Page 4 of Claiming the Omega (The Wolves of Sparrow Ridge)

Cole got back in touch with Victor two days later regarding the young waiter; the wait had taken its toll on Victor's good humor. "Well, it is about damn time." He shouted into the phone. "I thought you were the best at getting information." He taunted his friend.

"Two days is not a long time, Victor, and you are just antsy to find out more about this cute little human for personal reasons, admit it." Cole shot back good-naturedly.

“I readily admit it, now tell me what you know.”

"His name is Benjy Hammond, and he lives here in Sparrow Ridge with his younger brother Shane. They moved here a month ago. Shane's attending college, and Benjy used to be a waiter at Sparrows Landing." Cole paused for effect. "He quit his job the same night that you met him."

Victor did not comment on that, but he was drawing conclusions. "What else did you find?" His lighthearted interest became serious.

“He and his brother come from a town about eight hours North of us. It’s a small town called Concord near the ocean.

I sent out an inquiry, but all I got back was an affirmation that the two had lived there and nothing more.

” Cole then added for balance, “Maybe you just scared him, boss. You can be quite intimidating even when you’re not trying.

Perhaps he got spooked for normal reasons.

He’s a human, and I would guess probably on the run. ”

“Why do you think he’s on the run?”

“It wasn’t easy tracking him; he covered his movements very carefully,” Cole explained. “I don’t think his fear has anything to do with you or us but rather something he left behind.” Cole finished.

The thought that Benjy was running from someone did not sit well with Victor. He had a sudden urge to go to the man and offer him protection. But first, he'd have to find where he lived. "Did you find his address?"

Cole smiled as he read the address to Victor.

"Well, what are the chances of that?" Victor said and then added. "They're hiding from us, Cole, and I need to know why."

“Yes, sir.”

Victor called his brother Edgar who was at the construction site on Fenton Avenue and explained the situation.

"Keep an eye on the place, and the second he gets home, call me.

If he leaves before I get there, follow him and keep me posted.

" Something was seriously off, and he was going to get to the bottom of it.

…

Benjy rode up to the back door and quickly went inside, bringing his bike with him and placing it on the enclosed porch.

He then locked the door behind him and went inside.

The men were still out back working, but they turned to look at him when he arrived, which heightened Benjy's discomfort.

He was sure their glances seemed more speculative than in the past.

He’d gotten the job at the campus cafeteria and would be starting on Monday, so their financial concerns were alleviated for the moment. But his relief was short-lived.

The moment he knew there was trouble was when a knock came to his front door.

The knock wasn't a 'hello, is anyone home' sort of knock, no, it was 'open this damn door, or I will take it down' sort of knock.

His instincts kicked in, and he turned and made for the back door.

He was aware that the workers were still out back, but hopeful that they wouldn't notice him running away or if they did notice wouldn’t care.

He heard the front door give way just as he cleared the back door and began to race across the lawn towards the wooded area east of the building.

He didn't bother to look to see if any of the workers were watching him because he could hear the person behind him moving fast and gaining on him.

He had to keep his eyes trained forward, if he was going to get away.

The trees and low brush raced past him as he rounded and jumped every obstacle.

The man behind, and he knew it was a man, he knew it was the Alpha, was bearing down on him and would soon overtake him.

It was inevitable, but Benjy could not give up.

The memory of the Alphas of his past pushed him to go faster, run harder, and not stop.

…

Victor came to the house as soon as Edgar called and said that Benjy had returned.

He knocked and then when he didn’t answer, became more urgent with his knock.

It was when he heard him inside and moving towards the back of the house that he took the door down.

It was obvious Benjy was not going to open the door for him but rather would try, once again, to run away. He wasn’t getting away this time.

As soon as he entered the house, it hit him: Benjy was not human; Benjy was a wolf.

More importantly, Benjy was his mate. The realization made perfect sense, his obsession with the man, his physical reaction to him; it should have been obvious.

But he hadn't smelled like a wolf in the restaurant; he appeared human.

So, Victor had dismissed the attraction as just that, attraction not expecting his mate just suddenly to appear.

Having his mate run from him set him back on his heels for a moment before his wolf took over.

The wolf was determined to catch and subdue the disobedient little wolf and show him who was in charge in this relationship.

How dare he try to escape? Victor cleared the back porch and chased his little mate across the backyard and into the woods.

Benjy kept running; he knew he was getting deep into the woods that butted up to his backyard. He'd investigated the area before but had never gone this deep. He didn't know where he was going he was just running.

The Alpha behind him was just playing with him now, chasing him but not catching him.

He was tiring Benjy out, and then he would take him it was a common tactic.

It seemed like he'd been running for so long and he was becoming exhausted.

Finally, it happened, he lost his footing and stumbled into a ravine.

Victor saw him go down, and then he quickly took him.

Victor leaped on top of the small man and pinned him to the earth beneath his much larger frame.

