Jackson packed Steel’s bag for him. He had to do something. Ever since Ian woke them up with the newshis brother was in danger—no, maybe dying—he was in a full state of panic, with fear firmly lodged in his heart. He wanted to go but knew the trip would endanger the pup. So here he was, getting Steel ready to make the trip. As far as Jackson was concerned, he knew his mate would do everything possible to bring Colton home—hopefully alive.No, mustn’t think that way.Colton would come back to him.
Oracle rapped her fingers on the bedroom door first before stepping through the doorway. “Robert will be landing in fifteen minutes and the jet is ready to go. Has Steel talked to Slate yet?”
Jackson turned around and looked at her with tears running down his face.
“Oh sweetie,” said Oracle, “I’m so sorry you have to go through this. Please try to remember the Fates have told me Colton will come home,” she said, sweeping Jackson into her arms.
Jackson snuffled several times, trying to rein in his emotions. “I don’t know if Steel talked to his brother yet. I think he is still downstairs. Would you please tell him I need him?”
“Certainly.”
Jackson turned back to his packing and fought back more tears.Shit, shit, shit. Damn pregnancy hormones.He checked the closet and bathroom making sure he packed everything his mate would need before closing the suitcase. After he finished, Jackson sat down on the bed, waiting for Steel.
Cody knocked briefly before entering. “Bro, I’m ready. When are we leaving?”
“The helicopter will be here shortly and the plane is waiting for you at the airport. Cody, listen to me, I don’twant you to take any risks which could put your life in danger. Find Colton, bring him home, but make sure you come home safely too. You hear me?”
“Jackson, I promise. I’ll have Steel and Slate…two Dire Wolves…to protect me. Trust me, I’ll be safe.”
“I know, but I feel I have to give you these instructions. I’m going to be anxious until I hear all of you are on the way home.”
“You’re going to make a great parent, you know that?” Cody said, hugging Jackson. “Take care of my nephew. I got a lot of things I want to do with him.”
“Will do.”
~/~/~/~/~
Oracle entered Steel’s office, glided over to his desk and waited until he hung up the phone. She looked at his ashen face and asked “Was Ian right? Is Colton in danger?”
Steel sighed deeply, still trying to figure out how to tell his mate what he’d learned. “It doesn’t look good. Colton is missing and Slate doesn’t know how it happened. He overslept and when he woke, Colton was gone. He first assumed he’d gone to the hospital for his early shift, but when Slate got there, he found out Colton never showed up. He has his team of enforcers out searching.”
“Steel, pull yourself together. Colton will return home. You know I am telling the truth. Get your emotions in order because Jackson needs you. Tell him what you know, hug him tightly and kiss him good-bye. Then get down there and bring our Colton back. He is very important for all wolves.”
Steel knew his mother was never wrong before and could only hope this time wasn’t her Waterloo. Standing, hehugged Oracle, murmuring in her ear, “Take care of my mate, Mom. If something happens to him, I might as well be dead since my life won’t be worth living.” Then he left to find Jackson.
~/~/~/~/~
Slate headed out to the airport to pick up Steel’s group. Slamming his fist on the steering wheel and cursing up a blue streak, he was angry and frustrated.How could Colton disappear? Vanish off the face of the earth.The community was a small, tight-knit pack that had no history of violence.So why now? Why Colton? Shit.He knew why. Somebody found out what Colton was. That had to be it.But who?The only time he ever talked about Colton’s ability was with Juan at the hospital.Fuckingbedamned. That’s it! Someone overheard them, but who?
Slate thought back to that day when he was standing in the hall with Juan. Nobody was in the hall, so who else knew what Colton did that day. They’d just left the guy who had silver in his blood. Colton had healed him by the laying on of his hands. So, it was Juan, Colton, he and the patient who were privy to the magic. It had to be the patient. Pulling into the airport, he fishtailed as he came to an abrupt stop alongside their plane. Holding up one finger to the group waiting, Slate quickly dialed Turk and told him to find Juan and get the name and address of the patient. He slammed down his phone and jumped out to greet his brother.
~/~/~/~/~
“Jackson, Jackson, come here NOW!” Zane called out from Jackson’s study where he was glued to a computer screen. “Carson, go get Jackson now. Holy shit! He’s got to see this! He needs to tell Steel!”
Carson ran from the room and met Jackson waddling down the hall towards him. “Bro, Zane needs you. He found something!”
“I’m coming. I’m coming,” Jackson huffed out.Damn belly. Makes moving fast impossible.He finally reached his study and saw his geeky brother at the computer.
“Did you find out anything about Colton?”
“Nothing on the internet so I went to the dark web…”
“What’s the dark web? Never mind, go ahead.”
“There’s an auction taking place right now. They are auctioning off Colton. Says here, “A timber wolf shifter…A natural healer…Rare and extremely valuable… Able to heal anything and anybody… It goes on but crap, you should see how high the bidding is going. You gotta tell Steel.”
“Let me see that.” Jackson grabbed the computer screen and turned it toward him. “Shit, shit, shit. Get Steel on the phone. Now”
