Chapter 27
On his way to see Zane, Steel realized the only way his mate and unborn pup would ever be safe was if Jackson’s uncle died.
Although Josiah had rescinded the kill order, he could just as easily reinstate it at any time.
In order to justify his death, Steel needed hard proof of the Alpha’s involvement with some illegal action against a brother or brothers if evidence of the Silver Point Pack’s massacre of his mate’s family couldn’t be found.
Knocking and hearing a muffled “Come in,” Steel entered and shut the door behind him. Walking over to a bank of computer screens, he stopped behind Zane and waited for him to turn around.
“Gimme a second,” Zane murmured, typing furiously on a keyboard perched on his lap.
Steel’s eyes flitted from screen to screen but to him it just looked like gobbledygook.
All of Jackson’s brothers possessed unique skills and knowledge but Zane’s was the biggest surprise of all.
Memories of the pack meeting when Jackson told his brothers he was pregnant flooded Steel’s mind.
He didn’t like Zane’s negativity but in the end he’d come around.
Shaking his head at the brilliance of this brother—whom he regarded as a brat at one time—he was glad he’d changed his opinion.
Steel knew Slate thought checking Pablo’s phone was a waste of time since Dire Enterprises’ digital division had probed it, but he also knew the company had no one even close to Zane’s skills.
He knew it was a long shot but if there was something to be found, his money was on Zane.
Swiveling his chair, Zane rubbed his eyes before looking up at Steel. “How about Ian? Wild shit, Right? A Royal in our pack! How cool is that? Why didn’t Colton tell us?”
“Whoa, slow down. I don’t know why but if I can hazard a guess, he was worried about Ian’s safety.
Just a reminder, please don’t tell anyone, especially any of your hacker buddies on the web.
If Colton feels Ian is in danger here, he will leave and that can’t happen.
Jackson needs Ian and Colton for the birth of our pup.
So I need your word, Zane, not a peep to anyone about Ian. ”
Zane snorted. “What the fuck has come over you? Cody told me you insulted him and now me. Get this in your thick, stupid skull…we would never hurt Jackson…not by words or by actions. Get a grip, man, because you’ll be of no use to Jackson if you can’t control yourself.”
Shit, Zane was right. I’ve got to calm down. Steel closed his eyes and took several deep breaths, exhaling each one slowly.
Zane was worried. Steel was the rock everyone relied on.
Through all the turmoil, Jackson’s mate was the bedrock of the pack and at that moment Zane realized the toll this was taking on him.
Sorry for his outburst, he said, “Hey, Steel, everything’s cool.
I promise I won’t say a word to anybody about Ian.
I was just excited because I didn’t think there was any royalty left in the wolf world. ”
“No, I’m sorry. I’ll apologize to Cody too.”
“Okay, so what do you want me for?”
“Slate sent me Pablo’s phone and I want you to go through it to see if you can find anything to connect Silver Point Pack to Colton’s kidnapping. My brother had our digital division go over it and they couldn’t find anything. It’s a throwaway phone and the number Pablo called is disconnected.”
Taking the package, Zane ripped it open and pulled out the phone. Turning it over in his hand, he said, “Gimme a few hours and I’ll see what I can do.”
“Thanks, but don’t forget that after dinner, Logan’s unveiling the nursery.”
“Wow, is he done with the painting already?”
“According to Logan, it was finished this morning but he wanted to wait until it was dry…you know, paint fumes.”
“How’s Jackson doing?”
“He’s tired these days and it worries me.”
“Have you talked to Colton?”
“Not yet, but I’m hoping tonight or tomorrow if he and Ian skip dinner.”
“Let me know what they say, okay? In the meantime, I’ll get to work on this.”
Steel patted Zane on the shoulder before leaving to get back to Jackson.
~/~/~/~/~
Ian was admiring his mate’s fine ass while Colton was bent over his bag, digging out some jeans and a t-shirt.
He wanted to explore it tonight if Colton agreed.
Picturing his cock in his mate’s hole, Ian started stroking his rod.
He was a switch—bottom or top, it didn’t matter.
And while he loved Colton’s claiming, he also wanted to experience biting his mate because only then would they have a mind-link, or so he surmised, since they didn’t have one now.
Colton glanced up and saw what Ian was doing.
Standing, he sauntered over to the sexy scene playing out in front of him.
