Surprise replaced the dismay. "My alpha?" Sean queried.
Declan grinned. "Of course. You're part of my streak now."
"I don't know anything about being in a streak," Sean replied.
"We can teach you," Declan said, waving away Sean's concern. "Finish eating. While Sam and the others are visiting with you I'll give my contact a call about the collar. See if they know of a way to remove it."
Sean touched the aforementioned object, grimacing. "I really don't think you'll be able to. My father said I'll never shift."
Declan scowled. "Your father was wrong. We will get that infernal collar off and you will shift, Sean. I promise you we will find a way."
Sean gave Declan a hopeful look. "You think so?"
"I know so," Declan growled. He knew without a doubt the collar had to be magicked. If Sean had worn it since childhood, it had to have grown with him to prevent choking him, which meant it had to be enchanted somehow. He didn't want to scare Sean any more than the younger man had been in his life as it seemed Sean had no clue about other preternatural beings aside from shifters and he didn't share the concept of there also being sorcerers in the world.
Once Sean had cleaned his plate and drank the glass of orange juice, Declan took the tray from Sean's lap. "I'll send Sam, Tara, and Vicky upstairs. You're not to leave the bed as you're still healing."
"Okay," Sean murmured.
Declan smiled at him and leaned down before Sean knew his intentions to steal another brief kiss. "I'll be back in an hour or so to check on you."
He left the room and headed downstairs where he deposited the tray in the kitchen and then told the girls it was okay to visit with Sean. Then he went into his office and shut the door. Taking a seat, he turned on his laptop. While it started, he grabbed the cell phone on his desk and dialed the number he knew quite well.
"Hunter."
"Kyle, it's Dec."
"When do you need me?"
"As soon as possible."
"Two days."
"See you then." The call disconnected and Declan set the phone back on the base. For Kyle not to ask questions meant he must have been somewhere he couldn't. Declan had been hoping to discuss the collar and find a way to remove it sooner, but he knew if anyone could figure out how it would be Kyle. He wondered if maybe the house his mate had been kept in held any secrets. He called Victor to his office and made a request for Victor to take a couple of others with him to search the house and the surrounding property and bring back whatever information or paperwork they could find. Victor didn’t question Declan’s orders or ask for any further details. He merely nodded and left to do as requested.
Figuring he'd give Sean and the others time to themselves, Declan spent the next hour answering emails from other clans and dealing with streak business. He had been letting a lot slide the last few days because of Sean's arrival at the compound and needed to catch up. It was mostly minor squabbles amongst disagreeing members and other packs reaching out to discuss trade agreements. Declan also found an email from one of his members who was currently traveling with his family, Arthur and Nicole Bianca and their teenage son Austin. They were the rarest of shifters in his clan, white tigers. There weren't many of them left in the world and Declan had been reluctant to let them travel so far, but they'd insisted, wanting to go see family in their native land of Russia. He'd only let them go when they'd promised to contact him twice a week while they were gone to let him know they were okay. He knew that probably made him seem like a dictator, but they'd already lost one child years ago, he couldn't allow them to be so far out of his reach without being kept abreast of their movements.
The email stated they were well, had located their family, and would be returning home soon. They hoped everyone was doing well and they looked forward to seeing their streak members soon. Arthur went on to talk about how their homeland was beautiful and they were grateful to Declan for allowing them the freedom to return to Russia to see it. He also attached photos of the three of them with family members and then singles of Arthur and Nicole or just Austin at some tourist location. Declan smiled, happy to see they were enjoying their trip. He sent off a quick reply, telling them to be safe and that no thanks were needed.
Standing, Declan went to the french doors overlooking the back of the house. His skin twitched and he could sense his tiger needing to be free for a little while. He cracked open the doors before stripping his clothing and setting them aside. With a seamless shift, he took on his animal form and padded softly outside into the sunlight. The warmth caressed his fur and he yawned and stretched, kneading the grass beneath his large paws. Sometimes setting his tiger loose after being in his human form for several days was a bit like being contorted into a small confined space for a long period of time. Bones cracked, muscles stretched and burned. It felt fantastic.
Declan tossed his head back and let out a loud roar which a few others nearby returned in eagerness. He flopped down in the grass and rolled around for a moment or two then launched to his feet and took off running into the forest. The trees rustled overhead in the wind, whispering of the coming autumn days. His claws dug into the earth, eating up the ground as he darted around trees and over fallen logs and branches. He chased after a jackrabbit until it disappeared into a burrow, missing it by a hairsbreadth.
After letting off some of the restlessness in his blood, Declan returned to the main house and once back inside his office, shifted and dressed again. Eagerness to see his mate sent him out of the study and up the stairs. He found Sean alone, asleep, and approached the bed, smiling gently. He reached down and brushed a strand of hair back from Sean’s cheek only to frown when Sean whimpered and flinched. “Hey, baby, it’s just me,” Declan murmured, hoping to sooth Sean.
Sean’s eyes flew open. Fear and panic almost swallowed the irises whole.
“Easy,” Declan rumbled in a soft tone, sliding the tips of his fingers along Sean’s neck in a light caress.
“Declan?” Sean said, his voice shaking.
Declan lowered himself to his knees beside the bed, instinctively understanding that towering over Sean wasn’t a good idea. “Yes, Sean, it’s me.”
“I-I’m sorry,” Sean mumbled.
“For what?” Declan asked, confused, still touching Sean. His tiger loved the feel of Sean’s smooth skin. He wanted to bury himself inside the smaller shifter and never surface.
Sean shook his head as tears dampened his lashes.
Declan sucked in a deep breath at how much the sight of Sean crying caused his chest to tighten. He brought the hand stroking Sean’s skin up to cup Sean’s cheek. His heart clenched when Sean leaned into his palm unconsciously. It was clear his animal knew their connection. “Are you afraid of me?” Declan asked, pained at the thought.
“No,” Sean whispered.
“Then why are you sorry?”
“For being so much trouble.”
Surprise held Declan mute for a moment and then Declan gave a low growl causing Sean to jerk and blink at him in confusion. “You aren’t trouble, Sean. You’re-“ Declan cut himself off. He couldn’t reveal to Sean just yet about them being mates. “You’re the reason my nephew and all of the others are still alive. You’re amazing and strong and so much more than words can begin to describe. But never believe you are trouble. I don’t want to hear you say that about yourself again. Understand?”