Page 14 of Claiming the Omega (The Wolves of Sparrow Ridge)

S hane went directly to his room and shut the door. He was at an emotional end and didn't know where to go from here. Daniel was the most handsome man he'd ever met and the most attentive. He was a good mate, and he was so patient with all the rules that Benjy had put upon him.

He was a good man, Shane knew that to be true.

He had been rude to Benjy, but that wasn't the man that Shane knew.

He was perfect in every way, and Shane couldn't understand Benjy's need to punish without end.

A few cruel words didn't warrant destroying their mating and destroying the man's position in his Pack.

Shane was beginning to hate his brother, and it tore him apart.

Benjy was feeling his brother’s pain but still felt justified in his distrust of Daniel O’Hare and the necessity of keeping Edgar on duty. He’d had plenty of experience with powerful wolves who thought they could dominate and abuse lowly Omegas.

Daniel's behavior was exactly like the men from their old Pack, and Benjy feared for his brother.

He wouldn't rest if Shane didn't have someone other than Daniel looking out for him, so he felt justified in his actions.

He looked up from his computer screen when he sensed his mate entering the room.

Victor walked in and casually took a seat next to him, laying a hand to rest on his thigh.

He gently rubbed the firm muscle beneath his palm.

Without pause, he got right to the purpose of his visit.

"You're going to have to come to terms with your feelings regarding Daniel, or you risk damaging your relationship with your brother.

Shane has been considering other packs in the area, and there is word that he is planning to petition for membership elsewhere.

" The Alpha spoke calmly but with intent.

Benjy looked shocked by the news and did not respond immediately.

"He can't do that, Victor," Benjy uttered hesitantly.

"Yes, he can. Shane has not accepted membership here. I offered, but he has not accepted. He is an adult and is free to go where he pleases. Neither you nor I has a say in it." Victor continued to explain in hopes of persuading his mate to see the truth of his actions before it was too late.

“It’s that bastard, Daniel, isn’t it?” He exploded. “He’s convinced Shane to leave.” Benjy drew his own conclusions.

"No, he has had nothing to do with it, but if Shane leaves, Daniel will follow.

" Victor leaned over and took Benjy's face in his hands so he could look at him directly and will him to understand.

"How would you feel if the roles were reversed?

What if Shane had the power to separate us, and he hated me?

How would you feel if I were forbidden to go near your room if I were moved from my room to an unused section of the house, well away from everyone?

What if I were never allowed to be alone with you?

What if Shane constantly bombarded you with attacks on me and wouldn't listen to anything you had to say on the subject?

How would you feel?" Victor held his mate and waited for the words to process.

“Is that what I’m doing?” Benjy seemed surprised.

“Yes, sweetheart.” Victor kissed him lightly.

"I only wanted to protect him." Benjy tried to explain; his words were pleading for understanding. "I never meant to hurt him."

"Yes, I know, but Daniel is not a threat to him." Victor kissed him again when he saw the pain wash over his mate's face. "Your protectiveness has been turning abusive, and if you don't rectify the situation, you may lose your brother, and I will lose one of my strongest Betas."

"I'll fix it, I'll fix it now." Benjy stood and hurried out of the room, determined to apologize to his brother.

…

Daniel went to his room at the back of the house and stretched out on the hard twin bed.

It was a dreary little room, but probably more than he deserved.

It was his actions that had led to their current predicament, and it ate at him constantly.

He'd always been difficult and brash with a generous helping of asshole thrown in.

He had never felt guilt or remorse over his past behavior, but now guilt and remorse filled his every waking moment.

His mate was suffering, and there wasn't a damn thing he could do about it.

He would find out which packs Shane was considering, and he would do likewise.

If he could spend time alone with Shane, it would help both of them; however, Benjy made it clear that he didn't want Daniel around his brother for extended periods of time.

If he oversteps, then Edgar would come forward and remind him, every time.

This was a fucking misery, a brutal fucking misery.

He draped his arm over his eyes and tried to forget the look on Shane's face the last time he saw him.

…

Shane stared out the window of his bedroom that overlooked the wilderness.

