Page 12 of Claiming the Omega (The Wolves of Sparrow Ridge)

I t wasn’t long before their lives took on more of a settled permanence at the Sparrow Ridge Pack.

There was the incident at the rental house with Victor killing Greg, their tormentor from their old Pack.

The man was the son of their old Alpha, and he had followed Benjy and attempted to assault him before Victor killed him.

Shane breathed a sigh of relief that finally, maybe, they were free and safe.

Perhaps they could get on with their lives now that they were no longer being hunted and were members of the Sparrow Ridge Pack.

Well, Benjy was a member, and Shane hadn't yet accepted membership.

He wasn't certain of his place in this Pack, and he feared it might be somewhere right under Benjy's thumb, and he would never accept that.

He hoped Arlen, their old Alpha, would let it drop and get on with life with his new mate.

Shane believed they had nothing more to fear from their old Pack.

They would never do anything so stupid as to start a war with Sparrow Ridge.

The Concord Pack was basically cowards, and they were a lot smaller than Sparrow Ridge.

They wouldn't win if they started anything.

They had to know they would be crushed if they made so much as a threatening move.

…

As Shane walked from the college library to his car, he instantly noticed Daniel waiting by the door to escort him.

Edgar Rios, the Alpha’s brother, was still supervising them for the time being.

Shane attended the community college full-time, studying library science, and worked part-time as a library aide.

Daniel was always there throughout the day.

He didn't interfere with Shane's classes or work schedule, but Shane often caught glimpses of him on the edges, always watching.

Edgar only showed up when it was time to leave; otherwise, Shane never saw him, but he knew he was there.

It was his job to supervise and constantly follow.

Shane wasn't afraid of Daniel and was irritated with his brother's unfounded concern, and couldn't understand Benjy's need for added security. He felt a lot more like Benjy's property than his brother at the moment, and it was becoming unbearable.

Shane was in awe of Daniel, but he didn't know him that well.

Being always kept apart or trailed by a chaperone didn't make for any close or tender moments.

Daniel was amazing to look at, and Shane was very impressed and grateful to Fate for her choice.

His first impression of Daniel was one of awe, and his second was a subtle distrust brought on by Benjy's reaction.

He longed for some time alone to get to know his new mate.

Daniel seemed eager to prove himself, and Shane was more than willing to give him a chance.

They were mates and, given the opportunity, they would find common ground on which to build their lives.

But that would be difficult, if not impossible, if Benjy didn't let up and let them live their lives.

Shane was just about at his limit with Benjy treating him like a child.

“Did you have a good day?” Daniel asked as he slipped his hand into Shane’s and held fast. Shane looked up at the big man and smiled.

“Yeah, it was good," Shane said and marveled at the man next to him. Daniel was dedicated and reliable, not to mention drop-dead gorgeous. He was the solid, in-charge sort of guy that made you feel safe just having them near you.

Shane never in a million years had ever considered that such a handsome and powerful man could be interested in him.

But they were mates, Fate had given Daniel to Shane, and he wasn't about to ever turn his back on such a glorious gift.

Daniel belonged to him. Daniel O'Hare was his mate.

That thought spread warmth through his chest, as if his heart were coming to life and growing larger.

They walked together to the car where Edgar was waiting.

Daniel could feel his mate’s annoyance at their unfortunate circumstances, and he had no one to blame but himself.

If he could turn back time, he would do it in a heartbeat, but that was not possible.

He had to bear the outcome of his idiocy and work through it.

Shane was his mate, and Daniel would never give up on his mate.

Daniel had never given up on anything in his life.

…

Shane and Benjy had been residing in the Pack House of the Sparrow Ridge wolf pack for a while now. Benjy fit in almost immediately, considering his mate was the Alpha, but it had been an awkward time for Shane.

He wanted his mate, and the draw to be near him grew each day, each hour, and so was his anger at being kept away from him.

He didn't know what would happen to them or if they would ever be granted the right to bond.

