Chapter 28

Kahn stared at Reeve, surprised by his request—and the manner in which he asked it. He actually said please! It was the first time he heard him use that word. Usually, Reeve was issuing orders, expecting everyone to follow them without question, which Kahn had done until his father was killed. That's when he decided to end the game of letting Reeve make decisions for him.

Kahn nodded and stepped back. The man wanted to talk, so he would listen. And when Reeve was finished, Kahn would tell him where he could shove it—thanks to the lessons his father taught him about being an Alpha and the rights that went along with it.

Relieved that his mate had agreed, Reeve walked into Kahn's bedroom and stopped in the middle of the room. A lot was riding on this moment and he wasn't about to blow it.

Closing the door, Kahn leaned back against it, watching Reeve nervously look around his bedroom. "It hasn't changed since last night," he remarked, sardonically.

Snorting, Reeve turned to face his mate. "The High Council will appreciate that."

"Glad that's settled," Kahn said. "Now if you don't mind, I could use a cup of coffee."

Reeve knew he was acting like an idiot, something he was unaccustomed to, but it was becoming a common occurrence with his mate. "I didn't come here to check up on the room's condition…"

"Then why are you here?" asked Kahn.

"To apologize for my behavior last night," Reeve blurted out.

Tapping his chin, Kahn thought for a moment, before asking, "Which of them? The time you ordered me to stay? Or maybe it was when you illegally refused to let me leave with my mother and sisters? Or how about the one where you told me you could protect me against all my enemies without ever acknowledging who they were?"

"All of them," Reeve muttered, looking at the floor. After hearing Kahn's grievances he knew Heath was right—he'd been acting like he was his mate's boss.

"What was that? I couldn't hear you," Kahn said.

Glancing up, Reeve replied, "All…I'm sorry I acted like an…"

"Asshole?"

"Yeah. I'm sorry," Reeve repeated. "Can we start over? You mentioned enemies? Who do you think they are—other than Rudy and his supporters?"

Kahn's eyes narrowed as he studied Reeve, still not sure if he should believe him. It was common knowledge that wolves sought revenge for wrongdoings, especially Alphas. "For starters, Jackson, and then you can add each of his brothers to the list of those who would want to avenge my father's crimes against them. And if my cousins have mates, you can add those, and any others who are connected to Jackson. It's a long list."

"Jackson? Jackson Blackwood? That Jackson?"

"If he's the son of Uncle Striker…then yes. Did he join a new pack? If so, then you better add every member of that pack to the list. Now you see why I know you can't protect me and my family. It would take every Council enforcer to do it and, even then, I can guarantee you'd fail. Wolves have long memories and they don't give up. Sooner or later, my mother, sisters and I would be killed by a wolf who is righting the wrong my father did."

Reeve's jaw dropped. How could he be so dumb as to think Jackson wouldn't want revenge? He's a wolf, of course he will. He had lived so long under the rules and laws of the High Council he'd forgotten that of all the shifters in their world, many wolves still followed the old way of seeking justice for slights done to them. And killing an entire family was more than just a slight, it was a declaration of war which demanded total retaliation.

But does Jackson see it that way? I can't believe that about him.Shaking his head in disbelief, Reeve tried to clear his mind of his previous impressions of the Alpha so he could view his actions under a different light—the one his mate had given him. Fuck! "I'll kill him if he tries anything!" Reeve snarled. No one was going to touch his mate and live to tell about it.

"As much as I appreciate that, you can't kill his entire family or his fellow pack members…or you'll find yourself in the same situation my father did," Kahn replied. "Whether you want to admit it or not, the only chance my family and I have is to disappear and hope Jackson doesn't find us. The sooner I leave the better. I have to get them to safety. If you're truly sorry, then stop blocking me from doing what's best for us."

Tell him!his buffalo roared inside him. No! Not yet! Wrestling his animal back, Reeve knew Kahn wouldn't believe him if he now disclosed they were fated mates—and that was his own fault. His mate would only see it as another ploy by Reeve to control him. Shit! He had to talk to Jackson and find out if what Kahn said about him was true. "Okay…but will you give me two days before you leave? Please!"

