Chapter 4
It was only after Mac shut the door to their bedroom that Ollie finally let go of the breath he’d sucked in on his journey through the Blackwood Pack house.
The sheer amount of love he could feel around him was surprising, since it wasn’t what he expected to find in a wolf pack.
And he quickly realized it was the perfect place for Theo to be after his cousin’s harrowing experience with Arald.
From the moment Theo had fainted, everyone who rushed to his cousin’s aid was a protector or caregiver.
Even the Alpha’s reaction confirmed in Ollie’s mind how safe his cousin was at the Blackwood Pack.
When Ollie first discovered that Theo was living in a wolf pack, he was sure his cousin was a prisoner, as he’d been with Arald, because he couldn’t come up with any reason his cousin would choose to live with wolves.
But his friend at the High Council had assured him it had been Theo’s choice to live with the Blackwood Pack.
Still, he’d remained unconvinced until his friend sent him proof, prompting him to search for Theo’s parents and learn why they sent their son to Arald’s.
“Oliver? Is everything okay?” Mac asked after his mate just stood there, staring at the door. And when Oliver didn’t answer, Mac said his name again, but louder this time. “Oliver!”
Mac’s voice finally got through to him, snapping Ollie out of his reveries and, after blinking several times, his eyes finally focused on his mate. “I’m…ah…what was it you wanted?” he asked, slightly embarrassed for not responding sooner.
Mac studied Ollie for a moment before he reached out and took one of his mate’s hands. Tugging Ollie close to him, he pressed a soft kiss to his ear before whispering, “I asked if you wanted to take a shower before we go to bed.”
Nodding, Ollie smiled. “I would absolutely love to wash four days of road grime off before you claim me.”
“C’mon then, the bathroom is this way.” Lacing his fingers with Ollie’s, Mac led his mate into the en suite bathroom, smiling at the soft gasp he heard when the giant walk-in shower appeared in Ollie’s view.
Dropping Mac’s hand, Ollie slowly walked over to it, his eyes surveying the entire space. “Holy fiddlesticks!” he murmured before looking at his mate. “It’s the shower of my dreams!”
Chuckling, Mac said, “I felt the same way the first time I saw it.” Then, joining Ollie, he pointed at the array of water nozzles lining the three shower walls.
“Each one of them can be rotated to hit any spot on your body with pulsating water, and I guarantee by the time you’re finished, your muscles won’t be sore anymore. Ready to find out if I’m right?”
“Hell, yes!” Ollie exclaimed, grinning.
That was all Mac needed to hear. Reaching into the shower, he turned on the water and pushed the button, activating the jets.
Then he faced Ollie and began stripping his mate’s clothes off, beginning with his t-shirt.
Slowly, raising it from the bottom, he enjoyed unveiling his mate’s muscled abs and beautiful chest. Pausing for a moment, Mac leaned in, flicking his tongue over Ollie’s nipples before rolling each between his teeth.
Enjoying his mate’s whimpers, he smiled before removing the shirt.
Ollie stood frozen in place, the pounding noise of water pulsing from the jets forgotten as his body reacted to Mac’s touch.
Each one sent jolts of electricity through his body; he could barely remain upright after all his clothes lay in a heap on the floor.
But when Mac’s hand closed around Ollie’s turgid cock, his knees buckled and he fell against his mate. “Mac,” he moaned, “please…I need you.”
“I got you, babe,” Mac whispered, grasping his mate around the waist to steady him before leading him into the shower. As Ollie leaned against him, Mac grabbed the shower gel and squirted some into his hand. Then, with a tender touch, he began washing his mate.
Between the pounding water on his body and Mac’s hands caressing every inch of him, Ollie felt boneless by the time his mate turned off the water. He was thankful that Mac was holding him upright because otherwise he was sure he’d end up as a puddle on the floor.
Grabbing one of the heated bath towels, Mac wrapped it around Ollie, rubbing his mate’s body and hair dry.
Then he tucked Ollie against his side, supporting him as they left the bathroom and headed to the bed where Mac pulled the covers back and then helped Ollie climb in between the sheets.
Leaning down, he brushed his lips over his mate’s before murmuring, “I’ll be right back. ”
Ollie didn’t acknowledge Mac’s words. Instead, he sighed in relief at the soft mattress beneath him, his eyelashes fluttering several times before he closed his eyes. In seconds, he had fallen into a deep sleep, not even waking when his mate kissed him.
