Chapter 15

“Why is that?” asked Tristan.

“My siblings are always prying into my business so don’t be surprised if they suddenly arrive without any warning.”

“Are you serious?” Tristan asked, staring at his mate. “Oh, fuck…you are!”

“Unfortunately, yes. As soon as I tell my dad, he’ll be calling everyone to brag about me finding my Fated Mate,” Heath replied.

“Should I invite your parents, or will they request permission? Or maybe I shouldn’t do anything since your father is above me in rank…shit, I don’t know what the fuck the protocol is. I didn’t live in a pack so I’m totally clueless…maybe I should ask Reeve…he’d probably know what I should do.”

“Hey! Slow down. First of all, my father doesn’t outrank you if he comes to see us. You are the Alpha of the Silver Point Pack, and no visitor, no matter what their title is, will outrank you here…not my father, or any other member of the High Council. And if they don’t show you the respect your position deserves, the law gives you the right to kick them off your pack land and ban them from ever setting foot on it again.”

“I would never do that to your parents!”

“You won’t have to because my father will show you the respect your position deserves. And you don’t have to worry about him and my mother showing up unannounced…he’ll send you a formal request to visit your pack. ”

“That’s a relief,” Tristan said, smiling. “At least I’ll have some time to figure out where they can stay, since there isn’t an extra bedroom here.”

“Babe, it’s not something we have to figure out right away. Has Reeve shown you Josiah’s Alpha house yet?”

“Other than pointing it out to me when we drove past…no. Why?”

“Because that would solve the problem of where they can stay. Every Alpha house has accommodations for visiting dignitaries.”

“I can’t stay there.”

“Why not?”

“Duh…have you seen the shitholes my pack members live in? How would it look if the Alpha lives in a fucking palace…or at least one big enough to be one.”

“No, no, no! You got it all wrong…your members expect their Alpha to live in a large house for several reasons,” Heath said. “A large, well-maintained Alpha house is viewed as a deterrent to other Alphas who might be itching to take over your pack.” Then seeing Tristan’s confusion, he continued, “Wolf shifters in a pack love…and I mean…really love stability and security. They want to believe their Alpha has everything under control so they can go about their daily business of living, whether it’s raising their pups or enjoying their old age, without worrying about anything. That can’t happen if the Alpha appears weak.

“Josiah is…was…the perfect example of a strong Alpha…a shitty one, true. But one of the reasons none of his pack members left was that they knew he was strong. Unfortunately, that same belief in him allowed him to get away with almost everything, including murdering another pack. While his pack members might not like that, they’d view it as just part of the Alpha’s job to keep them safe.”

“That’s a fucked up way of thinking,” Tristan replied. “It basically gives the Alpha carte-blanche to do anything—legal or illegal.”

“True, and as seen with Josiah, it’s easy to do,” Heath said.

“And no one objects.”

“That’s the inherent weakness in every pack. The Alpha reigns supreme, unless he’s challenged. It would boggle your mind to know how many bad Alphas are out there…ones that are drunk with the power of being Alpha, or ones that see the position as a means to line their own pockets. In the case of Josiah, he was both, and the result is a pack that has suffered.

“A good Alpha always puts his members first, and that makes for a strong pack. Housing, food, and health care are critical. But they cost money…money that a lot of Alphas hate to spend. The Silver Point Pack is lucky because you’re nothing like your father. Do you know why Jackson gave you his approval?”

“Because he didn’t have a choice?” Tristan replied, smirking.

“Funny…but Jackson had other choices, and I have no doubt he would have settled for one of them if he had to,” Heath said. “I listened to you at your meeting with Jackson and not once did you ever put yourself first. Your focus was all on getting your members the basic necessities and, even tonight, your reluctance to live in the Alpha house while your pack is suffering proves yo u’re gonna be a great Alpha…and I’m so fucking proud to be your mate.”

Blushing, Tristan was moved by Heath’s declaration. “Thanks, but the same goes for you. You are perfect for me in every way, and I can’t wait to see what we can accomplish together, Alpha Mate,” he murmured into his mate’s ear. “Let’s go to bed so I can show you how much I love you.”

“That’s the best idea I’ve heard today,” Heath replied, giving his mate a mischievous smile. Then grasping Tristan’s hand and pulling him to his feet, he added, “But this time, I’m topping.”

~/~/~/~/~

“What the fuck is taking you so long?” yelled Norm.