Biting his lower lip, Kahn considered his request. He really wouldn't be doing anything other than what he'd planned. This morning he was going to have a conversation with his mother and then with his sisters, and he'd figured it would be late afternoon before any decision would be made concerning his father's burial. And after such an emotional day, all of them would need the oblivion sleep would provide. The next day would be taken up with his father's service and cajoling his sisters into packing their belongings so they'd be ready to leave early the morning after. As much as he wanted to leave sooner, Kahn knew it wasn't going to happen. "Fine, two days…but I want your word that my family and I will be free to leave after that."

"You have it," Reeve growled. "Now, if you'll excuse me…"

Moving away from the door, Kahn replied, "By all means."

Hesitating for a moment, Reeve asked, "Do you want me there when you tell your mother about Josiah?"

Shaking his head, Kahn murmured, "No, it'll be easier for her to hear it from me…however, I'd appreciate it if you could be available later in case she has questions I can't answer."

"Of course," Reeve replied, handing his phone to his mate.

Taking it, Kahn entered his information in it and sent himself a text. "Thanks," he said, handing Reeve back his phone.

Giving a short nod, Reeve left and headed downstairs. It was a good thing he'd planned to see Jackson about Dylon, because he could then question him about his intentions toward Kahn. After giving instructions to his lead enforcer, he stepped outside, breathing the morning air. He had done it. Kahn would be safe for at least two more days and by then, everything would be sorted out and he could claim his mate.

Looking at his phone, Reeve thought about calling Jackson but decided against it. No sense getting into it over the phone, which was bound to happen when the Alpha most certainly would want to know the purpose of his visit. Nor could he just show up; that was a sure-fire way for him to get his ass handed to him by Jackson. Dammit the man knows his rights too well. By process of elimination, he sent a text to the Alpha asking to see him right away to talk about a sensitive subject. Hopefully, Jackson would agree without wanting details first.

~/~/~/~/~

Smokey's next stop was his Alpha's study. He knew Jackson was anxious to get some answers about Reeve's white buffalo and he was pleased to see the Alpha's door ajar as he approached. Looking in, he found Jackson looking out the big window behind him. "Hey, you got a minute?" he asked.

Turning around, Jackson smiled, waving him in. "You're up early. After yesterday, I'd thought your mates wouldn't have let you out of bed for the entire day."

"Theo is still asleep…and Norm's with him," Smokey replied, sitting down in one of the chairs in front of Jackson's desk. "I plan on joining them soon. What about you?"

"Daniel's still asleep, which isn't surprising after his big day yesterday," Jackson said, "so I decided to take advantage of the quiet time."

Chuckling, Smokey said, "That seems to be standard operating procedure when you become a parent."

"As you will soon find out," Jackson said, smiling. "How's Theo? No problems from yesterday?"

"None that I know of," Smokey said, crossing his fingers.

"That's good," Jackson murmured, distracted by his phone signaling the arrival of a new text. Swiping the screen, he read it, frowning at the end. Looking up, he said, "Reeve is wasting no time…he wants to see me asap to discuss something. I'm guessing it's about who he really is and what that means to me and my pack."

Shrugging, Smokey said, "I don't know cuz I haven't spoken to him since last night."

Nodding, Jackson set down his phone and said, "Let's talk now. I know he's a white buffalo but I don't get why that has anything to do with you…or my pack."

Smokey proceeded to tell his Alpha everything he knew about white buffalos and the relationship they had to Manetus. "I grew up thinking the stories my grandfather told me were myths, but obviously they aren't," he concluded.

"I think I understand…you're the last of the Manetus and Reeve is a one-of-a-kind white buffalo shifter sent by the Great Spirit…"

"And sent to help boost my spirit powers."

"But you don't know how he plans to do that, right?" asked Jackson.

"Right. He claims he has to finish his mission first, and then he's resigning," Smokey replied.

