Chapter 6
The last thing Slate expected to find when he opened his eyes was a sexy man drooling over him.
Sexy? No that’s not right! A fucking gorgeous man with curly brown hair, tumbling down to his shoulders, full eyebrows over soft brown eyes, high cheekbones leading down to beautiful lips with a hint of a smile, like the man knew a delicious secret.
Slate’s eyes roamed over the muscled body, pausing briefly on the hard cock hidden by jeans while the man stared at his chest, then his eyes flashed back to the face that was causing his cock to be rock hard.
There, he found the man’s eyes focused on his cock.
Seeing a movement out of the corner of his eye, he glanced down and saw the man’s hand reach out towards him and he held his breath, waiting to see if it would touch him.
When the hand was withdrawn, Slate felt disappointment throughout his body.
Raising his eyes again to the face that would now haunt his dreams, he waited to see what the man did next.
He didn’t have to wait long; the smell of cum washed through the room and his wolf howled his mating call.
Understanding dawned on Slate as he lay there stunned.
To wake up and find his mate in his bedroom was beyond all expectations.
Mate! My mate! He now understood what the fuss was all about, having a mate.
Emotions, stronger than he ever had, rose up as the need to claim warred with the need to protect.
He’s mine…all mine…forever! Joy and happiness, the likes, of which he never knew existed, bubbled through his heart and soul while his wolf tried to surge forward to bite his mate.
His body became hot as his blood boiled, anticipating the taking of his mate.
Trying to keep up with all of his reactions, Slate almost missed the look of panic on his mate’s face.
Wanting to reassure the man, he uttered, “Mate…my mate.”
Dakota’s mouth dropped as he realized Slate knew who he was and the knowledge finally freed his feet from the imaginary block of ice they were encased in.
With a cry of dismay, echoing throughout the room, Dakota fled down the hall and stairs, through the great room until he reached the front door.
Throwing it open, he threw himself into a shift.
Leaving his clothes shredded and scattered, he bounded, trying to escape a fate worse than death.
Slate remained still, trying to fathom why his mate rejected him.
Why? What’s wrong with me? Never facing rejection of any kind before in his life, he discovered how much it hurt.
I don’t understand. I thought when I found my mate he would fall into my arms, happy to be there forever.
..not run away. I need to talk to Mom. I have to find my mate.
Jumping out of bed and grabbing his clothes, he dressed as he hurried to the door, eager to find his mate.
~/~/~/~/~
Kieran was sitting on Logan’s lap in the living room of their Edinburgh hotel suite when he received a text. “Macushla, guess what?”
Logan shifted his attention from the discussion Ian was having with his parents and turned to his mate. “Hmmm, you’re ready for me to ravish you again? What? This would be the fifth time today?”
Giggling, Kieran said, “No…well I’m always up for that. But this is something different. Something you’ll never guess in a million years.”
Looking closely at his mate, Logan saw the merriment in Kieran’s vivid blue eyes. Oh shit, what is he planning now? Whatever it was, he knew it meant trouble.
“Okay, I give. What’s your surprise?”
“Zane wants to come to Scotland!”
“Huh? Zane? Here? Why?” asked Logan.
“Of course here, silly. Is there another Scotland you know of because I don’t and I spent years studying every country on earth and as far as I know there is only one Scotland and that’s where we are.
” Looking down at the next text, Kieran said, “Zane said he hasn’t been anywhere…
not even to college…because your parents were killed before he had a chance to go.
Oh that is so sad. Oh macushla, please? We’ll have so much fun I know Fionn will love to meet him and even though Zane is older , I know they will be best of friends just like Theo and Norman are my bestest friends.
You know Zane needs a friend cuz he is very lonely and Fionn needs a friend because he is also lonely and they would be perfect for each other. ”
“Babe, friendships just don’t happen that way. If they are meant to be friends then they will be but don’t expect too much. I have no objection to Zane joining us but let’s make sure everyone agrees before you text him back.”
“No problemo! Go ahead, ask now because he’s waiting for an answer.”
“Fine. Hey everyone,” Logan called out, waiting until he had their attention. “We just got a text from Zane who wants to know if it’s okay with everyone if he joins us next week.”
