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Noah just gulped again, then jumped up and fled to the bathroom and Mo watched as Alex pulled his shoulders back and stared at Riley, Asher, and Zack. Mo wanted to intervene, but he knew this was about shifter children and he was out of his depth.

“I’m an alpha,” Alex started. “And I know Noah is pack. I also know he’s fourteen.”

Riley smiled. “And you’re not eighteen for another month.”

“Which is why I’m not in a hurry.” Alex paused. “I thought I might talk to Raschid.” He glanced at Victor when he said that, and Victor inclined his head.

“I can advise you on how to navigate submitting to another alpha. It takes a strength—”

“I won’t submit to another alpha,” Alex said. Not in any way a challenge, simply a matter of fact. He wasn’t even defiant, simply implacable. He turned to Martin. “And as I said, I’m fully aware of how old we both are, so you don’t need to worry about that. I just need to keep him safe. Rescue his brother,” Alex added.

Martin glanced at Riley, seeming out of his depth.

“I know,” Riley said. “I know you have his safety and wellbeing at heart. As an empath, I know that better than anyone. Just…”

Asher winced, but Alex’s gaze never wavered, “He has a serious case of hero worship for you.”

“No, he doesn’t,” Alex rejoined. “He recognizes his true mate even if he doesn’t know what that means.”

Mo watched as each shifter looked stunned but then nodded in acceptance. “It’s going to be incredibly hard for you,” Riley said.

“Not really,” Alex rejoined. “I just need to keep him safe and happy. I won’t claim him until he’s ready. He has a lot to work through and he needs to enjoy being a kid first, because I don’t think he’s had much of that.”

Martin leaned forward. “Alex,you’restill a kid.”

“I’m an alpha,” Alex rejoined. “And I’m lucky enough to live in a place with people who love me for that. I’ve had six years to grow. Don’t for one second think I wouldn’t allow my mate, who is the most important person to me in the entire universe, to do the same.”

Martin leaned back and gave him a rueful smile, then glanced at Riley. “You sure this kid’s only seventeen?”

Everyone laughed, but as Mo took in the faces around the table, he thought that they all looked a little shell-shocked, even for shifters.

Alex got to his feet. “I’m going to make sure he’s okay. Let me know when you have a plan.”

Chapter Eighteen

VictorwatchedAlexleaveto find Noah, and it took everything in him not to follow. The alpha in him wanted to hunt down Sean Pearson and tear him apart for what he'd done to Noah and Jacob. The strategist in him knew they needed to be smarter than that.

"We need to retrieve Jacob immediately," Victor said, his voice low and controlled despite the rage simmering beneath the surface. "If Pearson suspects Noah’s loyalties have changed, Jacob's life might be in danger." He glanced around. “It’s obvious he’s a plant and when Pearson doesn’t get whatever info he’s hoping for, Jacob will be a target.”

Riley nodded. "I'll contact Daniel. We need to coordinate with him before making any moves."

"Martin, can you get us floor plans for Pearson's house?" Victor asked. "If there's a hidden floor, we need to know exactly where it is and how to access it."

"On it," Martin confirmed, already pulling out his tablet.

“Something else,” Riley said. “I know Alex won’t leave but I think it’s getting too risky for Mac and Tyler to stay.”

“Will Mac go?” Asher asked doubtfully.

“He will if it’s to help Tyler,” Riley said. “I know Roxanne will take them both today, and Luke is already there.”

Mo reached across the table and squeezed Victor's hand. The touch grounded him, pulling him back from the edge of his anger. "Noah trusted us with this information. We can't let him down."

"We won't," Victor promised, turning his hand to capture Mo's fingers. Through their bond, he could feel Mo's concern, his determination. He glanced at Zack and felt the same fierce protectiveness reflected there. His mates were as committed to helping these boys as he was.

Asher looked up from his laptop. "I'm going through Pearson's business records. High profit margins across the board, but his trucking company seems to skirt the barely supporting itself line.”

“Which makes sense if it’s just a front for human trafficking or smuggling undocumented immigrants,” Zack said.