Page 10 of Briggs (Paranormal Council Enforcers #16)

“Should I be worried?” I asked. “I’m not sure just how much my wolf would be willing to go into protection mode when it comes to my mate.” I shook my head. “I already know he’d die to protect Todd, but I don’t know that he’d defend himself against him.”

“It’s not been mentioned that he’s ever hurt anyone.” Master Edison paused. “Well, not seriously. He has lashed out a time or two before he’s woken, but he’s never hurt anyone.”

I nodded and took a mental note to make sure that once we reached that stage, Todd always felt safe and comfortable. I didn’t like the idea, but I was willing to sleep on the floor or even in the other room from my mate if that was what it took to make him feel the most comfortable and safe.

“I’m sure we’re months away from that even being a concern,” I said.

“Why?” Alistair asked. I looked at him, confused. “You scented Todd, no?” I nodded. “There was a reason for that. Yes, let him control the pace, but also don’t be so passive that he feels as if his mate isn’t interested.”

“Meaning?”

Wallace chuckled again. “Give ’em a wee push here and there. Edison had to with me. I wanted him, even in my weakened state. ’Tis different, but he’s yer mate. Show him how much being with him is what you want.”

“I can do that,” I told them. “But I don’t want to push for more than he’s ready for.”

“Todd will tell you what he is and isn’t ready for. Just be prepared that what he thinks is all right might not be.”

I nodded. I knew exactly what Master Edison was referring to, and I wouldn’t ever continue with something if anyone, let alone my mate, changed their mind. “I understand,” I simply said.

“Do you have any other questions?” Master Eidson asked.

I sighed. “I have many, but I think maybe they’ll all be answered in time.” I shook my head. “I can’t imagine. Three years. He’s so strong. How else would he survive that?”

“How indeed,” Master Edison said. “But I’m in agreement. Todd is incredibly strong. He, like many others, doesn’t see that, but you can help him realize just how strong he is. Talk to Reinhold. He went through something similar with Chase.”

“I’ll do that. Thank you.”

I went to stand but was stopped by Master Edison. “He was held for a little over three years, Briggs.”

“Yes. That was already mentioned.”

“Todd is only nineteen,” Master Edison told me. When he did, I fell back into the chair.

“He’s only nineteen?” I asked quietly. I’d known he was younger than I was. He was of age, and I wasn’t nearly as old as some of the other enforcers. I was actually only forty-three and was one of the youngest enforcers here.

“Are you all right?” Alistair asked.

Was I? “He was taken when he was a teenager?”

Master Edison nodded. “He was sold by his uncle when he was fifteen, shortly after his parents died. His mother died shortly after giving birth because she wasn’t provided medical care. Their father’s brother took them in. He’s the one who sold them.”

“Robert Miller is his uncle,” I said. I remembered that name from the report.

“Yes.” Master Edison held out a folder. “Here is the file from Todd’s rescue.

He was found in southern Mexico but most likely wasn’t always there.

He and several others were rescued that day.

” I took the folder from him. “Read over it. I believe it’ll help give a bit more insight about what your mate went through and help you understand better. ”

“Thank you, Master Edison. For everything.” I looked to the others. “And for the advice.”

“You’re most welcome,” Alistair said. “We’ll be here if you or Todd need anything going forward,” he added.

Three years, and at such a young age. I was almost certain I’d have many more questions. I stood. “I’m going to go. I need to make it down to the store before our run this afternoon.”

Master Edison smiled. “If you send me a list of things you need, I can help with that.”

“Uhh…”

Master Edison chuckled. “Who do you think will be helping to restock when it comes time for Todd to go into heat?”

My eyes widened further. I’d not thought about that. “Oh. How do we…where…”

There was more laughter. “In your current house is fine. Same goes with Todd’s.

He lives down past the council building in that row of houses, but his place is much smaller than yours.

Once the two of you settle things out, you’ll be offered a house in mated enforcer housing if you’d like.

There are also places down off the mountain if that’s where you prefer. ”

I didn’t know where we’d end up living. This morning, I hadn’t even known I was about to be gifted a mate.

“Thank you,” I said. “Umm…wherever Todd wants to live is fine with me.” I didn’t care, really.

I liked the house I was in, but it wasn’t for mated enforcers.

Sure, there were some nighttime activities that happened there and, of course, over in mated enforcer housing.

But I knew that the mated enforcer housing was a better place for those with young children.

And some enforcers just didn’t want to find a mate, ever.

Some definitely didn’t want children or to be around them.

“I’m going to go read over this before I meet up with Todd.”

“Might I suggest something,” Master Edison said.

“Of course.”

“Going for a run with him is a good thing. But from past experiences, mates running together tends to speed up the first heat timeline. If you two spend a good deal of time together in your shifted forms, even if Todd is on suppressors, he will most likely go into heat within a week’s time.”

My mouth dropped open for a moment. “Thank you. I’ll swing by the clinic and ask to reschedule.

Perhaps he and I could simply grab supper and talk for a bit this evening instead.

I don’t want to rush him at all, but I also know my wolf wouldn’t have a good time if our mate was in heat and we weren’t there to help him. ”

“I don’t recommend it,” Wallace chimed in.

“From past experiences, my tiger has been willing to do anything to help Edison during that time. I know basically every other alpha has stated the same. I myself was too weak to go through a fertile period with Edison, but my tiger did it. When that time comes, that will be the singular thing your wolf will be focused on.”

I nodded. “Understood. Thank you, again. I know I keep saying that.” I took a deep breath.

“I didn’t see any of this as happening to me.

At least not now. I’m not upset about it, and I know I’ll cherish any and everything that Todd is willing to offer.

I also know things will go slow. At least, they should. ”

“Sometimes, life doesn’t allow for slow,” Alistair said.

“The situations are a bit different, but even if the two of you don’t shift together, you have still met him.

He’s going to go into heat within a couple of weeks at most. Be sure the two of you have a discussion about that and what is expected of it before that happens. ”

I nodded. “Yeah, I will.” I took a step toward the door. “I’ll also take you up on that offer, Master Edison, and get you a list in a bit. I have to go see what all I have and don’t have at my place.”

Master Edison chuckled. “Delivery will be at your door shortly after I see the list. Go, read up on your mate’s situation and approach things with that information.”

I nodded. I left the office thankful, yet worried.

I knew I could be patient. That wasn’t the issue.

But already, my heart ached for Todd. He’d been so young.

He still was. I checked out with Slater on my way out the door.

Next stop was home. There was no way I was going to stop by the clinic carrying a folder with Todd’s mission in it.

I still had a few hours before I said I’d meet him, so I had time to drop it at home before swinging back by the clinic to ask for a rain check regarding the run.

We had plenty of time to go for runs together. Hopefully, he would understand.