Chapter 13

Ever since they’d left the Blackwood Pack, Heath had waited for someone to bring up Jackson’s Alpha Power, but when no one commented about it, he asked, “When are we going to talk about the elephant in the car?”

Reeve glanced at his friend and chuckled. “What the hell are you talking about?”

Snorting, Tristan said nothing, merely smiling at his mate.

“Oh for fuck’s sake! Jackson’s Alpha Power! Don’t tell me neither of you felt it!”

“Nope,” Reeve said, smirking. “Tristan, do you know what your mate’s talking about?”

“Me neither…it’s Greek to me.”

“Fuck you both!” Heath muttered, turning his head to look at the passing scenery.

“Babe…” Tristan said.

Interrupting, Reeve said, “Hey…I’m just fucking with you. Of course, I felt it. He tried using it on me one time, and it took everything I had not to submit, but I have no doubt he could have made me if he wanted to. I’ve never met anyone with power that strong…even when he’s not throwing it around, it’s so strong, you can feel it.”

“I got the feeling he found my Alpha Power amusing when I used it,” Tristan said. “It didn’t affect him at all.”

“That’s what’s weird,” Heath said. “If he has so much power, why didn’t he use it on Josiah? Or Rudy? ”

“Good point,” Reeve replied, “but I can’t answer that.”

“Maybe he didn’t have it back then,” Tristan mused.

“Maybe…but if that’s the case…how did he get it later?” asked Reeve.

“When he formed his own pack?” suggested Tristan.

“Nah…all Alpha’s are born with power, but not every Alpha has the same power. Some are stronger, and some are weaker,” Heath answered.

“His son will be just as powerful, if not more so, than Jackson,” Reeve said.

“You’re sure of this…how?” asked Heath. “Is it because he’s a Dire Wolf?”

“I felt it,” Tristan said, softly. “When Danny confronted my wolf.”

“What did your wolf do?” asked Reeve.

“He didn’t submit, but he didn’t force Danny’s wolf to submit either,” Tristan replied.

“Fucking hell!” exclaimed Reeve.

“Is that unusual?” asked Tristan.

“Yeah…it is,” Heath said. “Especially because of the size of Danny’s wolf.”

“Why does that matter?”

“There can only be one leader of a wolf pack, but there can be many Alphas in one, and some might even have the same level of Alpha Power the leader does, but their wolves won’t be as big,” Heath explained.

“He’s right,” Reeve said. “Every one of Jackson’s brothers are Alphas, but none of their wolves are as big as Jackson’s.” Seeing the confusion on Tristan’s face, he asked, “When you met your cousins, what did your wolf do? Did he submit?”

“No…of course…oh shit, now I get it.”

“What?” asked Heath.

“All their wolves tilted their heads…I thought it was done as a matter of courtesy. You know…a greeting between wolves who are related.”

“Nope…doesn’t work that way,” Reeve replied. “Your cousins’ wolves were acknowledging your standing as the Alpha of the Silver Point Pack.”

“It’s also a sign of respect,” Heath added.

“But Danny’s wolf didn’t…does that mean he doesn’t see me as the Alpha?” asked Tristan.

“Don’t know,” Reeve said. “We’ll just have to wait and see, but I’m not worried about it. He’s still just a pup. Now, I promised Kahn I would find out if you have decided to accept the dinner invitation?”

“What invitation?” asked Heath, looking at his mate.

“Kahn invited me to dinner with his mother,” Tristan answered.

“And…what’s the issue? They don’t want me to come?” asked Heath.

“Kahn didn’t know about you when he extended the invitation, but of course, you’re invited,” Reeve replied.

After seeing Heath’s smile in response to his inclusion, Tristan inwardly sighed, knowing it was time to suck it up and face Kahn’s mother. Hopefully, with Heath by his side, they could get through the meal with the least amount of tension his presence would otherwise cause. “Will tomorrow night work…or maybe it would be be tter if we waited a few weeks…you know so his mother can get settled.”

“Tomorrow is fine,” Reeve replied, trying to hold back his grin at Tristan’s attempt to put it off. He stopped in front of the Silver Point Pack office building. “Here you are…have fun tonight…I know I will.”

“Asshole,” Heath muttered, getting out.

After opening his door, Tristan paused for a moment before asking, “Do you think the High Council will agree to Jackson’s terms?”

“In a fucking heartbeat,” Reeve murmured. “Now get out…I have a mate who’s waiting for me.”

Climbing out, Tristan stepped back into the arms of his waiting mate. After Reeve drove off, he twisted his body around until he was face-to-face with Heath. Leaning forward until his lips ghosted over his mate’s, he whispered, “Ready to be claimed?”

