Chapter 27

The door to his study opened and a bundle of fur ran in and jumped up on Jackson’s lap. Smiling at his son in his arms, he asked, “What are you doing here? I thought you were with Jake and Jessica on a hunting trip with Uncle Cody and Uncle Dylon?”

“He was…until I got your text,” Dylon said, following Danny over to Jackson. “Then he insisted on accompanying me to your study and, since he wouldn’t hunt…”

Surprised, Jackson glance up from his son at Dylon, “Why not?”

Grinning, Dylon said, “Well, to be accurate, Danny is an excellent hunter, the only problem is once he found his prey, he wouldn’t kill it. Instead, he talked to it and then he and his prey began playing together. And once that happened, Jake and Jessica joined in, frustrating Cody to no end. So my mate was all for Danny going with me.”

Chuckling, Jackson cupped Danny’s snout and tilted it up until his son looked at him. “I’m glad you had fun, but that wasn’t what the lesson was about, was it?” When Danny gave a series of yaps, barks, and a few growls by a wolfy grin in response, Jackson shook his head in amusement as his son jumped down and ran out of the room. Turning to Dylon, he asked, “He really wouldn’t kill…even a field mouse?”

“Nope. Once he found a mouse and they began talking, that was it,” Dylon said. “And he wouldn’t let anyone hurt it, either.”

“You’re joking! ”

“Not at all. The first time Cody tried to demonstrate what to do, Danny jumped between him and the mouse and growled until Cody gave up,” Dylon said. “Honestly, watching Danny defend and protect each of his prey, made me think maybe he has the right idea about talking rather than killing.”

“Maybe…but I don’t think it will work with Rudy,” Jackson said. “Reeve informed me Rudy and about fifty inmates escaped from the jail last night and the High Council believes they took your father with them.”

“Dad? Do they know for sure? Mom hasn’t called me.”

“Nothing is sure right now, and I doubt Lizzie knows,” Jackson replied, glancing over Dylon’s shoulder when he saw his brother entering his study.

“Hey, what’s up?” Zane asked, claiming the chair next to Dylon’s.

“Dad’s missing,” Dylon replied. “The High Council thinks Rudy took him as a hostage when he escaped.”

Turning to Jackson, Zane asked, “What do you want me to do first?”

Jackson filled in Zane with the rest of the details before answering his question. “We need to know exactly what happened to Frank and the only way we’ll know for sure is to view the videos the High Council claims are gone.”

“You don’t believe them?” asked Zane.

“Not until you tell me they aren’t recoverable,” Jackson replied, grimly. “However what I do believe is Frank’s life hangs in the balance if the High Council is right about Rudy taking him. ”

Rising, Zane said, “On it…I’ll let you know when I have an answer.”

“Thanks, and close the door on your way out, will you?” When Jackson was alone with Dylon, he said, “Mystia brought Cain here because he was shot by either Rudy or one of the inmates that joined him in escaping.”

“Shit! Is he okay?”

“Yeah, but it was a close call. When I asked who shot him, he didn’t know, but he did say it was after he refused to join their army.”

“What fucking army?”

“He didn’t know, but I suspect it has to do with getting control of the Silver Point Pack,” Jackson said, thoughtfully, drumming his fingers on his desk. “The High Council knows more than it’s letting on, which makes me wonder what the hell they are hiding, and why do they think it’s worth Frank’s life.”

“What did Tristan think?”

“I’m waiting for a call from him,” Jackson responded. “But that’s another thing that bothers me…they called Reeve but not the Alpha who is supposedly Rudy’s target. Why not warn Tristan? As it is, they delayed telling Reeve for hours, giving Rudy and his army a huge head start.”

“Are you suggesting they’re withholding information about what they plan to do?” asked Dylon.

Thinking it over, Jackson slowly nodded his head. “I guess I am. I think it’s their failure to notify either Lizzie or you about Frank that tells me there’s more to this affair than the High Council is letting on. ”

“I know my dad can handle Rudy with one hand tied behind his back, but then it’s not just about Rudy is it, if what you think is true?”

