Blake’s POV ~

Jolene crawled into my lap and was asleep in minutes. I can’t help but wonder if it’s because of the pregnancy, when Angie tucks a throw around her whispering “She will be really tired the first few months, so don’t be surprised when she just dozes off” and I nod at her in gratitude for answering my unasked question.

Toby says “A text came in from Ghost.. said he is seeing movement by Gus’s old house.. and to keep an eye out for an ambush.” We all start watching the video feed to spot movement.. we need to know if they are placing snipers or archers in the trees..

Almost two hours, we watched.. Jolene had gone to prepare dinner. And sent Gus to the war room. At just after dark, Gus sat up and watched the screen intensely…and he gasped.. then tears rolled down his cheeks, he whispered “That’s Tyler.. he walks like a zombie.. what’s happened to him?” Marshal sent a text and we watched Tyler fall.. then two men.. completely dressed all in black.. furtively snuck to his body, and carried him out.. a text came through saying “three hours” and that was it. In three hours.. Tyler Garrett will be in our cells..and we will see what happens.

Jolene, Gus and I were waiting at the cells, when they pulled in with Tyler. They laid him down on the bed and Jolene was examining him. She gasped saying “He’s too thin. He’s been beaten.. frequently. I’m going to read his energy.. “ Gus walks over and lays his palm on Tyler’s head and Jolene said “Don’t, Daddy! He’s full of darkness. And she wrapped Tyler in her arms.. while tears stream down her face, we could literally see Tyler’s skin lighten.. his face relaxed.. his breathing evened out.. while hers became labored..her body trembled..she sobbed in complete heartbreak. I lifted her away from him..frightened by what was happening..and she pushed off me..running to the nearest garbage can and vomited.. black mucousy bile…it just kept pouring from her.

When she finished, she moans and I carry her out. Straight to our rooms, she brushes her teeth as I run a warm bath. I carefully undress her..then undress myself..helping her into the tub, settling her, I slide in behind her. I bathe her..washed her hair..and massaging her shoulders. I kissed her neck.. and felt her starting to relax. I got her out..and dried her..dressing her in pajamas.. I laid her in bed..covering her. I slipped into sweatpants and snuggled into my beautiful mate.. holding her tight.

The next morning at breakfast, Gus ran in “Tyler is awake! He wants to talk to you both! I told him I would let you know. Is it okay if I take him some food?” I laugh “Of course! Take him some of everything..and plenty of what he prefers to drink! We aren’t keeping him in the cell to punish him.. he is there because I am protecting your daughter and grandson!” Gus nods.. filling two plates of food.. so I’m guessing he’s planning on breakfast with his son. I’m glad he is happy. It means so much to Jolene.

Two hours later we are all in the conference room. I won’t let him in our war room.. not until I can trust him. If that ever happens. Tyler keeps looking at Jolene. She hasn’t spoken yet. I’m still trying to wrap my head around what happened last night. She slept like a log.. but Angel was restless. Odin can feel the tenseness. She needs reassurance that Tyler won’t hurt her again. And he hurt her badly. She trusted him to always be there.. and he simply wasn’t. I understand that he was an impressionable young man..and he was taken advantage of and lied to. But his love of family should have been stronger!

She looks across the table, in a small voice..asks “Why, Ty? I felt your pain.. I took it and held it! It was dark and malevolent. Ugly! I saw and lived the enthralling. I know you had been Alpha commanded to stand against me.. but I also know you didn’t fight against it until Daddy was taken and abused. Once that happened, your soul started to break free. Why wasn’t I important enough for you to want to get loose from their control?”

He cleared his throat.. trying to stem the tears “There is no apology sincere enough.. asking for forgiveness will never be my right. I was young..impressionable..and jealous.. the enthrallment works..only on negative emotions and I resented you..so much. I was five! And mom and dad doted on me. Then you came along..and mom was gone. Dad took over raising you.. it consumed all his time.. I spent more and more time away from home. More and more time with the Alpha family. John saw my resentment..he fed into it. Making me resent you more. He would tell me dad loved you more. That you weren’t even my real sister. That the Moon Goddess took mom away because she cheated on dad. It ate away at me. I hated you. When Jacob told me you are his mate.. but he was going to mate Gloria.. all he wanted was to fuck you.. I helped him! I thought I would finally have revenge against you..against dad for throwing me away! But, when we found you.. nearly dead and bleeding out.. all I felt was grief. Remorse. Then you were gone. Nobody knew where you went. When your bond snapped.. Jacob went insane. John went berserk. And I went numb.. without knowing why! When you brought dad up from the cells.. it was then I realized I had been manipulated my whole life! I started praying.. every night..for the Goddess to show me the way out. It wasn’t until mom came to me one night that I understood everything. And she told me to straighten my ass out and get my life fixed! And I have been trying to..since then! I am so very sorry, Joey! I would give my life, if we could go back in time.. I would love you the way a brother should. And my greatest regret is it taking losing you and nearly losing dad to make me realize that my only happiness lies with my family”

By this time, he is full on bawling. He looks so lost. So forlorn. And my son..my beautiful little boy walks through the door..climbing into Tyler’s lap he hugs him with his tiny arms and says “It be okay Unca Ty. Granpa loves you. I love you. Mommy will love you. Her has to find her giveness. Then her love you. You be good boy now and you get out of time outs. Daddy put you in time outs. Be happy you not gedding cockblocked. Unce Dalton gets mad” And we all laughed. Out of the mouths of babes!