~/~/~/~/~

Shutting down his computer, Jackson’s mind was still on his conversation with Maximus, debating as to whether or not he should talk to Kahn. He wasn’t sure it would help, but then, unless another solution presented itself to him about Reeve and Smokey, there really was no other choice. After finding out about Reeve’s childhood, his worries about him had dissipated because the strength it took to survive years of brutality had made Reeve the man he was today—and one Jackson knew for certain he could trust. So that left only Kahn. Turning off his desk lamp, Jackson rose, at peace with the decision he’d just made. Tomorrow he would call Reeve and tell him about it .

“Hey, Jackson, got a minute?” asked Dylon, standing in the study’s doorway. “It won’t take long.”

“Sure…have a seat.”

Closing the door behind him, Dylon claimed one of the chairs, then looking at his Alpha, asked, “Will Cain be joining the pack?”

“I don’t know…why?”

Dylon studied Jackson for a moment before saying, “We need him.”

Raising an eyebrow, Jackson said, “What’s changed from this morning when you were reluctant about it?”

“After going over everything with Smokey, Glenn, Sawyer, and Alex, we now know more about the human intrusion into our world and…”

“Alex?” interrupted Jackson. “What’s that all about?”

“Yeah…Glenn promised him he could go on the next mission…”

“And you agreed, even though he hasn’t any experience?”

“No way…but unless I let him stay, the meeting would have ended. And I promised Norm to keep Smokey busy while they…”

Waving his hand, Jackson grinned. “Understood. Go on, what about the humans?”

“We realized it started earlier than any of us thought. I checked with Zane, and he verified that humans were bidding on Colton when his kidnapper had put him up for sale. And Glenn pointed out the High Council has a number of missing shifter cases going back several years with circumstances surrounding their disappearances that are eerily similar to his mother’s. ”

“Humans kidnapped her, didn’t they?”

“Yes, so it’s likely humans were involved in other missing shifter cases, too,” Dylon said. “Right now, there are more questions than answers, but Cain can change that. That’s the reason I now feel he’s crucial to the mission.”

Nodding, Jackson said, “Thanks for telling me. I’ll take it into consideration.” He sat there for a few minutes after Dylon left, thinking about the new information regarding humans, but quickly set it aside as he got up and headed out of his study to find his son. It had been a long day, and Jackson definitely needed to spend some time with Danny and Steel.

~/~/~/~/~

“Honey, I’m home!” Reeve called out as he entered their condo. “And I bring the food of the gods!”

Grinning at his mate’s announcement, Kahn threw his paint-covered brushes into the sink before running down the stairs. Stopping in front of Reeve, he inhaled deeply, then exclaimed, “Oh my gods! Pizza!” Grabbing the three boxes out of his mate’s hands, Kahn lifted the lid of the top one and moaned when he saw what it was. “Fuck! My favorite!” Balancing the boxes in one hand, Kahn snagged a slice of the Meat Lover’s Pizza with the other and took a bite. Groaning as the flavors filled his mouth, he mumbled, “I forgive you for leaving me hard and wet this morning.”

Chuckling, Reeve took the precariously balanced boxes from his mate, but not before Kahn had snatched another piece. Walking into the kitchen, he said, “It’s good to know a pizza will get me out of the doghouse.” Setting them down on the counter, he grabbed two beers out of the fridge and handed one to Kahn. Opening his, he lifted the bottle to his mouth, taking a long swig before sitting down next to his mate. Then, eagerly picking up a slice, he savored the first food he’d had since breakfast.

Keeping his words to mostly groans, Kahn devoured the first meal he’d had since his morning toast and coffee. Finally, after he’d stuffed himself full, he looked at the two empty boxes in front of him. Rubbing his stomach, he muttered, “I’m gonna need two extra hours at the gym in the morning to work this off.”

“I don’t think so,” Reeve said, smirking. “Not after I’m finished ravishing you tonight.”

“Promises, promises,” Kahn murmured, leaning over and planting a sinful kiss on his mate’s lips.

“One I intend to keep,” Reeve growled, gathering up the empty pizza boxes and bottles. Getting up, he threw them in the trash and then, noticing paint smears on his mate’s hands, asked, “How was your day?”

“Good,” Kahn said, smiling. “It felt so great to be back in my studio, I finished two more paintings for the show. Oh, and Emilia left a message…she wants the names of the people we want invited to the Opening.”

“When?”

“In the next couple of days. I was going to invite Tristan and Heath…is that okay.”

