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Chapter 12

Bastian

Dinner with Beth and her husband went exactly how I thought it would. The missus was crowing about being able to brag to all her friends that she was dining with us first. The food was good and lower in sugar so Theo could enjoy seconds. The conversation stayed light and supportive, and I was grateful. I wanted Theo to be able to relax about meeting all the pride members as their alpha mate and not just a friend.

After we got home and I did my level best to wear my insatiable mate out, I texted Wes to ask him to come to my office in the morning first thing. I wanted to warn him what they would be doing tomorrow with Theo"s mom and hash out the extra precautions we needed to take.

I have heard snippets in my time in the pride about Theo, but no one really knew anything for sure about his upbringing, and not a single person was brave enough to question Mary about it. True to her animal form, she is a lioness when protecting her cubs, and it was made perfectly clear back when he was introduced to the pride that she considers Theo one of her own.

As badly as I want answers as to why there was so much strife in connection to the woman who birthed my mate, I will keep my questions to myself. I want to respect Theo and his need to tell me the story when he"s ready, but I do need some basic info so I can make the right decisions about his safety. Should I send more than two enforcers? Six? Is she a connected criminal mastermind or a neglectful banshee? I need these answers, and I need them from someone with a greater knowledge of our usual security measures.

"Knock, knock!" My door opens, and my gamma and his brothers all enter my office. I raise an eyebrow because I was only expecting Wes. Cole has the decency to look sheepish, but Nik just looks determined.

"I may have said something I shouldn"t have. I got up this morning and checked your and Theo"s calendar and saw Theo has a "thing with his mom" today, and I texted Wes to ask if he knew about it. He was with Nik, and he saw it, and it turned into—" Cole thrashes his hands around, indicating the chaos that probably erupted.

Wes heaves a sigh. "Yes, I knew he was going to see her lately. No, I didn"t tell you because you wouldn"t have changed his mind anyway. Why are you both mad at me?!" Wes looks truly flustered and confused. I have an inkling why the two men in my office without an appointment are angry, but I sit back and watch the argument play out.

"He shouldn"t have gone alone, Wes! One of us could have gone with him!" Nik roars, finally speaking up.

"He said it"s something he wants to do alone. I asked him! I was respecting his wishes." Wes still isn"t getting it.

"He wants to do it alone because you would just make it worse! You have made it abundantly clear you would rather kill his mom than talk to her, so why would he bring you along when he knows you don"t support his decision anyway?" Cole sounding frustrated is something I only hear in connection to his brothers, and now I understand why.

"He . . . he wouldn"t have just . . . I would have—" Wes"s body language is as defensive as his tone.

"We would have sat with him to lend support, not berate him for being there in the first place. You are his best friend, but we"re his family too. Mom would have also gone. Dad? You didn"t want to tell us because then he would have had someone else in his corner while he made a decision you were so sure was a mistake and a waste of time. That"s why we"re upset, Wes. Can you see where we"re coming from?" Cole asks, trying to stay in his role of peacemaker.

"Look, dick. I hate his mom too. She was good for nothing while he was young, and she sure as shit isn"t good for anything now. I think she"s getting what she deserves, however much too late it is. That doesn"t mean he shouldn"t go. She"s in a coma, for fuck"s sake. What"s she going to do other than lie there and let him be with his thoughts? Him being alone there is a fucking terrible idea," Nik reasons.

Wes"s shoulders slump in defeat, and Cole moves to hug him. There is pain on the beta"s face as he admits that he was being selfish. He apologizes and gets a nod and back slap from Nik, as well as another long hug from Cole.

"Well, now." The brothers jump, having forgotten I was even in the room, I imagine. "I"m glad you got all that sorted. I had a question about how many you should be taking with you today while you"re with Theo, but I have to wonder . . . should you sit this one out, Wes?" I only half mean it as a threat. I hate the idea of Theo being further upset by his beta"s views on the visitation.

"No! I"m good. I"ll apologize to Theo, I swear." At my nod he continues. "Two enforcers would be nice, though the ‘who' of it will be up to you, Alpha. I"d think medium security level and people who have worked together before so it"s more seamless."

"Then you will have them. I"ll send Nik and Jasper. You okay with that, Nik?"

"For sure. I"ve worked in tandem with Jasper plenty of times; we"ve got a good rhythm." Nik shoots me a grateful look, happy to be joining my mate.

"Then go ahead and get him and get ready. Theo wanted to head out in about an hour, but this meeting took longer than I expected." My glare lacks any real heat but enough reproach that they start fidgeting. I shoo them out of the room ahead of me and hurry to love on my mate a bit before he leaves. I have a sudden need to hold him.

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