Theo let out a shout. “That’s fantastic! We’re going to have so much fun. Fionn, wait until you meet him.”
“Who’s Zane?” asked Fionn.
“He’s our youngest brother,” answered Colton.
“He helped me set up my ‘Cum and Bite Me’ dance club so Theo and Norman would know why I wanted to take them to one,” Kieran said.
“Cool,” said Fionn.
“Miss L, do you care if Zane joins our group?” asked Norman.
“Goodness, no. I always say the more the merrier.”
Logan glanced at Colton and Ian, waiting for their decision while they consulted with Ian’s parents. Sensing their hesitation, Logan added, “Colton…Ian? I’ll assume full responsibility for Zane. You don’t have to worry about him interfering with your plans at all.”
After reaching a decision, Colton said, “Thanks, Logan. We’d be happy if Zane joins us. By the way, we just found out something last night that’s changed our plans for next week. We’ll be gone for a couple of days, meeting Ian’s subjects…”
“They’re your subjects too, consort,” grinned Ian.
“Subjects? What the fu...I mean, what are you talking about?” asked Logan, raising his eyebrows.
“Yesterday, we found out there are 200 Scottish Wolf shifters living in a remote part of Scotland,” said Ian. “Next week, Colton and I, along with my parents, will be visiting them.”
“Holy crap! I thought Oracle said you and your parents were the last ones,” Logan said.
“She did. I called Jackson and asked him to talk to her about it,” Colton said.
“I’m sure if she knew she would have said something,” Logan offered, sure that Oracle wouldn’t deliberately keep it a secret.
“That’s what he said. Or it could have been she didn’t receive permission from the Fates to tell Ian,” conjectured Colton.
“Bro, if you need any help…”
“Thanks for the offer but I think we have it all under control.”
Logan searched his brother’s face and sensed there was more worrying Colton than that, but he wasn’t going to say anything more now. “We have our days planned out and Zane will be with us, so are you sure you’re okay with our little brother joining us?” asked Logan.
Looking at Ian who was nodding his head, Colton said, “Yup, he deserves a vacation.”
“Anyone else have a problem?” Logan looked around, then said, “Babe, text Zane back and tell him we are looking forward to seeing him.”
~/~/~/~/~
Slate ran down the hall, scenting his mate’s cum, determined to find him.
Fuck! I don’t even know his name. Down the stairs he went, into the great room, then to the front door.
Nearly tearing it off its hinges, Slate stepped out on the porch and saw the torn clothes scattered about.
Just as he was about to shift and follow his mate, his father took hold of his arm and using his Alpha voice, forced Slate to stop.
“Dad, let go…my mate ran off and I have to find him!”
“Son, your mother wants to speak to you first.”
Slate fought his wolf, finally gaining control and, as the tension left his body, he slumped against the house.
He stared into the woods, hoping to see his mate and when that didn’t happen, he shifted his gaze to his father.
“Why did he run off? I thought a mate would rather die than abandon the one the Fates had chosen. I don’t understand it. Why didn’t he like me?”
“Slate, your mate is safe. Talk to your mother. She can help you.” Maximus gently pushed his son into the house to see his mother.
Exhausted, Slate walked to his parents’ suite.
He was numb, unable to comprehend what happened and how it went wrong.
Never expecting to find his mate so soon after the onset of his first toirchigh, he was confused at his need—the overpowering drive to claim his mate.
All Slate knew as he entered the sitting room was that somehow he had fucked up badly.
Even his wolf knew it as he keened for his mate.
The man who walked in was in pain, that much Oracle could see.
But it was going to get worse before it got better.
How much worse depended on her son and what he decided to do.
Taking his hand, Oracle led Slate over to a chair, pushed him down in it, then sat beside him.
Holding his hand, she began. “Sweetie, tell me what happened.”
Sitting next to Oracle, Slate, remembered all the times during his childhood when his mother was there for him, comforting him when he fell, and chasing the demons in his nightmares away.
Drawing in her sweet scent, he confided that he’d found his mate but had been rejected.
