Chapter 7 Jake #2
“Okay, let’s tentatively plan to meet again Wednesday.
It’ll have to be at our house. Julian is rarely able to leave easily due to the side effects of the medications he’s taking,” Callum grunts.
Xavier doesn’t look too happy about all of this.
I’m confident Julian will agree to meet.
He has to know more than these two since he was the closest person to Mark.
We all agree and Logan gives them our contact information before we quickly leave their office. Once we’re back in the car, I ask, “What’s your next step?”
Logan smirks. “I have to go into the local field office, but you are free to do anything.” He knows me so well. I have half a mind to tail Mark Henderson. We’ve all but confirmed he’s Thea’s stalker.
However, Thea’s voice and the promise I made is ringing in my head.
Tailing him would be too big a risk, especially if it tips him off to our investigation.
It could make him do something rash, and with Thea as his primary focus, that would likely include her.
I can’t do anything that will lead to her getting hurt.
I was contemplating meeting some people before I left if there was time.
Maybe I’ll see if that’s still a possibility.
The large sign reading, Titan Fitness, is just as I imagined when Thea told me one of Connor’s dads owned a gym.
After leaving Logan to his work, I quickly changed into street clothes and made my way here.
I may have gone overboard but we don’t know if Henderson has any surveillance on Connor’s parents.
I would assume so since they are Thea’s only remaining family.
I’m dressed in a blue t-shirt and black sweats, sunglasses, and a hat to complete the look, so I can appear like a random customer off the street.
Light music is playing throughout the gym as I enter through the front door. It’s an open clean environment, though busy. I approach the front desk where a young guy who looks barely out of high school greets me and asks if I am here to join.
“Actually, I am here to see Max Russell, I’m a friend of his daughter’s,” I say, assuming this guy doesn’t know anything about his family. Thea is their daughter, she’s said as much when she’s mentioned them before.
He says something I can’t make out into his headset, before saying, “He’s on his way.”
Not even a minute later a giant of a man who would be almost on par with Keelan comes storming to the front.
Even before seeing the name tag, I know it’s Max.
He looks so much like Connor. From the pictures I’ve seen, they definitely shared the same build, with the same hair and face structure.
He looks pissed and stops incredibly close to me, clearly to intimidate. Is this because I’m her alpha?
“Who are you?” he growls lowly so only the two of us hear.
Remaining calm is best when the other person isn’t. It’s the best way to deescalate the situation. “I’m Jake Carter, it’s a pleasure to meet you, sir.” I smile even though it’s not as natural to me as others in my pack. I don’t want to say Thea’s name here just as a precaution.
He gives me a dubious look then says, “Follow me.” He leads us through the gym to the back offices. Once we’re in his office and the door is closed, he’s pushing me up against it with his forearm pressed against my throat. “Now tell me who you are to Thea?”
I’m so dumb. A stranger, a man especially, showing up randomly claiming to be a friend of Thea’s.
I know she’s told them about us. Even so, of course he’d be suspicious.
I need to have him call Thea to confirm.
Thankfully not long ago Parker had them install an app where they can securely call her whenever they want.
“I’m one of Thea’s mates. Call her to confirm,” I rasp out.
His eyes don’t leave mine as he pulls out his phone with his other hand. A moment later Thea’s voice rings out. “Hello? Max? Are you okay you look pissed?”
“I’m fine honey. Do you know this man? He just showed up at the gym. Says he’s your mate,” he says softer than before as he turns the phone. I can see Thea’s concerned expression turn to shock and back to concern.
“Yes, he’s my alpha. Don’t hurt him.” He releases me immediately. The tension leaves my body as I grasp my throat, taking in heaving breaths.
“Sorry kid, had to be sure.” Max reaches his hand out to help me up.
“No need to apologize. I could have planned this all a lot better before coming.” I’m not really mad, I’m glad Thea has a dad so protective of her. Speaking of Thea, she’s still on the phone.
