“Me? No, why?”
“Isn’t Logan in the hospital with Kieran?” asked Jackson.
“Oh, I see,” replied Colton. “No, Kieran wanted to rest in their bedroom and Ian agreed so I haven’t seen them since they left the motorhome.”
“Well, that’s good to know,” said Jackson.
“What is?” asked Logan, striding into the room with Steel behind him.
“Colton said Kieran is better,” answered Jackson, as Steel sat down next to him.
Grabbing the other chair in front of his brother’s desk, Logan said, “He’s much better and, hopefully, sleeping by now.”
“Babe, will you get Hunter?” Jackson asked his mate. “Everyone’s here.”
“Sure,” Steel replied. “Be right back.” As he left the study, Dylon walked in and sat next to Cody.
Looking around the room, Jackson noted the stiffness of his brothers’ bodies as if bracing themselves against some unknown force. He couldn’t blame them because he felt the same way—Hunter’s recital would affect them all. The question he was wrestling with in his mind, though, was whether the outcome would make his pack stronger or tear it apart. Then, he spoke. “A couple of ground rules. First, do not attack Hunter…physically or verbally. He isn’t responsible for what Mom went through. Second, if you have questions, ask them respectfully. The reason is the same as number one—he’s just the messenger.”
“But heisresponsible for not telling us sooner,” Carson said.
“Maybe. But until we know what happened, let’s not assume anything. And remember, only I get to decide if he’s responsible,” Jackson emphasized, before continuing. “Third, please let him finish an answer before asking him another question and finally, if at any time, it becomes too much for any of you, just get up and leave. Attendance is not mandatory.”
“When can we see Mom?” Zane asked Jackson, again, worried she would die before he saw her.
“Probably sometime tomorrow…once Ian gives the okay. Any other questions?” Hearing none, Jackson stood, waiting to greet his cousin.
~/~/~/~/~
Norm brought in the empty platters, setting them down on the island, noticing Theo was still making sandwiches. “Why are you making more, honeybunch?”
“For the cousins. They haven’t eaten yet.” Continuing to slice the roast beef, Theo’s mind was busy thinking about what else he could add. Stopping for a moment, he checked the pantry and smiled when he found some bags of chips. Grabbing a couple, he added them to the pile of wrapped sandwiches already made.
“But honeybunch, the Alpha won’t allow them in the house until Hunter can answer all the questions,” Norm replied.
“I know…I plan to take them out to the motorhome. Will you look for the picnic basket Dakota has? I know it’s here somewhere, just forgot where I saw it.”
“Wait! I don’t want you near the cousins. Didn’t you hear what the Alpha said? He doesn’t trust them!” exclaimed Norm.
“Whether he trusts them or not doesn’t matter. They need to eat and, besides, Dakota would want me to take care of them. He always says food tames all beasts, so I hardly think the cousins are going to attack me if I bring them sandwiches,” Theo said grinning.
“But honeybunch…”
“You can come with me if you’re so worried about my safety,” Theo said. Finished with wrapping the sandwiches, he wiped his hands on a towel and then, placing them on Norms’ chest, he nipped at his fiancé’sjaw before kissing him. “Pooh bear, this is my job and I love it. When we were in Scotland, Kota asked me if I’d like to assume more duties in the kitchen. When I asked him if he thought I was ready, he told me I was a natural and he had complete faith in me. No one, other than you …and Ki, ever had complete faith in me, not even my parents, and that means so much to me, especially because it’s my job. I feel useful for the first time in my life. I don’t want to let Kota down, so please, please, please, let me go.”
Swallowing his objections after hearing Theo’s plea, Norm smiled, “Dakota’s right, you know, you’re very talented and I’m so happy you found your passion. I’ll be proud to go with you, honeybunch.”
“Aww, thanks, pooh bear. I love you.”
~/~/~/~/~
Mason wasn’t happy about Hunter insisting on going to meet their cousins without him, but there was little he could do about it. So far, nothing had gone to plan and Jackson’s request for only Hunter to meet with him and his brothers was just another example of how fucked up the trip had become. The shifter who’d come to get his brother introduced himself as Steel, the Alpha’s mate, which didn’t make much sense since it was clear he was a bigger, more powerful wolf than Jackson. Watching Hunter walk away towards the Blackwood Pack house caused Mason’s stomach to do summersaults because nothing was as it should be. Sighing, he turned away after Hunter was swallowed up by the huge house. Then he faced three of his brothers who’d gathered in the dinette.
Sawyer stared at Mason. “Well, are you going to tell us what’sreallygoing on?”
“What’s so hard to understand?” asked Mason. “Hunt told you Jackson just wanted him to talk to our cousins.”
“Sawyer’s right, Mase. Hunter isn’t telling us the whole story,” Robin said.
