Descending the steps, he heard Glenn’s growl first, followed by Dylon’s sharp response. It wasn’t the first time they’d clashed, but Jackson had hoped the friction between the two would fade over time. So far, it hadn’t, and it appeared he needed to step in to find out the cause and fix it. Even though he knew both were too professional to let their problems interfere with any mission, the hostility between them would start affecting other pack members if Jackson let it go on too much longer.
He paused at the bottom of the stairs, gazing at the group standing near the nurse’s desk. None of them had seen him yet, giving Jackson time to assess what the issue was. Slowly walkingforward, he listened to the heated discussion, finally realizing it was about the hooded man lying on the gurney next to Colton.
“The hood has to stay on!” snapped Glenn.
“Colton needs to check his vitals, and he can’t do it with it on,” growled Dylon.
Stopping between the dueling pair, Jackson asked, “Who is he and how come he’s here?”
Glenn glanced at Dylon and shrugged. “I think the Alpha is talking to you.”
Colton spoke up. “He’s an enforcer we had to knock out before we could get into the Alpha’s house. Right now, he’s unconscious, and I want to check him over before Groose locks him up.”
Quirking an eyebrow, Jackson said, “I don’t recall capturing an enforcer as being part of the plan.”
“It wasn’t,” Dylon said. “I decided at the last moment to take him with us for questioning to help me find out what the Alpha was planning to do with Theo and Norm.”
“And the hood? Why is that necessary?” asked Jackson.
“Standard procedure,” Glenn stated. “It prevents his identifying anyone and takes away several of his senses, like sight and smell.”
Nodding, Jackson turned to Colton. “Can you examine him with it on?”
“For the basic vitals, but not to check if he suffered a concussion.”
“He didn’t hit his head,” Glenn muttered. “I made sure of that when I lowered him to the ground.”
“Positive?” asked Jackson.
“Yes…I’ve done this before, and every one of them woke up with no aftereffects,” Glenn replied.
“Okay,” Jackson said, glancing at the hooded man handcuffed to the gurney. “Colton, check what you can, then call Groose to put him in one of the isolation cells. I don’t want the other prisoners near him.” Pausing, Jackson waited until the prisoner was in an examination room before looking at Dylon and Glenn. “You two come with me,” he said before turning around and heading for Mac’s office.
Jackson opened the door, strode over to the desk, and sat down behind it. After the two men followed him into Mac’s office, he said, “Shut the door and take a seat, gentlemen.” After they’d done that, he studied them for a moment before speaking. “This thing,” he said, pointing and moving his finger between Dylon and Glenn, “you have going on needs to stop. I don’t know why or how it started, but it’s a danger to the pack…and future missions.
“Glenn, I’m well aware of your background and the years you spent with the agency. I also know you prefer to work alone, but there’s very little likelihood of that happening in my pack. And even if I’d allow it, I doubt either of your mates would be happy with you going into danger without backup.”
Then, shifting his gaze to Dylon, he said, “The gods gave you extraordinary abilities because they knew you would use them only for good. And because of that, you have my complete trust and faith to make the right decisions regarding the safety of any pack member you pick to accompany you on a mission.However, excluding someone from a mission because of a personal dislike or argument can lead to fatal consequences.
“Being a leader means putting aside personal animosities because the only goal is the successful completion of the mission, including the safe return of all members who are part of it. That’s the tough part of leadership…putting yourself second. And it’s hard to do that all the time, but I know you possess the qualities to do it.
“Now, regarding this thing between you two—fix it now…tonight. Talk…listen to each other and figure out a way forward. That’s an order.” Rising, Jackson paused for a moment, then said, “Good job tonight, Dylon…you too, Glenn.”
Closing his eyes, Dylon leaned back in his chair and sighed, knowing he deserved the chewing-out Jackson had given him. It was time to sort out why Glenn was always rubbing him the wrong way. He owed it to himself and to the pack. He waited a moment, then opened his eyes and turned to look at Glenn. “Sorry about tonight…I should’ve…”
Glenn shook his head. “No…not your fault. Jackson’s right…I’m used to working alone, and it chafes when I have to follow someone else’s orders. The agency figured it out rather quickly when I kept sending back the ones they assigned to go with me on a mission.”
Raising an eyebrow, Dylon said, “I bet they didn’t like that.”
“No shit!”
“What did they do?”
“I finally agreed to have one person as my backup, but only if I approved them.”
“Let me guess, you chose Smokey.”
“Yeah…and eventually Ghost when Smokey wasn’t available…but it was only those two.”