“…he okay? Max, is Jake okay?”
“I’m fine Thea, promise,” I tell her, hoping she can hear since Max has the phone facing himself again.
What happens next has me holding back a laugh as she scolds Max.
I should defend him but it’s pretty funny.
It’s not long before they’re saying goodbye and I pipe in my own. Max leans against his desk with a sigh.
“Way to get me in trouble kid.”
“Sorry about that,” I say lightly, “also I’m not a kid.”
He gives me an unimpressed look. I’m not sure how old he is. He looks late forties but given that Connor was almost thirty, he has to be in his fifties minimum and since I’m thirty-four, it’s a bit weird to be called kid.
“So what do I owe this visit?”
“I’m in town and thought I’d visit your pack.
Thea talks about you all often. I came here in case the stalker is keeping any kind of tabs on your home.
” I purposely omit Henderson’s name and why I’m here.
I don’t want to risk him or anyone in his pack doing something stupid and possibly tipping off Henderson.
“Soph will want to meet you, so it’s probably best you come for dinner. You can come in my car and hopefully that’s enough to bypass anything you’re worried about where that asshole is concerned,” he says bluntly, a fire in his eyes at the mention of Thea’s stalker.
I am being hugged to death by my future mother-in-law.
“I’m so happy to meet you, are any other members of your pack here? What about Thea?” she rambles out.
“Soph let ’em breathe,” Max says, putting a hand on her shoulder.
“Thea isn’t here. It’s just him.” I feel a little awkward for essentially dropping in on them.
I really don’t know why I didn’t plan this better.
Probably because I was so focused on Henderson and the interview with his ex-pack everything fell by the wayside.
That’s not like me. I have to get it together, can’t risk something important slipping by.
Sophie leads me into the kitchen. It’s open but cozy at the same time, with warm wood for the cabinets, and large windows and glass doors to the yard, letting in the setting sunlight.
The other end of the room has a small area with a table and chairs.
It looks like their main dining table. I can’t imagine having such a small pack.
For all our craziness, I wouldn’t trade it for anything.
I never thought I’d end up in such a large pack but it’s home.
Always has been even when I’d distance myself from them, during the rough periods at the bureau.
It’s interesting seeing a table with only four chairs.
When Thea and Connor were here, they must have had chairs for them.
Now it’s only four. A pang of sadness rings through me at the thought of this pack, these parents losing their son and shortly after the woman they view as a daughter, who disappeared for a year.
We’re lucky to have Parker. His being able to set up a secure way for them to talk was the best gift anyone could have done for Thea and this pack.
Sophie is talking a mile a minute and wants to know every little detail about me and the pack.
I have a feeling if Thea was here, she’d be embarrassed and Sophie might back off.
I guess she’s taking her chance while she’s got it.
“I hear we have a dinner guest,” a voice sounds from behind me.
Turning, I see a beta who looks the age I assumed Max must be—mid to late fifties—but still fit, though not like Max.
This man is lean like a runner, with light brown hair styled to perfection and hazel eyes.
He’s wearing a dress shirt and tie; he must have left some kind of office job before coming home.
“Yes, Jake Carter.” I reach my hand out for a shake.
He returns the gesture. “Ah one of Thea’s pack. I’m James, good to meet you.”
The conversation is easy and light between us all as we wait for the last member of their pack to arrive.
I end up helping Sophie finish dinner. I’m no great cook like Ben or Micah, but I can follow instructions.
Max and James are setting the table as their last pack mate arrives.
His outfit looks like it’s right out of Ben’s closet—slacks, collared shirt with a sweater over top.
I really want to take a picture and send it to him.
This alpha even has glasses too, it’s uncanny.
Physically, they look different beyond face shapes, mainly the eyes, where Ben has striking light blue ones, this alpha has deep brown eyes.
Both have olive skin tones. I need to get a picture of him and the rest of this pack for Thea regardless, but I have to show Ben his future father-in-law who he’s a mini-me of.
