Chapter 30

Kahn stood nervously in the middle of the room, looking at his mother, waiting for her to respond, but she remained silent. For the last ten minutes, she'd sat on the sofa, buried as deep in the corner as possible. The only movement that came from her was twisting the wedding ring on her left hand as she stared down at it. He was beginning to worry his mother was in shock. "Mom?" he called softly. "Do you have any questions? I don't know all the details but I…"

Looking up at her son, she shook her head. "I was just thinking of your father when he was younger…before jealousy ate away at him until nothing was left other than a shell. He was so proud when you were born and would stop anyone he met to tell them the news before handing them a cigar. It didn't matter whether they smoked or not, your father just wanted everyone to share in his joy."

Slowly she slipped the ring off her finger and set it down on the table next to the sofa. "I've tried over the years to pinpoint the moment our love for each other died, but finally realized I couldn't, because it wasn't anything in particular; it just died a slow death on its own. Neither of us were willing to put in the work to keep it alive, I guess."

Staring at the ring, she continued, "Maybe it was during the time when my life was busy with our children that your father turned his attention to Hope…or maybe it was later when neither of us said much to the other, except ‘good morning' and ‘good night.' I don't really know, but the failure of our marriage was my fault just as much as it was your father's."

"Bullshit!" Kahn growled. "I had a front-row seat to his actions, and the one thing I know, without a doubt, was that he was selfish to the core. The pack always came first and the only use he had for any of us was to enhance his position."

His mother smiled sadly at Kahn. "I know you don't believe it, but he loved you very much."

Kahn snorted. "He had a funny way of showing it."

"He didn't know any other way…it was the way he was raised. From the time your father and his brother were young, their father…your grandfather…pitted them against each other in order to control them. Instead of fostering a relationship of love and trust, he made it one of competition, each trying to outdo the other in order to gain his approval. In the end, the relationship between your father and his brother became so poisonous, I just knew their ongoing feud would end badly…but I never thought it would result in your father killing his brother and family the way he did. Ever since that night—when he went insane—I prayed to the gods to keep Jackson and his brothers safe…and out of the clutches of your father."

Kahn shook his head in denial at his mother's claim that his father was insane. "Mom, you're wrong…Dad wasn't crazy, he was just jealous and greedy. Even though he'd built his pack up from nothing, that was never good enough because he was always comparing us to what his brother had."

"Kahn," she whispered, "don't you see…your father had to be insane to kill all those children."

Opening his mouth to disagree only to snap it shut, Kahn realized his mother needed to believe that about her husband, the man she fell in love with, married, and whose children she'd borne. It was obvious she felt responsible for what Josiah had become, but it pissed him off that even though his father was dead, he could still hurt her. "You're right, Mom. There isn't any other explanation for my father's behavior."

Then, troubled by how frail his mother suddenly looked, Kahn sat down next to her. He folded her into his arms, giving her the love and support she so desperately needed while he fought to keep his tears back at his newfound knowledge that his mother was also Josiah's victim.

~/~/~/~/~

Approaching Jackson's study, Dylon smiled as Daniel scooted around his legs and darting into the room ahead of him. Pausing for a moment before entering, he smiled when he saw the pup standing on Jackson's desk, growling at Reeve.

"Danny, no!" Steel shouted, as he reached the doorway at about the same time as Dylon. Though he tried, he could not suppress a smile as he watched his Uber-Alpha son trying to protect Jackson.

"It appears your son has now added Jackson to his pack," Dylon muttered under his breath.

"So it seems," Steel grinned.

Mystified at the small wolf's continued warning growls at him, Reeve glanced up at Jackson quickly before returning his focus to the pup who seemed ready to attack him. "Uhm…"

"Daniel, stop it right now," Jackson ordered, picking his son up and handing him to Steel.

"Sorry, babe…when my back was turned, your son shifted before I knew what he was doing," Steel explained.

"My son…huh?" Jackson said, smiling.

"We have a deal…your son when he's a wolf, my son when he's not." Steel smirked, walking out of the room with Danny.

