Chapter 32
As the four of them headed up the stairs for lunch, they heard Jackson yelling for Steel to come quickly.
Cody and Colton exchanged a glance, then ran the rest of the way, concern clearly etched on their faces.
Dylon joined the dash with Ian close behind him and reached his mate just at the top step.
“What the fuck is happening?” asked Dylon.
“I don’t know, but it can’t be good,” answered Cody as he rushed into the great room.
He stopped quickly as he saw what his brother was yelling about.
As Dylon, Colton, and Ian bumped into him from behind, Cody started to chuckle for there, in front of him on the floor, was Daniel or to be more correct, Daniel’s small silver wolf.
His nephew had finally shifted completely.
Glancing up, he saw Zane, Dakota, Logan, Carson, Oracle and Maximus standing in a wide circle around the pup.
Steel had run in from the opposite side, his face breaking out in a huge grin as he saw his son’s wolf. “Holy shit! He did it! Way to go Daniel!”
Daniel sat on the floor, while his silver eyes took in everyone as they gathered around him.
Lifting his head, he let out his first howl—and then again and still once more to make sure everyone knew there was a new wolf in the pack.
Looking to his parents for their approval and getting it, he began to walk around, unsteady at first, sniffing everyone and finally ending up in a heap at Jackson’s feet where he was promptly picked up and cuddled in his father’s arms.
“Fuck!” exclaimed Zane. “Who won the bet?”
“What bet?” asked Jackson.
“First time Daniel completely shifted. Duh! What else would it be?” answered Carson. “It wasn’t me.”
“Me either. Shit, I should have written a program to give me the date,” Zane said.
“It was me,” Logan said. “I just used how old Jackson was when he did his first shift.”
“Damn,” said Colton, “I should’ve figured that out.”
“Daniel’s amazing,” Dakota said. “But why are his eyes silver?”
“I don’t know, but they are gorgeous. They remind me of moonlight,” Jackson said, then glancing at Oracle asked, “Do you know?”
“No, the Fates have not told me anything about Daniel yet. But my, oh my, he is darling with the silver fur and matching eyes, isn’t he, Max?”
“Yes,” Maximus said, “hmmm. He reminds me of something.”
“Reminds you of what, Dad?” asked Steel.
“Something I read a long time ago. I’ve forgotten most of it, but Daniel’s combination jogged something in my memory. Most unusual. Oh well, I’m sure it will come back to me.”
Cody said, “Well, I won the bet about his eye color.”
“Fuck,” Zane exclaimed, “I’m losing my edge.”
“That’s right, bro,” said Logan, “and that makes this win all the sweeter.”
“What do you want to do about Daniel’s lunch?” Dakota asked Jackson. “Lunch is ready but I don’t think you’ll be able to give his wolf a bottle.”
Jackson looked down at his son and saw he’d fallen asleep, tired out from all the energy he’d expended shifting for the first time.
“I don’t think it matters right now.” Turning to Steel he said, “Hon, would you bring out his porta-crib from my study and set it up in the dining room? When he wakes up, he’ll have shifted back and I can feed him then. ”
“I’ll get it,” said Colton, smiling at Ian. “I need all the practice I can get between now and when our pup is born.”
“Good idea,” said Steel, “I’ll get you a beeper so when the poop patrol is needed, I can buzz you.”
“Poop patrol? How did offering to get a crib morph into changing diapers?” asked Colton with a look of bewilderment on his face.
“I thought you just said you wanted to practice fatherhood?” asked Steel, “Well, diaper changing is part of it.”
“He’s got you there, babe,” Ian said, smirking.
“No, he doesn’t. Do your own poop patrol,” said Colton, “I already know how to change diapers…I did a rotation as a neonatal nurse.”
“You’ll just have to keep doing it yourself, babe,” Jackson said to Steel. “Come on everyone, let’s eat,” he said, chuckling as he took his mate’s hand before walking to the dining room.
Colton turned and went to his brother’s study to get the crib as the rest of the group followed Jackson and Steel—all except Dylon who kept Cody from leaving.
“What’s the matter?”
“Have you had a vision about Daniel yet?”
