Chapter 1
Heading for the Blackwood Pack, Reeve Nicolet’s thoughts were racing faster than the wheels of his pickup.Fated Mate…a fuckin’ Fated Mate!He knew a clusterfuck of epic proportions when he saw one, and if he had any doubts, they’d been erased by Heath’s reaction to the news. The only thing working in his favor was that Kahn didn’t know—yet. And to make sure he didn’t find out, Reeve decided to keep his distance until the current case was wrapped up. While it seemed like a piss-poor solution, it was the only way he could think of to control his animal, whose sole focus was now on claiming Kahn. It took all the iron-fisted control Reeve learned as a child to keep him from pouncing his mate when they visited Kahn’s condo.
Forcing thoughts of his mate from his mind, he followed the directions on his GPS as he drove to his destination, spending his time reviewing the information—little as it was—about the Blackwood Pack. It was a new pack and there wasn’t much about them in the High Council’s files, leaving him with only the research he’d produced during his investigation into Jackson’s complaint. And unfortunately, that only ended up raising more questions which bugged the shit out of him.
“Your destination is on the right,” announced his GPS, prompting Reeve to slow down and turn into a driveway, only to be confronted by fifteen-foot-high iron gates barricading the entry. Snorting quietly at the ostentatious display of wealth, Reeve rolled down his window and pressed the button on an intercom, which stood guard like a lone sentinel at the side of the driveway. Waiting for someone to answer, he glanced through the gates, making out a road disappearing into a forest. It was obvious the Blackwood Pack wanted privacy, but thatwasn’t surprising, considering the Alpha Mate was CEO of Dire Enterprises.
“Hello, may I help you?”
Reeve quickly turned back to the intercom. “Reeve Nicolet…I have an appointment with Alpha Jackson Blackwood.”
“One moment, please.”
After about a minute, Reeve heard a motor start up, followed by the gates opening and, at the same time, the voice said, “Kindly follow the road…Alpha Blackwood is waiting for you.”
Raising an eyebrow at the formality of the interaction, Reeve shifted his pickup into gear and drove past the open gates. It was just another piece of information regarding the Blackwood Pack that he didn’t have before and, hopefully, his meeting with the Alpha would give him a lot more. But he’d have to be careful not to offend Jackson, especially since the son of the Vice Chairman of the High Council was a pack member. His boss repeatedly warned him about that, making sure Reeve understood the political implications if the Blackwood Pack Alpha filed a complaint against him. “Just be cool,” his boss had said, “unless you want to kiss your fucking career goodbye.”
Quietly chuckling at the memory of that conversation, Reeve slowed down as a house came into view. Turning off the engine, he sat there, looking at the timber and glass modern house in front of him.Holy hell!It filled his view, yet that was just part of the house; more was nestled into the woods surrounding it. He’d bet it was 10,000 sq ft, if not more, and his mind gave up when it came to computing how much it might have cost to build. For the first time ever, his animal had nothing to say, which really made him uneasy.
Reeve finally understood the gravity of his boss’s warning about the consequences of pissing off the Alpha, because someone with this amount of wealth could buy anything, maybe even order his death, though that might be taking it a bit far. His eyes landed on two men standing on the front porch, one of whom he recognized as Steel Valentin, head of Dire Enterprises, so the other must be his mate, Jackson Blackwood. Quickly glancing around, he was surprised at the lack of enforcers, filing that tidbit away for the future. Climbing slowly out of his truck, Reeve walked around it, stopping in front of the two of them. Tilting his head, he said, “Alpha Blackwood, thank you for agreeing to see me.”
“Welcome to the Blackwood Pack. Please call me Jackson, and this is my mate, Steel.”
Giving Steel a nod, Reeve turned his attention back to Jackson, his eyes noting the well-worn jeans and soft chambray shirt with the rolled-up sleeves, revealing Jackson’s corded forearm muscles. Causal and relaxed was an apt description, and he wondered how much of it was a front to put him at ease before Jackson would show his true colors.
After shaking Reeve’s hand, Jackson pushed open the front door and smiled. “I hope you don’t mind a little chaos…my brother Colton decided it would be fun if the kids played hide and seek…something I think he’s regretting.”
Following Jackson into the house, Reeve’s jaw dropped at the chorus of young voices filling the room. The Alpha was right about the chaos; in fact, he’d probably understated it. Looking around, he quickly counted three children—one a toddler and two others about four and six years old—along with three wolf pups. Surprise flitted through him; he’d never found anyinformation to indicate there were children in the Blackwood Pack. Just another piece of intel to tuck away.
“Danny,” Galen cried, crouched behind a chair. “Go away. I’m hidin’ from Colty.”
Growling, Daniel’s wolf charged at Galen, knocking him on his butt.
“Ah, dang it,” Galen muttered, pushing the young wolf away from him. “You supposta hide…you know, like behind somethin’.” Getting up, he yelled, “Colty, this don’t count cuz Danny found me. You need to tell him he can’t do that.”
Looking over his shoulder at Galen, Colton said, “Danny, you got to hide by yourself…Galen, go find another spot.”
“Jesse, stop,” Eamon yelled, giggling. “Gally, help me…Jesse won’t stop licking me.”
“Jesse’s supposta’ be hidin’,” Galen shouted, trying to get away from Daniel.
“Jessica, no,” Colton said, picking the small wolf up and setting her down away from Eamon. “He doesn’t need a bath.” Then, pointing her in the opposite direction, he said, “I’m counting to twenty and you better be hidden by the time I’m done, Miss Jessica. And stop licking Eamon…you know your Grandma Lizzie wouldn’t approve of such behavior.”
“Hey, stop eatin’ my sword!” Running across the room, Galen grabbed the handle of his sword, trying to pull it out of Jake’s mouth. “C’mon Jakey…let go!”
Seeing a potential fight brewing, Colton headed over to Galen and picked up Jake, who had the toy sword firmly clenched in his teeth. “Hey buddy, this is definitely a no-no. Your dads aren’tgoing to like it if they find out you wrecked Galen’s sword,” he muttered, trying to wiggle the toy free.
“He’s eatin’ my sword!” Galen shouted, jumping up and down, trying to reach it. “Colty, he can’t do that! Make him stop!”
Glancing at Reeve, Jackson grinned. “My brother’s getting a taste of what to expect with his triplets.”
“Triplets?” asked Reeve, looking at Jackson.
“Yeah, he and his mate just had triplets,” Jackson murmured. “C’mon, I have a quiet place where we can talk.” Weaving through the scattered toys on the floor, Jackson led Reeve across the great room and down the hall to his study.
Following Jackson, Reeve caught himself smiling at the happy sounds and antics taking place in the great room—a far cry from the mausoleum-like ambiance of Josiah’s house. In just the few minutes he’d spent in the Blackwood Pack house, he understood why Kahn left Silver Point and its stifling atmosphere to seek freedom to express himself through his paintings. The only thing he could compare it to was what happened to him as a child and his feeling of finally being able to breathe. Taking the seat Jackson waved him toward, Reeve glanced around the room, noting its warmth and coziness before returning his gaze to Jackson.
“What can I do for you, Agent Nicolet?” asked Jackson, smiling.