Mac’s need to claim Ollie was overpowering, but he resisted it after seeing how exhausted his mate was.
Their claiming could wait until tomorrow.
After tidying up the bathroom, Mac turned off all the lights and joined Ollie in bed, and the last thing he remembered was the feel of Ollie’s soft lips on his.
~/~/~/~/~
Oracle sat at her dressing table, brushing her long silver hair, her mind on the next assignment from the Fates.
She would need Mystia to help her—which wouldn’t be a problem—but the other person might be.
Sawyer would want to know why Oracle wanted him to cloak her and Mystia, but she could not tell him.
And no matter how many different excuses she came up with, she knew none of them would satisfy Sawyer.
Sighing, Oracle glanced in the mirror and smiled when she saw her love.
Keeping his eyes on the image in the mirror, Maximus stopped behind his wife and asked, “What has you looking so perplexed?”
“Nothing important…are you finished for the day?”
Bending down, Maximus kissed the side of Oracle’s neck before saying, “Yes…Dire Enterprises now owns the largest paranormal medical research company in our world.”
Turning around in her chair, Oracle looked up at Maximus, her face beaming with pride. “It’s going to be a game changer for our world, isn’t it,” she murmured.
“Indeed…making it private takes the politics out of what the research scientists will focus on…curing diseases that will help every wolf shifter to begin with,” Maximus said.
“And the others…like magic users? What about them?”
“Steel and Slate are drawing up plans to create divisions to research solutions and cures for each type of paranormal. It will take a while, but eventually it will happen.”
“I’m so lucky…and thankful…the Fates picked you for me,” Oracle said, standing up and linking her hands behind her mate’s neck. “You are absolutely perfect.”
“I’m the lucky one,” Maximus murmured, nuzzling the sensitive spot behind Oracle’s ear.
“You made my life complete when Steel and Slate were born. I never knew how much I wanted children until I held Steel in my arms for the very first time. But you knew…and you pestered the Fates until they finally gave in to you. And now look at me…a grandfather…someone I could never imagine being.”
Drawing back, Oracle examined Maximus’ face for a moment before she said, “I always knew you would be perfect…first as a father to our sons and then as a grandfather.”
“Hmm…” Maximus hummed. “Then you have more faith in me than I did.”
“No…do not do that.”
“What?” asked Maximus.
“Doubt yourself. The Fates knew what they were doing when they gave you Danny as a grandson.”
“You know what he is?” asked Maximus, surprised.
“I do,” Oracle replied. “You will be very important to Danny as he grows up.”
Shaking his head, Maximus replied, “I couldn’t believe it when I first saw him…a beautiful silver-furred pup with matching silver eyes…but then…”
“Your photographic memory instantly told you who Danny was.”
“Yes…but I couldn’t tell Jackson or Steel.”
“Why not?” asked Oracle.
“I thought they would treat Danny differently, and I didn’t want that for him,” Maximus replied. “I thought he should have a normal childhood, one filled with love and family before being thrust into that role. After all, look at what David went through. I didn’t want that to happen to Danny.”
Smiling tenderly, Oracle said, “Neither do I…and, if you want my opinion, I believe you did the right thing. Danny should grow up enjoying a normal childhood before he has to face his destiny.”
Oracle’s support meant everything to Maximus because he felt guilty at not having disclosed the truth to Jackson about Danny’s destiny.
But no matter how many times it was on the tip of his tongue to reveal it, something always held him back.
Then, when Oracle had agreed with his decision, something inside him finally settled.
Searching his mate’s comely face for a moment, Maximus saw the love she had for him shining through.
“Thank you, my love…I needed to hear that,” he said quietly.
“I know…” Oracle whispered, lightly brushing her lips against Maximus’ before asking, “Anything else we should discuss before bed?”
“No…” Maximus said. Linking his fingers with Oracle’s, he led her to their bed. It had been a tension-filled week, and he knew they both needed some sleep before the next day began.
~/~/~/~/~
Alex listened intently as the house grew quiet and he was positive everyone was asleep, including his two mates.
It had taken longer than he thought, especially after the energy they spent on the evening’s sexcapades—which he wasn’t willing to forgo despite his worry about his grandfather.
Slowly, he wriggled out of their arms and slid out of the bed.
Tiptoeing out of the bedroom into the adjoining sitting room, he held his breath, afraid one or both would wake up and demand to know where he was going.
Luckily, both of his mates slept through his escape.