Rubbing his heart, Slate hated even saying those words, because it made the pain there more intense, so much so, he was sure it was breaking in half.
Finally, when he admitted he didn’t even know his mate’s name, the tears began to flow.
Oracle put her arms around her son, gently rubbing his back as he cried.
She could feel the sadness enveloping Slate, but she had no quick fixes to make it better for him.
Only he could do that and she wondered, for the thousandth time, why her youngest son always had to travel such a hard road in his life.
Together they sat, one trying to find the strength to continue, the other giving love and support.
When the tears had finally stopped, Slate took stock of himself, trying to find the hidden well of strength he always seemed to have. Wiping the remnants of his tears away, he looked at his mother. “Mom, I fucked up big time but I don’t know what I did wrong or how to make it right.”
“Let’s see if we can sort it out, okay, sweetie?”
“I’d appreciate it.”
“What are your intentions? Do you want him?”
Slate thought it over and much to his surprise—considering his feelings just a few hours ago—said, “Yes, I do, but I don’t even know who he is.”
“His name is Dakota and he is Jackson’s brother.”
Dakota…Dakota…oh I know him. “He’s the chef, right? Colton told me about his cooking when we were in Mexico.”
“Yes, he is and he loves it. Right now, he is teaching Theo.”
“Maybe I can share some of my recipes with him. Colton said Dakota is always looking for new recipes.”
“That might be a good way for you to get to know him.”
“Good idea, Mom,” Slate exclaimed, but then his face fell. “But first I have to find him and see if he wants me. He ran away from me. What did I do wrong?”
“May I give you some advice?”
“Sure. As you can see, I need all the help I can get.”
“Before you claim Dakota, take some time to know him and let him learn about you, Slate. His story is the key to who he is and will help you understand why he ran.”
“Okay,” Slate said, “I promise I’ll talk to my mate before throwing him down and biting him.”
“That would be a good thing to do sweetie,” Oracle said, smiling gently. “One other thing. I must talk to Dakota before you claim him to explain the gift the Fates have for him.”
“I understand, but first I have to find my mate, Mom, and I’ll bring him back here so you can tell him what you need to.” Slate stood, extending his hand to his mother and helped her up. “I don’t think we’ll make it back for lunch, so will you make my excuses to Jackson?”
“You can do that after you tell him Dakota is your Fated Mate.”
Slate groaned as he followed his mother into the great room where Jackson was playing peek-a-boo with Daniel while Steel sat next to them.
Looking around he saw his father, Cody, Dylon, the twins, and then two other shifters, one identical to Cody so he figured that was Carson and the other must be the computer wizard, Zane.
Giving Cody and Dylon each a hug before taking Jessica in his arms and covering her belly with raspberry kisses, Slate then gave Jake his turn before heading over to his brother who introduced him to Carson and Zane.
“There’s another brother…Dakota…but he must be in the kitchen finishing lunch. He should be out in a few minutes.”
Slate stood there, knowing Dakota wasn’t in the kitchen, but he was unsure about how to bring it up. Wondering if he should tell Jackson in front of everyone or ask to see him privately, he was stumped as to what to do.
Jackson looked up at Slate, his eyes studying him and then suddenly said, “Babe, take Daniel would you? I have to speak with Slate.”
“Come here big guy,” Steel said, reaching for his son.
Jackson rose and walked over to the hallway with Slate following him. Entering his study, Jackson sat down behind his desk. “Please close the door and have a seat.” Then Jackson asked, “Where’s Dakota?”
“I don’t know exactly.”
“But he isn’t in the kitchen is he?”
“I don’t think so unless he came back when I was talking to my mom.”
“Came back from where exactly?”
“The woods I think. I only know he shifted and his scent led into the woods.”
Jackson hid his reaction but he was surprised at what Slate said.
Scent? Dakota doesn’t have a scent. Mystia’s spell hasn’t been removed from my brother.
So how can Slate detect a scent? Making a mental note to call Mystia after lunch, Jackson sorted through the information he had so far which wasn’t much but he was sure Slate knew more.
“Why would my brother shift and run off into the woods without letting anyone know?”