“No, you know that. You’ve seen all of them. Why?”
“I think I know what Maximus is talking about and if I’m right…”
Cody’s eyes widened as he saw what was in Dylon’s mind. “Holy fuck! Do you think we should say something?”
“No, I could be wrong. I think Maximus will look it up because his curiosity is peaked.”
“Okay, let’s wait until we get back,” Cody said, as he pulled his mate toward the dining room.
~/~/~/~/~
Frank was waiting for Lizzie to finish dressing.
This afternoon, she’d be presented with her Cordon Bleu certificate for successfully completing the course and he’d get to taste the results.
He’d never seen her as happy as she’d been these last few days and it made him realize how much Lizzie had given up when she became a High Council Representative’s wife.
Why didn’t I know she wanted to do this?
Hell, my son even knew and he hasn’t lived at home for years now.
After vowing to be a better husband, Frank’s thoughts shifted to the response the High Council received from Alpha Silver Point.
Humph. Not a response but more of a demand to dismiss Alpha Blackwood’s complaint unless an eyewitness could be produced.
Clever bastard. Thinking through all the options the Council had regarding Josiah’s demand, Frank didn’t see his wife entering the living room of their suite.
It wasn’t until she pushed his feet off the coffee table and stood in front of him that his focus returned to her. “Don’t you look beautiful, sweetheart!”
“Honestly, Frank, what were you thinking about, now that you missed my grand entrance? How do I look? Chef Dragontlovi gave us only fifteen minutes to get ready for the awards ceremony. I couldn’t do much with my hair but it will have to do.
Good thing I brought my new dress. I’m so excited and can’t wait for you to taste my dishes.
Come on, I don’t want to be late. Do you have your camera?
I want a picture of me receiving my certificate.
I’m going to hang it on the wall next to the certificate.
Or maybe I can put them in the same frame.
That would look better don’t you think? Are you ready? ”
“Yes, I am,” he said, as he stood. Pulling his wife into his arms, he kissed her cheek mindful not to mess up her makeup.
“Let’s go so I can stuff myself on the fruits of your labors.
” Putting his arm around her waist, he felt his cock stir as it always did when Lizzie was anywhere near him.
He thanked the Fates again as he had done so many times before for giving him the perfect Fated Mate.
~/~/~/~/~
As soon as he finished eating, Carson rushed to his office.
Cody had sent him a message saying he and Dylon would meet him there after lunch.
Hurriedly clearing piles of spreadsheets from his chairs and desk, Carson stood there holding them, wondering where he could set them, when Cody and Dylon walked in.
“Hey bro, are you the new filing cabinet? I don’t think you’ll get much done,” Cody said.
Carson’s eyes locked onto the small, empty table next to the couch. Dumping the stack of papers on it, he smiled. “Sorry, don’t have visitors usually except for Steel and he always stands. Ahh, where would you like to sit? On the couch or the chairs?”
Sensing his brother’s nervousness, Cody said, “Relax, Carson, Dylon won’t bite. We’ll take the chairs.”
Settling in his chair behind his desk, Carson looked at his brother and saw someone transformed from how he’d looked before his claiming.
Cody was smiling, relaxed and once more teasing him.
Then he spoke, “Cody, Dylon, I owe you a huge apology for several things I did that hurt both of you. I invaded your privacy and interfered with a claiming of a Fated Mate, both of which are so grievous I will spend the rest of my life trying to make it up to both of you. I also convinced Zane to help me…so stupid, I just can’t believe I did that.
I know why I did all of it but that’s no excuse so I give you my deepest, sincerest apology and hope I can make it up to you in some way. ”
Cody asked, “Why did you do it, Carson?”
His brother sighed. “Does it matter? I knew better but I ignored it and instead I hurt you…you, Cody, my triplet, as close to me as Colton is and who I look up to and respect. And yet I let my emotions rule my judgment of what was right and wrong.”
“I understand that, but I want to hear you tell me why you did it.”
Fuck! I was afraid of that. Exhaling, Carson began, “I thought I had put the massacre behind me. When Steel came into our lives and we moved here and Steel gave me this job, I finally started to live again and the massacre seemed like a bad dream. But when Dylon arrived, I picked up a faint scent of Silver Point Pack on him and all those memories came rushing back to me, nearly crushing me. That’s when I decided he had to leave.
