Chapter 24
“Maybe they didn’t,” Norm said quietly, trying to give his mate hope that Theo’s parents weren’t involved, though he was sure they were. After all, they had sent Theo to Arald’s.
“Why would the arrest warrant say it if they didn’t?” asked Theo, his voice barely above a whisper.
Before Norm could reply, Jackson said, “I have my doubts about their involvement, considering your parents are currently chained up in the Alpha’s basement.”
Theo’s eyes brightened. “You think they didn’t accuse me of stealing from them?”
“Yes…but there are a number of possibilities why they might have done it,” Jackson replied. “And until they’re here and free to tell their side of the story, I won’t know for sure.”
Nodding, Theo said, “I got that…but I can still hope.”
“You can,” Jackson said softly. “Just remember, your first duty is to the cub you’re carrying, which means keeping calm…even if you discover your parents have joined forces with your former Alpha.”
Theo’s arm cradled his small baby bump while staring at it for a moment.
He’d been through so much with Norm, and somehow, they had survived.
Now, absolute happiness was within his grasp, and he vowed silently to the life inside him that no one would ever prevent him from achieving it.
If that meant finally accepting his parents’ role in sending him to Arald’s, he would do that and then cut them out of his and his cub’s life.
Looking up at Jackson, Theo said, “My cub…and my mates will always come first in my life, and I swear to do everything necessary to protect them from anyone who wants to harm them…even my parents.”
“Good,” Jackson said, “because I’m sending the three of you to stay with Tristan and Heath for a while.”
“No fucking way!” growled Smokey.
“Why?” asked Norm. “Theo needs to be close to Mac and the hospital, which he won’t be if we leave here.”
“Norm’s right,” Smokey snarled.
Jackson held up his hand, and when the room grew silent, he said, “According to our attorney, Penn, Theo and Norm have to turn themselves in and unless the judge grants them bail, they’ll have to remain in jail until trial—which poses a huge risk for the safety of Theo’s cub.
Since that’s totally unacceptable, the only other option is for the three of you to disappear while Penn works on getting the arrest warrants rescinded. ”
“What’s the likelihood of that happening?” asked Norm.
“50-50,” Jackson replied. “Of course, if Theo’s parents swear they didn’t file a complaint with their Alpha and that neither Theo nor Norm had stolen anything, then those odds go up in our favor.”
Smokey snorted. “And what happens if they don’t? We can’t stay away for six months or more.”
“I know that,” Jackson replied. “But it buys Penn time to get the case dismissed without Theo and Norm sitting in jail.”
“Okay, say we stay with Tristan,” Norm said. “What happens if Theo needs to see Mac? We can’t come back here since that could put us at risk.”
“I’ve already thought about that,” Jackson said. “Tristan has previously accepted my offer for Mac to stay temporarily at his pack to provide healthcare to those members who desperately need it since Josiah was too busy lining his own pockets to take care of his pack’s welfare.”
“Yeah, but what about the medical stuff Mac needs for Theo…like the ultrasound? They don’t have any of that stuff there,” rumbled Smokey.
“Whatever Mac needs to set up a clinic and operating room will be provided by Dire Enterprises within the next few days. Mac and Ollie will join you after they get back from the mission to free Theo’s parents,” Jackson assured him.
“You want us to go today?” asked Norm.
Nodding, Jackson said, “The sooner the better. Even though the bounty hunter who tried to kidnap Theo is locked up, there’s no way to know if he’s acting alone. And since I have to assume your former Alpha knows you’re here, the quicker you leave, the safer you guys will be.”
Smokey exchanged glances with Norm and, after seeing his nod, turned to Theo and asked, “What do you think…should we go?”
“If we go before my parents are rescued, I won’t get to talk to them,” Theo said softly, glancing at Jackson.
“Once I clear them of any wrongdoing, Zane can set up a meeting for you and your parents by computer. However, until I resolve this mess, I won’t allow any in-person visits because I can’t risk your former Alpha finding out where you and Norm are.”
Theo’s shoulders slumped as he realized the danger he and his pooh bear were in. It took him a moment, but finally he looked at his mates and said, “We should go.”
“Okay,” Jackson said. “Tristan should be here shortly. In the meantime, go pack, then see Zane. You’ll get new phones and computers from him that can’t be traced.”
