Chapter 73

Joseph’s POV

“Zuri; are you sure you are ok to do this?” I ask her. “Doctor Spencer needs my help. She has helped me and I want to repay her. Doctor Bushell has shown me how to recognise my triggers and we have Elder Matthews with us if I need to go back in a hurry” she smiles at me.

I grumbled under my breath at the mention of Dad’s name. He insisted he was to come with us; under the pretence of conjuring the teleportation spell to get us home when we were done scoping out the area. He got help getting us here; so not to take up too much energy.

“It’s just over there” Zuri whispers pointing to a small opening in the side of a mountain. We hide deep in the trees and look down towards the tunnel. Lucky for us; our wolf, bear and cat sight can see the tunnel from where we were. There is a low breeze coming from that direction and we can smell one male bear. Jeremy’s sits up and sniffs the air and lowers himself back down again.

“We are downwind; they won’t detect us for the moment” Liz says to us. I sniff the air around me again to make sure we are alone. Besides the smell of the one bear shifter coming from the tunnel we are by ourselves. Jeremy sniffs again, sitting up and back down again. *“Master Joe; I think I may be jeopardizing the mission”* he mind links me.

*“What is it, son?”* I ask him *“That scent; citrus and chocolate. Kye is going crazy”* he tells me. I look at him. We all know Jeremy is gay and unmated at the moment; I wonder. “Zuri, can I ask you a question?” “Yes” she answers. “Were any of the guards for the tunnel; gay by any chance?” I ask her. “Did Samantha not tell you? Bea told her if Pedro was on; we may not be able to get past. I could possibly be able to get past with certain favours but Pedro is gay and will only accept them from other men” she tells me.

“I see; is that Pedro down there?” I ask her. She sniffs the air and a disappointed look comes over her face “Yes” she says. I smile toward Jeremy.

“What is he like? is he approachable?” Dad asks sensing the problem we have. He was always like that; understanding and a bit nosey. “That’s why we love him” Nelson laughs at me. “I didn’t really talk to them much. I was preoccupied with getting what I wanted. He was the only one who wouldn’t let us past; even if we offered males for him. Sometimes he would accept; other times he wouldn’t” she said.

“I wonder if he would accept; a mate” I say; looking at Jeremy. The other master trainer’s eyes grow wide. Leonard and Derek look at Jeremy; they must be communicating also. “I’m putting everyone at risk here. I should go” Jeremy says backing away. “Wait, Jems” Leonard says and he stops “We might be able to use this to our advantage. There is a small road just up from here. You can go to him from there. Mate bonds are strong; you will be pulled to him. If not today; another time.”

He nods his head, signing and walks toward the small road.

Jeremy’s POV

**“What am I going to say?”** I ask Kye **“Just be yourself, Jems.” “I can’t lie to him; he’s, my mate. And I can’t tell him about the others. I definitely can’t roll play, like Nathanial or Toby”** I tell him.

I walk up the small road; it is leading me to the tunnel entrance. I can see Pedro; he has copper brown hair and blue eyes. He is cute; in a rugged way. I take in his scent again; if he kills me on sight at least Goddess Selene has given me the opportunity to meet him before I die.

“It’s about time you came over here” a gruff voice calls out from the tunnel. “Sparty is going crazy. Tell your friends and Zuri they can come over too” he chuckles. “What?” Is all I could get out, before he comes out of the tunnel. “Your friends, over there” he points. “We have motion cameras around the area. Don’t worry; it’s only monitored from here and I haven’t told anyone and I don’t plan to; mate” he says to me.

I open a mink link *“Master Joe; Master Leo; Derek. He said there is motion camera’s; he knows you are there. He said it’s safe to come over. He’s not going to alert anyone we are here.”*

They start heading toward us; I look back at Pedro, “you know where we are from?” I ask him. He chuckles; “Yes, I was fighting when the ladies were taken. The old codger with chestnut brown hair; he knows what he is doing.”

I smile; “that’s Master Trainer Joe. He will be happy to hear that.” “Zuri; long time no see” Pedro says to her. “Pedro” she nods back at him.

“I take it, you want the ladies? We can’t get to them. They locked them in a holding room together and the witch put a protective spell around it. Anyone who tries to open the door; get their hands burnt. The only part of the door unaffected is the slot we give food through. We were ordered not to feed them; myself and few other guards sneak them food; it’s inhumane to starve them to death” he says to us.

“That’s my girl” Elder Matthews and Master Joe say together. “We noticed you doing some recon a few days ago; the motion cameras are disguised in the trees. I figured it was a matter of time; one of the druggo’s or dirtbag dealers would talk about the tunnel. I had myself assigned here” he adds.

“I don’t understand” I say to him. “There are a few of us who don’t agree with Carter and the drugs. When I say a few; there is three. That’s why I wouldn’t let you get through Zuri; I didn’t want to be involved with it. On the rare occasion; the druggo wasn’t worth pissing on, if he was on fire.”

I laugh at my mate; he is very blunt. “How are we to get into the compound?” Master Joe asks him. “Well; if I can get assigned here. I can let you in, on one provision?” he says. “Name it?” Master Tom asks.

“I leave with you when you are done.” I smile at him; “I was going to ask you to come with me” I tell him. He smiles at me; I’m getting hard just looking at his smile. “We can’t mate until it’s over” he says to me; looking at the bulge in my pants. I can feel my cheeks burning as the others try to stop their giggles.

“Do you have a piece of paper and pen, Pedro?” I ask him. “Sure; what for?” he says handing them to me. I write down my cell phone number. “Here; you can get in contact with me.” “Can I get a piece too?” Master Joe asks. Pedro hands him another piece and I give him the pen I was using. He writes something down and gives it to Pedro. “Can you give that to the ladies next time you give them some food?” He smiles at him. “Sure” he says.

“We best be going” Master Liz says to us. “I’ll text you as soon as I get back to my room; not allow my cell with me on duty” he says. I go to head out the door; Pedro pulls me back by my arm and kisses me. My cheeks burn a bright red again. We head back through the trees and to the clearing.

Elder Matthews creates the porthole and we move through it; to the safehouse. The smile still beaming on my face.