Chapter 3
“Oh. My. Gods!” Theo exclaimed, grinning. “That is so freaking amazing! I’m so glad you came here. If you hadn’t, my cub would never get to know his cousin!”
“I’m happy too,” Ollie murmured, exchanging glances with Mac. “Otherwise, I never would have met my mate…or know that I’d soon have a new cousin.”
“Yes, it’s just a coincidence that you found out about Theo,” Smokey muttered under his breath.
Jackson heard Smokey’s comment, and it piqued his interest why the grizzly bear had made it.
Smokey’s suspicion of Ollie was obvious, but Jackson couldn’t see the problem, especially since Theo was overjoyed to see his cousin again.
Smokey usually gave Theo anything he wanted, but after studying the grizzly bear’s body language, Jackson would bet that if Smokey had his way, he’d have sent Ollie packing.
Turning back to Theo, who was showing off his baby belly to Ollie, he decided he’d have a talk with Smokey to find out why he was so suspicious about Ollie.
“I never heard of any Ghost Bears getting pregnant before they turned twenty-five,” Ollie murmured, his hand resting on Theo’s stomach. “Have you felt him move yet?”
“No, not yet, but I hope it’s soon.”
Smiling at Theo, Mac said, “I’m sure it’ll happen any day now, considering how much he’s grown in the last few weeks.”
“I can’t wait,” Theo said, trying to stifle a yawn.
Norm knew his mate too well, and Theo’s attempt to hide his pregnancy-related fatigue didn’t fool him.
Mac had cautioned him to expect it and to step in if Theo began ignoring the signs.
Catching Smokey’s eye, Norm gave a nod before saying, “Honeybunch, Ollie and Mac need some time alone so why don’t we leave them be and tomorrow you can catch up with him? ”
“That sounds like a good idea,” Jackson said, understanding Norm’s motive for his suggestion. He had first-hand knowledge about how tiring a pregnancy could be. Glancing over at Ollie, he asked, “Any objections?”
“Nope, that’s fine,” Ollie replied, intertwining his fingers with his mate’s. “I’m kinda tired, too. I’ve been on the road for the last four days and could certainly use some sleep.”
“Then it’s settled,” Jackson said. “Tomorrow, Dakota and Steel will take care of the meals. Smokey, please see me in the morning, and Mac, I’ll arrange for Ian to be on call.
” After getting nods from everyone, Jackson left Mac’s office, heading to his study.
Even though it was late, he still had some unfinished business to take care of.
~/~/~/~/~
Once inside his apartment, Groose threw his keys down on the table near the front door and kicked off his boots before heading to his small kitchen.
Normally, he ate with his men in the massive dining room on the first floor, but tonight he wanted solitude.
Opening his refrigerator, he scanned the contents and found the covered casserole left by the enforcers’ chef.
Grabbing it, along with several bottles of water, he set all of it on the island before turning on the oven.
Leaning back against the counter, Groose opened a bottle of water and slowly sipped it while thinking about the man who tried to slip through the front gate.
It was a mystery for sure, and one he was determined to solve, but since the man hadn’t succeeded, Groose decided to forget about it until tomorrow.
After he heard the oven chime it had reached 350°, Groose put the casserole in and set the timer.
Dinner would be ready in an hour, which gave him enough time to shower.
~/~/~/~/~
Ollie watched as Smokey and Norm gently ushered Theo out of the room despite his cousin’s insistence he wasn’t tired, but he knew better.
It reminded him of the times in their childhood when Theo tried to use the same tactic with his parents to stay up late when Ollie visited.
It usually failed, but occasionally they allowed it, though it invariably ended with his cousin then falling asleep in mid-sentence, which always made Ollie laugh.
After everyone had left the room, Ollie turned to Mac and studied him for a moment before asking him some questions that had been troubling him since learning about Theo’s condition.
“Do you know how dangerous being pregnant is for Theo? Does my cousin know he could die? What about his mates? Do they know there’s a 75% chance Theo could die? ”
Mac said nothing for a moment before walking slowly over to his desk.
He sat down before looking up and locking eyes with his mate.
Ollie’s voice clearly expressed his agitation, and his questions implied Mac was somehow to blame for his cousin’s condition.
Recognizing Ollie’s anger as misplaced, Mac forced himself to remain calm.
No one had ever spoken to him like that, and it shocked him that his mate had done so.
Finally, Mac shifted his gaze to the chair in front of his desk and said, “Sit down, Oliver.”
