Steel stood, moving his chair back, offering a hand to his mate. After Jackson rose, Steel drew him close to his side, nuzzling his nose in Jackson’s hair, soaking up his scent. Guiding Jackson from the room with his hand resting just above his mate’s perfect bubble butt, Steel began to think of what he would do with his mate that night.Shit, no good, hard cock.As he discreetly tried to rearrange his dick to make his erection less obvious, he heard Jackson snicker.
Jackson leaned in to Steel’s ear, whispering, “That’s what you get when you think dirty thoughts about me.” Steel’s eyes widened, realizing he was broadcasting his thoughts to his mate. Jackson leered at Steel, adding, “Wait until you see whatI’mgoing to do to you tonight,” and winked lasciviously.
“You aresogoing to pay for that, cock tease,” growled Steel as they entered the den. Jackson felt a shiver go down his spine, ending up in his groin. “Bring it on big boy,” he purred to his mate, putting his hand on Steel’s chest, pinching his nipple hard. A low snarl came from his mate’s throat. Jackson smiled.Tonight should be interesting.
Chapter 17
Guiding Jackson over to the big leather club chair by the fireplace—and after Jackson sat down—Steel moved to the mantle, propping his arm on it. He wanted to be close but not so close as to detract from Jackson’s authority. He looked around the room, seeing Mystia and his parents sitting together on one of the distressed leather couches while Jackson’s brothers had scattered themselves around the room, with the exception of the triplets, who sat together. Logan sat on the left side of Jackson as if guarding his flank. Steel smiled inwardly, glad to see that Jackson’s brother intended to give moral support and maybe more, if necessary. Steel hoped it wouldn’t come to that.
Jackson began to speak. “I want to ask some questions to find out what everyone knows. Oracle, did you tell my brothers the history of the Dire Wolves?”
“Yes, and I also filled them in on the Valentin family history.”
“Okay, does anyone have any questions about that?” Jackson asked, looking at each of his brothers, receiving no reply. “Good,” he said. “Now the next item is, I intend to stay as the Alpha of the Blackwood Pack. Steel will be a full member as will his parents and brother. He’s been assigned to resolve the issue with the Silver Point Pack so we can get back to living again. As he gets into it, I expect he’ll want to speak with each of us to get any information that’ll help him achieve his goal. Any questions?”
“Why isn’t Steel going to be our Alpha?” asked Zane. “After all, isn’t he the strongest wolf in your mating?”
Just as Jackson was about to answer, Steel asked, “Do you mind if I answer this, mate?” And when Jacksonwaved his hand for Steel to proceed, he continued, “It takes more than sheer strength to lead a pack, Zane, and while it’s true I’m bigger and physically stronger than Jackson, he is far superior to me in the mental toughness needed to make hard decisions for the benefit of the pack and not for himself.”
The room grew quiet as Steel continued. “Your brother initially refused to mate with me because he felt his first loyalty was to the Blackwood Pack. Since your future concerning the Silver Point Pack is an unknown, Jackson didn’t want to have divided loyalties in any potential fight. Ask yourself—would you be able to sacrifice your happiness for the good of the pack? Jackson was willing to. When a pack finds an Alpha who’ll sacrifice himself so others will have a better chance to live, it better keep him. That’s why I feel no need to become Alpha of this pack.”
Jackson’s heart was overflowing with the love he felt for his mate at that moment. Then he heard Zane asked him, “So why did you mate with Steel?” Zane had zeroed in on the main point of this pack meeting and Jackson knew the next few minutes would be fraught with difficulties as he tried to explain to his brothers what he was.
“Before I get into that, does anyone else have something to say?” Jackson looked around at his brothers. With only silence answering him, Jackson took a deep breath and started, “It turns out I’m a hybrid—an Alpha/Omega hybrid and I have the attributes of both. I learned about it when I found my fated mate.”
Cody spoke up, “Exactly what do you mean ‘the attributes of both,’ Jackson? I know the Alpha part but what part of Omega do you have?”
Carson interrupted, “You’re not a full Alpha?”
“Let him finish,” demanded Colton. “What are you trying to tell us?”
Jackson knew this was the pivotal moment and would decide if he stayed as Alpha or not. What surprised him was how much he wanted it, especially after fighting with his father about it.
“My Omega part allows me to get pregnant and give birth to pups,” he said with a steady voice.
Dead silence ensued. Jackson looked at his brothers’ faces and saw an array of emotions ranging from shock to disgust. In response to the brothers’ reactions, Steel moved closer to him, as if to shield him from the negative emotions. Then the room exploded as a cacophony of voices shouted at him.
“What the fuck…”
“You’re an abomination!”
“Are you pregnant now?”
“Will I have the same ability?”
“You can’t lead us anymore.”
Jackson heard his mate snarl and growl at Carson and Zane, obviously disliking their comments. Jackson held up his hands and as the brothers fell silent, Jackson answered, “Colton, in response to your question, yes, I’m pregnant now. Dakota, I don’t know if you’ll have the same ability—I did ask, but no one knew the answer. Carson, if you want to challenge me for the Alpha position, then submit a formal request. Until I receive it, I’m the Alpha and will continue to lead this Pack.”
Then he turned to Zane. “Shame on you for thinking you know more than the Fates who decided this is who I should be. I am no more an abomination then you are. The Fates did this, it wasn’t my choice; I didn’t wake upyesterday and decide I’d be an Alpha/Omega hybrid. This is the hand that was dealt to me by the Fates, and I’m not, nor will I ever be, ashamed of who I am.”
Zane’s jaw dropped, listening to the rebuke his beloved brother, his Alpha, gave him. Suddenly, he knew he had to get out of there—this was all too much. Leaping from his chair, he turned and ran to the front door. Opening it, he shifted before running into the forest, his shredded clothes scattered on the ground. Jackson sighed.
He’d known this would be hardest on his youngest brother who had still not come to terms with the death of his parents and the kill-on-sight order hanging over their heads. Any change in an already fragile existence, not to mention the size of this one, stretched Zane beyond what his newly-acquired coping skills could handle. Steel spoke up, “Do you want me to go after him just to make sure he’s safe?” Jackson shook his head. “Logan, go after Zane and make sure he’s safe. Don’t try to make him come back—wait until he wants to.”
“Will do.”
Before Logan left, Cody turned to him and asked, “You haven’t said anything about Jackson. What are your thoughts?”
