It seemed as if his prediction about what Junior would do when he arrived was accurate, though he had to admit that he had expected more subtly to be involved. Or at least a conversation. Then again, neither one of the Jacksons was known for patience, intelligence, or people skills so this sledgehammer approach shouldn’t have been a surprise.
“What is this?” Brian said. “What are you doing to me?”
For the first time, Junior’s expression wavered. “I’m not doing anything,” he said, the slight tremor in his voice giving away his uncertainty. “How could I? Only Mother Nature can control destiny.”
What did that mean? Keith closed his eyes, cleared his mind, and inhaled deeply, putting all his focus into Junior’s scent. For the most part, it was normal, but he picked up the slightest trace of something new, something unnatural.
“You have to kill Keith Iredell so you can be with me,” Junior said. “I’m your mate.”
Chapter 13
“Well then, isn’t this an unexpected development?” Keith sauntered into the entryway and approached Rupert Junior.
“Alpha Berger! Stop him! He’s attacking me,” Rupert Junior shouted.
“Keith, wait,” Brian said at the same time, reaching for his mate. He couldn’t let him walk into harm’s way.
“Everyone calm down,” Keith said and then laughed. “I can’t believeIjust said that. When I’m the voice of reason in the room, we are definitely in the wrong room.”
“Keith, please.” Brian clutched his arm. “Let me handle this.” Not that he had any idea what was going on or what he would do about it. The Green Field Alpha’s son was in his house, telling him to kill his mate, while also somehow seeming like his mate. He didn’t understand what he was experiencing. It didn’t make sense. It was wholly different from his connection, draw, desire, and need for Keith, but something was niggling in his mind telling him that Rupert Jackson Junior was his mate even when his heart and his soul knew with absolute certainty that he wasn’t.
“He’s out of control! He needs to be stopped! You have to stop him,” Rupert Junior continued yelling. “Now. Now. Now.”
“Stop barking like a rabid dog.” Keith said. He kissed Brian’s cheek and then easily shook off his hold and walked over to Rupert.
“He’s going to kill your mate,” Rupert Junior shouted. “Do something!”
“I’m only planning on smelling you, but if you don’t chill the fuck out, then I might change my mind.”
“Keith, what are you doing?” Brian asked, feeling panicked that his mate was nearing a taller, broader, heavier, more seasoned Alpha.
“I just covered that. Give me a sec.” He leaned into Junior’s personal space and inhaled.
“What kind of Alpha are you?” Rupert Junior yelled at Brian. “Protect your mate!”
“You aren’t my mate,” Brian said. His mind was hazy and confused, but he could feel his mate in the core of his being, and it wasn’t this interloper.
Junior froze, his eyes wide and his chest heaving. “Wh…why are you saying that?”
“Don’t be offended, boo.” Keith was now centimeters away from Rupert, moving his nose up and down and breathing him in, and Brian was losing his mind. “The only reason he’s saying that is because it’s true.” He curled his hand around Junior’s throat, shoved him against the wall, and leaned his face forward. “Stay still.”
“He’s killing me,” Junior rasped. “Help.”
“He isn’t killing you.” Brian considered the scene in front of him. “Keith, are you killing him?”
“Not yet.” Keith straightened, looked Rupert Junior in the face, and grinned manically. “What’s the matter, baby doll, life flashing before your eyes? What were the greatest moments? Let me guess. The day someone voluntarily touched your private parts? Oh, no, I know, that one time your daddy almost told you he’s proud of you?” He shook his head. “Never mind, neither of those things happened.” He paused and tilted his head to the side. “Bacon cheeseburger?”
“Alpha Berger,” Rupert shouted. “Help me.”
“Not going to happen,” Keith said, his hand still wrapped around Junior’s throat.
“Why isn’t it working?” He grasped Keith’s wrist with both hands and tried to push him off, but despite his larger size, he didn’t get anywhere. “It worked before. It’s supposed to work.”
“What did you rub on yourself, Junior?” Keith moved his nose toward Rupert’s armpit.
“I didn’t do anything.”
“It’s on your neck and your underarms. I can smell it combining with your natural stink.” He pulled Rupert Junior forward and then slammed the much larger man against the wall, making it shake. “Talk.”