It took a moment for Ollie to respond before walking woodenly over to Mac’s desk.
Once seated, he waited for Mac to answer him, but his mate only stared at him, apparently waiting for something, although Ollie couldn’t figure out what it was.
He hated it when someone played that game because it just resulted in pissing him off more, although how that could be possible in this case was anyone’s guess.
After realizing Ollie wasn’t going to apologize, Mac sighed silently.
It was a hell of a way to start their life together, but he decided to ignore his mate’s behavior and said, quietly, “I can understand your concern about Theo’s pregnancy, but before you accuse me of failing to do my job, you might want to speak to your cousin and his mates first. It was their decision to continue, even after Ian…
Dr. Wallace…and I both stressed the danger Theo faced.
And whether or not I agree with that decision, I respect Theo’s right to make it…
as should you as a medical professional. ”
Slowly shaking his head, Ollie said, “You don’t understand…”
“Oh, I assure you I do,” snapped Mac.
“No, you don’t,” Ollie said, forcefully. “I need Theo’s help, but now that’s impossible.”
Frowning slightly, Mac asked, “Why is it impossible? Theo would never refuse you.”
“I know that…but that’s just it…I can’t ask him because it would be way too dangerous for him now.”
“Ask him what?”
“To go with me to rescue his parents…my aunt and uncle.”
“I’m confused…” Mac muttered. “I thought his parents were living in Theo’s former pack.”
“They are…well not exactly…more like they are prisoners of Theo’s former Alpha,” Ollie said.
“I don’t understand…why would their Alpha do that?”
“No idea,” Ollie said. “My guess is they objected to one of his orders, so the Alpha decided to make an example of them by locking them up.”
“Holy shit…” Mac muttered, thinking about the effect the news would have on Theo.
Lacking the full story of Theo and Norm’s ordeal, Mac only knew that their parents sent them to Arald’s, where they remained imprisoned for three years until Dylon and Cody rescued them.
Other than that, he knew very little of the hows and whys it had happened.
And he certainly didn’t know what Theo’s reaction would be when he heard the news.
Shaking his head, Mac finally understood the reason for his mate’s anger.
He also knew that once Ollie told his cousin about his parent’s captivity, if Theo reacted badly, the consequences could be life-altering and that was the real issue in a nutshell.
It probably would have been hard enough for Theo to handle before, but now, the life of his cub—along with his—were very much at risk.
Glancing over at his mate, Mac said, “You can’t tell Theo… it’s too dangerous.”
Rolling his eyes, Ollie said, “Duh…I know that…but I can’t just leave my aunt and uncle locked up.”
“No…you can’t,” Mac murmured, suddenly deep in thought, “but you can’t go by yourself, either. I’ll speak to Jackson tomorrow about Ian taking over for me for a while.”
Mac’s offer to help forced Ollie to grin. “Ah…no offense, mate...but you’re a wolf and that won’t help you when you’re facing an Alpha bear and his enforcers…whom I might add, are also all bears.”
“Maybe…but it’s better than you going in alone!” Mac replied, trying to keep his fear for Ollie in check.
Ollie glanced down at the floor—his mate was right, which is why Ollie had ended up at the Blackwood Pack; he knew Theo would help him, despite the bad feelings his cousin might be harboring about his parents sending him to Arald’s.
And if he was honest, his real reason for asking his cousin for help was hopefully to heal the breach between Theo and his parents.
He’d learned at twenty-one, when a drunk driver killed his parents, that life can change instantly.
And more than anything, Ollie wanted to prevent Theo from ever experiencing the pain of regretting a decision—as he had done every day since his parents died.
And if there was one thing he’d learned that fateful day, it was not to make the same mistake twice.
Looking up at Mac, he said, “I agree, but I can’t risk your life. I’m pretty sure you haven’t ever fought a bear shifter before…”
“I haven’t, but that doesn’t mean I can’t.”
“Maybe…but trust me, this isn’t the time nor the place for you to find out,” Ollie muttered.
Mac thought for a moment, then asked, “What if Sawyer and his Siberian Tiger mate came with us?”
Ollie’s eyes widened. “Your brother is mated to a Siberian tiger?”
“Yes…and I know he can even take on an Alpha Ghost Bear and beat him.”
Shaking his head in disbelief, Ollie said, “I don’t doubt that for a moment but…honestly? A fucking Tiger? Fuck!”
