“I gots… go. I gots to go.” He was regressing. Here, in front of everyone. This wasn’t good. None but a few of us, knew this side of Owen. That’s how he wanted it. He pulled harder against Bear and broke free, darting for the front door. Theo was up like a shot after him. The rest of the troops were headed to the door to follow.

  “Stop! Leave them be.” Bear spoke with all his authority, and they froze in place. “We’ll go, you stay here. We’ll take care of him.” Bear and I headed out the door.

  Once we were outside and found Theo and Owen sitting in the grass under the tree to the side of the building, we sat down on the concrete parking block. “We’ll watch from here. They need to be alone to help one another. Owen needs Theo, and T needs him just as much.” I rested my hand on Bear’s shoulder. For all his macho bravado, I knew Bear loved Owen like a little brother and would go to the ends of the earth to protect him. From snippets of their conversations, Bear knew more about Owen than any of us did, so him being upset was harder. “Anything I need to know Nate?”

  “Not my story to tell, Eddie. Even to you, but he needs to tell someone. It’s like a poison eating away at him, gotta get it outta his system man. I’m hoping he tells Theo. Then maybe he’ll heal. Them boys got more in common than anyone will ever know.” He just shook his head, reaching down to play with a few blades of grass that forced their way through the gravel. “Vote went how it shoulda, how we knew it would. If you’re interested.”

  “Yeah, I figured. I knew we were gonna go after the whole family. Just not the extent of the justice. We intended to make the announcement and head to the office to go over everything. Guess the Baby Boy over there changed everyone’s plans.” I felt an ache in my chest. Whatever Owen was saying to Theo was hurting my mate. Not directly, but Theo’s tender heart was breaking FOR Owen, not by him.

  “Yeah, we’re gonna let the law handle The Hoggs, but the brother…” Yeah, the brother. He was mine. “He crossed a line man. Unanimous, his days are numbered and we’re gonna find his friends.”

  “Good to know my family has my back on this.” I just nodded my head as I stared at the ground. It was never a light decision to take another life, no matter the circumstances.

  “Yeah, Boss. Bout that. I was voted to be the one to tell you. It’s not your back we got, Brother.” He tipped his head towards Theo. “It’s his. He’s family now. He’s the Prez’s ole man and we ride for him as hard as we ride for you. Feel me? Besides that, you both gotta stay outta this one. You got too much on the line this time. You got a son on the way. Be there for your boy.”

  Neither of us spoke again for a while. No way I was gonna let my VP hear my voice crack again and he damn sure wasn’t gonna see me cry. Even if he was my best fuckin friend. We sat quietly on the sidelines and watched my mate comfort our baby boy under that tree for a long time.

  The sun was low on the horizon the first time we heard Owen laugh. It was a welcome sound that brought a smile to my face. Bear looked up, startled, and went to stand up. I grabbed his arm. “Give it a minute.” We watched Theo lean over and hug Owen. The two of them held on to one another for dear life and were both laughing by the time they let go. I let Nate’s arm go, “Go on brother, check on the boys.” He didn’t need to be told twice. I even had to laugh at the way he stumbled at top speed over to the tree. It looked like his ass cheeks fell asleep on the damn concrete, just like mine.

  Bear plopped on the grass next to Owen as Theo got up and headed my way. “Hello mate.” He greeted me with a kiss and put his arms around my waist.

  With a playful growl, I kissed his neck over his mate scar, and I felt his body shiver. “Hmm, hello to you, mate.” I licked his neck with the tip of my tongue, and he let out a little moan. “Everything OK with Owen?”

  “Yeah, he just needed someone to talk to. He’s my best friend. He was there for me. I’ll be there for him.” I had to listen carefully. It was hard to distinguish words with him nuzzling into the crook of my neck.

  “Anything I need to know?” I pulled away to look him in the eyes.

  “Not right now. He’ll come to you soon and tell you everything. I told him he needed to. He knows he does, but it’s hard for him. Bear already knows everything, and it doesn’t affect the club, so he can do it in his own time. He really is happy for us, but it’s hard for him to be excited about it, but I think he’ll get there. We just gotta help and support him.” I wrapped my arms around my mate from behind as we watched Owen climb into Bear’s lap and Bear slowly rock him like a baby. “He trusts that big guy more than anyone. He’s the one who can help him the most.”

