Chapter 8 #2
“Yeah, Penn explained everything,” said Cody. “He didn’t see any problem, so I think it’s more of a formality, than anything else.”
“Huh, weird,” Jackson said, “I got the impression it could go either way.”
“Not according to Penn. He has the evidence and witness to prove Fionn is an adult,” Cody said.
Shrugging, Jackson said, “Maybe Fionn is worried about nothing. Anyway, the next thing is that I got an email this morning from a shifter who heard about your home for boys.”
“How young is he?” asked Dylon.
“No, no. He’s a teacher and wanted to know if you were hiring,” Jackson said.
Cody exchanged glances with Dylon, before answering.
“Maybe. To be honest, we haven’t discussed what to do about schooling.
I’m not sure it’s a good idea sending them to a regular school until there’s some evaluation of the level of education they have…
some might have received none. Also, some of the boys may have come from abusive homes and have self-control issues. ”
“We should talk to him,” Dylon said. “It can’t hurt. We’re going to hire a psychologist so maybe we should think about a teacher too. He could help assess each boy and develop a plan so they could eventually integrate into a school.”
“It won’t hurt to interview him,” said Jackson. “Steel already has a crew remodeling the lower floor of your home for boys.”
“You’re right. Forward the email to me, will ya?” asked Cody.
“By the way,” said Dylon, “did he say how he learned about what we’re planning to do?”
“No, but that’d be a good question to ask him,” Jackson said, getting up from his chair. “I better take baba outside before Daniel gets back.”
“You better let me distract Jessica before you do that,” smirked Cody, looking at his daughter, who was playing with the rabbit.
“Good idea. I don’t know how, but I swear these three have their own language,” Jackson said.
“Gods forbid,” replied Cody, picking up his daughter and tickling her belly, “C’mon princess, time for a nap.”
Jackson waited until the twins had left before picking up the rabbit and taking him outside. Walking over to the edge of the forest, he set him down. “Go on. Your mate must be wondering where you’re always disappearing to.”
~/~/~/~/~
Dakota giggled at the noise his stomach was making. “I think our bean is unhappy that dinner is late.”
“That’s a good sign, babe. What do you want first…a piece of toast or the broth?”
“Broth.” Dipping his spoon in, Dakota took a small taste of it, then smiled. “It’s very good. I was afraid it might be too salty but it isn’t. Just the right amount.”
Smiling at Dakota’s appetite, Slate’s worry about their pup faded away.
He wondered how Steel survived Jackson’s pregnancy because at the rate he was going, he’d be a wreck at the finish line.
All afternoon, ever since the vomiting, he’d been going back and forth about Dakota joining the search for Brian’s mate tonight.
At least half a dozen times, he’d picked up his phone to message Logan they had to cancel, but each time he stopped himself, knowing Dakota would be furious if he made that decision for him.
Checking out his mate, Slate conceded Dakota looked healthy and if their fantastic fuck was anything to go by, felt great too, but was it worth the risk to go to the loch tonight?
If what Brian said was true, the mysterious shifter could walk right by them and they’d never know it.
Or what if the shifter got so angry when he saw us there, he’d attack, hurting Dakota and our pup. Or what if…
“Babe, stop,” Dakota said, reaching for Slate’s hand after hearing his concerns through their mind link. “Everything will be fine. Nothing will happen to me or our pup.”
“Even so, how will we find him if he’s invisible? You heard Brian…his mate is hiding from him so why would he show himself to us?”
“I thought about that and I have an idea,” Dakota answered. “I’m going to use my shadow voice so even if he doesn’t speak, I will hear his thoughts.”
“Yes-s-s-s, but how does that help us locate him?”
Shrugging, Dakota said, “I’m not sure, but I might learn what kind of shifter he is or maybe where he’s staying. I mean, at least he has to have a room somewhere because Brian said it’s been four or five days since he first detected him. Soooo, where is he sleeping?”
“Hmmm, maybe some place close by,” Slate answered.
“Exactly! There won’t be a lot of other voices out there at night so it should be easy to home in on Brian’s mate’s thoughts.”
“That’s true…”
“Also, I might learn what kind of danger he’s in…or at least, how fearful he may be,” Dakota said, eyes sparkling at the prospect of helping the man who helped save his mate.
Seeing how happy Dakota was now about using the gifts he’d once wanted to reject, Slate said, “Okay, we’ll go, but you have to promise to follow my orders all the time…especially if we’re attacked. That means you will not be fighting anyone.”
“I promise,” replied Dakota, before crunching down on his toast.