“Not tonight…I have to talk to Kahn, but I’ll be back before you leave in the morning.”
“Okay…see you then,” Heath said, bones cracking in his neck as he stood and stretched. “These old bones just aren’t what they used to be.”
“You’re so full of bullshit. If there is one thing you are not, it’s old,” Reeve said, picking up his phone. “Send Eddie in, wouldja?”
“Sure.”
~/~/~/~/~
After Mac gave him reassurance that Hope was on her way to a full recovery, Jackson stopped in to see Dakota and Slate. Rapping his knuckles against the door, he waited until his brother looked up. “Hey, how’s everything?”
“Great,” Dakota said, smiling, “now that Josiah’s dead.”
Surprised that word had already reached him, Jackson asked, “Who told you?”
Dakota grinned. “Duh! No one…they didn’t have too.”
Seeing Jackson’s confusion, Slate chuckled. “According to my mate, there were so much joy in the house he could feel it without even using his empath ability.”
“I couldn’t help myself,” Dakota said. “It was so long since I felt that much happiness, I was curious about what caused it…”
“So you used your Shadow Voice to find out,” Jackson concluded.
“Yup,” Dakota said, pointing a finger at Jackson. “Stop that right now!”
“What? I’m happy for you.”
“Yeah, you are, but you’re also pissed off at yourself for not telling me last night.”
Jackson grinned sheepishly. “Maybe a little…I was concerned…”
Waving his hand dismissively, Dakota said, “I got it…my big brother still watching out for me.”
“Always.”
“While you’re here, what’s up with Danny?” Dakota asked. “Is he going to be my new Alpha?”
“Har, har…you’re funny,” Jackson replied, grinning. “Speaking about pups, how’s my nephew doing?”
Rubbing his belly, Dakota replied, “Other than kicking up a storm and sitting on my bladder all night long, he’s good. Macsaid my blood pressure is normal now and if it stays that way for the next three days, I can get out of bed.”
“Only for short periods, babe,” Slate insisted.
“Listen to Mac, Kota,” Jackson said. “You don’t have long to go before your son arrives.”
“I can’t wait…wecan’t wait,” Dakota corrected himself, patting his belly.
“Neither can I,” agreed Jackson, giving his brother a hug before leaving. It was time to sort out the issue with Danny. Walking upstairs, he thought about that morning and his son’s behavior. Seeing his pup challenge a huge white buffalo shifter had scared the shit out of him. He was certain it was his fast response, along with Reeve’s confusion, that saved Daniel from learning a very painful lesson. Sighing as he reached the top step, he froze as he watched Maximus bow his head to Daniel.
Out of the corner of his eye, Maximus saw Jackson staring at him in disbelief. Chuckling, he finished his bow to Daniel before turning to his son-in-law. “I was on my way to see you when I was waylaid by Daniel.”
“I see that,” Jackson said, moving slowly towards his son. “It appears he has now added you to his pack.”
“Not at all,” Maximus said smiling. “He was just making sure I wasn’t a threat to you.”
“To me?” Jackson asked incredulously. “Are you serious?”
“I can explain,” Maximus replied, his eyes twinkling with merriment.
