“Yes…but I couldn’t tell Jackson or Steel.”
“Why not?” asked Oracle.
“I thought they would treat Danny differently, and I didn’t want that for him,” Maximus replied. “I thought he should have anormal childhood, one filled with love and family before being thrust into that role. After all, look at what David went through. I didn’t want that to happen to Danny.”
Smiling tenderly, Oracle said, “Neither do I…and, if you want my opinion, I believe you did the right thing. Danny should grow up enjoying a normal childhood before he has to face his destiny.”
Oracle’s support meant everything to Maximus because he felt guilty at not having disclosed the truth to Jackson about Danny’s destiny. But no matter how many times it was on the tip of his tongue to reveal it, something always held him back. Then, when Oracle had agreed with his decision, something inside him finally settled. Searching his mate’s comely face for a moment, Maximus saw the love she had for him shining through. “Thank you, my love…I needed to hear that,” he said quietly.
“I know…” Oracle whispered, lightly brushing her lips against Maximus’ before asking, “Anything else we should discuss before bed?”
“No…” Maximus said. Linking his fingers with Oracle’s, he led her to their bed. It had been a tension-filled week, and he knew they both needed some sleep before the next day began.
~/~/~/~/~
Alex listened intently as the house grew quiet and he was positive everyone was asleep, including his two mates. It had taken longer than he thought, especially after the energy they spent on the evening’s sexcapades—which he wasn’t willing to forgo despite his worry about his grandfather. Slowly, he wriggled out of their arms and slid out of the bed. Tiptoeing out of the bedroom into the adjoining sitting room, he held his breath, afraid one or both would wake up and demand to knowwhere he was going. Luckily, both of his mates slept through his escape.
Softly closing the door between the two rooms, he walked over to the far side of the room and sat down in a chair, reaching for his phone he’d left on the desk. Turning it on, he pressed the last number on his call list, waiting for his grandfather to answer.
“Hello?”
“Grandfather? Is that you?” asked Alex softly.
Hearing his grandson’s voice, Henri quickly wiped the sleep from his eyes and sat up in bed. “Alex…are you all right?”
“Yes, I’m okay,” Alex replied. “I’m just returning your call.”
Looking over at his alarm clock, Henri chuckled when he saw the time. Ignoring the early hour, he said, “I thought you would be asleep with your mates.”
“They are, but I didn’t sleep because I wanted to call you. What did you want to talk about? Are you hurt?”
Henri could hear the tension in Alex’s voice, and he kicked himself for causing it. “Non, I’m fine. I wanted you to know I emailed your Alpha, requesting permission to visit until you have your cub.”
A big smile broke out on Alex’s face at his grandfather’s news. His mates had invited Henri to visit them at the Blackwood Pack, but Alex wasn’t sure his grandfather would accept the invitation. He knew his grandfather’s life was in France, so although he wanted him close by, Alex had concluded it was wishful thinking. But it turned out he was wrong. “When will you arrive?” Alex asked.
“I don’t know, yet,” Henri said. “I just sent my request, so I don’t expect to receive an answer for a few days. Once I do, I’ll send you all my travel information.”
“Do you want me to talk to Jackson? Maybe I can speed it up.”
Chuckling, Henri said, “Maybe, but why don’t we wait a day…Alphas rarely like to be pushed.”
Alex conceded his grandfather had a point, but he didn’t think Jackson would mind if he brought it up. “Okay,” he said, but his mind was busy thinking of how to approach the topic with his Alpha. Maybe Fionn would have an idea about how to do it. Suddenly, he heard Sawyer calling his name. “Oops…got to go, grandfather…bye.” After hearing his grandfather’s goodbye, Alex quickly hung up before shoving the phone behind the pillow again.
Pushing open the sitting-room door, Sawyer took a step inside, glancing around until his eyes found his mate. “Hey…who were you talking to?” he asked, walking over to Alex and sitting down opposite of him.
“Uh…no one…why?”
Rolling his eyes, Sawyer said, “Delicious Surprise…you need to learn how to lie better if you are ever going to be a good secret agent.”
Alex frowned. “Who said I was lying?”
“Duh…me. I heard you talking and since Glenn is still asleep in our bed, and I wasn’t in here, you must have been talking to a ghost or to someone on the phone. So, which one is it?”
“Wow! You’re pretty good at being a secret agent…did you know that?” asked Alex. “Sawyer Evan—Super Spy! You even have afantastic code name. Maybe you should write a book about all your exploits.”
Shaking his head, Sawyer said, grinning, “Nice try at changing the subject but no dice…now fess up. Who was on the phone?”
Figuring his mate would not give up, Alex finally said, “My grandfather.”