“No, no, nothing like that,” answered Mason.
“We better go,” Theo said.
“Will you come back after you’re finished?” asked Quin, worried he might not be allowed to see his friends again.
“If it’s okay with your brothers,” Norm said.
“Not a problem,” replied Mason.
Squealing with delight, Quin exclaimed, “Hurry back. In the meantime, I’ll make a list of books you absolutelyhaveto read.”
Following Quin’s brother outside, Norm saw Steel and Jackson waiting for them. Taking Theo’s hand, he pulled him tight against his side as they stopped in front of their Alpha. “You wanted to see us, Alpha?” asked Norm.
“I’m trying to find Fionn and can’t. Do you have any idea where he could be?” asked Jackson.
“I think he’s out in the woods somewhere,” Theo replied.
“He is? How do you know that?” asked Jackson.
“He asked me to make some sandwiches he could take with him and he had his backpack. He told me he wanted to do some drawings. I fixed him up with some and then left when Norm called me. When I came back, Fi was gone, so I assumed he went into the woods.”
“Hmm, did Fionn draw a lot in Scotland?” asked Jackson.
Shaking his head, Theo replied, “I never knew he could even do that.”
“Did Fionn ever leave the hotel by himself?” asked Steel.
“Not really. Wait, I guess he did if you count the times he went to his hoard,” Theo replied.
“Where’s his hoard? In Scotland?” asked Hunter.
“No.” Jackson replied. “It was moved here…to Blackwood Pack land.” Then, thanking Theo and Norm, he asked, “Are you going back to your friend?”
“Yes, if you don’t need us for anything,” replied Norman.
“Nope, I don’t, but let me know if you go anywhere else.”
Hunter started to speak but stopped when Jackson shook his head slightly. Waiting until the bear shifters were gone, he tried again. “I want to go with you to Fionn’s hoard.”
Ignoring his cousin’s demand, Jackson said, “Close your eyes, Hunt. Concentrate on the bond you have with Fionn.”
“What bond? I haven’t claimed him yet,” replied Hunter.
“But you scented him. As soon as you did that, a bond was formed. It’s probably weak since I’m not sure Fionn did the same, but the bond should be strong enough for you to sense your mate. Now, please, give it a try.”
Closing his eyes, Hunter asked his wolf if they were connected to their mate. Receiving an affirmative answer, he searched until he located the very thin glowing white chain. “I found it,” he announced.
“Good, follow it until you see your mate.”
Unsure how to do that, Hunter asked his wolf for help, then watched in awe as his wolf led him to his mate. “I found him.”
“Is he with his hoard?” asked Jackson.
Looking around, he saw a large cavern, his mate sitting at a gold table, with a pencil in his hand, deep in thought. Totally mesmerized by Fionn’s beauty Hunter reached out, needing to touch him, wanting to feel the warmth of his mate’s dragon through his skin. Suddenly, he felthimself being yanked away and, after his eyes shot open, he glared at Jackson. “What the fuck did you do?” he snarled.
“Stopped you from scaring your mate. Fionn doesn’t know about you, and he thinks he’s safe from intruders there,” Jackson explained.
“Why all the security?” growled Hunter. “Is he being hunted?”