  “I’m not sure about that, baby. Bear doesn’t feel that way towards him. He loves him like a baby brother. I don’t want to see Owen get hurt.” I kissed the top of Theo’s head.

  Pulling away and walking back to the clubhouse, Theo turned to me. “That’s what I’m talking about. Brotherly love. That’s what he needs more than anything. He just needs to learn to ask for it from the rest of you.” With a sly smile, he opened the door and walked through. I just stared at the closed door for a few minutes before my feet could move.

  Chapter Twenty-Eight

  Theo

  The wave of nausea woke me up. I rolled out of bed faster than I ever had in my life and darted into the bathroom, slamming the door behind me, just making it to the toilet as my stomach rejected everything in it. Not that there was anything. Something was wrong. It was too early in my pregnancy to have morning sickness already. Didn’t you get a few weeks of joy before constant throwing up marred a beautiful experience?

  “Baby? You OK?” Oh no, I woke up Eddie.

  “How can you throw up when there’s nothing in your stomach?” I groaned.

  “I don’t know. Do I need to get Doc?” I could feel his worry.

  “Not yet. Let’s see if it passes first.” I heard the door open. “NO, get out, I’m gross.”

  “Nope, not gross. Looks like my son decided to make his presence known.” He passed me a cup of water to rinse and spit while he ran a warm cloth over the back of my neck.

  Reaching past him for my toothbrush and toothpaste, “So you admit it. This is your fault.” I smirked.

  Rubbing his hand across my flat stomach. “Damn straight. I’ll lay claim to every ounce of blame. Over and over. That’s my mini me in here and we both know I’m a hellion at heart.” He laughed.

  “What time is it?” The sun was just breaking the horizon. It was that morning twilight phase.

  “Just about 6. We got us an early riser.” Eddie’s smile made him even more handsome. At this moment, he wasn’t Mako, President of RNMC. He was my mate, Edward Sharkey, oh how I was in love with him. “Well, his other daddy is super smart, so maybe he’ll take it easy on us.”

  “Not sure that’s how that works but thank you. I love you.” Eddie’s smile was worth everything I’d gone through in my life to get here. I stood on my tiptoes and kissed him.

  “Mmm, minty. I woulda kissed you before you brushed. I love you too.” Ew, my mate was weird sometimes.

  “I take it back. I take it all back. You’re gross. Who kisses vomit breath?” I backed away from him, laughing.

  “No take backs. Me! I kiss vomit breath. Especially if it’s my mate and it’s because of my son. Let’s go downstairs and get you some crackers and something to calm your stomach. The boy has to eat.” He smacked me on the ass as he turned t leave the bathroom. Still laughing.

  The clock on the wall above the big oven read 6:30 when Bear, Clip, Spuds, Teach and the prospect, Buzz came in the back door looking for coffee. They were all fully dressed in their gear without their cuts and covered in dirt and dust. “Morning guys. You’re getting in late. What kept you all out all night and was he any good?” I giggled at my own perverted joke.

  Bear and Eddie growled at me at the same time. “Club Business.” Well, there went my good mood. Something was going on. They were never that short with me.

  Bear and the guys headed into Eddie’s office and closed the door. Eddie finished his coffee and leaned over to kiss my cheek as he got up. I pulled away. “Really? Mate.” I snapped.

  “Yes, Theo. Really. This one you can’t be involved in. Technically, neither can I. With a baby on the way, we have to stay away from this one. He needs both of us.” His eyes never left mine and said so much more than his lips ever could.

  As reality sank in, I swallowed the lump in my throat. “Are they…?”

  “I don’t know, and I don’t want to know. I just need to make sure the club is clean with this. Nothing will come back to any of us. Feel me?” His voice was soft, and he rubbed my shoulders to calm me.

  “Go. Make sure we’re all safe. The guys included. Feel me?” I tilted my chin in the door’s direction to send him on his way.

  “I feel you all the time, baby.” Placing his hand over his heart, my mate walked towards his office. I sat there for a long time, staring at the door.