Shaking his head, Dylon turned to Steel on his way into the room. "I think you got the short end of the stick, Alpha Mate." Then stopping next to Reeve, he held out his hand. "I'm Dylon Royd. The Alpha said you wanted to ask me some questions."

Reeve's gaze slowly traveled up the man's body until it reached Dylon's face. He was shocked at its perfection, totally free of any scars. Standing, he shook Dylon's hand and felt the man's hidden power. "Dylon…I'm Reeve. This shouldn't take long."

"No problem," Dylon replied calmly, sitting down closest to Jackson.

Reclaiming his seat, Reeve glanced at Jackson quickly before turning back to Dylon. "According to the Silver Point Pack records, you took a job there as an enforcer, correct?"

"I did."

"Any reason you picked that particular pack?"

Shrugging, Dylon said, "Not really. A friend told me they were hiring, so I applied."

"Was your father involved in getting you the job?"

"No," Dylon said, his voice devoid of feeling, but anger growing inside him at Reeve's question.

"Are you an enforcer for the Blackwood Pack?"

"No."

"What do you do?"

Jackson interrupted. "You're out-of-line Nicolet, unless you can tell how your question is connected to the beating. That's the reason you requested to speak to my pack member, right?"

"My apologies," Reeve mumbled to Jackson. Then turning back to Dylon, he asked, "Who beat you up?"

"Which time?"

Reeve's eyebrow shot up. "You were beaten up more than once?"

"Sure," Dylon answered. "The earliest one I remember was when I tried to filch Mary Lou's candy in the first grade."

Jackson kept his chuckle to himself at the answer. Dylon wasn't going to make it easy for Reeve.

There was nothing better than tangling with a worthy opponent, and Reeve actually appreciated the game Dylon was playing. But as he knew only so well, it didn't matter how you played the game, in the end winning was the only thing that mattered. And Reeve hadn't lost a game in a very long time. "I'm surprised you lived to talk about it," Reeve said, sarcastically.

"Yeah…well, it was a close call, but as you see, I survived."

"I'm glad you did…but how did you survive this beating?" Reeve asked, showing Dylon the photos of him from Rudy's computer.

Dylon glanced at the pictures, than handed the phone back. "Good genes," he said, pausing for a moment before continuing. "I'm willing to play this game of cat and mouse all day but I don't think you are. You want something from me, so why don't you cut the bullshit and spit it out."

"I agree with Dylon," Jackson said. "According to Smokey, you were sent by the Great Spirit to help him but that's going to be difficult for you if I bar you from my territory because of a trust issue. And so far, you haven't given me any reason to trust you. Now, why don't you just tell me what the hell you want and let's see if it's something we even have to give to you."

Fuck!Reeve knew from the first time he'd met Jackson, the man was no fool and the Alpha just proved it. Although his position with the High Council certainly gave him the power to force his will on Dylon, what would he gain? Not the one thing he needed to protect his mate, that was for sure. Choice made, Reeve began. "You should know, I meant no harm, I'm just trying to protect my mate."

Jackson's eyes widened. "Who is…"

"Kahn…your cousin," Reeve said. "Now before you get the wrong idea…he doesn't know we're mates yet."

"You haven't told him?" Jackson asked.

Shaking his head, Reeve said, "I couldn't…not as long as Josiah was free. I couldn't risk handing his father's defense attorney the opportunity to claim conflict of interest."

"I understand that," Jackson said. "But I know my cousin…he isn't going to take kindly to you keeping it a secret."

"I know…my animal has been pissed that I wouldn't tell him from the start, but…"

"You had a job to do," Jackson murmured.

"Exactly."

"Josiah is dead so what's keeping you from claiming your mate?" asked Dylon.

"Rudy!" Reeve spat. "That asshole wants to claim the Alpha title in order to gain the rights it gives him during the prosecution of the High Council's case against him. And the only thing stopping him from doing so is my mate."

"Isn't Rudy in custody?" asked Jackson.

"Yes, but…"

"Where are the Silver Point enforcers?" asked Dylon, tersely.

"Still at the pack," Reeve said. "I have them confined to their quarters under guard. I believe some of them have orders to kill Kahn."

