Chapter 17
Dylon held Cody’s hand as they walked down the hall to Jackson’s study.
The door was open and as they entered they saw Jackson, Steel and Carson waiting for them.
He looked at Carson’s angry face and knew he had already poisoned Jackson and Steel.
Dylon was about to turn around, having decided no fair hearing would be given to him today, but just then, Oracle swept into the room, coming to a stop next to him.
“Oracle,” Jackson said, “I’m going to cut to the chase. I assume you are here for Dylon.”
“No, I am here for Cody.”
Jackson turned her statement over in his head and snorted to himself. He knew what that meant. “Cody, do you want Oracle here? This is a family matter.”
“Yes.”
“Okay, Carson, would you close the door?”
Cody spoke up, “But I don’t want Carson here. He invaded my and my mate’s privacy without cause.”
“What do you mean, Cody? I’m saving you,” exclaimed Carson.
Cody did not respond nor did he look at his brother.
“Cody, Carson has a point. If what he said is true, then he saved your wolf.”
“If he stays, Dylon and I will leave this house. Your choice, Jackson.”
Jackson studied Cody. He looked better than he had in some time. Certainly, he saw no evidence of harm to his wolf. “Carson, leave us. But, don’t go far.”
Carson was pissed. He knew Dylon would spin some lie and convince Jackson he meant no harm to Cody. “But I’m a witness”
“I said leave, now,” Jackson demanded, using his Alpha power to force compliance. He kept his eyes on Cody and Dylon, while waiting for Carson to leave the room and shut the door behind him. “Now…”
“I already know what Carson told you,” said Cody, “but he’s wrong. My mate is saving me, not killing me or my wolf.”
“But Cody, I saw the picture. Dylon chained you to the bed. Your wolf will die if he is restrained that way. You know this and so does Dylon.”
“You know brother, I have never asked what you do in the privacy of your bedroom with your mate and I fail to see what business it is of yours…even as Alpha…what my mate and I do in ours. Would you please explain what right you claim that allows you to question us about this?”
“Normally, I would never interfere but…”
“But nothing. You are interfering because you still have concerns about my mate’s roll in the massacre. You just won’t admit it.”
“Cody, as Alpha, it’s my right and duty to investigate a complaint that’s brought before me concerning the welfare of a pack member.
You know as well as I do, if any of us are restrained like that, our wolves die.
You were chained to a bed. What? You think I should just ignore a threat to one of my pack just because it occurred in the bedroom? ”
Dylon spoke quietly to his mate, “Ma moitié, your brother has a point. Please don’t argue with him about this.”
“Cody,” said Oracle, “you requested my presence so if you agree, may I explain to Jackson what has been happening and how Dylon is helping you?”
“Please, darling,” said Dylon, “let Oracle help.”
Cody was furious that he was forced to stand there and defend his mate—the person he owed his life to. Sighing, he relented. “Go ahead, Oracle. But Jackson, just so you know, you are wrong about chains causing a wolf to die.”
Dylon led his mate over to the couch where he took a seat and then pulled Cody onto his lap. He knew what was coming and he wanted his mate in his arms. This wasn’t going to be pleasant.
Oracle spoke, “You know Cody has foresight and his visions have become more intense since the massacre. It is what happens to him after a vision that is causing him harm. During the vision he only sees what is happening but when it is over Cody feels whatever the person in the vision is feeling. It doesn’t matter what is causing the pain, if the person feels pain so does he.
So, if someone is being whipped, Cody feels the whip on his body. ”
Jackson was appalled to learn his brother had this burden. “Is this true, Cody?”
“Yes,” was his muffled answer as he kept his head buried in his mate’s neck.
“But,” she went on, “Cody also feels the emotional pain of the person in his vision.
These emotions run the gambit of despair to grief and even hate.
All are absorbed by Cody every time he has a vision.
While he feels nothing during a vision, whatever feelings the people in the vision have, Cody will experience them upon his return to this world.
“Oh, my gods,” exclaimed Jackson. “How long has this been going on?”
“Since the massacre,” Oracle explained, “though the visions have increased in frequency and intensity in the last year.”
“Oh, Cody, I wish you’d have come to me about what was happening.”
“Sorry, Jackson,” Cody mumbled.
“No, ma moitié, don’t apologize. You did nothing wrong,” Dylon murmured to his mate.
