“Then our mate is still in danger,” growled Sawyer.
“Yup…but…and this is a big ‘but’ on our side…The Collector doesn’t know we have Panther, so right now, no one is after our mate…which is why it’s a perfect time to go to France,” explained Glenn.
“What happens if The Collector finds out Panther’s no longer hunting Alex?” asked Sawyer.
“We’ll cross that bridge when we come to it…if it happens. I’ll have a better idea of what The Collector does know once Smokey and Ghost interrogate Panther.”
Sawyer felt a shiver go down his spine at Glenn’s words, sure his own idea of interrogation wasn’t anything closeto what Panther was facing. There was a ruthlessness about his tiger mate that was held in check for the most part, but Sawyer was well aware of it. And that’s why he was thankful he and Alex had Glenn on their side.
“How long will that take?” asked Alex. “I’m just trying to get an idea of when we’ll head north.”
“Not sure right now,” Glenn replied. “Once I debrief Smokey and Ghost…and Riley does a quick check of Panther’s phone and computer, I’ll have a better idea. However, I figure a couple of days at the most. In the meantime, let’s bring the trailer and motorhome here.”
“Great,” said Alex, “then I can sort through my clothes and figure out what I want to pack for France. Do you think I need something fancy, like a suit? I don’t want to make a bad impression when I meet my brother for the first time.”
“Do you have a suit?” asked Sawyer.
“No, but I could buy one here. Do you think I should have one?” Alex asked, with a hint of uncertainty in his voice.
“I don’t have a suit, either,” said Sawyer. “I packed mainly shorts and tees since we were just going to stay a few days with our cousins.”
“What about your twin? Does he have any dress slacks and shirts you could borrow?” asked Glenn.
Sawyer’s eyes lit up. “He does.”
Alex chewed his lower lip, mentally sorting through his clothes. Other than some tight jeans he bought in case he decided to go clubbing, there wasn’t anything else he owned that would be appropriate. “I have to go shopping, especially if I’m going to meet your mother. Better add that to the list.”
It was the last thing Glenn wanted to do, not because he didn’t like shopping, but the less his mate was out in public, the better it was regarding his safety. But after seeing Alex’s determined expression, Glenn knew a shopping trip was in his near future. “Okay…but can it wait until Ghost and Smokey are back?”
“Ooh…are they going to be my bodyguards? Like in the movies? Will they have guns? You should show me how to fall so when the shooting starts, I’ll know what to do,” Alex said, grinning.
“Over my dead body,” Glenn said under his breath. Picturing his mate caught in crossfire was his worst nightmare, something he didn’t ever want to see. “No guns…no shooting! They are going along just to keep an eye out for anyone watching you. That way, I can concentrate on you and Sawyer.”
Shrugging his shoulders in resignation, Alex said, “Okay…that’s good.”
“Glad you agree,” muttered Glenn, sarcastically. Then looking at Sawyer, he said, “Why don’t you call Jackson and I’ll use Ghost’s office to tell my mother the good news.”
Grasping Alex’s hand, Sawyer said, “Sweetheart, do you mind if you stay with me? I want to introduce you to my cousin.”
“Love to,” Alex replied. Then, looking up at Glenn, he said, “When you’re ready to have me join you and your mother, just come and get me.”
“Thanks, buttercup…I’ll do that.” Glenn walked over to his mates, giving each a kiss before heading out of the room. It was time for him to give his mother the good news she’d been waiting to hear for a long time.
~/~/~/~/~
“You’re telling me Fionn doesn’t know he has a half-brother? What about his mother? Did she know?” Jackson asked Oracle. It was the latest bombshell dropped on him by her. Hearing about the gift his cousin received was the first shock, but then Oracle continued, explaining Glenn’s enhanced abilities and ending with Alex.A Universal Male Omega!It took him more than a moment to absorb the ramifications of it all, but when he’d barely wrapped his mind around the news about Sawyer, Oracle had mentioned Fionn.
Shaking his head, Jackson answered his own question. “Of course Fionn doesn’t know about Alex…but I don’t understand why not. If their father loved Alex as you say, why wouldn’t he…”
“It had to do with Alex being a dual-shifter,” Oracle explained.
Leaning back, Jackson’s mind was occupied with Fionn’s reaction when he learned he had a half-brother, and he was pretty sure it wasn’t going to be good. “If neither of them knew they had a half sibling roaming out there, why tell either of them about the other?” Letting his chair rock forward, Jackson crossed his arms over his desktop. “Sorry…useless question, especially since Alex already knows.”
“What concerns you about them having knowledge of each other?” asked Oracle.
Inhaling a deep breath, Jackson held it for a moment before letting it out slowly.So many reasons but where to start.“Given the age of Alex, Fionn’s father cheated on his wife before he was born. If Fionn sees Alex as further proof of his father’s cruelty to his mother, there’sa very good chance he’ll decide to have nothing to do with Alex. Where does that put Sawyer and Hunter? You and I know mates come first. My cousins are close to each other…just as I am with my brothers.
“Fionn is tied to me and this pack, which means so is Hunter, but the same cannot be said about Sawyer, Alex and Glenn. I know my cousins…Hunter and Sawyer could not live here together if their mates were at odds. And if they tried, their unhappiness would soon affect the rest of the pack. The only choice would be for Sawyer to leave and start his life with his mates somewhere else. But even that wouldn’t be a good solution, because it would put Quin, Robin, Mac, and Mason in a precarious position.