"I'm sure they do," Dylon murmured.

Nodding Reeve said, "I was going to let them go after confirming none of them were involved in the massacre, but then one of my men found out about Rudy's plan to become Alpha. It wasn't hard to put two and two together to know my mate was in danger."

"What exactly did you think Dylon could tell you?" asked Jackson.

"Rudy's allies! I believe they are enforcers but I haven't been able to find out which ones are in his pocket," Reeve replied. "Dylon was an enforcer there and…"

"Bruno," Dylon interrupted. "He's the head enforcer and owes Rudy for giving him that position."

"Anyone else?" asked Jackson.

"Yeah, two others…Hans and Seth. Two bullies who are in tight with Bruno. I learned early on never to challenge either of them because Rudy always sided with them," Dylon said. "Those are the three who would benefit the most from Rudy claiming the Alpha title."

"Thanks…a lot. I owe you one," Reeve said, rising.

"Just a minute," Jackson said. "Before you leave, I have some questions."

Sitting back down, Reeve frowned. "About Rudy?"

"When will Kahn officially become the Alpha of the Silver Point Pack?" asked Jackson.

"The title transferred to him upon Josiah's death, but if you mean when will I officially step down and hand the pack over to him…I don't know," Reeve replied. "I haven't spoken to him about it yet."

"Has my cousin expressed his willingness to serve as the new Alpha?" asked Jackson.

"Can't answer that either," Reeve said. "Why is this important to you?"

"Several reasons," Jackson replied. "First, you asked me if I would seek revenge against Kahn for his father's actions…"

"And you assured me you wouldn't," Reeve growled.

"Nor will anyone else in my pack, " Jackson confirmed. "But you didn't give me the same assurances. One of my pack members killed Kahn's father, and while it was fully justified, that doesn't mean Kahn will see it that way. While I'm not worried about my cousin doing anything right now, he might when he takes control of the Silver Point Pack."

"Point taken," Reeve said. "I haven't spoken with Kahn about it, but from my impression, he seems relieved his father is dead, so I don't think there are any thoughts of revenge in his head. However, I'll bring it up just to make sure."

Nodding, Jackson asked. "What's the Council's plan if Kahn refuses the position?"

"I haven't discussed that with my boss yet, but in this case, it will depend on what you want. You can demand the pack be disbanded or take the Alpha position for yourself. Those are a few of the choices that are available for restitution for the injury done to your family."

"Of course," Jackson murmured, his mind busy recalling the suggestion his mate made about using restitution to honor his younger siblings. He couldn't see how taking over a pack could do that.

"Have you thought about it?" asked Reeve.

"About what?" Jackson asked, coming out of his reverie.

"The restitution owed to you and your brothers. Are you or any of your brothers interested in becoming Alpha of the Silver Point Pack?"

"No, I haven't had time to talk with them about it…but I will, I promise," Jackson said. "What are you going to do about Dylon and the beating?"

"Nothing, I guess," Reeve said, grinning. "There's no proof that it's Dylon in the photos and, besides, Rudy was obviously confused because he claimed Dylon was dead. So I'm not about to waste my time on a wild goose chase."

"What about my father? Are you going to show him the file Rudy had on me?" asked Dylon.

"No…as I said before…there's no proof it happened to you. Any more questions?" Reeve asked.

"Not for now," Jackson replied. "However, once you have resigned from the High Council, we can talk about your involvement with Smokey and what that will entail. Just be aware I have reservations about it, especially with Kahn being your mate. When will you tell him?"

"Soon," Reeve said, getting up. "I have to take care of a few things first."

"I wouldn't wait too much longer," Jackson cautioned.

"Duly noted."

Nodding, Jackson said, "Groose will see you out."

Dylon waited until Reeve was gone before he asked Jackson. "Are you worried about Kahn? Do you think he'll be a problem?"

"I honestly don't know," Jackson replied. "The man I knew was a gentle soul and, because of that, he suffered more than I did from the expectations our fathers had for us." Then, sighing, he continued, "But that was long ago. Has he changed? Only time will tell, but even if he hasn't, I would have preferred he wasn't Reeve's mate."