“Will we be going back with Tristan?” asked Norm.
“No, Remy will transport you once Tristan tells him where you’ll stay,” Jackson said.
“That way, if the bounty hunter has someone waiting outside the front gate, he won’t see you leaving here.
” Just then, Jackson’s phone buzzed with an incoming text.
Slipping it out of his pocket, he glanced at it before looking back up.
“Tristan and Heath are here. I’ll tell you when I have everything arranged. ”
After Jackson left the room, Smokey said, “I know we agreed to go, but we don’t have to go to Tristan’s. There are other places we could go that have better security.”
“Where would that be?” asked Norm. “It’s clear we can’t stay here.”
“We could go to LA and stay with Ghost…no one will break through his security,” Smokey said. “Or we could go to my friend’s house up near the Arctic Circle.”
“But what about Mac? Theo needs to be close to a doctor,” Norm said. “I don’t think we should risk it. I’d rather stay close to here just in case Mac needs to consult with Ian.”
Theo shook his head before grabbing his mates’ hands and placing them on his baby bump.
“It doesn’t matter what any of us want…the only thing we need to think about is what’s best for our cub, right?
And as much as I’d like to stay here, that can’t happen given what’s facing us.
So my vote is to go to Tristan where our cub will have Mac to look after it… agreed?”
Leaning in, Norm first kissed Theo and then Smokey. “I do…but I also think Smokey has a good point, so we should keep our options open in case our former Alpha finds us. It would be good to have a back-up plan, and staying with Ghost seems the best option…as long as there is a doctor close by.”
“I’ll talk to Ghost…maybe he knows of a doctor that would help in case we need to move there,” Smokey replied.
“Yeah…I’d rather go to LA than the Arctic even though I have two bears who would keep me very warm,” Theo said, giggling.
“Then it’s settled,” Smokey said. “Let’s go pack.”
~/~/~/~/~
Ollie was gobsmacked. He did not know that so many gifts could be bestowed on paranormals.
Shapeshifting, invisibility, empath, natural healer, waves of solid energy, seer, ghost walking, shadow voice, power of Hercules, the most powerful Shaman on earth, a white dragon, the leader of all magic users, and the list went on.
And then there was Jackson and Dakota’s ability to get pregnant—something he found hard to accept until Mac swore he was telling the truth.
With all those gifts at Jackson’s command, it finally made sense to Ollie why Mac insisted they ask the Alpha for help.
Now, for the first time since discovering his aunt and uncle locked up, his confidence about rescuing them grew stronger.
And with that, the stress and fear he’d felt about it slowly faded from his body.
Suddenly, a thought popped into Ollie’s mind.
“Are you going to get a gift?” he asked.
Shrugging, Mac said, “Don’t know, but I doubt it. Ian didn’t when he mated with Colton.”
“That’s not true. He found out he was the King of the Scottish Wolves.”
“That’s not a gift…at least not one with extra powers.”
“It is when he’s an Omega,” Ollie insisted. “When was the last time an Omega became a Ruler? I mean, before Ian?”
Mac paused for a moment, then said, “I don’t know…but I’m sure it’s happened.”
“Maybe…or maybe not. My point is, it doesn’t seem fair that everyone got a gift other than you,” Ollie pouted.
“I got exactly what I’ve always wanted…a mate, and that’s the best gift of all,” Mac murmured next to Ollie’s ear.
“And for that, I’ll be forever thankful to the Fates.
” Then, after giving his mate a love bite on his neck, Mac added, “Besides, your gift is enough for both of us…Silent Zephyr…so unique…just like you, my love.”
Warmth filled Ollie at his mate’s words.
It was a feeling he hadn’t had since his parents died; he’d almost forgotten what love felt like, even though he knew Theo and his parents loved him.
But the unconditional love radiating from Mac was so much more since it erased his self-doubts about who he was and replaced them with the confidence that he was worthy of that love.
Raising his head from his pillow, Ollie looked tenderly at Mac, giving him a soft smile.
“I’m lucky too…I never thought the Fates would give me such a kind and caring mate.
After my parents died, I thought my life was over, but then I found a purpose when I became a nurse.
Helping and taking care of others who needed me eased my grief and showed me that there was more to life. ”
Mac brushed a tendril of Ollie’s hair off his forehead before leaning forward to kiss his mate’s lips softly.
