Chapter 13
Slate unlocked the door and turned off the alarm.
He was exhausted but everyone was safe. His chief enforcer, Groose, was at the hospital and expected to make a full recovery despite the fact he had taken five bullets.
Thank the gods. After the shooting stopped, Turk and his men scoured the village searching for the perpetrators but to no avail.
He finally sent everyone back to their apartments except for Turk who insisted on staying with Groose.
Slate looked at the ruined dinner and hoped Colton made himself something to eat.
As for him, he was hitting the shower before tumbling into bed.
Food could wait until tomorrow morning. He passed Colton’s closed door, thought about knocking but discarded the notion.
He’d tell him tomorrow what happened tonight.
Throwing off his clothes while heading for the shower, Slate decided it was time to go home.
Tomorrow, after work, they were leaving.
Tonight was the deciding factor and it didn’t matter if Colton tried to fight him, he wasn’t going to take “no” for an answer.
He jumped into the shower and let the hot water pour over him.
Finally relaxing, he grabbed the shower gel and washed the dirt and dried blood out of his hair and off his body.
Jeesh! He was even too tired to rub one out.
Dammit, when he got back stateside, he was going to take a week off and fuck his brains out with every twink this side of the Rockies.
Turning off the water, he grabbed a towel, drying himself before he pulled on a pair of sleep pants and tumbled into bed.
~/~/~/~/~
Jackson packed Steel’s bag for him. He had to do something.
Ever since Ian woke them up with the news his brother was in danger—no, maybe dying—he was in a full state of panic, with fear firmly lodged in his heart.
He wanted to go but knew the trip would endanger the pup.
So here he was, getting Steel ready to make the trip.
As far as Jackson was concerned, he knew his mate would do everything possible to bring Colton home—hopefully alive.
No, mustn’t think that way. Colton would come back to him.
Oracle rapped her fingers on the bedroom door first before stepping through the doorway. “Robert will be landing in fifteen minutes and the jet is ready to go. Has Steel talked to Slate yet?”
Jackson turned around and looked at her with tears running down his face.
“Oh sweetie,” said Oracle, “I’m so sorry you have to go through this. Please try to remember the Fates have told me Colton will come home,” she said, sweeping Jackson into her arms.
Jackson snuffled several times, trying to rein in his emotions. “I don’t know if Steel talked to his brother yet. I think he is still downstairs. Would you please tell him I need him?”
“Certainly.”
Jackson turned back to his packing and fought back more tears. Shit, shit, shit. Damn pregnancy hormones. He checked the closet and bathroom making sure he packed everything his mate would need before closing the suitcase. After he finished, Jackson sat down on the bed, waiting for Steel.
Cody knocked briefly before entering. “Bro, I’m ready. When are we leaving?”
“The helicopter will be here shortly and the plane is waiting for you at the airport. Cody, listen to me, I don’t want you to take any risks which could put your life in danger. Find Colton, bring him home, but make sure you come home safely too. You hear me?”
“Jackson, I promise. I’ll have Steel and Slate…two Dire Wolves…to protect me. Trust me, I’ll be safe.”
“I know, but I feel I have to give you these instructions. I’m going to be anxious until I hear all of you are on the way home.”
“You’re going to make a great parent, you know that?” Cody said, hugging Jackson. “Take care of my nephew. I got a lot of things I want to do with him.”
“Will do.”
~/~/~/~/~
Oracle entered Steel’s office, glided over to his desk and waited until he hung up the phone. She looked at his ashen face and asked “Was Ian right? Is Colton in danger?”
Steel sighed deeply, still trying to figure out how to tell his mate what he’d learned.
“It doesn’t look good. Colton is missing and Slate doesn’t know how it happened.
He overslept and when he woke, Colton was gone.
He first assumed he’d gone to the hospital for his early shift, but when Slate got there, he found out Colton never showed up.
He has his team of enforcers out searching. ”
“Steel, pull yourself together. Colton will return home. You know I am telling the truth. Get your emotions in order because Jackson needs you. Tell him what you know, hug him tightly and kiss him good-bye. Then get down there and bring our Colton back. He is very important for all wolves.”
Steel knew his mother was never wrong before and could only hope this time wasn’t her Waterloo. Standing, he hugged Oracle, murmuring in her ear, “Take care of my mate, Mom. If something happens to him, I might as well be dead since my life won’t be worth living.” Then he left to find Jackson.
