“He did…but you don’t believe him, hmm?”
“That’s easy for him to say that but since I’m the one with the power, it seems like an empty promise.”
“It’s not,” Mac said, “because you aren’t the only one here with a special power. All of my cousins, along with my brothers Hunterand Sawyer, have gifts that will help save our world. So you see, this doesn’t rest only with you.”
Ollie froze for a moment at Mac’s claim, before pulling back a bit so he could see his mate’s face. His eyes roamed over it until he found what he hoped to see. “You aren’t kidding, are you?” he whispered.
“No…I’m not,” Mac said softly. Then, he pulled Ollie back to his chest and rested his chin on his mate’s head. “What I’m about to tell you is unbelievable…but trust me, it’s the truth…and it’s why the pressure is not on you alone.”
“Color me curious,” Ollie murmured. “Go ahead, I’m listening.”
~/~/~/~/~
After Ollie and Mac left his study, Jackson rose and headed down to the hospital. He needed to speak to Smokey and Norm about his plan for them to move temporarily to the Silver Point Pack before Tristan arrived to meet with him. Reaching Theo’s room, Jackson knocked softly before gently pushing the door open. He spotted Smokey first and then Norman before his eyes shifted to their mate, who he found staring back at him.
Theo had just awakened a few minutes before and, after the fog of sleep had cleared, he’d been focusing on the questions that had been on his mind. He concluded Ollie would be the best person to give him the answers but quickly changed his mind when the Alpha walked into the room. After exchanging glances with Jackson, he asked, “Is it true my parents are alive and locked up in a basement?” When he saw his Alpha hesitate for a moment, he added, “You promised me and Norm to always tell us the truth…remember?”
“Yes, I did,” Jackson replied, glancing briefly at Smokey and Norm before turning his attention back to Theo. “The only proof I have of your parents’ captivity is from Ollie…and before you ask, I believe him. So yes, as far as I know, your former Ghost Bear Alpha has them chained up in his basement.”
“Did Ollie come here to ask for help to get them out of there?”
“Yes,” Jackson said.
“Are you gonna help save my parents?”
Jackson replied, “Dylon is working on a plan right now.”
Nodding, Theo threw back the blanket and sat up on the edge of the bed before asking, “What do you want me to do?”
“Nothing, Shining Star,” Smokey murmured, moving in front of his mate. “Mac said you have to stay in bed for a few days.”
Norm sat down next to Theo and wrapped his arm around his mate’s waist. “Honeybunch,” he said softly, “you can’t go…it’s too risky for the cub.”
Theo stared at his mates for a few moments, then shook his head. “Please don’t use my pregnancy against me…and I didn’t say I wanted to go on the mission. Even I know that wouldn’t be good for our cub. But maybe there is something I can do to help, even if it is only answering questions Dylon might have.”
Smokey glanced at Norm, catching his almost imperceptible nod, before turning to Jackson. “Theo makes a good point…do you have a problem with us talking to Dylon to see if Theo or Norm can answer questions he might have?”
“Not at all,” Jackson said. “Have either of you been inside the Ghost Bear Alpha’s house? Cause it would be useful if Dylon knew the layout.”
Shrugging, Norm said, “I might have been there when I was a cub, but that was so long ago, I don’t really remember it.”
Smiling, Theo said, “I was there once, about a year before I was sent to Arald’s.”
“You were?” Norm asked, looking at his mate. “Why?”
“I asked my parents that after we got home, and they said that the Alpha planned to sell one of the Omegas to another Alpha,” Theo said. “I think they knew the real reason before we went there because they made me dress in some old jeans and a t-shirt that were too big for me. After I put them on, I saw myself in the mirror and was so embarrassed because I looked like a child wearing his dad’s clothes.”
“They were protecting you,” Jackson murmured.
“Yeah…I figured that out later,” Theo replied, pausing for a moment before continuing, “That’s why I couldn’t understand why they sent me to Arald’s a year later…it just doesn’t make sense.”
Jackson studied Theo quietly, then finding what he was looking for said, “I hope you get the answers you’re looking for from your parents…but just remember, you might not like them, and that worries me because of how it could affect your pregnancy. Mac…and Ian gave orders to me and your mates about keeping you calm and stress-free…”
“I know that,” Theo said.
Holding up his hand to stop Theo, Jackson continued, “However, I know how it feels when your whole life has been turned upside-down and nothing makes sense anymore. It happened to my brothers and me when our uncle killed our family and left us with unanswered questions. It took me severalyears before I figured out why he did it, and even now, there are still missing pieces I fear will never be found. Thankfully, my brothers have made peace with the past, but…”
“Not you,” whispered Theo.