“Yup. You can do it tomorrow since they’ll be coming for dinner,” Reeve said, grinning.

“No way! Tristan said yes?”

“He did,” Reeve replied with a smile. “Your brother might have been able to refuse you, but he couldn’t refuse Heath, who, by the way, I’ve found can be very persuasive.”

“I don’t care who convinced him, I’m just glad he agreed since I’ve been dying to meet him. How did it go with Jackson?”

Snorting, Reeve said, “That man never ceases to amaze me. He gave his approval but only if the High Council met his conditions.”

“Sounds like Jackson. What were they?”

“The Council has to agree to provide food and health care for five years and repair or rebuild new homes for everyone.”

Kahn’s eyes widened. “No shit! Will they agree?”

“I’m pretty sure they will,” Reeve laughed. Then, getting up, he pulled Kahn up into his arms, giving him a feather-light kiss before deepening it until they both were breathless. Finally breaking apart, he murmured, “Enough about work…I seem to remember you promising me something about being ‘naked and wet’?”

~/~/~/~/~

Standing in his bedroom, Tristan’s eyes roamed over his naked mate until they finally focused on the cock Heath was slowly stroking. His mouth watered for another taste of his mate, but that would have to wait. Right now, there was something he wanted more. Retracing his path until his gaze found Heath’s eyes on him, he saw his mate’s need burning brightly, and hell, if that didn’t make his own cock harder. Deciding a payback was in order, Tristan slowly lifted the edge of his t-shirt, giving Heath a peek of bare skin before dropping it back into place .

Listening to his mate’s moan in response to his tease, Tristan bit his lower lip as his lust ratcheted up. Enjoying the game, he lowered his hand until it rested on his jeans-covered cock, giving it a squeeze before slowly stroking it. Watching Heath, he saw the darkening of his mate’s eyes as they lowered to focus solely on the movement of Tristan’s hand.

Feeling brazen, Tristan used his other hand to pop open the top button of his jeans, pausing for a moment before beginning to unzip them. Reaching in, he pulled out his cock, now dripping with pre-cum. Making a fist around the tip, he began jerking his hips, forcing his cock repeatedly through the tight opening.

Seeing his mate’s cock playing hide-n-seek was more than Heath could take. Abandoning his cock, he took a few steps before falling to his knees in front of Tristan. Brushing his mate’s hand away, Heath opened his mouth, engulfing the head of Tristan’s cock in hot, wet heat. His tongue lapped up the pre-cum, delving into the slit to get every last drop. He wrapped his hand around the base of his mate’s cock and began bobbing his head on it, excited by the feel of Tristan’s hands in his hair.

When his mate’s lips reached the root of his cock, it took everything Tristan had to keep from coming. Locking his knees to brace himself, he threw back his head, moaning in ecstasy as Heath’s talented mouth worked its magic. When he felt his orgasm begin to build again, Tristan knew his mate’s mouth wasn’t where he wanted to come. Reaching down, he grabbed his mate’s arms, pulling him up until he was standing. Gazing at Heath, he found the man he’d dreamed about for so long looking back at him, his wet, puffy lips and blown eyes filled with lust. But when a soft ‘please’ floated over to him, Tristan was a goner. “Get on the bed,” he growled.

Heath nodded before pausing at the foot of the bed for a moment before crawling up it. Lying down on his back, his hand sought his cock, while his eyes were still fixed on Tristan. As his mate began removing his clothes, Heath licked his lips, anticipating the feel of Tristan’s skin melding with his. He’d gotten a taste of it in the shower that morning, but it wasn’t nearly enough to satisfy his need. Closing his eyes, wild fantasies filled Heath’s mind, but it wasn’t until he felt the bed dip as Tristan climbed between his legs, that he knew they were all about to come true. Looking up at his mate, the fire in his body grew, and when it reached its peak, he murmured, “Claim me…please.”

Tristan nodded and then, grabbing the lube off the nightstand, coated his cock and his hand, “Spread your legs,” he ordered, watching as Heath obeyed. Batting his mate’s hand away from his cock, Tristan, circled it with his fist and began pumping up and down while his other hand sought out Heath’s puckered opening. Flicking it with a fingertip, he teased the muscle guarding the portal to his ultimate pleasure until he felt it relax. Then inserting his finger, he smiled with satisfaction as it popped through.

Heath whimpered at the sudden intrusion but was soon overcome by the feeling of his mate’s finger shuttling in and out of him. When Tristan added more fingers, Heath knew he couldn’t wait any longer. “Now, dammit…I want you now!”