Listening to Steel talk, Jackson wondered how Mystia would get to Steel’s place if he needed her help with the baby. That was his biggest worry about moving away from her. He knew he’d need her when the baby came but how would she ever get to their new home in time? As Jackson tuned back into the conversation, he realized Steel asked him something. “I’m sorry, just thinking,” he apologized. “What did you ask?”
“I asked if you have any other issues you want to bring up to Mystia?”
Jackson smiled. “I have tons of questions about my pregnancy but we can talk about that later.” Turning to Mystia, he asked, “I’ll need you when the baby is ready to be born. Is there a way I can have instant access to you once we move away?”
Mystia smiled, “I have already thought about that. I’m going to install a portal I can use to shuttle back and forthbetween here and your new home. I won’t be more than a few minutes away from you.”
Steel could feel his mate’s relief when he heard Mystia’s answer and it reminded him he needed to speak with his mother about having a doctor at the birth. And maybe setting up an operating and recovery room in his house just in case it was needed?he was determined his mate and pup would have everything possible to insure a safe delivery.
As soon as they returned home, he had to fill out the papers for Jackson to sign and then fax them off to the Universal Paranormal High Council. Once the complaint was filed, the Silver Point Alpha would receive a call informing him about it that would, he hoped, stop all actions against Jackson and his brothers. He wanted, noneeded,his mate and pup to be safe. Steel stood when he saw Mystia and Jackson getting up and moved towards the door. A hug and a kiss from her, and they were on their way.
~/~/~/~/~
Steel drove to North Ridge, a mid-sized town about an hour south of where the Blackwood Pack lived. Jackson hadn’t been there for a number of years and was surprised at how much it had grown. As Steel parked at the supermarket, Jackson retrieved Dakota’s list from his pocket.
“You know, I would have gladly gone fishing for the list,” smirked Steel, after seeing his mate’s hand wiggle its way down the pocket of his skinny jeans.
“You behave yourself,” Jackson said, swatting Steel’s arm. “I don’t want to walk through the store with a raging hard-on.”
“Why not? I love that look on you,” leered Steel.
Ignoring his mate, Jackson got out of the Ranger Rover and grabbed a shopping cart. “If we split the list, we’ll be done in half the time,” Jackson suggested.
“Sounds good to me.”
Jackson headed to the dairy case first, while Steel hit the meat department. Jackson was enjoying himself as he went up and down the aisles, picking out items on the list. He decided to get extras since he wanted to make sure they had enough for Steel’s brother. Jackson figured the food would never be wasted considering how many wolves were now living at his pack house.
He hoped Slate would like him once they met. He didn’t want to be a point of contention between them, especially since Steel had been so wonderful and understanding about his need to lead and protect his brothers.
He had finished his half of the list and was looking for Steel, when he heard his mate’s voice coming from the next aisle. Heading for it, he suddenly realized the other voice sounded familiar but he couldn’t place it. He rounded the end of the aisle and came face to face with his worst nightmare—a member of the Silver Point Pack. He slowly began backing out of the aisle but before he made his escape, Steel looked up and saw him. Jackson’s eyes widened, shaking his head, sending a message to Steel through their mind link warning his mate about the guy he was talking to.
Panic crossed Steel’s face before he was able to school his features. Then grabbing the man’s arm just as he was turning to see what Steel was looking at, he said something to him, pulling him in the opposite direction.
Jackson’s mind heard Steel command him to leave the cart near the checkout and go to the Rover immediately. He assured his mate he’d keep the Silver Point Packmember busy in the wine aisle until he heard he was safely inside the car.
Steel and the man he’d pulled into the wine aisle began to discuss the merits of various wines. Finally, when Jackson assured him he was okay and lying down on the back seat of the car, Steel took a deep breath in relief, and bid the man adieu.
After checking out, Steel rushed to load the car so he could get his mate out of town. What a bad-ass idea to come here; he should have headed east instead.Shit, shit, and more shit! He jumped into the Rover, locking all the doors. Shaken to the core at how close they’d come to putting his mate and unborn child in danger, he started the vehicle, carefully backing out of his parking spot. He looked at his mate through the rearview mirror, “Are you all right?”
“Yeah, I am. I don’t think he saw me and I didn’t see any other members on the way to the car,” Jackson responded. “Why were you talking to a Silver Point Pack member and how do you know him?”
“Let me get out of town and then you can move up here, okay?” replied Steel, driving towards the outskirts of North Ridge.
After fifteen minutes had passed, Steel turned into a strip mall, stopping behind the stores. Putting the car in park, he turned to Jackson, “It’s safe for you to move up front now.”
Jackson sat up, looking out the windows. His mate had pulled in behind some dumpsters and no one was around, so he got out and slid in beside him. Turning to face him, Jackson waited for the explanation he’d been promised.
Steel thought about his father’s warning about keeping secrets and now here it was, ready to bite him in the ass. “Babe, do you remember the day I found you at the side of the road?” asked Steel.
That wasn’t what Jackson expected, but he decided to go along. “Sure, but there wasn’t anybody with you.”
“I know. But I had met someone in L.A. for lunch through a dating service for paranormals. I’d been looking for my fated mate for some time and I was getting desperate. So, when an acquaintance suggested the ‘Out Of This World’ dating service, I signed up. I was matched with several wolves and Khan—he was the man in the supermarket—was the last one I met with before I met you. He wasn’t for me and I couldn’t wait for lunch to be over.”
“Okay, but I heard him say something about your father.”
Oh shit, Steel was hoping to avoid telling his mate about meeting Khan on the Fox River Pack land. Well, better to just rip off the band-aid quickly. “When Dad and I went to see the land belonging to your pack we met Khan walking around on it. I asked what he was doing and he told me he was looking for a place to build a house. Honey, I never knew he was a member of the Silver Point Pack, I swear.”
Jackson took it all in silently before asking, “I believe you, but why didn’t you tell me you saw someone on our land?”
