Twisting in his seat, Hunter inwardly groaned, spying a grim-faced Jackson. “Mase, go to Quin and tell him I’ve agreed to his request. The rest of you, stay here while Isee what our cousin wants.” Rising, he quickly exited the motorhome, determined to intercept him as far away as possible so his brothers wouldn’t overhear their conversation. Stopping and blocking Jackson’s way forward, Hunter asked, “Hey, all good with your brothers about Aunt Hope?”
“Not quite. Frankly, they…well me too, are having a hard time understanding how Mom escaped the fire and ended up across the country. Hunter, this has blindsided all of us and while we’re now sure sheisour mother…shit…well, we need some answers.”
“I expected as much,” replied Hunter. “My brothers and I will tell you everything we know, but all of it came from your mother so I can’t vouch for how accurate it is. She was pretty hysterical when she arrived.”
“Thanks, but I think it’s better if only you attend. I made arrangements for only my brothers and their mates to be there, so it’ll be private. As you can imagine, feelings are running pretty high against our uncle right now and I can’t risk one of them going after him,” explained Jackson.
“Where will this meeting be held?” Hunter asked, his anger rising to a low boil as he got the gist of what Jackson was proposing.
“In my study.”
“Uh-huh…so my brothers will be where, exactly, when I’m in with you, your brothers and their mates?”
“They can stay out here, in the motorhome,” Jackson replied.
“That’s some hospitality you got, Jackie,” Hunter said snidely. Then, forcing his anger down, knowing it wouldn’t help win his mate if he antagonized his mate’sAlpha, he asked, “What about my mate? When do I meet him?”
“After things are settled with my brothers,” responded Jackson, knowing his answer would piss off his cousin. But he also was pissed off—pissed about why it took so long for his cousin to contact him, pissed he was never told the reason his cousins wanted to visit and pissed at the problem dumped in his lap about his cousin finding his Fated Mate in his pack.
Narrowing his eyes, Hunter’s agitation showed in the taut lines of his stance, growing stronger as he fought his wolf about the delay in meeting their mate. Nothing good would come of it if he lost control now, but it was taking all his resolve to keep his animal under control. “Jackie, he’s my Fated Mate. You can’t stop me from claiming him. The law is on my side.”
“I don’t intend to, but things are done differently in my pack. Here, your ‘mate’ has the right to reject his Fated Mate and I won’t have you using your Alpha power to force him if he’s unwilling.”
Hunter was incredulous at Jackson’s pronouncement.Reject me? Why would my mate reject me?He’d never heard of anything like that. “I don’t understand…the Fates decided we are perfect for each other and you…you think you have the right to defy them?”
“I’m not defying anyone. This is my pack and my rules. Iwillintroduce you to your mate…but after I take care of my mother and brothers.”
Clenching his jaw, Hunter stared at his cousin, furious yet oddly proud of the Alpha Jackie had grown up to be. He knew Aunt Hope would be proud of him also if she ever woke up. Trying to put himself in Jackson’s place, Hunter imagined howhisbrothers would feel if the tableswere turned and they just found out their mother was alive after years of thinking she was dead. Hunter wasn’t sure he would measure up to how well Jackie was handling it—and that was fueling his anger. He couldn’t fault his cousin; putting his mother first, and then his brothersshouldbe Jackie’s priority—and it was. Struggling to overcome his frustration, Hunter pulled back his wolf. Then, gritting his teeth, said, “Fine, I’ll do it your way…for now.”
“Thanks. I really appreciate your cooperation, Hunter,” Jackson said calmly.
Hunter waved off Jackson, and headed back to the motorhome, thinking of how he was going to tell his brothers about this latest turn of events.
