“Of course, she knows.”
“So, what’s the problem? When were you going to tell me, so I could send a mating gift?” Morgan asked. “Shit, Dylon probably thinks I’m an asshole for not acknowledging his mating! Who’s his mate?”
“No, he doesn’t think you’re an asshole…I reserve that right,” chuckled Franklin. “Anyway, it only happened very recently; his mate is a brother of Logan and Zane.”
“Fuck! You’re pissed about it, aren’t you? Because I bet Dylon refused to join you at the High Council?”
Franklin’s laughter boomed through Morgan’s phone. “Stop! You got it all wrong. First of all, Lizzie and I are delighted with Dylon’s mate. And no, Dylon won’t be working at the High Council and, in fact, I’m looking to retire and move out to California with Lizzie, so we can be closer to our grandpups.”
“Grandpups? You and Lizzie are grandparents? Congratulations! Shit, now I owe a mating and a new pup gift.”
“Two new pup gifts! Dylon and Cody adopted twins…Jake and Jessica.”
“Well, I’m confused. You sound happy about Dylon’s mate, yet it doesn’t look like you want David to be mated to his brother. What gives?”
“No, no, no…you got it all wrong. I think it’s the perfect place for David to go because he’ll be protected by an Alpha who has more power than any Alpha I’ve ever met. That’s what I need you to keep confidential. I don’t know exactly what the Blackwood Pack is, but when Lizzie and I visited Dylon to meet his mate, I did my usual shit with their Alpha…Jackson…and instead of rising to the challenge, he simply rolled out his Alpha power quietly and pushed mine back. Then, when I met him the next day in his office, I did the same thing and he called me out on it and told me to keep my balls in my pants.”
“And then what?”
“And then…nothing! He brushed me off as if I were some pesky fly!”
Morgan pictured his friend sitting there, perturbed because he wasn’t allowed to play his game, and began to laugh. Wiping the tears from his face, he finally was able to say, “So you finally met your match! What I would’ve given to see that! Tell me, what did Lizzie do?”
“She chewed me a new one. Told me if I couldn’t respect Dylon’s new Alpha then she wanted me to leave…immediately…because she wasn’t going to be banned from seeing her son and his mate just because I didn’t know how to behave.”
“Holy fuck! My sweet Lizzie said that?”
“Sweet Lizzie? You haven’t seen her go all Mama Bear when it comes to Dylon. Let me tell you, I sure did back down quickly.”
“I woulda paid to see that!” Morgan exclaimed. Then, lowering his voice, he asked, “So what do I do about David?”
“Where is he now?”
“He’s in the break room. From what I know, he was scented by Zane when the group entered the pub, but Zane couldn’t find him, so they all went upstairs to the private dining room and when David walked in, Zane rushed at him, scaring the hell out of him. So, David disappeared and reappeared in my office, telling me he couldn’t work here anymore. I calmed him down and told him I’d look into it and, if need be, kick the group out.”
“Morgan, you know me,” said Franklin, “I’m rarely impressed by shifters or packs but thereissomething special about the Blackwood Pack. As to their character, I think my son can attest to their integrity. I don’t know all their secrets, but I can and will tell you this…I trust their Alpha and you know I don’t give my trust lightly. Also, I met Zane and he’s wicked smart…just the sort our David needs.”
Morgan sat back in his chair, flabbergasted at Franklin’s praise for the Blackwood Pack. In all the years he’d known him—and it was many—his friend never spoke like that about any shifter or pack. “So, you think David will be safe if I introduce him to his Fated Mate?”
“I’d stake my life on it.”
Morgan whistled. “Shit, that’s the first time I ever recall you giving such a ringing endorsement.”
Chuckling, Franklin said, “Jackson runs his pack the way I wish all Alphas would. David will be protected as the mate of Zane by the entire pack. I can’t imagine a better place for him. Now go put Zane out of his misery.”
“Thanks, Franklin. I’ll speak with David, first. Nice talking to you again and don’t be such a stranger.”
“If things go the way I want, I’ll soon have time to visit you, my old friend.”
“Make sure you do! Bye.” After the call ended, Morgan sat deep in thought, sorting through everything Franklin said and didn’t say about the Blackwood Pack. In the end, what swayed him most was Lizzie’s acceptance and support of her son joining the Blackwood Pack. Franklin was right, he’d never seen Lizzie in Mama Bear mode, but he knew if she thought the pack and its members weren’t good enough for her son, she’d let everyone know, especially Franklin. Getting up, Morgan left his office and headed to the break room to see David.
~/~/~/~/~
Clicking his fingernails against each other, Zane stared impatiently at the dining room door, waiting for the manager’s return. As time dragged on, his wolf began to pace, expressing his own unhappiness with the delay. Finally, unwilling to wait any longer, he headed for the door, so he could search for his mate.
“Zane, sweetie, where are you going?” asked Lizzie who’d been keeping an eye on him.
Stopping and glancing at Dylon’s mom, he said, “I’m going to find my mate. Something’s gone wrong and the manager isn’t going to come back.”