“No…and we can’t wait to see if I’m right,” Jackson said. “I want you to figure out the different possible scenarios and develop a plan for each. My first priority is to find and rescue Frank, then to protect Tristan and Kahn from Rudy and his gang.”

“I doubt I’ll need all of our enforcers to rescue Dad, especially with the powers the pack has, so it could be possible to do both at the same time.”

“I’ll keep that in mind, but first I want to see what Tristan has to say.”

“Let me know if Zane finds anything,” Dylon replied.

“Are you going to tell Lizzie or do you want me to call her?”

Pausing, Dylon thought about it for a moment, then shook his head. “Not until I know more. My mother hasn’t been feeling well so I don’t want to stress her out any more than she already is with planning their move.”

Jackson quirked an eyebrow. “You know about that?”

“My mom is usually very good at keeping secrets but she let it slip during a phone call with us. She was very upset about divulging it, so Cody promised we would act surprised when they visit and Dad tells us they’re going to make California their new home.”

“And you think Frank will buy it?”

“Nope…but I know Dad will have a good chuckle at our attempt to fool him,” Dylon said, getting up but making no move to leave.

“Something else on your mind?” asked Jackson .

“Yeah…Cain…what are you going to do about him? Mystia taking him without permission is a problem. The Council will list him as an escaped prisoner, and considering his record, they’ll issue a kill-on-sight order for him.”

“I figured as much,” Jackson replied. “Normally it wouldn’t be an issue because Frank could handle it, but with him missing, Oracle will have to deal with it. Right now, no one at the High Council knows he’s here and I want to keep it that way until she can fix this fucking thing.”

“Soon, I hope,” Dylon muttered. “The last thing we need is the High Council bringing charges against you for harboring a fugitive.”

“Right,” Jackson said, picking up his phone. “Go and figure out how to save Frank while I talk to Oracle.” As Dylon left, he put in a call to the only person who had the power to fix the mess she’d gotten him into.

~/~/~/~/~

“You did what?” asked Tristan, staring at Reeve standing in front of him. “Without asking me first?”

“I’m sorry, Tristan…I wanted to have a plan to deal with Rudy before I told you. I was wrong.”

Pushing back his chair, Tristan stood and said, “Leave us…I want to talk to my mate…in private.”

Turning to leave, Reeve mouthed ‘I’m sorry’ to Heath before walking out of the room and closing the door behind him.

Turning, so his back was to Heath, Tristan bit his lip in an effort to gain control of the anger and hurt he felt at his mate’s behavior. He could understand Reeve’s motive for doing what he’d done, but there was no excuse Heath could offer that would justify his going along with it. When the silence in the room grew heavier, Tristan realized his mate was waiting for him to start and so he did. “Do you know I almost turned down the job of Alpha?”

“Yes,” Heath answered.

Nodding, Tristan continued, “Do you also know how glad I was when the Fates gave you to me to be my Alpha Mate?”

“Yes.”

“And do you know why I was happy when I found out who you were?”

“I…I’m not sure.”

Turning swiftly around to face his mate, Tristan growled, “I was overjoyed to find that you grew up in a pack…something Josiah took from me. At first, I was going to refuse Reeve’s offer because I knew nothing about living in, or running a pack. But after seeing the wrongs my father did to this pack, I wanted to right them, so I accepted the offer and became Alpha.

“But I still had so many questions that I didn’t know the answers to. And while my grandparents could help me with some of them, they lacked the knowledge of all things an Alpha is supposed to do…to know…like living in the fucking, stupid Alpha house.

“Then, you showed up and, miracle of all miracles, you knew all about living in and running a pack. I thanked my lucky stars the Fates gave me someone who could help me navigate a life I didn’t know anything about. I was over the moon! Finally, the last piece in the puzzle of my life was in place and I felt whole for the first time ever .

“So you can imagine how hard it is for me to find out that you…my mate…my other half…joined Reeve in going around me to ask Jackson for help. Do you know how that makes me feel? Do you know how that makes me look to Jackson? My mate…going hat in hand, begging for help to protect me…just me…but not my pack…with all the parents and children who depend on me to keep them safe.”