“You told me Shining Star had something special planned, didn’t cha?” asked Smokey, standing in front of the bathroom mirror. Looking at one side of his face, then the other, he was satisfied with the results. “I’m almost through.” After slapping on the after-shave cologne he saved for special occasions, he took several steps back and stared at his body in the mirror. He had an idea of what Theo was planning, and his excitement was evident both in his eyes and his semi-hard cock. And while he could do something about one, there was nothing he could do about the other. Smokey’s cock had seemed to be in that perpetual state ever since he’d met his mates. “Not my fucking fault,” he muttered, throwing a bath towel into the hamper.

“Smokey…Theo’s waiting for us…hurry up willya?”

“I’m coming…calm your titties,” Smokey growled, turning off the lights before leaving the bathroom .

Norm’s gaze locked onto his naked mate walking toward him. He knew that even if he lived a thousand years, his reaction to Smokey would be the same—love, desire, and need.

Stopping when he reached Norm, Smokey felt the same feelings that shone in his mate’s eyes. “Eagle Feather,” he whispered before running his finger down Norm’s cheek. “You are fucking beautiful.”

Norm shivered at his mate’s touch, wanting so much more, but his need would have to wait for later. Raising a hand, he grasped Smokey’s arm, stilling its movement. “If you continue touching me, you will have to explain to our mate…our mate who is dealing with a shit ton of pregnancy hormones…why we’re so late.”

“Fuck! Don’t say that shit!”

“Why not?”

“That’s why.” Pointing down at his now-soft cock, Smokey growled, “Look at what you did.”

Norm burst out laughing. “Oh my gods, you’re afraid of our mate.”

“Not Shining Star…just his pregnancy hormones…damn straight, I am. I’ve heard about them and, no siree, I want no part of being the reason that triggers them.”

“Aww…is my big, strong, fuzzy, wuzzy bear afraid of a few hormones?”

Snorting, Smokey walked around Norm, heading for the dresser. “And you aren’t? I call bullshit.” Pulling open a drawer, he searched through it until he spotted a blue, denim shirt. Grabbing it and a pair of jeans, he turned back to his mate and asked, “What’s on the agenda tonight? ”

“Can’t tell you,” Norm muttered, staring at the clothes Smokey held before shaking his head. “You can’t wear those tonight.”

“Why not…they’re clean.”

“Because Theo wants you to wear these instead,” Norm replied, pointing to the bed.

Glancing at the array of clothing atop the bed, Smokey frowned. “Leather pants and a t-shirt? My biker gear? I thought it was gonna be special,” he growled.

“Theo thinks you’re sexy in them, so that’s what you’re wearing tonight.”

“I don’t understand…my bike is in LA at Ghost’s place.”

“Oh my gods!” Norm exclaimed, rolling his eyes. “Theo doesn’t want a ride…he just wants you to look like a hot and sexy biker…you know…a fantasy.”

“Me in my biker gear is his fantasy?” Smokey asked, staring at Norm. “Fuck! Now I’m gettin' hard again.”

“Thank goodness I now know the magic words to get that monstrous cock of yours to deflate,” Norm said, smirking.

“Don’t you dare!”

“Then get dressed…our mate is waiting for us.” Unable to resist, Norm’s hand snuck out and grabbed Smokey’s chubby cock, giving it a squeeze before walking away.

“Asshole,” Smokey muttered, picking up his black leather pants and smirking. If Theo had a biker fantasy, then he’d make sure to give him one that would knock his socks off. Ignoring the underwear on the bed, Smokey wiggled into the skin-tight pants, jumping up and down to pull them over his ass. Squeezing his junk inside, though, was a challenge, especially since his cock had plumped up after Norm told him about Theo’s fantasy. But somehow he did it, and then, very carefully, zipped up his pants. Looking down, Smokey grinned at his bulge, knowing it would be a hot tease to both his mates.

Grabbing the black t-shirt, he slipped it on, pulling it down over his abs. Then walking over to the bedroom mirror, he gazed at his reflection…good, so far. But his bike image was not yet complete. Digging through a box of his stuff, which Ghost had sent him, he found just the thing to fulfill Theo’s fantasy. After adding the chains, leather cuffs, and his shit-kickin’ black leather boots, he was ready for whatever Theo had planned.

“Holy fucking shit!”

Turning around, Smokey grinned. “One hot and sexy biker, as requested.”