~/~/~/~/~
Arriving at his hoard, Fionn set about making a bed from piles of gold coins, trying it out several times before he got it right. Smiling as he unpacked his bag, he knew a couple of nights sleeping with his gold would recharge his dragon, making both of them happy.What a colossal fuck-up. He dragged a solid gold table over to his makeshift bed, arranging his sketchpad and charcoal pencils on it, along with his supply of food.I don’t understand why the fucking cousins kept it a secret and, if I were Logan, boy would I be pissed. I wonder how Ki feels about it…happy for Logan probably. I don’t blame him…not really…if I were him, I’d be overjoyed finding out my mother was alive. So why didn’t it happen to me? Why couldn’t my mother survive? Why did the Fates leave me all alone?
Flopping down on his bed of coins, he stared up at the solid rock ceiling, relishing in the safety it gave him. The last time he felt this way was when his mother was alive—before he knew what was special about hisdragon—and before he killed his father. But here, finally, he felt the long-lost security he once had, because here no one could find him, so he didn’t have to worry about some asshole trying to kill him. As he let out a held breath, he realized how much he’d been warped by his father’s and uncle’s efforts—they’d kept him and his dragon on edge until it was the new normal. Now, in the quiet of his subterranean hoard, Fionn finally understood how it had changed his personality. Realizing how disappointed his mother would be at the brat he’d become, tears began to veil his eyes.
Chapter 6
Setting his mother down gently on the hospital bed, Colton held back the tears that were threatening to fall. He wouldn’t cry…he couldn’t cry because he had to be brave for her. Slowly tucking the light blanket around her, he mentally recorded her reactions—or lack of them—as he touched different locations on her skin. Placing sticky pads on her chest, he connected the leads from the heart monitor to them, making sure each was securely attached. Given her inert condition, Colton wasn’t too worried about them coming loose by her thrashing around, but still, he intended to take everything into account so his mother would have a fighting chance to wake up.
Ian stood silently in the hallway, looking through the ICU window, impressed by the tenderness of his big alpha mate as Colton settled his mother in her room. Sighing, he walked back to the computer, and sitting down, began to scan Hope’s medical records beginning with the most recent. He immediately realized Dr. Evans was right. Kieran had saved her.
Once the sensors were connected, Colton flipped the monitors on, and the room resonated with the low, steady, beeping sounds so familiar to him. Gazing at the woman who, in her wisdom, had protected Colton by hiding his healing abilities from the world, he finally allowed his tears to flow. How she’d survived was nothing short of a miracle, but now it was his turn to produce another one—bringing their mother back to his brothers—and that was the problem. For his gifts to work she needed the will to live and he couldn’t give her that. Kieran might, but Colton would never agree to it, if it could cost the Shaman his life. Without a doubt, he knew Ian would agree with him, but the question nagging himwas whether his brothers would understand, especially Dakota. Hearing some commotion in the hall, Colton quickly dashed away his tears, while turning to see what it was about.
“Ian, my mate wants to see his mother,now,” Slate loudly demanded.
“Dakota needs to rest,” Ian insisted.
“He won’t until he sees his mother. What is so fucking hard about this?” growled Slate, his frustration beginning to build.
“I understand, I really do,” said Ian calmly, “but do you? A Dire Wolf pregnancy is tough even when it’s a Dire Wolf who’s pregnant. But your mate isn’t one and that increases the risks tremendously. Just the shock of finding his mother was still alive could’ve caused Dakota to miscarry. Luckily, that didn’t happen…yet. Now, what do you think will happen when Dakota sees his mother in the state she’s in right now? Do you honestly believe it’ll produce the results you’re hoping for?”
“I hear you, but I’m telling you,” insisted Slate, “Dakota won’t get any sleep until he sees his mother.” Then, leaning forward, whispered, “If he doesn’t get to see her, I’m afraid he’ll use his Shadow Voice again andthatfrightens the hell out of me.”
Ian’s eyes narrowed at the not-so-subtle attempt at coercion, but it was effective. Knowing he had no way to stop Dakota from using his gift, Ian sorted through his options before he finally said, “All right, but only if Dakota accepts my conditions.”
