“Instead you think by teasing Kieran you are doing him a favor by treating him as a brother. Don’t get me wrong…I’m happy you’re treating him as a brother, but I think you skipped twenty years of growing up with him first. I mean, you don’t know him well enough to tease him as you do…as you tease me. That’s what’s wrong with your attitude…you really don’t think you did anything wrong and yet every fucking thing you did was wrong.”
Colton stood there, frozen, as he realized what Zane said was true. He was worried about the pup and the toll the trip to Scotland would take on Ian but that was no excusefor ignoring Kieran, Theo, and Norman. Cody had told them briefly what happened to the boys—yet he’d done nothing.No that wasn’t quite true…I pushed for them to have physicals but only, so I could cross that task off my list. Right! Good going! Kieran is right and so is Norman. I need an attitude adjustment.
Slowly nodding his head, Colton said, “Holy shit balls, you are so right. I can’t believe how stupid I’ve been. Listen, do you have a few minutes because I would like to talk to you about what you found out.” Holding his hands up to forestall his brother’s objection, he added, “Zane, I will talk to them about their experiences, but it would help if I had some knowledge first, so I can avoid stepping on any land mines. I only want to help them, so they can move forward in life without a ton of baggage dragging them down. Please, I promise, I will do better.”
Zane searched Colton’s face and seeing the truth there, he nodded.
~/~/~/~/~
Jackson knocked on Norman and Theodore’s bedroom door and waited. He could hear someone moving around but he wasn’t going to barge in. Finally, the door swung open and Norman stood silently looking at him.
“Hey, Norman, I heard what happened this morning and before you hold your meeting, I’d like the chance to speak with you, Theodore, and Kieran.”
“Why? I’m not sorry for what I said,” said Norman.
“Good. I don’t think you should be. I want to talk to you, Theodore and Kieran about what we, that is my brothers and I, are doing wrong and listen to your ideas of how we can do better. I know some of what you all went through but not all of it. It would help me understand what steps to take to help you through this time. I’ve asked Kieranand Theodore to meet me in Kieran’s room. Will you join us?”
Norman fidgeted at the door.Shit! Now Ki would know what he’d done. And Theo—Theo was just beginning to feel secure.Fuck! His anger was gone, and he was sorry he had exploded at Colton and Cody, but he hated to see Ki upset. He and Theo owed their lives to him because he took care of them. Ki could have left at any time but instead he’d made sure Theo and Norman survived and found their freedom. And he was confused by Jackson’s reaction to his outburst. Back in his den, the Alpha would have punished Norman for speaking out, so he wasn’t sure what to make of Jackson’s overtures. He had nothing to compare it to. “Okay, I’ll come. But you better not hurt Ki again.”
“That is what I want to avoid,” Jackson assured him, “so I appreciate your willingness to talk. And I promise you, I will do my best to make sure none of you are hurt ever again.”
“Thanks,” Norman replied as he stepped out of his room and headed over to Ki’s room wondering if living in a pack would ever feel right for him and Theo.
Chapter 5
“Are you sure they can’t prove anything?” asked Josiah.
“The only way they would be able to prove it would be a credit card bill. Our research showed nothing. The PI’s report confirmed that. It appears they only used cash,” answered Rudy.
“What did they do there?”
“Mainly, fuck.”
“What about the cameras? Will they be able to use the security footage to prove they were there?”
“No,” said Rudy. “Footage is kept only for a short time, just to check in case of a discrepancy, and then erased. So, now, years later, any evidence has long since been destroyed.”
“Good.”
~/~/~/~/~
Jackson met Dylon at the door of Kieran’s room. “Do you mind if I join you?” he asked.
“Not at all, Alpha,” replied Dylon.
Jackson touched Dylon’s arm. “Before we go in, how’s Cody? Did he have another vision?”
“No, he had a panic attack. I left him in our room, sleeping. Cody will let me know if he needs me.”
“A panic attack? About what?”
“His perceived failure. Let’s go in and I will explain everything.” Dylon knocked and when Kieran called out, he opened the door and walked in with Jackson close behind him.
“Hi Dylon, Alpha, Norman filled me in about what happened after I left Colton and Cody. Is that what you want to talk to me…to us…about?” Kieran asked.
“Are we in trouble?” asked Theodore, worry in his voice.
“Whoa! No, Theodore, none of you is in ‘trouble’. That isn’t what this is about,” said Jackson. “But what I do want to discuss is how I can help you in this new life of yours. I don’t pretend to know or even understand what the three of you went through, but I want to, and I want you to help me figure out what you all need from me, my brothers and this pack. I want you to stay and my job is to make sure you are comfortable here and getting what you need.”
