“That might happen, when they finally decide to speak, but right now…none of them is talking. Not a peep!”
“I wonder if this is happening to Kieran also.”
“Who knows? All I know is he doesn’t want me. Whatever! I survived before he came into my life and I’ll survive now.”
Jackson saw the sadness lurking in his twin’s eyes and knew how much Kieran’s disappearance was hurting Logan. Something happened for Kieran to feel he was rejected but what? Thinking back to everything that happened to him at his claiming and then about Logan’s claiming, he asked, “What exactly did you do when you felt Kieran’s wolf and spirit enter your body?”
“When it happened, I was so shocked I tried to pull my fangs out of Kieran, but my wolf wouldn’t let me.”
“How did Kieran react when you did that?”
Realization dawned, and Logan uttered, “Fuck!” When he tried to break free, Logan remembered how Kieran had stiffened and even after they were finally separated, his mate had remained oddly quiet and remote. Groaning, he stared at his twin and whispered, “I fucked up!”
“Bro, tell me what happened!”
Looking down, Logan was at a loss for words.How can I explain to my brother how stupid I’ve been?As the silence stretched on, the weight that had settled on him when he found out Kieran had left was now so heavy, Logan felt his body in danger of breaking in two.Tell mybrother? Give voice to my stupidity? How would that change anything?“It doesn’t matter, Jackie,” Logan said, using his childhood nickname for his twin. “I fucked up and now Kieran is gone. My wolf won’t talk to me and neither will Kieran’s wolf and spirit…” Logan’s voice trailed off as he sat looking at his hands, wringing them expressing his distress.
The distraught twin sitting in front of Jackson was the one he remembered standing by him during his childhood, helping him when their father berated him and then providing the absolute, iron support he needed that summer after the massacre. He felt the waves of sorrow from his brother and if he didn’t do something, he was going to lose his twin. “Logan, please tell me what happened so I can find a way to make it right for both you and Kieran.” Jackson placed his hands on top of Logan’s to still them and provide comfort and support.
The minutes ticked by while Logan sat still, only his jaw showed any sign of movement as he repeatedly clenched it, grinding his teeth in the process. Finally, Logan began telling his brother—faltering at times—what happened, sure he would never be able to look Jackson in the eye again.
Jackson listened without interrupting, afraid if he did, Logan would stop. When his brother finished, Jackson leaned over and hugged Logan tightly, whispering in his ear, “I got your back. Now let’s fix it and get Kieran home in your arms where he belongs.”
Logan nodded slowly, hoping against all hope, his brother could work miracles and give him back his pink-loving twink. “O-o-okay,” he said, exhaling in relief that he had his twin’s support. “But how? I don’t even know where he is?”
“Do you mind if I bring in Cody and Oracle? I think they may be able to help.”
“Go ahead.”
Jackson opened the door and said, “Sorry guys, if you would just be patient, I’ll be with you shortly. Cody? Oracle? Will you join me?” Shutting the study door after they came in, Jackson walked over to his desk. Looking at Cody, he asked, “What exactly is Kieran?”
“He’s a wolf, you know that.”
“Yes, but what else?”
“I don’t know what you mean.”
“Bullshit, Cody! You know exactly what I mean so for the last time…what is Kieran?”
Cody looked at Oracle, helpless. All he knew is he couldn’t answer his brother—his Alpha—and knew all hell would break loose if Jackson used his Alpha power on him. Already he could see the life thread connecting him to Dylon turn darker and heard his mate asking if he was okay.
Seeing the problem, Oracle spoke for Cody. “Jackson, Cody cannot tell you…”
“Can’t or won’t?”
Shrugging her slim, elegant shoulders, she waved her hand. “It does not matter which one you pick. If you force Cody to talk, Dylon will break down that door to protecthim. The problem lies not with Cody, but with the Fates who decreed that Kieran…and only Kieran…can divulge who he is.” Holding her hand up to stop the next question from Jackson, she added, “And it even applies to me. This was done so no one would ever be able to betray Kieran and use him for evil.”
“Then how did Cody find out? Did Kieran tell him?” Turning to Cody, he asked, “And if he told you, why didn’t he tell his Fated Mate who absolutely cannot betray him? Why is Logan in the dark about who his mate is?”
Cody sent a message to Dylon, letting him know he was all right and then answered Jackson, “Before all my visions became painful, I had a vision of Kieran. I had forgotten about it when my mind was taken over by pain. Only by chance did it come back to me, but Kieran knows I will never betray him because the Fates have ordered me to protect him…and Dylon must too.”
“As to why Kieran did not tell Logan,” said Oracle, frowning, “we can only guess, but you should know Logan’s mate has never had anyone who accepted him for who he was except Theodore and Norman. That is why their bond is so tight and why it is also so strange that he left them behind.”
Jackson glanced at Logan, then asked Oracle, “Do you know what gift the Fates have given Logan?”
“Yes, I do,” she answered, “but I am unable to tell Logan until I speak with Kieran.”
Jackson nodded, expecting that answer. Then he asked Oracle, “Do you know where Kieran is?”
