Page 24

Dumbfounded, Cain slowly approached the bed in the room the Alpha Mate told him was his. “Are you sure this is mine?” he whispered.

“I’m sure,” Steel said, amused at Cain’s reaction. “There’s also a bathroom and a sitting room connected to the bedroom.”

“I’m gonna get lost in here,” he muttered to himself, finally finding the courage to touch the comforter on the bed. It was softer than anything he’d ever felt before in his life… Well, not as soft as my teddy bear. But that was a long time ago when it had gone missing in one of the many foster homes he’d spent his childhood in. Crying himself to sleep every night for the longest time, his foster mother finally took pity on him and gave him a ragged stuffed dog. From then on, he never let it out of his sight until it was stolen, along with all of his other stuff, one night after he’d aged out of the state’s care.

After that, he’d spent the days roaming the streets, looking through dumpsters for something to eat and trying to find a safe place to sleep. He did pretty well until he didn’t. Homeless, with only the clothes on his back, Cain was ready to give up until he met Sarge who took him under his wing and taught him how to survive.

Pushing those memories away, Cain sat down on the edge of the bed, running both hands over the covers. This couldn’t be happening—at least not to him. ‘Life is hard, and then you die,’ Sarge used to say. He hadn’t really understood what it meant until his friend was killed one night protecting Cain from two guys high on whatever they’d taken. Holding his dying friend in his arms, Cain begged him not to leave, but like his parents, Sarge did.

Angry at himself for dwelling in the past, Cain jerked his hands off the bed and looked up at Steel. “What are my chores? Jackson said I had to work so I’d like to start doing them.”

Steel had seen many emotions fly across Cain’s face before they suddenly stopped. And he realized by the abrupt question, Cain had turned off the memory faucet of his emotions. “Jackson wants you to settle in first, starting with getting you some clothes. Come.” Walking into the sitting room, Steel headed to the computer on the desk and turned it on. “This is yours…do you know how to use it?”

Nodding, Cain stared at the laptop. “I do…but I’m not very good at it.”

“Neither was I when I started, but Zane can help you.”

Glancing up, Cain asked, “Who’s Zane?”

“He’s our resident computer geek…and another one of Jackson’s brothers. But, in the meantime, let me get you set up.”

Cain watched as the Alpha Mate’s fingers moved so quickly across the keyboard that it was hard to follow and, after several moments, he gave up. His method was more hunt and peck…slow, but that way he kept mistakes to a minimum. Shifting his gaze, he examined the room, concluding it had to be the sitting room Alpha Mate had mentioned. To him, it looked more like a living room and was larger than most in the foster homes he grew up in.

“There,” Steel said, rising. “I’ve set up accounts for you at several stores so all you have to do is pick out the items you like and put them in the shopping cart. When you have everything you want, click the checkout button and they’ll be shipped here.”

“Huh?”

“Here…have a seat,” Steel said, moving out of the way.

Cain did as he was told, but unfortunately, that didn’t clarify anything. Staring at the screen didn’t help either. Embarrassed at his lack of knowledge, he murmured, “I’m tired…can I do this later?”

“No problem,” Steel replied. “I’ll probably be in the kitchen when you get up.”

“Thanks,” Cain muttered, holding his breath until he heard the bedroom door close. Then exhaling, he turned back to the computer, closing it so the moving screensaver could no longer mock him. Getting up, he walked over to the bookcase in the corner, hoping to find something of interest he could read. At least that was something he was good at.

~/~/~/~/~

Reeve threw down the last file and stood up, stretching his muscles, tight from many hours spent bent over the records of Josiah’s assets his men had found. The only missing piece of the puzzle was how much Jackson would want as restitution and once he had that number, he could wrap up this part of the job and get one step closer to being free of his High Council duties. Gathering up the files and accounting records, he put them in a drawer before closing and locking it.

Looking up when the door opened, Reeve smiled at his friend. “Where’s Tristan? ”

“Finishing up Alpha stuff,” Heath said, grinning. “Then we’re heading back to our place to get ready for dinner tonight.”

Reeve’s eyebrow shot up. Making a show of looking at his watch and then back at Heath, he asked, “Isn’t it a little early just to have a shower and get dressed? You do know it’s not a black-tie affair.”

