by Lisa Oliver
“You supply all these things to the pack?” Shadow’s tone hadn’t changed, and Gavin grinned like an idiot.
“Well, not the pack per se, so to speak. I mean, who cares about that bunch of drones, right? But they do bring in a healthy income thanks to Percy upping the tithes and the inner circle has to get some benefits out of that. Am I right, or am I right?” He laughed loudly, slapping his leg with his hand.
“I see.” Shadow inhaled sharply and the side of his lip curled up. “Mr… I’m sorry, I don’t believe you introduced yourself.”
“Oh, right, yeah of course.” Gavin jumped to his feet and held out his hand. “Gavin Parks is the name. You probably don’t remember me. I was about five years behind you at school.” He waved at his friends to stand with him when Shadow made no move to shake hands with him. “This is my crew, Jack, Donny and Talon. You have to watch Talon, he’s a mean bugger with the knife if you know what I mean.”
“I know exactly what you mean, Mr. Parks,” Shadow’s voice now held a steel edge. “In fact, I’ve understood everything you’ve said so far. According to you, the pack members are nothing but drones, the inner circle apparently funnels pack money to buy your acquisitions, and you want that system to continue now I’ve taken over. Have I left anything out?”
Gavin looked at Donny who pointed his finger at Rowan. “You might want to get rid of the omega,” Donny said in what he probably thought was a friendly tone. “Ol’ Percy never let trash like him near the place. Your reputation is going to suffer if you’re seen with him anywhere near you. Omega’s are nothing but a walking glory hole when you think about it.”
“Oh, I have thought about everything you’ve said,” Shadow snarled. “Answer me this. How long will it take you to pack all your belongings?”
Gavin’s face brightened. “Hey, we’re going to move in here. Hear that guys? We’ve been invited to live in the alpha’s mansion.”
“You haven’t been invited anywhere except out.” Shadow’s snarl intensified. “You have exactly one hour to clear out all your belongings and get out of my territory. If me or my men catch one sniff of your stench anywhere near this house or my territory, you’ll be buried right alongside your old pal, Percy and his other friends. Got it?”
Gavin’s mouth dropped open as his friends stared. Then his eyes narrowed, and Rowan felt them burn his skin. “It was you, wasn’t it? You worthless piece of shit. You snuck up on the alpha and told him a whole bunch of lies about how things are done around here. Just because I knocked your granny down the steps one time, you’ve had it in for me.”
“I didn’t know you hurt my grandmother,” Rowan cried. “If I had, I would’ve done this a long time ago.” Without thinking about the consequences to his bad leg or anything else for that matter, Rowan sprinted over, kicking Gavin right between the legs. The man howled as he crumpled to his knees. “You bastard,” Rowan screamed, kicking the man in the head this time. “That sweet old lady feeds four of your kids every day and you hit her?”
His bad leg buckled, and it was just as well, because he felt the swoosh of a fist fly past his face. “You stuck up little shit,” Donny yelled as he made to punch him again. Jack was right there with him and Rowan knew he was in for a world of hurt. But he was still seeing red, the thought of his grandmother, the one genuinely sweet person in his whole world being hurt was more than he could stomach. He balled his fists and swung upwards. Maybe he’d get lucky twice. But it was Craven’s open palm he hit.
“Hold up, there tiger.” Craven showed his teeth. “I’m one of the good guys. Let me help you up.”
“Shadow?” Rowan stumbled and used Craven’s arm to steady himself. The enormity of what he’d just done hit him like a sledge hammer and he groaned. “My gods, what must he think of me now?”
“Couldn’t be prouder of my alpha mate,” Shadow yelled from the other side of the room. Peering around Craven, Rowan saw all four of their visitors were trussed up with zip ties. Marco was frisking Talon, pulling a half a dozen knives out of various pockets around his person. “Have you got anything to say to these idiots before they’re banished for good?”