Looking at Jackson, he said, “Cody kept his promise to his mother as you kept your promise about Colton’s ability.
If you are going to blame him for not telling you about it, then you should blame yourself for keeping Colton’s secret. You can’t have it both ways.”
“I think Cody misunderstood me,” said Jackson. “I wasn’t blaming him for keeping it a secret, I was sad he went through all of this without support.”
“That is in the past,” Oracle said. “Let us move on. When Cody has a vision, he enters another realm…”
“No, he doesn’t,” said Steel, “I know because I saw him when he was meditating or whatever it is called. He was in the forest.”
“What you saw was a projection of his body…a hologram. Every time Cody has a vision, he leaves this earth. It is important that you understand this. The light you see is the projection beam. When the vision is over, Cody returns to us.”
“Okay,” said Jackson, “if I accept what you say, that still doesn’t explain why Dylon chained Cody to the bed.”
“I am getting to that. The last few months, Cody has been having visions every day, and during the night he experiences the pain he saw in his visions. This has caused him to get very little sleep. He has become erratic in his behavior, acting out in a manner totally unlike him.”
“That’s true, babe, I noticed that in Mexico,” said Steel.
“Why didn’t you tell me?” asked Jackson.
“It slipped my mind because of the multiple health crises with you and Daniel,” Steel responded.
Oracle resumed speaking. “Now Cody’s mind replays what he has seen over and over. The relentless pain and suffering Cody feels is forcing him to a breaking point in his mind and soul, making it harder and harder for him to return from the realm at the end of each vision.”
“What do you mean?” asked Jackson. “I thought after his vision is over, he automatically returns to earth.”
“Not exactly. Cody returns only if he wants to. So far, he has wanted to because of his love for you and the baby. But it is becoming harder to find a reason to return when he knows the life he is returning to will be filled with pain and suffering. Not so in the other realm. You can see the lure of that for Cody.”
Cries of torment pierced the room as Cody broke into sobs as the pain from the visions once more filled his mind. He wanted this to end. No more—I can’t take it anymore! A glow enveloped him as Cody’s body started its journey to the other realm.
Jackson rose to go to his brother, but Oracle held up her hand to stop him. “Watch.”
Dylon shifted Cody so he was cradling him in his arms. “Cody, I’m here.
You are safe. Give me your pain…right now!
” he demanded. “My pet, I order you to obey. Do you hear me?” Not hearing an answer, he repeated his order, “Give me your pain…NOW!” It took a moment before he felt Cody send the pain in his soul to him through their life thread.
He absorbed it and sent back love, hoping it would be enough.
Finally, the cries died down and Cody finally came back to him.
Rocking his mate, his anguished eyes looked at Jackson and said, “The chains have a spell on them that prevent Cody from leaving this world.”
Jackson sat with a thud, looked at his broken brother with anguish and then, quietly, he asked, “What can I do to help Cody?”
Oracle spoke again. “When Dylon was born, the Shaman told his mother her son needed special training, so he would be able to help his Fated Mate when they found each other. When he was fifteen, he was sent to live with the Shaman to be trained and spent months learning everything his mate would require. The Shaman told Dylon that his Fated Mate would be very fragile and in need of his skills as a Dom.”
“Dom? You mean like ‘Dominant’…like in BDSM? That kind of Dom?” asked Steel.
“Yes, exactly. Dylon has given Cody a safe place in this world where the only thing he focuses on is pleasing his mate,” Oracle said.
“He gives Cody a reason to want to be in this world. Being the submissive, gives Cody the freedom from having to make decisions…free from the fear of another vision occurring. The chains give Cody security, so he can sleep pain-free. He no longer worries about waking up suffering. Being in a dom-submissive relationship allows Cody to reclaim his soul and heal. Even in the short time Dylon and Cody have been in that relationship, you can see the difference in your brother.”
“Yes, I have noticed it,” said Jackson. “One more question. What happens if Cody loses the will to return to this world?”
“He will die.”
Jackson gasped at Oracle’s answer. The final piece of the puzzle had fallen into place and he knew what needed to be done. “Cody? Is Dylon helping you? Do you want him to continue?” asked Jackson softly.
Cody nodded.
“This investigation is closed. Dylon, you have my deepest appreciation and thanks. If you need anything at all, tell me and I’ll take care of it. Understand? Anything at all.”
