Chapter 19
Jackson leaned back in his chair and sighed deeply, thinking about his conversation with Penn about the uphill battle they’d need to fight to get the arrest warrant canceled.
The odds of winning it without Theo’s parents were nil; even with their sworn statement, it still would be an almost impossible victory.
His thoughts were interrupted by the arrival of his mate, who headed over to Jackson and kissed him before sitting down next to him.
“Want to tell me why you look like someone just gave you bad news?” Steel asked.
“Because Penn just did,” Jackson frowned, picking up the arrest warrant and passing it to his mate.
After reading it, Steel said angrily, “You have to be kidding me! There’s no way they could have done it since they were both here.”
“That’s the only good thing going for them,” Jackson said, sighing. “Penn said Theo and Norm must surrender and he might be able to bail them out after they’re charged. But…and this is a big but…Penn said we shouldn’t count on it.”
“What? You mean they have to stay in jail? Until when? The trial? And how soon would that be?” Steel asked, trying to control the anger welling up inside him.
Shrugging, Jackson said, “Maybe six months…but only if the other side doesn’t object.”
“If Theo stays locked up for that long, he’ll lose the cub.”
“No shit!” Jackson growled.
“Can’t Penn petition the court to release Theo and Norm into your custody…because of his risky pregnancy?”
“Yes…but until a judge can hear his motion, they’ll both have to stay in jail. And, according to Penn, since there isn’t any merit to the warrant, he doubts the other side is gonna agree to an early date for the hearing…meaning it could also delay the start of the trial.”
Steel thought for a moment, then asked, “What are your rights as their Alpha? Can you demand their release pending the outcome of the trial?”
“Maybe…it depends on what claims the other side makes. For instance, their former Alpha can argue Theo and Norm could not formally leave the pack since they were minors when they disappeared…”
“Fucking hell!” Steel growled. “They didn’t just leave; the asshole sent them to Arald’s.”
“He can claim that their parents were the ones who sent them to Arald’s without his permission, which means Theo and Norm are still members of his pack.”
“But they’re not minors anymore.”
Shaking his head, Jackson said, “Doesn’t matter. After they came of age and left the pack, they didn’t file the required separation papers with the High Council.”
“So officially they’re still in his pack? Fuck!”
“The only possible solution Penn can see is if Theo and Norm disappear while Penn challenges the legal validity of the warrant.”
“Is that Penn’s legal opinion?” Steel asked, smirking.
Chuckling, Jackson said, “It depends on whether you’re referring to his official legal one or the one he offered off the record.”
“It doesn’t really matter since there’s only one viable option you have—and that’s to protect Theo and Norm. So, have you figured out where you are going to send them?”
“Maybe…it has to be close since Theo needs Mac, and it has to be with someone I have absolute trust in to keep a secret…”
Steel studied his mate, then laughed. “Have you asked him yet?”
“No…but there’s no time like the present.” Picking up his phone, he entered a number.
“I can’t fucking believe it!” muttered Tristan, looking at his phone.
When the call went to voicemail, Jackson hung up and called again, hoping his cousin would answer.
“You'd better answer it,” mumbled Heath.
“No fucking way! Keep going!” Tristan said, hoping Jackson would give up.
But when his cousin called the third time, he finally gave in and answered.
“What the hell is it with you? Every time my cock is in my mate’s mouth, you decide it’s the perfect fucking time to call me?
” he growled, continuing to pump his hips, enjoying the tightness of his mate’s throat.
“Tell him I already told my dad about Logan and Kieran,” Heath mumbled as he continued to massage the cock in his mouth with his tongue.
“What did he say?” asked Jackson, trying not to laugh. “Maybe you should give him the phone.”
“Fuck off! You heard him,” Tristan said. “You got two seconds to convince me not to block your number forever.”
“I need a favor,” Jackson said, all laughter gone from his voice. “Before you say anything, it’s not exactly aboveboard.”
Tristan’s hips stopped moving. It wasn’t the request for a favor that stunned him; it was the part that followed.
Jackson had never struck him as a guy who broke the law, so that got his attention—at the expense of his quickly softening cock.
Looking down at Heath, he shook his head before stepping back and slipping his cock from his mate’s mouth.
Shoving it back into his pants, he sat down and said, “Tell me more.”
“Is anyone else with you other than Heath?” asked Jackson.