We introduce ourselves quickly, and it turns out his name is Mateo. I bring over the final plate of food and begin to sit at the additional chair someone brought out when Mateo shouts, “Not there!”
The silence is thick with pain based on the expressions his pack mates give him. Anyone would understand that this spot must have been Connor’s.
Max claps me on the back, though not as hard as it probably looked. “Switch with me,” he says softly as he nudges me towards his seat. We switch wordlessly after that and no one says anything for a bit.
“My apologies for yelling, Jake,” Mateo says earnestly.
“It’s not a problem at all. This is the better spot anyways, next to Sophie where I can spill all the details she wants on my pack.
” I try to lighten the mood. I was rewarded with a round of chuckles from that.
Even Max smirked. We begin eating, making some small talk.
I find out Mateo is a college professor in engineering, and James works in finance.
I give them a breakdown of our pack for the most part, everyone’s names and occupations, showing Sophie some pictures of us all.
She’s so excited to meet everyone. I wish I knew when that could happen.
It has to be once we arrest Henderson. Though thinking about it, he knows where Thea is now, but it’s best not to have anyone else get involved until he’s out of the picture.
If something happened to Sophie or any of this pack because of Henderson, I don’t think Thea could come back from that.
“The only one we’ve met in your pack is Parker. He’s such a sweetie,” she coos. I have a picture of all of us pulled up from a few years ago when construction began on the pack house. “Which one is that?” she asks, pointing to Keelan.
I smile at what I can only imagine her reaction will be. “That’s Keelan. He’s actually Parker’s twin.”
Her jaw drops and she’s studying the picture. It’s obvious they’re fraternal. “Wow he could give you a run for your money, Max.”
Suddenly a hulking shadow is looming behind us, examining the photo. I contain my laugh since I don’t need to annoy him more than I already have today.
James, who was on Sophie’s other side, huddles in with Mateo to get a look. “Gods, how tall is he?” Mateo asks.
“Uhm six foot six. Clearly the tallest of all of us by far,” I say.
“Does he fight? I’d be curious to see what he could do in the ring?” Max asks.
I can’t picture Keelan fitting in any type of ring. Has he thrown a punch before? Yeah, but I’d classify him as a gentle giant. Though maybe not to his face. Thea is the only one who could get away with that.
Laughing under my breath, I respond, “No, he’s never been into anything like that.” Max just hums at that, which is fine. We talk some more about my pack before I finally ask them a question about theirs. “So, how did you all meet?”
They all give each other side-eyes and smirk. I guess the trip down memory lane will be an interesting one. “I met them in college. They weren’t officially a pack yet. Mateo and James were close and planned to form a pack. Max took some convincing,” Sophie explains.
“That’s not what happened. Me and Mateo were always fighting for top spot on our swim team. It was a friendly rivalry. We eventually worked it out, clearly.” Max crosses his arms.
Mateo cracks a smile while Sophie outright laughs, patting his arm. “You’re right. It worked out in the end.”
Seeing Sophie and her pack makes me hope for the future with Thea. The eight of us living our lives, eventually having kids, bickering like always until we’re gray, but always a life full of love and peace.
Peace. I wonder why my scent evokes that emotion for Thea?
That’s probably a question for Liam. That’s what I was seeking when I quit the bureau and finally moved in with my pack.
I got it for a time, but I had to work for it, work past the demons haunting my dreams from old cases.
It all pales in comparison to the feeling I have when with Thea.
It’s as if I don’t have to worry about anything.
I can relax fully with her, a feeling even with my pack I never felt completely.
I had built a wall between work and pack.
That put distance between us sometimes, yet they always understood and supported me however they could.
Hell, the day she passed out and I walked her back to the lodge, I told her about the case that’s haunted me the most.
I don’t end up staying much longer. As I’m saying my goodbyes, Sophie hugs me tight and whispers, “Take care of yourself and our girl.”
Returning her hug, I say, “Always.”