“That’s a good thing, too, otherwise pooh bear would have to defend my honor.”
Chuckling, Steel replied, “Jackson would have my ass for spooking you.” Walking over to the cupboard, Steel removed the serving platters, setting them on the counter next to the stove. “I’m really sorry but I wasn’t expecting anyone to be in here. Dakota is still down in the hosp…”
“Oh, my god! Is he okay? Nothing happened to the pup did it? I was going to visit him last night but pooh bear told me to let Kota rest,” Theo interrupted.
“As far as I know, he’s fine. Slate spent the night with him and if there were any problems, he would’ve sent me a message.”
Biting his lower lip, Theo fretted about his friend and mentor. Turning back to the griddle, he flipped the strips of bacon, wondering what to do next. Suddenly Steel stood next to him, taking the spatula from his hand. Looking up at the Alpha Mate, Theo asked, “Am I doing something wrong?”
“Not at all,” Steel assured him. “Dakota, Slate, Ian and Colton won’t be coming up so I thought you could take some breakfast to them.”
Grinning, Theo replied, “Yes! Good idea! I’ll make up trays for each of them right now.”
Smiling, Steel grabbed another dozen eggs and started cracking them in a bowl, glancing at Theo occasionally, who was bustling around the kitchen filling each tray with enough food to feed an army.
Pulling Dakota’s serving cart out of the pantry, Theo loaded it up and said, “As soon as I give them their breakfast, I’ll be back to help you.”
“Sure, but try to spend a little time with Dakota, will ya? I know he’s worried about what condition his kitchen is in,” replied Steel.
“Uhmm, okay,” Theo said dubiously, looking around the kitchen. “Do you want me to tell him the truth or…?”
Hesitating for a moment, Steel surveyed the kitchen, realizing for the first time how messy it had become. “Oh shit. You better not. If he asks, just tell him I swear it’ll be perfect by the time Ian lets him out of bed.”
“Good answer,” Theo said grinning. “After breakfast, I can help you as long as the Alpha doesn’t have anything for me to do.”
“He won’t, cuz I have an ‘in’ with him.”
Giggling, Theo wheeled the cart out, eager to see Dakota.
~/~/~/~/~
Opening his eyes, Fionn grinned at the glow of his gold. Turning onto his back, he shut them again, feeling the calmness of his cavern. Even when his mother was alive, there was always an undercurrent of tension; they never knew when his father would show up. But now, here, he could feel for the very first time in his life what it was like to live without fear or anger permeating the air around him.
Yesterday proved to him that being free of constant strife had a positive effect on his muse. Sketching late into the night, Fionn fed his soul the same way that gold fed his dragon. And finally, when he fell into bed, sleep came quickly, though his dreams were haunted by the face he’d drawn. Now awake, his fingers itched, wanting to draw, wanting to capture more expressions of his mate’s visage.
Fuck! All I want to do is draw more sketches of him, so why the fuck am I afraid to go home and meet him? Fuckingbedamned!
He wished he could talk to Ki, have him explain what was happening to him and why his mate was all he could draw. Maybe his friend could help him decide what to do about it. But it would have to wait. He just wasn’t ready to meet the man, and he still wasn’t sure he wanted a mate.I don’t want to give up my freedom!
Groaning, he sat up, scrunching his nose as he sniffed the dry sweat on his skin; he needed a shower, but that could only happen if he went home. Pondering it, he decided to go home, quickly shower and return to his hoard before anyone knew he’d been there. Grinning, he rose and entered the portal.
~/~/~/~/~
After checking in on their patients, Colton sat across from his mate in Ian’s office, eating the breakfast Theo delivered. Yesterday was unbelievable, not only because his mom was alive but also for the shitty way Ian treated a fellow medical professional. He’d thought about it overnight, trying to figure out what Mac had done to provoke Ian, but nothing came to mind. If anything, his mate should’ve thanked Dr. Evans for saving Kieran, instead of snarling at him. Looking at Ian, he asked, “Babe, how are you feeling today?”
“Good. Hope’s vitals remained steady, maybe even improved a little bit, and Dakota is much better. I sent a text to Logan, asking him to bring Kieran down after breakfast because it’s time to do an ultrasound and see how his pup is doing.”
“What about Dakota? Shouldn’t he have an ultrasound too?”
“Of course, but tomorrow,” Ian replied. “I’d rather he rest today.”
“Fine. I’ll schedule it for three,” Colton said. “By the way, have you gone through all of Dr. Evans’ notes on Mom?”
“Not all.”
“See any problems from what you’ve read?” asked Colton.
“No,” Ian looked at his mate. “Did you expect any?”
