Page 102 of Broken Bonds

The last thing I want is to lie to my pack. I’ve never done it before, and only weak pack Alphas try to bullshit people.

Doesn’t mean I can’t give a no-comment. “You know our rules about protecting people’s privacy,” I remind him. “I’m not even sure if he’ll stay, or if the pack will help him find somewhere else. If he initiates, then you’ll learn who he is. If he doesn’t, the information doesn’t need to be out there—regardless of who the person is—for people who want to harm him to locate him. He is far from the first and won’t be the last person who uses us as a temporary way-station to safety after escaping. Any rumors or speculations need to be kept to yourselves. Is that clear?”

The guy swallows hard and nods. “Yes, sir. Crystal.”

For the next fifteen minutes, I field more questions, many of them rehashing stuff I’ve already said. I hold on to my patience—barely—and answer them because I get it. They’re scared. Shawn was absolutely correct about that.

Frankly, I’m not feeling so great either. Because there’s a war coming, and as pack Alpha my job is to keep it as far from our land as possible. Abstaining from the conflict isn’t an option because it’ll only be a matter of time before we’re the next target.

And I’m not keen on standing by while innocent people are slaughtered.

I adjourn the meeting. It takes another twenty minutes or so for people to filter out, mostly because more than I expect stop to speak with Chaz to get his phone number or give him theirs to volunteer to help. Two more people talk to me about volunteering to help teach the kids, and another offers to collect games and arts and crafts supplies for them, which warms my heart, quite honestly. Several more ask about setting up a drive for clothing, toys, and other essentials they might need. Shawn gets their information.

When no one’s close by, Shawn leans in. “Terrific,” he mumbles. “I’ll have to find that little idiot Burt a new place to live in the morning. You know damned well they’ll kick him out for showing his ass like that, and like hell will the other omega houses let him move in with them.”

“Then let him move to Brooksville,” I say. “Tell him he’s on probation now and has to pay his own way for a year if he can’t find someone else to bunk with in the compound. And don’t you dare help him find a place, either. He fucked up; he needs to fix this himself and make the calls. Maybe then he’ll appreciate how good he’s got it here.”

Once everyone else has left and it’s just me, Shawn, Todd, Chaz, and Davis, I shake Chaz’s hand. “That was unexpected and very appreciated. I won’t forget it.”

He nods. “Still not fucking that pup if he smells like you-know-who,” he says. “I can’t fight that battle for you, either. I won’t betray him, but be prepared for people not to want that kid around as more of them suss out who he really is. And they will figure it out.”

“Thanks.”

Todd helps us stow the podium and do a final walk-through of the building before we shut off the lights and lock up.

“What will you make me do with Mal?” Todd quietly asks.

“I don’t know yet.” I face him. “I… I really do not know.” I squeeze his shoulder. “I know you have feelings for him, but unless you are positive he’s your mate, my hands are tied.”

He nods, studying his feet for a moment. “What if he is my mate?”

“Is he your mate?”

He sighs. “I don’t know.”

“Are you ready to claim him, right this minute, as forever yours?”

“I don’t know!” I hate the anguish in his eyes. “I don’t know if he is. And yes, I know just because I feel…something for him doesn’t automatically make him my mate. And I don’t know what he feels for me. I don’t know if he even knows what he’s feeling about anything right now, considering what he escaped. If I’d had a ‘I have to rip his clothes off and fuck him and make him mine’ reaction to him the moment I met him, yeah. But I didn’t, apparently he didn’t either, and I don’t know what this is.”

“Look, don’t say anything to him about that, okay?” I tell him. “We don’t need to have an action plan in the next day or two. I don’t want to worry him. Just…let me think about it. Whatever I end up doing, I’ll talk to you before I make a final decision. I promise.”

He nods, and we all hug before he heads to his truck and leaves.

“Want me to start looking into resort hotels?” Shawn snarks.

“Not yet. Smart-ass.”

Chapter Forty-Four

Shawn

Unplugging

I feel tension and even anger radiating from Jax as he drives us home. There’s not a lot I can say to make him feel better, because…

Well, there’s just not.

He knows I’m right.