Snorting, Tristan asked, “Are you asking if I’m into public sex? If so, then you should know that the answer will always be no.”
“Good to know,” Jackson chuckled. “I’ll tell Kieran he should take your name off his list of guests for his toga party.”
“Wait, did he say a toga party?” asked Heath, sitting down on his mate’s lap. Leaning into the phone, he said, “Ignore him, Jackson…we are certainly into flashing skin if there’s gonna be a toga party.”
Quirking an eyebrow, Tristan mouthed, “Flashing skin?”
“Well, in that case, I’ll be sure to tell Kieran to include you two,” Jackson replied, laughing.
“Uh…you need a favor?” Tristan asked, changing the topic. He wasn’t sure what his mate was up to, but having sex in public had never lit his fuse.
“Yeah…” Jackson said, stopping when Steel reached over and muted his phone. Puzzled, he looked over at his mate and asked, “Don’t you agree with my idea?”
“I do,” Steel quickly said, “but I’d rather you talk to him in person than over the phone just in case someone…”
Understanding instantly, Jackson unmuted his phone, then said, “Look, I know you’re busy, but I'd rather talk to you here…today.”
Tristan looked at his mate and, after seeing Heath nod in agreement, he said, “Sure…we can be there in an hour. Fast enough?”
“That’s perfect. See you then…and thanks.” Jackson ended the call and set his phone down on his desk, then turning his attention to his mate, he asked, “Do you really think someone has hacked my phone?”
“Not yours…but since Josiah is…was paranoid, it would follow he had bugs everywhere.”
“Reeve didn’t mention he'd found any when he searched Josiah’s house,” Jackson said.
“I know, and that could mean there weren’t any…or maybe he just didn’t look for them. I’d rather be safe than sorry later.”
“Always wise, babe, but if there are bugs…who would be listening now since Josiah is dead? And so is Rudy, for that matter,” Jackson said, thinking for a moment before continuing, “And if Reeve did find any, wouldn’t Heath know?”
“Maybe…but we don’t know the working relationship between Reeve and Heath. As for who else might be listening now…my money would be on Bruno, who served as Rudy’s right-hand man. Authorities still haven’t found him or the two other prisoners who escaped with Rudy.”
“Hans and Seth,” murmured Jackson. “Dylon said those three handled the severe beatings he endured under Rudy, nor was he surprised it was those three who avoided recapture since they always stuck together.”
“I find it strange that Bruno wasn’t with Rudy during the attack on Tristan,” Steel mused.
“Well, I find it strange how the rest gave up so easily, especially knowing they would be returning to prison…Groose told me he hadn’t ever seen anything like that…but Tristan knew.”
“Yeah, I have to admit, when I read that in Groose’s report, I thought that was odd, too. Have you asked Tristan yet?”
“No…but I plan to,” Jackson said. “I’ll also mention the possibility of Josiah planting bugs.”
“Good idea,” Steel said, giving his mate a kiss before getting up.
“You heading to the kitchen?”
“Yeah, why?”
“Tell Dakota Theo won’t be able to help him for a while, will ya?”
“Right…maybe Sofia can step in while Theo’s gone.”
Shaking his head, Jackson said, “Not Sofia…she's helping Cain settle in.”
“Shit…then I guess there’s only me and Mom.”
“Not me, sweetie,” Oracle announced as she entered Jackson’s study.
Stopping in front of her son, she kissed Steel’s cheek before patting his chest. “The Fates have given me an assignment, so I will be gone for a few days. It’s a good thing you have had lots of cooking experience because I hear Dakota can be quite picky. ”
“We’ve come to an understanding,” Steel said.
“And what is that?” Oracle asked, smiling.
“I do exactly what I’m told to do,” Steel replied, laughing.
“Then, you'd better get going,” Jackson grinned. “Dakota doesn’t like to be kept waiting.”
Chuckling, Oracle watched as her son left the room before shifting her gaze to Jackson. “Do you have a few moments?”
“Absolutely.”
Lowering herself into a chair facing Jackson’s desk, Oracle paused for a moment, thinking about the best way to approach the issue. Then, realizing there really wasn’t one, she said, “Frank is angry because Cain is here, and he blames me for that.”
“I don’t see why he should be,” Jackson said. “If he should be mad at anyone, it should be the Fates. After all, you were just doing your job.”
“Unfortunately, he doesn’t see it that way. He thinks Cain will harm one of the pups, specifically Jake or Jessica, because they are related to him.”
