It took a moment for Ollie to respond before walking woodenly over to Mac’s desk. Once seated, he waited for Mac to answer him, but his mate only stared at him, apparently waiting for something, although Ollie couldn’t figure out what it was. He hated it when someone played that game because it just resulted in pissing him off more, although how that could be possible in this case was anyone’s guess.
After realizing Ollie wasn’t going to apologize, Mac sighed silently. It was a hell of a way to start their life together, but he decided to ignore his mate’s behavior and said, quietly, “I can understand your concern about Theo’s pregnancy, but before you accuse me of failing to do my job, you might want to speak to your cousin and his mates first. It was their decision to continue, even after Ian…Dr. Wallace…and I both stressed the danger Theo faced. And whether or not I agree with that decision, I respect Theo’s right to make it…as should you as a medical professional.”
Slowly shaking his head, Ollie said, “You don’t understand…”
“Oh, I assure you I do,” snapped Mac.
“No, you don’t,” Ollie said, forcefully. “I need Theo’s help, but now that’s impossible.”
Frowning slightly, Mac asked, “Why is it impossible? Theo would never refuse you.”
“I know that…but that’s just it…I can’t ask him because it would be way too dangerous for him now.”
“Ask him what?”
“To go with me to rescue his parents…my aunt and uncle.”
“I’m confused…” Mac muttered. “I thought his parents were living in Theo’s former pack.”
“They are…well not exactly…more like they are prisoners of Theo’s former Alpha,” Ollie said.
“I don’t understand…why would their Alpha do that?”
“No idea,” Ollie said. “My guess is they objected to one of his orders, so the Alpha decided to make an example of them by locking them up.”
“Holy shit…” Mac muttered, thinking about the effect the news would have on Theo. Lacking the full story of Theo and Norm’s ordeal, Mac only knew that their parents sent them to Arald’s, where they remained imprisoned for three years until Dylon and Cody rescued them. Other than that, he knew very little of the hows and whys it had happened. And he certainly didn’t know what Theo’s reaction would be when he heard the news. Shaking his head, Mac finally understood the reason for his mate’s anger.
He also knew that once Ollie told his cousin about his parent’s captivity, if Theo reacted badly, the consequences could be life-altering and that was the real issue in a nutshell. It probably would have been hard enough for Theo to handle before, but now, the life of his cub—along with his—were very much at risk. Glancing over at his mate, Mac said, “You can’t tell Theo…it’s too dangerous.”
Rolling his eyes, Ollie said, “Duh…I know that…but I can’t just leave my aunt and uncle locked up.”
“No…you can’t,” Mac murmured, suddenly deep in thought, “but you can’t go by yourself, either. I’ll speak to Jackson tomorrow about Ian taking over for me for a while.”
Mac’s offer to help forced Ollie to grin. “Ah…no offense, mate...but you’re a wolf and that won’t help you when you’re facing an Alpha bear and his enforcers…whom I might add, are also all bears.”
“Maybe…but it’s better than you going in alone!” Mac replied, trying to keep his fear for Ollie in check.
Ollie glanced down at the floor—his mate was right, which is why Ollie had ended up at the Blackwood Pack; he knew Theo would help him, despite the bad feelings his cousin might be harboring about his parents sending him to Arald’s. And if he was honest, his real reason for asking his cousin for help was hopefully to heal the breach between Theo and his parents. He’d learned at twenty-one, when a drunk driver killed his parents, that life can change instantly. And more than anything, Ollie wanted to prevent Theo from ever experiencing the pain of regretting a decision—as he had done every day since his parents died. And if there was one thing he’d learned that fateful day, it was not to make the same mistake twice.
Looking up at Mac, he said, “I agree, but I can’t risk your life. I’m pretty sure you haven’t ever fought a bear shifter before…”
“I haven’t, but that doesn’t mean I can’t.”
“Maybe…but trust me, this isn’t the time nor the place for you to find out,” Ollie muttered.
Mac thought for a moment, then asked, “What if Sawyer and his Siberian Tiger mate came with us?”
Ollie’s eyes widened. “Your brother is mated to a Siberian tiger?”
“Yes…and I know he can even take on an Alpha Ghost Bear and beat him.”
Shaking his head in disbelief, Ollie said, “I don’t doubt that for a moment but…honestly? A fucking Tiger? Fuck!”
“What do you think? You, me, Sawyer, and Glenn…one bear, two wolves and a tiger…is that enough muscle to get Theo’s parents out of there?”
“Maybe…” Ollie said, “but I would feel better if we had a few more apex predators with us…like Smokey.”
“You know that can’t happen…not without Theo finding out what you are planning to do.”