Chapter 34
It took several hours for the man to track down the sea dragon’s location.
Now, lingering in the lobby of Reif’s hotel, he observed the guards at the private elevator.
Wolf shifters! He spotted others, too, engaged in different activities, but he was certain they were all part of the force guarding the rare shifter he scented at Reif’s cottage.
Afraid of attracting too much attention, he ducked into a gift shop at the far corner of the lobby where he bought some newspapers and magazines.
Then, nonchalantly taking a seat near the elevator, he snapped open one of the newspapers, hiding his face as he listened to the chatter among the guards.
Most of it was banal, but finally, their conversation revealed the information he was seeking.
Folding up the newspapers, the man rose, strolling out of the hotel and, for the first time since that fateful night so long ago, hope filled his heart.
~/~/~/~/~
Jackson paused, thinking about Fionn’s story. So similar to Theo, Norm, Kieran and David’s stories—and the Fates sent them all to me. Gods, I hope I’m up to the task. “Fionn, have you thought about what you want to do next?”
Excited about his new won freedom, Fionn smiled before saying, “Yeah, I want to go back to Scotland for the treasure hunt.”
“Mystia will be here shortly to take you, but what about when you come home? Do you have any goals? Want to go to college?” asked Jackson.
Remaining quiet, Fionn, realized he’d been too busy trying to escape his relatives to contemplate any future plans.
Now, all he had left to do was gain control of his father’s estate and he didn’t think that would take too long.
Answering his Alpha’s question, he said, “I haven’t thought much about goals, I mean, up till now, my goals have mainly been trying to avoid getting killed. ”
“I have a suggestion. When Kieran, Theo, and Norm joined the pack, Cody assigned them to different pack members, sort of like interns, to see if anything interested them. Theo found he wanted to be a chef and Norm discovered he had a real aptitude for business.”
“And Ki loves design,” Fionn added.
“Exactly. However, you might enjoy working with computers, or in the medical field or even joining Cody and Dylon to help save other boys who’ve been mistreated, much as you were.”
“Maybe. My father had numerous businesses that are now mine and I don’t have a friggin’ idea what to do with them. Should I sell them and, if I do, how can I trust anyone to tell me what they’re worth? Or if I keep them, who can I trust to run them?”
“How are your computer skills?” asked Jackson. “That might be the first place you start. Numbers don’t lie and having the knowledge to access the financial records of your different companies gives you control.”
“Yeah, but I won’t have a clue what the numbers mean.”
“Then I suggest you spend some time with Zane…to increase your computer skills…and me, so you learn how to read a financial report. Once you can do that, it’ll be easy for you to decide which companies are worth keeping and which ones should be dumped.”
Fionn thought about it for a moment. “What about learning how to run a business? If I keep some, I’ll still have to know how to run them, won’t I?”
Jackson nodded, before answering, “There’s Carson, Steel, or Slate you can work with to learn that. All of them are excellent businessmen.”
“Yeah, okay,” Fionn said, now distracted, biting his lower lip, knowing he had to bring it up but unsure about how to do it. Finally, he blurted out, “What about my white dragon?”
“What about it? If you’re asking me do I have a problem with your dragon, the answer is no.”
“But what about the superpower Ki told me about? Doesn’t that worry you?”
“Is that what you’re afraid of most?” asked Jackson.
Is it? Ever since Kieran told him about it, Fionn had spent hours trying to figure out what power his white dragon would have and when it would appear, but that was only part of his fear.
“What if I hurt someone with it…like Theo or Norm? Or Ki? This is all so new to me. What if I get angry and use it accidentally? What if I kill someone who’s innocent?
What if I can’t control it? What if I use it for the wrong reason? What if…”
“Whoa, Fionn, stop.” Jackson leaned forward and grasped Fionn’s hand. “I understand your concerns, but the gods and Fates won’t let that happen. As I said, the Fates gave me the job to protect you and your dragon…”
“But I’m going to have a fucking superpower. How can you fight that?”
“What was the first thing you asked me?” said Jackson.
“If you were going to use your power to hurt me.”
“And I said no. The gods and Fates gave me power to help you learn how to use your superpower and, by the way, it will never work against any member of the Blackwood Pack so you don’t have to worry about that.”
“I don’t understand…how can you help me?” asked Fionn.