  Owen came into the kitchen and sat on the stool next to me. “Something special gonna happen to that door?”

  “Huh?” he startled me. I didn’t even realize he was there.

  “You can’t have coffee. You want some juice or something to eat?” My stomach rumbled. I didn’t even realize I was hungry.

  “Oh, yeah, what time is it?” It couldn’t be past 7 at the latest.

  “Sweetie? How long you been up?” I looked at the clock. It was almost 9. Holy shit. They’d been closed up in the office for 2 and a half hours. I started to worry but tried to hide it from Owen.

  “Morning sickness got me up at 6. Bear and the guys came back, and they’re all locked in Mako’s office.” I wasn’t doing a very good job at hiding anything.

  Owen made his way to the fridge to pull out eggs, bacon, sausages, and a few vegetables to cook for breakfast. “Let me guess. ‘Club Business’.” I just nodded. “Oh honey, let them have their alpha time. They’re gonna do everything they can to protect us from the world. Yes, they’re forward thinkers when it comes to omega rights and how we should be treated, but when it comes to protecting us, they’re all caveman alphas. They don’t know how strong we really are.”

  “I think it has to do with my family.” Nothing to hide from him at this point.

  “Then you really don’t need to know details. Honestly, neither should Mako. You guys have a baby on the way. Ya gotta stay out of everything that might put either of you in jeopardy.” He lay his head on my shoulder and pulled me into a side hug.

  “I know, but…” I held him tighter.

  “No buts. Baby Mako is more important that you knowing what’s going on. That’s a fact.” Who knew Owen could growl like an alpha.

  “Yeah, OK. I get it.” I lay my hand over my abdomen like I was protecting the baby from the world.

  “Toby and Wills went the bakery a bit ago to get a few loaves of fresh bread. How about some toast with breakfast instead of biscuits?” he was halfway through cracking 2 dozen eggs for everyone.

  Before I could answer. Toby came rushing into the kitchen. “Where’s Mister Mako? Oh goodness, where’s Mister Bear?”

  “In the office, what’s wrong?” I hopped off the stool and rushed to his side.

  “Umm, nothing. I gotta talk to them now.” He rushed over to the office door and began to rapidly knock. “Mister Mako, Mister Bear, I need you out here, now!”

  The door to the office flew open, and Mako rushed to my side. “Everything OK? What happened?” his voice slightly raised and in a bit of a panic.

  I lay my hand on his chest. “I’m fine mate. Toby is the one who needed you guys.”

  He turned to Toby, who, it seemed, worked himself into a slight panic. “What’s wrong, kiddo?” Bear put his hand on Toby’s shoulder, and it seemed to instantly relax him a bit.

  “Wills and me went to the bakery like Owen ask us. On the way home we was followed by a big black car. Then there was a police car too by the time we got back here. They won’t let Wills get out of the car. They told me to come in here and get you, Mister Mako. Wills is scared, he don’t like police. You know why.” Poor Toby was close to hyperventilating.

  “Yeah, buddy. We know. It’ll be OK. Stay here with Owen and Theo. We’ll take care of this.” Bear leaned over and kissed him on top of the head. Apparently, Bear was the ‘mama bear,’ of the club. Mako, Bear, and the rest of the guys headed out the front door of the clubhouse to confront whatever was there. I had a feeling I already knew what it was.

  Chapter Twenty-Nine

  Mako

  “Bear, call Doc to get his ass in gear. NOW!” I growled as we walked out the front door.

  “On it, Prez.” Bear already had his phone in hand. “Gates too. He’s got more info.” I just nodded. Time to end this shit.

  “Officer, Mister Mayor? Is there a reason you’re detaining an omega in a private vehicle on private property?” I looked Hogg up and down. He wore a dark wool suit and looked like he was about to pass out from heat stroke. It wasn’t even that warm out.

  “Mister Sharkey, Mister Grizzley. Sorry to disturb your breakfast, but the son of our mayor has disappeared and in the course of our investigation, your club came up.” Hogg sneered in my direction.

  “Well then, when did he come up missing and exactly how do you think this club is involved?” I sneered right back at Hogg.