“I want restitution for my grandmother.” Rowan pushed himself off Craven’s arm, testing his leg. I can do it, he told himself firmly as he hobbled across the room. “Every single day without fail, my grandmother bakes and puts out food so the children of Rogue Alley can eat. They don’t talk to her. They often spit on her or snarl if she tries to touch them, but every day, rain or shine, she provides for the smallest and weakest members of this pack. She barely stands at five foot, and she’s lucky if she’d weigh a hundred pounds. And you hit her. Knocked her down as though she was nothing. What type of man does that make you?”
“One better than you,” Jack decided to speak up on Gavin’s behalf, lifting the side of his lip. Marco slapped the snarl right off him, but he didn’t stop talking. “You slink in here like a cat in heat, throwing yourself at the first alpha you see in the hopes of getting a permanent position. You’re the idiot here, not me. Everyone knows the alphas of this pack have never had an alpha mate, and in a week, maybe less after today, you’re going to be out on your ear and scrabbling for scraps like the rest of us.”
Shadow growled, and then said, “Show him, little red.”
Show him what? But as Rowan caught the look of pride in his mate’s eyes, he realized what Shadow wanted. Opening up the neck of his shirt, he pulled it aside, showing the huge scar left by Shadow’s teeth. “My mate, the Alpha, came home for me,” he said meeting Jack’s eyes, then looking at Donny, Talon and Gavin. “He didn’t want any trouble. He just wanted me. But like any decent, honorable alpha, when he saw what was happening to the people here, he decided to stay and put things right. Unlike you, who crawled in here, thinking this alpha was going to be as easy to intimidate as his beta brother. To my way of thinking this scar makes me alpha mate, and before the hour is up, you four will be rogues. I know who I’d rather be.”
Craven clapped and laughed, causing Rowan to jump. He didn’t realize the man was standing so close behind him. He got a warm flutter in his heart when he realized the man was there in case he fell. Marco and Shadow were laughing too, the four tied up men looking more worried by the second.
As he looked them over one last time, he saw Talon trying to catch his eye. “Before I get kicked out, can I speak to you and the alpha privately?” he whispered, casting a worried look at his friends.
Rowan looked over at Shadow who gave a barely there nod. “Talon will stay here for the moment. Marco, would you and Craven mind kicking the rest of the trash out and make sure they leave the territory within the next fifty minutes?”
“On it, Alpha Mate,” Marco grinned broadly.
“Always a pleasure, Alpha Mate,” Craven added.
“I’ll get you. I know people who know people. I’ll get you for this.” Gavin was still screaming as Marco dragged him away. Rowan’s body swayed, but the sight of Talon still lying where he’d been placed in his bonds kept him on his feet. Fortunately, it didn’t take long for Shadow to reach his side, sliding his arm around his waist, holding him firmly, almost intimately, given the situation. Rowan allowed his body to relax. Now they just had to find out what Talon wanted. Hopefully he could sit down first.
Chapter Nine
Shadow hadn’t known whether to be proud or horrified when Rowan kicked Gavin in the balls, but he was already moving to intercept when Jack and Donny went to hit his wee mate. Fortunately, Craven and Marco had been standing just outside the living room while the meeting was going on and were just as quick to lend a hand when Shadow needed them.
But gods, he wanted his mate something fierce. He didn’t know until that minute how turned-on he could be by Rowan’s show of spirit. Despite his omega status, Rowan was feisty and had a deeply caring nature. Which was why Shadow was escorting his now heavily limping mate to the nearest chair, instead of whisking him upstairs for some slow sensual loving.
�
�Thank you. That was kind of a dumb thing for me to do,” Rowan said, sitting down and easing his leg out straight.
“We might have to invest in a brace for this leg, if you’re going to make a habit of kicking people.” Kneeling in front of Rowan’s chair, Shadow ran his hand up the injured calf muscle. The muscles jumped under his hands, and they were definitely tight and felt hot to the touch. “A warm bath might be in order, I think,” he said softly, looking up and catching Rowan’s dazed expression. “When we’ve finished our duties here, of course.”
“Of course.” Rowan snapped his mouth shut, but his eyes blazed with a heat Shadow hoped he’d live up to very soon. Before things could get too hot and heavy between them, Shadow straightened up, looking over at Talon who seemed almost sad watching them together.
