“I think it’s a little late for that…Frank and Lizzie know, not to mention Brady, Lucius…and there’re others, I’m sure of.”
Waving her hand in dismissal, Oracle said, “None of them will disclose your secret. But if someone who cannot be trusted finds out…”
“Oh fuck…David…”
Nodding, Oracle replied, “Yes…any of the people seeking a meeting with him will feel it once they enter the Blackwood Pack compound. That cannot happen…it is essential your power is kept hidden until the time is right.”
“Aaaand once again, you’re clear as mud,” Jackson said, smiling. “Could you please clarify what time you’re referring to? Does it have to do with Josiah?”
“Unfortunately I cannot say anything more at the moment,” Oracle murmured.
Jackson rocked back and forth in his desk chair, thinking over the Fates’ message. He knew his Alpha power had grown more than he ever expected it to, but that had happened all by itself without any effort on his part. Now, Oracle wanted him to rein it in, so much so, it would be virtually impossible for anyone else to know he had it.The question is can I do it…and more important do I want to?In the end, he decided if the Fates had commanded it, he had to comply. “Okay, I’ll do it…only I’m not sure how to do it. By chance, did the Fates give any instructions you can pass on to me?”
“It is rather simple,” Oracle replied. “Your Alpha power is controlled by your mind…”
“Ah…so just as I use my mind to increase it, I can also use it to pull it back,” Jackson murmured. “Thatdoessound simple.”
“Exactly. Right now your mind has not exercised any control over the Alpha power so it has been able to grow without any restriction…which was necessary because it gave you the opportunity to discover what it could do.”
Snorting, Jackson said, “It has certainly been a journey…and if I’m correctly reading between the lines, there’s more to come.”
Smiling, Oracle said, “Definitely. Any other questions before I leave?”
“Yeah. Are Theo, Norm, or Smokey going to receive gifts upon their claiming of each other?”
“Smokey has already received his gift. As for Theo and Norm, I cannot say.”
“Cannot or will not?” asked Jackson.
“Does it matter?”
“I suppose not,” Jackson replied. “I assume you told Smokey about his gift already.”
“He knows about it,” Oracle murmured, noncommittally.
Jackson nodded slowly. He was used to Oracle’s responses by now. But that didn’t mean he wouldn’t keep trying to pry information from her. “Is his gift responsible for his ability to heal a gunshot wound?”
“You should ask Smokey that question.”
“I did…he said his grandfather taught him,” Jackson replied, throwing up his hands in frustration. “Don’t ask me why, but I find that hard to believe.”
“Smokey told you the truth…his grandfather taught him many things, including how to heal a gunshot wound,” Oracle said as she arose from her chair. “I believe when Smokey is ready, he will give you the answers you seek. Now I must go…Mystia is waiting for me.”
Getting up from his chair, Jackson walked around the desk to Oracle, giving her a hug before she left. Pulling back, his eyes saw the tightness in her face as he, murmured, “Please tell Mystia hello from me…and be safe…both of you. Daniel and the rest of the pups need their grandmas.”
Chapter 29
Theo waited until Mac left the room before hopping off the exam table, straightening his clothes and slipping the image of their cub into his pocket. It was time to implement his plan since Mac had given him the all-clear. By the time he was finished, the three of them would have forged a new relationship—one so strong it would weather any storm life threw at them. Grinning at his mates, Theo asked, “Are you hungry?”
Smokey’s stomach growled in response.
“That’s a ‘yes’ from you,” Theo said to Smokey, giggling. “Pooh bear? What about you?”
“I am too…but we missed dinner,” Norm answered. “Do you think Jackson would mind if we raided the refrigerator?”
“Nope,” Theo replied, heading for the door. “C’mon, I’m sure there are plenty of leftovers I can use to make us something to eat.”
Norm automatically started to follow Theo but stopped when he realized Smokey wasn’t behind him. Turning around, he asked, “Everything okay?”
