Chapter 9
“Sit down, Hunter,” Jackson said, stonily. Whether his cousin liked it or not, there were still things to discuss before Hunter met with one of Jackson’s pack members.
Stalking around the room, his anger evident, Hunter tried to ignore Jackie’s command, but finally was forced to do as ordered. “Fine, I’m sitting,” he said petulantly, “now what?”
Seeing how close his cousin was to the edge, Jackson sighed, making a decision he hoped wouldn’t come back to bite him.
“Even though there are issues we need to discuss, I’m willing to wait on those if you promise not to pressure your mate to leave with you until I’m satisfied he’s doing it of his own free will. ”
Clenching his teeth, Hunter nodded, knowing he had little choice since he didn’t know what relationship his mate had with Jackson.
“Okay, then, there are four members who could be your mate.” Opening a file on his computer, Jackson selected the photographs, then opened them. Turning his monitor around, he asked, “Which one is it?”
Hunter’s eyes zeroed in on the face of his mate. “That one,” he said, pointing to one of the images.
Fuck no! Keeping his face expressionless, Jackson said, “Okay.” After sending a text, continued, “I’ve asked him to come to my study.”
“What’s his name?” Hunter asked, determined to get at least that piece of information.
“Fionn MacDùghlas.”
“He’s Scottish?”
“Yes, he is,” Jackson said, tapping his fingers on the desk, then deciding, continued, “He’s a dragon, Hunter.”
A dragon? The Fates gave me a dragon as my Fated Mate?
Fucking hell! Staring at his cousin, Hunter was stunned into silence, trying to sort it all out.
He’d better say something soon, he thought, or Jackie might misconstrue his reaction.
“I thought the Fates were very selective when it came to picking the mate of a dragon. I mean…aren’t dragons usually mated to other dragons? ”
“Well, I guess they had a good reason for picking a wolf shifter to be his mate,” Jackson replied.
Hunter’s eyes narrowed at the tone of his cousin’s voice. Studying the taut expression on Jackson’s face, he said, “And let me guess…you’re not happy about it.”
Shrugging his shoulders, Jackson replied, “Not my call.”
“But if it were, you wouldn’t have picked me.”
“Don’t go there, Hunter. It’s not my call so what I would or wouldn’t have done is not important. What is important is Fionn and his feelings,” Jackson said.
“But that’s where you’re wrong, Jackie. Fionn is your pack member and you’re his Alpha…he’s going to look to you about this mating and if he senses you’re not happy with it…”
“Stop! You’re out of line, Hunter,” Jackson ordered. “You have no right to imply I’d do anything other than help one of my pack members regarding the Fates’ choice of a mate for him. If I were you, I’d be very careful about criticizing your mate’s Alpha, especially in front of him.”
Swallowing his retort, Hunter knew his cousin was right about that, at least not until he found out more about why a dragon was in a wolf pack—something he was sure Jackson wasn’t going to reveal to him. Damn! Deciding not to engage in a power struggle right now, Hunter asked, “Where’s Fionn?”
Picking up his phone and seeing no reply had come, he sent a message to his mate. “I just asked Steel to find him and bring him here.”
Hunter’s wolf clawed to get out, sensing a problem with their mate. Finally, unable to control his wolf any longer, Hunter felt a shift begin; his body began vibrating as his bones lengthened. Forced out of his chair, Hunter desperately fought his wolf, demanding he back down, but without success.
Looking up from his phone, realizing his cousin was no longer in control of his wolf, Jackson stood and rolled out his Alpha power at full strength.
Whimpering, Hunter’s wolf retreated, cowering in submission on his belly, exposing his ruff to the more powerful wolf.
Hunter fell to his knees; Jackson’s power and the sudden withdrawal of his wolf, left him unable to stand.
Exposing his neck to Jackson, Hunter felt fear invade his body as he finally realized his cousin was no ordinary Alpha.
Slamming the door open, Steel stood in the doorway to Jackson’s study, partially shifted, snarling. Seeing Hunter, he strode over, picked him up by his shirt and shook him violently. “Don’t you ever threaten my mate again!” he thundered.
Unable to shift as long as Jackson’s Alpha power held him in thrall, Hunter tried to utter an apology but couldn’t. Finally, desperate to stop the assault, Hunter forced his body to go limp, surrendering to the huge wolf holding him.
“Babe, put him down!” Jackson said, jumping up and placing a hand on his mate’s arm. “It wasn’t me he was after. I think his wolf is sensing something’s happened to his mate.”
Feeling coolness wash over his heated body smothering the flames of anger and calming him, Steel released Hunter, letting him fall to the floor. “Who’s his mate? Oh fuck, it’s Fionn, isn’t it? That’s why you want him?”