“Yes. You should also know Carson was not acting alone. Cody told me Zane was researching me in an effort to find something to get me expelled from this pack. Cody is very worried about it.”
“I will take care of it. What do you want to do now?”
“I’m taking Cody back to our room. This was a setback and I need to reestablish his safe zone. Would you please make our excuses at lunch?”
“Certainly. I’ll have Dakota bring you something.”
Dylon got up, still cradling his mate, and said, “Thanks, and you too, Oracle,” before heading back to their bedroom with Cody.
Jackson turned to Oracle. “I really appreciate your help. I only wish I’d known about Cody’s problem before it got so bad.”
“Sweetie, one of the hardest things I learned as an Oracle is to let go of what happened in the past. Concentrate on what is going on right now and make decisions that will lead to a better future. It is really all you can do, otherwise you will miss out on all the important events in your life…like Daniel saying his first swear word,” Oracle said, trying to inject some lightheartedness into the room.
Snorting, Steel said, “See babe, even the Oracle knows Daniel is going to swear.”
“No, he won’t if you and my brothers stop with the ‘fucking this and fucking that’ all the time,” Jackson said.
“I think that is my cue to leave,” smiled Oracle. “I am sure you will sort it out.”
“Yes, I will, even if I have to gag them,” Jackson responded.
“Oh, I like that…some BDSM,” said Steel.
“Stop it, Steel,” Jackson ordered, then adding in a whisper, “not in front of your mother,” causing Steel to burst out laughing.
“Oh, don’t worry, Steel,” his mother smiled, “I’ll have your father give Jackson some lessons.” And having said that, Oracle left.
Jackson smirked as he watched Steel’s laughter come to an abrupt end. “What’s the matter, babe? I think it’s great if your father can give me some pointers.”
“Stop it, babe. That isn’t nice. I’m going to have to scrub my brain with bleach to get rid of that picture. This is worse than finding out she swears—and that was bad enough!”
“Poor baby. I’ll make it all better for you tonight.”
“Oh yeah? How bout we start now?”
“What? You don’t want...” Jackson stopped his teasing as Daniel’s cries were heard through the baby monitor. “It’s your turn. Give our son a kiss from me.”
Steel groaned as he stood. Thumping his cock to force it down, he said, “Our son has impeccable timing. At this rate, he’ll end up being an only child.”
Chuckling, Jackson said, “Go. Tell Carson to get Zane. I want to see both of them.”
Mumbling about being denied relief, Steel left to take care of Daniel.
Jackson smiled at how his big, bad mate was twisted around their son’s finger. Shifting his thoughts to the actions of Carson and Zane, he contemplated his options. This was not going to be pleasant.
Steel saw Carson waiting in the great room and headed over. “Carson, Jackson wants to see you and Zane so get him.”
Zane? Oh fuck! He found out! Carson walked slowly downstairs, trying to figure out what to say to his brother.
Shit! Sucking it up as his father taught him, he knocked, hoping his brother was not in there.
But no such luck when he heard, “Come in.” Slowly entering, he waited by the door while his brother was furiously typing while looking at his computer screen.
Finally, Zane looked his way, “Hey bro, what’s up? ”
“Jackson sent me to get you.”
“Okay, I’ll be right there. Fuck, look at the time. Well good time to break since it’s close to lunch. I wonder how Dylon’s mom got on with Dakota. Oh shit, I sure hope we don’t have to eat her mistakes.”
“Ah, Zane, there is something you should know.”
“What? You know that’s what’s being served?
Oh well, I can fake how much I enjoy it.
After all, I don’t want to hurt her feelings…
she being Cody’s mother-in-law and all, but I hope Dakota doesn’t keep giving her cooking lessons or else I’ll be forced to sneak into the kitchen late at night for something to eat.
You know, I’m still growing…” Zane stopped after looking closely at his brother’s face.
“Oh shit, now what? Is it Daniel? Is he okay?”
“No, fuck, yes, Daniel’s okay,” Carson said. “There’s no other way to say this, but I think Jackson found out about my investigation into Dylon, and your involvement.”
Zane’s mouth fell open as he stared at his brother.
Putting the pieces together he growled, “You fucking lied to me. You promised you would drop it if I found nothing. But you didn’t, did you?
What the fuck did you do? You’re a fucking asshole, you know that?
A fucking asshole!” Pushing Carson out of the way, he stalked down the hallway yelling, “You are going to owe me, so fucking big.”