“Good idea, Mom,” Slate exclaimed, but then his face fell. “But first I have to find him and see if he wants me. He ran away from me. What did I do wrong?”
“May I give you some advice?”
“Sure. As you can see, I need all the help I can get.”
“Before you claim Dakota, take some time to know him and let him learn about you, Slate. His story is the key to who he is and will help you understand why he ran.”
“Okay,” Slate said, “I promise I’ll talk to my mate before throwing him down and biting him.”
“That would be a good thing to do sweetie,” Oracle said, smiling gently. “One other thing. I must talk to Dakota before you claim him to explain the gift the Fates have for him.”
“I understand, but first I have to find my mate, Mom, and I’ll bring him back here so you can tell him what you need to.” Slate stood, extending his hand to his mother and helped her up. “I don’t think we’ll make it back for lunch, so will you make my excuses to Jackson?”
“You can do that after you tell him Dakota is your Fated Mate.”
Slate groaned as he followed his mother into the great room where Jackson was playing peek-a-boo with Daniel while Steel sat next to them. Looking around he saw his father, Cody, Dylon, the twins, and then two other shifters, one identical to Cody so he figured that was Carson and the other must be the computer wizard, Zane.
Giving Cody and Dylon each a hug before taking Jessica in his arms and covering her belly with raspberry kisses, Slate then gave Jake his turn before heading over to his brother who introduced him to Carson and Zane.
“There’s another brother…Dakota…but he must be in the kitchen finishing lunch. He should be out in a few minutes.”
Slate stood there, knowing Dakota wasn’t in the kitchen, but he was unsure about how to bring it up. Wondering if he should tell Jackson in front of everyone or ask to see him privately, he was stumped as to what to do.
Jackson looked up at Slate, his eyes studying him and then suddenly said, “Babe, take Daniel would you? I have to speak with Slate.”
“Come here big guy,” Steel said, reaching for his son.
Jackson rose and walked over to the hallway with Slate following him. Entering his study, Jackson sat down behind his desk. “Please close the door and have a seat.” Then Jackson asked, “Where’s Dakota?”
“I don’t know exactly.”
“But he isn’t in the kitchen is he?”
“I don’t think so unless he came back when I was talking to my mom.”
“Came back from where exactly?”
“The woods I think. I only know he shifted and his scent led into the woods.”
Jackson hid his reaction but he was surprised at what Slate said.Scent? Dakota doesn’t have a scent. Mystia’s spell hasn’t been removed from my brother. So how can Slate detect a scent?Making a mental note to call Mystia after lunch, Jackson sorted through the information he had so far which wasn’t much but he was sure Slate knew more. “Why would my brother shift and run off into the woods without letting anyone know?”
Chapter 7
“Not sure, but I think he ran because he doesn’t want me as his mate.” Slate hung his head in shame, though why he felt that way was a mystery.
Oh shit! Slate is meant for Dakota? This has heartbreak written all over it.“Slate, are you Dakota’s Fated Mate?” Jackson asked softly.
“Yes, but he rejected me,” Slate answered. “Don’t ask me why because I just don’t know. He’s never met me before, we barely talked…”
He knew why his brother was freaking out but Slate would have to find that out for himself if there was any hope of the mating working. “Have you talked to your mother about this?”
“Yes. She told me I couldn’t claim him until she told my mate about the gift the Fates would give him. I promised I wouldn’t.”
“So you still want to claim him?”
Looking up, Slate stared at Jackson. “Of course I do. He’s my mate…the one the Fates chose for me.”
“Did she tell you anything else regarding the Fates and their gift?”