“Cain can’t harm them even if he wanted to,” Jackson replied.
“I know…and I assured Frank, but his trust in me is rather low at the moment.”
Jackson studied Oracle for a moment before leaning back in his chair. “But I haven’t given Frank any reason not to trust me, so why is he questioning my decision?”
“I do not believe he thinks he is,” Oracle replied softly.
Jackson shook his head. “And yet he is. He knows better than that.”
Sighing, Oracle sat back in her chair and said, “Yes, he does, but his behavior is not a reflection of his opinion of you. Frank is a powerful Alpha, and his instincts to protect are strong…nearly as strong as yours. When he was born, his parents realized their son possessed extraordinary Alpha power…even more than his father. Fortunately, neither of his parents sought to use their son’s power and instead guided and taught him how to use it for good.
After the High Council learned of Frank, he spent his adult life under their supervision, learning how to expand his power.
Any enjoyment of life had disappeared under the weight of never-ending lessons and onerous duties that had become mandatory.
So the person his parents had raised slowly disappeared, and instead, a stern and forbidding man emerged…
one totally controlled by the High Council.
“While on the outside, it might have appeared that Frank lived a charmed life, that was not the case.
Years passed, and his discontent grew. Finally, after a visit to see his ailing parents, Frank decided enough was enough.
The need for freedom to live his life on his own terms grew inside of him until he finally gave in and tendered his resignation.
But certain members of the High Council refused to release him, and that sent him into a downward spiral to a point where, in his mind, suicide was the only solution to finally ending the world he no longer wanted to be part of.
The only reason Frank did not succumb to it was the pain his death would cause his parents.
“But just when all hope was gone, the unbelievable happened. One day, when he was investigating reports of abuse in a wolf pack, Frank met his Fated Mate…a woman who radiated joy, laughter, love, and hope…everything that had been missing from his life.”
“Lizzie.”
Nodding, Oracle said, “Elizabeth changed Frank. She brought the light back into his dark world and chased his loneliness away, giving him the strength to stand up to the High Council. From that point on, he finally gained control over his life, giving him the power to decide his future. And with Elizabeth’s help, Frank carved out a role for himself at the High Council that fulfilled his need to protect the innocent and helpless against anyone who would harm them. ”
“I understand,” Jackson said. “But now that Frank has quit the High Council, that’s no longer his job.”
“True, but if you stopped being the Alpha of the Blackwood Pack, would you stop protecting Steel and Danny?”
Chuckling, Jackson said, “You know me better than that. I will always protect them, no matter what my position is.”
“As it is with Frank,” Oracle said softly.
“His Alpha Power is second to yours, and he took a vow at his mating ceremony to always protect Elizabeth from harm…and now that vow includes Dylon, Cody, Jake, and Jessica. He and his wolf view Cain as a threat to them…so instead of enjoying his retirement with his mate…”
“He has to spend it guarding Lizzie and his grandpups,” Jackson replied quietly.
“And Dylon and Cody…though that is unnecessary,” Oracle said. “After Frank confronted me about Cain, I asked him to speak to you about his concerns, and he said he would, but…”
“You’re not sure he will, hm?”
“No.”
“Okay…I’ll take care of it,” Jackson said. “Is there anything else?”
Nodding, Oracle said, “It is about my new assignment from the Fates.”
Raising an eyebrow, Jackson groaned, “Please don’t tell me it’s about another request they have for me.”
Smiling, Oracle replied, “No…nothing like that…but I will need Sawyer’s help. Is it all right if I ask him to cloak me?”
“Is that all? You don’t need him to go with you?”
“Definitely not. I just want him to cloak me and Mystia.”
Jackson paused for a moment, thinking about the new information Oracle had just revealed.
As far as he was aware, Oracle always worked alone when she was carrying out the assignments from the Fates, but not this time.
But even though he was curious, Jackson didn’t waste his breath asking why Mystia was included since he knew he wouldn’t get an answer; instead, he said, “Sure…tell Sawyer he has my permission.”
Smiling, Oracle rose gracefully and said, “Thank you...I appreciate it very much.” Turning, she slowly made her way out of Jackson’s study, deciding to speak to the Fates next about Frank’s demand to know about their intentions regarding Denport.
Since the Fates were the ones who usually made demands, and not the other way around, she was eager to hear what their reply would be.