“What do you think? You, me, Sawyer, and Glenn…one bear, two wolves and a tiger…is that enough muscle to get Theo’s parents out of there?”
“Maybe…” Ollie said, “but I would feel better if we had a few more apex predators with us…like Smokey.”
“You know that can’t happen…not without Theo finding out what you are planning to do.”
Ollie sighed in frustration at the total clusterfuck facing him.
His cousin’s pregnancy had thrown a huge monkey wrench into his plan, which meant it wasn’t viable now.
And it would delay his efforts to free Theo’s parents, which, considering the condition they were in the last time he saw them, could end up turning his rescue into a recovery of bodies instead.
He needed to think of a new plan, but his throbbing head, a leftover of Smokey shaking him nearly senseless, made it impossible.
What he really needed was a good night’s sleep on a soft bed.
Ollie’s sigh told Mac more than any words could.
Running his eyes over his mate, he saw the weariness etched in his face and his body slumped in the chair.
Cursing himself for not noticing it before now, he stood and walked over to Ollie.
Holding out his hand, Mac said, “You need sleep…tomorrow we can talk to Jackson and ask him for help. He has the resources we need.”
Looking up at his mate, Ollie asked, “He does?”
“Absolutely…so how about we go to bed and get the rest we both need before we take off on this rescue mission?”
A small smile graced Ollie’s face as he took the offered hand and got up. A kernel of optimism flared inside him. Maybe everything wasn’t as hopeless as it seemed.
~/~/~/~/~
Entering his study, Jackson smiled at Steel, who was waiting for him. Walking over to his desk, he sat down. “Danny’s asleep?”
“Yup…it was a three story night.”
Shaking his head, Jackson grinned. “Our son certainly has your number.”
Shrugging, Steel replied, “I can’t help it…especially when he looks at me with those puppy eyes.”
Chuckling, Jackson said, “I know…he knows how to use them, especially with you.”
Steel conceded his mate was right, but he had no defense against his son’s blue eyes that reminded him of Jackson’s every time Danny looked at him.
It always reminded him of the vow he’d made when Jackson lay dying after giving birth, that their son would only know love.
And he had kept his word to make sure Danny would feel secure in the love of his parents.
And if that meant he would read three stories instead of one, then he was delighted to do so.
Changing the subject, he asked, “Why did you want to know if Groose called me?”
Before Jackson answered, he clicked on an icon on his computer screen, opening the surveillance video from the security system Steel had installed.
Running it back, he stopped when he found what he was looking for.
Pointing at the figure at the front gate, he said, “Theo’s cousin showed up at the front door tonight, and I wondered if Groose told you of his arrival. ”
Steel’s brow furrowed as he took the mouse out of Jackson’s hand and clicked on the picture to enlarge it.
“No…he didn’t mention it…just a minute.” Reversing the video to the beginning, he played it again, but this time in slow-motion.
Frame by frame, he could see the attempts the man had made to squeeze through the iron bars of the gate without success.
At that point, Steel expected the man to use the intercom, but it didn’t happen.
Instead, the figure looked around, and then suddenly disappeared.
“What the fuck? Where did he go? One moment he was there and the next he was gone.”
“Somehow,” Jackson mused, “with no one knowing he was here, Theo’s cousin was able to enter my land and reach the front door of the pack house. Thankfully, it was Ollie and not a person intent on doing harm to my pack.”
“This doesn’t make sense,” Steel muttered, rewinding that section again. Then slowing the video down more, he watched, but the only thing that was different was a slight wobbliness of the man before he vanished. “Where’s Theo’s cousin now?” he asked.
“With Mac, who just so happens to be his Fated Mate,” Jackson said.
Whipping his head around, Steel stared at his mate. “Fucking hell! Really?”
“Yup…and Smokey isn’t happy about it, but I don’t know why,” Jackson said, answering the questioning look in his mate’s eyes. “I’m going to talk to him tomorrow morning and find out what’s behind it.”
“Good…in the meantime, send the video to Zane and ask him to check it for any signs of tampering. Do you want me to talk to Groose tomorrow about Ollie?”
“No, let’s wait till Zane can review the video,” Jackson said as he sent the file to his brother. After shutting down his computer, Jackson turned to Steel and grinned. “Never a dull moment, is there?”
Standing, Steel pulled his mate up into his arms, and whispered in his ear, “I can promise you it won’t be dull tonight. I ordered a special present for you, and it arrived this afternoon. Ready to see what it is?”