He loved the feeling of having the little wolf trapped beneath him.

It didn't hurt that Benjy continued to struggle against him, rubbing his body against Victor so erotically.

His pleasure and satisfaction were brief when he felt the young man start to tremble and begin to cry.

It shattered his heart to hear the forlorn sounds coming from the man who was his responsibility from now until forever.

Wow, that thought brought him back down to earth with a thud.

Why was his beautiful little mate crying?

He should be as ecstatic as he was at finding his mate but his mate was terrified of him. Shit, that had to end, now.

He shifted his weight slightly to give the little man a modicum of space, not enough to get away, but enough to not feel trapped.

“Easy, baby, I’m not going to hurt you.” Victor pushed the hair out of his eyes and looked down into the face of his forever mate.

He was amazing and so damn gorgeous. "Why do you run from me?

" He used his Alpha presence to calm Benjy down and get him to answer him.

The man continued to tremble, but he no longer wept.

Victor placed a soft, loving kiss on Benjy's quivering lips and then pulled back just slightly so he could watch Benjy's face as he asked him again, "Why do you run from me?

" He pulled back a little further to give Benjy room to breathe but kept him pinned to the ground with his arm and leg.

Victor stared into his eyes, willing him to relax and submit.

The panic that overwhelmed Benjy was worse than anything he experienced in his old Pack. This Alpha was his mate, and Benjy knew full well that a man like him would not accept a male Omega as his mate. This man would kill him before the bond had a chance to set in.

"You are my mate, Benjy. Talk to me." Victor ran his fingers down the side of Benjy's face.

He was surprised by how much he enjoyed touching his mate.

"Why are you afraid? What are you running from?

" Victor kept asking questions, but Benjy just laid very still and with his breath coming out in desperate pants.

His fear was palatable and was setting Victor's wolf back on edge.

In a show of care and concern for his mate, Victor sat up, pulled Benjy into his lap, and wrapped him in his arms, holding him securely against his chest. He pressed Benjy's face into his shoulder, hoping to calm him with his scent.

"I will never hurt you, you're safe Benjy, talk to me. Why are you running?"

His words were strange in their concern and gentleness.

Was it a trick? Benjy took a deep breath, and a sense of peace flooded his being.

He was truly comforting him. Benjy visibly relaxed in the Alpha's embrace.

He'd heard Alpha's could affect other wolves like this, but Benjy had never experienced it before.

His Alpha had only been interested in fear and intimidation, never comfort or peace.

Victor held and cuddled him close while forcing his scent into his system. The Omega should be submitting and settling into his arms, but Benjy, although considerably calmer, remained stiff and afraid.

"Are you going to kill me?" The strained words croaked out of Benjy's trembling lips. He registered the shock on the Alpha's face in response to his question but didn't understand it.

“What are you talking about?” His voice was a mix of anger and disbelief. “Why would you ask such a ridiculous question? You are my mate, and I know that you know it to be true, so don’t even try to deny it. Settle down and talk to me.”

His last demand forced the Omega in Benjy to comply completely. Between the mate bond and the natural submissiveness of his Omega Wolf, Benjy had no resistance against this stunning Alpha. Benjy realized that he was well and truly fucked. He wasn’t getting away.

"Let us go, and I promise not to cause you any trouble.

I'll leave, and you will never hear from me again.

Please, just let us go, we'll be out of your territory before sundown.

" He thought that begging might get him what he wanted.

Whatever had possessed them to come to this small town had condemned them to death.

Why did he have to listen to his instincts and the pressure of his brother to settle in Sparrow Ridge?

The thought of Benjy going anywhere was unthinkable, and Victor let him know what he thought of the idea. He abruptly stood and brought Benjy up with him, still holding him in his arms as if he weighed less than nothing. His mate was not leaving.

"You're coming home with me." It was then that Benjy began to fight again to get away, flailing his arms and legs to gain release. Victor swept his legs up into his arms and held him secure to his body so that Benjy was unable to move. "Be still." It was not a request.

"You don't want me. Why are you doing this?" Benjy began to plead again. Begging had worked often enough with his old Alpha. Alphas loved to hear their people beg it gave them such a sense of power and control.

"Enough," Victor stated and stared down into his mate's frightened blue eyes.

"The only place I ever want to hear you beg me, is in our bedroom, nowhere else, ever.

" That statement had Benjy swallowing his pleas and staring up at the man who held him.

This Alpha was unlike any other Benjy had ever met.

This Alpha was strong and powerful yet also appeared understanding and respectful.

Victor did not say another word as he carried Benjy back to the rental house. Benjy noticed the Alpha acknowledged the workers and wondered about their relationship but assumed they were part of the Pack.

He carried him into the living room and placed him on the sofa in a sitting position.

He bent and put another light kiss on Benjy's lips, before going into the kitchen and dragging a straight back kitchen chair in front of Benjy and sitting down.

There was space between them, but not enough for Benjy to even think about running.