“Unfuckingbelievable!” Norm muttered, circling Smokey. “Theo’s gonna come in his pants when he sees you.” Cupping Smokey’s leather-clad ass, he squeezed it before trailing his hand around to the impressive bulge in front. “Hot damn!”

“You ain’t so bad either,” Smokey murmured, looking at Norm’s legs encased in tights.

“I’m dressed as Theo’s other fantasy…Prince Charming,” Norm said.

“Well, he got that right because that’s suddenly my fantasy, too. I can’t wait to peel those motherfuckin’ tights offa you,” Smokey said, ogling Norm.

Slapping Smokey’s ass, Norm said, “Keep that thought for later…Theo’s waiting for us. C’mon…or as Ki would say…chop chop.”

~/~/~/~/ ~

Theo ran his hands down the outfit Q had designed and that Remy had magicked up for him to wear for his and Norm’s proposal to Smokey. It was the finest thing he’d ever owned, and he couldn’t wait for his mates to see him in it. Glancing around the clearing, Theo felt a tear slip down his face at the fairy-tale atmosphere Remy had created. It was everything he thought it would be when he was a teenager dreaming of either Prince Charming sweeping him off his feet or a hot and sexy biker sweeping him onto his motorcycle and whisking him away. Theo never could make up his mind which he preferred, but the Fates had taken care of that and given him both.

Nearing the clearing where their mate was waiting, Norm raised his head and made the call of a bird several times, waiting for a reply. Grinning when he heard it, he quickened his pace and called over his shoulder to Smokey, “C’mon, Theo’s waiting for us.”

“You guys use the Coastal Goshawk’s call to communicate?” asked Smokey.

Stopping, Norm turned around. “We do…but how did you know that?”

Rolling his eyes, Smokey said, “Uhm…because I’m a bear who spent lots of time in a forest.”

Chuckling, Norm resumed walking. “That makes sense. Before we were sent to Arald’s, one of my hobbies was learning the different calls of birds who lived in the woods surrounding my home. I taught them to Theo when we were in prison in case we were ever separated. I promised him that no matter where he was I would find him. ”

“He would know it was you if he heard the Goshawk’s call?”

“Exactly. It gave him power cuz we had none back then. It made him feel like there was something he had control over.”

“Did it help?”

“Yeah,” Norm replied. “Kieran told me Theo was happier—well as much as he could be—knowing he had a way to communicate with me.”

“That fuckin Arald needs to die,” growled Smokey.

Swirling around again, Norm’s hand met Smokey’s chest, stopping him. “You aren’t alone…I want him dead also, as does Cody, Dylon, Slate, and every other shifter that asshole imprisoned. But you know who doesn’t? Kieran…can you believe that? He had it worse than any of us locked up in Arald’s cells cause he was raped repeatedly by Arald and anyone else that motherfucker gave permission to. But never once, during all the time we were there, did Ki complain or bemoan his fate. Instead, he went above and beyond to try to ease Theo’s and my suffering.

“I know from the outside, it doesn’t make any sense because we all want revenge against someone who did us wrong. But not Kieran…because he’s pure love in a human form. Whenever he sees someone in pain, he does his best to ease it by transferring their pain to his own body. I can’t tell you the number of times he did that for Theo and me, and never once did he ask for anything in return. And even when he had a chance to escape, Kieran didn’t take it because he wouldn’t leave Theo and me behind, so he stayed and endured countless whippings and beatings…all for us. And because Kieran doesn’t want revenge, neither does our mate . So tonight, when you see Theo…know that the reason he is here with us is because of Kieran.” Dropping his hand, Norm murmured, “That’s why I will never kill Arald and neither will Cody, Dylon, Slate…”

“Or me,” Smokey murmured. “I won’t say I like it, but I won’t do anything that would hurt Theo.”

Giving Smokey a brief nod, Norm said, “We need to hurry…Theo is getting worried.”

“Where are we going?”

“To a very special place filled with good spirits and magic.”

“Is it on pack land?” asked Smokey, worried their mate might not be safe.

“Yes…and don’t worry…Remy made sure it’s protected so no one but us can be there tonight…ahh, we’re here.” Stepping to the side of the path, Norm gestured for Smokey to go ahead of him.

Seeing a wall of greenery, Smokey hesitated for a moment until his eyes located the hidden entrance. Moving slowly forward, his vision was momentarily obscured by an abundance of leaves blocking his path, Impatient to see what was on the other side, he pushed through and found himself standing on the edge of a clearing. “Holy mother of the gods!” he whispered, staring at the sight before him.