp knocks, he entered after receiving permission to do so.
He strolled over to the chair Jackson motioned him to and sat.
He waited. Steel sat next to Jackson quietly, but very alert.
Mmm. He tilted his head in deference to Jackson’s position and then began, “Alpha Blackwood, I appreciate you seeing me.”
“Frank, thank you for the respect, but it’s not necessary. After all, we are family now, right?”
“Ahh, yes, I suppose we are.” What the fuck is it with this Alpha?
“So, how can I be of help?”
“I know my son is mated to your brother Cody, but I’m concerned about his safety with this pack.”
“Safety? What do you see as a threat to his safety?”
“Your complaint against the Silver Point Pack for one.”
“How is that a threat, as you see it?”
“Well, Silver Point has issued a kill order.”
“Yes, and it has been rescinded.”
“For the time being. But what happens if they serve you with the Notice of Kill Order as required by the High Council’s laws?”
“I imagine we’ll have to wait and see.”
“That’s not a good enough answer for me. I would feel better about Dylon’s safety if I knew you had proof of Silver Point’s actions as you claim.”
“Vice Chair Royd, are you asking in your official capacity as a member of the Universal Paranormal High Council?”
“No, just as a father who is concerned about his son.”
“Then unfortunately, I cannot answer you.”
“Why not?”
“Mr. Royd, I have been advised by our attorney not to discuss our complaint with you unless you are here on official business,” Jackson said.
Then holding up a hand to forestall any response, he continued, “You know as well as I that any discussion, other than in response to a High Council inquiry, would be a conflict of interest and I for one, will not give my uncle a loophole that he can use. As it is, the mating of your son with my brother will cause some eyebrows to be raised and I refuse to contribute to further speculation about the purpose of your visit here. Now if there is nothing else…”
Frank was flummoxed. I’m being dismissed?
Fuck that! He rolled out his Alpha power at full force.
I’ll teach this young Alpha to respect his elders.
Frank smiled as he heard Steel growl but it was short lived; he soon felt the full force of Jackson’s Alpha power.
Aghast, he heard his wolf whimper as he lowered his belly and bared his neck.
Frank felt his neck automatically tilt in submission. Holy Motherfuckers! Who is this wolf?
“Now, if you are finished showing me your balls,” said Jackson, “I suggest you keep them in your pants for the rest of your visit.”
~/~/~/~/~
Carson was eager to see if Zane had found anything. Rushing downstairs, he slammed open the door to his brother’s computer room. “What did you find?”
“What the fuck, man! You scared the shit out of me when you slammed open the door. Don’t do that again.”
“Sorry, sorry. Please Zane, tell me what you found.”
“Okay. Nothing.”
Carson’s face froze in shock. What the…? Nothing? Not possible, he’s fucking me over. “Asshole! Tell me what you found.”
“I did. I found nothing. Dylon is clean. I have his file from the High Council and bro, be careful, this dude was trained by the very best and is not to be fucked with. I have his work history, no complaints, good recommendations, never got in trouble…I mean he is squeaky clean. And he did join the Silver Point Pack way after the massacre. In fact, when the massacre happened, he was working in a pack on the other side of the country. So, no, he absofuckinglutely had nothing to do with it.”
“I can’t believe it. I was so sure…”
“Well, you’re wrong. Now you are going to drop it, right?”
Carson paused. “Yeah, I promised, didn’t I?”
“Okay. I’m destroying his file. I like my balls the way they are and would prefer they’re not put in a vice by Jackson.”
“Yeah, sure. Do that,” Carson said, already concentrating on other ways he could find the evidence he knew was there. Huh, I bet his father used his influence to hide everything. Mulling over the problem as he left his brother, he figured out his first step. Now it was only a question of when.
~/~/~/~/~
Dylon carried his mate to their bed and laid him down before covering him up.
Putting the cuffs on Cody again, he quickly wrote a short note and left it where his mate would see it.
Throwing on a t-shirt, he left their bedroom and headed to find Jackson.
He hoped it wouldn’t take long as he wanted to be back with his mate before Cody woke up.
Figuring Jackson would be in his office, he headed there first, happy to hear his Alpha’s voice after he knocked.
Once inside, he stood and tilted his head quickly before sitting down opposite Jackson.
“Dylon, is Cody all right?”
“Yes, he’s sleeping right now and I’ll make this quick because I want to be back before he wakes up.”
“Okay, why don’t you tell me what’s on your mind.”
“Cody and I were talking about my time with the Silver Point Pack and I realized all the enforcers I worked with were not with the pack when the massacre occurred. I think the longest anyone had been there was a year, maybe. At the time, I didn’t think anything about it but now…
where are the old enforcers who killed your family? ”
Jackson glanced at Steel. We should have thought of that. Then he asked Dylon, “Anything more?”
“Yes. Silver Point must have the employment files on those enforcers, like pay records and other stuff, but I haven’t figured a way to access them.
I could ask some of my friends who are enforcers at different packs if they know or heard of any enforcers that worked at Silver Point during that time. ”
“What did Cody say about this?”
“He asked me to speak with you first before I made any inquiries.”
“Okay, let me think about it and I’ll get back to you. Now I have a question for you. Why is your father giving me shit?”