Fiery heat burned in his mate’s eyes while small moans escaped between his lips.
Pre-cum dripped on the floor from the efforts of one of Ian’s hands while the other was tweaking his nipples.
Colton could tell his mate was imagining an erotic scene in his mind and was oblivious to his presence.
Reaching over, he put his hand over the hand tugging Ian’s cock.
Squeezing, Colton crooned, “Yes-s-s-s babe, come for me. I want to see you shoot your cum.” He squeezed harder and sped up their hands.
Now Ian was whimpering but Colton knew his mate was still in his private world, not seeing anything.
He reached down with his other hand and grabbed Ian’s balls.
Clamping his fingers around the sack, he pulled lightly, keeping Ian’s balls from tightening to his body.
He watched as Ian’s thighs began to shake, knowing his mate was close.
Together, their hands worked in perfect harmony; their combined grip was driving Ian to a climax—a climax like no other as Colton refused to let Ian’s balls retract.
With a roar, Ian shot his cum like a rocket.
Hard, intense and never-ending, Ian’s orgasm was so powerful, his cum landed on Colton’s hair, face, and chest. Just as his mate was about to collapse, Colton caught him in his arms and lowered him to the floor.
He looked down at Ian’s face, now relaxed with a faraway smile, and chuckled.
If his mate had any anxiety about facing the pack at dinner, it was now gone.
~/~/~/~/~
After a quick shower, Colton dressed and, taking Ian’s hand, led him to the dining room where they found everyone seated. Their stomachs growled as the smells of food drifted in from the kitchen.
“Welcome to the Blackwood Pack, Ian,” Jackson said as Colton held Ian’s chair out for him.
“Thank you.” Ian said. “How are you feeling?”
“A little tired but that’s all. I’m ready for this pup to be born.”
Colton glanced at Ian and, from the tightness around his eyes sensed worry.
It was unusual that Jackson would be tired at this stage of his pregnancy.
Everything he’d read, including the material Ian sent him, described the last month of a Dire Wolf pregnancy as one of enormous energy.
He knew Ian would want to examine Jackson as soon as possible.
“Why don’t I give you a quick look after dinner and then we can do a more thorough exam tomorrow along with an ultrasound, okay?”
“I don’t know about tonight; Logan is going to unveil the nursery after dinner.” Jackson protested.
Steel interjected, “Babe, Ian can check you over after we see Logan’s fantastic creation.” Turning to Ian, he asked, “Is that okay with you and Colton?”
“Works for us,” Ian said before changing the subject.
“While I have everyone here, I want to apologize for shifting and causing such a ruckus. The only explanation I have is my extreme need to protect Colton. Maximus was kind enough to explain that all fated mates go through this. Hopefully, I won’t do it again now that I know what it’s about. ”
Laughter erupted around the table.
“You should’ve seen Steel…”
“Remember the time Jackson…”
“Don’t worry about it, Ian. We went through that with Jackson and Steel.”
“Colton, did you tell Ian about the time Steel tackled his fath…”
“Enough!” declared Jackson. “Ian gets the picture and we don’t need to hear our history recited tonight. Suffice to say, don’t worry about it Ian. Everyone understands. Let’s eat. I can’t wait to see Logan’s work.”
~/~/~/~/~
After dinner everyone meandered up to the nursery. Steel seized the opportunity to speak to Ian while Jackson was talking to Logan.
“Is it normal for Jackson to be so tired now?” Steel asked in a low voice, not wanting Jackson to hear. “I thought his tiredness ended after the first two months?”
“No, it’s not. Let me examine him first and then we can talk.”
“All right,” Steel said before hurrying to catch up with his mate who was on his way to the nursery. Joining Jackson, Steel heard Logan talking about the need to assemble the delivered furniture, and that Steel had volunteered to do it.
Jackson chuckled. “Boy I want to see that.”
“What? You think I can’t do it?”
“No, I didn’t say that. I want to see you follow instructions.”
“Follow instructions? What instructions? We’re putting together a crib not building a rocket.”
Jackson and Logan burst out laughing. When he could finally speak, Jackson said, “No shit. I think a rocket might be easier. I think we should come and watch him right, Logan?”
“Absolutely! This, I have to see.”
“Fine, you just wait. My father and I will have the furniture put together in no time flat and then I’ll be the one hooting,” Steel said, pouting at his mate who was laughing at him.