“My power will control your superpower, whatever it is. The gods and Fates want to make sure you have the space and time to mature…to understand the purpose of the gift you’ll receive. All of your fears and worries? None of that will happen.”
“So, if I understand you, I can’t use my superpower unless you let me, is that right?”
“Yes. But I won’t use it to control you.
You were sent to the Blackwood Pack for a reason and, like everyone in it, you are unique…
rare. I’m a hybrid Alpha/Omega with the strongest Alpha power on earth, Logan has the gift of shape shifting, Kieran is the most powerful Shaman on earth, Cody can disappear… ”
“Ahh,” said Fionn, “that’s why I heard him in the courtroom but couldn’t see him.”
“Exactly. Dylon has the power of Hercules, Colton has Archangel Raphael’s healing power, Ian is the last known royal wolf shifter, Dakota is an Alpha/Omega hybrid, an empath who can hear thoughts, David can vanish and is the High Priest sent from the gods, and Zane can ghost walk and disable opponents with waves of solid energy. ”
“What about Theo and Norm?” asked Fionn.
“They are Ghost Bear shifters who may receive gifts in the future…only the Fates know for sure. What I do know is the gods and Fates have a purpose for all of us and that includes you.”
“Why me? In a pack? I’m not sure what that means. Ki, Theo, and Norm are my family now and I would do anything to protect them. It’s why I killed my father. If he’d found out about them, they’d have been in danger…and I couldn’t allow that,” Fionn confessed.
“That’s what a pack is…a family. So your family just got bigger. The Blackwood Pack is about love, loyalty, and trust for each other, exactly what a family is,” replied Jackson.
“What happens if we fight? Theo, Norm, and I disagreed on stuff.”
“That’s normal. So what happened?”
“I was being a dick so I apologized.”
“And did they accept it?” asked Jackson.
“Yeah.”
“Fionn, that’s part of being in a family.
Shit, I can’t tell you how many times my brothers and I quarreled growing up, but you know what?
At the end of the day the love we had for each other got us through.
Right now, you love Ki, Theo, and Norm but give it time and I’m pretty sure my brothers and their mates will grow on you too…
well, some of my brothers. Don’t tell them I said that,” Jackson chuckled.
“My mother told me to trust everyone in the pack. She said they would protect me.”
“Smart lady.”
“Yeah, she was. I miss her terribly.” Lowering his eyes, Fionn fought back tears. He didn’t think he’d ever get over her death.
The dragon’s sorrow was palpable and spoke to the omega in Jackson. Rising, he pulled Fionn up and hugged him, murmuring reassuring words, hoping they’d help temper the young dragon’s pain.
Jackson’s love flowed through Fionn, helping to rein in his grief. After moving out of his Alpha’s arms, he stood there, unsure about what to do next.
Watching Fionn surreptitiously brush the tears from his eyes, Jackson stepped back, giving the dragon some space. “Mystia is here for you,” he said, “but when you come home, I have a favor to ask you.”
“What is it?”
“You and I have a special connection, forged by the gods and Fates, so please let me be your big brother. By that, I mean, confide in me, tell me what’s bothering you, what issues you have solving problems…
stuff like that, so I can help you. I promise to always respect your decisions, but before you make them, I might be able to give you a different perspective to consider. ”
“You mean like a parent?”
“No, absolutely not,” laughed Jackson. “I see my role as helping you learn how to make good decisions, not making them for you. Making them is the part of maturing you have to do yourself.”
And that was the part Fionn was most unsure of now that he was an adult.
His father had never been around, nor cared to give him counsel about anything, least of all about decision-making.
Now, with Jackson’s offer, his fear could be assuaged.
Nodding to his new Alpha and mentor, he replied softly, “I’d like that very much. ”
“Good. Now go find that green diamond so everyone can come home. This house is too empty.”
~/~/~/~/~
After Fionn had left with Mystia, Jackson joined his brother and Dylon in the great room. Smiling at the pile of sleeping wolf pups, Jackson sat facing Cody and Dylon. “What do you think? Will Fionn’s uncle leave him alone?”
“Well, it depends on what you mean. The judge told his uncle to make up some phony claims against the estate, so Penn will still have to fight that.” Dylon then played the recording for Jackson who pursed his lips as he listened.