Softly closing the door between the two rooms, he walked over to the far side of the room and sat down in a chair, reaching for his phone he’d left on the desk. Turning it on, he pressed the last number on his call list, waiting for his grandfather to answer.
“Hello?”
“Grandfather? Is that you?” asked Alex softly.
Hearing his grandson’s voice, Henri quickly wiped the sleep from his eyes and sat up in bed. “Alex…are you all right?”
“Yes, I’m okay,” Alex replied. “I’m just returning your call.”
Looking over at his alarm clock, Henri chuckled when he saw the time. Ignoring the early hour, he said, “I thought you would be asleep with your mates.”
“They are, but I didn’t sleep because I wanted to call you. What did you want to talk about? Are you hurt?”
Henri could hear the tension in Alex’s voice, and he kicked himself for causing it. “Non, I’m fine. I wanted you to know I emailed your Alpha, requesting permission to visit until you have your cub.”
A big smile broke out on Alex’s face at his grandfather’s news.
His mates had invited Henri to visit them at the Blackwood Pack, but Alex wasn’t sure his grandfather would accept the invitation.
He knew his grandfather’s life was in France, so although he wanted him close by, Alex had concluded it was wishful thinking.
But it turned out he was wrong. “When will you arrive?” Alex asked.
“I don’t know, yet,” Henri said. “I just sent my request, so I don’t expect to receive an answer for a few days. Once I do, I’ll send you all my travel information.”
“Do you want me to talk to Jackson? Maybe I can speed it up.”
Chuckling, Henri said, “Maybe, but why don’t we wait a day…Alphas rarely like to be pushed.”
Alex conceded his grandfather had a point, but he didn’t think Jackson would mind if he brought it up.
“Okay,” he said, but his mind was busy thinking of how to approach the topic with his Alpha.
Maybe Fionn would have an idea about how to do it.
Suddenly, he heard Sawyer calling his name.
“Oops…got to go, grandfather…bye.” After hearing his grandfather’s goodbye, Alex quickly hung up before shoving the phone behind the pillow again.
Pushing open the sitting-room door, Sawyer took a step inside, glancing around until his eyes found his mate. “Hey…who were you talking to?” he asked, walking over to Alex and sitting down opposite of him.
“Uh…no one…why?”
Rolling his eyes, Sawyer said, “Delicious Surprise…you need to learn how to lie better if you are ever going to be a good secret agent.”
Alex frowned. “Who said I was lying?”
“Duh…me. I heard you talking and since Glenn is still asleep in our bed, and I wasn’t in here, you must have been talking to a ghost or to someone on the phone. So, which one is it?”
“Wow! You’re pretty good at being a secret agent…did you know that?” asked Alex. “Sawyer Evan—Super Spy! You even have a fantastic code name. Maybe you should write a book about all your exploits.”
Shaking his head, Sawyer said, grinning, “Nice try at changing the subject but no dice…now fess up. Who was on the phone?”
Figuring his mate would not give up, Alex finally said, “My grandfather.”
“Henri?” Sawyer asked, surprised at his mate’s answer. “At this time of the night? Why?”
Shrugging, Alex said, “I missed his call this afternoon.”
“Is he okay?”
“Yeah, he’s fine.” Then seeing the doubt on Sawyer’s face, Alex said, “He wants to come and stay with us until our cub is born.”
Sawyer’s eyes widened. “Sweetheart, that’s the best news ever.”
Nodding, Alex said, “He told me Jackson has to give him permission…did you know that?”
“Yeah…but don’t worry. Jackson would never deny your grandfather his permission.”
“Hey…what’s going on in here?” Glenn growled. “Why aren’t both of you asleep?”
Glancing at Alex, Sawyer smiled reassuringly before turning to Glenn to tell him about Henri’s decision and the need for Jackson's permission.
“He won’t refuse him, but if he does, we can go to France and stay at your chateau until the cub is born,” Glenn growled.
“Oh, tiger mate, that’s a great idea!” Alex exclaimed.
“Not that I prefer that but if it was the only way my grandfather could be there for his great grandson’s birth then I guess it would be okay, although I told Fionn I was counting on him being there also.
Maybe my brother and Hunter could come with us. ”
“It won’t come to that, sweetheart,” Sawyer muttered, tossing a frown at Glenn.
Rising, he took Alex’s hand, pulling him up before leading him back to their bedroom.
Once Alex was between them in bed and sound asleep, Sawyer decided to get up early and speak to Jackson about Henri’s request. The sooner he had an answer, the better it would be for Alex and their cub.