~/~/~/~/~
When Carson reached the top of the stairs, he saw Dylon heading to Jackson’s study.
Probably joining Cody. Fated Mates were never separated this early in their mating.
Perfect timing! Confident he would find their suite empty, Carson hurried toward it.
He had decided to search Dylon’s belongings to see if he could find anything incriminating.
It was risky, but he justified it as protecting the pack from a murderer.
Pausing before entering, Carson looked both ways before opening the door.
Slipping inside and quietly closing the door, he turned and looked around.
Startled when he found Cody in bed, he quickly regarded himself as lucky.
Now he could talk to his brother without his watchdog around.
It took only a moment to realize Cody was sleeping.
Maybe he could search before his brother woke up.
Stealthily, Carson approached their closet, pretty sure he would find what he was looking for in there.
He glanced over at Cody and gasped. What the fuck?
That asshole chained my brother to the bed!
Carson stood there frozen. What the fuck is he doing to my brother?
Oh my gods, he’s trying to kill Cody’s wolf so my brother dies!
This is going to stop now! Taking a picture with his phone as proof, he ran out of the room and straight into Cody’s mate.
“What the fuck were you doing in my room?” growled Dylon, grabbing hold of Carson.
“Let me go, asshole. I know what you’re doing to my brother. You won’t get away with it,” cried Carson.
“What are you talking about?”
“You chained him up so his wolf dies. You’re trying to kill my brother!” screamed Carson.
Dylon heard his mate calling with panic in his voice.
Letting go of Carson’s arm, he hurried to Cody, knowing his mate had heard Carson.
Shutting and locking the door, he ran to Cody and unlocked the cuffs.
Scooping him up in his arms, Dylon said, “Hush, my pet, I’m here.
Everything is okay.” He sat on the bed, rocking Cody, while kissing his mate’s head. “Tell me why you were calling me?”
“Why was my brother shouting?” Cody asked.
“It’s a misunderstanding. Don’t worry, my pet. I’ll sort it out. How are you?”
“Fine sir,” Cody said, sinking back into the place he felt secure.
“Pet, I have to take care of the misunderstanding with Jackson. Do you want to come with me or stay here?”
Cody was furious with Carson for invading their privacy and even though he’d have preferred to stay, it was time Jackson knew everything. “I’ll come with you sir.”
“Okay, let’s get you dressed and after this is over, I’ll bring you back here for your morning spanking, a shower and some loving.”
“Oh yes, sir. Thank you, sir.”
A series of knocks sounded and Steel yelled through the door, “Cody, are you in there? Answer me or I will break this door down.”
“You better answer him, my pet. Tell him you are getting dressed and will be in Jackson’s office shortly.”
After listening to Steel’s warning that he’d better show up, Dylon picked out the clothes for Cody and then dressed him. “Assume the position,” Dylon said as he sat at the foot of the bed.
Cody gratefully folded himself down into his kneeling pose. Immediately, he focused on his breathing, calming himself down, thankful his mate understood his need.
“Pet, I want you to know everything is going to be all right. No matter what happens with Jackson, I will not stop. You and I both know how much you need this. I will not fail you. If I can’t make your brother understand, I’m prepared to take you away to a private place until you are well enough to do what you must do. Do you understand and agree?”
Cody knew his mate spoke the truth. He still had to heal more before he’d be able to go to Tajikistan.
And when he went, he’d have to be much stronger than he was right now.
He knew Jackson would be hurt, but he could not abandon the shifters over there to a painful life if he had the means to prevent it.
There was only one answer he could give. “Yes, sir.”
Dylon saw his mate raise an eyebrow. “Did you have something else to say, my pet?”
“Yes, sir.”
“Go ahead, my pet.”
“I think Oracle should be in the meeting too, sir.”
“Good point. I’ll tell Jackson that. Is that all, pet?”
“Yes, sir.”
“Okay,” Dylon said, extending his hand to Cody, “Let’s go.”
~/~/~/~/~
The man who owned him stood, holding a whip over his head.
“You lazy bastard. If this isn’t cleaned up in the next hour, I’m going to beat you until you bleed.
Worse fucking deal I ever made, you lazy good-for-nothing bastard.
I swear, if you don’t get your work done today, I’ll tie you to a post and let my men whip the shit out of you. Now clean up this mess.”
Cowering, he tried to make himself as small as possible. “I promise, I’ll clean it up. Right away.”
“You’d better,” said Arald, walking away.
He couldn’t stop the tears from falling as he scrubbed the floor where Arald had vomited last night.
It would be better if I were dead. He didn’t know if his master would carry out his threat about having him ganged whipped but he knew he would rather die than suffer that fate.
For the thousandth time, he regretted telling his parents he was gay.
But no sense wasting his energy on things he could not change.
Turning back to the task at hand, he quickly wiped the floor dry.
Putting away the bucket and mop, he hurried to the nursery; the younglings would be awake soon.
The episode with Arald stole precious time he needed to change and feed the babies before making lunch.
They were the only bright spot in his bleak and weary existence other than his friends.
If he could figure out a way to take them and escape he would have, but so far it seemed hopeless.
Opening the door, he walked in and greeted his babies, “Hello, my sweets, how did you sleep? You must be hungry.”