“What about going after Fionn personally?” asked Jackson.
“We don’t know.” Cody glanced at Dylon who shrugged his shoulders. “The uncle never mentioned anything about a white dragon to the judge or his attorney.”
“We can only hope he doesn’t know,” said Jackson, “but we can’t count on it. What about the bogus claims? What are you going to do about that?”
“I’m kicking around a few ideas, but it would help if you could find out from Penn when the hearing on the assets of the estate will be,” Dylon said.
“I’ll call him this afternoon.” Then, glancing at the pups, Jackson turned to Cody and Dylon and smirked, “Hey guys, if you want, I can watch the twins for you. You know, in case you want to work on your relationship goals.”
~/~/~/~/~
Thanking Mystia, Fionn grinned as she disappeared from his bedroom at the hotel.
Rushing into the living room in the suite he shared with Theo and Norm he found it empty so he headed to Kieran’s.
Bursting in, he stopped short. Balloons and streamers festooned the living room and a huge cake sat on the coffee table.
“Congratulations, Fi!” Kieran shouted, popping up from behind the sofa.
As the others did the same, Fionn broke into a wide grin, looking around the room at his new family, feeling the power of love directed at him.
It was overwhelming, considering he’d come from a home where, after his mother died, it was non-existent.
Before any tears could fall, Fionn found himself in a hugfest with Kieran, Theo, and Norm.
“You won!” yelled Theo.
“Who told you?” asked Fionn.
“Cody!” they all cried in unison.
“This must have taken some time,” Fionn said, pulling down a balloon from the hundreds that were nesting together on the ceiling. “Pink,” he chuckled, “let me guess who was in charge of ordering these.”
Kieran grinned at him. “Can you believe the party shop had these left over from an event? How lucky could I be? Pink is perfect for a happy party and this is the happiest party of all times, right?” he squealed.
“And look, I got a cake to match.” He pointed to the pink-frosted cake with white lettering that said, ‘Congratulations, Fionn!’.
“Thanks guys. This is so sick!” Bending down, Fionn swiped a finger through the frosting, popping it into his mouth. “Mmmm, fucking good!”
“C’mon everyone, time to party!” Kieran shouted.
“Wait! What about the green diamond and the treasure hunt?” asked Fionn.
“Reif told us the history,” Kieran said, “but we couldn’t come up with any new clues, so Zane’s going to search the web tonight to see if he can find anything else about where the green diamond is so nothing can be done now.
By the way, Theo and Norm can fill you in later, but right now, it’s party time cause I’m over the moon about you winning in court today and your uncle getting the boot. How freaking amazing is that?”
“Yeah, it’s so totally sick,” Fionn said wearing a shit-eating grin.
“C’mon all you big guys, move the furniture out of the way!
Music Theo! Zane, do the lights! Let’s dance everyone!
Macushla, my booty is looking for you!” Grabbing Logan’s hand, Kieran pulled him over to the newly cleared dance floor and, as the heavy beat throbbed through the room, snuggled his ass against his mate’s groin and started to grind.
Reif glanced at Nessie. “Well, want to join in? I’m a little rusty since it’s been a while, but hey, I’m sure it’ll come back to me.”
Gazing at his mate, Brian felt his cock twitch from the sexiness oozing from Reif. Sex on a stick! That’s what my Reif is. My sexual fantasy come to life. “Ay, if ye want to, but only one dance.”
“Sure, we can sit the others out.”
“Ahh, I dinna have that in mind, mate.” Dropping his eyes to Reif’s lips, Brian grinned. “Somethin’ more intimate.”
Reif looked down at Nessie’s bulge and grinned.
Pulling Brian close, he slid his hand down, palming his mate’s hard cock, trapped behind a zipper.
Lowering his lips to Brian’s, Reif pressed lightly, waiting for Nessie to open for him and when it happened, slid his tongue in, groaning as it found its mate.
Losing himself in Reif’s kiss, Brian moaned, needing to feel his mate’s cock in him again.
Something he never expected but couldn’t get enough of now.
Brian leaned back, looking at his mate’s puffed-up red lips and heavy-lidded eyes.
Sucking in a breath, he felt his cock harden further.
Knowing he was fast approaching a climax, he murmured in Reif’s ear, “How aboot we take this somewhere more private?”