Page 17 of Claiming the Omega (The Wolves of Sparrow Ridge)

S hane stood still for a moment and watched his mate walking away, and it broke his heart that they couldn't stand together arm in arm in front of his brother.

Benjy was making his life a living nightmare.

Before he became Alpha Mate, he was reasonable and fair, and not dictatorial in the least; however, now he thought he had the right to run Shane's life.

It was going to end. Shane was taking control of his life.

“Shane, why did you run off?” Benjy demanded and took a step towards him as he mounted the deck. “Shane, talk to me.” He added when Shane ignored him and continued towards the door. Benjy managed to step in front of him, stopping him in his tracks.

"Fuck off!" Shane yelled as fire danced in his eyes, and his hands were held in tight fists at his sides. "Fuck the hell off!" Shane tried to walk around him and into the house, but Benjy reached out to grab his arm.

Shane slapped his hand away, and before Benjy could stop him, Cole stepped in and grabbed Shane by the shirt and pinned him against the exterior wall of the house. "No one touches the Alpha Mate." He growled.

It all happened so fast at that point that no one was sure just what had happened. But they do know that it changed everything. In a split second, Cole went from manhandling Shane to lying flat on his back on the deck with a raging Daniel on his chest, choking the life out of him.

"I'm going to fucking kill you." His voice thundered to a shocked and growing crowd of people on the deck.

It took Edgar, Alpha Victor, two Betas, and several bystanders to get Daniel off of Cole.

He was still shouting and fighting to get away as he was hauled inside and down to one of the holding cells.

Shane was devastated and terrified for Daniel's safety. The sudden trauma and his inability to help his mate caused his mind to shut down, and he was thrust back to a time in his life of cruelty and bondage. The servitude and control of the Concord Pack came back to him, and he crashed.

In the grips of a flashback, he silently dropped to his knees and placed his hands behind his back and his forehead on the floor in front of him.

It was a position of humiliating submission that had been demanded of Shane and Benjy by the hierarchy of their old Pack.

Some things never changed. “Please don’t hurt him.

” He mumbled over and over. Everyone left on the deck fell silent and stared at the young man in confusion and concern.

Benjy rushed towards him, but Alpha Victor stopped him. Benjy begged Victor to move aside. “He needs me.”

"He needs a sense of safety," Victor stated. "But he won't accept it from you. I'm sorry, but you can't help him." Victor stepped up to Shane and crouched down in front of him. Benjy stayed a few steps back, clearly worried and upset that he was not allowed to care for his brother.

Victor reached out his hand and touched the side of Shane's throat, and held his hand there as he spoke.

It was the Alpha touch of calm acceptance.

Shane immediately fell silent but did not move.

"No one will hurt Daniel; your mate is safe and so are you.” His words held honesty and authority.

“He was defending you, his mate, and he will not be punished. Cole should have known better than to have touched you so roughly.”

“Shane, I’m sorry.” Benjy couldn’t stay silent any longer. Watching his brother’s anguish was just too much. Shane instantly tensed when Benjy spoke. Victor glanced at Benjy and shook his head, indicating for him to stay silent.

“He’s being held in a cell in the basement, just until he calms down. He is not in trouble, don’t worry. I will release him when he has control of himself. Do you understand?” Victor felt Shane relaxing under his touch.

Victor nodded at Edgar, and the man stepped forward.

"Edgar will take you inside, where you can relax and collect yourself, and then he will take you to Daniel.

Do you understand?" Victor repeated the question.

This time, Shane indicated he heard by lifting his head and nodding slightly.

He then turned and looked up at Edgar, who was standing next to him, and extended his hand.

Shane accepted the hand and followed Edgar inside.

Shane and Edgar had developed a tentative friendship or understanding over the past few weeks, and Victor counted on that thin bond to be enough for Shane to follow his brother. Benjy rushed up next to Victor and grabbed his arm, his need to rush to his brother barely held in check.

"I should be the one with Shane; he's my brother, he needs me." Benjy again tried to push past Victor to get to Shane. Again, Victor held him with a hand on his arm.

"Shane will not be comforted by your presence. I'm sorry, my love, but you need to give your brother space." He pulled Benjy into his arms and held him close. "We'll work this out, it will be okay, I promise."

…

Daniel tore at the men hauling him downstairs, but he could not overpower all of them.

They managed to push him into a cell and slam the door before he could prevent it.

He leaped at the door over and over, intent on taking the damn thing down and getting back up to his mate.

Shane was out there with people who could be hurting him, and Daniel was losing his shit.

The red haze that shone bright in his eyes had not subsided since the moment he saw that animal attack his little, innocent mate.

"Daniel!" The Alpha's voice was the only thing that could penetrate the red haze of fury that continued to cloud his mind.

Slowly, he was able to take a deep breath and focus on the man before him.

Daniel held onto the bars of his cell, squeezing them so tight his knuckles turned white as he fought to regain control of his wolf.

“Yes, Alpha.” Daniel’s voice was thick with gravel as he reined in his fury and held his Alpha’s steady gaze.

Alpha Victor stepped up to the bars and placed his hand over Daniel’s.

“Your mate is safe and well and being watched over by Edgar. You are not being held in here as punishment. When you are calm enough, I will release you.” Victor watched as Daniel’s eyes lost their animalistic color.

Daniel took another slow, deep breath and held it for a moment before releasing it.

“You had every right to protect your mate, but the situation was a misunderstanding and was escalating out of control. That is why I had you brought here.” Victor continued to soothe him with his presence, touch, and tone.

Daniel finally released the bars of the cell and took a step back. He stared up at the ceiling for a moment and then took another deep breath, pulling his control back into place.