So I could have my world back…the one I was just learning how to live in.
I know it was wrong and I’m so very sorry.
I swear, I’ll make it up anyway I can. Whatever you want. Just tell me.”
Using their mind link, Cody heard his mate say he understood and was willing to accept Carson’s apology.
He sent back a ‘thank you’ and then said to Carson, “Thank you, bro. I know that wasn’t easy for you to say, but it was important for my mate to hear why you did it.
Me, I already knew, which is why I made up my mind to accept your apology yesterday.
Now Dylon has also accepted your apology.
But Carson, your memories will never disappear totally.
A word, a thought, a smell, can bring them back in a heartbeat.
You’ll never be able to erase them…the best you can do is to learn to live with them. ”
“But how? How do you do it?”
“Concentrate on the good memories that you have. And you do have good memories of our family and life before the massacre. Find them and keep them close to your heart. Anytime a bad memory threatens to overwhelm you, find a good one and spend your time remembering it, until the bad one disappears. It’s the only way you’ll be able to truly start living and moving forward. ”
Carson sat there, soaking up his brother’s words. He did want to remember his happy family memories and locking them away deprived him of enjoying them. “Thanks Cody. I’ll try,” he said, and giving a small smile to his brother, asked, “Now, what can I do to make it up to you?”
“How about doing laundry for an extra six months?”
Carson groaned. “Okay, whatever you want.”
Cody burst out laughing. “Just teasing you, but I do have a request.”
“What?”
“Dylon and I will be making a series of short trips and it would help if you did the laundry during the time we’re gone.”
Carson gave a bigger smile this time. “Sure, I can do that. Where are you going? Does Jackson know this?”
“Yes, he does and we have his blessing. We’ll be leaving for Tajikistan in another day. After we get back, I’ll explain everything.”
“You will be safe, won’t you? Are you going to be with Slate?”
“Yes, to both questions. So, we’re good?”
“Yup, and thank you also, Dylon. I’m really curious about what you guys are doing with Slate but I’ll be patient. Is he coming back with you?”
“I don’t know, but we have to go and get ready for our trip. See you at dinner.” Cody and Dylon stood, along with Carson who then walked over to his brother. “Luv you, man. Be safe,” Carson whispered as he hugged Cody.
“I will. Luv you too, bro,” Cody murmured back as he returned the hug.
Stepping back, Cody took Dylon’s hand and left Carson’s office. Walking down the hallway, Cody said to his mate, “We have a few hours free. Fancy checking out our wolves and taking them for a run? We won’t be able to do it over there.”
“Thought you’d never ask, ma moitié.”
They headed for the front door and when they were in the woods, Cody stripped and shifted first. Dylon stared, his jaw slack at the amazing sight before him.
Cody’s wolf was now half white and half gray with liquid silver eyes.
The sight nearly brought him to his knees at the sheer beauty.
Stripping and shifting, Dylon’s wolf matched Cody’s—they were mirror images of each other except for the eyes.
Cody’s wolf looked at his mate and barked a short greeting. They were one now and he could feel Dylon’s wolf inside him. Raising his snout to the sky, Cody’s wolf howled, loud and long, inviting his mate to join him.
Accepting, Dylon answered and their voices howled together for the first time since they became one.
Breaking off their song, Dylon dug his front paws into the soft floor of the forest, with Cody’s wolf at his heels, bounding up the mountain path.
Up the mountain and down, changing directions and chasing some prey, they played like pups for the afternoon, stopping only to drink at mountain streams they came across.
Finally ending at their favorite waterfall, they drank deeply of cold water before flopping down on the mossy bank. Cody laid his wolf’s head against Dylon’s wolf, soaking up the sunshine filtering through the trees and listening to the sounds of the forest before he dozed off.
Dylon waited until his mate was asleep and then spent some time planning how to save the shifters in Tajikistan. He knew how dangerous it was going to be, but he was determined not to fail his mate. With his new powers, Dylon now had the link that had been missing before their meeting with Oracle.