“Look who’s talking! Why do you need to leave so early?”

“Because I promised my mate I’d help make dinner…unlike you, who just wants to fuck your mate.” Reeve smirked as he picked up his buzzing phone from the desk. Glancing down at the screen, he frowned. “What the fuck?” he muttered before answering the call. “Reeve here…what’s the problem?”

“Who is it?” Heath asked.

Waving his friend off, Reeve listened intently as his boss filled him in. “How many escaped?”

“Right…send me the list…and I’ll need more enforcers,” Reeve replied, pausing for a moment before adding, “Dammit…how the hell did it happen?”

Listening to Reeve, Heath figured out something was wrong but it was impossible to know what by hearing only one side of the conversation. He sat down in a chair, determined to wait until his friend was through with the phone call.

When Reeve finally hung up, he slowly sat down and then looked at Heath. “Remember when we talked about the possibility that Josiah had someone on the inside helping him?”

“Yeah…were we right? Is that what the phone call was about? ”

Nodding, Reeve said, “Last night…or maybe early morning…they don’t know exactly what time it happened because the security videos were erased…”

“For shit’s sake,” Heath said, impatiently, “tell me what the fuck happened!”

“According to my boss, there was an incident at the High Council prison last night…a number of inmates escaped but not before shooting most of the guards and some other prisoners.”

“Sonofabitch,” Heath spat out. “Who escaped and why do you need more enforcers?” Then, with fear twisting his gut, he asked, “Was it Rudy?”

Nodding slowly, Reeve said, “Rudy, along with Bruno, Hans, and Seth…and about fifty others are gone and the High Council has no idea where they are.”

“Well, I fucking know…they’re on their way here to kill my mate!”

“Khan too,” Reeve growled.

“Why did they wait so long before telling you?”

“According to my boss, they didn’t want the word to get out for fear of causing a panic.”

“Bullshit! Do they really believe if you knew you’d tell the fucking world?”

“Of course not, but…”

“But what?”

“Frank Royd is missing and the High Council believes Rudy took him hostage to use as a trade for whatever it is they want. So until they hear from Rudy, the powers to be at the High Council are keeping a tight lid on the entire affair. ”

“Holy fucking shit!” Heath muttered, slumping back in his chair. “How fucking stupid! Rudy just signed his death warrant…there’s no place on this earth he can go that’ll be safe.”

“Even if he somehow was able to kill Tristan and Kahn in order to claim Alpha status, the High Council would never let him live,” Reeve said.

“I’ll kill that sonofabitch before he can get close to my mate!” growled Heath, as he leaped to his feet. “I gotta go and warn Tristan.”

“Wait,” Reeve said. “We need more enforcers to protect our mates and this pack. The ones the Council is sending won’t be here for a couple of days which doesn’t help us now…especially since Rudy has a head start.”

“I fucking know that! But knowing that isn’t helping us right now. As far as I know, there isn’t a 1-800 number to call to get instant enforcers.”

“No, but Jackson has an army of well-trained and lethal enforcers. I saw them in action, and trust me, the High Council enforcer training program could learn a thing or two from them,” Reeve said.

“So what? I doubt he’s gonna give you any of his men when he finds out Rudy has escaped.”

“Not give,” Reeve corrected. “The High Council has given me permission to tell Jackson what happened to the father of one of his pack members and then I’m gonna propose we join forces to find Dylon’s father…and protect our respective packs from whatever Rudy has up his sleeve.”

“Do you think he’ll agree?” asked Heath, hope blooming inside of him .

“Only one way to find out,” Reeve said, grimly, picking up his phone.

~/~/~/~/~

After his spirit woke him, Kieran wiggled out of Logan’s arms and quietly slid out of bed. Gathering up his clothes from where they’d been tossed by his mate who’d removed them the night before, he dressed quickly and then picked up a small box he’d set aside on his night table. Taking one last look at his mate, he slipped out of the room. Hurrying down the hallway, he asked his spirit to reassure the Nessies he was on his way.

