Page 26 of Fate Awakened

Deacon wouldn’t miss an opportunity to rub elbows with the surrounding territories in an effort to sway them to his cause.

“From what we heard from Gordan, who has been attending virtually, it’ll only be another day before they wrap up. So that means we’re on the clock to get our girl back,” she says, confident in her tone. I nod, knowing the New Mexico Pack Alpha wouldn’t lead us astray. Gordan’s Mate, Juliet, is Dante’s favorite aunt.

“What about Keith?” I ask, having forgotten we have him in our custody.

“That’s what the meeting tonight will be about.” She pauses. I’m not sure if she’s intentionally making me wait or figuring out what she’s allowed to share on the subject, but she’s careful with her words which tells me I won’t like it. I take a deep breath and clench my fists to focus my energy on my hands.

“Dante believes Keith isn’t involved in the kidnapping. We think he’s working solely with Kole and that he has no idea the magnitude of what he had, or what it was used for,” she continues under her breath with sarcasm, “probably because he’s too stupid to be able to understand what truly beautiful code can do.” She finishes with her muttering and looks back to me.

My legs give out, and I sink onto the hospital bed, defeated. I wasn’t expecting him not to know anything. I needed him to know something. Anything that could get us to her faster. Anything to bring my Firefly back.

“You’re sure? He’s useless? He knows nothing?” Frustration builds, and my wolf tries to take over. I feel my eyes shift, and my fingers start to, before I slam my jaw shut and exhale a long breath.

Not now. We have to get out of here. Calm Down.

“I know it isn’t the news you wanted, but I need you to trust me when I say we’re doing everything possible to get to her. You have to believe we have everyone working on this.” Her statement brings me little hope, but I know I have to keep my cool, or Dante will never let me back out of this room.

“Thanks, Pres,” I say, barely more than a whisper, but loud enough that her enhanced hearing will pick it up.

“She’s strong, Cain, and a fighter who's been through a lot. She will get through this too.” Her voice holds reverent confidence that lets me know she believes it.

“I can’t lose her, Pres. I won’t survive it,” I whisper, looking back into her gaze with absolutely no walls up. Every terrified piece of my soul is on display. I’m a broken man. Losing her would mean total destruction. Pres nods her head understanding the words I don’t say.

“We’re going to find her.” She finishes, heading back out of the room before stopping short. “Jake’s bringing you some food to eat before the meeting. Try to leave him in one piece this time.” She winks at me, trying to go for a light-hearted tone, but the guilt I feel for attacking him slams back into me.

Sure, we’ve fought before, in human and wolf form. We do it for training all the time. But never before had I ever intentionally tried to hurt him. Looks like it's time for yet another apology.

***

It's forty more minutes before my door opens again. Jake enters without a knock and chucks a brown bag at me. The scent of greasy fries hits me before I can even open it, making me realize how hungry I am.

Before I dig into the bag, I intentionally stop myself and give my attention to Jake. He looks exactly like he always does. Clean cut, wearing his black t-shirt, black fatigues, and combat boots. His tattoos snake out down his arms and up his throat. His face is indifferent. Not revealing emotion, he hovers across the room, leaning against the wall.

His moss-green eyes survey the harness strapped to my body, and a part of me wants to recoil and cover the silver and chains from his view.

“I’m sorry.” The apology comes out rough, my emotions catching in my throat. He may not have known how far I was willing to go, but I knew. I knew I could’ve and would’ve ended his life.

He’s silent, meeting my eyes and scrutinizing my words. Finally, he nods, silently acknowledging my apology. Relief fills me. Jake has been one of my closest friends for years now. Dante’s the only person I’m closer to than him, so his acceptance of my apology means a lot. Before I continue, I do the one thing I should’ve done two weeks ago.

“She’s my Mate.” The words fall easily from my lips. My eyes meet his, and I see only the slightest reaction as his eyes widen. A brief moment of surprise before an almost indiscernible moment of understanding. “I should‘ve said something earlier, but it was a lot to process. Anyway, it’s no excuse. Pack First. Won’t happen again.” I finish pulling open the bag to find three burgers from Fast Eddies with two baskets of spicy, loaded fries.

He isn’t mad.

A calm settles over me as I dive into the first burger, practically inhaling it before moving on to the second. I’m halfway through the third when he finally speaks.

“Dante permitted me to let you shower and change before the meeting. The Kole interrogation incident remains between the five of us.”

It doesn’t surprise me that Dante’s keeping the fact that his Second went off the rails from the rest of the pack. The last thing he needs right now is anyone thinking we’re anything but a united front ready and willing to take on the Marlo Pack, if required.

Oh, it’s going to be necessary.

Marlo stealing the Mate of the Second is an act of war that any neighboring territory would get behind. Very few things are as sacred as our Mates. Finding them was one of the biggest struggles. If you could find your Mate, keeping that union safe became a pack priority.

Now, technically, Deacon didn’t steal Bri. Hudson did, and, technically, neither of them knew she was my Mate. Neither technicality will matter if she’s harmed. They’ll both die at my hands. Consequences be damned.

I shovel the last of the fries into my mouth before throwing the trash into the garbage bin and turning so that Jake can remove my harness. He makes swift work of removing it before leading me out the door.

“Where is he?” I ask, not needing to explain who I mean.

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