“Perfecto!” Kieran exclaimed. Leaving Fionn’s bedroom, he headed to the living room where he found Theo and Norm sitting at the table, each with a big pad of paper and several pens. Joining them, he said, “Hey, whatcha doing?”
“We’re trying to figure out what our life goals are. I read in a magazine that it’s something every engaged couple should talk about to make sure there aren’t any surprises after the wedding,” Theo said. “So I went online and found this questionnaire that covers all the points that could become conflicts in a marriage.”
“Life goals? What does that mean?” asked Kieran.
“You know…like…do we want cubs? Where do we want to live? What about careers? You know stuff like that,” Norman answered.
“Ooohhh,” squealed Kieran, “That’s fantastic! Your cubs can play with my pups!”
“Uh, Ki, we haven’t decided if we want cubs yet,” Norman said.
“I know but I’m just envisioning how cute it would be, your little white cubs rolling around with my little black pup,” giggled Kieran.
“Oh, pooh bear, thatwouldbe so cute,” Theo said.
“I know, honeybunch, but let’s wait till we get to that question,” said Norm.
“Fionn is going to help you with this?” asked Kieran.
“Yes…well no…not with answering the questions but we agreed he could be the mediator if there’s something we don’t agree on,” Theo said.
Giggling, Kieran said, “I can’t wait to hear what you two decide. Maybe this afternoon we can sit down for a good old fashioned gayfest. I gotta run, but have fun.”
Shutting the door behind him, Kieran hurried down the hallway, wanting to meet Brian at the private elevator, but was still some distance from it when he heard the doors open. Seeing the enforcers with raised guns, Kieran ran towards them, shouting, “Stop. He’s with me.”
Groose grunted his approval and ordered his men to stand down.
Turning to the sea serpent, he said, “Sorry about that, but I can’t be too careful.”
“Tis okay,” Brian said, impressed with the level of security protecting his friend, David, and also Ian, King of the Scottish Wolves. Suddenly, the Shaman was at his side, breathless, but smiling.
“Hi Brian, my spirit told me you were coming and you needed my help so I had Logan get all his brothers up and dressed, thank goodness, or else I think we might have had a few problems with their mates but now it won’t be a problem so that’s good. Have you eaten? I ordered some food because most of us were up late so we slept in and I’m pretty sure no one has had breakfast. They can get so grumpy when they’re hungry. C’mon, Logan is waiting for us,” Kieran huffed out, as he caught his breath.
Finding himself grinning at the joyful aura always surrounding the Shaman, Brian stepped from the elevator, following Kieran a short distance before being invited into his and Logan’s suite.
“Macushla,I’m back with Brian! Has the food arrived yet?” Kieran called out, gesturing the sea serpent to follow as he headed to the living room.
A chorus of ‘hellos’ and ‘hi’s’ greeted Brian as he rounded the corner and found Logan, Slate, Dakota, Zane, David, Ian, and Colton sitting around the room— all looking at him with curiosity. Taken aback, he was overwhelmed by the power radiating from the group. Never had he felt anything like it. He’d had an inkling of what to expect after meeting some of the brothers previously, but that was one-on-one. But this—their powers plus the ones radiating from their mates—thiswas other worldly. Suddenly, one huge shifter stood up, facing him.
“Hi Brian,” Slate said, “please accept my belated thanks for helping to rescue me. I want you to know anything I or my mate can do for you, consider it done.”
Dakota rose next to Slate. “Hi Brian, glad to see you again. And my mate’s right…anything at all.”
“Hey, Brian,” Logan said, giving Kieran a kiss as he stood up, “have you eaten yet? The food’s just arrived. How about joining us for brunch?”
“Ay, I had breakfast, but can always have more,” replied Brian.
“Perfecto,” Kieran exclaimed, taking Logan’s hand, pulling him to the dining room table. “C’mon everyone, chop, chop! The food’s getting cold. Brian, you can sit here at the head so it’s easy for everyone to talk to you. Everyone else find a seat.” Grabbing a chair next to the sea serpent, Kieran then patted the chair next to him, indicating where Logan should sit. After everyone settled down, platters of food were passed from hand to hand around the table.
Brian dug into his food as he listened to the chatter among everyone. Keen to discover how David was fitting in, he was pleased to see his friend joining in the teasing between the brothers—a way of life in the Blackwood Pack.
Observing Brian throughout the meal, Kieran saw fatigue in the sea serpent’s face he hadn’t seen before and figured the cause of it was the reason for his visit. Thinking back over the various times he’d been with him, one stuck out—when he, Theo, Norman, and Fionn spent the day on Brian’s boat. Asking his spirit, Kieran found out why that day was different from all their other encounters.
Brian leaned back in his chair after he finished eating, letting his gaze roam over everyone as he mentally listed the abilities these shifters possessed—empath, shape shifter, extraordinary healing, among many others and wondered what plans the gods and Fates had for this pack. In his entire life, he could count on one hand the number of times he encountered a shifter with even one of these attributes and that amounted to over 600 years.
And then there was David, a High Priest sent from the gods, and Kieran, the most powerful Shaman he’d ever met. Two very rare shifters immune from being infected by the evil gone viral in the world—and ending up in the rarest of packs. His eyes settled on David, noticing the big difference in his demeanor, wondering what Morgan thought about it.Maybe when I’m finished here, I’ll stop by the pub and ask him.
Chapter 3