Reaching the nursery, he pushed the door open and nearly tripped over five excited Nessies who’d been eagerly awaiting his arrival. Bending down, Kieran held out an arm, crooning, “Come to Uncle Ki.” He grinned as Tobias flew up and landed on his shoulder while Christos slithered up his left arm, wrapping himself around it. After fluttering his wings several times, Georgios flew to Kieran’s other shoulder while Lukas ended up on his head. Looking down at Julius, he petted his head before scooping him up.

Rising, Kieran carefully walked over to the big, padded cushion on the floor and slowly lowered himself. “Off you go guys, so Uncle Ki can show you what he made for you.” Giggling softly as the Nessies glided and slithered down, he waited until they were lined up in front of him before opening the box. “Now, I know each of you is eager to get your present but you have to wait your turn.”

Reaching in, Kieran lifted the first item out, holding it aloft so the Nessies could see it. “Can you guess who it’s for?” He was enthralled when four of the Nessies turned their heads and looked at Julius. “That’s right,” he squealed. “You are all so smart.”

Scooping up Julius, Kieran murmured, “I made it with my favorite shade of pink and Q suggested adding the hearts since you are all about love, my precious Nessie. Here, let me help you put it on.” Slipping what looked like a tiny tube sock over the sea serpent’s head, Kieran slid it down Julius’ body, carefully pulling his wings and feet through their respective openings before smoothing it down the rest of the Nessie’s body. Then he placed Julius back on the padded cushion. “Perfecto!” Kieran exclaimed. “Your first sweater to keep you warm on cold nights. Now, who’s next?”

After dressing each Nessie, Kieran grinned as they showed off their new clothes—Christos wore a yellow sweater covered with rainbows and unicorns, Georgios’ aquamarine sweater featured mermen and mermaids, the purple one Tobias wore was filled with the sun, moon and stars, and Lukas’ silver one glowed with his light from within. “Wait until Daddy Nessie and Papa Nessie see you,” he said, giggling. “You all look so very handsome.”

The chorus of hisses that responded to his praise filled Kieran with joy. Knowing his time with the Nessies was limited, he joined them on the cushion, curling around them. But the Nessies weren’t ready to go back to sleep. As he soon discovered, he’d become their jungle gym. Slithering up his legs until reaching his belly, they’d then slide down his baby bump, landing in a heap on the cushion below. Laughing at their antics, he let them play until he noticed their sleepy eyes.

Picking them up, one by one, he filled each with love before setting them down next to him, where they promptly fell fast asleep. Kieran couldn’t take his eyes off of them, marveling at how beautiful they were. But he also knew that many others would be repelled by them. His spirit had warned him how quickly hatred, fueled by ignorance, was spreading and it was a viral kind of hatred that was hard to fight. But Kieran vowed he would not fail these special creatures. Laying his head next to the sleeping Nessies, he inhaled their scent of the sea.

With each breath he took, Kieran remembered those special times during his childhood that he’d spent at the beach with his Shaman who’d taught him the importance of loving all creatures of the sea. And he had promised his mentor he would do that always, but only did he finally understand the depth of his Shaman’s feelings. Kieran’s love would provide warmth in a cold, unforgiving world—a world in which these newly hatched sea serpents were defenseless. “My love will protect you always,” he promised them. Finally satisfied he’d done what he could, Kieran fell asleep, dreaming of frolicking with the Nessies in the sea.

Waking up, Logan turned over, expecting to find his mate, but instead, his hand felt only cold sheets. Alarmed, he sat up quickly and searched the room but Kieran wasn’t there. Tamping down his rising fear, Logan climbed out of bed, pulled on his jeans, and then hesitated as he thought about what to do next. Suddenly, he felt their spirit and, after listening to it, left their bedroom. Padding softly down the hall, he stopped in front of the nursery door, shaking his head and grinning as he thought about what their spirit had told him.

Quietly opening the door, his gaze finally landed on his sleeping mate. Tip-toeing over to where Kieran and the sea serpents were dozing, Logan’s heart swelled at the abundance of love in the room. When he reached his mate, he leaned over him and gently ran a finger down Kieran’s cheek, marveling at his beauty. He was lucky and would spend his lifetime making sure Kieran knew he was loved and cherished. Then, lifting his sleeping mate into his arms, Logan left the nursery and headed back to their bedroom, smiling all the way.