Giving a mirthless chuckle, Jackson said, “It wasn’t hard to figure out, especially knowing what David went through in his childhood. Before you put me on the speakerphone, I think your mate needs some help…”
“There’s nothing wrong with my mate,” growled Zane.
“Listen to me. I’m not saying there’s anything wrong with him, just that it might help to talk to someone who could help him move forward in his life without all the terrible baggage from his childhood. Cody and Dylon have hired a therapist…Dr. Rom DiLupo…for their boys’ home and he’s also going to help Kieran, Theo, Norm and Fionn come to grips with what was done to them by people who were supposed to protect them. I think he could also help David put the past behind him. And before you or David get the wrong impression, it’s not an order, just a suggestion. If you’d like, you can ask Ian about him since he recommended him to Cody.”
“Maybe…I’ll see what David thinks. Now what did you call about?” asked Zane.
“Before I get to that, would you please put me on the speakerphone?”
Hitting the button, Zane said, “Okay, go ahead.”
“Hi David, you haven’t disrespected me at all so please don’t worry. I run a very relaxed pack as Zane can confirm so please call me Jackson and I look forward to meeting you and your mother.”
Listening to the Alpha speak, David’s anxiety slowly left him, grateful he hadn’t messed up and relieved he and his mother would still be welcomed since she’d just agreed to come with him to California. She wouldn’t promise she’d stay, but David was determined to convince her. When it appeared Jackson was waiting for him to respond, David raised his head, and said, “Thank you Alpha. I never lived in a pack so I’m not familiar with all the rules and protocols but if there’s a book telling me what they are, I can assure you, I’m a fast learner.”
Closing his eyes, Jackson’s anger over what David had suffered rose in him. Forcing it down, he said, “I don’t know of one but when you get here, I’ll be glad to answer all your questions though I’m pretty sure you know them already. While I can’t speak for other packs, the only things I require of my pack members are love, respect, and loyalty to one another.”
Eyes shining, David said joyfully, “I can do that, sir. And thank you for letting my mother join the Blackwood Pack.”
“I want you both here, David…never doubt that, okay? Oh, and no ‘sir’…Jackson is fine.”
“Babe, is everything okay now?” Zane asked his mate.
Nodding, David leaned back against his mate, smiling.
Giving his mate a quick kiss, Zane asked Jackson, “What’s up?”
Giving his brother a brief run down about the six cousins Zane never met, he finally arrived at the purpose of his call. “So, do you have any objections to their visit?”
“Right off the top, I’m concerned about Kota. He’s pregnant and I have no idea how that can be explained without disclosing our gifts. And while I understand they’re family, so is our fucking uncle who wants us dead. So excuse me if I seem a little skeptical about why they reached out to us now,” Zane said. “What did Kota say?”
“He didn’t have a problem with a short visit as long as they left before Ian began to show. While Dakota didn’t say it, I think he liked the idea of reconnecting with our mother’s side of the family,” replied Jackson.
“Yeah, that makes sense. Can you wait a minute?” Zane asked. After his brother agreed, he muted his phone and asked his mate, “Babe, what do you think?”
“They’re family, your mother’s family. What do you think she’d want you to do?” David asked.
“Right…she would want us to welcome them,” answered Zane. “But I’m worried about you.”
“Please don’t use me as an excuse to keep your family away because I’ll be fine as long as I have you.”
“Right you are,” Zane said, unmuting his phone. “We don’t have a problem with them visiting.”
“Fine. I’ll let them know,” replied Jackson.
“Do me a favor though? Let me know when they’ll arrive…as soon as you find out, okay?” Zane asked.
“Sure,” Jackson agreed. “Oops, got to go. David, it was great talking to you and I look forward to meeting you at the end of the week. Bye, guys.”
Setting his phone down, Zane smiled at his mate and asked, “Have you decided what you want for a pet, babe?”
~/~/~/~/~
The smell of cooking bacon wafted through the cottage, tickling Reif’s nose. He wondered why he was smelling it in a dream about his mate. Then his stomach growled—loudly—chasing the rest of the dream away as he woke up.
Rolling over, he reached for his mate only to find an empty space beside him.
Lifting his head he searched the room before realizing Brian was the cause of the scent that had invaded his dream. Swinging his legs over the bed, Reif groaned as dry cum tugged at his skin.
