“But she’sourmother,” Colton said. “It also seems like you thought she needed to be protected from us. Why?”
“Because I knew nothing about any of you. Hell, maybe you were in cahoots with Josiah…maybe you made a deal with him and that’s why you were alive…maybe he was spying on you through Jackson’s email…there are a million reasons why I chose to keep that information secure,” Hunter growled. “I promised my mother I would protect Aunt Hope, so I did what I felt was necessary to fulfill my promise.”
“And you claim you don’t know her friend’s name, right?” asked Dylon.
“Fuck you, asshole! I told you we don’t know it. I don’t have to answer any more of your questions!” Hunter rose, glaring at Jackson. “I kept my promise, now are you going to keep yours?”
“Please, Hunter, sit down. Dylon…apologize,” Jackson ordered, his Alpha power blanketing the room.
Forced back down in his chair, Hunter was getting tired of Jackie using his power to control him, but with the matter of his mate still unresolved, he sat, waiting for the fucker to apologize.
“I’m sorry if my question implied I thought you were lying,” Dylon said, “I know you aren’t. I was just tryingto understand why her friend wouldn’t keep in touch, if only to make sure she was okay.”
“Because she was scared shitless,” snarled Hunter. “Think about it. She was a witness to a massacre…something that’s inconceivable in this day and age. If Josiah knew there was a witness…witnesses to what he did, do you think for a second he wouldn’t hesitate to kill them? We were just grateful Aunt Hope’s friend stayed with her and called us the next morning. Who knows what would have happened if she hadn’t done that?”
“Zane, do you think you can find out who Mom’s friend is?” asked Jackson.
“I can try,” Zane said.
“Look, I don’t think that’s a good idea. Mac promised her we wouldn’t tell anyone about her or what she witnessed,” Hunter said.
“I understand,” said Jackson, “but things have changed. I know about her now and it’s imperative I find her before Josiah does. We can protect her here but out there she’s a sitting duck, just waiting for my uncle to find and kill her.”
“There’s also the possibility she’s suffering from PTSD,” Colton said. “If she is, then she’s a ticking time bomb, just waiting for the fuse to be lit. Without help dealing with what she saw, who knows when she’ll explode, spilling her guts to the wrong person…who’ll only be too happy to sell the information to our uncle.”
“Hunter, I promise, I’ll do everything in my power to keep her safe, but I can only do that if I find out who and where she is,” Jackson said. “Any other questions?”
“Yes,” Cody said. “What were the other visions your mother had?”
“Personal,” replied Hunter.
“Did any of them pertain to you?” asked Jackson, wondering if Hunter knew about his Fated Mate.
“No.”
Colton then said, “I don’t have any more questions right now, but Ian will want to speak to Hunter and Mac about Mom. Maybe tomorrow, after the tests are finished?”
“Hunter? Is that okay?” asked Jackson.
“Kieran needs to be there also,” Logan said.
“That’s up to Ian,” Colton said. “I’m sure he’ll want to examine Kieran first before agreeing to it.”
“Fine, Kieran won’t have a problem with that,” Logan replied.
Hunter turned to Jackson. “Mac can make it, but I can’t promise I can until I speak with you.”
“Cody, Dylon, any more questions for Hunter?” asked Jackson.
“Yeah, since you’ve seen the complaint Jackson filed with the High Council against Josiah, is it accurate?” Dylon asked.
“It is, according to what Aunt Hope’s friend told us,” Hunter replied.
“Okay,” Cody said, “Dylon and I have no other questions right now, but we might after we’ve had some time to think about everything.”
“Fair enough,” replied Jackson. “Logan? Questions?”
“Not right now, but like Cody, maybe some later.”