“Oh babe, you know I love you. I’m sure you’ll do a fantastic job,” Jackson said, stopping at the nursery door. Once everyone arrived, he said, “I’m ready to be wowed, Logan.”
“Yes, right. I wanted the nursery to be a special magical place for the newest member of the Blackwood Pack. This pup represents the future we never thought we’d have after the massacre.
I’ve always viewed him as a gift from the gods because he’s lifted our spirits out of the darkness.
Jackson and Steel think they know what’s on the other side of the door but I kept one part of the design a secret because it’s my gift to the pup.
Is everyone ready?” Logan asked. Seeing the eager nods, he opened the door and switched on the lights.
Jackson gasped and tears ran down his face as he saw what Logan had done.
For there in front of him was one continuous mural covering the four walls, telling the story of the brothers.
Logan had painted everyone in their wolf form, beginning with their parents and all the siblings, running and tumbling through the woods of the Fox River pack lands and morphing into the forests surrounding the Blackwood pack house built by the brothers that summer long ago.
Jackson held Steel’s hand as they walked slowly around, his eyes taking in the beauty of Logan’s artwork.
His brother’s mural included Jimmy, Mystia, Steel, Maximus, Oracle and even Ian as the story unfolded.
Logan ended it at the birth of the pup, securely nestled between Jackson’s paws while Steel stood guard over both of them.
Reaching out to touch the pack house the brothers built after the massacre, Jackson realized the mural wasn’t flat.
Looking at his brother, he asked, “How?”
Logan’s cheeks reddened as he sheepishly said, “I used joint compound to create relief sculptures on the walls and combined it with the mural painting. I did the relief technique selectively…on all the wolves, of course, the pack houses and then a few trees and mountains.”
“I’m overwhelmed by it, Logan,” Jackson said, hugging him. “Thank you, bro, I love it.”
When Logan drew the mural, he wanted it to embody the love between the brothers and their arduous journey to this moment—the birth of a new life.
It took him a long time, especially once he decided to add the relief work to the painting, but seeing Jackson’s reaction, it was worth it.
Now for the final surprise. Logan moved over to the door and put his hand over the light switch.
“The last part of my gift was inspired by your favorite song.”
He flipped off the main lights and the room went dark.
Then he flicked another switch. Everyone gasped as they looked up for there were hundreds of tiny lights embedded in the ceiling representing stars in a clear night sky.
They gave off a very dim glow—a nightlight for Jackson or Steel to check on the pup without waking him.
Then flicking another switch, a pale full moon appeared, increasing the light level just enough for changing a diaper or giving a bottle.
Jackson was speechless. Logan had taken the words from his favorite song “Thinking Out Loud” and used them as inspiration to create a wonderful world for his pup—one that was under the light of a thousand stars.
Memories flooded back of Steel’s last night surprise in San Francisco when they danced under thousands of tiny lights while his mate sang that song to him.
Tears were now flowing freely as Jackson felt consumed by his emotions.
He felt Steel’s arms wrapped around him, holding him securely while he cried.
His tears were for his dead parents and younger siblings and for all he and his brothers had lost. Suddenly he felt the hands of his brothers on his back before finding himself in the middle of the biggest group hug ever.
As his tears dried he felt his worries ease.
He looked at everyone with a trembling smile and said, “I love you guys and thanks for the hug. So, what do you think of Logan’s design? ”
~/~/~/~/~
Rudy knocked on Josiah’s door and waited for permission to enter.
He was a man on a mission and his boss wasn’t going to delay him anymore.
After being acknowledged, he entered and walked over to the desk, waiting for Josiah to finish his call.
His eyes roamed the office looking for the one thing he was seeking.
Spying it on top of the file cabinet, he sighed. At least he knew where it was.
Hanging up the phone, Josiah asked, “Have you taken care of the problem in Mexico?”
“Yes, Loki is headed down there to handle it.”
“Don’t fuck it up this time,” Josiah snarled.
“I won’t. It’s my neck on the line too. Did you find the video that guy sent to the High Council? It’s part of my investigation about potential leaks and I need to review it.”
“Fuck, it’s around here somewhere.”
“Uh, boss, I think I see it,” Rudy said, moving toward the file cabinet and picking it up. “Is this it?”
“Yeah, take it and return it when you’re finished.”
“Will do.”