Nodding, Jackson drummed his fingers on his desk, thinking over everything he'd just learned. It was now becoming clearer as to why the Fates had sent Smokey and, subsequently, Reeve to his pack. Jackson would need them to fight the evil spreading through the paranormal world. That was a good thing because he could use all the help he could get; the only problem was Reeve's connection to the High Council. Resigning from it—while a step in the right direction—still didn't give him the assurance he needed to welcome Reeve into his pack. Deciding to proceed with caution, he sent a text back to Reeve before looking back at Smokey. "I've given him permission to enter the pack grounds."

"Do you want me at the meeting?"

"No…at least not until I find out what the hell is so important he had to see me immediately."

Nodding, Smokey asked, "Anything else? I'm kinda eager to get back to my mates."

"Go!" Jackson said, smiling. "By the way, maybe you should have Mac check Theo just to make sure…"

"Already on today's agenda," Smokey said before leaving the room.

Leaning back in his chair, Jackson's thoughts turned to Daniel and his new-found Alpha attitude. No, not attitude…behavior…my son acts as if he's the Alpha…of what exactly? It was no longer just the other pups since Daniel had included Galen and Eamon. Normally, he'd have no problem with that, but according to Steel, their son had also added Theo, Norm, and Smokey. And that's where he had to draw a line. Wolf packs could have only one Alpha; otherwise chaos would reign.

For the safety and health of his pack, Jackson had to put a stop to Daniel's behavior but was at a loss as to how to approach the problem. While he knew his own Alpha Power could force his son to submit to him, he didn't like that idea—it was too close to his father's method of compelling obedience.

It also didn't help that Daniel preferred his wolf right now instead of his human form because that just fed his wolf's need to be the Alpha. It was just a stage he was going through and Jackson knew he'd outgrow it, but the big question was if it would happen soon enough.

Jackson agreed with Steel; consulting Maximus was the best bet, especially if Daniel's behavior was linked to his ability to talk to animals. Uber-Alpha…so fucking fitting. Standing, Jackson snorted out a laugh. Who would ever have thought the first challenge to me as Alpha would come from my son. Switching off the desk lamp, Jackson left his study, and headed down to see Mac for an update on his mother.

~/~/~/~/~

Tristan waited until all the mourners had left, leaving him alone at his mother's grave. Staring at the coffin in the ground, he refused to accept the cause of death listed by the doctor. His mother might have had cancer, but that wasn't what killed her. No, it was her heart, broken by his father over thirty-three years ago when he rejected her for another woman, even though his mother was pregnant.

Ignoring the cold wind whipping around him, Tristan looked up to the sky, knowing his mother was where she wouldn't suffer anymore. Raising his fist, he shouted, "I promise you, Mother, I will make my father pay for what he did to you, to us…you have my word." Then, grief washed over him again, forcing his shoulders to droop in defeat at his failure to save the only person in the world who'd loved him. And whether he liked it or not, it was time to start a new life.

Picking up a spade, Tristan began to shovel earth into his mother's grave as his tears fell. When the job was done, he placed a single red rose, picked from his mother's garden that morning, atop the mound. Wiping the wetness from his face, he took one last look at his mother's final resting place before walking slowly back to his car. Emotionally exhausted from the turmoil of the last few days, all he wanted now was to sleep, but that was not to be. He still had packing to do.

Tristan was not looking forward to going through the rest of his mother's personal papers and memorabilia, deciding what to keep or throw away. If he could, he'd have kept it all, but that was impossible because his car was too small. Once he left, he never wanted to return to the little cottage where his mother took her last breath.

A single tear rolled slowly down his cheek as the memory of her last night on earth resurfaced in his mind. Kneeling by her bedside, he prayed to the gods to save the only person who loved him, asking them to take him instead. It was a foolish thing to wish for; his mother never would've wanted that, but he was desperate.

As the darkness of night enveloped them, rumbles of thunder sounded in the distance. Tristan grasped her hand, willing her his strength as he leaned down to kiss her forehead. It was then, with her last breath, that he heard her whisper his name. Burying his face in his hands, he began to sob uncontrollably, thinking about his mother and the life that had been stolen from her.