“Yes. Mystia helped me find where I had read it so long ago. In the book, it was presented as a myth as there hadn’t been any documented cases.”
“What else did it say about Daniel’s fur color?” asked Jackson.
“It’ll be better if I show you,” Maximus said, standing. “Let’s go outside.” He took Oracle’s hand, leading her to the front door while whispering, “It’s not often I can surprise you, darling.”
“That is true. You have been keeping secrets, my love,” Oracle said, then added, “I love it!”
“This seemed like a perfect time to show what I’d discovered since everyone is so tense…a little diversion, hmmm?” Maximus led everyone to a clearing in the forest, not far from the house. “Son, please set Daniel down…then watch.”
With all eyes on him, the white pup got up and ambled over to some bushes. Plopping down, Daniel’s wolf emitted a strange sound, then again and again. As the leaves trembled and parted, a pink nose with white whiskers emerged, imitating the same sound as Daniel’s. After hearing Daniel’s reply, a rabbit emerged and hopped over to sit between Daniel’s paws.
No one said a word, immobilized by what they saw. When the rabbit curled up and fell asleep, all the eyes were on Daniel as he began to groom it.
Breaking the silence, Jackson whispered, “What does all this mean? Daniel and rabbits can be friends? Am I right?”
“In a way, yes. Daniel can speak to all animals.”
“No way!” exclaimed Carson in a loud voice, causing the rabbit to wake up and Daniel to growl.
“Shhh, please,” admonished Maximus. “The myth…I guess it isn’t a myth anymore…told of a wolf with a unique color combination of silver fur and eyes who would have the power to change fur color at will and could speak with all the creatures in the forest.”
“Tell me more…what was the purpose of this?” asked Jackson quietly.
“According to the myth, Daniel’s ability was given by one god who had looked far and wide for a wolf who had a gentle soul, a loving heart and a fierce spirit. As to the purpose…I don’t know. The book didn’t go into that as it only listed myths which had no basis in truth.”
Steel snorted. “Time for that book to be revised.”
Looking at Oracle, Jackson asked, “Do you know anything about it?”
“No, I was as surprised as the rest of you. But if I may make a suggestion,” Oracle said.
“I’m ahead of you. This is another secret to keep,” replied Jackson.
“Yes, I will ask the Fates about it but I cannot promise they will tell me anything.”
“Fair enough. In the meantime, Maximus would you continue researching this myth? Maybe Mystia might know more,” Jackson said.
~/~/~/~/~
Dakota and Slate hadn’t returned by the time lunch was over which was why Oracle was in Jackson’s study, sitting across from him. Jackson leaned back in his chair and stole a glance at his mate who was sitting next to him. They both had something to lose if either Slate or Dakota rejected the other. The only hope Jackson had was the assurance from Slate of his intentions but he still had to convince Dakota.Hell, anything would be easier than convincing my brother to mate with Slate.
“Oracle, I’m assuming Dakota’s gift from the Fates will be the same as mine,” Jackson began, “and no, I’m not asking you to confirm it, but it is a reasonable assumption. It’s also a big problem because I know Dakota doesn’t want to have pups. This isn’t a recent decision…it goes all the way back to when he came out to our mother. His one goal in life is starting his own restaurant and culinary school was the first step.
“No matter how I look at this picture, I don’t see a happy ending. If my brother rejects Slate, one has to die in order to be free of the pain. If he mates Slate out of a sense ofduty so neither has to die, what kind of life will he have? Or his mate, for that matter? Then there’s Slate…look at what he does for his job…constant traveling. Unless you know something I don’t, Fated Mates can’t be separated for long periods of time. So how would this mating work? Dakota would have to travel with Slate? Give up his home? His cooking…what he loves?”
Jackson felt Steel squeeze his hand, offering support and agreement with what he had said. But Jackson wasn’t through. “Given the problems I’ve outlined…what I’m trying very hard to understand is why Dakota was picked for Slate?”
“I cannot tell you why the Fates picked Dakota simply because I do not know,” said Oracle. “The only thing I can tell you is that this mating is very important. Even though on the surface it does not appear to be a good match, the Fates made their decision. I could ask them to reconsider but I do not recommend it. First because I have never known the Fates to change their minds and second, the feeling I received from them is this mating is just as important as Dylon and Cody’s.”
“Does my brother already have some special ability…like Colton’s natural healing or Cody’s visions?” asked Jackson.
“I am sorry Jackson, I cannot answer that,” replied Oracle.
Jackson knew what that meant and just as he’d done when he found out about Cody’s visions, he wondered how many more secrets his mother knew about—how she’d kept them from his father was a mystery to him. Knowing there wasn’t anything he could do until he could speak to Dakota, he said, “Babe, do you have anything to add?”
Thinking over the discussion, Steel couldn’t offer anything that would make this situation more hopeful. He loved his brother deeply but his mate was right—Slate lived to travel—and fuck—so being anchored in one place didn’t seem plausible.
“No, I don’t babe. I think all we can do is wait and see what they do.”
