“You ain’t wrong. I didn’t grow up in a pack, so I didn’t have one to return to. My parents died when I was little. They were both shifters, but the small pack where they grew up in Arkansas split when the Pack Alpha died. Dad served in the Navy with Mason, a non-shifter packmate he’d been friends with growing up. That’s how they ended up in Hawaii after they got out. They liked it and stayed. And they both met the loves of their lives.”
Jake’s voice turned somber. “Then Mom and Dad died during Pearl Harbor. Mason’s wife and son, too.” He bitterly snorted. “Friendly fire, if you can believe that shit. We were all over at Mason’s house, and one of the American shells landed next door. Mason adopted me, raised me.”
“Where’s he?” Peyton asked.
“After I graduated from college, Mason took me out to dinner to celebrate. When we got home, he told me he loved me like a son and how proud he was of me. Hugged me, long and hard, like it was goodbye. Said goodnight and headed to his room.” A weighty sigh escaped him. “Next morning, found two notes on the kitchen table, along with his wallet, checkbook, will, notarized paperwork—everything. One note for my eyes only, and one for me to show the cops, so I wouldn’t get in trouble and people think I killed him. He left everything to me and basically walked out into the sea and kept swimming. His body washed up a week later.”
He wiped at his eyes. “Told me he was sorry, but despite not being a shifter he’d had a mate bond. And he’d lived in agony every day since she’d died, not to mention losing their son, and he couldn’t handle the pain. That he loved me and hoped I could find happiness. That he wished he’d found a pack to rejoin so I’d have someone, but he just couldn’t take it anymore.” Another sigh. “The only reason he held on as long as he did was that he knew he couldn’t leave me alone because Mom and Dad were like siblings to him. And he loved me. That I was an adult now and could take care of myself. That he wished he was stronger.”
“But he wasn’t,” Peyton quietly said.
Jake shook his head. “Not gonna lie, I was angry that I was alone. I didn’t get it until I lost my Maya.” He sniffled and rubbed his nose. “Then I wondered at how strong a guy he really was. Lost his mate and his son, blown to bits right in front him, along with his best friends, and yet still hung around to raise me when by all rights he could have dumped me in an orphanage and offed himself then.”
“That’s what we thought Grandfather Duncan did.” Peyton explained the story, in detail this time. “I think the only reason he came back was finding out about Mom and Dad, and Dewi. If it hadn’t been for that, once he got Ken and Nami to safety, he probably would have disappeared again. Everyone handles grief differently, and I won’t fault people for their choices. I might not like it, or agree with it, but I’m not in their shoes.”
“Your mate must be beside herself right now,” Jake said.
Peyton nodded. “I’m sure she is. And it’s probably taking Badger and Duncan both Priming Dewi to keep her from flying over herself to look for me. Hell, the babies might be the only thing keeping Gillian and Dewi there.”
Jake sat up a little straighter. “Shit.”
“What?”
“Maybe we should make finding a phone our first priority,” Jake said.
“Why?”
“Because maybe you weren’t the actual target. I mean, you were, but you were taken as bait. Maybe they set it up knowing you’d come looking for Faegan Lewis, and they suspected your sister would come after you when you went missing. Or that your people would come here looking for you and leave your pack compound unguarded, or severely undermanned. And if Ray really is behind all of this the way I think he is? He would damned well know how much your sister loves you, and how rare she is. How powerful.”
Peyton closed his eyes. “Fuuuuuck. You aren’t wrong. I hope they’ve managed to sit on her and keep her there.”
He smirked. “And babies? You said they were pregnant.”
“Like hell was I admitting there were babies before I knew who you really were. Dewi, my wife, and my sister-in-law all have newborns. My daughter—my first child—was born what, a week ago? My sister-in-law’s baby was born a day later.”
“Don’t blame you for your caution.” He smiled. “Congrats, daddy, but now I’m certain your mate will kill you when she finds out you’re safe.”
“If my sister leaves anything of me for her to kill, I’m certain you’re right.”
“Too bad you couldn’t question that guy before you turned him into cannon fodder,” Jake joked. “Might have gotten some helpful answers from him regarding the operation.”
“Maybe, but I doubt it. He didn’t hesitate to touch me, meaning he didn’t know I’m a Prime. Likely didn’t know I’m a shifter. I doubt he knows Faegan’s name, much less if he’s involved in the operation. His team was nothing more than a bunch of hired mercs.”
“So what other big changes have I missed in the world in my absence?” Jake teased. “We make it to Mars yet?”
“Oh, yeah. Huge colony there,” Peyton deadpanned. “Still can’t believe that’s where the aliens decided to make first contact with us.” When Jake’s eyes widened, Peyton laughed. “I’m kidding. We’ve landed robotic research equipment there, but that’s it, so far.”
“Ah.”
“But in all seriousness, there are video cameras everywhere now. Not just on buildings. When you left, cell phones were the size of bricks, and video cameras were huge. Now, cameras are unbelievably tiny and phones are pocket-sized and nearly all of them have cameras, too. Plus, nearly everyone carries a cell phone. Lots of people have dash cameras in their cars, and doorbell cameras on their houses. So you have to be careful what you do and where you shift. Always assume there’s a camera watching you.”
“Sounds perfectly Orwellian,” Jake drawled. “Gee, I can’t wait to get back to civilization.”
“You have Carl to return to,” Peyton reminded him. “Plus, you also have Mateo and Brianna. And Brianna’s mate and his family. You’re part of a huge pack now, with an ever-growing family who will readily welcome you home.”
Jake wistfully smiled. “Yeah.”
“Brianna and Mateo, their parents died a long time ago. I bet they’ll be happy to have you around.”
