“Of course. But babe, she’s an Oracle. Keeping secrets goes with the territory.”
Jackson huffed to himself.What good is being Alpha if no one obeys me?
Steel stopped, sensing his mate’s frustration. “Babe, please let’s wait for Colton. I don’t like seeing you upset. And if I could force my mother to answer you I would,” he said, taking Jackson into his arms
Jackson rested his head on Steel’s chest, letting his mate’s heartbeat calm him down. “I know lover, it’s just that I worry over what gift the Fates gave him. Do you think he’ll be able to have pups? Oh wow, a playmate for our pup! How neat is that?”
“Before we plan for another pup in the house maybe we should wait and see what Colton says,” Steel chuckled. Hearing a rapid series of hard knocks on Jackson’s study door, Steel added, “Showtime, and by the sound of that, Colton is not too happy about being dragged from his mating bed.”
Jackson pushed steel away and sat down, giving his mate a hard look. “Come in,” he said.
Colton entered, looking pissed, and marched to his brother’s desk. “What’s the emergency? I assume there is one since I know my brother wouldnottake me away from my mate so soon after I claimed him.”
Jackson stared at Colton until his brother finally lowered his eyes and tilted his head in deference. “Have a seat, Colton. We have to talk.”
Colton plopped down and asked, “About what? What’s so important you had to take me away? Is there a problem with the baby? Are you feeling ill?”
Jackson sighed. “Look, Colton, I’m sorry. But things are happening and in order for me to make the right decisions, I need answers.”
“What’s happening?”
“Slate has questioned Pablo and found out someone hired him to kidnap you. He was supposed to kill you but after finding out what you were, decided to auction you off.”
“Oh yeah? And whose fault is it I didn’t know I was a natural healer? Mom? Dad? Or yours? Well since two out of three are dead, my money is on you. You know what Jackson? What I don’t understand is why you didn’t tell me after our parents died. Sure, I can understand you felt you had to keep this “big” secret while they were alive, but now? Nope don’t get it.”
Steel moved to Jackson’s side, “Now look here, Colton…”
“Noyoulook here. I don’t know if you knew it but if you did, both of you are responsible for sending me to Mexico without me knowing everything I needed to. By the way, did Slate know? Or did you blindside him too? Didn’t either of you think it would have helped us make better decisions if we knew the whole story? Especially, this very important little nugget of information? So important that Pablo was going to make big bucks selling me as a slave? And what if I hadn’t escaped? And by the way, that didn’t go so well either…I nearly died.” Colton took a deep breath, trying to calm down. He knew Ian would sense his anger.
Jackson knew everything Colton said was true but he still couldn’t tolerate disrespect, even from his brother. He stood, staring at Colton, his face hardened, his mouth a thin, straight line. As they faced off, Jackson rolled out his Alpha power over Colton and could feel his brother trying to resist but he wasn’t going to allow it. Increasing his power, he finally felt Colton yield, lowering his head and then tilting it in submission. “What I did or didn’t do is not important anymore. Whatisimportant is yoursafety and that of your mate. For me to insure it, I need to know what I’m dealing with.
“So far, the facts I know are as follows: one, you’re a white wolf…a rare white wolf…a white wolf other wolves will kill for. Two, you are a natural healer…another rarity…and as we have seen, worth a lot of money. And three, you received a gift when you found your fated mate…that information I do not have and need to know. Now tell me what the Fates gave you.”
Colton looked at the floor. He should’ve expected this.Shit! Now what?
Thinking over his options, he seized the one he felt would distract Jackson. “Did you know Ian is a male Omega wolf?”
Jackson heard Steel groan but his brain was still slowly processing what his brother just told him. Ian? A male Omega? Oh my gods? How fucking rare is that?
He didn’t know but he could hazard a guess.This was quickly becoming a security nightmare of the highest order. What the fuck…How the fuck…Oh crap! Is Ian pregnant already?He heard Steel telling him to sit down through their mind link. He slowly sat down and looked at his mate, his face frozen in horror as his mind raced through the ramifications of what had been dumped in his lap.
Steel, feeling Jackson’s turmoil, grasped his mate’s hand and squeezed. Turning to Colton he asked, “Is Ian pregnant?”
Colton was dumbfounded.Ian pregnant? Now? Oh my god we never talked about the possibility. I fucked him without protection! Fuck, double that with a heaping of hell on top! How could I be so stupid!He looked at Steeland said, “I don’t know. I claimed him but didn’t use protection. It’s too early to tell anyway.”
He needed to get back to his mate for a long overdue discussion. “Is that all? I really need to get back to Ian.”
Jackson glanced at him, his eyes narrowing. “In a minute, but you forgot to tell me the gift you received. Are you able to have children too?”
“I can’t have children as far as I know…only my mate. As to what my gift is…it’s immaterial since it won’t affect anyone in our pack.” Colton held up his hand to stop Jackson’s expected objection. “If you try to force me to tell you, using your Alpha power, I will leave this pack with my mate because you would be asking me to deliberately hurt Ian and I can’t. Please don’t make me choose between you and my mate. And it would just about kill me to leave you, especially now, Jackson. My position is non-negotiable. Now if you don’t mind and since there isn’t any medical emergency you need me for, I’m going back to Ian.”
Jackson was speechless as he watched his brother go, he never thought he’d see the day one of his brothers would threaten to leave. After the door closed, Jackson slumped in his chair.How could Colton threaten me with leaving? Colton? My brother who never fought with any of us? What power did he get that he would hide it from his Alpha? Oh my gods, I hope it isn’t bad!
Steel listened to his mate’s thoughts and his heart hurt at Jackson’s distress. But he could do nothing to relieve it since his mother would say nothing.Hey, Colton told us about not wanting to hurt Ian. So maybe my mother will answer some questionsabout Ian and we might get an idea about Colton’s gift.Steel squeezed Jackson’s hand again and said, “Babe, why don’t we talk to my mothernow. We did as she said and talked to Colton. And we know about Ian. Maybe she’ll tell us more.”
“Okay, but I know she won’t say what his gift is,” Jackson said.
“No, but we might pick up some clues.”