Why wouldn't Daniel just grab him and go?

Didn't he want him? He followed Benjy's rules to the letter like a good Beta while Shane suffered.

They hadn't even kissed yet. They were true mates, and yet they were treated like criminals.

“This is bullshit!” He stated loudly to no one as he opened his window and slipped out. He had to get away from them all before he went insane. He took off in the direction of the woods, intent on disappearing for a while.

This place was suffocating him, and he wasn't any happier here than he'd been at his old Pack. One was physically abusive, and the other was emotionally abusive. He needed to find a place where he could live his own life, not one someone else had designed for him.

…

Benjy knocked softly at first, but when he got no response, he knocked harder.

He called out Shane's name, but there was still no answer.

Finally, he tested the doorknob, and it was not locked.

He slowly opened the door, calling out his brother's name.

It took him a couple of seconds to take in the scene and realize Shane had left through the window.

Fear gripped him as he turned and hurried out of the room, shouting for Victor and once again, cursing Daniel.

“He’s gone.” Benjy declared to a bewildered Victor. "Daniel must have taken him. They ran off." Benjy ranted until Victor took him by the upper arms and stopped his outburst.

“Daniel is in his room. I just left him.” Victor informed. “Now what are you talking about?”

"Shane is gone," Benjy stated, clearly on the edge of panic. "I went to his room, and he's not there. His window was wide open. He's gone." The words came out tight and urgent.

"Let me check and see if Edgar or Daniel knows anything about his whereabouts.

" Victor remained calm, but his mate's distress was affecting him.

"He's a grown man, I know you worry about him, but I don't believe he is in any danger here on Pack land.

He has the right to leave the house when he chooses.

" He tried to placate, but Benjy was not listening.

Daniel tore through the house to Shane’s room like his life hung in the balance.

He didn’t want his mate wandering alone and emotional on land he wasn't familiar with.

He knew it wasn't rational. Deep down, he knew that the Pack Lands were safe, but his wolf wouldn't listen.

He had to find Shane. The others wouldn't be able to track Shane as well as his mate could.

Victor knew that if they wanted to find Shane quickly, they would need Daniel. He didn't wait for his mate's agreement on this. He gave Daniel permission to pursue his mate and bring him home. Daniel leaped through the open window and went after his runaway mate.

Daniel had felt Shane's frustration the moment he entered his room; it reeked of an anger bordering on rage.

Daniel assumed his mate took off because he didn't know what to do with all the emotions he'd bottled up.

Daniel understood, but it was too dangerous for Shane to be out alone.

His previous Pack may still be out for revenge; just because they'd neutralized one attacker didn't mean there weren't more.

With that thought in mind, Daniel disrobed, shifted, and sped through the woods following his mate's scent. Shane was moving fast, but he was on two legs, and Daniel was on four, so he knew he would overtake him soon.

Shane ran until he thought his lungs would explode. He wished he could shift, which would make his escape possible. His inability to shift made him utterly helpless in the world of wolves in which he lived.

He was well aware that someone would come after him, but that didn't stop him from trying desperately to get as far away as possible. He couldn't outrun a wolf; they would eventually catch him. It would probably be Edgar or even Victor if Benjy threw a large enough tantrum.

It didn't matter that he was going to run until someone stopped him, and then he was going to fight whoever it was. He didn't care that it may be the Alpha; he despised them all now.

Daniel stayed a steady distance behind his mate, letting him run off the helpless energy that had swamped him. His mate needed this, and then they would talk. This would be the first time that he would have had his mate alone, and he was going to take full advantage of the opportunity.

Shane noticed a wolf behind him running at a speed that kept him in sight, but did not catch him.

It didn't take long for him to recognize his mate in the large black wolf, and it warmed him like nothing else could have.

He made it to an outcrop of large rocks and stopped, sitting down.

His heart was beating a mile a minute, and his breath was coming out in rapid pants.

He watched Daniel approach and shift to his human half as he walked. It was a magnificent sight, both the man and the wolf. The fact that he was completely naked was just a bonus.