  “Young Mister Mossdale went out with a few friends last night and never came home. A witness stated that they saw some of your club members following his vehicle on Main St at approximately 11 pm.” Sheriff Hutchins was trying his best to be polite. Hogg, on the other hand…

  “Well, Sheriff, I can confirm that no one was wearing our colors on Main St last night, so your witness must be mistaken.” Bear nodded his head as I spoke.

  Hogg jumped forward. “You son of a bitch, where is my son. You did something to my son. I know you did!”

  Teach stepped around the corner of the building at that moment, followed by Doc and Gates. “Which son is that Mister Mayor?”

  Hogg’s face turned white as a new sheet. “You? You’re involved with this?”

  Clip stepped forward. “Yeah Hogg, tell us which son is missing.”

  Hogg turned red and bellowed. “I told you before, I fucking hate that name!”

  Sheriff Hutchins turned to Hogg. “Mister Mossdale, you told me you’ve never spoken to any of these men. How could you have told him anything ‘before’? Are you revising the statement you made, sir?”

  “Well, no. No revision. That one…” he pointed at Teach, “was a tutor for my youngest son. He was fired when I discovered his deviant past in another city. The other one was disrespectful to me in town one day, calling me that horrid name.”

  “I see. Why was your other son never mentioned when you spoke to the other officers? You were specifically asked about other children when you filed your report.” And the sheriff was getting it.

  “Well, my young omega son is at home in his room. He has issues and we try to protect him from the public eye at all costs.” Hogg was fumbling his story. This was getting fun.

  Protecting an omega child is not grounds for lying on a police report, Mister Mossdale. Mr. Sharkey, your omega isn’t being held on suspicion of anything. He’s free to go inside while we continue to discuss this.” The sheriff was irritated with Hogg now.

  I nodded my head to Wills, who got out of the car. “He’s not my omega. My omega mate is inside. We’re fated, we’ve done the blood test and as a matter of fact, he’s pregnant with our first. Wills? Will you ask my mate to come out here and meet the sheriff and the mayor?”

  Wills smiled widely. “Yes, sir, right away.” He took off running for the door.

  The sheriff smiled and shook my hand. “Congratulations Mako, it’s always a blessing when one finds their fated mate. I wish you all the best.”

  Clip stepped forward. “Sheriff, I’ve got something you need to hear, sir.” He pressed his finger to the screen and Hogg’s voice came from the speaker. The entire conversation from the cave played for the sheriff. He turned to Hogg and gave him a 2-finger salute. “Your move, Hogg.”

  Hutchins turned to Hogg. “Care to explain that?”

  “Th-th-that’s not me. It’s FAKE! They’re trying to set me up.” Hogg started backing away to his vehicle.

  “Mister Mossdale. Do. Not. Move.” His tone completely changed the conversation.

  “I’ve done nothing wrong. I want these heathens arrested. They’ve done something to my boys. I want them all in jail. NOW!” Hogg was adamant in his defense, but that was about to all fall apart in glorious fashion.

  None of us had ever seen Teach angry before. He was a ‘cooler heads prevail,’ type person. This time though… “You call locking a child. A FUCKING CHILD! In a set of rooms in your home, depriving him of human contact. Of love and kindness. Deliberately keeping him undereducated and ignorant of how the world works until he comes of age, only to KILL HIM OFF to get an inheritance you were never fuckin entitled to, doing nothing wrong? I will do everything in my power to make sure you and your mate go down for this. I swear it.”

  Hogg’s bravery returned for a moment. “You are a deviant. That’s why I fired you. No one will ever believe a single word from your mouth. You are trash, just like the rest of these heathens.” His little wanna be alpha growl was hilarious and had us all smiling at him.

  Bear stepped closer to me and nodded his head. Standing behind him was the most beautiful thing this world ever created. In my eyes, at least. Before Hogg saw him, Theo took my hand and spoke. “You’re right, Grey. They may not believe Myron, but they will believe me.”

  Hogg put on the greatest show any of us had ever seen. “My boy, My Theodore. They took you from me? We’ve been looking for you. Have you been here the entire time? Come here, I need to hold you.” He stepped towards Theo, and Theo curled into my arms.