He smiled. There was a lot of hope in that voice.
“What do you think?”Xias asked through their mate link.
“I think that it’s a good idea. It would get them away from Osamu. My mother has at least four enforcers with her at all times. They would be well protected, especially if we sent Tao with them. Plus, we wouldn’t have to worry so much about them being here at the same time as Osamu.”
Zhuang knew he didn’t like it. Just having the cubs in the same building as Osamu was causing his hair to stand on end. Every gut instinct he had was screaming at him to get the cubs as far away from Osamu as he could. He had learned over the years to listen to those instincts.
“Tao, you will go with my mother and guard the cubs.”
Tao nodded without hesitation. “Yes, Alpha Zhuang.”
He was going to make a good beta. He understood what was important. He also understood when to talk and when to keep his thoughts to himself. As much as Zhuang trusted his parents, and he did, he didn’t like his personal life bandied about in places he wasn’t positive were secure.
“If you want to get the cubs ready to go,” Elder Shen said, “I’ll go meet with Osamu and see what he wants. Maybe I can get him to leave without a bunch of fuss.”
Zhuang seriously doubted it.
The elder headed for the door, but stopped when he got there and glanced back. “Don’t leave this room until I come for you. The longer Osamu goes without knowing you are here, the better.”
Zhuang nodded his understanding at what his father wasn’t saying. His nerves were strung tight and his control was paper thin when it came to his mate and the threat posed by Osamu. Zhuang would rather challenge the man and be done with it, but protocol had to be followed.
He wished he had a listening device, though. He’d really like to hear what bullshit story Osamu had come up with. It had to be a doozy. There was just no way the man could justify his actions. Only an idiot would think he had the right to treat people the way he had treated Xias.
Once his father had left the room, Zhuang and Xias got the cubs ready to travel. The tears that gathered in Xias’s eyes as Tao and Zhuang’s mother left with the three little fur balls tore at Zhuang until he thought he might go mad.
His mate should never have tears in his eyes, and yet he’d seen more of them in the last three days than he thought he’d ever see. Zhuang drew Xias into his arms and pressed the man’s head to his chest. It was just the two of them in the room. Now was the time for Xias to get it all out of his system because he was going to need every little bit of his resolve to face Osamu.
“It won’t be forever, Xias. Just until Osamu is gone.”
“I know. I’m just afraid he’s never going to go away.”
Zhuang had that same fear, so he didn’t try to dismiss Xias’s worry. “I already told you. If we have to, we’ll pack up the cubs and make a run for it.”
Xias snorted. “And go where?”
“I have friends, mate. We’d find someplace to hide.”
Xias opened his mouth and Zhuang knew what he was going to say. He pressed a finger to Xias’s lips. “Let’s try it this way first. Being a rogue shifter wouldn’t be easy. If we can get Osamu out of our lives through legal means, then we should give it a shot. You don’t want rogue status hanging over your head if you can prevent it.”
Rogue shifters lived a lonely existence, shunned by every clan. They had no home, no place to go when in danger. Most died within a year due to hunger, constant fear, and the threat of other shifters going after them.
“And if it doesn’t work?” Xias whispered.
“We go rogue.”
* * * *
Xias swallowed tightly when the door opened and the starchy butler appeared. This was it. He was going to have to face Osamu. Bile rose up in his throat, threatening to steal his ability to breathe.
“Sir,” the butler said as he addressed Xias, “Elder Shen requests your presence.”
Xias glanced at Zhuang one last time, hoping the strong alpha would tell him it had all been a big mistake. When Zhuang’s lips pressed together, Xias knew his hopes were for naught.
“You’ll be okay, Xias,” Zhuang said. “You’re a lot stronger than you think.”
Xias wasn’t sure he believed that.
Zhuang smiled and brushed a finger over Xias’s cheek. “Just remember, as soon as this is all over, we’ll go get our cubs and then I’ll take you to our new home. We’ll never have to see Osamu again.”