All these things made it impossible for Shane to feel anything but awkward and out of place in what was supposed to be his new home.

Daniel, as Beta of the Pack, was also living in the Pack House but had been banished to the back section of the building where no one else lived.

He was cut off socially from everyone else because Benjy didn't like him.

The Alpha preferred his Beta to reside at the Pack House, so that was the only reason Daniel was still allowed in the building.

If Benjy had his way, Daniel probably would have been banished to the next city.

Shane had tried to go to Daniel's room on multiple occasions but was always intercepted by Edgar or one of the other Betas.

It was infuriating to be treated as if he didn't know his own mind and heart.

He was being kept from the one person his heart and body craved.

Life in the Sparrow Ridge Pack House was making Shane wonder if he truly wanted to stay.

…

Benjy was now Alpha Mate of the Sparrow Ridge Pack.

His brother had come a long way from where they'd both begun their lives, and Shane was truly happy for him.

They had been born into the Concord Pack, a pack that showed respect to only Alpha, Beta, and Gamma wolves.

Everyone else was considered less than, and in their case, even less than that.

Shane and Benjy had the unfortunate luck of having a human mother, which made them abominations in the eyes of their Pack.

Benjy was an Omega wolf, and Shane was unable to shift.

Their father had been a Beta wolf, a very strong Beta wolf, and until his death had kept them safe from the hatred of their Pack.

Their mother died soon after their father and left the two boys to fend for themselves.

Their lives became a living hell at that point.

After months of unfettered torment, the Alpha decided they were too much of a drain on resources and needed to be eliminated.

So, under threat of death by their Alpha and his son Greg, they escaped into the night and found their way to the Sparrow Ridge pack territory.

They hadn't known a pack resided in the area and wouldn't have stopped if they'd known. Thankfully, things turned out for the best, at least as far as Benjy was concerned. Alpha Victor Rios discovered that Benjy was his mate and dealt with the threat from their previous Pack.

Greg had been neutralized by the Alpha when he attacked Benjy.

There was still a lingering concern that his father, Alpha Arlen, might seek retribution in some way for the death of his son, but so far, he showed no intent.

Benjy used the excuse that Edgar was there to help defend Shane in case Alpha Arlen ever showed up.

Shane appreciated that perhaps there was concern regarding threats from their old Pack, but he longed for a life where he didn't have to be constantly looking over his shoulder.

He wanted a life where he didn't have to be afraid.

Having bodyguards made him feel trapped.

Having Daniel following him was one thing, but also having Edgar there was just too much to bear.

Shane had had enough. He decided to meet with his brother this morning in an attempt to get him to back off on the extra protection.

He didn't need anyone to protect him from his mate, and the only guard he needed was his mate.

They had gotten off to a bad start, but they were never going to resolve their issues if they weren't given the time and space to do so.

It had been a solid month now, and Benjy had to start to lighten up, or Shane would be forced to do what he had to, to be with his mate.

Shane hadn’t yet accepted membership in the Sparrow Ridge Pack.

Victor had offered it, but Shane was unsure of how his life was going to play out and didn't want to be tied to a Pack where he could be so completely controlled.

His brother had the power to make his life unbearable, and Shane refused to live his life under his brother's constant control.

Victor was a good man and a good Alpha, but Shane doubted that he would stop Benjy from tying Shane down. He would probably see it as a family issue and let Benjy have his way.

…

Benjy was now working from home, since Alpha Victor didn't want his mate working in the city.

He wanted his mate close and well protected.

Benjy had no problem with that; he worked as a freelance graphic artist and could easily work from anywhere.

Now he could devote all his energy and attention to building his client base and his business.

Shane met up with Benjy in his office/studio that Alpha Victor had set up for him.

“You sure got it nice in here.” He commented with a smile as he sauntered into the room and took a seat in one of the easy chairs.

He and Benjy had always gotten along, always taking care of each other.

Benjy sometimes tried to control him in the past, like older brothers sometimes do, but not to the degree he is now.