“You said you wanted to talk to me and Rowan.” Shadow slid into the seat next to his mate. “Talk.”
Struggling to get into a sitting position, Talon tilted his head to one side, showing his neck. “Despite Gavin’s words, I am not, and never have been part of his crew. I do my best to help others where I can, but it’s never done any good for anyone to show any weakness around here, which is why I carry my knives. Most people don’t mess with me, because they know I can use them.”
Shadow wasn’t sure he was convinced of the man’s good intentions, although there was no scent of deceit coming off him. Talon turned his gaze to Rowan. “Alpha Mate, did your grandmother tell you I visited her, after Gavin knocked her down the steps? Did she tell you what that was about?”
Rowan shook his head. “I didn’t even know she’d been hurt,” he said sadly. “But then, she wouldn’t tell me anyway. I know some of the older kids give her a hard time sometimes, but I thought because she offered food to anyone who asked, and even those who don’t ask, that she’d be left alone. She’s a pack widow. Her husband served this pack proudly, back when it was something to be proud about.”
“I know what you mean,” Talon said glumly, and Shadow realized Talon and Rowan were probably about the same age. “It was food that riled Gavin up that time. She’d given out some muffins to probably a dozen kids when Gavin saw her. He demanded some, made to snatch one off one of the kids, and your grandmother whacked him with her tray.”
Shadow bit the inside of his lip, imagining Rowan’s grandmother doing exactly that.
“The kids all scattered – you know how they are,” Talon continued. “Gavin was furious, looming over her, demanding her baking, but she didn’t have any left. That’s when he pushed her. Someone else from down the street yelled out, telling him to stop being an ass and leave her alone and Gavin sauntered off down the road like his shit didn’t stink. I… I couldn’t stay… helping her would’ve made matters worse, but I kept an eye on her until I saw she’d made it inside.”
“At least someone was looking out for her,” Rowan sighed. “I asked her time and time again to come and live with me because I was worried about something like this happening, but she wants to spend her last days in the house she shared with her husband.”
“She won’t leave. Your grandmother loves those kids,” Talon said. “And face it, up until now, those kids have needed her. But look, I did go back the next day. Your gran,” Talon shook his head with a small smile. “Even though she clearly saw me with Gavin the day before, she invited me in, made me tea and gave me cake. I’d never had cake before.”
Talon’s voice had a wistful edge, and Shadow knew the man wasn’t like his friends. Maybe Talon realized his tone was betraying too much, because he said, “I helped her all I could and believe it or not, I’ve helped you too in the past, Alpha Mate. You walk down Rogue Alley every freaking Friday night, and I’ve used numerous excuses to ensure Gavin wasn’t in the area when you did. I know I didn’t have to. You didn’t ask me to. But that man had a hard on for you that wouldn’t quit and I… I couldn’t let him hurt you.”
“Why?” Rowan asked quietly, and Shadow was glad he did. He wanted to know as well.
Talon sat up as straight as he could with his hands still bound behind his back. “My mom died when I was a pup. My dad ran off and I haven’t seen him in a dozen or more years. My granddaddy raised me as best he could, which wasn’t easy because as soon as Shadow left, Percy started making his mark on the pack. My granddaddy has been dead these past three years now, but I remember him saying, as clear as day. A wolf shifter is judged by how he treats the weakest members of the pack. You’re the pack omega. You didn’t deserve to be picked on or treated like dirt all the time.”
Shadow’s eyes narrowed. He’d been watching Talon’s face, and while the boy wasn’t lying, there was something more he wasn’t saying. “If you want the chance to stay in this pack,” he said firmly, “then I need to know you aren’t going to cause any more bother, and that means you need to be open and honest with me about everything. Tell me the rest of the reason you didn’t want to see my mate hurt.”
