Nico hadn’t realized that Mackenzie was connected to Jasper.Maybe he should have asked more questions.He could now, though.“What were you and your brother fighting over?”
“I think it would be safer for him and the baby to leave the forest, not permanently, but until things calm down.Him being with Jasper puts him in danger, and he has to think of the baby now.He disagrees with that.He wants to stay here, and I get it.I’d want to stay with my boyfriend if he’d been stabbed, too.I just don’t want anything to happen to my brother.”
Nico understood where Mackenzie was coming from.“I get it.I’d do anything to protect my brother.He’s stubborn, though.”
Mackenzie snorted.“I think all brothers are.”
“Maybe.But while I understand where you’re coming from, I think your brother’s right in this case.”
Mackenzie sighed.“I was afraid you’d say that.”
“Jasper has been stabbed.I know it’s scary, but I doubt anything like that will happen again.His father isn’t going to stop coming after him, but people aren’t going to make it easy for him.Don’t you think that Jasper would rather die than have anything happen to Dean and their child?I’m sure that if he thought it would be safer for Dean to leave, he’d push for him to do just that.Besides, what can you do?You’ve already told Dean that you think he should leave, and he said no.You can either stand your ground and fight with your brother, or you can support him in his decision.”
“I know that.”
Mackenzie didn’t sound angry, and he probably wasn’t.If Nico was in his place, he’d be worried.Hell, hewasworried, and he didn’t even know Dean.He liked Mackenzie, though, and he didn’t want the man to be sad or to lose his brother.
Nico wished Silas would die.He would hesitate to think that about anyone else because he wasn’t bloodthirsty, and he didn’t believe that death was the best way to solve most situations, but in this case, he was all for it.Silas was making everyone’s life in the forest hell.He and his supporters wanted to take their freedom away.They wanted carriers to be confined to their homes and to be nothing more than baby-making machines.Hell, they probably wanted the same from women.It wasn’t just that they were old-fashioned.They were monsters who believed that they were superior to everyone who wasn’t like them.
But they weren’t.People were fighting to make a better life for everyone in the forest, and Nico knew that they’d win eventually.The problem was what might happen before they did.Silas was an asshole, but he was a smart asshole, and he had allies.
“I hate this,” Mackenzie murmured.“We should be happy, you know?My brother is having a baby.It’s not something any of us thought could happen, but it’s a good thing, and Dean is happy.But he’s also in danger.”
“But he’s trained, right?He’s not nine months pregnant yet.If Silas tries anything, he can defend himself.”
“He shouldn’t have to.”
“No, but unfortunately, he might not have a choice.He knows what’s best for himself and for his baby.The only thing you can do is support him.”
“Is that what you would do for your brother?”
“And what he would do for me.”
“I hate that there’s nothing more I can do.I want to protect Dean.”
“You have to trust that he can protect himself.Besides, he’s not doing this alone, is he?Jasper is right there with him.He knows his father better than anyone, and now that Harvey is out of the way, it’ll be easier to keep him and everyone else safe.”
“I hope you’re right.”
Nico hoped he was right, too.He didn’t want to make false promises, and while he didn’t know Dean, he prayed the man would be okay.
He prayed that everyone but Silas and his allies would be okay.The problem was that until they got their hands on Silas, everyone was in danger.
Chapter Four
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CONSIDERING THE WAYthe last conversation between Dean and Mackenzie had ended, Mackenzie was ready to bet that dinner with Dean and Jasper was going to be awkward.Still, there was no way out of it, and honestly, he didn’twantto get out of it.He was just glad he and Nico were meeting for coffee before dinner.They’d have time to talk things out, and hopefully, Mackenzie would arrive at dinner feeling a bit calmer and more secure.
He loved his brother.He was sure that Dean and Jasper would understand why he suggested that Dean leave the forest.Jasper especially should see that Mackenzie had been trying to protect Dean, and while he’d gone about it the wrong way, his heart was in the right place.
Or at least, he hoped that Jasper would see that.He didn’t want his brother-in-law to hate him or kick him out.They were family through Dean, and there was no getting out of it for either of them.If necessary, Mackenzie would explain all of this to Jasper and beg for his forgiveness.
He was still worried.He couldn’t deny it, not even after his conversation with Nico.It had helped put things into perspective, but he didn’t think he’d stop worrying until he was sure that Dean and the baby were safe, and that looked like it wasn’t going to happen anytime soon.
Nico had explained what was going on with Silas and all that mess.He’d told Mackenzie more about carriers and how they’d been treated before.Apparently, even now, things weren’t easy for them, which made Mackenzie worry about Dean even more.
Who cared that he could get pregnant?Well, Dean and Jasper clearly cared, but why should anyone else?It was none of their business.It certainly didn’t say anything about Dean beyond his genes.His being able to carry a child was just part of him, just like the color of his eyes.There was nothing he could do about it, and nothing heshoulddo about it.
