Smokey repeated them over and over until Norm’s body quieted and his mate’s spirit found some relief from his grief. When that happened, Smokey gently kissed the top of Norm’s head and asked, “Do you want to stop? Jackson can come back later.”
Norm thought about his parents. They hadn’t doted on him, but they made sure he was well cared for. And while neither of them was overly affectionate, he never felt unwanted. Raising his eyes, he looked at Jackson and said, “No…I want to know why the Alpha killed them. It just doesn’t make any sense.”
“Why not?” asked Theo.
“Because they were very close friends,” Norm explained.
“How close?” asked Jackson.
“I don’t know…just close,” Norm said. “The Alpha would visit at least once and sometimes twice a week. None of my parents’ other friends came that often. Does that sound like they didn’t like each other?”
“No, it doesn’t,” Jackson said. “It sounds like they were tight…would you say the Alpha trusted your parents? And vice versa? More so than other pack members?”
Shrugging, Norm said, “I guess…my parents did nothing without asking the Alpha’s permission…especially regarding me. The only time they didn’t was the day I told them about Theo.”
Nodding, Jackson said, “According to Theo’s mother, the Alpha was angry that Norm’s parents had ruined his plan.”
“What plan?” snarled Smokey.
“I don’t know,” Jackson said. “But I think it might have to do with Norm and his ability to read minds.”
“You’ve lost me,” Norm said. “My parents were killed because I could read Theo’s mind? Impossible…they didn’t know that because it only happened after we were at Arald’s.”
“I’m confused, too,” Theo said.
“Yeah…just what are you implying?” Smokey snapped.
“I think Norm is the son of the former Ghost Bear Alpha,” Jackson said. “I know it sounds impossible, but it’s the only explanation that makes any sense.”
“You’re fucking joking,” Smokey growled.
“Can you prove it?” asked Theo eagerly.
“Maybe,” Jackson said. “Right now, it’s only my opinion, but I have Zane doing some research, and I asked Ian to run a DNA test on Norm and the current Alpha. That’s one reason I’m here…to ask Norm if he’ll provide a sample. All Ian needs is a couple strands of your hair with the roots attached.”
“How can you do a match when the former Alpha is dead?” asked Norm.
“Ian can use a hair sample from a sibling of the former Alpha…”
“That would be current Alpha,” Norm whispered.
Nodding, Jackson said, “Yes, we’ll get a sample of his hair…”
“How?” asked Smokey. “I can’t see the current Alpha willingly handing over his DNA.”
“You’re right,” Jackson said. “That’s why Remy has volunteered to get it.”
“Using magic?” asked Theo.
“I didn’t ask him, but probably yes,” Jackson said.
“You said my DNA sample was one reason you’re here…what are the others?” Norm asked, pausing for a moment before continuing, “You wanted to know if I could read Theo’s mind before we claimed each other.”
“That, and I wanted to know if there were any other things you could do that Theo can’t,” Jackson said.
“Before our claiming or afterwards?” asked Norm.
“Both,” Jackson said. “Wesley thought there were other abilities the son of the Ghost Bear Alpha got when he found his mate, but he didn’t know what they were.”