“Geez, you’d think a guy would be grateful I looked out for his mate as best I could, especially when the likes of Beau and Saul let him down,” Talon huffed. “Fine, you want to know why I didn’t want to see your precious mate hurt? Because he made something of himself, okay? An omega wolf. Parents dead. You left him with no support but his granny who couldn’t fight her way out of a paper bag. But despite all that, despite the shit this pack went through, Rowan still went to college. Do you know how rare that is in this pack? He was the only one. Not only did he go to college and get his degree, but he came back. He didn’t have to. But he visited every weekend while he was at school, and when his degree was done, he came back, working at whatever it is he does, and making something good of himself. He’s an example, Alpha, can’t you see that? A positive example of what this pack could do if they’re just given a chance. I didn’t want to see that ruined just because Rowan was born an omega and some of the dicks around here got the wrong idea about what that meant.”
“You really see me that way?” It seemed it wasn’t only Shadow who was shocked by Talon’s outburst. Rowan sounded almost in tears and Shadow reached over, putting his arm around his mate’s shoulder.
“Ro, you and your granny are two of the sweetest people in this pack.” Talon shook his head as though disgusted with himself. “Look, having heart to hearts, spilling about feelings and shit like that. It’s not who I am. But I always saw you as an example of how I could do better, how this pack could do better. Most of the people here are so busy trying to keep their heads above water, they don’t have a chance to think of doing better for themselves in the future.”
Shadow wasn’t surprised when Talon met his eyes, briefly, but the contact was made before Talon’s eyes shied away. “I’ll beg if I have to,” Talon said quietly. “I knew as soon as I saw you Alpha, so proud with Ro by your side, that this pack can change for the better. I’d like the chance to be a part of that.”
“You don’t have to beg,” Rowan said quickly. “Shadow’s going to give you the chance, aren’t you, Alpha? Talon has tried to help me in the past. I’ve still got one of his knives in my drawer in my apartment as proof.”
“He used one of his knives on you?” Shadow knew he was growling but just the thought of one curl on Rowan’s head being threatened was enough to make him want to tear something apart.
“I found the knife,” Rowan said with a smile which was shared between Shadow and Talon. Talon’s pale face had bright red slashes where his cheeks were. “Someone, I don’t know who, was following me one night when I was on my way back to my car after visiting my grandmother. Then suddenly, I could hear scuffling, yelling, there was all sorts going on and I have to admit I ran as best as I could to get to the car. I had just started my car when I saw Saul and Beau coming out of the alley. They didn’t see me, they were too busy clutching their arms, and mumbling to themselves about ninja assassins or something.”
Talon laughed. Shadow glared.
“Anyhow,” Rowan said, “I don’t know why I did it, but I turned the car en
gine off, and crept back down the alley. I don’t know, I worried someone was hurt. And that’s when I saw the knife embedded into an old wooden box. It was shiny, had obviously been well cared for, and I was sure then it was you looking out for me Talon. I just couldn’t say anything, because, well, you know…”
“The same reason I couldn’t talk to you.” Talon seemed weary. “It’s well past time for a change. We all deserve something better.”
It was Talon’s last statement that pushed Shadow out of his seat. Crossing over to where Talon was sitting, Shadow reached behind the man, snapping the ties around his wrists with his bare hands, before bending over and doing the same with the ties around Talon’s feet.
“You can get your second chance,” Shadow said, straightening and reaching out his hand to help Talon to his feet. “But there will be none of this skulking in the dark alleys or going back to your old ways. If you want to be a true member of this renewed pack, then you have to live openly by your grandfather’s words.”
“I won’t let you down.” Talon tilted his neck and Shadow rested his hand, just briefly on the young man’s neck, giving him the acceptance he asked for.
“I’m glad,” Shadow said as he withdrew his hand. “Because your second chance comes with a new job. I want you to move into the pack house, unless you have someone you are caring for already?”
Talon shook his head. “There’s only me, and I’ve been dossing on couches where I can since Percy sold my grandfather’s house from under me.”
More shit I have to deal with. “I’ll take care of that too, but for now, you’ll move in here, and when I’m not around you will be the alpha mate’s shadow.”
“You’re getting me a bodyguard?” Rowan didn’t sound very happy about the prospect.
“There’s going to be big changes in this pack and not everyone is going to be happy about them. I know you have things you want to do in a day, and I don’t want to stop you going out, but there will be times when I can’t go with you, and that’s when I want Talon with you.”