Daniel O’Hare was a terrifying force to be reckoned with when in a possessive, protective fury. Seeing Cole put his hands on Shane and seeing his mate’s fear had sent Daniel into a murderous rage. No one touched what was his and got away with it.

Daniel may be calm and together at the moment, but he would not allow Cole to believe he could touch his mate and not pay for it. He and Cole would have a moment, he promised himself. Cole would pay for this.

"May I see my mate, Alpha?" Daniel asked; he needed to see and touch Shane and see for himself that he was unhurt.

Alpha Victor nodded and then left the room.

Daniel paced the length of his cell over and over, anxious to see Shane.

His wolf was on edge and not completely accepting that his mate was okay.

His wolf would not fully relax until he saw Shane.

…

"How about we take a walk in the backyard?" Edgar suggested. "Perhaps the fresh air will help you relax." He smiled and walked up beside the young Omega. Shane appreciated his presence. Edgar was a kind and gentle wolf.

"I think that would be good," Shane answered, his voice still possessed a slight quiver. "I'd like to get some air." Edgar smiled warmly and led them both out the back door, across the expansive porch, and into the yard. It was well-groomed with thick woods that encircled the area.

They didn't say anything, just walked around the perimeter of the backyard.

Shane's mind was consumed with Daniel and the need to be with him.

For a moment, there on the porch, Shane had lost himself, and it scared the shit out of him.

He hadn't realized how much the abuse from their past still haunted him until it came back full force.

It had felt like an out-of-body experience because he had no power to stop it. He never wanted that to happen again.

"When will they let me see Daniel?" Shane asked, still distressed at being separated from him.

“Soon, don’t worry.” Edgar really was a nice guy.

He put his arm across Shane’s shoulders in a show of encouragement and reassurance.

"It was a misunderstanding, and everyone knows that.

So please don't worry, you'll get to see him soon.

" Edgar continued to soothe Shane's frayed nerves as they walked.

They both turned suddenly with a start when somebody came running out of the woods behind them.

Edgar tried to defend them, but it was too late.

The attacker came at Edgar with a two-by-four and struck him before he could shift, and began mauling him.

It was mere seconds, and Edgar was down, and Shane was gone.

…

Victor returned to the front deck after meeting with Daniel and immediately wrapped his arms around Benjy. He kissed him on the head and rubbed his back. “How’s he doing?” Benjy asked, his voice full of emotion.

“Daniel is okay, but he needs to see his mate.” He took Benjy’s hand and led him around the house to the backyard. “He and Edgar went for a walk. Let’s go find them and bring Shane to his mate.” He smiled at the relief on Benjy’s face.

“I really fucked this up, didn’t I?” Benjy stated softly.

“You were doing what you thought was right. There was no intentional malice in your actions.” Victor justified.

"I caused my brother to have a breakdown.

I never knew the pain that I was inflicting.

I'm a terrible brother, and Shane is never going to forgive me.

" Benjy was on the verge of tears. He grasped his mate's hand and held tight.

"Do you think I'm a terrible brother?" He asked with a quiver in his voice.

Victor stopped and turned to his mate. He cupped the sides of his face in his palms and looked lovingly down into his adorable face.

"I don't think you are a terrible brother.

You were misguided, but not terrible. You love Shane, and he knows that.

You two will work this out." He spoke very clearly and with enough authority that Benjy bit his bottom lip and nodded.

"Now let's go find him." Victor smiled, and Benjy returned the smile.

"That's better." Victor turned, still holding Benjy's hand, and then continued into the backyard.

The area was very large, so they were not surprised that they did not immediately see Edgar and Shane. But after a few minutes of searching, Alpha Victor called to his men and had one take Benjy back to the house.

“What’s the matter?” Benjy asked as his eyes darted around the area.

"Not sure, but I need you back in the house." He motioned for his man to take Benjy, who went but was not happy about it.

His brother Ari and Cole came up to stand beside him, waiting for orders.

"Something is not right. Edgar should have sensed my presence and come forward by now.

Search the grounds, every inch, and report to me if you find them.

" Both men left immediately, along with the others who had exited the house, and began an intensive search of the area.

Victor began searching along the edge of the woods directly opposite the porch landing.

Assuming they went straight back to the edge and then turned right, most people tend to turn right, so they should be somewhere along his path.

He was unable to pick up their scent, considering so many of the Pack had been through the area often.

As he neared the largest of the pine trees, he caught the scent of someone who wasn't Pack. It was a wolf, but an outsider. He called out to Cole, who came immediately. Cole also smelled the outsider.

"Someone, not pack, has been here recently," Cole stated the obvious. Victor nodded and took a step to the far side of the tree. He crouched down and sifted around in the grass for a moment.

“He used this tree as cover and waited for Edgar and Shane to approach.” Victor theorized out loud. Cole nodded in agreement. It was then that Ari called out that they’d found Edgar and they needed the doctor.

Edgar looked as if he'd been mauled, but he was alive and coming around. Ari held Edgar's head in his lap and looked up at Victor when he arrived. "He's coming around. Looks like he was in a vicious fight." He added, and Victor nodded as he crouched down next to his brother.

“Edgar.” He said, in an attempt to draw his attention. “What happened, Edgar. Where is Shane?” Victor reached out and touched the side of his brother’s face, bringing his awareness to him.

Edgar blinked rapidly and took a deep breath as he tried to sit up. "No, Edgar, don't move. The doctor will be here shortly." Ari spoke softly and continued to hold him. Edgar looked from Ari to Victor, and then clarity hit him.

“Shane, he took Shane.”