Then locking his eyes with Ollie’s, he crooned, “I love you, Oliver…forever and ever…whatever you want, I will get for you…whatever you need, I will give to you…and whatever the future brings, I will be with you always because you are my everything.”
The warmth of Mac’s words helped destroy the tentacles of fear that had enveloped Ollie’s heart when he first learned about his role in saving their world.
It was a role he never wanted, but now, with Mac at his side, he no longer feared the future.
“I love you too, my mate, from the bottom of my heart, and no matter what happens in our life, I will always be there for you,” Ollie said.
Then, grinning, he added, “No matter what shenanigans your twin gets into.”
A burst of laughter erupted from Mac. “You say that now but wait until Sawyer becomes a father—he’s already looking forward to having a buddy that will join him in all his escapades.
I only hope Glenn and Alex will be able to stop him…
or at least limit the sports my brother will want to teach his son. ”
“Oh, pucky-ducky…I’d better become proficient at bandaging, cuz it appears that will be in my future.”
“That can wait,” Mac said, smiling. “We should get some rest before tonight.”
“Right, I want to be the little spoon,” Ollie said, rolling over on his side.
Doing the same, Mac pulled Ollie to his chest and wrapped his arm around him. “That leaves the big spoon position for me…mmm…perfect.”
Smiling, Ollie wiggled his butt against Mac’s groin, feeling his mate’s cock respond to him.
“Not now,” Mac chuckled, “or we’ll never get any sleep.”
“But…”
“Nope…we are gonna need our energy for the mission tonight, but I promise you, once that’s over, nothing, and I mean nothing, is gonna stop our mating.”
“Promise?” Ollie whispered.
“Absolutely!”
~/~/~/~/~
Crossing the great room, Jackson reached the front door, opening it and stepping out onto the porch just in time to see Tristan and Heath emerge from their vehicle.
His eyes roamed over to his cousin, who was readjusting his jeans, and then shifted to focus on Heath’s red swollen lips.
Laughing, he called out, “Don’t fucking tell me he made you blow him while he was driving,” he yelled to Heath.
“Fuck off,” Tristan responded. “We wouldn’t have to resort to drastic measures if a certain someone would stop interrupting us.”
“Hey, I said I was sorry,” Jackson responded, smirking.
Tristan stopped at the base of the front steps and glared up at his cousin. “Twice, Jackson, twice…and you only apologized one time.”
“You’re counting now?” asked Jackson.
“Ignore my grumpy mate,” Heath said to Jackson. “He’s got no reason to be upset. I’m taking care of him just fine.”
Tristan stared at his mate for a moment and then muttered, “I can’t believe you just said that to my cousin. Now he’ll think he can call anytime.”
“Maybe you should send me a text telling me when it’s hanky-panky time,” Jackson said, laughing. “That way I’ll know when to call.”
Turning back to his cousin, Tristan grumbled, “It’s none of your business when we fuck, so you can take your text idea and shove it up your…”
Interrupting his mate, Heath said, “What did you want to ask us that was so secret you couldn’t do it by phone?”
Jackson frowned. Then, looking around the area and finding only his enforcers present, he quietly said, “C’mon inside.
We have a lot to talk about.” Stepping back, he opened the door and gestured for Tristan and Heath to precede him.
Once in the house, he said, “Thanks for coming over so quickly. Let’s go to my study and I’ll fill you in on everything. ”
Heath glanced at his mate, who shot him a questioning look.
Jackson’s jocularity had vanished in a flash after Heath had mentioned the word ‘secret.’ He was now cautious and suspicious—behavior neither of them had ever seen before. And Heath could see that Tristan was worried about what it might mean for the Silver Point Pack.
Letting Jackson lead the way, Heath slipped his hand into Tristan’s and pulled him close. “Whatever it is, don’t react or answer until we have some time to talk about it.”
“Do you think it has to do with what my pack owes him for restitution?”
“I don’t know, but if I had to guess, I would say yes,” Heath whispered back.
Before Tristan could respond, Jackson stopped abruptly and turned to look at them. “Let me put your concerns to rest…it’s not about the restitution…at least not directly.”
“What the hell does that mean?” snapped Tristan.
“Please…I’ll explain everything, but not here.” Then, saying nothing else, Jackson resumed walking to his study, leaving Tristan and Heath to follow.