~/~/~/~/~
Slate headed out to the airport to pick up Steel’s group.
Slamming his fist on the steering wheel and cursing up a blue streak, he was angry and frustrated.
How could Colton disappear? Vanish off the face of the earth.
The community was a small, tight-knit pack that had no history of violence.
So why now? Why Colton? Shit. He knew why.
Somebody found out what Colton was. That had to be it.
But who? The only time he ever talked about Colton’s ability was with Juan at the hospital.
Fuckingbedamned. That’s it! Someone overheard them, but who?
Slate thought back to that day when he was standing in the hall with Juan.
Nobody was in the hall, so who else knew what Colton did that day.
They’d just left the guy who had silver in his blood.
Colton had healed him by the laying on of his hands.
So, it was Juan, Colton, he and the patient who were privy to the magic.
It had to be the patient. Pulling into the airport, he fishtailed as he came to an abrupt stop alongside their plane.
Holding up one finger to the group waiting, Slate quickly dialed Turk and told him to find Juan and get the name and address of the patient.
He slammed down his phone and jumped out to greet his brother.
~/~/~/~/~
“Jackson, Jackson, come here NOW!” Zane called out from Jackson’s study where he was glued to a computer screen. “Carson, go get Jackson now. Holy shit! He’s got to see this! He needs to tell Steel!”
Carson ran from the room and met Jackson waddling down the hall towards him. “Bro, Zane needs you. He found something!”
“I’m coming. I’m coming,” Jackson huffed out. Damn belly. Makes moving fast impossible. He finally reached his study and saw his geeky brother at the computer.
“Did you find out anything about Colton?”
“Nothing on the internet so I went to the dark web…”
“What’s the dark web? Never mind, go ahead.”
“There’s an auction taking place right now. They are auctioning off Colton. Says here, “A timber wolf shifter…A natural healer…Rare and extremely valuable… Able to heal anything and anybody… It goes on but crap, you should see how high the bidding is going. You gotta tell Steel.”
“Let me see that.” Jackson grabbed the computer screen and turned it toward him. “Shit, shit, shit. Get Steel on the phone. Now”
~/~/~/~/~
On the way back from the airport, Slate filled Steel, Ian and Cody in on his theory about why Colton was missing and who he suspected knew about his abilities.
Driving faster than he should on the dirt roads, Slate was focused on one thing and one thing only—find that patient!
Careening into the parking lot, he slammed on the brakes, stopping in front of the hospital.
Jumping out he rushed inside to find Turk.
Slate knew time was of the essence in a kidnapping.
He must find Colton. He gave his word he would be safe with him. Fuck!
Steel’s phone rang as he reached the hospital door. “Go ahead guys, I gotta take this.” Moving back to stand near the jeep, he answered, “Babe, what’s up? Are you all right? The pup?”
“We’re fine. Steel. Colton is being auctioned off. Zane found it on the dark web and bidding is ending soon. You have to outbid everyone.”
“Send me the website for the auction. When does it end?”
“In about two hours.”
“Also tell Zane to send me any instructions about bidding.”
“Will do. Babe, be careful.”
Steel hung up and went inside to look for his brother.
Looking around the reception room, he didn’t see his group, so he headed over to talk to the receptionist to find out where Slate was.
Steel followed her instructions and headed to the offices at the end of the hall.
Knocking on the third door, he heard a muffled, “Come in.” Entering, he saw the three men he wanted to talk with.
“Slate, I’ve got information on Colton.”
Slate felt the tightness in his shoulder ease somewhat on hearing his brother’s words. “What is it? I found out who the patient was that day and was just heading out to talk to him.”
“Colton is being auctioned off as we speak. I need to outbid everyone so where’s a computer I can use?” asked Steel.
“Shit,” said Cody, “my brother is being auctioned off…as a slave?”
“Fuck! I need to bid and get my mate back!” Ian said.
“Your mate? When did you claim Colton? I thought he wasn’t mated yet,” said Slate turning to his brother. “Fuck, Steel, why didn’t you tell me?”
“Colton hasn’t been claimed. Ian was waiting for him to come home first. Now where’s the computer?” Steel asked.
“Sit here.” Slate moved so his brother could sit at the desk.