“Yes, did you find him?”
“I found his phone in his room but he’s not there. As far as I can tell, he’s not even in the house.”
Pulling back his power, Jackson reached down, helping his cousin up. “What caused your wolf to get so riled up, Hunter?”
Once on his feet and free of Jackson’s Alpha power, Hunter backed up, his wolf demanding they stay a safe distance away from his cousin and Steel.
Shaking his head, Hunter said, “I don’t know who you are any more, Jackie, but you’re not the cousin I knew.
We’ll be leaving now.” Ignoring his wolf’s howl at his words, Hunter, turned and rushed from the study, hell bent on putting as much distance between him and Jackson as possible.
~/~/~/~/~
Slate wheeled his mate next to his mother’s bed while Ian stood by, and Dakota reached out for her hand.
He stared down at her, lying motionless, and the reality that she’d survived the massacre slowly began to sink in.
Trying hard not to think about what she’d gone through, he lifted her hand and kissed it, hoping she’d know it was him, alive and waiting for her to wake up.
Lowering his head, he rested his forehead on the bed, tears steadily falling while memories of her flickered through his mind like an old movie.
Mama, please, please, Mama, come back to me…
Privy to his mate’s thoughts and emotions, Slate prayed for Dakota’s wish to come true. Placing his hand on his mate’s back, he felt the trembling caused by Dakota’s sobs. Slowly moving his hand in soothing circles, he offered comfort, hoping to ease Dakota’s pain.
“Dakota,” Ian murmured, “time for you to go back to bed.”
Lifting his tear streaked face, Dakota pleaded, “Just a little more, please, Ian. My mom needs me, and I can’t fail her again.”
Crouching next to his mate’s wheelchair, Slate hugged Dakota.
“No babe, you’re wrong because you never failed her…
not once. And when she wakes, she’ll tell you that.
Think about the joy seeing your face will give her, knowing she hasn’t lost everyone…
that some of her pups survived. Think of the happiness our pup will give her…
another baby to hold, cuddle, and love. And none of this would’ve been possible if you and your brothers hadn’t stopped in Las Vegas.
If you hadn’t survived…if your brothers hadn’t survived.
No babe, don’t ever think you failed her because you are exactly where you need to be to help your mother overcome her sorrow and grief.
You and your brothers are the Fates’ gift to your mother. Understand?”
Listening to his mate’s words, realizing the truth in them, Dakota wiped his tears away, “My mom will love our sprout.”
“I know she will,” Slate smiled. “Between your mother and mine, our son will be so spoiled.”
“No, he won’t…but he will be loved, won’t he? No matter who he is.”
“Absolutely, babe. C’mon, let’s get you back to your bed and make sure our sprout and you get some rest tonight. Tomorrow, we can come back,” Slate assured his mate.
“Okay.” Giving his mother another kiss, Dakota looked at Ian, who’d been standing silently by. “Please take care of her, Ian.”
“I will, I promise,” Ian said. “Tomorrow, Dakota, when you come back here, please talk to her. Even in a coma, she may hear you.”
Eyes shining brightly, finally knowing he could do something to help his mother, Dakota said, “I will…promise.”
“Good, now off you go. It’s time to check your mother’s vitals,” Ian said.
Standing, Slate leaned down and gave his mate’s mother a kiss on her cheek, whispering, “Wake up soon, Hope, your sons are waiting for you.” Grabbing the handles of the wheelchair, he then rolled Dakota back to his room.
~/~/~/~/~
Storming through the great room toward the front door, Hunter’s anger grew with each step, knowing he didn’t deserve the treatment his cousin and mate were giving him. Fucking assholes! Both of them! I’m fucking family and they treat me like shit!
Wait! What about our mate? His wolf was talking to him.
Hunter’s steps faltered for a moment when he heard his wolf. It didn’t happen often, but he knew better than to ignore him. What about him? He’s gone. He doesn’t want us.
Yes, he does. He’s young…you need to give him time.
Right, something my fucking cousin doesn’t want to give me. He’s been hiding Fionn from us since he first figured out our mate was a member of his pack.
Why would he do that? He can’t change that Fionn is our mate.
Because my little cousin is a megalomaniac…obsessed with power, that’s why. You felt his power…it’s not normal.
That’s why we need to protect Fionn. What will happen to him if we leave now? Who will save him from the madman?
How are we supposed to fight that kind of power? You were as helpless as I was. What good will the two of us be if my fucking cousin uses his power against us again? Face it, Wolf, the Fates fucked up when they gave us a mate from my cousin’s pack.