Shaking his head, Tristan turned away and walked over to the window, staring out at the land he was part of. “I will not run away like some frightened child from a big bad monster…that’s not who I am. I took an oath to protect the members of my pack and I intend to keep it, even if I have to die to do it. And if that’s a problem for you, then I suggest you pack your bags and leave.”

Heath didn’t move. He couldn’t. Tristan was right. He’d been so afraid for his mate, he’d focused only on saving Tristan. He had failed his mate and himself, but more importantly, he had failed the pack. Growing up as the first-born son of an Alpha, it had been drilled into him that the welfare of the pack came before everything, including himself. And what do I do the first time there’s a crisis…I ignore the most sacred tenet of being an Alpha. His father would be ashamed of him for questioning Tristan’s authority by agreeing with Reeve’s plan to call Jackson for help. Somehow he had to make this right. “Tristan, I’m sorry…I’m sorry I let my personal fear for your safety cloud my judgment as Alpha Mate…I’m sorry I agreed with Reeve’s plan to ask for Jackson’s help without your knowledge or approval…and most of all, I’m sorry I failed the pack. There isn’t any excuse I can give that would justify my actions because I knew better. All I can do is promise that it will never happen again. ”

Thank the fucking gods! Quietly exhaling in relief Tristan closed his eyes, taking a moment to gather himself together before turning around to face Heath. Suggesting that his mate could leave was a big gamble on his part and, frankly, he didn’t know how he’d found the courage to take that risk—but he just knew he had to. Jackson was right about the confusion that could occur by using the High Council enforcers. Too many cooks in the kitchen as his mother would say. But Jackson was wrong. It wasn’t the enforcers Tristan had to worry about, it was someone much closer to him who’d forgotten to whom he owed his allegiance.

Inwardly sighing, Tristan supposed he should be grateful it happened with Heath since the damage was minor compared to what it could have been if the enforcers had decided to follow Reeve’s orders instead of his. But he couldn’t ignore the warning signs about the need to assert his control over Reeve and the enforcers if there was any hope of defeating Rudy.

Turning around, Tristan took a moment to study Heath and then, satisfied his mate had spoken the truth, he said, “Apology accepted…but if you do it again…”

“I won’t!” Heath replied, fervently. “From now on, you can count on me to have your back and the pack’s…I promise, Alpha.”

Giving a short nod, Tristan gestured to a chair. “Sit…I want to know everything about Rudy and his cohorts, including all the information the High Council has in their files about him.” He waited until Heath was seated before walking back to his desk and, reclaiming his seat. Then, leaning back, he listened as his mate began to talk about the fugitive shifter who wanted him dead.

~/~/~/~/ ~

“Finally awake…the boss will be happy to hear that.”

At least I’m not dead . But it was definitely not for lack of effort by his captors. Frank held back a groan, refusing to give the person talking the satisfaction…or knowledge of the pain he was in. Determined to stay silent, it took every ounce of willpower to remain still.

“C’mon you fucker…get up.”

As his captive’s boot made contact with his side, a shot of pain nearly rendered him unconscious again, but Frank fought it off. He needed information and that would not be forthcoming if he allowed himself to slip back into the comfort that blackness offered. Refusing to move, Frank concentrated on his captor. Taking a discrete sniff, he discovered he was a wolf, but that was all he learned since the man’s scent wasn’t one he knew.

“Hey fucker…I told you to get up!”

Frank held his breath, sure another kick was coming, but before that happened, he heard a door behind him open.

“Hey…the boss wants you,” an unknown voice said.

“I know…this fucker won’t get up.”

“Leave him…the boss got an answer back about him,” the man said, pointing to Frank.

“Okay…I’ll be right there.”

Frank took another sniff before the door slammed shut and discovered it was a different wolf shifter who had interrupted his captor.

“When I get back, you better be standing if you know what’s good for you,” his captor muttered, giving Frank another kick before leaving the room .

When he was finally alone, Frank rolled onto his back, moaning at the pain the simple movement caused. Opening his eyes, he looked around the room, seeing nothing except a bare lightbulb shining overhead, casting shadows on the solid concrete walls of his prison. With no window, a bolted steel door, and his neck encircled with an iron collar chained to the wall, Frank gave up any ideas of escaping by himself. Before descending into blackness once again, his last thought was that he would need the help of his son.